The Rhode-Island Republican. [volume] (Newport, R.I.) 1809-1841, 1838-09-26
RHODE-IsLAND REPUBLICAN.
MEMOIR OF RHODE-ISLAND
l779.

In January f500 lawful money wa,
granted by the General Assembly for the
relief of the distressed inhabitants of New
port and large contributions continued to
be made, for the same object, in this and
the adjacent states.
In tho night of the lst of February the
British landed at Quidnesett, and carried
off 10 head of cattle, $50 sheep, and a
small vessel with so bushels of corn on
board.
wa Crossing, a noted refugee, who had
been captured in an armed boat when on
a plundering expedition, escaped from his
confinement in Providence.
At the February session of the General
Assembly an act passed confirming the
right of the Freemeu of Newport TO contip-
ue to elect their Deputies to the General
Assembly, and to meet in Providence for
that purpose and, also, for the freemen of
Portsmouth, Middletown and jamestown,
to elect theirs. The Portsmouth freemen
to NEE, at the house of Susannah Barker
idence, and those of jamestown at the
house of Mathew Allen, in North Kingston
ON the third Wednesday of April follow
ing, and also to prox tor general officers.
Joseph Wanton, Junr., of Newport, was
appointed by General Prescott, Superinten
dent Of Police for the Island of Rhode Is
land.
La April an expedition sailed from New
port for Nantucket, and brought away a
large quantity of oil which had been secret
ed there during the war, and which belong
cd to persons friendly to the king. The
property thus recovered, the Newport pa
pers stated, to amount to upwards of six
thousand pounds sterling.
The General Assembly met in Providence
on the first Wednesday Of May, when the
following gentlemen were declared elected
WILLIAM GREENE, Gov.
JABEZ BOWEN, Dep. Gov.
ASSISTANTS.
Joshua Babcock, Gideon Comstock,
Paul Mumford, Job Randall,
John Sayles, Peter Philips,
Jonathan Arnold, Robert Browne,
James Arnold, Pardon Grey.
Henry Ward, Secretary.
VIM. Charming, Attorney.
Joseph Clarke, Treasurer.
The deputies from Newport were Caleb
Gardner, Thomas Rumreil, Lenuel Wyatt,
William Borden, William Claiming, and
Charles Crooke.
DELEGATES TO CONGRESS.
Stephen Hopkins,
William EIery,
Henry Marchant,
John Collins.
Nav 2lst a party of $50 men landed
from, the fleet, on the shore of Equidnesett,
where they surprized and captured two sub
aterns aud eleven soldiers, besides carving
off three Of the inhabitants and 20 head Of
cattle. The State troops and militia, how
ever, collected in sufficient numbers to cap |
,ure ) of their men and retake n part Of
their booty.
4 number Of privateers were fitted out
Of Newport, two Of which were commanded
by refugees, the name Of one of which was
Stanton Hazard, a bold and successful
cruiser. Blu, few Of the white people of the
island engaged in iha, service. but the
blacks who had formerly composed part of
the crews of the COLONEL privateers, IN for
mer wars, enlisted in the service before, as
well as when and after, the town was in
possession of the enemy.
The Newpor, captains who had com
manded priya,eers in the French wars gem
erally left the town, aud engaged on the
var, Of their country IN their former roca-
ton. They sailed out Of other ports While
Newport was in the hands pf the euemy.-
1t is no, possible to give more than very
imperfect list Of those nautical command
crs at this remote period Of time, and we
are indebted to Mr.. Thomas CoggcshdH
for the following names Of Newport Cap
tins " no copmanded armed vessels in the
revolution, on the eide of their country