USA > Rhode Island > Newport County > History of Newport County, Rhode Island. From the year 1638 to the year 1887, including the settlement of its towns, and their subsequent progress > Part 30
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HISTORY OF NEWPORT COUNTY.
Thus, stone by stone, was laid and cemented the firm structure of American government. On this day also, prompted by their solemn undertaking for their own rights and liberties, with an admirable fitness, this assembly enacted "that for the future no negro or mulatto slave shall be brought into the colony and in case any slave shall be brought in he or she shall be and are hereby rendered immediately free so far as respects personal freedom and the enjoyment of private property in the same manner as the native Indians." Exceptions were made, how- ever, in favor of travellers through the colony as to their ser- vants and to inhabitants of any of the British colonies who brought personal slaves in these colonies with intention to re- side with them for a term of years in Rhode Island. Other provisos protected the traffic in voyages not yet completed.
Thursday, June 13th, began also the military arrangements. A lottery to raise six hundred dollars was granted to Benjamin Greene, one of the owners of Greene's iron works in Coventry, to rebuild the same. An independent company was chartered by the name of " The Light Infantry for the County of Provi- dence." It was to consist of one hundred men and its station to be " in front of the left wing of the Regiment." Arnold gives this detail and says, " that the Providence County Artil- lery charter granted thirty years before was amended by a change of name to the . Cadet Company' and the right of the line assigned to it in express terms." Little more was done except the overhauling of the stores in Fort George pending the meet- ing of the continental congress set for the first day of Septem- ber at Philadelphia.
That day Gage's seizure of powder and cannon aroused all New England, and men marched toward Boston from all directions. While Gage fortified Boston neck the continental congress, the most remarkable body of men that ever met in this and per- haps in any country, fifty-five in number, passed a non-impor- tation agreement, forbade the importation of slaves, addressed the people of Canada to meet them by deputies at the next congress and adopted a loyal conciliatory petition with a dec- laration of grievances to the king. Boston being in great dis- tress from the closing of the port, Rhode Island took her part in raising contributions in money and stock. Newport appears among the contributors as giving three hundred pounds or one thousand dollars.
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HISTORY OF NEWPORT COUNTY.
The continental congress dissolved October 26th, and the same day the general assembly met at Providence, and at once entered upon a consideration of various petitions for establish- ing independent companies. Acts were passed chartering in the county of Newport the Newport Light Infantry, in the town of Providence the Providence Grenadier company, the Kentish Guards, the Pawtnxet Rangers and the company of Light Infantry of the town of Glocester. The regiment in the county of Providence was divided into three regiments, each regiment to be a battalion, and the whole to be formed into one brigade. On the 3d of November the " Rose " frigate, Captain Wallace, came into port on the winter station. Newport, in November, appointed a committee of inspection in accordance with the recommendation of congress to insure non-importa- tion. In December (5th) the delegates to congress made report to a special session of the assembly held at Providence, were thanked and reappointed.
A letter from Lord Dartmouth of the 19th of October offici- ally informed the governor and company of the order of that day of the king in council, prohibiting the exportation of gun- powder or any sort of arms or amunition from Great Britain, and his command to secure whatever might be attempted to be imported unless the master of the vessel had a license from his majesty or the privy council. The information was timely and acted upon in a manner little expected by the honorable secre- tary. All the cannon at Fort George (except two eighteen pounders and one six pounder) and powder and ball sufficient were ordered to Providence under supervision of Colonel Joseph Nightingale and to his care. The train of artillery for the county of Providence was supplied by purchase with four brass cannon. The North Providence Rangers was incorporated, and the act regulating the militia amended, musters ordered for April and October, and a general review every two years. It was also ordered that a major-general of the colony's forces be annually appointed by the governor and company, and Simeon Potter, Esq., was appointed and commissioned. Finally Jeremiah Hopkins, of Coventry, where the iron works were, was granted a lottery for the raising of two hundred dollars for an equipment of tools and instruments for his establishment as a gunsmith. The assembly adjourned on the 15th of De- cember. Firearms were now manufactured on an extensive
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scale, and sixty heavy cannon, besides field pieces, cast at the iron works. Orders poured in for arms from all quarters.
The removal of the cannon from Fort George had been dis- creetly managed during the absence of Captain Wallace with the man-of-war " Rose" on a cruise to New London. He made a grievous report to Vice-Admiral Graves of his visit of inquiry to Governor Wanton. That gentleman informed him that "it had been done to prevent their falling into the hands of the .king or any of his servants, and that they meant to make use of them to defend themselves against any power that shall offer to molest them." When he inquired as to whether the governor would lend assistance in case it was asked to carry on the king's service he was answered by him that as to himself he had no power; and in respect to any other part of the gov- ernment he (the captain) should meet with nothing but oppo- sition and difficulty." So much," he adds, "from Governor Wanton," and in fact at this time the governor was in anxious uncertainty as to his own course.
The arrivals from England were now awaited with great in- terest and anxiety. A letter was received from Lord Dart- mouth, dated at Whitehall on the 15th of December, enclosing a copy of the king's speech opening the new parliament sum- moned in view of the increasing complications in American affairs, and also informed the assembly of the great majority by which both houses of parliament had voted the address en- gaging their support of the measures of repression. Later letters were received from London, December 24th, 1774, from the agents of the colonies. Franklin had placed in the hands of Lord Dartmouth, secretary of state for the American depart- ment, the petition of congress to the king, and they had been that morning informed by the earl that the king had graciously received and promised to lay it before parliament after the Christmas recess.
During Jannary and February of 1775 enlistments were con- stant. On the first of March, the day fixed by congress for the stopping of the use of tea, the Providence committee of inspection addressed a notice to the towns to remind them of the order. Tea was at once proscribed, and a large amount, estimated at three hundred pounds, was burned in the public square at Providence. On the 3d of April, in conformity with the act of assembly, a general muster was held of the militia. Two thou-
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HISTORY OF NEWPORT COUNTY.
sand men were under arms in Providence county and a troop of horse. In Kent county nearly fifteen hundred, without taking into account the several chartered companies. The next day the independent companies were reviewed. Details are unfortunately wanting of the action of Newport, but there is no doubt the island was fully represented.
Massachusetts in provincial congress voted to raise an army on the 8th, and called on the other New England colonies for assistance. The march of the British ordered by Gage to seize the stores at Concord, and the news of the fight at Lexington on the 19th of April were known at Providence the same night. Expresses notified every town, and a thousand men marched the next day, but were countermanded by expresses from the eastward. The men of Concord and Lexington had driven the invaders to the cover of their guns at Charlestown. The gen- eral assembly of Rhode Island met at Providence on the 22d day of April. A committee was raised to apportion among the towns twenty-five hundred pounds of the colony powder and one-quarter of the lead, bullets and flints. Mr. Thomas Free- body was named to receive Newport's share. By the report of the committee of apportionment it appears to have been by far the largest share, three hundred and eighty-nine pounds of powder, six hundred and twenty-three of lead and twenty-four hundred and ninety-two flints. South Kingstown came next with fourteen hundred and eighty-eight flints. Providence had nine hundred and forty-eight. The number of flints presumably represent the number of muskets in each town. The company of the train of artillery and the company of fusiliers, both of Providence, were consolidated at their request under the name of " The United Company of the Train of Artillery."
The 11th of May was set apart as a day of fasting, prayer and humiliation, and Governor Wanton was requested to pro- claim the same. The Ilon. Samuel Ward and William Brad- ford were appointed to wait on the general assembly of the colony of Connecticut to consult with them for the defense of the four New England colonies. In view of the " very danger- ous crisis of American affairs at a time when we are sur- rounded with fleets and armies which threaten our immediate destruction ; at a time when the fears and anxieties of the peo- ple throw them into the utmost distress, and totally prevent them from attending to the common occupations of life ; to
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prevent the mischievous consequences that must necessarily at- tend such a disordered state, and to restore peace to the minds of the good people of this colony, it appears absolutely neces- sary to this assembly," such were the words of the resolution, " that a number of men be raised and embodied, properly armed and disciplined, to continne in this colony as an army of observation to repel any insult or violence that may be offered to the inhabitants-and also if it be necessary for the safety and preservation of any of the colonies to march out of this colony and join and co-operate with the forces of the neighboring colonies." The number of men was to be fifteen hundred.
The introduction of this resolution brought matters to a head in the assembly itself. A protest appears on the record, signed in the upper house, Providence, April 25th, 1775, by Joseph Wanton, Darins Sessions, Thomas Wickes and William Potter. Wanton was the governor, Sessions the deputy governor, Wickes and Potter of the board of assistants of ten. They dis- sented from the vote for "enlisting an army of observation," because it would be attended with the most fatal consequences to the charter privileges, involve the country in all the horrors of civil war, and be an open violation of the oath of allegiance taken on their admission to office. At the close of the session, it being made known that Nathaniel Greene was going to the con- tinental congress, lie was appointed in the place of Samuel Ward to consult with Connecticut. Finally, there appearing urgent occasion that the general assembly should meet at some other place than Newport, at the approaching annual election for 1775, the colony house at Providence was selected, and no- tices of the change ordered in the Newport "Mercury" and Providence "Gazette." The record of proceedings closes as usual, with "God save the King."
The general assembly met as ordered at Providence on the first Wednesday (the second day) of May. Newport, instead of six deputies to which she was entitled, only returned one; or at least only one, Mr. John Wanton, appears on the record in the list of deputies from the towns. Some of the deputies chosen at the election for this assembly, which was held on the 19th of April, the day of the Lexington fight, did not appear.
A letter was laid before the assembly from Governor Wanton, stating that he was detained at Newport by indisposition, that
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HISTORY OF NEWPORT COUNTY.
he had since the last session received a letter from the Earl of Dartmouth, dated Whitehall, 3d March, 1775, "enclosing the resolutions of the House of Commons respecting the provisions they expect each colony or province in America to make for the common defense, and also for the support of the civil gov- ernment and the administration of justice in such colony," and also a letter from the committee of the provincial congress, all of which he had directed to be laid before them. The gov- ernor then proceeds in a moderate, while earnest manner to en- treat the assembly as he held himself, "bound by every tie of duty and affection " to consider the resolutions of the house of commons and his lordship's letter with the temper, calmness and deliberation their importance demanded, and with that in- clination to a reconciliation with the parent state which would recommend their proceedings to the king and parliament. He reminded them that the prosperity and happiness of the colony was founded on its connection with Great Britain, and warned them of the danger of the forfeiture of their charter privileges. He stated his willingness to join them in every measure that would secure those invaluable charter privileges to the latest pos- terity, and prevent the colony from ruin, which must invariably come upon them unless the late orders to raise an army of ob- servation were speedily repealed, the expense of which would be insupportable, and unavoidably bring on universal bank- ruptcy. He closes with the engagement that if he should have the honor of being re-elected he would unite in every pro- ceeding consistent with the duty he owed the king and the British constitution.
Either before this letter reached the assembly or after, in the hope that he might yet be won to the canse at heart, he was re-elected governor, and Darins Sessions, lieutenant-governor, but that gentleman declining to serve, Nicholas Cooke was elected in his place, "and duly engaged." There was a. rad- ical change in the board of assistants, only four of the ten. chosen in 1774 being re-elected. On the 3d the speaker of the assembly despatched an express to Governor Wanton, inform- ing him of his election, and asking an immediate answer as to whether he would accept, and if so that he would at once at- tend. The governor replied on the 4th that he would accept, but could not possibly attend this session because of his indis- position. On receiving this answer the speaker sent the ex-
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press again to the governor enclosing a " blank commission," proposed for the army of observation, and asking an immediate answer whether he would, as commander-in-chief of the col- ony, sign them when presented to him. To this the governor replied that he could not comply with the request.
The issue thus squarely made, the assembly, in consideration of the governor having neglected to issne the proclamation for a fast day, as voted by the assembly, of his neglect to appear and take the oath of office under his late election, as required by law, and of his positive refusal to sign the commissions for the officers appointed to be raised, enacted a prohibition to the deputy governor to adminster the oath of office to him except in the presence of and with the consent of the assembly in open meeting. Henry Ward, the secretary of the colony, was empow- ered to sign the commissions, and the deputy governor to sum- mon the assembly in emergency. The naval officer, James Clarke, whose appointment was a privilege of the governor, was continued in office and ordered to account to the assembly. The committee of safety was ordered to equip the army of ob- servation and send an account of the expenses attending to the delegates of the colony in the continental congress, as a proper charge for the common defense. An embargo was laid on all provisions going out of the colony. It was also ordered that the sheriff of the county of Newport deliver to Willian Richmond, member of the committee of safety for Newport county, "all the colony arms, pistols, cutlasses, &c., which are in the town of Newport." At this assembly Mr. Jabez Champlin was chosen sheriff for Newport county. The field officers for the several counties were also named ; Wil- liam Bradford, major-general of the forces of the colony. For Newport county : Mr. John Malbone, colonel ; Mr. George Champlin, lieutenant-colonel ; Mr. John Cooke, major.
The act for embodying the army of observation provided that it consist of three regiments of eight companies, and be formed into one brigade; the term of service till the last day of De- cember, 1775. The officers appointed were : Nathaniel Greene, Jr., brigadier-general. For the regiment of the counties of New- port and Bristol ; Thomas Church, colonel ; William Turner Miller, lieutenant-colonel ; John Forrester, major; William Ladd, captain lieutenant ; Nathaniel Church, lieutenant ; and Cornelius Briggs, ensign. For the train of artillery : John
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HISTORY OF NEWPORT COUNTY.
Crane, captain ; Joseph Baleh, captain lientenant. The com- mittee of safety chosen for the colony were, for the county of Newport, William Richmond ; of Providence, John Smith and Daniel Tillinghast ; of Kings, John Northrup ; of Bristol, Wil- liam Bradford : of Kent, Jacob Greene.
The address of parliament to the king, February 7th, 1775, communicated to this assembly, denounced the conduet of the Massachusetts bay as "a rebellion," and besought his majesty " to take the most effectual measures to enforce due obedience to the laws and authority of the supreme legislature." The king's answer assured them that "the most speedy and ef- fectual measures" would be taken. The further resolution of the house of commons of the 27th of February, 1775, was to the effect that should the government of any colony make provision " to contribute their proportion to the common de- fense, that colony should for such time be relieved from levy of any duty, tax or assessment, except for the regulation of commerce, and the nett produce of these duties be carried to the account of each province." This conciliatory measure was Lord North's own, introduced with the written consent of the king, and because conciliatory would have driven him from the ministry but for the king's interposition. But even if he, forced from his new position, had not published a " paper de- claring his intention to make no concessions," the colonies would not have swallowed the sugar coated pill, under cover of which remained the body of the contention, the right of parlia- ment to tax without representation.
The letter of Dartmouth of the 3d of March, covering these documents, dwelt earnestly and at length on the temper shown by the commons in this resolution, in the effect of which the king, he said, had the greater confidence because the colonies, " amidst all the intemperance into which a people jealous of of its liberties have been unfortunately misled, they have nevertheless avowed the justice and the propriety of sub- jects of the same state contributing according to their abilities and situation to the common burthen," and the earl claimed that the resolution held no proposition beyond that. He ex- plained the mode of contribution proposed "as one in which the colonies will have full security that they can never be required to tax themselves without parliament taxing the subjects of this kingdom in a far greater proportion." The earl especially
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HISTORY OF NEWPORT COUNTY.
applied himself to obtain the compliance with the resolution of parliament by the general assembly of Rhode Island which would be "most graciously considered by the majority not only as a testimony of their reverence for parliament ; but also as n mark of their duty and attachment to their sovereign," and indeed if there were any colony to whom the sovereign could appeal with any hope of favorable hearing it was to that of Rhode Island which the royal anthority had alone preserved from absorption by its neighbors.
But the die was already cast. Blood had been shed and Rhode Island was pledged to the common cause. The conti- mental congress, which was to meet again on the 10th of May, was the only body who had competency now over such qnes- tions. The assembly does not appear to have made any ac knowledgment of and certainly no response to Dartmouth's com- munication. Copies of the proceedings of this assembly were sent to Connecticut and New York. Yet the commissions issued, curiously enough, were all in the king's name. One of them has descended to the writer of these lines. There seems to be nothing in it that Governor Wantou might not have signed withont peril. It reads: "By the Honorable the General Assembly of the English Colony of Rhode Island and Provi- dence Plantations in New England, America. To Ebenezer Stevens, gentleman, Greeting: WHEREAS, for the preservation of the Rights and Liberties of his Majesty's loyal and faithful subjects in this colony and America the aforesaid General As- sembly have ordered fifteen hundred men to be enlisted and em- bodied into an army of observation, and the Committee of Safety have appointed you, the said Ebenezer Stevens, First Lieutenant of the Company of the Train of Artillery belonging to the said Troops. You are hereby in his Majesty's name George the Third by the Grace of God King of Great Britain, &c., authorized, empowered and commissioned to have, take and exercise the office of First Lieutenant of the company aforesaid, and to command, guide and conduct the same or any part thereof. And in case of an invasion or assault of a common enemy to infest or disturb this or any other of his Majesty's Colonies in America, You are to alarm and gather together the Company under your command or any part thereof as you shall deem sufficient and therewith to the utmost of your skill and ability you are to resist, expel, kill and destroy them in order to pre
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serve the interest of his Majesty and his good subjects in these parts. You are also to follow such instructions & directions and orders as shall from time to time be given forth either by the General Assembly or your superior officers. And for your so doing this commission shall be your sufficient warrant. By virtue of an act of said General Assembly 1, Henry Ward, Esq., Secretary of the said Colony, have hereunto set my hand and the Public Seal of the said Colony this Eighth day of May, A. D. 1775, and the fifteenth year of his said Majesty's reign.
"HENRY WARD."
An account of the movements of this train of artillery may be properly inserted here. Stevens seems to have taken the place .to which Joseph Balch was appointed. John Crane was its cap- tain. Crane and Stevens were both of Boston, where Stevens had belonged to Major Paddock's company of Massachusetts artil- lery, and probably Crane also. They had both been active in the destruction of the tea, and were of what is called the " Boston Tea Party," and, pursued by Governor Hutchinson, had taken refuge in Providence, Stevens, with Colonel Nightingale .* On the news from Lexington they at once set about raising this company. General Greene marched the Rhode Island army of observation as fast as it was raised to the camp forming before Boston on Jamaica Plains. Before the first of June one thou- sand of these troops joined the army, and with them the train of artillery with four field pieces and a siege battery of twelve eighteen and twenty-four pounders.
The arrival of this artillery is noticed in a newspaper of the day " as a fine company with four excellent field pieces." These no doubt were guns taken up from Newport and placed in Colonel Nightingale's charge at Providence. The train was first posted on Jamaica Plains, the country seat of Governor Barnard, and afterward stationed at Roxbury, though Greene's brigade was posted at Cambridge. A return of its members on the 21st of July gives a total force of ninety-six. At the time of the battle of Bunker Hill Stevens' company was posted at the neck. During the siege of Boston it garrisoned the fort at Rox- bury. At the close of the year 1775 the Rhode Island com- pany was disbanded with the rest of the army of observation.
* " Trials of the Tea Party," a memoir of Hewes, one of the last of the survivors, mentions a Nathaniel Green as another of this band. but the writer has not ascertained whether he was the famous officer of the revolution.
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HISTORY OF NEWPORT COUNTY.
Crane and Stevens were commissioned in the regiment raised by Massachusetts in the beginning of 1776, and later transferred to the continental artillery commanded by Knox.
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