The Providence news. (Providence [R.I.]) 1891-1906, 1898-02-09
In THE REVOLUTION.
Men of Celtic Extraction Who Par
ticipated in That Struggle.
Thomas Hamilton Murray's Paper Before
the r. l. Historical Society.

The regular meeting OF tho Rhode
leland Historical Society was held at the
Cabinst on Waterman street last evening,
Hon. John II. Stlness presiding. The
lecturer of the evening was MIR. Thomas
Hamilton Murray, editor Of tbs Pawtucket
Tribune, and secretary of the American
Irish Society of Boston, who spoke upon
"Some Irlshmen In the American Revo-
luton Mr.. Murray comm msnced his
paper with Henry Knox, known Ms
general who was ini Rhode Island in 1776
and who left directions for the protection
Of Newport He visited khode Island
upon several subsequent occasions and
was very popular In this state.
John Sullivan was the leader OF the
forces In Rhode Island. He was born
in Berwick. Me-, in l740 and later en-
tered the continental army and became a
major general. He participated in the
siege of Boston and immedi lately after
the evacuation he was ordered to Rhode
Island. He also lead the right wing OF
the army which crossed the Loaware and
was with Washington at Mestchester.
Governor Cooke of Rhode Island highly
compllmentd General Sullivan upon his
services in this state. With General
sullivan in the battle of Rhcde Island
wers a number of officers whose names
would lead to the belief ttat they were OF
Irisn extraction. After the war General
sullivan resumed the practice Of law in
New hampshire and was accorded high
honors in civil oftce.
The list OF names of Irish Rhode leland
ers who participated in the revolution
numh. 1l6, ana the list has bean pre-.
pared after very careful research.
Mr.. Murray then went on 10 speak Of n
large mum ber OF Irishmen who fought
fer American freedom, the majority Of
them being In the ranks, although many
ross TO high rank I'm the service. In the
regiments raised In Rhooe Island in 1916
there We're many lrishmen. all ,f whom
bore themselves nobly. lhe muster rolls
OF 1879 also contained many Irsn names.
Owing to the loss of valuable archives
much of the credit due 10 Irish Rhode
Islanders cannot be given, but enough
Is known TO show that Irishmen or those
OF Irish birth did much 10 aid the cause
Of the Americans aga nst the British.
the Rhode Island records Of l717 are re-
plete with matters of interest TO citizens
of Irish birth, and Mr.. Murray cited a
mum Der of names of thoss who were dis
tinguisbed In military and civil lite in
those DAYS. With the French forces that
came to Newport were maDv Irish officers.
many of whom were men Of distinguished
birth Vicomte Dillon was one Of these
Some OF the chnplains with the French
forces were also Irish, chosen no doub
for their familiarity with the language OF
the country.
Mr.. Robert Grieve moved vote OF
thanks TO the speaker Of tha evening and
SAID that In his opinion such addresses
tended to bring about broader civili-
zation.
Mf. Charles f.. Carpenter made brief
remarks, and was followed bv President
Stiness, who paid "A tribute to the Irish
peoule as race which has always been
resdy to strike blow for freedom. He
was astouuded that the numb ber OF Irish
men who took part in the American revo-
luton wns 80 large and yet 10 was very
natural that 10 was so. Ihe Irish farmers
who csmo over prior To the revolution
were not regarded rs emiarants or foreign.
era They We're the people the colnnists
OF this country, and were Americans.
He taid that there was one thing, how
ever, that had not arpalgamated. and that
was the names, for as the speaker read the
lists OF names il sounded very much as If
he was reading third ward voting list.
A vote of thanks was then rendered "a
MIR Murray snd the meeting was dtclsred
nd diourned. The next meeting viii occur
on Tuesday evening, March 5, when Mr..
Nathan w. LittlefieId OF Pawtucket. will
give an illustrsud lecture on "1ha Homes
and Hsunts az the Pilgrims In England
and Hoiland.p