USA > Massachusetts > Nantucket County > The history of Nantucket County, island, and town : including genealogies of first settlers > Part 27
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tUnder date of July 1 Mrs. Fanning's diary tells of Charles Jen- kins who sailed in the Fall of 1776 for Philadelphia for a load of flour; was blockaded all winter by the English fleet, got through the blockade in the Spring but was captured with his vessel and sent into New York. Barnabas Coffin who was captured with him was taken with the small pox and died a prisoner. Under date of July 15 she tells of Nathan and Richard Coffin, Gideon Worth, Francis Hussey and several others going to London before hostilities began and being unable to return. They finally got a brig and cleared for Halifax, intending to make Nantucket. They were captured in the West Indies by an American privateer and sent to an American port as a prize. The privateer soon after was captured by an English armed vessel and in the battle Francis Hussey and another Nantucket man were killed. Under date of Dec 23d. 1777 she mentions the death of Barzillai Swain in Boston, a physical wreck. He sailed for the West Indies over a year before but was captured by the English, and confined in the Halifax goal until 'very recently. On Dec. 26 she writes "news came to the Island today of the death of Barnabas Gardner & Abel Gardner-they died on board the: Prison Ship at New York." In a letter from St. Johns, Newfound- land dated July 21st 1777 (Rev. Councill Papers, Vol. 167, p. 98), the Governor, J. Montague grants permission to Capt John Gage and his mate and Edward Gage, a relative, late of the Sch. Rebecca, "who were taken Prisoners by His Majesty's Armed sloop Bonavista" to return (See next page)
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To the Hon'ble the Council of the State of the Massachusetts Bay. The Petition of Paul Hussey of Nantucket Sheweth :-
That a number of his Friends and Acquaintance are in Captivity in New York Confined on board a Prison Ship & there, some of whom are sick and very low spirited, occasioned by their long Imprisonment, and he fears if they are not speedily released, many of them will Die under their Hardships. their names are as follows vizt. Capt. Nathan Coffin, Blin Harris, Mr. Seth Pinkham, Mr. James Fitch, Christopher Merrick, Henry Tracey, Gard Manter, Robert Calder, Elias Coffin, Thomas Shald- well, James Whitehouse, Capt. Timothy Coffin, Capt. Benjamin Cocks, Capt. Abraham Toppin, Joseph Rollins, John Saunders, Capt. Elias Hallett, William Furnis Thornum, Arthur Forguson, John Sweet, Capt. William Probey, Capt. Weeks, Capt. Taylor, Capt. Uriah Atkins, Capt. Hatch, all belonging to this State who have very earnestly requested your petitioner to solicit for their exchange.
That there are the following Prisoners now here to be ex- changed namely Capt. Lewis O'Brien, Mr. Jonathan Head, Harber Hasse 2d Mate, William Murry Boatswain, John Rernson Sailor, Jonathan Jackson do., John Durham do., Isaac Lawson do., William Watson boy, Joseph Waters Mollato, Thomas Brown Negro, Phillip Porter Sailor, John Quiley at Bedford Passengers William Butter- field do., Michael Fox do.
Your petitioner therefore humbly prays your Honors would be pleased to take the distressed circumstances of his Friends & Prisoners at New York into your Compassionate Consideration, and that you would be pleased to send him in a Flag of Truce to New York with the named Prisoners and any others he can procure, that he may obtain a Releasement of his friends & at New York, and that he may go as soon as possible.
And as in duty bound shall pray &c
PAUL HUSSEY."*
Capt. Hussey's petition was endorsed "these may Certify that I the Subscriber have made inquiry as to the Character of the within named Paul Hussey and find him to be a Gentleman that may be Rely'd on.
ROBERT PIERPONT."
The accompanying orders followed the reading of the peti- tion:
"In Council Aug 12, 1777.
Read & Ordered that the Prayer of the above Petition be
to Nantucket in exchange for Edward Elmer, a prisoner at Dartmouth in New England.
The records of Union Lodge, A. F. & A. M. under date of February 3d, 1777, state that a Committee was appointed to send £30. "by several Vessels over the Sea in Adventure for the Benefit of this Lodge as they should think expedient."
Under date of April 25, 1777 Admiral Howe gave a permit for the following named prisoners to go from New York to Connecticut and Island of Nantucket in exchange; Ebenezer Coffin and Thomas Wil- kins, merchants; Capt. John Harvey and Capt. George Osborn; Uriah Gardner and Samuel Thomas, mates; Reuben Barnard, Levi Gardner, Nathan'l Frost, William Cartwright, Valentine Coffin, William Barnes, John Martler and Hugh Ellis, seamen. Mass. Prisoners, Vol. 9, p. 55. * Rev. Council Papers, Mass., Vol. 167, p. 153. In October 1777 Sus- anna Geyer, wife of Frederick William Geyer, of New York, was grant- ed permission to go from Nantucket with her four young daughters to New York, her husband having obtained the release of four Amer- icans and having had them conveyed by cartel to Nantucket. (Rev. Council Papers, Vol. 167, p. 343.)
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granted & that a Cartel be sent to New York for the Exchange of the above mentioned Prisoners.
JNO AVERY D SEC."
"State of Massachusetts Bay.
Council Chamber, Aug. 14, 1777. Capt Godfrey whereas you have bin this day appointed to the Com'd of the Cartell Schooner Speedwell
You are therefore directed imedeatly to take Com- mand of s'd Vessel & under the direction of Rob't Pierpont Esqu'r Commissary for the Exchang of Prisoners-fix her for the voyage & Recive on bord her such prisoners & other persons as may be Delivered you by the s'd Commassery & then proceed by ye East side of Long Island with all posable Despatch to New York-& their Deliver the prisoners you Carry with you to Capt Paul Hussey ( who will go with you in ye Carteal) and is to negotiate the Exchange with the Comasary who may be appointed at New York to make the Ex- chang with him as soon as the Exchang is Compleated you are directed to Return with the Vessel under your Com'd & the prisoners which you may Recive Imedeatly to this place-first Landing such part of ye prisoners at Falmouth in this state as belong to the Island of Nantucket and such others, as it may be most Convenant for them to be Landed at s'd Falmouth and in all Respect observe & follow as near as may be the Gen'll Instructions Given you by the Council of this state, and in all Respect Conduct y'rself properly using the great- est economy & Dispatch."
The following orders were given to Capt. Hussey .*
Aug. 16, 1777.
Sir-As Capt. Godfrey Commander of the Scooner Speedwell is bound to New York with a number of Prisoners, you are appointed a Commissary of Prisoners in order to Conduct the Exchange. In- closed you have a Letter directed to ye Commanding officer of the Navy at New York which you will deliver to him upon your arrival there you will receive Enclosed a List of the Prisoners that goes by Capt. Godfrey from Mr. Pierpont ye Commissary of Prisoners for whom you will use your best Endeavers to procure an Equal number of the same rank & quality, taking care if possible to obtain in Exchange Capt. Nathan & Capt. Timothy Coffin & such other Seemen as belong to this & some other of ye United states of America and have been longest in Captivity giving the Preference however to such as belong to this State-you are directed not to make the present Unhappy dispute ye subject of your Conversation & upon your Arrival at New York are not to transact any other Business saving the Negotiating the Exchange of ye Prisoners and to use your endeavors to prevent ye men belonging to ye Cartel scooner to carry on any Bussiness there of any kind but what relates to the Exchange aforesaid."
It was during this year that Dr. Bejnamin Tupper, a well- known physician in Nantucket, was arrested, charged with being
*Rev. Council Papers, Mass. Vol. 167, p. 163. Ssubael Barnard, of Nantucket, sailed for Martinico in a sloop, Barzillai Swain, master, was captured by the English man of war Mil- ford and carried to Halifax; was removed, taken up the Bay of Fundy, was recaptured by the American Privateer Black Bird and was then put in prison in Boston. In Dec. the Council ordered his release (Rev. Council Papers, Vol. 168, p. 66). The Sloop Lively of Nantucket, Barna- bus Starbuck master, on the voyage from New Providence to Nantucket was captured by the privateer Hampden and sent into Salem. She ap- pears to have been again captured by the English and sent into New York. (Rev. Council Papers, Vol. 169, p. 237).
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"a Person Dangerous to the Liberties of this State" and confined in the jail at Barnstable. There is little doubt that the Doctor in the early years of the Revolution was not in complete harmony with it. The arrest was made in June .* By an order of the Council dated October 26, 1777, Gen. Otis, the local commander, was instructed to deliver him into the custody of the Sheriff of Suffolk County, "that he may be proceeded with according to the Laws of this State."t
Just what the particular charges were or what they were based upon does not directly appear, but it is fair perhaps to assume that they may have had some reference to the importation of flour and provisions to the Island by the people or with the attempt of the Islanders to get some concession from the English whereby the inhabitants might be allowed to earn a livelihood and permitted to purchase food.
Among the documents on file in connection with the case is an evidently intercepted letter from Kezia Coffin, addressed to him at Edgartown, of which the following is a copy:
Nantucket ye 4 mo ye 8th 1777. .
my friend
these may Informe that I Received thy message about thy flower & Have seen that it is taken Care off I also may Informe thee that we Continew very uneasy about our Long Island friends. Fanning# wants very much to Goe, or to send a Letter Either to Long Island or Block Island as we Have Heard there is Passing from one Island to the other, but as no way Presents Heare at Preas- ant I Desire that thou would See Simon Porrag before thou Returns Heare, & Inquire if He Has a Boat and wheather He would be will- ing when the weather is more modirate, may be next month, to Goe to Long Island or Block Island to Carry Fanning or some other Person, to See after his friends, & fetch His mother as we are Senci- ble she is in a very Uneasy situation, when thou Returns we Can Consult further for this is of my one Proiecting, may be that Fanning will not approve of these measures, so can ad no more at Preasant, but Conclude with my Respects thy friend
I zia Coffin
Doctor Tupper at Edgartown. *
If the letter was the foundation for the charge it would seem that the Doctor must have held communication with the English
*Rev. Council Papers, Vol. 173, p. 441.
¿Ibid, Vol. 175, p. 688.
#Phineas Fanning who was afterwards married to her daughter, Kezia.
** Mrs. Coffin was a woman of marked ability and force. For a very considerable time after the commencement of the Revolution she continued to be a staunch supporter of the King. The common report of the day accused her of smuggling but there does not seem to be any foundation for the story. Without doubt she was instrumental in im- porting provisions, but it was not apparently done secretly nor for un- due personal gain. It is to be fairly argued that if someone had not moved more rapidly than the law there would have been much suffering in Nantucket.
-
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without proper authority. Whatever the explicit charge may have been Capt. Timothy Folger, evidently believed him unjustly ac- cused, for under date of July 11, 1777, in a petition to the Council, he says: "That your Petitioner being informed that the Honorable Council sent an Order to Coll'l Pope at Bedford to apprehend the Body of Benjamin Tupper of Sherburn in the County of Nantucket and to Commit him to Concord Goal Your Petitioner humbly ap- prehends he can give your Honors a true state of Facts Respecting the said Benjamin Tupper and his Conduct, and prays that he may be heard before the Honorable the Council or a Committee of the same," etc. Capt Folger's petition, which was sent from Boston, was immediately received and acted upon and Joseph Palmer and Moses Gill, Esq., were appointed a committee to con- sider it. On July 18th the committee appears to have considered Capt Folger's testimony and made the following report:
The Committee upon the within Petition having heard said Folger upon the matter, and examined one Simon Porrage, now in Jail, rspecting said Tupper; Report that both said Tupper & Porrage be liberated upon their severally giving Bond, to the Treasurer of this State, that they will not, during the present war, either directly or indirectly, aid or assist the Enemies of the united States of America, or hold any kind of correspondence with any of them; the said Tup- per, in the sum of £600, with such surities as Col'o Pope shall ap- prove; &, the said Porrage in the sum of £300, said Folger being surety for him.
J. PALMER per Order. Read & Accepted, JNO. AVERY, D. SEC .*
The year 1778 brought no cheer for the people of Nantucket. In his Memoranda of this period William Rotch said: "It was about the year 1778 when the current in the country was very strong against us at Nantucket, the vessels we sent after provisions sent back empty, and great suffering for want of food was likely to take place, that the people who thought we ought to have joined in the war (not Friends) began to chide and murmur against me. They considered me the principal cause that we did not unite in the war (which I knew was measurably the case), when we might have been plentifully supplied, but were now likely to starve, little considering that if we had taken part, there was nothing but super- natural aid (which we had no reason to expect) that could have prevented our destruction."
Nantucket and Vineyard Sounds were continually infested with cruisers and the not over abundant supplies which the Island- ers could secure from the continent were continually in danger of capture before they could reach their destination. Of this period, Macy says: "Sometimes strangers, with the prospect of high prices, would venture to the Island with such articles as were most needed, and take in exchange fish, salt, oil, etc. A number of the inhabitants ran open sailboats to Connecticut and elsewhere, with salt and other articles, and brought back provisions and other supplies. They chose those boats, because they could pass Rhode Island in them with greater safety, during the night than in vessels. And, notwithstand- ing the danger of navigating such frail barks, they selected the most
*Rev. Council Papers, Vol. 167, p. 78.
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stormy nights, even in winter, to pass ports in possession of the enemy; for they had rather encounter the hazard of foundering at sea, than of falling into the hands of the British. By these means, and with what breadstuffs was raised on the Island, the people were prevented, and in many instances barely prevented, from suffering to death."
"As long as the vessels lasted, they afforded employment for the poorer class; but their number lessened very fast. The loss of these, however, was not the greatet evil which the people had to sustain. The prison-ship was much more dreaded. *
* * * In the middle and latter part of the war, accounts from abroad were rarely received, which did not tell of the death of one or more of the people belonging to the place. The few, that re- turned from the prison-ships, gave the most. melancholy account
of the sufferings of the prisoners. The provisions, which they had to eat, were the most filthy that could be procured, infested with bugs, weavils and maggots; and of even these they were furnished with not half enough to satisfy the cravings of nature. Their scanty pittance of water was offensive to the smell, filthy
and poisonous. A great number of persons were confined within the narrow limits of the ship; they were overrun with tormenting vermin; on every side the eye rested on the dead, and the ear was assailed with the groans of the dying. These startling and horrid truths wrought so forcibly on the minds of those whose necessities impelled them to follow the sea for a subsistence, and so disquieted the hearts of their wives and children, who must be left in anxious uncertainty both in regard to their future means of subsistence, and the fate of their near relatives, as to bring a gloom over the face of society, too deep and too heart-felt to be de- scribed."*
.To avoid capture and the terrible consequences it involved the craft in which the people of Nantucket sought to import their food-stuffs were long and narrow, built of frail materials and con- structed with special reference to speed. When chased by enemy vessels they carried such a press of sail that they not infrequently were swamped and their crews perished.t
Under such conditions the prices for the necessities of life ran abnormally high. Corn was quoted at $3.00 per bushel; flour at $30.00 per barrel and other goods in proportion .¿ Wood became scarce and peat was resorted to. The scrub oaks were used, roots as well as top. Mrs. Fanning records under the date of February 5th that her people procured cedars from Coatue.
On the fourth of February the following resolution was in- troduced into the General Court: **
*Macy, pp. 85-86. .
tMacy, p. 86. Mr. Macy quotes from the valuation of ratable prop- erty on the Island, made by the State of the Massachusetts Bay, for the year 1778. A synopsis of the figures given shows-Ratable polls 970, not ratable 31; dwelling houses, barns and similar buildings, 604; value of same £35,633. 5s; value of wharves, £1,708. 2s. 4d; still houses, fur- naces, mills etc 4; value £295; value of all goods, wares merchandise and stock in trade £8,257. 8s; value of vessels whether at home or abroad £12,860. 8s; ounces of plate 1780; number of horses 270; oxen 54; cows 540; steers 155; sheep and goats 9,938; swine 299. Value of real estate £116,552. 7s. 4d. Value of personal property, £51,561. 9s. 8d.
#Macy, p. 88-90. '
** Mass. State Archives, Vol. 217, D. 44.
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State of Massachusetts Bay
In the House of Representatives Feby 4, 1778.
Whereas sundry persons were by this Court yesterday appointed to go into the several Counties & Towns within this State, & make particular Enquiry into the Reasons of the Deficiency of the Num- ber of men heretofore ordered to be raised for Reinforcing the Continental Army & Report to this Court on or before the 20: Inst .- And
Whereas this Court hath received Information, that Supplies of provisions of various kinds have been sent from or thro this State, to our Enemies the British Troops by the Way of Nantucket, or thro some other Channel-Therefore
Resolved That Thomas Durfee, who is appointed to go into the County of Bristol, George Partridge into ye County of Plymouth, & Joseph Nye into the County of Barnstable for the purpose above mentioned be, & they are hereby impowered & directed also to make strict Enquiry & get all the Intelligence they can respecting such supplies of provisions, & report on their Return, that so proper Measures may be taken for the punishment & prevention of such vile practices --
Sent up for Concurrence JOHN PITTS SP. p. t.
In Council Feby 4, 1778. Read & Concurred
J. M. AVERY, Dp. Secy.
Consented to JO POWELL, W. SEVER, A. WARD, CALEB CUSHING, DAN'L DAVIS, S. HOLTEN, JOHN TAYLOR, BENJ. AUSTIN, JEDIDIAH PREBLE, SAM'L DANIELSON, D. HOPKINS, W. SPOONER, JOSIAH STONE, J. PALMER, A. FULLER.
It seemed to be the old story of an apparent leak somewhere and a guess at who the guilty parties were. If there were any supplies conveyed to the English from Nantucket the most promin- ent citizens there and those most likely to be informed were not aware of it, nor did the investigations of the General Court serve to indicate any collusion between any of the Islanders and any portion of the English forces. The temptations were as great as the exigencies were pressing, but no evidence exists where the . leak was.
A petition from Nat Barber Jr., who was a Colonial muster master, addressed to the General Court early in the year set forth that "Daniel Coffin of Nantucket was taken by the Enemy the 10th of Feb. 1777-And when carried to New York was Compel'd to enter on board the Lady Gage .- The said Coffin is now on board the Prison Ship in this Harbour-If your Honors think proper, your petitioner begs he may be released."-March 12th 1778 the Council ordered the Commissary of Prisoners "to liberate Daniel Coffin of Nantucket, now a Prisoner on Board the Guard Ship Rising Empire & to suffer him to go at large."* The
*Rec. Council Papers, Vol. 168, p. 210. The records of Union Lodge A. F. & A. M. under date of May 4, 1778, show that the Lodge "voted that the secretary Doath wright a Letter in the Behalf of ye Lodge to Bro. Nath Barber Jr in Boston to procure a man for the Releas of Bo. Andrew Brock now Prisner in New York.
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natural inference to be drawn from Mr. Barber's petition is that the Lady Gage on which Coffin was imprisoned fell a victim to a Yankee privateer and he had to suffer the penalty of being caught in bad company. Coffin was a cousin of Kezia Fanning, and in her diary under the date of Saturday April 18th she makes these comments: "Daniel Coffin arrived to the Island last night after 2 yrs. & a half absence he was taken with Timo. Coleman & carried into York could not get his liberty to come away and so entered on board a transport has saild several voyages from York he was taken this winter past on board the Lady Gage packet & carried into boston & there put on board the prison ship-Nat: Barber got an order of council went on board & re- leased him. Do not know for why or what reason barber be- friended him-he has lost the chief of what he had."
On July 24th the Naval Officers in the several parts of the State were directed to require a bond of £3,000 from the owners and masters of any vessels bound to any Southern State for flour or grain that the cargo obtained be landed at some port in this State. The Island fleet, however, which, in the beginning of the year 1775 had numbered 150 vessels in the whale fishery alone, besides coasters and those engaged in foreign trade, had become so decimated that there were very few to be affected by any restrictive legislation, however drastic or necessary. The few that did survive, nevertheless, were among those affected, since provisions of all kinds were procured from ports along the coast, from Long Island to the Carolinas, and from the West India islands, and supplies of wood came from Cape Cod or from the forests of Maine.
In September, 1778, word was received at Nantucket that several English men of war were at Martha's Vineyard, plundering the people and burning and destroying much property. The report created much excitement, especially as the report stated that the fleet would next visit Nantucket and destroy its stores, shipping, etc. Those of the people who could, loaded such of their goods as were easily removable on to vehicles and transported them out of town. This feeling of extreme unrest must have lasted for nearly a month for on October 5, Union Lodge, Ancient Free and Accepted Masons "Voted, their be a Committee of 3 Brothers viz. Bros. Robert Folger, Bro. Paul Pinkham & Obed Bunker are Chosen to take ye Greatest care of the Chest of this Lodge & the furniture of ye same in case the Enemy is in sight of us Hear."*
* According to Bank's (Hist. of Martha's Vineyard, Vol. 1, p. 369) this expedition was under the command of Gen. Sir Charles Grey and consisted of 4333 men and 20 transports and was convoyed by 11 ves- sels of war. They anchored in Holmes's Hole Sept. 10. "General Grey wished Captain Fanshawe (of the Carysfort) to proceed on the Nan- tucket service without coming to an anchor off Homes Hole harbor, as the wind was fair, but Captain Fanshawe, insisting on the necessity of assembling his captains, the deliberation lasted until the wind changed." And the obstinacy of Capt Fanshawe was the salvation of Nantucket. On Sept. 13, orders came from Lord Howe to return to (See next page)
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It does not appear, however, that Nantucket was visited on this occasion. By an unexpected combination of circumstances the visit to Nantucket, which was one of the principal objects of the raid, was deferred until the expedition was recalled by Lord Howe, with but half its work accomplished. The devestation suffered by the people of Martha's Vineyard was an indication of what would have been the fate of Nantucket had the original purpose been carried out .*
The year 1779 was a most discouraging one for the people of Nantucket. As full of troubles as its predecessors had been since the beginning of the Revolution this year surpassed either of them in the privation, danger and suffering the Islanders were called upon to endure. Macy says: "The year 1779 was replete with difficulties, one succeeding another, so as to keep the people in continual anxiety."t
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