USA > Massachusetts > Nantucket County > The history of Nantucket County, island, and town : including genealogies of first settlers > Part 25
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189
HISTORY OF NANTUCKET
who, after due consideration reported on December 11th. After re- citing that representation has been made to the General Court that more supplies than were necessary for internal consumption and necessary voyages had been shipped to Nantucket, and that there was great reason to suspect that the inhabitants of Nantucket had abused the indulgence of the General Court by supplying the English with a portion of such provisions-the following recom- mendation was reported and was adopted by the House of Represent- atives and by the Council :* "Resolved-That ye Committee of Correspondence for ye Town of Falmouth in ye County of Barn- stable be & they hereby are directed forthwith to return to this Court a true Copy upon Oath of all permits which they have granted to the Inhabitants of Nantucket or any other person or persons in
pork, 75 Ditto of Beef, 60 firkins Buter, 2000 w chees, 80 barrels cyder; John Willcoks 25 cord wood; Philip fanning 300 barrels flower; Jere- miah pryer 30 cord of wood; Nath'll Macy 30 cord wood, 400 feet oak plank; Silas Jones 40 cord of wood, 50 barrels cyder, 200 bushels appels; David Onus 300 bushels of appels, 50 barrels of cyder, 1000 w chees Reuben Gardner a Load of wood, Beef, flower, Buter, Corn and chees the above is a Trew Coppey of the Contents permits granted by the Comittee of falmouth for supply ye Nantucket
per order of s'd Committy NATH'LL SHIVERICK Clerk."
Mass. State Archives, Vol.138, p. 234. *Concerning this affair William Rotch says in his Memoranda, "From the year 1775 to the end of the War we were in continued embarrass- ment, our vessels captured by the English, and our small vessels and boats sent to various parts of the Continent for provisions, denied, and sent back empty, under pretence that we supplied the British, which was without the least foundation. Prohibitory Laws were often made in consequence of these unfounded reports. By this inhuman conduct, we were sometimes in danger of being starved. One of these laws was founded on an information from Gov. Trumbull of Connecticut, who had been imposed upon respecting our conduct in supplying the British. I wrote to the Governor on the subject, and laid our distress very home to him, assuring him at the same time that nothing of that kind had taken place. He was convinced of his error, and was ever after very kind in assisting us within his jurisdiction. But there were so many petty officers, as Committees of Safety, Inspection &c. in all parts, and too many of them chosen much upon the principle of Jerboam's Priests, that we were sorely afflicted."
The following is the text of the letter of Gov. Trumbull which led to the action of the General Court Dec. 9, 1775:
"Lebanon 4 Dec. 1775.
Sir: Inclosed I find you the Certificates, Permits &c from the Com- mittee of Falmouth to Capt Phineas Fanning to purchase and transport provisions to the Island of Nantucket, & the consequent doings of the Inhabitants of Suffolk County on Long Island thereon. This I should not have noticed, but as I am informed by Capt Niles who commands one of the armed Vessels belonging to this Colony called the Spy of nine other Vessels, with as large & some larger Permits, some of which have been into this Colony but have not succeeded here & are now gone to Long Island.
Surely such large Supplies of Provisions to the favourites of Ad- ministration looks suspicious & ought to be duly watched.
Indeed it was always my opinion, that those Inhabitants of that Island who are friendly to this Country's Cause, ought to remove them- selves to the Main & leave the rest to be supported by their good friends the Administration-I give you this Intelligence that such measures may be taken that while we are at War with we may not at the same time be feeding our Enemies.
I am &c
To Pres. Council Mass. Bay. JONA. TRUMBULL
State Archives Letters, Vol. 6, p. 25. *State Archives, Vol. 207, p. 261.
The Continental Congress under date of November 30, 1775 (Print- ed Vol. III, pp. 397-8), considered an application "that Captain Jenkins be permitted to take a quantity of provisions for the internal con- sumption of the inhabitants of Nantucket, the reason" being that the Committee of Falmouth was unable to supply them and "had recom- mended him to Congress to be supplied with the same at some port in the middle or southern colonies," and ordered that permission be granted "the Captain giving bond and taking oath to the committee of inspection of this city, to pursue their instructions in his voyage, and to use his utmost endeavor not to fall into the power of the cutters or armed vessels of the enemy."
190
HISTORY OF NANTUCKET
their behalf for obtaining provision from the Inhabitants of this & ye neighbouring Colonies to Supply sd Inhabitants of Nantucket and to suspend granting any permits in future to the said Inhabitants or any person on their Behalf till the further order of this Court & ye Selectmen of the Town of Sherburne on the Island of Nantucket as also of each Town on Martha's Vineyard are directed forthwith to make Strict Enquiry into ye Importation of provisions into their respective Towns Since ye 28th Sep'r last & of all provisions now in sd Towns & to make Return thereof on Oath to this Court as Soon as may be: & ye Inhabitants of this Colony are desired to withhold further Supplies of provisions, Fuel or other Necessaries from sd Islands untill the further Recommendation of this Court & ye Printers of ye Colonies afores'd are respectively desired to cause this Resolve to be inserted in their Newspapers."*
The Selectmen were further directed to "prepare an estimate of the quantity of fuel and provisions necessary for the use of the inhabitants of said Island and lay it before three or more justices of the peace for the County of Barnstable in the Colony of Massa- chusetts bay attested by the oath or affirmation of the s'd Select- men & that the Justices be empowered to grant supplies under their hands to any man or owner of vessels in the s'd island to import fuel or provisions from the Colonies of Massachusetts bay, Rhode Island, Connecticut, New York, New Jersey, Pennsylvania, lower Countries on Delaware or Maryland not exceeding the quan- tities specified in said estimate."
* Mass. Archives, Vol. 207, p. 261. The Selectmen showed the fol- lowing importations, ascertained, they say, "to the best of our knowl- edge :"
Beef Pork Fl'r Br'd But'r Ch'se Wh't La'd
bbl. bbl. bbl. cwt.
lbs. lbs.
bu. lbs.
Simeon Coffin
10
65 180
20
300
Phineas Fanning
170
92
300
370
William Coleman
1112
Ebenezer Davis
110
4000
1000
Matthew Beard
1500
Reuben Gardner
60
6
20
250
100
250
Thomas Jenkins
24
372
22
250
Benjamin Barney
23
14
23
1500
1060
100
Benjamin Folger
50
50
280
1200
1300
Silvanus Coffin
3
3
3
1
300
500
Ebenezer Coffin
3
140
3500
Abner Briggs
15
30
142
95
Job Bunker
20
30
Samuel Starbuck
5
5
10000
Silas Jones
1
150
Benjamin Barnard
370
750
400
Nathaniel Coffin
Samuel Starbuck
Jones Barnard
Shubael Chase
Barnabas Briggs
1
Stephen Gardner
=
Daniel Paddack Elisha Folger
21 Wood ,,
850
1000
Oliver Spencer
2200
The Selectmen reported that so far as they could ascertain there remained on hand 300 bbls. of beef, 160 bbls. of pork, 800 bbls. flour, 120 cwt. of bread, 3000 lbs. of butter, 12000 lbs. of cheese, 250 bu. of wheat, 3500 lbs. of hog's lard, and about 6000 bu. of corn. The state- ment is sworn to before Ebenezer Calef, Justice of the Peace, and is signed by Josiah Barker, Stephen Paddack, Shubael Barnard, Stephen Hussey, Batch'r Hussey and Rich'd Mitchell Jr. They further stated that Nathaniel Coffin, Shubael Chase, Barnabas Briggs, Stephen Gard- ner, Daniel Paddack and Elisha Folger had imported wood (amount not given), James Barry, a butcher on the Island, had killed the equivalent of 95 lbs. of beef and. Henry Clark, another butcher, the equivalent of 120 lbs.
191
HISTORY OF NANTUCKET
It naturally followed that these deprivations to a people so completely dependent upon outside communities for supplies soon began to be severely felt and a remonstrance was sent to the General Court. Under date of January 16th, 1776, the Select- men prepared and sent to the Court the following memorial, ac- companied by a statement of importations since September 28th, 1775 :*
"To the General Court or Assembly of the Colony of Massa- chusetts Bay :-
The Memorial of the Selectmen of the Town of Sherborn on the Island of Nantucket at the Request of a number of the In- habitants,-
Your Memorialists are deeply Concern'd to find that there is a Resolve of the General Assembly of this Colony, forbiding any Importation of Fuel or Provisions into this Town and that it is Rec- ommended to the United Colonies to afford no further supplys by reazon as we apprehend of some Misrepresentation being made of our past Conduct.
Your Memorialists beg leave further to Represent, that such restraint, will in its operation in a very short time subject the Inhabitants to Extreme Distress as there is already great Com- plaint for want of Fuel and other Necessarys. Numbers of Familys begin to feel the pressing Calls of Hunger and want. Therefore your Memorialists Beg your Attention to a Resolve of the Conti- nental Congress of the Eleventh of December last founded in Humanity as they say; pointing out the Necessaty of s'd Town being further Supplyed through a Committee of this Colony .; Your Memorialists therefore humbly request that s'd Restraint recoin- mended to the other Colonies may be Recall'd or otherwise as in your Wisdom shall think proper and are
Respectfully, Your Friends JOSIAH BARKER, BATCH'R HUSSEY, SHUBAEL BARNARD, RICH MITCHELL, JR. STEPHEN HUSSEY."
Nantucket, 16 January 1776.
*Petitions, Vol. 180. p. 285, Mass. Archives. See previous foot-note for tabulation of imports.
tThe resolves of the Continental Congress were the result of the petition of Capt. Thomas Jenkins and were based on the resolution of December 2d which it was alleged was not grounded on the exact facts. The matter was referred to a committee consisting of John Adams, Thomas Cushing and Thomas Mckean. The committee reported the following resolutions which were adopted: "Reloved, That the vigilance and zeal of the committee of the city and liberties of Philadelphia, in preventing the said Jenkins cargo from being sold, contrary to the resolutions of Congress, be highly approved.
Resolved. That it appears to this Committee, that the inhabitants of said island are at present in great distress for want of the neces- saries of life.
Resolved. That humanity requires that some speedy measures be taken by the Congress, to enable the said inhabitants to supply them- selves with necessary fuel and provisions.
Resolved. That the selectmen of the town of Sherbourne, in Nan- tucket, prepare an estimate of the quantity of fuel, and provisions necessary for the use of said Inhabitants, and lay it before three or more justices of the peace, for the county of Barnstable, in the Colony of Massachusetts bay, attested by the oath or affirmation of the said selectmen; and that the said justices be empowered to grant licenses under their hands to any master or owner of vessels in the said island, to import fuel and provisions from the colonies of Massachusetts bay, Rhode Island, Connecticut, New York, New Jersey, Pennsylvania, Lower (See next page)
192
HISTORY OF NANTUCKET
The above petition was read in the House of Representatives, January 25th, 1776, and referred to a committee consisting of Col. Freeman, Mr. Brown of Boston and Mr. Davis of Barnstable, with such as the Council should join. To them, on the same day the Council added John Winthrop and Charles Chauncy, Esqs. That committee reported a resolve to the effect "that a Representa- tion of the present State of that Island and of the conduct of the Inhabitants, be made to the American Congress, and that the Inhabitants be supplied with Necessaries for their Subsistence in the manner directed by a Resolve of the Congress, untill their determination on such Representation may be had." This resolve was adopted. Whether the representation voted was made to the Continental Congress or not does not appear, as there is no report of any action by that body in its Journal.
The following extracts from diaries kept by Kezia Coffin will give some idea of the insular life and activities in the early days of the Revolutionary period: "Thursday Aug 30, Capt Ascough in a British man-of-war anchor'd at our Barr this afternoon-1 tender 2 or 3 prizes with him." "Monday Sept 4, Capt Ascough & prizes sail'd at noon. ship convoyed prizes over shoals & then went west- ward-they are bound to Boston. Joseph Hussey & Roby went off today bound to Cambridge." "Tues. Sept 5 Rand, P. F." (Phineas Fanning) "Sampson, Brister &c sl'd this morning to Vineyard in father's vessel for a load of wood." "Wed. Sept 6. Daniel Pinkham arr'd from whaling in father's vessel-20 bbls." "Friday Sept 15 Barney Swain came in today from Iceland with 250 bbls oyl-the Iceland fleet have all done well, some of them got 300, no one of them less than 100 bbls. the Disco fleet have done small-many of them not a drop." Sunday Sept 17. Johnson & James Alley came home * * * they were here about 2 months ago and engaged shoes to people. they have brought on, near 500 pr." "Thurs. Sept 21. P. F. is bound to L. Island after a load of Provisions or wood if they are permitted to bring it." "Tues Oct. 3. Sam'l Starbuck came in today from Newport tells that we shall have provisions from the main by
Counties on Delaware, or Maryland, not exceeding the quantities spec- ifyed in the estimate.
Resolved, Whereas it appears that the said inhabitants are in im- mediate danger of suffering for want of the necessaries of life, that the said Captain Jenkins be permitted, under the inspection of the commit- tee of the city of Philadelphia, to unload and sell his present cargo, and to purchase a cargo of fuel or provisions, provided he shall first make oath or affirmation before a magistrate, and give bond, that the same is, bona fide, intended for the internal consumption of the said inhabitants, and that he will use his utmost endeavors, that it shall not fall into the hands of the enemies of the United Colonies." (Jour- nals of the Continental Congress Vol. III, pp. 421-2) On the 23d of
December petitions from Seth Paddock, of the sloop Mayflower, and
Sylvanus Coffin, of the schooner Dolly, both of Nantucket, were laid before the Continental Congress (Vol. III, pp. 445-6), asking for simi- lar concessions, and were referred to a committee consisting of Thomas McKene, Benjamin Harrison and Roger Sherman with instructions to find what amount of fuel and provisions were needed for the exclusive use of the islanders and how much had been exported to the island
from different ports in the United Colonies during the month of De- cember. The committee reported Dec. 28. The report was read and Jan. 2, 1776, was refused. The records of the Town are singularly de- void of any expression of the Town's action in any of these matters, and it is not until April 9, 1779 that they show any intimation that a state of war existed. The petitioners representing the Town seem to be the Selectmen as such and not acting under a recorded vote of the Town. It is likely that the people hesitated about having any action recorded for fear that it might later be used against them.
193
HISTORY OF NANTUCKET
first applying to the Falmouth committee & procuring papers. great Condescension in their high mightinesses." Friday, Oct. 6. Richard Mitchell & Stephen Hussey came to the Island today-have been from this town to the general court to try to get Liberty for us to have necessaries brought here-they have obtained something by going as is mentioned the third of this month." Monday Oct. 9 "A few minutes before 12 o'clock Rand and * * * P (hineas) F (an- ning ) came to the Barr, Sailed 8 clock last night from Shelter Island as quick or the quickest passage ever made from there here, they went after provisions. Mr. Fanning petitioned the Committee. for leave to bring provisions or wood, but the (y) would suffer him to bring neither any more than to bring him home. they pretended that they believ'd Rand bound to the Enemy-they gave him a per- mit for so much Beef, Butter, chees, wood &c &c. as they thought would bring them home & put a Committee to see that they took no more in-but by stealth they took more in than they were allowed to. they brought 60 or 70 weight of Butter as much chees, 1 Cow dead, 2 Bbls Cyder, 3 Bushels Quinces-several Bushels Apples dried Cheries, Peas, Apples &c. one deer, skin & all." Thursday Oct. 12 John Worth here from Saratoga came on with intention of going whaling "but the times are so troublesome here that he deter-
mines home again as soon as possible" * * "Hugh McCoy came home today was taken at Rhode Island with Stephen Paddock, the man of war that took them is determin'd to carry Paddock & his vessel to Boston. Paddock was bound to N. York with a load of Oyl, he had no clearance. A number of our Vessels have been long look'd for from Kennebeck with Wood & a new Brigantine of T. Jenkins-the Brigg was look'd for 4 weeks ago & it was fear'd she was taken-But Davis Hatch came here today from Kennebeck & says that the people there have taken the Nantucket Vessels unbent their sails & will not suffer them to return. when they came to their Vessel they got the rabble drunk & then stole away." Thurs- day Oct 19. Mr. Fanning sailed for Long Island for provisions in- tending to stop at Falmouth for a permit. Tues, November 14. A ship and several tenders nigh that we are fearful of. Wed. Nov- ember 15 "the man of War & tenders came this forenoon to the Barr & anchor'd * *
* just at dusk a little Vessel came in that the man of War had taken-she lost her anchors-has gone ashore by old George Hussey's house-'tis said she belongs in Boston-but some of our sons of Balael say she is one of the men of War's tenders & they are determined to muster & take her-before 10 mama & I went up to Doct. Tupper's to inform him what was the Vogue & request of him to abate if possible the spirit that reigns. he thought nothing could be done tonight but engaged to stir early in the morn." Thurs November 16, "the ship at the Barr is commanded by Capt. Ascough a Gun ship. one of the tenders parted her cable just at dusk & ran into the harbour up to the wharf." Fri. Novem- ber 17 There was a combination to capture the tender at the wharf but the captain was warned. Sat. November 18 Samuel Crosby has tried to get a boat's crew to go to the Vineyard & inform them of the tender's being in the harbour. Sun. November 19, "Capt.
Ascough's wife is on board the ship. one Coffin on board came ashore for some necessaries for Mrs. A. sent some turnips, cran- berries, cherries, eggs, butter, cheese marmalade &c. £ Mon. Nov- ember 29 Wm Rotch, the two visiting Friends and several others went on board the ship today. Thurs. November 23, "Johnson, the Lynn shoemaker, came last night, tells that the Americans have actually taken St. Johns in Quebec, but there remains a great doubt with me whether it is true since the Americans so frequently raise false reports in favour of themselves. Congress thanksgiving day." Friday November 24, The ship and all belonging to her sailed
194
HISTORY OF NANTUCKET
about noon-upwards of 40 vessels have gone out of the harbour today. A. Brigg is gone to N. York in my father's sloop Defiance .--- C. Coleman gone out whaling, Sampson with him. one Clark brought a load of flour here when the country would not permit it. George Smith went out today in a whale brigg. Mon. November 27 Ben- jamin Barnard went out yesterday for Philadelphia after a load of flower. Wed. November 29 Meader & Hathaway sail'd whaling. Frid. December 1 Phineas Fanning arrived with a load of provisions, "after going through everything but death." Mon. December 4 "our house has been like a Tavern, people coming after provisions."
In the fall of 1775, one Shubael Lovell, of Barnstable, the owner and captain of a small vessel, was captured by an English vessel of war, while on a voyage from Hyannis to Nantucket. Having nothing on board his vessel worth retaining she was re- leased and Lovell proceeded to Nantucket. The man-of-war lay off the harbor for a considerable time and Lovell found it, as he said, "impracticable for him to return." The English captain was much in want of bread and exchanged a small quantity of provisions with the people of Nantucket for some. Dr. Samuel Gelston seems to have been deputized to effect the exchange, and by him Lovell sent a small gift consisting of six bunches of onions, four cabbages and half a bushel of beets because, as he wrote to the General Court, he "was under the mousels of the Ship and her Tender Guns which I then thought might be some helpe to me if I was taken Againe by them so that I might Git away and not be Cared to Boston &c." Lowell was arrested and imprisoned by the Colonial authorities, but after his petition and explanation he was released and returned to Barnstable."*
Dr. Gelston also fell under the bann and was arrested by the Provincial authorities and was imprisoned in the Plymouth jail. He effected his escape from there, but was recaptured at Newport and returned to the custody of the Massachusetts Bay authorities. The Doctor addressed a petition to the General Court, setting forth that he had been brought before the Court to answer to several complaints, "one of which was that of supplying Cap't Ayscough with provisions, the particulars of which has been given in with Truth and Candour, & he apprehends has been Laid before your Honors. The other is for several speaches made in conversa- tion & Threatening to spread the small Pox all of which he absolutely Denys, & presumes no positive evidence can be produced to support such a charge, neither has he at any time held any Correspondence with, nor supply'd the army or navy of Britain except in the present Instance, nor has he been regardless of his duty to his Creator, his Country & posterity-Your petitioner would further beg Leave to set forth to your Honors That he has a Wife & Family consisting of Eight children, who must be Greatly distressed by his absence & confinement as well as his property Distroyed." He further acknowledged his faults and prom- ised "to promote the good of his Country & its cause, which shall
*Revolutionary Council Papers, Vol. 164, p. 253.
+Revolutionary Council Papers, Vol. 164, p. 261. The man-of-war and her tenders sailed away Nov. 24, and on the same day Mrs. Fan- ning's diary records "upwards of 40 vessels have gone out of the har- bour today."
195
HISTORY OF NANTUCKET
be advised on every Occasion."* The General Court granted him a release subsequently and he returned to Nantucket .;
The Islanders endeavored to supply their necessities by con- tinuing their commercial relations with the ports at which they had traded prior to the war, but the measures of the Continental Congress became continually more and more strenuous in the. direction of preventing all such trade, either direct or indirect. When one Benjamin Crocker, of Falmouth, petitioned in February, 1776, for leave to go to the islands of Tobago and Grenada to collect some debts owed to him, the Provincial Congress granted him permission, provided he returned with the proceeds of his collections to some port in the Colonies, excepting Boston (then. in the control of the English), Nantucket or New York;} and about the same time the Congress passed an order forbidding vessels going to the West Indies contrary to the laws of the Con- tinental Congress. The owners of the vessels were warned that the craft were liable to capture by any Colonial vessels if they sailed without Colonial permits. * *
Money was becoming scarce. The General Court directed Stephen Hussey, who seemed to be its accredited agent in various matters of importance, to ascertain if there was gold or Silver on the Island exchangeable for Continental bills. In response to this order, Mr. Hussey replied that he had "attended that service and find no Person ready to Exchange at present Oweing Principaly to the Scarceaty of hard Money in this Country, little or Nothing has been received for Oil & Head the last season Except Paper by that Means tis impossible to Colect much hard Money here.tt Continued legislation was directed at a repression of what might have seemed to have been undue amounts of provisions being
*Petitions, Vol. 181, p. 375. ""Complaint was made to the General Court, about this time, that some of the inhabitants of Nantucket were in the practice of furnish- ing the enemy with provisions from that island. Most of the people undoubtedly were innocent of such criminal conduct; but some of them were proved to be guilty. They had abused the license given them to carry provisions from the main to that island for the necessary sup- ply of its own population; and had furnished the British army in Bos- ton with many vessel loads. One Dr. G- was confined by order of the General Assembly, for assisting the enemy in this manner." Bradford, Vol. II, p. 889. It is evident that Bradford's statement was without proper foundation. William Rotch, whose truthfulness no one would dare to question, testifies in his Memoirs that the charges were false. įPetitions, Vol. 208, pp. 172-3.
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