USA > Rhode Island > Kent County > Warwick > The history of Warwick, Rhode Island, from its settlement in 1642 to the present time; including accounts of the early settlement and development of its several villages; sketches of the origin and progress of the different churches of the town, &c., &c > Part 10
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103
THE GASPEE PARTY.
1667-1776.]
cabin. As it was discovered that he was wounded, John Maw- ney, who had for two or three years been studying physic and surgery, was ordered to go into the cabin and dress Dudding- ston's wound and I was directed to assist him. On examination it was found that the ball took effect about five inches directly be- low the navel. Duddingston called for Mr. Dickinson to produce bandages and other necessaries, for dressing the wound, and when finished, orders were given to the schooner's company to collect their clothing and every thing that belonged to them, and put them into the boats, as all of them were to be sent ashore. All were soon collected and put on board the boats, including one of our boats. They departed and landed Dud- dingston at the old still-house wharf at Pawtuxet, and put the chief into the house of Joseph Rhodes .* Soon after all the party were ordered to depart, leaving one boat for the leaders of the expedition, who soon set the vessel on fire, which con- sumed her to the water's edge.
The names of the most conspicuous of the party are, Mr. John Brown, Capt. Abraham Whipple,; John B. Hopkins, Ben- jamin Dunn, and five others whose names I have forgotten, and John Mawney, Benjamin Page, Joseph Bucklin and Turpin Smith, my youthful companions, all of whom are dead, I believe every man of the party excepting myself ; and my age is eighty- six, this twenty-ninth day of August, eighteen hundred and thirty-nine. "
The bold enterprise excited much interest and the news spread like a prairie fire in all directions. A court of inquiry was instituted, and it was proposed to send the offenders to England for trial, if they could be caught. But like the tea party of Boston harbor, the secret was kept as closely as those of a Freemason's Lodge until it was too late to punish the offenders. It undoubtedly tended to hasten the separation of the colonies from the mother country and bring on the storm that was soon to break forth in fury over the land.
* Judge William Carder, of Pawtuxet, writes me that the Old Still House wharf was situated on what is now known as "Still House Cove " on the Cranston side. That Joseph Rhodes lived on Still House Lane, now Ocean street, about twenty rods westerly of the old Still House and wharf, and was found drowned in one of the tanks in said Still house, several years after the destruction of the Gaspee.
t Subsequently Capt. Wallace of his majesty's frigate, Rose, wrote to Whipple as follows: "You, Abraham Whipple, on the 10th of June, 1772, burned his majesty's vessel, the Gaspee, and I will hang you at the yard arm: James Wallace." To which Whipple replied, more curt than courteous, "To Sir James Wallace, SIR .- Always catch a man before ye hang him, Abraham Whipple." Arnold, vol. ii. p. 351, note.
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HISTORY OF WARWICK.
[1667-1776.
In September, 1774, quite a serious affair, that as- sumed the form of a riot occurred at East Greenwich, occasioned by a number of the inhabitants of the town having hung one of the Warwick inhabitants in effigy. Judge Stephen Arnold, of Warwick, was the person that had awakened the opposition of a considerable number of persons and led to this manifestation of con- tempt on the part of our neighbors of East Greenwich. He was a Judge of Common Pleas, and had been charged with Tory principles, though it hardly appears from the records that he was guilty. He made a violent opposi- tion to some politicians, and denounced some of the leaders with so much asperity that his opponents took this method of revenge. Arnold appears to have been much incensed at this method of retaliation, and influ- enced a large number of his sympathizers, who finally went to East Greenwich, and threatened to destroy the village .* Deputy Governor Sessions ordered the Cadets and Light Infantry to Greenwich to support the Sheriff. Governor Greene, t who was cousin to Judge Arnold, and who resided on the old Greene homestead in Warwick, near Greenwich, recommended moderate measures, and interceded in Arnold's behalf. The parley that was held resulted in Judge Arnold's making a written con- fession of his wrong in encouraging the riot, while he maintained his right to express himself freely upon all matters. In this confession, which he publicly read at the time, "he declared himself opposed to the scheme for taxing the colonies by Great Britain."
Judge Arnold was several times elected subsequently, to im- portant offices, and the cloud that had unfortunately gathered over him soon passed away. He is represented as "a tall, slim man," active in his habits, social and somewhat eccentric. He was a descendant of the Pawtuxet Arnolds, and born Sept. 3, 1732. His father was Philip, son of Stephen, and grandson of
* See Arnold's Hist. Vol. II, 341. R. I. Col. Rec. Vol. IX, pp. 623-4. t The mother of the Governor, was Catherine, second daughter of Capt. Benjamin Greene, and the mother of Judge Arnold, was Susanna, Mrs. Greene's eldest sister. Capt. Greene was son of Thomas, and grandson of John Greene, Senior .- Mr. Rousmaniere's Pawtuxet Letters.
105
JUDGE STEPHEN ARNOLD.
1667-1776.]
Stephen, and great grandson of William, the first of the family in this State. At a town meeting held Jan. 11, 1768, of which Judge Philip Greene was moderator, a committee, con- sisting of Col. Benjamin Waterman, James Rhodes, Capt. Benjamin Greene, Stephen Arnold, Thomas Wickes, Thomas Rice, Jr , and John Warner, Jr., was appointed to draft resolu- tions adverse to the importation of goods from England, and favorable to the development of home manufactures. He was then a young man, and gave promise of much influence and usefulness, which was afterwards fulfilled. Stephen Arnold, of Pawtuxet, his grandfather, was one of the largest land- holders in the town. Judge Arnold married Ann, daughter of Capt. Josiah Haynes, June 16, 1751. He was married several times. One of his daughters, Elizabeth, married Christopher A. Whitman, of Coventry, who was for some years President of the Coventry Bank. While in conversation about the New London turnpike passing through the lands of his son, he fell dead in the road near the Methodist parsonage in Centreville, May 19, 1816, in the 84th year of his age. Two of his sons came to their end in the same sudden manner not long after- wards-Benedict, while riding to Apponaug, dropped dead from his horse, and his oldest son dropped from his chair and expired just after he had eaten a hearty dinner.
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HISTORY OF WARWICK.
[1776-1800.
CHAPTER VI.
From the Breaking out of the Revolutionary War to the year 1800.
Though the town of Warwick was no more interested in or affected by the war of the Revolution than some of the other towns of the State, it happily fell to its lot to furnish several men who became conspicuous during the time, both in the councils of State and in the field. The notes of preparation for the coming conflict were heard from many quarters. Military organizations were being formed all over the country previous to the actual outbreak of hostilities. At the October session of 1774, the General Assembly granted a charter to the Pawtuxet Rangers ; also one to the Kentish Guards, an independent company for the three towns of Warwick, East Greenwich and Coventry, from which at a later day were to be taken Gen. James Mitchel Varnum, Gen. Nathaniel Greene and Col. Christopher Greene, with others of less note. The news of the battle of Lexington, on the 19th of April, 1775, aroused the patriotic spirit of Rhode Island to a still higher point, and three days after the battle of Lexington, the Assem- bly met at Providence, and "Voted and resolved that fifteen hundred men be enlisted, raised and embodied as aforesaid, with all the expedition and despatch that the thing will admit of." This army was designed especially as an army of observation, with its quarters in this State, " and also if it be necessary, for the safety and preservation of any of the Colonies, to march out of this Colony, and join and cooperate with the forces of
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GEN. NATHANIEL GREENE.
1776-1800.]
the neighboring Colonies." It was subsequently formed into one brigade under the command of a Brigadier General, and the brigade was divided into three regi- ments, each of which was to be commanded by one Colonel, one Lieutenant Colonel and one Major, while each regiment was to consist of eight companies. Na- thaniel Greene was chosen the Brigadier General .*
The following is the commission signed by Henry Ward, Secretary of the Colony, who was " authorized and fully empowered to sign the commissions of all offi- cers, civil and military :"
"By the Honorable the General Assembly, of the English Colony of Rhode Island and Providence Plantations in New England in America.
"To Nathaniel Greene, Esquire : Greeting:
"Whereas for the Preservation of the Rights and Liberties of His Majesty's loyal and faithful subjects in this Colony and America, the aforesaid General Assembly have ordered Fif- teen Hundred men to be enlisted and embodied into an Army of Observation, and to be formed into one Brigade under the command of a Brigadier-General, and have appointed you the said Nathaniel Greene, Brigadier-General of the said Army of Observation; you are, therefore, hereby in His Majesty's Name, George the Third, by the Grace of God, King of Great Britain, &c., authorized, empowered and commissioned to have, take and exercise the office of Brigadier-General of the said Army of Observation, and to command, guide and conduct the same or any part thereof. And in Case of Invasion or Assault of a Common Enemy, to disturb this or any other of His Majesty's Colonies in America, you are to alarm and gather together the Army under your command, or any part thereof, as you shall deem sufficient, and therewith to the utmost of your Skill and Ability, you are to visit, expel, kill and destroy them in Order to preserve the Interests of His Majesty and His good Sub- jects in these Parts. You are also to follow such instructions, Directions and Orders as shall from Time to Time be given forth, either by the General Assembly or your superior Officers. And for your so doing this Commission shall be your sufficient Warrant.
* The life of Gen. Greene, by his grandson, George Washington Greene, LL. D., from which these and many subsequent items of his life are taken, is one of the ablest biographies in the English language, and reflects hardly less credit upon its author than upon his distin- guished ancestor.
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HISTORY OF WARWICK.
[1776-1800.
"By virtue of an Act of the said General Assembly, I, Henry Ward, Esq., Secretary of the said Colony have hereunto set my Hand and the seal of the said Colony this eighth Day of May, A. D. 1775, and in the Fifteenth year of His said Majesty's Reign. Henry Ward."
Gen. Greene was born June 6th, 1742, in that part of the town still known by its aboriginal name of Potowo- mut or " place of all the fires," and which was purchased by Randall Holden and Ezekiel Holliman, in behalf of themselves and their fellow townsmen, of the Indian sachem Tacomanan and his sons Awashotust and Wawa- nockashaw in 1654. He was the fifth in descent from, his ancestor, John Greene, senior, who with a few com- panions took up their solitary abode in the then wil- derness of Shawomet a century before. His father, also named Nathaniel, was of the Quaker persuasion, and an eloquent preacher, and divided his time between the pulpit and the forge, grist mill and saw mill, which he had set up on the little river that wended its way through his lands. Under his care his eight sons grew to manhood. He is said to have been a rigid disciplin- arian, a believer in the old Bible maxim that " Train up a child in the way he should go and when he is old he will not depart from it." The maxim held true in the case of Nathaniel, excepting so far as related to his con- tinuance in the peculiar religious sentiments of his father, and might have proved true even in this respect, but for the stirring times that dawned upon the colony, about the time he arrived at manhood. Gen. Greene in early life manifested an ardent desire for knowledge, which he gratified as far as his opportunities allowed. As he ap- proached his majority the natural inclination for society strongly developed itself, and the frequent merry-makings in the surrounding families during the long winter evenings were specially coveted, but could be enjoyed only by stealth. The inclination to participate in them becoming so strong various methods were resorted to. such as youthful ingenuity is apt to invent to accomplish its purposes. An anecdote of this character is well au-
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109
ANECDOTE OF GEN. GREENE.
1776-1800.]
thenticated and related by one of his biographers. "He had stolen from the house, when it appeared to be wrapt in slumber. The occasion was one of particular at- tractions. There was a great party in the neighborhood to which he had been secretly invited. He danced till midnight, the gayest of the gay, little dreaming of any misadventure. But when he drew near to the home- stead, his keen eves discovered the person of his father, paternally waiting, whip in hand, beneath the very win- dow through which he alone could find entrance. The stern old Quaker was one of that class of people who are apt to unite the word and the blow, the latter being quite likely to make itself known before the other. In this emergency, conscious that there was no remedy against, or rescue from the rod, young Greene promptly con- ceived an idea which suggests a ready capacity for military resource. A pile of shingles lay at hand, and before he supposed his father to behold his approach, he insinuated beneath his jacket a sufficient number of thin layers of shingles to shield his back and shoulders from the thong. With this secret corslet he approached and received his punishment with the most exemplary fortitude. The old man laid on with the utmost unction, little dreaming of the secret cause of that hardy resignation with which the lad submitted to a punishment which was meant to be most exemplary." The danger that threatened the colonies awakened his patriotic sentiments and turned the current of his boyhood teachings of non resistance into warlike channels, and led him by diligent study of such books as he could procure, to prepare himself for the active and important position to which he was subse. quently called. Previous to the breaking out of the revolutionary war, in connection with several of his bro- thers, he removed to Coventry, where he carried on an extensive business in forging anchors. Their forge stood near where the Quidnick Railroad bridge now stands. He married Catherine, daughter of John Littlefield, of New Shoreham, July 20th, 1774. Gen. Greene's subsequent brilliant military career, which may be said to have com-
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HISTORY OF WARWICK.
[1776-1800.
menced the same year of his marriage, he having joined the Kentish Guards in that year, is too well known to need a recapitulation. In the latter part of 1785, he re- moved with his family to Georgia, where he died on the 19th of June, 1786. As a successful military commander in the revolutionary struggle, it is generally allowed that he stood second only to Washington.
A resolution was passed in Congress, July 2, 1864, inviting each State to furnish, for the old Hall of the House of Representatives, "two full length marble statues of deceased persons, who have been citizens thereof, and illustrious for their renown, or from civic or military ser- vices, such as each state shall determine to be worthy of national commemoration." In accordance with this resolution, the General Assembly of Rhode Island, ordered to be made two marble statues, one of Gen. Nathaniel Greene and the other of Roger Williams. On the 25th of January, 1870, Hon. Henry B. Anthony, in behalf of Rhode Island, presented to Congress, with an appropriate address, the statue of Gen. Greene.
On the 12th of May, 1874, the same gentleman intro- duced in the Senate, a concurrent resolution to erect a monument at the seat of the Federal government to Gen. Greene, and instructing the committee on Public Buildings and Grounds, "to designate a site upon the Capitol grounds, for an equestrian statue of Nathaniel Greene." The resolution was adopted by both houses, and the sum of forty thousand dollars was subsequently appropriated for the erection of the statue.
Of the three regiments comprising the Rhode Island Brigade, the one for Kent and King's counties was placed under the command of Col. James M. Varnum, with Christopher Greene as major. In the following June, the battle of Bunker Hill having been fought, increasing preparations were made throughout the Rhode Island colony for the struggle. Every man capable of bearing arms was required to equip himself for service and to drill half a day semi-monthly. Six additional companies of sixty men each were ordered to be raised and to join
111
ACCOUNT OF COL. LIPPITT.
1776-1800.]
the brigade, which had now been placed under the gene- ral direction of Washington, who was now in the vicinity of Boston. A brig from the West Indies had been cap. tured off Warwick Neck, and the adjacent shore pillaged of much live stock. Additional forces were raised throughout the colony. In January, 1776, Warwick Neck was fortified, and a company of Artillery and minute men were sent to defend it. Two new regiments of seven hundred and fifty men each were raised, and united in one brigade. Of one of these regiments, Henry Babcock was colonel, and Christopher Lippitt, of this town, was Lieutenant Colonel.
The following account of Col. Lippitt is from the pen of John Howland Esq. At the time it was written, Mr. Howland was President of the R. I. Historical Society.
" Christopher Lippitt was a member of the General Assem- bly In January, 1776, he was appointed Lieut. Col. of the regiment raised by the State-Col. Harry Babcock was com- mander. He shortiy quitted the service and Lieut. Col. Lippitt was promoted to the office of Colonel. I enlisted in Capt. Dexter's company. We were stationed on the island of Rhode Island. The regiment was taken into the continental service, and the officers commissioned by Congress. After the dis- astrous battle of Long Island, we were ordered to join Wash- ington's army, at New York.
On the 31st of Dec., 1776, while the army under Washington was in Jersey, the term of all the continental troops expired, except Lippitt's regiment, which had eighteen days more to serve. The brigade to which they were attached consisted of five regiments, three of which (Varnum's, Hitchcock's and Lippitt's) were from Rhode Island. Col. Hitchcock commanded the brigade, and Lippitt's regiment counted more than one third of the whole. This was the time that tried both soul and body. We had by order of the General left our tents at Bris- tol, on the other side of the Delaware. We were standing on frozen ground, covered with snow. The hope of the com- mander in chief was sustained by the character of these half- frozen, half starved men, that he could persuade them to serve another month, until the new recruits should arrive. He made the attempt and it succeeded. Gen. Mifflin addressed our men, at his request: he did it well. The request of the General was acceded to by our una ni mously poising the firelock as a signal. Within two hours after this vote we were on our
112
HISTORY OF WARWICK:
[1776-1800.
march to Trenton. Col. Lippitt's regiment was in the battle at Trenton, when retreating over the bridge, it being narrow, our platoons were in passing it, crowded into a dense and solid mass, in the rear of which the enemy were making their best efforts. The noble horse of Gen. Washington, stood with his breast pressed close against the end of the west rail of the bridge; and the firm, composed, and majestic countenance of the General inspired confidence and assurance, in a moment so important and critical.
"They did not succeed in their attempt to cross the bridge. Although the creek was fordable between the bridge and the Delaware, they declined attempting a passage in the face of those who presented a more serious obstruction than the water. On one hour-yes, on forty minutes, commencing at the moment when the British first saw the bridge and the creek before them-depended the all-important, the all-absorbing question, whether we should be independent States or con- quered rebels! Had the army of Cornwallis within that space crossed the bridge or forded the creek, unless a miracle had intervened, there would have been an end of the American Army."
"Col. Lippitt was in the battle of Princeton. The Com- mander-in-chief after the action, took the commander of our brigade (Col. Hitchcock) by the hand, expressing his high ap- probation of his conduct and that of the troops he commanded, and wished him to communicate his thanks to his officers and men "
"Col. Lippitt continued in service during the war. He after- wards removed to Cranston. He was appointed Major General of State's Militia. He died on his farm in Cranston. Charles Lippitt, the brother of Col. Lippitt, was an officer in the revolu- tionary war, and for many years a member of the General Assembly. He died in Providence, in August, 1845, aged 91."
The following is an account of the earlier generations of the Lippitt family of this town :
John Lippitt, the first of this name in this town, settled here previous to the year 1655, on which date his name appears on the roll of freemen. In 1638 he was a resident of Providence, and in 1647 was one of the committee who were appointed to organize the government under the Parliamentary charter. He had five children, viz .: Nathaniel, John, Moses, Joseph and Rebecca, who married Joseph Howard, Feb. 2, 1665: she mar- ried the second time, Francis Budlong, March 19, 1669.
John. son of John,1 married Ann Greene or Grove, Feb. 9, 1665. He died about 1670. He had two children, John. born Nov. 16, 1665, married Rebecca Lippitt, his cousin ; Moses, born Feb. 17, 1668.
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THE LIPPITT FAMILY.
1776-1800.]
Moses,2 son of John,1 married Mary, daughter of Henry Knowles. Moses died Jan. 6, 1703. Their children were Mary, who married John, son of John and Mary Burlingame, of Kingstown, R. I. Martha, who married Thomas Burlingame, the brother of John. Rebecca, who married John Lippitt, (John,2 John1 ) and Moses.
Moses3 was born about the year 1683, and died Dec. 12, 1745. He was a deputy to the General Assembly six years, between 1715 and 1730. He married Ann Phillis, daughter of Joseph and Alice Whipple, of Providence. They had five children, viz .: Moses (a favorite prenomen in this family), born Jan. 17. 1709, married Waite Rhodes, and died August S, 1766; Jere- miah, born Jan. 27, 1711, married Welthian Greene, and died in 1776; Christopher, born Nov. 29, 1711, married Catherine Holden, and died Dec. 7, 1764; Joseph, born Sept. 4, 1715, mar- ried Lucy Bowen, and died May 17, 1783; Ann Phillis, born August 29, 1717, married Abraham Francis, June 18, 1736, and died June 24, 1774. Abraham Francis was born in 1711, and died Oct. 11, 1764. He was a resident of Boston, and "was reported to be the heir to most of the land upon which Boston stood, but never obtained it." Ann Phillis Lippitt was edu- cated at Boston, where she met Mr. Francis, and received there her offer of marriage. They subsequently resided in Warwick. . Mr. Francis w as Captain of the 4th Company in the Rhode Island Regiment in the French War of 1755. He had no children. Freelove, born March 31, 1720, married Samuel Chace, August 10, 1743; Mary, born Dec. 2, 1723, and John, Dec. 24, 1731, who married Bethiah Rice, and died Sept. 15, 1811.
Moses,4 (Moses,8 Moses,2 John,1 ) married Waite Rhodes, daughter of John and Catherine (Holden) Rhodes lived on Connimicat Point. They had eight children, viz .: Catherine, born Dec. 19, 1734; Moses, born 1736, died 1740; Waite, born 1738, died 1740; Joseph, born June 28, 1740, died July 29, 1758, on the coast of Guinea; Waite, born April 10, 1743, married David, son of Josiah Arnold, August 29, 1765; Moses, born May 26, 1745, and died June 14, 1833. He was called "Moses of the Mill," because he owned the grist mill, built by Thomas Stafford at an early period. He married Tabitha Greene, daughter of Elisha Greene, of East Greenwich, Dec. 25, 1768; Abraham, born Oct. 26, 1747. He was ordained an Elder of the Old Baptist Church in Old Warwick, Sept. 7, 1782. He mar- ried August 8, 1770, Sarah, daughter of Capt. Josiah and Maplet (Remington) Arnold. In 1793 he removed to Hart- wick, Otsego Co., N. Y .; Mary, born June 26, 1749, married Caleb Greene, son of Richard and Rebecca, born August 11, 1751, joined the Shakers at New Lebanon, N. Y., and died there.
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HISTORY OF WARWICK.
[1776-1800.
Moses5 Lippitt (Moses,4 Moses,3 Moses,2 John,1 ) who married Tabitha Greene, had seven children, viz .: Waite, born August 31, 1769; Elisha, August 29, 1771; Isabel and Tabitha (twins), April 1, 1779; Mary, June 14, 1781; Elizabeth G., April 20, 1785; Moses G., August 27, 1789.
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