USA > Rhode Island > History of Rhode Island > Part 8
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" The lower part thereof for a Market House, and for no other use whatsoever, forever ; (unless it shall be found convenient to appropriate some part of it for a watch-house.) A handsome
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HISTORY OF RHODE ISLAND.
brick building, to be thirty-three feet in front, or in width, and about sixty six feet in length."-From the Records of the Proprietor of the Long Wharf.
It is understood that there is a fine portrait of Mr. Collins still in being, which is said to be now in possession of some one of the family of the late Dr. Henry Flagg, of South Carolina. It ought to be placed in the Redwood Library. He was a mem- ber of the Seventh-Day Baptist church, and was one of the com. mittee for erecting the house of worship.
Such were the merchants of Newport in the past.
1775. On the 15th of November, Charles Dudley, Esq., the king's Collector of the Customs for Rhode Island, fied for refuge on board a ship of war. He married the daughter of Robert Cranston, of Newport. He died in England, and his family returned to America. His son was the Hon. Charles Dudley, of Albany. Mr. Dudley owned, and occupied the seat, a short distance from Newport, called "Dudley Place," at present owned by the heirs of the late Governor Charles Collins. Edward Vanzant, Esq. is the present proprietor of this charm- ing retreat ; a gentleman of fine manners, who takes delight in rendering every attention to visitors. Mr. Dudley is said to have been a man of polished manners ; his portrait, in the cos- tume of a courtier, shews him off' to great advantage,-it is in the possession of Mrs. Dudley, of Albany. In the weekly clubs then held in Newport, which embraced men of distinction, Mr. Dudley was usually one of the guests, and both amused and edified the company. At this memorable period, Newport was far in advance of the other towns and cities in the colonies, in the refined taste and the enlarged hospitality, which charac- terized the inhabitants. This arose from the nature of the education then enjoyed, for where the mind is suffered to vege- tate without moral culture, the fruit borne will resemble the grapes of Sodom, or the fabled apples which grew on the mar- gin of the lake Asphaltites. The education of far too many at the present day, having been so crude and indigested, that the lustre, which is shed on the pathway of the intellectual mind, is not visible.
A fine writer has remarked of Newport, that " there are few towns of any magnitude within our broad territory, in which so little change has been effected in half a century, as in Newport.
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LOSS OF THE BRIG DOLPHIN.
Until the vast resources of the interior were developed, the beautiful island on which it stands, was a chosen retreat of the affluent planters of the South, from the heats and diseases of their burning climate. Here they resorted in crowds, to breathe the invigorating breezes of the sea. Subjects of the same government, the inhabitants of the Carolinas and of Ja- maica met here in amity, to enjoy free interchange of thought and feeling.
At the interesting period of 1769, the island was never more inviting and lovely. Its swelling crests were still crowned with the wood of centuries : its little vales were covered with the living verdure of the north ; and its unpretending, but neat and comfortable villas lay sheltered in groves, and ein- bedded in flowers. The beauty and fertility of the place gained for it a name, which, probably, expressed far more than was, at that early day, properly understood. The inhabitants of the county styled their possessions the "Garden of America." Neither were their guests from the scorching plains of the South, reluctant to concede so imposing a title of distinction.
THE LOSS OF THE BRIG DOLPHIN.
As the commerce of Newport whitened every sea, it was to be expected that disasters would occasionally occur. But this event caused painful anguish to many hearts. This year, 1767, was memorable for a melancholy disaster, that took place on the night of the 26th of August, off Point Judith. The brig Dolphin, Capt. John Malborn, (son of Evan,) from Kingston, Jamaica, with a valuable cargo of rum and sugar, and a number of passengers belonging to a theatrical company, took fire, and the vessel and cargo were entirely consumed ; five female passengers perished in the cabin. The officers and crew, with the rest of the passengers, escaped to the shore in boats.
The brig was a new vessel, of 210 tons, belonging to Messrs. E. & F. Malborn, merchants, of Newport. Among the pas-
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HISTORY OF RHODE ISLAND.
sengers was. Mr. Henry, the father of the American stage, and William B. Simpson, afterwards a lawyer of Newport.
Mr. Henry's wife and daughter were among those who were lost. It is stated that the cabin-boy was sent below to draw some rum from a choice cask, and carelessly placing the light too near, it immediately ignited, and the cask burst ; the report was like that of cannon.
Capt. John Dennis was a native of England ; he came to Rhode island when a boy, having been apprenticed to a ship- master in the London trade, belonging to Newport. Being of an active disposition, he soon became master of a vessel. He greatly distinguished himself by his daring courage, and suc- cessful enterprise. In 1741, while cruising in the West Indies, he so greatly annoyed the French islands, by the capture of their vessels and privateers, that the authorities of Martinique fitted out a vessel of 14 guns, and 130 men, expressly for the purpose of ridding themselves of so troublesome an enemy ; but in this they were disappointed, for, after an engagement of nearly four hours, in which Capt. Dennis was slightly wounded, she was taken possession of by Capt. Dennis, and carried into St. Kitt's. Here he received the attention which he had so justly merited, from the Governor, and other' officers of the island, and who, as a testimony of respect for his valuable ser- vices, presented him with a golden oar and a purse of five hundred pistoles.
In the war of 1756, Capt. Dennis was selected to command the privateer ship Tay, of 18 guns, and 180 men, which was fitted out by the merchants of Newport, for the purpose of annoying the Spanish commerce. This vessel sailed from New- port on the 22nd of August, 1756, and was never heard from after sailing.
He left a large family; among his sons was the late Capt. Thomas Dennis, for many years an enterprising merchant of Newport, and the late Capt. William Dennis, a revolutionary patriot, who commanded, during the contest for Independence, no less than thirteen privateers. Their descendants are still found in Newport.
1745. This year two large ships were built, and fitted out from Newport, as privateers, and were intended to cruise in company on the Spanish Main. They mounted 22 guns each,
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EVENTS IN THE WAR WITH FRANCE.
and were commanded, one by Capt. Brewer, and the other by Capt. Cranston. They sailed on the 24th of December, at the commencement of a north-east snow storm, which increased with great violence during the next day. These ships were never heard from after sailing, and the only conjecture that could be formed was, that they must have come in collision with each other during the thick snow storm, and both had gone down with all on board. These ships were fitted out, and principally owned, by Col. Godfrey Malborn, and the loss was considered as one of the greatest calamities that ever befel the town; beside the loss of property, upwards of four hundred lives were sacrificed, and nearly two hundred women became widows by this disaster.
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EVENTS IN THE WAR WITH FRANCE.
The legislature of Massachusetts decided, after much dis- cussion, to invite the other Colonies to unite with them, in an expedition against Louisburgh, the Gibraltar of the French American Provinces. Into the spirit of this enterprise, the legislature of Rhode Island entered with patriotic ardor ; and, at the May session of that body, passed a resolution to raise a regiment of one hundred and fifty men, exclusive of officers ; and that the Colony sloop, Tartar, be fitted out, with a compli- ment of ninety men, exclusive of officers.
The expedition was crowned with success; and after a siege of forty-nine days, the city of Louisburgh, and the island of Cape Breton, was surrendered by the French, on June 17th, 1745, to his Britannic Majesty.
The capture of Louisburgh, by the Colonies, stung the Court of France with mortification and revenge, and they resolved to chastise them for their insolence- Accordingly, an expedition was fitted out for this purpose, consisting of forty ships of war, and fifty-six transports, with three thousand five hundred men, and forty thousand stand of arms, for the French and Indians. The Colonies saw and acknowledged their danger, from their total inability to defend themselves, in case of an invasion by so
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HISTORY OF RHODE ISLAND.
numerous and formidable a fleet ; and the inhabitants of the sea- port towns were thrown into the greatest consternation.
No people had more to fear from foreign invasion, in New England, than the people of Newport; from the extent of her commercial interests, her local situation, and the facility with which the town might be approached with the largest ships of war, the inhabitants were thrown into the greatest agitation and distress. Nor were these apprehensions allayed, until in Octo- ber, it was ascertained that God had interposed for the Colonies, and gotten the victory with his own arm.
So disastrous was this expedition to the French, that among all this mighty and formidable fleet, destined to lay in ruins the smiling villages of New England, not more than two or three ships, and a few transports, ever reached her coast. A violent storm at sea either destroyed or damaged many of them. Others were compelled to return, on account of a most fearful pesti- lence which swept off hundreds of their crews, and made the bravest hearts tremble.
The Admiral, or Commander-in-chief of the whole French squadron, on reaching the coast of New England, died of morti- fication ; or as some say, of poison. The Vice-Admiral came to a similar tragical end, by running himself through the body with his own sword. That part of the fleet which arrived on the coast, sailed with the intent of making an attack upon An- napolis, but a storm scattered them again, and they were forced to return without effecting any part of the work of destruction originally intended.
Thus were the Colonies preserved, not by the policy of their councils, nor the prowess of their arms-but by the providence of God. Preliminaries of peace were soon entered into, between France and England, and a definitive treaty was signed in Octo- ber, 1748. The privateers of Rhode Island distinguished them- selves in this war, and during the year 1745, more than twenty prizes, some of them of immense value, were sent into Newport.
In May, 1758, Great Britain, under George II., formally de- clared war with France ; which declaration was reciprocated by France the following month. The causes which led to this war, commonly distinguished by the name of the " French and Indian war," were the alleged encroachments of the French on the English settlements in America.
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SAMUEL CRANSTON, ESQ.
This war terminated in 1763, by the cession of Nova Scotia, Canada, the Isle of Cape Breton, and all other islands of the gulph and river of St. Lawrence, to the British Crown. In all these splendid achievements of the British arms, during these long, protracted, and sanguinary conflicts, no town, perhaps, of equal size in New England, contributed more to the glory of the British Crown, than Newport.
In 1723, the town of Newport voted to build an Alms House for the poor of the town.
SAMUEL CRANSTON, ESQ.
As the Cranston family figured largely in Newport, previous to the Revolution, some account of them will, no doubt, prove highly interesting and amusing to the reader, more especially the event we now are about to notice.
Samuel Cranston, Esq., a gentleman of noble descent, and who had highly distinguished himself as a merchant in Newport, on the breaking out of the French war of 1755, finding business completely paralyzed, and being of an active temperament of mind, was induced to start on a voyage for Jamaica, not, how- ever, anticipating the scenes and events which he was destined to endure in the prosecution of the voyage.
When off the Keys of Florida, they were attacked by a pira- : tical vessel; they defended themselves to the utmost, satisfied as they were, that should they fall into their hands, no mercy would be shown them ; but all their efforts were in vain, and they were compelled to surrender to the enemy. Such was the savage cruelty of these buccaneers, that neither prayers nor ex- postulations had the least effect on their hard and obdurate hearts : the passengers and crew were all inhumanly butchered on the spot, with the exception of Mr. Cranston, who was spared, in order to labor on board the vessel as a common menial.
To a mind like his, it must have been deeply humiliating to be suddenly thrown from an elevated position in society, and compelled to herd with brutes in human form. In this condition
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HISTORY OF RHODE ISLAND.
he was doomed to labor for seven years. The thoughts of home would rush on the mind, producing pain and disquietude, and anxiously looking forward to the moment of deliverance, when he should once more participate in the enjoyment of the domestic circle. He had watched every moment, from the time of his captivity, for an opportunity to effect his escape ; the pro- pitious hour seemed now to have arrived, and he availed him- self of it. Having secured a boat and secreted some provisions, he committed himself to the winds and waves, trusting in Divine Providence for protection. After having been tossed about for many days, he was so fortunate as to fall in with an English ship, bound from Jamaica to Halifax, who kindly took him on board and treated him with marked attention. On his arrival at Halifax, a passage was given him to Boston, and on his arri- val there, he was startled at the rumor that his wife was on the eve of being married to a Mr. Russell, of Boston. This was an additional stroke, and rendered his mind a prey to the most gloomy thoughts. Poor and penniless, he started from Boston on foot, for Newport, there to await the issue. On his arrival, he entered the back door of his former residence, in the character of a mendicant, and craved food from the servants, which was readily granted. After appeasing the cravings of hunger, he inquired if Mrs. Cranston was the mistress of the house; on being answered in the affirmative, he stated that he had a message which he wished to communicate to her. On being informed that it would be entirely out of her power to comply with his wishes, as she was then making preparations for her nuptial celebration, which was to take place that evening, the heart of Cranston was seized with the most painful emotion, that his lovely and adored wife was about to espouse another. He requested the servant to say to her mistress, that he had seen her husband that day at 12 o'clock, crossing Howland's Ferry.
Such intelligence, so unaccountable, yet highly interesting, brought Mrs. Cranston from her toilette, to look on the bearer of such intelligence. He briefly rehearsed over the sufferings which her husband had endured, which she listened to with the deepest interest. He wished to know of Mrs. Cranston whether she had ever seen him before. Dressed in sailor's garb, with a tar- paulin hat partially drawn over his eyes, she replied in the nega-
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SAMUEL CRANSTON, ESQ.
tive; finding himself a stranger and unknown, in his own mansion, he at last raised his hat and gave her a significant look, at the same moment pointing to a scar on his forehead, and ex- claiming : "Did you, Mrs. Cranston, ever see that mark before ?" She at once flung herself on his bosom, and ex- claimed, in transports of joy, " You are my own, own dear, long lost husband !"
It required, as you may well imagine, some little time for the paroxysm to subside, and for Mr. Cranston to dress himself in a manner becoming his rank and station, before entering the drawing room, where the elegant group had assembled to wit- . ness the ceremony.
Mr. Russell, and the officiating clergyman, were already pre- sent, and nothing was wanting but the appearance of the bride. Soon, however, she entered, gracefully leaning on the arm of Mr. Cranston, whom she introduced as her long absent husband. The scene was worthy of the chisel of the artist, and produced emotions of delight in the minds of the guests.
Mr. Russell with true magnanimity, insisted that the marriage ceremony should be repeated, he giving the bride to her former husband, and endowing her with the amount which he intended to settle on her as his wife. This is a matter of fact, though assuming the appearance of romance.
Mr. Cranston was the son of the Hon. Samuel Cranston, Governor of the Colony. The Hon. Thomas Cranston, the grandson of Governor Samuel Cranston, and Abraham Red- wood, married sisters.
" Three full-length portraits, of Mr. Cranston, wife, and daughter, are hanging up in my house at Kingston. They were painted by Copley, before the Revolution, which, with the carved frames, gilded, cost one thousand dollars at that period." -History of the Narragansett Church.
Newport was once rich in paintings, but time and change have scattered and dispersed them.
The residence of Governor Cranston was in the rear of the Hunter estate, in Thames-street, and was called his " Castle." Being built of stone, and cemented with shell lime, gave to it an antique appearance. He died, A. D. 1727.
The following inscription appears on his tomb-stone :
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HISTORY OF RHODE ISLAND.
" Here lieth the body of SAMUEL CRANSTON, EsQ., LATE GOVERNOR OF THIS COLONY, Aged 68 Years ; and Departed this life, April ye 26, A.D. 1727. He was son of JOHN CRANSTON, Esq., who also was Governor here, 1680 ; Hle was descended from the noble Scottish LORD CRANSTON, And carried in his viens a stream of the Ancient Earls of CRAWFORD, BOTHWELL, & TRAQUAIR'S.
Having had for his Grandfather, JAMES CRANSTON, CLERK, Chaplain to King Charles the First. His Great-Grandfather was
JOHN CRANSTON, of POOLE, Esq., This last was Son of JOHN CRANSTON, EsQ., Which James was Son to WILLIAM, LORD CRANSTON.
Rest happy now, brave patriot, without end, Thy country's father, and thy country's friend."
On the head of the tombstone is emblazoned a rich coat-of- arms, with the motto-
"DUM CURO VIGILO."
The late Rev. Walter Cranston, of the Episcopal Church, a native of Newport, was one of his descendants. The name of Cranston, is still found in Newport, and the Hon. Robert B., and H. Y. Cranston, have both been Representatives in the Congress of the United States, from Rhode Island.
THE MARINE SOCIETY.
The Marine Society was instituted in the year 1756, by the name of the Fellowship Club. It was changed to the name of the Marine Society, by an Act of the Legislature, in 1785. The funds of the Institution have accumulated to about $20,000, the
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MASONIC FRATERNITY.
interest of which is appropriated to the relief of widows of de- ceased mariners, and orphan children, and to indigent members of the Society, agreeable to
ARTICLE XII.
" IST. This Society having been instituted for the relief of un- fortunate mariners, their widows and orphan children, its funds are never, in any instance, to be diverted from that object."
Under its present arrangement, far more liberality is dis- played towards the unfortunate, than formerly. This happy feature has arisen from the admission of new members, with enlarged and liberal views, and disposed to do ample justice towards applicants, without respect to self. It is a noble insti- tution, reflecting honor on the town, and should be fostered and encouraged by every mariner of Newport.
Its first Secretary was Mr. Benjamin Sayer, and its first Pre- sident, Mr. Oliver Ring Warner.
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MASONIC FRATERNITY.
" In the spring of 1658, Mordecai Campannall, Moses Packec- koe, Levi, and others, in all fifteen families, arrived at Newport from Holland. They brought with them the three first degrees of masonry, and worked them in the house of Campannall, and continued to do so, they and their successors, to the year 1742." -Taken from Documents now in possession of N. H. Gould, Esq.
We have noticed this institution from the fact of its having been said to be "the oldest body in the United States." It is in a flourishing condition, numbering about one hundred and fifty members.
"In the year 1768, a lottery was granted by the Assembly, to pave Thames-street; it was called 'the Newport Pavement Lottery.'"-From the Newport Mercury.
1774. The entries at the Custom House in Newport, for the months of June and July, were : vessels from foreign voyages, 64; coasters, 134; whalemen, 17 ; making an aggregate of 215 in the space of two months.
THE RHODE ISLAND GREENING .- It is stated that the first tree
THE NEWBERRY LIBRARY CHICAGO
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HISTORY OF RHODE ISLAND.
of the kind, came up spontaneously, near the wall, by the brook which runs through the farm of Joseph I. Baily, Esq., in Mid- dletown, the owner at that time being a Mr. Greene ; from him the apple took its name. It is highly celebrated and much sought after.
The Gardner Pear was introduced by Mr. Lucas, a French Huguenot, who, on his arrival at Newport, hired an estate of Mr. R. Gardner, for his residence. About the time the tree began to bear, Mr. Gardner occupied his own estate, and the pear re- maining, it obtained the name of the " Gardner Pear." They have nearly run out.
The Tallman Sweeting Apple, is a native of the Island, deriving its name from the family of Tallmans.
ORIGIN OF THE DECATUR FAMILY.
Stephen Decatur, who was a Captain in the United States' Navy, and father of the late distinguished Commodore Stephen Decatur, was born in Newport, April, 1752. His grandfather was a native of Genoa, who came to Rhode Island about 1746. He married, in Newport, in 1751, the widow Priscilla Hill. Her maiden name was George. The family had their residence in Broad street, where the house is still standing. As the mother's character so sensibly affects that of her children, it may not be amiss here to say, that Mrs. Hill possessed a force of mind and energy of character which was a characteristic feature of the George family. Stephen Decatur, the elder, was born in the house which then stood where the splendid mansion of Levi H. Gale, Esq., now stands, directly fronting the Mall.
Previous to the Revolution, they removed from Newport. In the war of the Revolution, Capt. Decatur greatly distinguished himself as the commander of a private ship from Philadelphia, called the " Fair American," by the capture of several British armed vessels. After the peace, he commanded a mer- chant vessel. At the establishment of the navy, in 1797, he was appointed to the command of the Delaware Sloop of War. He continued in her until the frigate Philadelphia was built, when the command was given him, at the request of the mer- chants who had built her by subscription.
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SLAVER OF G. AND F. MALBORN.
He remained in command of the Philadelphia, until the settle- ment with France, when he resigned his commission and retired to his farm, a few miles from Philadelphia, where he resided until his death, which took place in March, 1808, in the 57th year of his age.
He had three sons and several daughters. His sons were, the late gallant Commodore Stephen Decatur, Lieut. James Decatur, who was killed in the Tripolitan war, and Col. John P. Decatur.
Commodore Stephen Decatur was unfortunately killed in a duel with the late Commodore Barron. No eulogy from our pen is needed, to establish the high reputation which Stephen Decatur acquired in his naval career; we feel a pride of charac- ter, however, in being able to connect him with the illustrious personages whose origin has been in Newport.
1761. This year a company of commedians arrived in New. port from Williamsburgh, Virginia. They erected a temporary theatre at the upper part of the Point near Dyre's Grove, and the performances were well attended. This is said to have been the first company that ever performed in America. John Whipple, on his return from the theatre, was drowned by fall- ing from the Point Bridge.
SLAVER OF G. AND F. MALBORN.
Godfrey and John Malborn, had a slaver bound to Rhode Island, loaded with slaves : a pirate looking vessel hove in sight, and the captain offered to knock off the irons of the slaves, if they would consent to defend the vessel from the pirates. On their consenting, they were taken up and armed, and succeeding in driving off the enemy, they were rewarded, and afterwards taken to Pomfret, in Connecticut, on the large estate of Godfrey Malborn. Many of their descendants are still living in that neighborhood. An old hanger is now in the pos- session of Thomas Brinley, Esq., one hundred years old, which was used on that occasion.
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