USA > Rhode Island > A history of the destruction of His Britannic Majesty's schooner Gaspee, in Narragansett Bay, on the 10th June, 1772 > Part 4
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As I was standing myself to oppose them. and making a stroke with my sword. at the man who was attempting to come up. at that instant I found myself disabled in my left arın. and shot through the groin. I then stepped from the gunwale, with an intention to order them retire to close quarters; but soon saw that most of them were knocked down, and myself twice, (after telling them I was mortally wounded).
They damned me, and said I was not wounded ; if I was, my own people had done it. As loss of blood. made me drop down upon deck. they ordered me to beg my life, and commanded the people to surrender. As I saw there was no possibility of detending the vessel against such numbers, who were in every respect armed. and commanded with regularity. by one who personated the sheriff. I thought it best for the people's preservation. to propose to them that I would order them to surrender, if they assured me they should not be hurt ; which they did.
I then called out, which was immediately echoed by the people round me, that I had given them orders to surrender. They hurried all the people below, and or- dered them up, one by one, and tied their hands behind their backs, then ordered them into different hoats.
I then begged they would either dispatch me, or suffer my wounds to be dressed; upon that, they allowed my servant to be unbound, to get me things for dressing, and carried me below. But what was my surprise, when I came down in the cabin, two surgeons were ordered down from the deck, to dress me, who were furnished with drops, and began to serape lint for that purpose.
During this time. I had an opportunity of observing the persons of about a dozen, who were in the eabin. They appeared to me to be merchants and masters of ves- sels, who were at my bureau. reading and examining my papers. They promised to let me have the schooner's books, and my clothes ; instead of which, as they were handing me up, to go into the boat, they threw them overboard, or into some of the boats. I was soon afterwards thrust into a boat, almost naked.
During the time they were rowing me on shore, I had an opportunity of observing the boat ; which appeared to me, to be a very large long-boat. I saw by the man who steered her, a eutlass lying by hin, and directing the men to have their arms ready. As soon as they put off, the sheriff gave them orders to land me on some
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THE DESTRUCTION OF THE GASPEE.
neck. and the boat to come off' immediately : and told me if I did not consent to pay the value of the rimu. I must not expect to have any thing belonging to me, saved.
I made answer, whatever reparation the law would give, I was rea ly and willing ; as to my things, they might do with them. as they pleased. They were accordingly going to land me on this neck. when I told them they had better throw me over- board. One man, who had a little more humanity than any of the rest. said they had better land me at the Point of Pawtuxet. As I was unable to stand, they un- bound five of the men, and gave them a blanket to carry me up. When I was half' way on shore. I heard some of the schooner's guns go off, and heard the people say she was on fire.
I had not been carried far. when the people exclaimed. I was on an island, and they saw no house ; on which. they laid me down. and went in quest of one. Soon after, they came to acquaint me they saw one, which I was carried to : a man was immediately dispatched to Providence, for a surgeon. A little after, the people joined me, with the midshipman ; all of whom, that I could persuade. are sent on board Ilis Majesty's sloop Beaver.
The schooner is utterly destroyed, and every thing appertaining to her. me, and the schooner's company. If I live. I am not withont hope of being able to convict some of the principal people that were with them. The pain. with the loss of blood, rendered me incapable of informing you before of the particulars. There are none of the people any ways wounded, but bruised with handspikes.
I am, sir, &e .. &r ... W. DUDINGSTON. To Admiral Montagu.
1555778
In the above letter, Dudingston says, that in taking him ashore, they told him, if he " did not consent to pay the value of the rum " he had seized, " he must not expect to have any thing saved belonging " to him ; to which, he made answer, that he was ready to make " any reparation the law would give."
It appears, by the following letter, from the collector of cus- toms, at Providence, that the owners of the goods referred to, lost no time in laying their hands on his person.
William Checkley, to the Commissioners of Customs.
[ Providence], 12th June, 1772.
Honorable Gentlemen :- Hearing this morning, that the high sheriff was gone to arrest Capt. Dudingston, on the suit of Jacob Greene and others, for goods which Capt. Duding-ton lately seized in the river, and carried to Boston, I went down im- mediately, and found the sheriff had just before arrested him : a copy of the writ I herewith enclose to Your Honors.
I offered to be security for him but Capt. Pudingston told me he should not ask
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THE DESTRUCTION OF THE GASPEE.
any person to be security, as he did not expect to live long, and the sheriff might do as he pleased. The surgeons told me he was too ill to be moved: and as I expect the sheriff' will use great severity with him. I humbly request Your Honors to give me such direction in the matter as to yon shall seem necessary .*
I am, &c., &c.,
WILLIAM CHIECKLEY.
To the Honorable ITis Majesty's Commissioners of Customs.
On the receipt of Lieutenant Dudingston's letter, of the 12th June, Admiral Montagu addressed the following to Governor Wanton.
The only thing that surprised the admiral in the statement of the lieutenant, was, that of his finding two surgeons in the cabin of the Gaspce, when he was taken down wounded ; whence he doubtless inferred, that the attacking party expected to shed blood, and that it was a previously contrived plot.
Admiral Montagu to the Governor of Rhode Island.
Boston, 15th June, 1772.
Sir :- By return of express, I ant favored with Your Excellency's letter. and am much obliged for the part you have taken in endeavoring to find out and bring to justice, those rebellious, lawless and piratical people, who were concerned in wound- ing the King's lientenant, and burning his schooner.
It will not bear a dispute but that they belonged to Providence, as they were heard by four or five gentlemen that were in the town, and are now here, beating the drum to arms, to raise a body of people to destroy the King's schooner. I have perused the depositions which Your Excellency enclosed; and although they differ in words, yet the matter is much to the same purpose.
I have, since I received yours, received one from Lieutenant Dudingston, whose account nearly agrees with the other, with this addition only: that when he was carried down to his cabin. after he was wounded, he, to his great surprise, found two surgeons. that came off from the shore in the boats, ready to dress his wounds, with drops and scraping of lint ; and at least a dozen of these people who were in the cabin, who were at his bureau reading and examining his papers, appeared to him to be merchants and masters of vessels.
It gives me pleasure to hear the lieutenant is in a fair way of recovery.
I am, sir, &c .. &c., J. MONTAGU.
To His Excellency Governor Wanton.
* Jacob Greene & Co., the owners of the rum and sugar, referred to, commeneed a suit at the July term of the court of common pleas, and recovered judgment against Dudingstou for the illegal seizure.
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THE DESTRUCTION OF THE GASPEE.
Admiral Montagu lost no time transmitting to His Majesty's secretary of state, the Earl of Hillsborough, an account of this affair. Ilis letter is dated on the very day of Governor Wan- ton's first letter to hin: ; and his account of it was given from the version as presented to him by Lieutenant Dudingston, or some one else from the Gaspee, on the day she was destroyed. Ilis account is very brief.
The deposition referred to, is doubtless that of William Diek- inson, a midshipman of the Gaspee, a copy of which, was transmitted by the admiral to Governor Wanton, in his letter to him, of the 11th June.
Admiral Montagu to Lord Hillsborough.
Boston. in New England, 12th June 1772. S
My Lord :- I was in hopes I should not have had occasion to trouble Your Lord- ship with any public letters, while I have the honor to command on the continent ; but the lawless and piratical people of Rhode Island obliges me to write to you.
By the enclosed deposition. Your Lordship will see that this nest of daring smug- glers have wounded in a most dangerous manner Lieut. Dudingston. and burnt the King's schooner Gaspee. under his command. for no other cause. except his being dilligent in the discharge of his duty, by giving every proper assistance to the fair trader, and using every endeavor to suppress the illicit trade that is carried on to a great degree, in that province. and which can never be checked unless there are more men-of-war stationed there, to keep the inhabitants in order.
I beg leave to refer Your Lordship to the enclosed deposition, for the particulars, and wait Your Lordship's instructions for what is to be done. Permit me to add, that the lieutenant that is wounded, is a sober, dilligent. good officer ; and has most strictly done his duty since I have had the honor of commanding here. frequently at the hazard of his lite, in assisting the revenue. Should he survive, which I have little hopes of, I beg leave to recommend him to Your Lordship's favor and pro- tection. I have the honor, &e., &e.,
J. MONTAGU.
To the Right Honorable Lord Hillsborough.
P. S. Herewith I transmit to Your Lordship copies of letters which have passed between me, Lieutenant Dudingston and the Governor of Rhode Island, which I did not think necessary to trouble Your Lordship with, until this melancholy affair of the schooner happened. J. M.
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THE DESTRUCTION OF THE GASPEE.
The following is the official account of the destruction of the Gaspee, transmitted by Governor Wanton, to the Earl of Ilillsborough.
The Governor of Rhode Island to the Earl of Hillsborough.
Newport, Rhode I-land. ) June 16, 1772.
My Lord :- I did myself the honor to write to Your Lordship on the 20th ultimo. I am now reduced to the necessity of addressing Your Lordship upon a most disa- greeable subject ; the destruction of the schooner Gaspee, under the command of Lieutenant William Dudingston, by persons unknown. The particulars relating to this unwarrantable transaction, so far as I have been able to collect them. are as follows :
On the 9th inst., she run aground on a point of land called Namquit. a little below Pawtuxet, ou the Narragansett River. within this colony. About three- quarters of an hour after twelve o'clock. at night, there being but one hand on deck, six or seven boats, full of men, were by him discovered drawing towards said schooner ; and before many of her hands had time to get upon deck, was boarded by the people in the boats, who, as soon as they had secured the possession of the schooner, took out the captain and all the people, and set them a-hore on the main land: after which. they set fire to the schooner. In the attack, Mr. Dud- ingston was wounded by a ball through his arm, from whence it passed and lodged in some part of his body.
Mr. Sessions, the Deputy Governor of this colony, immediately upon hearing of this unhappy affair, went to Mr. Dudingston, and offered him all the help and as- sistance in his power : but Mr. Dudingston said he wanted no favors for himself.
The Deputy Governor then tokl him, that he came not only to offer him any relief his distressed circumstances might require, but also to gain a declaration from his own mouth respecting the destruction of the schooner under his command, that proper and rigorous measures might be taken to discover and bring the perpetrators to justice.
Mr. Dudingston answered, he would give him no account, because of his indispo- sition ; and also, because it was his duty to forbear any thing of that kind. till he had done it to his commanding officer. at a court martial. to which, if he lived. he must be called ; but if he died, he desired it might all die with him.
The Deputy Governor, with the consent of Mr. Duding-ton, then proceeded to examine a number of his men. and, on the 11th, transmitted copies of the most mate- rial of the examinations to me ; upon the receipt whereof, I immediately convened such of His Majesty's Council and the house of deputies as could be seasonably no- tified, and laid before them the proceedings of the Deputy Governor, which they highly approved of. and unanimously reconunended my issuing a proclamation. with a re- ward of £100. sterling, for the discovery of any of the persons concerned in this violent insult upon government, which I cheerfully complied with, and sent them into the several towns within this colony.
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THE DESTRUCTION OF THE GASPEE.
This transaction gives me the utmost uneasiness : and Your Lord-hip may be as- sured, that the utmost vigilance of the civil authority will not be wanting, to bring the perpetrators to exemplary and condign punishment : and in justice to the inhab- itants of the colony. I must not omit mentioning. that the conduct of those who committed this outrage, is, by them. universally condemned.
I wish, My Lord, those officers who have lately been sent into this colony, under a pretence of assisting trade, had conducted with that temper, prudence and discretion which per-ons entrusted with the execution of the laws ought, upon every occasion, to manifest.
In my last, I informed Your Lordship. that the inhabitants had been insulted with- ont any just cause ; and I am extremely sorry that I have still reason to say, that the trade of this colony is interrupted in a most unprecedented and oppressive man- ner, without contributing. in the least, to the service of the revenue. Inward bound vessels have been detained several days, without the least colorable pretext, and then delivered up.
One from South Kingstown. for having on board a small quantity of tobacco, of the growth of this colony, which the owner was transporting to Newport, for a mar- ket ; another, for having only three or four dozen wine laid in by the captain, for sea stores. The small freight boats, plying between the several towns, with the produce of the colony, are, by the severity of these officers, subjected to great inconvenience, which very sensibly affects the whole colony ; and particularly. the town of Newport, its metropolis, whose inhabitants are principally supplied with the necessaries of' lite by water ; and the obstructions they now experience, have contributed not a little to enhance the price of fuel and provisions, to the great disadvantage of the town ; and in my humble opinion. if such measures are permitted to be pursued. the colony will ere long be involved in the deepest calamity.
These, My Lord. are serious and important truths : and as Your Lordship, from your thorough knowledge of the colony, must be perfectly acquainted with the na- ture and extent of our trade. the profits of which. ultimately centering in Great Britain, for the purchase of her manufactures, I have no room to doubt of Your Lordship's interposition in behalf of this colony, that all canse of complaint against any of the King's officers stationed here, may be removed, and the inhabitants treated with that respect which is due to the subjects of His Britannic Majesty.
As a proof, My Lord, that the trade of this colony stands upon as fair and legal a footing as the trade of any part of His Majesty's dominions, out of two hundred sail of vessels which have entered this port since the 1st day of March last. only two in that number have been prosecuted and condemned for breach of arts of trade, one of which, belongs to the Massachusetts Bay. notwithstanding they have been searched and rummaged with the greatest severity. These two vessels, al- though seized and condemned here, were sent by Capt. Linzee, of the Beaver, and Lient. Dudingston, to Boston, for sale, in direct opposition to the orders of the court of vice admiralty, within this colony ; and the marshal of the said court prevented by force from libelling one of these vessels for payment of the mariners' wages.
These, My Lord, are but a few of the many grievances which the people of this colony have been for months past harrassed and perplexed with : but as the Gen- erd Assembly will soon be convened. I make no doubt they will order a more par- to lor remonstrance to be made.
In the mean time, permit me, My Lord, to implore your attention to the com-
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THE DESTRUCTION OF THE GASPEE.
plaints of a much abused and injured people, whose loyalty and affection to their sovereign, claims Your Lordship's countenance and patronage .*
I am. &c., &c., J. WANTON.
To the Right Honorable the Earl of Hillsborough.
" There is little room to doubt," as Judge Staples observes, " but that Governor Wanton and the officers of the colony would have been satisfied that the authors of the mischief should remain undiscovered ; although their duty as officers, and their interests, required them to exhibit a great zeal and loyalty on the occasion.
On the other hand, Admiral Montagu and his brother officers in the navy and revenue, were sincere in their exertions to bring the perpetrators to condign punishment." This appears from the following letter, relative to the deposition of the negro Aaron, which is often referred to in the proceedings which follow.
* The following extract of a letter, relating to the Gaspce affair, is found with the cor- respondence of Admiral Montagu, in the state paper office. It does not appear to whom it was written.
" Charles Dudley, Esq., to
Rhode Island, 23d July, 1772.
The attack upon the Gaspee was not the effect of sudden passion and resentment, but of cool deliberation and fore-thought. " It had long been determined she should be destroyed.
The paragraph in the enclosed newspaper, under the Newport head, was the prelude to the diabolical scene.
The next public step, was a memorial or petition from the merchants in Providence ; first laid before the superior court of judicature, then sitting in the town, and afterwards before the Governor, praying that the commander of an armed vessel, then cruising in the bay, should be called upon by the civil authority, to know by what powers he was authorised to search ships and other vessels on the high seas; though it was notorious that the armed vessel in question, sailed under British colors, and belonged to His Britannic Majesty.
The piece from the paper, Newport, February 24, speaks of an armed schooner, that had seized ten or twelve hogsheads of rum the first part of last week; also, last Thursday, three hogsheads of molasses, belonging to a poor man. Some say, this piratical schooner belongs to King George the Third; but we should think it a little below His Br-t-n-c Majesty, to keep men-of-war employed in robbing some of his poorest subjects."
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THE DESTRUCTION OF THE GASPEE.
Admiral Montagu to the Governor of Rhode Island.
Boston, 8th July, 1772.
Sir :- By express, last night, from Capt. Linzee, of His Majesty's sloop Beaver, I received the enclosed account ; and, although it comes from a negro man. it carries with it the appearance of truth, as it agrees in many circumstances with Lieutenant Dudingston's letter (to me), and also with the deposition of the midshipman of the Gaspee ; added to this, a man belonging to the Gaspee, swears to this negro's being in the boat that put him ashore, and challenged him as soon as he saw him come on board the Beaver.
These corroborating circumstances, put it out of all doubt with me, that he was actually concerned in taking and burning the King's schooner. And as he has im- peached several others that were concerned in that piratical act. I am to beg Your Excellency will get the people mentioned in the enclosed account, apprehended, that they may be examined before you, in the presence of Lieutenant Dudingston, who, I dare say, will remember the person of the surgeon that dressed his wounds ; and may possibly recollect the persons of Potter and Brown, who appear to me, to have been the ring-leaders in destroying His Majesty's schooner.
As this affair was transacted in Your Excellency's government. I must totally rely on yon. to have these people secured, and (if there is sufficient proof against them) brought to justice. I doubt not but that you will exert yourself as much as is in your power; and I flatter myself, that. with your assistance, the King will have justice done him, and the offenders brought to punishment : which I hope will in future prevent the King's officers from being, upon all occasions, insulted, and check the lawless and piratical behaviour of the people of Rhode Island.
I am, sir, &c., &e.,
J. MONTAGU.
To His Excellency Governor Wanton.
P. S. I should be glad if Your Excellency would inform me, whether this act was committed on the high seas, or in the body of the county ; if on the former, I doubt not but, as one of the commissioners, you will use every proper method to get them apprehended, that they may be tried.
If you should think it proper to take the negro's deposition on oath, I should be glad if you would suffer a proper person to go on board the Swan, to take it; and that you will favor me with a copy of it.
Statement of the Negro Aaron.
Aaron, a negro man, has declared that he rowed from Providence, the evening His Majesty's schooner Gaspee was burnt, towards Warren, where he met a man, called Potter, of Bristol, in a rowing boat, with eight men, armed with pistols, guns and clubs; the said Potter desired him to go with him.
In consequence of Potter's desire, I rowed by his boat, until I came within a quarter of a mile of the King's schooner. that was on shore on a spite of land. I then got into Potter's boat, by his desire ; he told me, with others, that he was to join other boats, that were coming down from Providence, in order to burn the King's 6
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THE DESTRUCTION OF THE GASPEE.
schooner, that lay on shore. In about half an hour after, we joined seventeen boats from Providence, commanded, as they informed me, by John Brown.
Immediately after the boats joined company, we rowed towards the s booner ; be- fore we came close to the schooner, they hailed the boats, and forbid them coming on board ; but notwithstanding the ofheer of the schooner forbiddis: the boats to come on board, we had orders to row up to the schooner ; which we did imme- diately, and boarded her.
I saw Brown fire a musket when in the boat, under the bows : the captain of the schooner immediately fell from the place he was standing on ; the surgeon, that was ordered to dress the captain, was a tall, thin man, called Weeks. of Warwick ; very soon after we got on board the schooner, the mens' hands, belonging to the schooner, were tied behind their backs, and put in boats and put on shore.
I rowed the bow oar in the boat that the captain came on shore in : I think there were five people belonging to the schooner, in the boat. The captain lay abaft all the oars; Potter, of Bristol, was in the boat, and John Brown, of Providence ; Brown steered the boat on shore ; I had on a red and white spotted handkerchief, tied on my head, and two frocks on my body.
A list of five men's names, that were coneerned in destroying His Majesty's schooner Gaspee :
John Brown and Joseph Brown, principal men of the town of Providence : Simeon Potter, of Bristol ; Doctor Weeks, of Warwick; - Richmond, of Providence.
N. B. One of the Gaspee's men declared, as soon as he saw the negro, that he was the man that rowed the bow oar in the boat he went on shore in : and that he assisted the negro to row the oar.
Admiral Montagu, at the same time, communicated the par- ticulars which he had obtained from Aaron, to the Earl of Hillsborough. He also takes the occasion to add remarks rela- tive to the character of the leading men supposed to have been implicated in the burning of the Gaspee, which are not at all flattering. Here follows his letter.
Admiral Montagu to the Earl of Hillsborough.
Boston, 11th July, 1772.
My Lord :- Since I had the honor of writing to Your Lordship last, I have re- ceived an express from Capt. Linzee, of His Majesty's sloop Beaver, at Rhode I -- land, informing me he had discovered and detained an indented black servant. who was in one of the boats that boarded the Gaspee schooner; that one of the men now on board the Beaver (late of the Gaspee), remembered the man the moment he saw him.
Enelosed, I transmit to Your Lordship the said black man's depo-ition (on lwiny examined), by which Your Lordship will be able to judge of the people concerned, and of the measures necessary to be taken.
I beg leave to observe to Your Lordship, that I have inquired of many of the prineipal people of this place, who all knew Potter, of Bristol, mentioned in the en-
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