The Stark County Democrat. [volume] (Canton, Ohio) 1833-1912, 1875-05-06
Seletf StoWy.
FIRST BLOW AND THE FIRST BLOOD
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AMERICAN REVOLUTION
YHRC CAPTURE AND BURNING or THE BRIT
ISH VESSEL or WAR GASPEE' IN
NARRAGANSETT BA Y,JUNE1O,
1772-NOT APRIL 49, 1775.
From Arnola,s History Of Rhode Island !

rum hAllblh . AllotoAJ W. ANhNN'S '0''''e'1
This affair is the more honorable to the
Court and the colony from the fact that
while it was in progress the people were
harrassed by the conduct of His Majes-
tvs schooner Gaspee, Of eight guns, which
n company with the Beaver had been
stationed in Narragansett Bay to enforce
the revenue acts Lieutenant Budding
ston, theGommander, had praCtiCed every
annoyance upon vessels in the bay, de
tanning them often without colorado
pretext, stopping even market boats, and
in some cases plundering the people on
shore. He had violated the charter Of
the colony in acting without showing his
commission, and had exceeded his au-
thority by making illegal seizures and
sending captured property TO Boston for
trial, contrary to an act of Parliament
that required such trials to be held in
the colony where the seizure was made
His arbitrary conduct had already excl
ted public attention, and was cautiously
referred to in the papers of the day
Complaints were made by the inhabi-
tants of Providence to Deputy Governor
Sessions, who, upon consulting Chief Jus.
tice Hopkins, received as his opinion
"that no commander Of any vessel has a
right to use any authority in the body of
the colony, without previously applying
to the Governor, and showing his war
rant for so doing, and also being sworn
N a due exercise of his office" Sessions
then communicated the complaints and
the Judges opinion to Governor Wanton,
yho Immediately sent the High Sheriff
on board the schooner with a letter to
the commanding officer, requiring him
50 produce his commission and instruc-
tions, The next day Duddingston sent
by a junior officer, arrogant reply, to
which Governor Wanton answered di-
rectly, repeating his demand, and assur-
ing Duddingston Of safety in coming on
shore. Duddingston enclosed the cores
poadenoe to Admiral Montagu at Boston
who took sides with the Lieutenant, and
addressed an extremely insolent letter to
Governor Wanton, defending the conduct
Of Dnddingston, ridiculing that of the
Governor, and threatening in case the
rescue of any prize was attempted, Ito
bang as pirates" the parties concerned.
Governor Wanton laid this letter before
the Assembly, together with his very
spirited reply, in which he informs Mon
tagu, "That do not receive instructions
for the administration Of my Govern.
from the Kings Admiral stationed in
America" The Assembly directed copies
Of the correspondence to be sent to Eng
land, with narrative of the proceedings
referred to therein, Governor WantOn |
wrote to Lord Hillsborough, complain |
ing of MOntagu's insoence and Of the
conduct ofthe Gaspee and Beaver. Dud- |
dingstOD also wrote to the Admiral, Civ
ing the details of his first interview with |
Wanton, and admitting that he had |
knowingly violated the law by sending a |
captured sloop with rum to Boston, but |
had expected the Commissioners of Gus !
toms there would sustain him, because |
he knew the prize could not be safely |
retained at Newport. He also states |
that the owner of the rum was Mr.. |
Greene, of Coventry, a member of the
House. If so, it was Nathaniel Greene,
soon to become great leader of the revo-
lutionary armies. Meanwhile the vexa-
tious interference of the armed vessels
continued until an occasion offered for
the destruction of the Gaspee. The sloop
Hannah, Captain Benjamin Lindsey,
from New York, arrived at Newport re-
ported at the Custom House, and the
next day proceeded up the river The
Gaspee, as usual, gave chase, but ran
aground on Namquit, since called Gaspee
Point, below Pawtuxet, and the Hannah
escaped, arriving safely at Providence
about sunset. The situation of the
enemy was soon proclaimed by beat of
drum, calling upon those who desired to
go and destroy the vessel 10 meet that
eveAing at the house of James Sabin.
Eight long boats with five oars each, were
provided by Mr.. John Brown, and soon
after 10 o'clock the party embarked at
the wharf, directly opposite the house,
and proceeded with mutfled oars, but un.
upon their daring enterprise
Captain Abraham Whipple, afterwards
who, three years later, fred
in N rragansett Bay the first American