USA > Massachusetts > Dukes County > Marthas Vineyard > The history of Martha's Vineyard, Dukes County, Massachusetts, Volume I > Part 37
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Thus passed Saturday, the 12th, and Grey records that he "was able to embark on board the vessels which arrived that day from Rhode Island 6000 sheep and 130 oxen" up to that date.
When they had finished their foraging they came back to camp in Vineyard Haven on the slope of the hill, on the land where lately stood the houses of Mary T. Crocker, John Holmes, and Mary C. Dunham, and the lot now occupied by Mrs. Laura Robinson. The street now leading west by the Metho- dist church was then quite a deep gulch, partially blocked up with boulders, although it was the principal road leading westward out of the village. They thus had a forest in their rear and left, this gulch on the right, and the harbor with their ships in front.
It is safe to say that Sunday the 13th was anything but a day of rest on the Vineyard. It must have been a hard task for the ministers to keep their congregations from wandering from the texts of the sermons. What Parson Kingsbury of Edgartown, Parson Fuller of Chilmark, or Parson Damon of Tisbury preached about that September Sabbath can only be imagined.
1Porte Crayon in Harper's Magazine, XXI, 442. This incident is credited by descendants to Patience (Hathaway) Dunham, wife, not widow, of Joseph, and it has been made the subject of a poem by Rose Terry Cooke.
378
Grey's Raid
We may indulge the thought that the colonel and his fellow prisoners had the privilege of listening to the fleet chap- lain read prayers for their "Gracious Sovereign and all the Royal Family," and condemning his enemies to destruction. Andre is our only authority for the events of this day, and he enters this: -
13th. The 17th, 37th and 46th Regiments embarked. More arms, sheep and oxen were brought in. Two men having deserted, the inhabi- tants were required to restore them on pain of having a double number of their friends seized.
A Tender arrived from Lord Howe with orders to the Fleet to return to New York. The Nantucket Expedition was, of course, set aside.
The cattle and sheep were embarked on board the Men-of-war and the transports.
Colonel Donkin was ordered to return from Chilmarck.
On the heights of the "Company Place" can be seen in the mind's eye the younger generation on that Sunday watch- ing at a respectful distance the strange sight of their fathers delivering up to an inexorable foe the accumulated possessions of a life-time.
Monday the 14th marked the last day of their stay. Co- ercion had accomplished the purpose of General Grey. The raiding parties had dislodged 159 more stand of arms, and the hostages were set at liberty. Andre makes the following record in his journal for this day: -
14th. The remainder of the cattle were embarked. The Troops embarked. The deserters were restored and the Militia officers and Com- mitteemen released, with a solemn injunction to abstain from taking part any more in the War or persecuting others for their political opinions; they were also bound to assist the King's ships with water or provisions whenever they should call upon them to do it.
The public money which had been required was paid, being a tax just collected by authority of the Congress. A salt work was destroyed this day.
THE AMOUNT OF PLUNDER OBTAINED.
Colonel Norton being once more a free man is able to use his pen, and his diary affords us some further particulars of what was done this day from his point of view. It will be seen that the business tone is strong in his record of the whole affair, as he evidently thought the transaction was merely commercial, and not a foraging party scouring the country
379
History of Martha's Vineyard
for provisions for the army. His entry for this day is as follows: -
th 14. Colo. Sterling then informed me & other of the inhabitants that he had a message to deliver to the people, when he recommended to them to meet in the field as there was not room for the people indoors. accord- ingly thay meet to the amount of Several hundred, when he informed us that General Gray had directed him to inform us that we ware to apply at New York for payment for the Stock they had received. I asked the Colo. if we had Beest send a man in the fleet at that time for the payment, to which the Colo. replyed we might if we Chose, but recommended to us to wait a Little time before Applycation was made.
The amount of cattle, sheep, &c., which each town fur- nished is thus stated in their claim: -
Sheep.
Cattle.
Chilmark
3903
106
Edgartown
3919
II2
Tisbury
2752
97
10574
315
Besides this there were fifty-two tons of hay, delivered for forage during the return voyage.
Monday was a day of destruction, a sort of "cleaning up" day, which the raiders spent in destroying property. General Grey says that they were occupied "in destroying some Salt Works, in burning or taking in the Inlets, what vessels and boats could be found." Brigadier Otis indignantly wrote that they "burnt a Brig that was unrigg'd and a shoar; 3 or 4 small vessels; all the boats they could find; even took up some that were sunk in 4 fathom of Water and Destroyed them." The salt works were in the present town of Vineyard Haven, situated at the foot of Beach street. It was a valuable plant, and the loss of it caused much discomfort. It was a wanton act, indefensible under any circumstances. In another field a different form of plunder was going on. British officers hunted up the town treasurers and, at the point of the sword, made William Jernegan of Edgartown, Benjamin Allen of Tisbury, and Elijah Smith of Chilmark, then holding those positions, disgorge their public moneys, collected for the pay- ment of the province tax for that year. In some cases former treasurers and collectors, who were charged with the collection of back taxes, were likewise forced to give up what they had. Altogether about a thousand pounds were obtained by these
380
Grey's Raid
military highwaymen, an equivalent of $20,000 in the money of our day.1 It may be added that this was not an uncommon thing for the British officers to do, and other instances are of record showing that the town treasurers of the Vineyard as late as 1782 were relieved of public funds in like manner. The entire result of the four days' expedition was summed up in a report of General Grey, from which the following extract covering the operations on this island is taken: -
In Old Town Harbor, Martha's Vineyard:
I brig of 150 tons burthen, burnt by the "Scorpion." I schooner of 70 tons burthen burnt by ditto.
23 whale boats taken or destroyed. A quantity of plank taken. At Holmes Hole, Martha's Vineyard:
4 vessels, with several boats, taken or destroyed. A salt work de- stroyed and a considerable quantity of salt taken.
Arms taken at Martha's Vineyard:
388 stand, with bayonets, pouches, etc., some powder, and a quantity of lead, as by artillery return.
f1000 sterling, in paper, the amount of a tax collected by authority of the Congress, was received at Martha's Vineyard from the Collector. Cattle and sheep taken from Martha's Vineyard. 300 oxen, 10,000 sheep.
CHARLES GREY, M. G.2
During the whole time they were engaged in this expedi- tion, at New Bedford, Falmouth, and here they destroyed seven "large" vessels, over a hundred "small" craft, besides all sorts of property, wharves, storehouses, and contents. One man was killed and several wounded in a skirmish at the Acushnet River near Fairhaven. The quantity and kind of arms secured here is found in a list prepared by the Artillery officer charged with the custody of captured material of that nature.
1 Resolve on the petition of Elijah Smith of Chilmark directing the treasurer to credit said town three hundred and ninety pounds in old continental currency.
On the petition of Elijah Smith of Chilmark in Dukes County setting forth that he was chosen collector of taxes for the said town for the year 1777, and had lists of the State Tax committed to him (for the same year), amounting to nine hundred and ninety pounds eleven shillings and three pence, and that he had collected thereon about three hundred and ninety pounds, which was taken from him (together with his lists and warrants) by a British officer, who carried them off.
Resolved that the treasurer be and he hereby is ordered and directed to credit the said Elijah Smith the sum of three hundred and ninety pounds of the old conti- nental currency, on account of said tax, and to suspend issuing his execution for the residue thereof until the next sitting of the General Court.
(Laws and Resolves, 1784-5, CXVII, June 10, 1785.)
2Gentleman's Magazine, XLVIII, 540.
38I
History of Martha's Vineyard
RETURN of Ammunition, Arms and Accoutrements &c which was brought in by the Militia on the Island of Marthas Vineyard, agreeable to Major General Grey's orders; Received at Holmes's Cove September 12th, 13th & 14th, 1778.
Halberts.
Firelocks.
Bayonets.
Cartridge
Boxes or
Pouches.
Swords or
Hangers.
Powder
Horns.
Pistols.
Drums.
Tisbury .
-
132
16
44
II
22
-
-
Chilmark
2
I27
20
30
I2
40
2
I
Old Town .
129
I3
3
2
9
2
-
Total .
2
388
49
77
25
71
4
I
N. B. One Barrel, one half Barrel, and one quarter Barrel of Powder, a great number of lead shot or balls of different sizes in Bags and Boxes and a great many flints.
Returned by order 3 Firelocks to 3 different men in Tisbury
Returned by do. 4 do. to 4 different men in Chilmark
Returned by do. 2
do. to 2 different men in Old Town
9 which are included in the above Return.
DAVID SCOTT
Capt. R. R. Artillery
THE FLEET DEPARTS.
But little more remains to be said. In the twilight of September 14, a quiet Monday evening, a rear guard of Grey's raiders marched down the slopes of Manter's Hill, and when the final boat-load pushed off the beach it was the last time that the soil of Massachusetts was pressed by the feet of British soldiers on a hostile errand. The tired and broken- spirited Vineyarders slept in peace that night. Morning came with the fleet still in the harbor, but the preparations for de- parture were going on. Andre makes the following entry in his journal: -
15th. The signal was made for sailing at 6 in the morning, but the transports were so dilatory that it was sunset before they came up with the Commodore. The whole sailed. A schooner and sloop taken in Holmes Hole Harbour were burnt.
Across the sound on the Falmouth Heights the militia of Barnstable County were in arms, expecting an attack from this force, and Brigadier Joseph Otis, in command, thus writes of what he saw and learned of the movements of the enemy during their stay on the island: -
382
Grey's Raid
The Enemys fleet began to sail Westward the morning of the 15th to the number of Twenty Six Ships besides small craft: and by the morn- ing of the 16th ware out of sight of the High Land of Woods Hole. I sent a boat on the Vineard the Evening of the 15th, which returned the next morning. .... they told the Inhabitants that they wanted to visit Falmouth but that we was as they term'd us a pack of dam'd Rebels and had five thousand strong with a plenty of artillery (though we never had at one time six hundred men with only one field piece) that the Rebels fought well at (New) Bedford and had given them a good Trimming: that they should have done more there but the Rebels were as thick as Bees.
But the British General did not care to accommodate Brigadier Otis with a skirmish. He had accomplished his object. The garrison at Newport could have beef and mutton for a while, thanks to his efforts. He had left behind only two Chops which he could not very well take with him. His fleet arrived at Whitestone, L. I., on their return, on the 17th and 18th, having been separated by bad weather, but suffering no loss. On the latter date he reported his return to Clinton, in which he expressed his obligation "to the commanding officers of corps and to the troops in general for the alacrity with which every service was performed." Thus terminated the expedition which is our principal Revolutionary heritage, as our contribution to the sacrifices made to gain liberty for the American people.1
1Incidents of Grey's Raid connected with Farm Neck include the tale of two bachelor brothers, who, in their alarm at the foraging parties of "red-coats" fled with their money to the jungles of Aquampache and buried it with such thoroughness that they were never afterwards able to locate it. And of that sturdy farmer, Ansel Norton, who defended his one pair of oxen with such zeal, that it took the pricks of several British bayonets to make him relinquish his team. At Major Norton's they even took a flock of geese, which had in fright and dismay at the strange proceedings, swam to the middle of the pond. Every goose was shot before a capture could be effected. (Information furnished by Mrs. Annie Daggett Lord and Henry Constant Norton.)
RELICS OF THE RAID.
BRITISH MILITARY BUTTONS (GRENADIERS, ARTILLERY AND 44TH REGIMENT). -
383
History of Martha's Vineyard
CHAPTER XXV. THE LONG CAMPAIGN TO OBTAIN REDRESS. 1778 TO 1787.
As soon as they recovered their former tranquility, after the exciting days of the "Raid," the officials of the Vineyard arranged for a conference to determine upon the course they should pursue. They met four days after the departure of the fleet, probably at West Tisbury, as the central location for all, and having exchanged views as to the best course to follow, it was deemed wisest to make a report to the provincial au- thorities and ask for their help. Accordingly, a committee composed of the selectmen of the three towns was formed to publish a formal statement of the events which had transpired during the preceding week. The situation was indeed a peculiar one, and embarrassing to all concerned. It was the logical result, however, of the neutrality imposed upon the island by the authorities. The following address was pre- pared to the General Court of the .State.
To the Honourable the Council & House of Representatives in General Court assembled:
We the selectmen of the several Towns in Dukes County beg leave to lay before Your Honours the unhappy situation of the people of this Island, occasioned by our being deprived of the greatest part of our stock by the British troops: on the Tenth Inst came into Holmes Hole Har- bour about twenty sail of Vessels of which seven or eight were Frigates the rest armed vessels & Transports: a requisition was soon made of all our arms and military accoutrements, Horned Cattle (milch cows excepted) & sheep: & in said requisition were informed that in case we did not Immediately comply they would march their troops and collect them (they having about five thousand): the people not being able to defend themselves endeavoured to persuade them to lessen their demands & after much entreaty could obtain no other Terms than those that we should Immediately give up all our arms & military stores three hundred Bul- locks & Ten Thousand sheep and least this should not be complyed with they landed the greatest part of the Troops & marched them to different parts of the Island & declared in case there was any delay they would let the Troops loose and we must abide the consequences. The People seeing no alternative were obliged to comply & accordingly have delivered up all their arms & military accoutrements & stores, the greatest part of the oxen & sheep whereby our case is rendered very deplorable having neither sufficient beasts for draught or provisions for our support: they
384
The Long Campaign to Obtain Redress
also obliged the Collector to deliver up all the money they had collected for the State. Many other evils we have suffered for a more particular account we would refer to Col' Norton & the other Gentlemen which will accompany him.
Marthas Vineyard, September 19, 1778.
EBEN. NORTON BENJ. SMITH BROTHERTON DAGGETT Selectmen of Edgartown
NATHANIEL BASSETT JAMES ALLEN, JR. MATTHEW TILTON Selectmen of Chilmark
JAMES ATHEARN SHUBAEL COTTLE Selectmen of Tisbury.1
This representation did not require any action, and none was taken by the General Court. The committee accom- panying Colonel Norton, probably composed of James Athearn and Thomas Cooke, men well known by the members of the General Court, gave their former colleagues a full account of the "Raid" verbally, the terms offered by the British, their promises of payment and the distress which had followed the stay of the troops. On the 26th, Norton and his associates addressed another petition to the Court, in which they defi- nitely asked for relief of the suffering.
To the Council & House of Representatives of the State of Massa- chusetts Bay now sitting at Boston the remonstrance of the Sub- scribers Inhabitants of Marthas Vineyard:
Humbly sheweth that the Distress of a number of the Inhabitants of that Island must be shocking to the Human Heart as the late step of the Brit- ish troops have made in Depriving them of their stock has rendered the case of many persons with large families Truly deplorable. In particu- lar near the Harbour of Holmes Hole where they landed who are not only Deprived of every article & necessary of life not having an Exchange of any kind of clothing for them or children and unless immediately assisted must unavoidably suffer extremely or perish.
Your petitioners therefore beg your Honours to consider thare Distress & grant them some relief or otherwise order as in your wisdom you shall see fit & as in duty bound shall ever pray. Boston 26 Sept. 1778.2
JAMES ATHEARN BERIAH NORTON THO: COOKE
1Mass. Archives, CLXXXIV, 239. The third selectman of Tisbury was Abijah Athearn, but it is not known why he did not sign. He may have been absent or sick. 2Ibid., CLXXXIV, 254.
385
History of Martha's Vineyard
The committee to whom this was referred, consisting of Colonels Fogg, Cutt, and Peck, reported a resolve to give a sum of money, not specified in amount, to the most urgent cases of suffering, but their report was ordered "to lie on the table." Naturally it would have been impossible to have re- lieved, by pecuniary aid, all cases of loss and suffering oc- casioned by the war, but this was a meritorious case, owing to the circumstances of their enforced neutral position, imposed on them by the state. On the same date as above, in the House of Representatives, "Samuel Niles Esq. brought down
a petition of James Athearn and other Inhabitants of the Island of Marthas Vineyard, setting forth that they were de- prived of about 10,000 sheep and 300 Head of Cattle by the Enemy; that they were given to understand that upon appli- cation to General Clinton at New York it was probable they might receive Payment: therefore praying the Court to Grant a Flag for that Purpose."1 The committee of the house to whom the subject was referred reported a resolve desiring the president of the council to write to General Washington upon the subject. Thereupon, the same day, the following letter was addressed to the commander-in-chief: -
State of Massachusetts Bay Council Chamber Sept. 26 1778
Sir:
This will be delivered to you by Colonel James Athearn of Marthas Vine- yard, who repairs to your encampment by Permission of the General Court of this State, as may more fully appear by the enclosed Petition and Resolve. The General Court takes the liberty to recommend him to your notice so far as to obtain a flag to go into New York, Provided you think yourself warranted so to do by the rules and orders of Congress.
I am, sir, in behalf of the General Court,
Your Excellency's Obedient Humble
Servant, JEREMIAH POWELL President.
Gen'l Washington.
JAMES ATHEARN PERMITTED TO VISIT BRITISH GENERAL.
At this time the American army was in New Jersey, the headquarters of Washington at Middlebrook, and Clinton was bottled up in New York, and besides Newport, this was the only place held by the British. Athearn undoubtedly had
1Mass. Archives, CLXXXIV, 248-250.
386
The Long Campaign to Obtain Redress
to proceed by water to reach his destination. It does not appear what success he had, but from subsequent develop- ments it would seem that Washington did not care to grant the "flag" without the sanction of Congress, to which the entire matter was referred.
Meanwhile the people at home were discussing what measures to pursue to secure repayment for their property, as promised. The inhabitants of Edgartown held a town meet- ing one month after the departure of the expedition, when they assembled at the Court House, and chose Beriah Norton as moderator. The following action was taken by the citizens:
Voted: there shall be a Committee chosen to Inspect into the several Losses & Damages that the Inhabitants of said Town hath lately sus- tained By the Brittish forces.
Voted: That the selectmen Together with Mr William Jernegan & Mr Seth Peas Be a Committee to Take a True Inventory & Estimation of each Perticular Persons Loss & Damages sustained by the Brittish forces.
Voted: That there shall be severall Counters chosen in Different Parts of said Town to Drive the sheep and Take a True inventory of what sheep still Remains in said Town and who they Belong to & make Return to the Committee abovesaid.
Voted: That Joseph Huxford, Matt. Butler & Benj. Peas be a Com- mittee for Chapoquid'k & Capoage.
Voted: (other committees for the different parts of the town).
Voted: That the above mentioned Committees be Empowered to receive Donations of any of the Inhabitants of the Town for the Relief of such Persons as have suffered most and to make distribution as they shall think proper.1
ESTIMATES OF THE LOSSES.
Edgartown went about this in a business-like manner. The other communities took no action at this time, as towns, for their records do not contain any reference to meetings held for the purpose. Probably the individual losers held meetings and arranged to compile accounts of their losses. The com- mittees of Edgartown went to work promptly and by the end of the second week in October had schedules of their losses, in tabulated form, all ready for presentation to the British gen- eral. Fortunately these lists have been preserved, and they are herewith printed. They furnish a most interesting sum- mary of the extent of the depredation in this one town. The first table shows the list of "Sundry Articles" taken by the soldiers, and bears out the claims of personal distress which some must have suffered after the "Raid."
1 Edgartown Records, I, 315.
387
An Account of Sundry Articles Taken by the British Fores Massachusetts Bay, Between the tenth and fifteenth Day of Septi son's Name With the Just Value According to the Currant (Speles
Bushels Grain
Bushels Potatoes
Heads Cabbage
Cloathing £ s. d.
Swine No. Wt.
Weight Leather
Fo Lum 1.
Matthew Butler
I
Benj'n Pease Junr.
19- 7-0
Joseph Huxford
3
36
William Vinson
60
Malatiah Pease Junr.
IO- O-O
Enoch Coffin Esqr.
6
60
7- 2-0
Thomas Butler
80
95
Thomas Claghorn
I2
40
70
20
Joseph Smith
25
So
12- O-O
David Coffin
20
I5
3
300
Elijah Butler Junr.
50
300
2
240
35
Widdow Davis
23
30
70
2
60
Ramsford Smith
18
Ebenezer Smith
8
20
47-10-0
Elijah Butler
4
James Shaw
5-10-O
I5
Shoble Norton
3
25
Malatiah Davis
7
55
2
100
42
Shoble Davis
2
40
105- 0-0
I
35
80
John Davis
2
40
2
165
80
Benjamin Davis
5
55
Ansall Norton
20
Seth Pease
IOD
Jane Claghorn
4
12
Marshall Jenkins
7
3
Samuel Killey
8
30
Gamaliel Merchant
6-10-0
15
Cornelius Merchant
14- 8-0
Matthew Mayhew
9-12-0
$C
137
590
698
£238 5s. od.
I2
900
297
547
Thomas Cooke John Holley
I7-2-O
200
I
150
60
The Foregoing Was Taken by us the Subscribers by the
$ in Edgartown on the Island of Marthas Vineyard in the State of the 11778 - Each Article carried of in Separate Colloms against Each Per- os of this State) of What Each person has lost.
bb Naval stores
Bushels Salt
Fishing Craft £ s. d.
Provisions £ s d.
Fencing & s. d.
Howshold Goods £ s. d.
Roots & s. d.
€ s.
d.
9-
0- 0
I-5-0
3-13-O
24- 5-
O
$
9- IO-
IO-
0- 0
3-15-0
2I-
7- 0
44-
15- O
14-
o
II-17-6 3-0-0
103-
12- O
67- 10- 0
15- O-O
19-15-O
6- 0-0
II2-
15- O
6- 0-0
15- 0-0
3-10-0
II2-
12- O
5
3-12-O
6
7- 0-0
41- 17- O
9-12-O
I2-
7- O
66- 18-
O
163-
4- 6
2-IO-O
2-IO-O
63-
0- 0
55
9
9
78- 10- 0
¢
29- 00- 0
3-12-0
18- 0- 0
20-8-0
6- 0-0
41- 12-
16
25
I-5-O
574-9-0
47- I-O
88- 4-6
25-12-O
2069- 18- 0
23-8-4
47- 2- 13- IO- O
2130-10-0
Iquest of the Proprietors the 14th Day of Octr. 1778.
BENJAMIN SMITH BROTHERTON DAGGETT WILLIAM JERNEGAN
Committee.
$
16
20
456
3
680- 17-
70-
9- 6
IO-
0- 0
15-
0- 0
18- 0-0
2-IO-O
160-
2-
O
13-
4-
0
6-12-0
6- 0-0
15- 0-
0
9-12-O
90-
9- 6
3-12-O
3- 6- O
31- 16- 0
History of Martha's Vineyard
An examination of the foregoing schedule shows that the greatest individual loser was Marshall Jenkins, who charges up £456-o-o for provisions, and the next largest was Shubael Davis, with an item of £105-0-0 for clothing, though we are at a loss to know what kind of clothing the army could want from the farmers of the island. Possibly it was destroyed. The total loss figures up to £2130, and if the other two towns suffered an equal amount in the like class of articles, we can estimate the total loss of property, exclusive of stock, at £5000 at least, or an equivalent of about $100,000 in money as reck- oned at comparative values in our present money medium.
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