USA > Rhode Island > The "Old Stone Bank" history of Rhode Island, Vol. I > Part 4
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PIRATICAL ATTACKS ON BLOCK ISLAND
W E have recorded the supremacy of Rhode Island as the home of priva- teering in America. Rhode Island ships visited many parts of the world where their conduct differed little from that of the no- torious Captain Robert Kidd. All of this might reasonably create the impression that our State had a monopoly on such activities. To correct this impression let us recall some of the unpleasant experiences result- ing from visits to this State by privateers from other countries.
When France and England went to war, the American Colonies were a part of Eng- land and, being none too well protected, they naturally attracted the attention of the French privateers. A blow at these Colonies was a blow at England and the possibilities for profit caused many expeditions to head this way. With the assistance of England, the settlers on the mainland were able to
ward off invaders and had little to fear. The little island of Block Island was, how- ever, not so fortunate. Its isolated position made it a fair mark and its helplessness was quickly recognized by the privateers from France.
Block Island's troubles began in July, 1689, when a bark, a barge, a large sloop and a smaller one, constituting three men- of-war and a transport, made their appear- ance in the bay on the east side of the Island. This formidable armada greatly alarmed the inhabitants who had no means of knowing whether the ships were English or French, friend or foe. Brave though they were, uncertainty filled their hearts as they stood on the shore, watched the vessels come to anchor and saw a boat lowered and head for shore. When the boat came near enough one of the occupants stepped out upon a boulder, picked his way across the
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intervening rocks and, in English, greeted the natives in a friendly manner which was somewhat reassuring. The islanders took no chances, however, and while question- ing him closely, kept their guns ready for self defense.
The visitor gave his name as William Trimming and convinced his questioners that the vessels were under the command of George Austin, a noted English privateer with whom they were friends. He said they were in need of wood, water and a pilot to conduct them safely into Newport harbor. When he had succeeded in gaining the con- fidence of the islanders he returned to his ship and soon made a signal for a pilot. With visions of a substantial reward sev- eral immediately went aboard, only to be promptly imprisoned under the hatches and under threats of bodily harm forced to tell all they knew about the means of defense on the Island.
Equipped with this information, the French, still supposed to be English, low- ered three boats, with about 50 men in each, and with guns concealed, approached the deluded but interested spectators who guided their supposed friends through the hidden rocks in the bay until they came to the wharf. Here the guns were suddenly revealed and aimed at the unsuspecting islanders who were ordered to surrender to the invaders or forfeit their lives. After the soldiers had been overpowered and made prisoners, the Island was in the hands of Trimming and his crew to do with as they pleased. Their first act was to smash the guns of the natives on the rocks and con- fine their owners in the stone house of Cap- tain James Sands.
Then began a week of pillaging and de- struction. Cattle were killed for food and those not needed by the invaders were killed and allowed to spoil so that the natives would be deprived of them. Houses were plundered of everything of value, people were robbed of their clothing, beds were ripped open, the feathers thrown away and the ticking carried to the ships. Women were subjected to all kinds of insults and abuse. While this was going on the French- men captured two English vessels headed up the Sound, sinking one loaded with steel and preserving the other for her cargo of
liquors. News of this invasion somehow reached the mainland where bonfires quick- ly appeared all the way from Pawcatuck Point to Seaconnet Point. This alarmed the privateers who left post haste with the in- tention of taking New London, but they received such a warm reception that they re- treated. Meanwhile two war vessels were fitted out at Newport for the defense of Block Island. Pursuing the enemy they surprised seventeen Frenchmen on Fisher's Island and killed the leader, Trimming.
On their way back from New London to continue the destruction of Block Island, the French ships encountered the Colonial men-of-war, under Commodore Paine, to the westward of Sandy Hill. Then ensued what is probably the first naval battle fought in the waters of Block Island. The French- men made an unsuccessful attempt to cap- ture the vessels as prizes but were driven back to their ships by the hot fire from the men-of-war. For several hours a con- tinuous succession of broadsides descended on the enemy as each ship came within range, and bullets from the small arms of both sides spattered and sang. The Captain of the enemy sloop, determined to board one of the English ships, was about to fort- ify himself with a glass of wine when he fell dead with a bullet in his neck. Several others in the French party were killed, but only one in the English, an Indian. During the night our vessels were supplied with more ammunition from the Island, but in the morning the enemy was gone. Pur- suit by our warships compelled the scuttling of the prizes, only the one with liquor being overtaken before it sank.
As a result of this first invasion of Block Island by French privateers, ships were sent from Boston and New York to help protect the Island. Later in the same year some of the original invaders made another brief but destructive attack in very much the same manner. Still another visit from the mar- auding Frenchmen came a few months later. This time the home of Captain Sands suf- fered most. The occupants were forced to flee for their lives and the dwelling turned into a slaughter house. In the midst of these depredations the lifting of the fog revealed the man-of-war "Nonesuch" riding at anchor off shore. The privateers promptly took to
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their heels with the "Nonesuch" in hot pur- suit. Losing their way in the fog the French- men found themselves bottled up in Buz- zard's Bay where they were captured by the "Nonesuch." The men were made prisoners and the vessel taken to Newport as a prize.
Even then peace did not come to Block Island. Its fat cattle, swine, sheep and poultry, together with the household goods available, were too tempting to be neg-
lected. From 1698 to 1706 the Island was in almost constant state of siege and the government was compelled to maintain a fairly large force to defend it. A fourth attempt to capture the Island was made by an unidentified enemy. Captain Kidd was much in evidence at the time and was sus- pected by some of being involved in this venture. This time the natives put up a stiff defense and after an open pitched battle drove the invaders off.
PROVIDENCE COMMERCIAL BEGINNINGS
W E will now look at Providence at the beginning of the 18th century. This was a very interesting, a very vital period. In fact, we might consider it as marking the beginning of the city's healthy childhood. Its little legs were growing sturdy, it was drinking plenty of unadulterated milk and eating heartily of fresh vegetables. It was still unaffected by growing pains.
The year 1700, in the light of America's development, was a long time ago, and it is difficult to picture the city as it was then. Scarcely a memento of those times is rec- ognizable except perhaps the rivers; but even they have been filled in at various points, or parts of the banks have been re- moved, so that only the faintest signs of ancient Providence can now be traced. Comparatively few people were living with- in the town limits, and the population of all Providence County numbered only 1500. The present North Main Street was the city street, and it ran along the water- front. Across the river there was no com- pact settlement, and there were no bridges. Transportation was supplied by ferry, when it was needed, but men often forded the river at low tide and cattle were taken across by swimming. The colonists raised
their food in their own gardens and made their clothes at home.
But though Providence seemed virtually self-sustaining, it was not isolated. Ship- ping was carried on in these parts, with headquarters in Newport, which had a teem- ing population of 2000, and in that city were three shipyards. Already a great deal of importing and exporting had been done in the Colony, and Providence with its har- bor facilities was soon to become a port.
The Colony at this time had a total popu- lation of about 7100, and its boundaries though oftentimes in dispute, were about the same as they are now. Besides Newport and Providence, there were the towns of Kingston, Westerly, Portsmouth, Warwick, East Greenwich, Jamestown and New Shoreham. That the Colony was thriving and industrious can be seen by the list of exports, which consisted of lumber, staves, heading, hoops, beef, pork, butter, cheese, onions, horses, candles, cider, Indian corn, and wax. And its imports were sugar, mo- lasses, salt, ginger, indigo, pimento, rum, wine, wool and linen, Swedish and Span- ish iron. Trade was carried on with the Western Islands, West India Islands, Suri- nam, and the other English Colonies in
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America. All the trading with England .was done through the French, Spanish, or Eng- lish Colonies. It is recorded that in one year the Colony did a business with England amounting to more than 20,000 pounds.
The first wharf had been built in Provi- dence by Pardon Tillinghast in 1679, and since then several more had been built. By 1700, possibly a little later, commerce in Providence had resulted in the wealth of the growing merchant class. Philip Tilling- hast, the son of the man who built the first wharf, erected a home which was of al- most fabulous magnificence. It's dimen- sions are reported as being about forty by thirty feet; it was two stories high, with a kitchen in the basement and an extra half- story above the attic. Both main stories were divided into four rooms, and the fur- nishings were such as to make the colonists gasp. There was a "great room," as it was called, on the first floor, which was sixteen feet square and eight feet in height. In this the ceiling was made of panelled wood- work, and panelling was used to decorate other parts of the room also. The great fire- place was highly ornamented, and the chairs were upholstered with leather-ordinary enough now, perhaps, but in those days the colonists hardly dared dream of such wealth. Other merchants emulated this magnificance, and it was they who first dis- carded the simple homespun cloth in favor of imported silks, woolens and furs. The ladies carried muffs, the men, gold watches, seals, and gold-headed canes.
A resolution passed in 1704 shows that commerce in Providence was substantially increasing. There was a demand for a ware- house on the east bank of the river, west of the city street, and the resolution prohibited it, for this reason. The point desired for a warehouse was to continue to be used as a common; if the warehouse was built there, the cattle swimming across the river would
have no place to land, nor would those who forded the river. Part of the resolution is printed in italics, and reads: "the said neck of land and every part thereof shall be and remain continually in common."
Progress, however, rendered the resolu- tion invalid seven years later. A grant was given to Nathaniel Brown to build ships on a part of this land in 1711. Brown had some years before been building ships at Bullock's Cove, in Rehoboth, now East Providence, and Providence merchants had used his vessels. Due to religious trouble in Massachusetts, he removed to this city and was cordially welcomed. And an asset he was, indeed. Here he built sloops and schooners, many of them having as much as sixty tons burden, and these sailed from Providence to the West Indies, the Spanish Main, and the west coast of Africa.
In the year 1710 the first bridge was built, the Weybosset Bridge, from a point on the present North Main Street across to where part of the Hospital Trust Building now stands. This was a great improvement, and was a considerable achievement in those days. The question of the bridge had been debated for several years, but the under- taking had seemed too colossal. At last, however, a wooden bridge, fourteen feet wide, was built across the river.
In the space of a few years, Providence had become a city of commercial impor- tance. As time went on, its shipping in- creased, it expanded in size, and acquired more wealth and prosperity. But it was young yet, and had lessons to learn. The Colonial greenbacks were to be issued a few years later, and it is well known how this issue affected all the Colonies in early America. It is to Rhode Island's credit, and worthy of her tradition, that she protested against this lavish issuance of paper money.
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ESEK HOPKINS
T THE first Admiral of the United States Navy was a native Rhode Islander. His name was Esek Hopkins and he was born April 26, 1718, at Chapumiscook, now Chopmist, Scituate, Rhode Island. He went to Newport in 1741 and lived there until 1755, when he moved to his farm near Providence. Previous to the year 1755 the American Colonies were without naval pro- tection, and when difficulties with England arose, her ships sailed along our coast and into our harbors as they pleased, for there were no colonial ships to defend us. As it happened, Rhode Island was the first of all the Colonies to provide herself with naval protection; about this time two armed frigates were ordered to protect the harbor and waters nearby. Moreover, Rhode Island delegates impressed on Congress the need of having a navy equal in strength and ef- ficiency to the army. Several other dele- gates supported the Rhode Islanders, and in October of 1755 Congress appropriated sufficient funds to equip two vessels with arms and ammunition. A little later it was provided that thirteen more vessels be armed, and, at last, naval mobilization was under way.
Now that the Colonies had the nucleus of a Navy, the next requirement, and a very important one, was the selection of the Navy's commander. Captain Esek Hopkins was one of the many masters who sailed Rhode Island ships to the far corners of the globe. Most of his life had been spent on cruises that took him away from his home for years at a time. His neigh- bors in Providence saw very little of him, but they regarded him as a daring sailor and a citizen of good sense and sound judgment.
In the summer of 1755, the people of Providence were apprehensive over the dan- ger of a foreign invasion of their harbor.
A British fleet lurked outside, it was rumored, and definite steps were taken to protect the inland waters of the Colony. Captain Hopkins was eagerly besought to command the naval forces of his Colony, and he willingly accepted. He began im- mediately to fortify the harbor, and, by a clever arrangement of ships and water obstacles, the city was made safe against naval attack, and the fear of an invading British fleet was dispelled. Although he was sixty years of age when the Revolution broke out, Captain Hopkins assumed re- sponsibility for both the naval and military forces of Rhode Island. During the attack upon Newport by the British fleet, Hopkins rushed to the city with reinforcing troops, and lent great assistance in repulsing the enemy.
Congress saw in Hopkins the qualities that assure successful leadership in times of national peril, and he was forthwith se- lected by unanimous vote to assume com- plete command of the Navy. As soon as he was notified of his appointment, Commodore Hopkins resigned his local commands and journeyed to Philadelphia, where his fleet was being prepared for active duty. With him he took a picked group of Rhode Island volunteers who had expressed their eager- ness to sail and fight on his vessels. Shortly after his arrival and inspection of the first squadron of United States fighting ships, the new Commander requested that Congress give him additional ships to increase the strength of his command. Congress com- plied with his wish and allowed him eight armed merchantmen.
Up and down the southern coast, Lord Dunmore with a squadron of Britishers had been making raids with little or no inter- ference from the colonists. To put a stop to this annoyance was the first order given by Congress to Commodore Hopkins and his fleet. On the 9th of January, 1775, the
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fleet proudly set sail with all the pomp and ceremony due the occasion. Difficulties and disappointments beset the fleet at the very outset, for it was nearly a month be- fore the vessels could make their way out between the Delaware Capes. The river was blocked with ice that prevented their proceeding safely. After a stormy trip south, they located the British fleet safely anchored in a harbor beneath the shelter of frowning land guns. Commodore Hop- kins feared to attack them because of their strong position and also because of the weakened condition of his men, most of whom were worn out and sick from the hardships of their hazardous trip.
Undecided as to proper action at this point, he finally ordered the fleet to pro- ceed south to the Bahama Islands, where it had been rumored the English had stored a valuable supply of arms and ammuni- tion. A few weeks later the fleet reached the islands and sailed into the harbor of New Providence. After a bloodless engage- ment with the natives, the supply was cap- tured and this proved to be much larger than was expected. The booty was packed into the ships until all had capacity car- goes, and the heavily laden fleet headed back to the Colonies. If the British fleet had engaged them on the return trip, Com- modore Hopkins would have had his hands full attempting to organize a defence. How- ever, the fleet had several minor engage- ments with lone enemy ships, all of which were overhauled and taken as prizes.
In April, an incident occurred that had great bearing on the future success of Com- modore Hopkins and his newly organized squadron of fighting ships. The fleet had reached the entrance of Long Island Sound, when it came upon an enemy ship that raised havoc with the vessels which at- tempted to take her. Under cover of dark- ness, the mysterious stranger succeeded in severely damaging three or four of the at- tacking ships; and, in the morning, she led the "Columbus," commanded by Captain Whipple, a merry chase in the direction of Newport. In the harbor of that city the British fleet lay at anchor, and lest it should be drawn into open engagement with the American fleet, Commodore Hopkins or- dered the "Columbus" to give up the pursuit. The British ship proved to be the "Glasgow,"
and she lost no time making her way back to Newport. The "Columbus" reluctantly rejoined the other American vessels, which proceeded on their way into the harbor at New London.
The entire country rejoiced when it was known that Commodore Hopkins had brought back valuable material from his first voyage, and he received congratula- tions from both the populace and the gov- ernment. He immediately divided his cap- tured prizes, giving twenty-six cannon to Newport, seven to Dartmouth, and thirty- six to New London. But enthusiastic praise soon turned to vicious criticism. Hopkins had enemies and they quickly spread their poison. He was censured for failing to attack the British fleet in southern waters, he was blamed for what was called an unjust distribution of the arms that he had brought back with him, and people openly criticized him for failing to capture the mischievous "Glasgow" when he had an entire fleet at hand to do so.
Besides this, he soon began to have even greater enemies, vessels known as "priva- teers." They were fighting ships which sailed up and down the coast capturing enemy vessels in any way they could. They were privately owned, and although they operated under the sanction of the govern- ment, the money gained from the captured prizes went into the pockets of the owners, masters and seamen. This means of fighting the enemy on the high seas was much more lucrative for all concerned than serving in the regular Navy. Hopkins found it diffi- cult to attract men into his service, and this fact, together with public and official cen- sure for previous misfortunes, soon put the Naval Commander and his force in an extremely unpopular light.
Matters went from bad to worse, result- ing finally in the complete dismissal of Com- modore Hopkins from the service. He had not failed; he was justified in every deci- sion that he had made. Unfortunate con- ditions and circumstances stood in the way of success. His enemies had taken advan- tage of the fickleness of public opinion and had turned the entire country against him. He left the Navy determined to continue in the service of the country, and until his death he labored to serve the Colonies as a true and faithful patriot.
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GOVERNORS JOHN AND SAMUEL CRANSTON
M ANY indeed are the illustrious names which illumine the history of this glorious little State of ours. As we review them, one by one, we must feel in our hearts a glow of justifiable pride, realizing that we are privileged to be citizens of a common- wealth whose early destiny was shaped by men of sterling character, rugged inde- pendence and high ability.
From this notable company there looms with untarnished brilliance the name of Cranston. It was borne with the greatest honor by John, the ninth Governor of the Colony, and his son Samuel, the eighteenth Governor. He assumed this high office in 1698, and held it until his death in 1727, a period of 30 consecutive years. Although long terms were not unusual in those days, Samuel Cranston established a record for all time by serving twice as long as any. other Governor. This extraordinary record becomes all the more striking when we con- sider that in all his active and useful life, public or private, there has not been found a single discreditable act.
The name of Cranston harks back through Lord Cranston to the ancient Scottish Earls of Crawford, Bothwell and Traquair, the descendants of whom are blood relations of the present royal family of Great Britain. It was the marriage of Lord Cranston with the daughter of the great Earl of Buccleugh which was immortalized in Sir Walter Scott's "Lay of the Last Minstrel." The John Cranston of whom we are speaking was a grandson of this same Lord William. While a young man he came to this country from Scotland, during the time of Oliver Cromwell, and settled in Newport. Here he married Mary Clarke, daughter of Jere-
miah Clark, a prominent Quaker. Evi- dently he had been educated in medicine, for on March Ist, 1664, the General As- sembly passed an act permitting him "to administer phisicke and practice chirurg- ery," and conferred on him the title of M.D.
At this time Rhode Island had not re- ceived its charter as a Colony, and Captain John Cranston, as he was then known, had a hand in the framing of the petition which was later granted by King Charles. So pleased were the colonists with their suc- cess that Captain Cranston, John Clarke and William Dyre, were sent to England (in 1664) with a letter of appreciation to be presented to the King.
Captain John Cranston was elected Dep- uty Governor of Rhode Island on May 1st, 1672, and served one year. He was elected again in 1676, and remained in office until November 8th, 1678, when he was made Governor to succeed Governor Coddington, who died in office. The election was con- firmed in the following May, and he con- tinued as Governor until his death on March 12th, 1680. Captain John Cranston was the third Rhode Island Governor to die in office. He was also the first to receive the title of Major General, the appointment be- ing made during King Philip's War. Dur- ing John Cranston's governorship, his forceful leadership and able mentality were of untold value to the Colony.
Governor John Cranston had a son, born in Newport in 1659, and this son, Sam- uel, was destined to even greater accom- plishments. He, too, became Governor, in March, 1698, when his uncle, Governor Walter Clarke, resigned in his favor. Walter
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Clarke was induced to serve as Deputy Gov- ernor and continued to do so until his death in 1714. During the next thirty years Samuel Cranston's career was one of con- tinuous achievement, and of persistent over- coming of innumerable difficult problems.
The notorious Andrus Usurpation, which had threatened to disrupt the Colony, had ended during Governor Clarke's ad- ministration. A new and somewhat similar menace, however, had arisen in the' at- tempt of Colonel Joseph Dudley, Chief Justice under Andrus, and now once more Governor of Massachusetts, to form a New England Colony with himself as its head. His methods were unscrupulous and per- sistent, and although he tried every under- hand scheme he could devise to accomplish his despotic plan, he was defeated at the able hands of Governor Cranston. The Quaker régime came to an end, and the Episcopal Church was established in the Colony through the efforts of Governor Cranston. He also succeeded in settling the battle over the Connecticut boundary, and his diplomatic letters to Great Britain helped free the Colony from the charge, fostered by Dudley, of sanctioning piracy. Governor Cranston also directed personally a complete revision and improvement of the Colony laws.
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