History of Providence County, Rhode Island, Volume I, Part 24

Author: Bayles, Richard M. (Richard Mather), ed
Publication date: 1891
Publisher: New York, W. W. Preston
Number of Pages: 1036

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HISTORY OF PROVIDENCE COUNTY.

Providence was one John Simpson, a hardware merchant, who made himself obnoxious by espousing the cause of despotism. On the morning of the 21st of August, he found his doors and window shut- ters tarred and feathered. He accepted the ominous threat implied, and returned to Boston. A tin-plate worker arrived fiere a few days afterward, but the inhabitants being apprised that he was a sympa- thizer with the oppressive royal government, intimated to him that he could not continue here in safety, and on the following day he re- turned to Boston. On the 30th of August, in view of the facts which we have noticed and others of their kind, the people in town meeting expressed themselves as follows:

"It is resolved by this meeting, that this town ought not to be made the asylum of any person or persons, of whatever town, place or city, within the British dominions, whose principles and practices, being inimical to the liberties of our country and its happy constitu- tion, have rendered or shall render them obnoxiousto the inhabitants of such place or places from which they may emigrate; and that all stich ought to be discouraged, by every prudent and legal measure; and the honorable town council are hereby requested to exert them- selves, for the removal and ejection of all such persons, so far as by law they may be warranted; as their being admitted amongst us may tend greatly to endanger the peace, order and tranquility of the town. which has been manifested by recent instances."

It appears that riots and tumultuous outbreaks of the passions of men were occasionally known here, which, in view of the highly ex- cited condition of the popular feeling, is not at all to be wondered at. The people, however, put in operation all the safeguards and regula- tions at their command to prevent such occurrences, and as far as we can now see, their efforts were reasonably successful. In November the committee of correspondence was authorized to transmit $125 as a donation to Boston from the treasury of this town. That commit- tee strongly urged the preservation of all the sheep in the colony that were not actually needed, and urged both by proclamation and personal appeal the withholding of all sheep from export to the West Indies, which at that time was a considerable line of trade. The recommendations of the committee seem to have been almost entirely acquieseed in, as well as the resolutions of the town. The readiness and unanimity with which the people accepted and acted upon meas- ures for the publie good, even when their own personal interests for the time being were injuriously affected thereby, is a remarkable evidence of the depth of the patriotic principle by which they were actuated. Hon. William R. Staples, the local historian of Providence, has well said: " When any people are so virtuous as to yield implicit obedience to the simple recommendations of their rulers, upon the ground that the well being of the community depends on them, they may be annihilated, but not subjugated."

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HISTORY OF PROVIDENCE COUNTY.

In pursuance of the recommendation of the continental congress a " committee of inspection " was appointed by this town on Decem- ber 17th, which consisted of the following men: William Earl. Nicho- las Cooke, Benjamin Man, Zephaniah Andrews, Arthur Fenner, Jr., Ambrose Page, Nicholas Power, George Corlis, Paul Allen, David Lawrence, Joseph Russell, Job Sweeting, Joseph Bucklin, Jonathan Arnold, Bernard Eddy, Aaron Mason, Joseph Brown and Nathaniel Wheaton. The committee wasvigilant in carrying out the purposes for which they were appointed. In accord with the recommendation of congress they urged the entire abstinence from the use of East India tea after March 1st, 1775. To this the people most heartily agreed, and to make their determination the more positive a public demon- stration was made on March 2d, the account of which runs as follows:

The town crier at noon ran through the town, giving notice that a quantity of India tea would be burnt at 5 o'clock that afternoon in the market place. All true friends of their country were invited to manifest their good dispositions by coming and casting upon the fire what they might bring of " a needless herb, which for a long time hath been highly tetrimental to our liberty, interest and health." A great number of people assembled at the time and place appointed, bringing together about 300 pounds of tea, which was publicly burned. There was also cast upon the bon-fire a tar barrel, Lord North's speech, Rivington's and Mills and Hicks' newspapers, and other things. Meanwhile the bells of the town were tolled, and one of the Sons of Liberty went along the streets with a brush and black paint and covered the word " tea " on all the shop signs where it was found.

The committee of inspection found many duties to perform, and so well did they attend to those duties that with the exception of George Corlis, they were in June, all re-appointed, and the number enlarged by the addition of Samuel Nightengale, Jr., Jabez Bowen, John Brown, John Updike, John Jenckes, John Mathewson, David Cahoone, James Angell and James Black. Among their duties they sought to preserve the uniform prices of the necessaries of life, to prevent the cupidity of merchants or dealers taking advantage of the limited supply of any article to raise by force the price thereof. They also forbade the killing and bringing into market any lamb or mutton between July 22d and September 1st, under penalty of for- feiture.

Besides such measures of internal polity, which were doubtless enforced with comparatively little effort because of the streng public sentiment behind them, the townspeople were not behind their neighbors in making preparations for war. Independent companies, so-called, were organized from volunteers from the militia, having the right to choose their own officers and certain other privileges granted them by the assembly. They were not attached to any regi-

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ment, but were subject to orders immediately from the governor as captain general. An artillery company had been organized in 1774, which in June of that year assumed the name of the Cadet Company. A light infantry company was incorporated the same month, a gren- adier company was soon after formed, and in December the Provi- dence Fusileers, a company of horse, and another of artillery were chartered. The Fusileers and Artillery were a few months later united into one, as the United Train of Artillery. Military drill was a daily occupation, and the tactics of war were being thoroughly studied by determined patriots, who knew not what day they might be called upon to exercise all their skill and powers of endurance in the defense of their principles, their homes and their lives. In April. a general muster of the militia took place, when there were about 2,000 men under arms in the county of Providence, besides the troop of horse. As early as January, 1775, Stephen Jenckes, of North Providence, had supplied some of the independent companies with muskets of his own manufacture. Other persons in the colony were extensively engaged in making small arms at the same time.

Providence received news of the battle of Lexington on the 19th of April, at evening. Preparations were immediately begun, and as fast as they could get ready companies of militia and independent companies were in line of march for Boston. By the morning of the 21st about a thousand men had marched or were in readiness to do so. Receiving word that their assistance was not immediately need- ed, they were dismissed.

Besides these general preparations for meeting an enemy in the field it now seemed necessary for some preparations for defense in case the British should make an armed attack upon this town. Sev- eral vessels of war were in the bay, and might at any time appear in hostile attitude in the very midst of the town. To prevent this a breastwork and entrenchment were thrown up between Field and Sassafras points, and a battery was planted on Fox point, armed with six 18-pounders. At a town meeting August 29th. Esek Hopkins was appointed to command this battery, with Samuel Warner as lieutenant, and Christopher Sheldon, gunner. A floating battery was also soon begun, and in October a line of obstructions consisting of a line of scows, filled with combustible materials, and a boom and chain across the channel. The works thus begun by this town were completed under direction and patronage of the colony.

In order to give notice of an attack upon the town, in case one should be made, a beacon was erected on the east hill, near the junc- tion of Meeting and Prospect streets. As an experiment to test its action it was lighted one night and its light could be seen in New- port. New London, Norwich, Pomfret and Cambridge.

On the morning of August 22d, three British war ships were seen coming up the bay, and with'n ten miles of Providence. The alarm

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was given, the batteries and entrenchments were manned, and the military companies of the town and vicinity were called out, and every preparation made to meet the approaching fleet in a manner appropriate to the sentiment of the time. But the ships returned down the bay at evening, without manifesting any hostile intentions.

The population of the town then numbered 4.365, of which 2.678 were on the east side of the river, and 1,677 on the west side. The total population was divided among 741 families. The defensive force is hinted at by the fact that there were 726 men, and they were provided with 497 stand of arms.

When the American army was set in motion across the country from Boston to New York, after the evacnation of the former by the British, General Washington made a call in this town, and was well entertained by the people, who were filled with admiration of his skillful and successful campaign against the British at Boston. Here he was a welcome and honored guest. He arrived on the 5th of April, 1776, and was escorted into the town by the Cadet and Light Infantry Companies and two regiments of continental troops.

· The independence sentiment was growing here with great rapid- ity. Providence was doubtless in full accord with the act of the gen- eral assembly which was passed in May, repealing a former "Act for the more effectual securing to his Majesty the Allegiance of his sub- jects in this his Colony and dominion." This act provided, besides the repealing clause, that whenever the name and authority of the king was made use of, in all commissions of officers, civil and mili- tary, and in all writs and processes in law, the words recognizing the authority of the king should be omitted, and the words, "The Gov- ernor and Company of the English Colony of Rhode Island and Prov- idence Plantations," should be substituted therefor. The courts of law were no longer to be considered as the king's courts, and no in- strument in writing, either public or private, should mention in its date the year of the king's reign.

The climax of this independence spirit was reached in the declara- tion of July 4th, 1776. This was followed by resolutions by the gen- eral assembly in July, " That if any person within this state shall, under pretence of preaching or praying, or in any other way and manner whatever, acknowledge or declare the said King to be our rightful Lord and Sovereign, or shall pray for the success of his arms, or that he may vanquish and overcome all his enemies, shall be guilty of a high misdemeanor, and shall therefor be presented by the Grand Jury of the County where the offence shall be committed, to the Su- perior Court of the same County; and upon conviction thereof shall forfeit and pay, as a fine, to and for the use of this State, the sum of £100 lawful money, and pay all costs of prosecution, and shall stard committed to jail until the same be satisfied." This act was directed to be printed in the newspapers of Newport and Providence.

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HISTORY OF PROVIDENCE COUNTY.

The ratification of the declaration of independence was duly cele- brated in Providence on the 25th of the month. The governor and stich members of the assembly as were in town, were escorted by the Cadet and Light Infantry companies to the court house, where the declaration was read to the public. A salute of thirteen guns was fired from the artillery and the continental ships in the harbor. A publie dinner was provided, and appropriate toasts given. In the evening the king's arms were taken down from the public offices and burned, and the keeper of the " Crown Coffee House " threw his own sign upon the fire.

Warlike preparations were making on land and sea. The lower bay was infested with a gathering fleet of British war ships and soon the island of Rhode Island fell into the possession of the British, re- maining so until October, 1779. The presence of the war ships in the bay kept the people here in a state of continual alarm. Large num- bers of troops were eentered here for some time, to prevent a sup- posed design of the British to land troops here and march them to Boston. The town had somewhat the appearance of a camp. The college building was first used as quarters for the artillery, and the grounds around it for a parade, and afterward as a hospital for the sick soldiers. Ordinary business in the town was suspended. Many of the inhabitants removed into the interior to find places of greater safety. Martial movements were daily the interest and excitement of the people. Expeditions were prepared here to go down to drive out the British from the island.

One of the notable exploits of the war was the capture of the "Pigot " by Major Talbut, of Providence. The " Pigot " was a British galley carrying eight 12-pounders and 45 men. She was stationed at the entrance of Seconet river, on the east of the island, where she acted as an obstruction to navigation up and down from Providence and Mount Hope bay. On the 25th of October, 1778, Major Silas Tal- but left Providence in the sloop " Hawk," with two lieutenants and 50 men who had volunteered for the expedition from Sullivan's army. They sailed down the river and bay, and on the night of the 28th passed the British battery on Rhode Island, opposite Fogland point. At about one o'clock in the morning of the 29th they boarded the "Pigot," having approached with such caution that the crew were surprised, and surrendered without being able to make any decided resistance. The prize was taken to New London and afterward brought to Providence. In recognition of this daring exploit Major Talbut received the thanks of the general assembly, accompanied by a sword, and congress promoted him to the rank of lieutenant colonel.

General Sullivan left the command here in March, 1779, being sue- ceeded by Major General Gates. During the time in which he had been in command of the post here he had become greatly attached to and respected by the people, and on the 19th of March a town meet-

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ing expressed their complimentary and appreciative sentiments and good wishes in a brief written address, to which General Sullivan re- sponded in an open letter, expressing his cordial acknowledgements and reciprocal regard for the people. General Gates arrived on the 3d of April and took command of the forces here, remaining in com- mand until November 8th, when he left to join the main army. The British people had now left the island and the people there were returning to claim and take possession of their property. June 16th, 1780, Major General Heath was invested with the com- mand of this department and arrived here, an expected engage- ment in the vicinity creating some alarm. The militia of the state were called out, and troops from Massachusetts and Connecticut were gathered here. The alarm continued but a few days, and the militia were dismissed on the 7th of August, the enemy having re- turned to New York.

In the spring of 1781 General Washington visited Newport, and on his return through this town he was made the center of a popular demonstration of welcome and flattering expression of devoted regard. He was greeted by the firing of cannon, a popular parade, grand illu- mination in the evening, dinner at the state house on the day follow- ing and a ball in the evening. From the address presented to him on that occasion by the prominent citizens of Providence we quote the following paragraphs as specimens of its general tone:

"We beg leave to assure your excellency, that we will manifest our attachment to your excellency, and the great cause in which we are engaged, by exerting the utmost of our abilities in enlisting and supporting such a force, as with the aid of our generous allies, will be sufficient to bring the war to a happy issue.

"That your excellency may be the glorious instrument of effecting this most desirable event, which will deliver your name to posterity with a fame equal to that of the most celebrated heroes of antiquity; and that you may long enjoy the honors that will be paid you, is the sincere prayer of your excellency's most obedient and most humble servants.

To the address General Washington made a very appropriate reply.

During the early part of 1781, the French troops from the camp at Newport, which had been broken up, marched through Providence on their way to join the army of General Washington. A part of them encamped for a short time on the plain near the burial ground of the Benevolent Congregational Society. The second division of this army spent the winter in an encampment in North Providence, on the rising ground to the east of the Pawtucket turnpike, a little south of the old site of the turnpike gate.

Among the memorable events of the war which stirred the enthit- siasm and excitement of this town perhaps none were more powerful

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for the time than the capture of Prescott. We need not here recount the story of how the brave and cautious Colonel William Barton, with a band of daring men crossed from Warwick Neck at night in boats with muffled oars, and surrounded the house in which General Pres- cott, the British officer in command of the island, was quartered, and took him prisoner, and without giving him time to dress hurried him to the boats and across to the mainland. where he was soon taken in a coach to Providence, amid the enthusiastic expressions and under the gaze of thousands of spectators. Remaining in Providence but a day or two, he was removed on the third day to Connecticut, and later to New York, the object of his capture being to exchange him for General Lee, who was then a prisoner in the hands of the British, and detained on ship-board lying off the capes of Virginia.

In connection with this affair the following episode is so full of practical suggestion in regard to the times that we must be pardoned for narrating it. We give it in the words of Mrs. Williams.

"At the time so many distressed families were seeking to get away from Rhode Island, some very considerable difficulty was experienced in procuring passports to get away. Mrs. Read was among the num- ber, and finding all indirect application useless, she at length applied herself. He [Prescott] at first refused, frankly avowing that he 'meant to keep her there to catch her husband.' But at length some of the under officers joining in the request, he relented and ordered the passport made out. Upon presenting it he said, in his usual pompous manner, -- 'If you go to Providence to get out of my way, Mrs. Read, you will lose your labor, as I shall get there about as soon as you will.'

"Mrs. Read was now settled in a comfortable residence, a house on Weybosset street belonging to Mr. Butler (still standing near the Arcade), when on the morning of the 10th of July, Captain William Brown, a connexion of her family, called to tell her that her old tor- mentor. Prescott, was coming past in the course of they day. 'And now Mary,' said he, 'if you will stand in the front door and welcome him as he passes, and say Why, General, you said you should be here, but I did not think you would come so soon; scarce as money is, I will give you fifty dollars.' 'It is a bargain,' said the lady. Accord- ingly when the carriage came past she threw open the front door and presented her majestic figure. She was a woman of singular appear- ance, take her all in all, and very handsome; being somewhat above the common height, having a very piercing pair of black eyes, and when excited there was something startling in her look. The Gen- eral, though riding bareheaded in an open carriage, subject to the gaze of the multitude, endeavored to carry himself with composure, and from time to time would turn to make some remark to his captor. who sat by his side, strove in vain to retain his equanimity, when he observed Mrs. Read. Owing to the crowd which surrounded the car-

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riage, it moved very slowly through the streets, and as she threw open the door, his eyes chanced to turn full upon her. He changed countenance, dropped his eyes instantly, and a transient flush passed over his features; and it was observed, that from that moment his composure vanished. As to the lady, though a woman of uncommon firmness and fearlessness, she was quite unmoved by this unlooked for agitation."

The events of the revolution were now drawing to a close. The long period of war was a severe strain upon the patriots of this town, but they bore it nobly, and with unfaltering devotion to the cause in which their sympathies were enlisted. Soon after the surrender of Cornwallis hopes of an immediate peace were borne on every breeze across the Atlantic. At last the preliminary articles were signed at Versailles in January, 1783, and a proclamation declaring a cessation of hostilities was issued by Congress on the 11th of April following. The celebration of this joyful event in Providence took place on the 22d of the same month. The morning was welcomed by a discharge of cannon and the ringing of bells. The continental frigate "Al- liance," then in the harbor, and the rest of the shipping were decked with colors, and fired salutes in honor of the occasion. A civic pro- cession, escorted by the artillery, marched from the house of Deputy Governor Bowen to the Baptist meeting house. The Reverend Enos Hitchcock, pastor of the First Congregational Society, preached a sermon from the text, "Not unto us, O Lord, but unto Thy name, give Glory." This was followed by an oration by the Hon. Asher Robbins. then a tutor in the college here. The procession then moved to the court house, where the proclamation of Congress was read from the balcony, and this was followed by a discharge of 13 cannon from the state house parade and a battery on the east hill near the beacon. After dinner 13 toasts were drank, each under a discharge of 13 cannon. In the evening the state house and market house were illuminated, and a display of fireworks closed the festivi- ties of the day. The artillery company paraded under Colonel Daniel Tillinghast, who had commanded it during the whole war.

The colony of Rhode Island at the commencement of the war was largely interested in commerce. This fact led the state at an early period to take measures for the protection of this business. In June, 1775, the assembly directed the committee of safety to charter two vessels for this purpose. Abraham Whipple, of Providence, was placed in command of them both, with the title of commodore. The assembly urged congress to provide for building a sufficient number of vessels to protect the merchant service of the colonies. Accord- ingly it provided in 1775 for fitting out three war vessels, and Esek Hopkins, of North Providence, then a brigadier general of this state, received the appointment of commander in chief of the infant navy. It was afterward increased. The first expedition with this fleet was

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made by Commodore Hopkins early in 1776. The fleet consisted of the ships "Alfred" and "Columbus," the brigs " Andrew Doria" and "Cabot." and the sloops "Providence." "Fly," "Hornet" and "Wasp." Leaving the capes of the Delaware on the 17th of February they sailed to the Bermudas, where they captured a large quantity of munitions of war, and returned to New London on the 8th of April. and subsequently came up to Providence. In the plan for building 13 vessels, which congress decided upon, two were to be built in Rhode Island, their names being the "Warren" and the "Provi- dence." The former was 111 feet keel. 343 feet beam and 11 feet hold, while the latter was 102 feet in length of keel, 34 feet beam, and 10 feet, 8 inches depth of hold. A committee of Providence men was appointed to superintend their building.

During the war Providence abounded in privateers. They were generally successful in eluding the British cruisers which infested the waters along our coasts, and they made prizes of merchantmen. transports and small vessels of war. It was engaged in by many whose name stood high in the social and moral scale, as the moral scale was graduated to the circumstances of the times. Most of the merchandise introduced into the country from abroad was brought in by these privateers, and their spoils furnished valuable resources of the army and navy. Thus by touching the pockets of British mer- chants these privateers did much toward influencing the British gov- ernment to recognize the independence of the colonies.

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History of Providence County, Rhode Island, Volume I, Part 24

Author: Bayles, Richard M. (Richard Mather), ed Publication date: 1891 Publisher: New York, W. W. Preston Number of Pages: 1036

Author: Bayles, Richard M. (Richard Mather), ed
Publication date: 1891
Publisher: New York, W. W. Preston
Number of Pages: 1036