USA > Rhode Island > The "Old Stone Bank" history of Rhode Island, Vol. IV > Part 12
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this, his Colony and dominion of Rhode Island and Providence Plantations," and it also altered the forms of Commissions, of all writs, and processes in the Courts, and of the oaths prescribed by law. Noth- ing could have been more decisive, no pro- cedure could have better demonstrated that this Colony, for one, had relinquished all ties with the mother country. George the Third, King of England, was severely taken to task in the body of the document, his power was to be opposed - Rhode Island was independent as long as inde- pendence could be maintained.
The royal coat-of-arms had always ap- peared on the title page of the Providence Gazette, but was never seen again after May 4, 1776. On the 14th day of the same month, General Nathanael Greene wrote in part as follows: "By a late act passed last session you have declared yourselves independent, 'tis nobly done. God prosper you and crown your endeavors with suc- cess." But, the apparent significance of all this was lost sight of during the greater part of the last century. James S. Slater, alone and unaided for many years, made it the goal of his life to uncover every high- light and side-light pertaining to the event that should be prominently included in every text-book on American history. Men of Mr. Slater's character signed the original document; Rhode Islanders like him fought for and won independence for this nation; and men with his patience, unswerving patriotism and dogged deter- mination will be the ones who must pre- serve, cherish and defend the privileges of liberty and independence which were first demanded in writing here in this nation by the Colony of Rhode Island and Provi- dence Plantations.
FIELD'S POINT
TT seems that there has always been some good reason for talk in these parts about what goes on at Field's Point, known to the Indians as Pumgansett. The In- dians hereabouts probably had much to say about the place because of the great quantities of clams, oysters and mussels
along the muddy shores of this portion of the city that extends into the Provi- dence River, and which, at one time, re- sembled somewhat the side view of a dog's head. From the number and variety of Indian relics which have been unearthed from time to time, on or very near what
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long has been called Field's Point, it is quite evident that the general area was a favorite gathering place or village site in the days before the arrival of the white man. When the Revolutionary War was on, they talked about Field's Point no little because its position was of such great consequence to the protection of the town from attack by water.
Field's Point was generally shunned, but liberally discussed when a pest-house, or smallpox hospital, was maintained there for many years, but when it became a rendezvous for the adoring worshippers of His Majesty the Clam, Field's Point was talked about far and near, through- out the East; in fact, Field's Point chowder and Field's Point clambakes became New England institutions, and so did its bake- masters who knew well how to "build a bake," as they said, and draw away the steaming sail-cloth just at the proper moment. And, during World War II, the long-famous point that juts across the headwaters of the Providence River was again in the news, for thousands of Rhode Islanders and others who long heard of Field's Point, who often passed near it, but who never actually went there, came to know the place well, changed though it was to meet the requirements of rapid fire, stream-lined shipbuilding to help win another war.
This account concerns the home of Thomas Field and his descendants. Thomas Field, one of the early settlers of Providence, probably selected the site for a farm, since the original town lots which ran east and west, on the east side of the river, offered little opportunity for cattle to graze. So Farmer Field moved out of the comparatively congested Towne Street section of downtown Providence in the early days; went across the river and down the shore, and where, in recent years was heard the clash of steel and the sparkling blue glow of the welding torch was seen, he built a farmhouse and laid out many acres of fields and meadows for planting and grazing. It is believed that Thomas Field built his homestead, in 1694, and it is known that what remained of the original structure was finally de- molished in 1896. At any rate, there is a record in existence proving that the once
imposing and well-visited Field homestead was standing in 1712, and that it was then occupied by Thomas Field, Jr. Histo- rians more or less agree that the house was built for Thomas Field at the time he was married, and this was about 1694 or 1695. The landmark received its name a long time ago, and this name came from the original resident and owner.
If you knew where to look, and if you had good reason to get close enough, you would have found big guns and little guns, pointing seaward and heavenward, here, there and everywhere along Rhode Island's ocean front and up and down the shores of Narragansett Bay when America went to war in 1941. As in 1775, the land-locked inland waters, and the exposed beaches and headlands of Rhode Island became strategically important, important for defense and for offense in view of what went on immediately beyond these coasts and shorelines. It just happened that the great Glacier, or ice cap, fashioned the land and waters that comprise the State of Rhode Island into a form that invited sea traffic and industry, hence its strategic importance in war-time, and likewise its vulnerability.
The military establishment that was located at Field's Point during the Revo- lutionary War was a vital part of Rhode Island, or American defense. Therefore, it might be interesting to many to learn something of what went on there shortly after the smoke had cleared from the bloody slopes of Bunker Hill and men were marching away to serve their coun- try. Briefly, the news of the Battle of Bunker Hill filled the inhabitants of Rhode Island with terror and alarm. Peace was definitely out of the question; the blow had been struck; it was either fight or submit to tyranny. Continental Con- gress urged all the residents in the sea- ports of the colonies to fortify such sea- ports, strongly and hurriedly, and this advice was promptly endorsed by the General Assembly of Rhode Island on June 28, 1775.
A signal beacon, or alarm device, was erected on College Hill in Providence, and a watch, something like an air-raid look- out, was established on Tower Hill to watch for enemies approaching by sea.
"THE OLD STONE BANK"
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Courtesy, Town Criers of Rhode Island
FIELD'S POINT, FAR-FAMED CLAMBAKE RESORT, 1867-1910.
Then, suddenly, with as startling effect as if enemy aircraft were soaring above Paw- tucket, the news came that British ships under command of Captain James Wal- lace were arrayed in battle formation off Newport, apparently with the intention of bombarding the town. As one can well imagine, the entire colony was torn with excitement and with fear. But, Wallace spared Newport and withdrew, recogniz- ing, as was learned later, that the seaport would be strategically important as a rendezvous for the British. However, no time was lost in providing means of de- fense, particularly in Providence, since no one knew when the enemy might return, or where an attack might be made.
A town meeting was convened July 31, 1775, and the Hon. Nicholas Cooke chosen moderator, and, as a result of the business transacted, fortifications were ordered built at what is now Fox Point, and in- trenchments and breastworks were ordered "to be hove up between Field's Point and Sassafras Point of sufficient capacity to cover a body of men ordered there on any emergency." Captain Nicholas Power
was directed to superintend their con- struction and was ordered to advise and consult with Captain Esek Hopkins, Ambrose Page, Captain John Updike, Samuel Nightingale, Jr., Captain William Earle, and Captain Simon Smith, who were made a committee to superintend the building of these fortifications. The location of the Fox Hill fort is shown on an old 1803 map, but changes made from time to time in that area have obscured the exact site, although it was very near the lower end of Brook Street, south of the boulevard leading to Washington Bridge.
The rules and regulations governing the military garrison stationed at the Fox Point stronghold make interesting reading at this writing, as will the rules for Air Raid Wardens in World War II, one hun- dred and fifty years from now. Following is one sample order, or rule: "Voted that the Great Guns be No (numbered) and each person's name who belong to said guns be Wrote on a card and stuck on the gun they may belong to that they may know where to repair in case of an
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alarm." So much for Fox Hill; what about Field's Point?
According to a letter written by Sol- omon Drowne to his brother, it was some- time in August, 1775, when a Mr. Comp- ton with one of the Light Infantry militia drummers, and two cadet fifers, circled around the town, making plenty of noise to attract attention, and solicited volun- teers for defense work down the river be- tween Field's and Sassafras Points. Sas- safras is about one-half mile north of Field's. These volunteers were told to bring along their own tools, lunches, and to be at a certain place at a certain time for a boat ride to the spot.
Whether or not all the "Sons of Free- dom " went down to Field's Point in boats on that occasion is not known, but at least two hundred arrived, ready to wield shovels, pick-axes, and other implements used in those days. According to Mr. Drowne's letter, he was one who worked harder for a day than ever before in his life. The willing workers dug, scratched, rolled rocks, and piled stone until they had thrown up a line of breastworks about one quarter of a mile long. Then called Robin Hill fort, and laid out nearer the Sassafras end of the area now generally referred to as Field's Point, this prelim- inary defense works had the shape of a horse-shoe, from a bird's-eye view. A large quantity of bread was taken along by the patriots, but bread proved to be a little commonplace with so many tooth- some clams and succulent quahaugs rest- ing quietly in the soft mud flats just off shore. So, when the novelty of wielding shovels and struggling with heavy wheel- barrows began to wear off; when the per- spiration started to drip; and the appe- tites began to call for something better than bread and water, a few of the vol- unteers volunteered again - to gather up enough shell-fish for a real "feed," which, no doubt, the volunteer laborers called their hurriedly-prepared clambake. Long after Yorktown; long after Washington had returned to private life, it is safe to
say that many a veteran of the fight for Independence took delight in reminiscing about that afternoon down at Field's Point when the tools were thrown aside and everyone pitched into a pile of hot tender, sweet, juicy clams.
Later on in the year, a larger fort was built with patriotic labor on the high hill back of the point, and this commanding redoubt, enclosed with an embankment, was approximately one hundred and ten feet long, and about fifty-five or sixty feet wide. Before its complete obliteration to make way for war-time shipbuilding this fort was called Fort Independence, but it is generally agreed that the name "Inde- pendence" was coined by a map-maker, since early records make no reference to that name.
As a further precaution against attack by enemy vessels, a boom and chain device was stretched across the River from Field's Point to Kettle Point on the east shore, and this obstruction was probably opened and closed to admit friendly shipping during the period of emergency. Accord- ing to the old accounts, Captain John Updike was put in charge of this ingenious method of locking the sea door to Provi- dence, and he was directed to "prepare a number of scows and proper combustible materials with chains of a suitable length to fasten them together to be used when necessary for the purpose of annoying any enemy who may come against the town by Water." Captain Updike was also in- structed to procure an anchor with which to moor the boom and chain when it was placed in position.
It was nothing new for important war activities to be going on at Field's Point. Gone are the Indians; gone are the lus- cious delicacies of the sea from its muddy shores; gone are the clambake pavilions, the summer cottages and the pest house - sterner tasks were performed there for the business that came to hand - the building of ships when America again took up arms after December 7, 1941, to engage in a great world conflict.
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"U.S.S. PROVIDENCE"
"Providence," the name given to a World War II cruiser in honor of the cap- ital of Rhode Island, was also the name of a famous fighting ship of the United States Navy of long ago, actually the first real fighting ship of this nation's armed forces on the seas. If the mighty modern fast-sailing cruiser "Providence" might head out to sea beside the tiny armed sloop "Providence," there would be little to compare between the two, but, if the former ship contributes relatively as much to the glory of the Navy as did the sloop that bore the same name, Americans will have just cause for rejoicing. We trust in the good omen of a name.
Thanks to Mr. George L. Miner of Providence, authority on early ships, col- lector of ship models and widely recog- nized for his accurate knowledge of American antiquities, we know consider- able of the facts concerning the sloop "Providence." From Mr. Miner's volumi- nous notes, records, manuscripts, refer- ences, original papers, and other data, the result of years of study, research and careful deductions, there is much to relate about the sloop "Providence," but follow- ing are just the highlights.
With no attempt at being strictly nau- tical, a fair description might be that the sloop "Providence" was approximately sixty feet long, amazingly small when we are told that she carried a crew of seventy to ninety officers and men. She was steered by a long tiller, not a wheel, and probably had a high poop deck aft. She carried a large fore and aft mainsail, like any sloop-rigged fishing smack, and a large, square top-sail. Possibly, she may have had a fore-and-aft top-sail, and three jibs (stay sail jib and flying jib, or jib top sail). This rig was not so complicated as it may sound, and the average land- lubber can easily figure out how the "Providence" went places, by examining Mr. Miner's beautifully executed scale model of the ship. From all accounts of her performance in heavy weather and in action, she was a sturdy, speedy, beamy
craft, quick on the rudder, and a good sea rider.
For what it took to win sea battles and capture prizes, the "Providence " mounted twelve long four-pounders, and fourteen swivel guns, hand-operated short range blunderbusses, too heavy for a man to handle in firing so they were mounted on the rail and swivelled on pins. The near- est thing to a swivel gun in modern naval armament is the anti-aircraft gun, longer in range, of course, and capable of wider and higher aim. As to the small arms, the crew fought with all weapons common in those days, muskets, pistols, cutlasses and pikes.
Can you now picture the sloop "Provi- dence"? Just think of a sturdy, beamy craft about the size of an oyster boat or tug, with a fairly tall mast and top mast stepped just a bit forward of amidships - a blunt bow with no figurehead, a rather long bow sprit, and a long boom extending aft beyond the stern. Under full sail she may have looked on the top-heavy side, but a deep keel and wide beam apparently provided the proper balance for bucking wind and tide, and for scooting along before the breeze.
In the Spring of 1775, things began to happen around these parts, for what took place out Lexington and Concord way on April 19 instantly began to affect the destinies of all who lived in Rhode Island. Many of the men and boys set out at once to aid the embattled Americans who fired the shots heard 'round the world, and other Rhode Island men and boys, too, wondered how they might serve their country in the cause of liberty on the sea. But there was no American Navy at the outbreak of the Revolutionary War.
Along the Narragansett Bay shore- front, everyone knew the sloop "Katy," owned by Mr. John Brown, wealthy and prominent ship-owner. And, it was not many weeks after what happened in New England in 1775 that the Rhode Island Colony negotiated with Mr. Brown to take over the "Katy" and turn her into an
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armed vessel for the defense of this Colony. By vote and resolution of the General As- sembly, the Committee of Public Safety was directed to appraise the sloop, come to an agreement with Mr. Brown for her hire, and immediately fit her out for naval service. The deal was consummated and no time was lost in overhauling and re- fitting the "Katy" and arming her with the four-pounders and swivel guns, and procuring a sufficient number of small arms and all necessary stores and equip- ment, enough for a crew of eighty men exclusive of officers. Abraham Whipple, heroic leader of the expedition that had burned the hated ship "Gaspee," was appointed captain with the rank and power of commodore in command of the "Katy" and another smaller hired sloop, named the "Washington." Commodore Whipple could not boast of a very sizeable fleet, but he was looking for action and so were his men.
On her very first cruise, down the Bay from Providence, somewhere off Conani- cut Island the "Katy" met a local packet that had been captured by the British and manned by a British crew. After a quick maneuver and a bold approach, one of the "Katy's" four-pounders let loose, and that was the first gun fired against His Majesty's Navy in the American Revolu- tion. The packet turned tail, was run aground at the north end of Conanicut Island, deserted by her crew and promptly retaken by Whipple. A gallant American fighting ship had started upon her exciting career. In October the Rhode Island General Assembly "Voted and Resolved, with the consent of John Brown, the 'Katy's' owner, that the Colony will purchase the sloop, - as she now is, with the boats, stores and appurtenances at the rate of $1,250" - a fighting ship costing only the price of an average automo- bile.
Then, in early 1776, came the actual birth of the American Navy, the result of the militant, unrelenting insistence of sea- minded Rhode Islanders. In fact, the proposal presented to the Continental Congress for an armed sea force was titled the "Rhode Island Plan," and, no one has any reason to claim that the idea of an organized navy for the defense of the
American colonies came from any other source than Rhode Island.
Captain Whipple sailed the "Katy" to Philadelphia where she was sold to the Continental Congress, and renamed the "Providence." Immediately thereafter, she joined the new Continental Navy, the first American Naval fleet, commanded by Esek Hopkins of Providence. It is true that the fleet was small, only five made- over ships, later joined by three more small craft, but it was a brave beginning for what we now have and will doubtless continue to have. The first cruise, under- taken after some delays and difficulties with bad weather, took Commodore Hop- kins' fleet from Philadelphia to New Prov- idence in the Bahama Islands with the proud armed sloop "Providence" com- manded by John Hazard. Arriving at their destination, the Americans promptly took the fort at New Providence, captured all the powder, ammunition, cannon and stores the ships could carry and brought all back to New England. From all ac- counts, they brought back too much, because when they encountered the Brit- ish ship "Glasgow," coming out of New- port Harbor, not far from Block Island, the heavily-laden American ships were unable to put up much of a fight. It was more a case of getting out of the way of the "Glasgow's" guns. After Commodore Hopkins' landing at New London, Con- necticut, he was summoned before Con- tinental Congress and reprimanded. Cap- tain Whipple asked for a trial to clear his name of cowardice - which was done, and unfortunate Captain Hazard of the "Providence" received a court martial without asking for it; was found guilty on four counts and dismissed from the service.
The day after Hazard lost his commis- sion, an event of great historical signifi- cance occurred. The command of the "Providence" was given to none other than Lieutenant John Paul Jones, then serving on the American flagship "Alfred," under Captain Saltonstall. This was Jones' first command in the American Revolution, and no American should fail to be well-informed concerning what John Paul Jones contributed to the establish- ment and defense of the United States of
Courtesy, George L. Miner.
MODEL OF THE SLOOP "KATY," AFTER SHE HAD JOINED THE INFANT AMERICAN NAVY, BEEN ARMED, AND RENAMED "PROVIDENCE." MODEL WAS MADE BY ALFRED S. BROWNELL AND IS OWNED BY GEORGE L. MINER.
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America. And he began his daring, un- believably bold career as a master of sea fighting on board, none other than the old "Katy," rechristened for fighting for this nation, the "Providence."
During the summer months of 1776, the "Providence," under Captain John Paul Jones ranged up and down the Atlantic Coast, chasing, dodging, overhauling, but in the end, always attacking, and when she pulled into Newport Harbor on Octo- ber 7th, the little sloop with the over- worked four-pounders, and the powder- blackened swivels had accounted for ex- actly sixteen enemy ships, big ones and little ones. No frigate was too powerful for Jones and the "Providence" to tackle - once he got astern of a ship three times his size it was all over. It was come about and fire - come about again and fire, with the four pounders raking the decks fore and aft, and the sweeping swivels slashing masts, rigging and knocking the cursing gunners away from their stations.
Sixteen prizes taken by a fighting sailor on a gallant ship - that brought imme- diate promotion for Jones, to the command of the "Alfred," while the coveted com-
mand of the "Providence" went to Hoy- sted Hacker, Lieutenant in command of the schooner "Fly." Captain Hacker's command was brief, for the American fleet was bottled up in Narragansett Bay until the Spring of '77 when the "Provi- dence "escaped the blockade. On the 15th of January, 1778, she sailed for New Provi- dence again, there made a bold attack, captured the fort, spiked the cannon, re- moved the ammunition and a quantity of small arms, released twenty American prisoners and took several captives.
Late that year, commanded by a Cap- tain Rathbun, the "Providence" brought in five British prizes, and in May of 1779, Captain Hacker again took the sloop and captured the British brig "Diligent," a sturdy vessel that was at once put into the service of the American Colonies. The "Providence" was blown up by her own crew on the shores of Maine in June of 1779, when she was pursued and cornered with several other American craft by a powerful fleet of British ships. There have been other American ships of war named the "Providence," but, the first of the line has set a record, as yet unbeaten.
JOHN PAUL JONES
JOHN PAUL JONES was born, July 6, 1747, at Kirkcudbright, Scotland, where his father, John Paul, was a gar- dener. At twelve he went to sea as an apprentice to a merchant of Whitehaven, in whose ships he visited America several times. He became a skillful sailor, and was for some time a mate of a West Indies slave ship. On his way back to England, after leaving the slave trade in disgust, the captain died at sea, and be- cause of the able manner in which the Scottish mate brought the ship safely into port induced the owners to appoint him captain. In 1773, having assumed the name Jones for some unknown reason, he settled in Virginia on property which he inherited following the death of an older brother. With the outbreak of the Revolutionary War two years later, Jones volunteered for sea fighting with the
colonies. He was sent to France for important naval duties, in 1777, but, disappointed in that assignment, a year later he sailed on a raiding expedition to the coast of England in his famous ship "Ranger." Next year he embarked on a similar expedition in the "Bonhomme Richard," along with other vessels, finally steering up the Firth of Forth. A strong gale prevented an attack upon Leith, but on his way south, off Flamborough Head, he fell in with the English ship "Serapis," which, after a long and bloody combat, and one of the classic naval encounters of all times, he compelled to strike. That exploit, immortalized by Jones' reply to Captain Pearson, when things began to go bad for the former, "I have not yet begun to fight," raised the fame of Jones to its acme. On his return to Paris, he was feted and idolized with everything
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