USA > Rhode Island > Providence County > Providence > State of Rhode Island and Providence Plantations at the end of the century : a history, Volume 1 > Part 65
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"The Lieutenant of the Squirrel's account of the above affair :
" 'In the afternoon, as I was walking the deek, I saw a gun fired from the St. John; soon after, her boat, with a petty officer, eame on board, and told me that the mob had reseued the deserter, detained the Master, and wounded all the boat's erew; and that the gun fired, was for the boat to return on board; that the people from the town hailed the sehooner, and desired them to send the Pilot on shore, or they would saerifiee the Master, and manned several boats to board them. I then ordered him to return on board, and to make a signal if they attempted anything further; likewise, to bring the sehooner out, and anehor near us.
" 'Soon after, several gentlemen eame on board, and said they eame to represent the oeeasion of this disturbanee, lest the offieer of the sehooner should have made a misrepresentation of the affair. They said there was a theft committed by three of the sehooner's people; that they had one in possession, and wanted the other two, who were on board the schooner; that a peace-offieer had went off, and they had refused him admittanee; and they now imagined he would return with an armed foree to gain admittanee. I told the gentlemen the offenders should be sent asnore.
" 'The signal was then made by the sehooner, pursuant to my former direetions. I immediately sent a boat and a petty officer, to order her out of the harbor; on which the gentlemen told me they would fire on her from the fort. I then told the offieer, if they fired
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from the fort, to go on shore to the fort, and let them know it was my orders for her to move and anchor near us; and then the men should be delivered to justice; and if he fired again, I should be obliged to return it. They continued their fire. I then ordered a spring on our cable, and went ashore, to the fort, to let them know the consequence of their behavior. I found no other officer than the Gunner, governed by a tumultuous mob, who said they had orders to fire, and they would fire. They used me with great insolence, and knocked me down, and would have detained me. I then returned to the boat, ordered the ship to prepare for action, and proceeded on board the schooner, and brought her to anchor near the ship; they then ceased firing.
" 'I then went on shore, to demand justice of the Deputy-gov- ernor for the treatment I had received at the fort. He replied I must pursue the law. I told him I would redress myself, if there were to be found, as he seemed not active to do me justice. I then returned to take the people off who had insulted mne, but could not find them'.
"The account from which the above is copied, appears to be in Captain Smith's hand-writing, but not signed by Lieutenant Hugh Bachie, of the Squirrel, as I imagine, from forgetfulness. "COLVILL."
In June, 1765, Daniel Jenckes presented a petition to the Assem- bly representing that he, with Nathan Angell, Nicholas and Daniel Tillinghast, and John Jenckes, were owners of the sloop Kinnicut and her cargo, which was taken by a Spanish privateer belonging to the Island of Trinidad, since the cessation of hostilities between Great Britain and Spain, and carried to Trinidad and there condemned as a lawful prize; that they had made application to the courts of Great Britain and Spain for restitution of their property and had received an order from the king of Spain, directed to the governor of Trinidad, commanding him to make full satisfaction for the vessel and cargo, without any deduction. The owners of the vessel now desired the governor to grant them such a commission as would enable them to send to Trinidad and demand satisfaction for their property. This petition was readily granted, and the governor was empowered to com- mission a vessel with such persons as the owners deemed necessary to enable them to proceed with safety to Trinidad, in order to demand restitution of their property and satisfaction for their losses.
It would appear that the colonists had met with other losses of a similar nature, as the governor was requested by the Assembly to issue a proclamation desiring all persons in the Colony who had "sustained damage at or upon the islands of the West Indies, called the 'Turk's Island,' " to bring in their respective accounts of the same, in order that they might be transmitted to Jamaica for relief.
Another affair growing out of privateering was brought to the attention of the colonial government in a letter from the Earl of
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Halifax to the governor. The writer transmitted a letter from Guerehy, the French ambassador in London, wherein he charged that a French ship, the Claude Marie, which sailed from the Island of Martinique on November 10, 1741 (twenty-four years before), bound for the coast of Spain, was attacked and taken by a privateer belong- ing to Rhode Island, the captain of which, he asserted, "used all kinds of violence to oblige him to deelare that his vessel belonged to the Spaniards, with whom England was then at war". The vessel was
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MODEL OF THE UNITED STATES FRIGATE WASHINGTON.
Formerly owned by the Providence Marine Association and now in the Cabinet of the Rhode Island Historical Society.
then taken to Charleston, South Carolina, where she was condemned, or, as the ambassador writes, "the eargo was stolen". The owner having learned that the privateer was from Rhode Island, proceeded there and laid a complaint before the Governor and Couneil, who, after long diseussion, "awarded him the expense and damage which he demanded", and offered to prove by his papers. On aeeount of the opening of the war between Great Britain and Franee before he received his award, the matter had remained unadjusted until this
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time. Such was the statement made by the French minister through the Earl of Halifax. His lordship now requested Governor Ward "to make immediate inquiry into the circumstance alleged in His Excel- lency's letter and transmit to him the fullest information thereupon ; also to give the agents of Sieur Maginel, the vessel's owner, every facility in his power towards obtaining the justice which, upon inquiry and examination, might appear due to them".
The following is an extract from Governor Ward's dispatch of November 6, in reference to this matter:
"I had the honor of His Majesty's commands of the 8th of July last, transmitted to me by the Right Honorable the Earl of Halifax, directing the Governor and Company of this Colony to make imme- diate inquiry into the circumstances of an affair in which the Sieur Maginel, of Dunkirk, was concerned, as alleged in a letter from His Excellency, the French Ambassador, a copy of which I received with My Lord Halifax's letter, in obedience to which, a Committee was appointed by the Government, to examine into that affair; who re- ported that they have carefully and diligently searched the records of the several Courts of Admiralty, and can find not the least account of the matters mentioned in His Excellency's letter. But I shall imme- diately order further inquiry to be made, and shall immediately trans- mit to Your Excellency an account of what I may discover in this mat- ter; and upon application of the agents or representatives of the Sieur Maginel, shall give them every facility in my power for their obtaining that justice which, upon inquiry, shall appear to be due them.
"I have the honor to be,
"With great truth and regard, Sir, etc., "SAM. WARD. "To the Right Honorable Henry Seymour Conway."
In the year 1765, his majesty's ship, the Maidstone, being sta- tioned at Newport for the protection of the revenue, her officers gave great offense to the colonists, and particularly those whose avocations required them to go upon the water, by stopping and overhauling every vessel that entered or departed from the harbor. Even the fishing and wood-boats were stopped and seamen taken from them. To such an extent was this carried that the people of Newport would bear it no longer. On an occasion when the boat belonging to the Maidstone came ashore, she was seized by a mob, dragged through the streets to the Common and there publicly burned. At this time sev- eral of the inhabitants were impressed or detained upon the Maid- stone, for whose release Governor Ward made application, through the high sheriff, to the commander, Captain Antrobus. This officer was not on board when the sheriff visited the ship and the lieutenant in command refused to deliver up the men. In his letter referred to the governor says that the burning of the Maidstone's boat gave him
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great uncasiness, and that he should use his "utmost endeavors to prevent any sueh violent and seandalous measures from taking place in the future, as well as to bring all who have lately behaved in that illegal manner to eondign punishment". He further promised his protection to the offieers and men of the Maidstone whenever they came on shore, "they behaving themselves peaccably, and eonforming to the laws of the Colony".
Prominent in Rhode Island history at this time were the events growing out of the passage of the famous Stamp Act, but as they do not appertain to naval affairs, they need not be treated here. It may, however, be remarked that the bold and open resistance of the Colony to that measure, and the riots which grew out of its enforcement, led to the sending of more armed vessels into the waters of Narragansett Bay. The Cygnet, Captain Leslie, lay at Newport at the time and furnished protection to John Robinson, the collector, John Nichol, comptroller, and Nieholas Leehmere, seareher, who had been compelled to elose the custom house and flee for their lives. From the Cygnet they addressed a letter to Governor Ward, calling for protection, without which they could not reopen the eustom house. In the gov- ernor's absenee this letter was answered by Gideon Wanton, jr., who states "that the fury of the populace hath entirely subsided, and the minds of the people quieted; so that there is not the least danger or apprehension of any further riotous proceedings". He advises them to return and attend to their business, promising them all the protec- tion in his power. Their absenee, he adds, "has put an entire stop to the trade and commerce of the Colony, which will be attended with the most pernicious consequenees". This counsel was reiterated by Gov- ernor Ward upon his return.
Another grievance of the Newport people was that a prize vessel brought to that port, laden with molasses, had been taken and held by the British ship Cygnet, awaiting the determining of the prosecution against her at Halifax, instead of submitting her ease to a Vice- Admiralty Court in Rhode Island. It had been learned by the eustom offieers detained on the Cygnet that a mob in Newport, headed by Samuel Crandall, demanded the release of the prize sloop, together with several seows which had also been seized, and that Crandall further demanded that the officers of the eustoms should receive their fees as settled by an act of the General Assembly, in defiance of the aet lately passed by Parliament. In reply to the governor, Mr. Robinson and his associates stated "the infamous terms presumptu- ously proposed by Crandall", and said that they "eannot attend to the exereise of their respeetive funetions, whatever inconvenienee it may be to the trade", until he has appointed a guard to the eustom house and supports them in the execution of their duty, They then call upon him to arrest the offender that he might be punished as the
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law directs. Governor Ward replied, informing Collector Robinson that he had seen Mr. Crandall, who assured him that he had not the least intention of raising a disturbance or riot; but that Mr. Robinson "had personally used him ill, and that he shall insist upon proper satisfaction". The governor again urged the collector and his officers to return to their duties, as the town was suffering greatly from the closing of the custom house.
On the same day that the governor wrote the above to Collector Robinson he received the following from Captain Leslie of the Cygnet :
"SIR :- As I find you are arrived in town, I think it necessary to acquaint you there have been several reports brought to me of the mob having frequently threatened the taking forcibly away the sloop which is now under protection of the Cygnet; and I have great reason to believe the truth of such report, from a demand having been made of the same, by one Crandall, who, I am informed, is a principal per- son in the mob, as part of the conditions of the Collector's coming on shore and remaining in safety ; and that their plan is to be thus :
"To man and arm a number of boats or vessels, and possess them- selves of the fort; and, in case they find a resistance on my part, when such boats or vessels are endeavoring to take away the said sloop (which will certainly be the case, when we discover any such attempts being made), that then the guns at the fort are to be fired at His Majesty's ship under my command.
"This, I own, appears very surprising; but from the repetition of the report, and what happened, last year, to His Majesty's schooner St. John, I must own I think the madness of the mob may carry them to such length, without the interposition of the Government authority.
"Should their frenzy bring them to such a height, I am deter- mined to return it, immediately, from His Majesty's ship, without sending to the fort to know any reason or ask any questions. The Government will reflect what consequences may arise not only from the damage the town may receive from the shot which may pass over the fort into it; but what may hereafter happen on such an enormous thing being committed in a British Colony. Thus far, Sir, I think is the duty I owe His Majesty's service, to make you acquainted with.
"I am, Sir, &c., &c., CHARLES LESLIE.
"Dated on board the Cygnet, Rhode Island harbor, Sunday, Sep'r 1st, 1765.
"To Samuel Ward, Esq.".
In reply to this letter Governor Ward wrote as follows:
"NEWPORT, 2d September, 1765.
"SIR :- I am now to acknowledge the receipt of your letter of yesterday ; though I must confess I am much at a loss what answer to make to it.
"The reports carried on board the Cygnet are so idle, and the plans said to be formed for obtaining the sloop so chimerical, that
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nothing but the regard due to you, induces me to take the least notice of them ; and you may depend upon it, Sir, that there is not the least foundation for them.
"Should any person be so weak or wicked as to attempt the taking His Majesty's fort into their possession, I shall take proper measures to prevent it, and to bring the offenders to justice ; and the duty I owe my Sovereign will induce me, at all times, to use my utmost endeavors to prevent any differences from arising between the inhabitants of this Colony and any officers or men of His Majesty's ships, under your command, on this station.
"I am, Sir, etc., etc., "To Charles Leslie, Esq.".
S. WARD.
To this Captain Leslie replied thus :
"SIR :- I have yours, acknowledging the receipt of my letter, in which you declare yourself at a loss what answer to make me; and that the reports carried on board the Cygnet are so idle, and the plan 'said to be formed for obtaining the sloop so chimerical, that nothing but the regard you please to express for me, would induce you to take any notice of it;' and assuring me, 'that there is not the least foundation for the whole, and that you will take all proper measures in respect to any attempt on the fort.'
"In answer to all which, I must acquaint you that idle as you may look on these reports to be, they are well founded, and were fre- quently repeated by some of the principal people in the town, to me; and, whenever it becomes necessary, it can be proved, notwithstanding the contempt and disbelief with which your answer treats my letter; for I cannot look on it in any other light; and as to whether you had taken any notice of it or not, it would have given me no pain. I thought it incumbent on me to make you acquainted with such circum- stances which induced me to do it.
"I am, Sir, etc., etc., CHARLES LESLIE.
"Cygnet, Rhode Island harbor, Sept. 2d, 1765. "To Samuel Ward, Esq."
A determination to resist the law and the authorities of the gov- erminent was apparent in Providence as well as in Newport. The high duties were one grievance; the transfer of cases of prize vessels to the Admiralty Courts of other Colonies was another. Indeed, if an opinion is to be formed from the results of cases in the courts of the Colony where the government was the prosecutor, it is not surpris- ing that they were taken elsewhere. Trials were postponed when it suited the defendants, or were called at so short a notice that witnesses could not be procured. The government could scarcely find proof sufficient to convict parties charged with smuggling; and every ob- stacle seems to have been placed in the way of the government. A complaint was made by the collector and comptroller of the customs
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to his majesty's government, dated June, 1765. The Lords Commis- sioners of the Treasury, after considering it, caused a copy to be transmitted to the governor of Rhode Island, requesting him "imme- diately to make the most strict and diligent inquiry into the matter complained of in the letter", and info.m them the state of the facts therein mentioned, that their lordships might be thoroughly acquainted with the circumstances of this affair and be enabled to take such meas- ures as might prevent the like proceedings in future.
Four years later in July another conflict occurred in the waters of the harbor of Newport.
Among the British ships cruising in the waters of New England in search of smugglers and to enforce the revenue laws was the sloop Liberty, Capt. William Reid.
In the course of his cruise in Long Island Sound Captain Reid picked up two Connecticut vessels, a brig and a sloop, and brought them into Newport Harbor and charged their commanders with being smugglers. The captain of the Liberty had incurred the enmity of nearly every ship captain within the district he patrolled by his high- headed methods of dealing with the regular coasting vessels which plied the Narragansett Bay and the Sound, and this action in over- hauling the brig enraged its captain to such an extent that he resented it with force in which he was badly worsted. In the evening after the ships were at anchor within the harbor of Newport, Captain Reid went ashore, and while standing upon the wharf was met by a large party of irritated and indignant citizens, who demanded that he order his men ashore to answer before some tribunal for his conduct.
While the Liberty was thus unprotected she was boarded by a party of Newport citizens; the chief officer who alone remained on the sloop was set ashore, and the cables cut, in consequence of which the sloop grounded.
After she had grounded they cut away her mast and scuttled her, took her small boats to the upper end of the town and destroyed them by fire. In the midst of this excitement the two Connecticut crafts made sail and escaped out of the harbor. "This", says Arnold, "was the first overt act of violence offered to the British authorities in America".
Three years later, on the night of July 9, 1772, was made the memorable attack upon the British armed sloop, Gaspee, near Namquit Point, by a number of men from Providence-an event conceived in audacity and executed with heroism. The vessel was boarded and set on fire and, before the following morning, burned to the water's edge. During the attack Lieutenant Duddingston, of the Gaspee, was wounded. The success of this exploit and its influence in opening the eyes of the British to the temper of Rhode Island men, led the govern-
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ment authorities to make determined effort to apprehend those con- neeted with it; but notwithstanding the large number of persons in- volved, their names were carefully kept secret, and to this day only a few of them are known.1 In this act of armed opposition to British claim to the right to stop vessels in Narragansett Bay in the interest of foreign revenue was shed the first blood in that struggle for free- dom from the yoke that was fast becoming unbearable.
Between the date of this event and the actual outbreak of the Revolution, the authorities of the Colony were actively engaged in military preparations. There was widespread anxiety and mueh alarm, not from fear for the ultimate sueeess of the cause, but on account of the exposed situation of the Colony to land and water at- tack. In 1775 a British army was only a day's mareh to the north- ward, and British ships of war were cruising in Narragansett Bay. Here took place the first naval engagement of the war, on June 15, 1775, when a sloop belonging to Capt. Abraham Whipple, of Gaspee fame, attacked a tender of the British frigate Rose, ehased her ashore on Conanieut Island and captured her.2
On the 20th of July, 1775, James Wallace, in command of the British fleet in Rhode Island, assembled his ships in line of battle before the town of Newport and threatened to open fire unless the authorities complied with his request for provisions, which they were forced to do. Alarm extended to Providence and defensive measures were promptly adopted ; fortifieations were ereeted on Fox Hill,3 eom- manding the harbor, and a battery of heavy guns planted there. The only other fort in the Colony at that time was on Goat Island, in New- port harbor. On October 4, 1775, Esek Hopkins was commissioned brigadier-general in command of a force stationed for the protection of Newport, where the British fleet was making trouble for the in- habitants by its demands for supplies. The taet and good judgment of Hopkins averted actual confliet there for the time being. But the prevailing anxiety impelled many of the inhabitants of the town to leave the island, taking their property with them, and from that date the commercial importance of Newport began to wane.
Esek Hopkins's term of service as a military commander covered only two months and eighteen days, when he was appointed, and the appointment confirmed on December 21, 1775, commander-in-chief of a fleet of vessels that was to be provided for operations against the enemy. It was during his term of service in defense of Newport that a minor but brilliant naval event took place. A sloop laden with
1An extended account of this event will be found in another chapter.
2For a detailed account of this first naval action see Field's Esek Hopkins.
BA committee, constituted mainly of sea captains, was appointed to regu- late the conduct of the Fox Point battery, and they prepared a set of rules which are quaintly entertaining. See the chapter on Wars and the Militia.
ESEK HOPKINS,
COMMANDER-IN-CHIEF OF THE AMERICAN NAVY DURING THE AMERICAN REVO- LUTION, 1775-1778.
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cargo arrived in Seaconnet River, in eliarge of Capt. Isaae Eslick, of Bristol, and was turned over to Hopkins. This was the eonelusion of the event. Captain Eslick had been in command of a small trading sloop, which was captured by a British war vessel and a prize master and crew put aboard of her with orders to take her to Boston. Esliek was detained on the British sloop of war Viper. Not long after this the British sloop sighted and overhauled the sloop Polly, of New York, Capt. Samuel Barnew, bound for Antigua. A midshipman, as prize master, and several hands were put on board with orders to proceed to Boston. Eslick was also transferred to the Polly as pilot, under promise that if he faithfully piloted her into Boston harbor, his own boat and cargo should be returned to him. He soon established friendly relations with two of the original erew of the sloop and the three determined to outwit the prize master and take the vessel to Rhode Island. It was a bold projeet and had little apparent ehanee of success, as the British fleet was in Narragansett Bay and adjacent waters. Nevertheless, Eslick laid his course and with the aid of his two acompliees took the sloop safely into Seaeonnet River. By this exploit Esliek lost all elanee of obtaining the return of his own vessel and eargo, while saving the property of others; but the General Assembly soon afterward ordered the payment to Esliek of $250, and $50 to each of his two associates in the exploit.
When the Continental Congress confirmed the appointment of Esek Hopkins as commander-in-chief of the navy in Decem- ber, 1775, the following naval officers were also appointed : Captains-Dudley Saltonstall, Abraham Whipple, Nicholas Biddle, and John Burroughs Hopkins. First lieutenants-John Paul
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