from
History of Providence County, Rhode Island
Edited by Richard M. Bayles.
In two volumes, illustrated. Vol. I.
New York: W. W. Preston & Co., 1891.
pp. 171 - 191. (part 7)
"On the 9th of June, 772, Captain Benjamin Lindsey left Newport for
Providence in his packet, about the middle of the day. The 'Gaspee'
started in pursuit. Following until they had reached Namquit point, about
seven miles below Providence, the 'Gaspee' drawing more water than the
other, ran aground upon a shoal and there remained. On his arrival in
Providence Lindsey spread the news of the position of the 'Gaspee', and
immediately eight of the largest long-boats in the harbor were provided
with five oars each, the same being well muffled, and placed in readiness
at Fenner's wharf. Soon after sunset the boats were manned by ship-masters
and merchants of Providence, men of respectability and standing in society,
and proceeded in the evening down the river. The men had gathered at the
house of James Sabin, on the northeast corner of South Main and Planet
streets, and at about 10 o'clock started on their uncertain and perilous
undertaking. On approaching the 'Gaspee' they were discovered, however,
and as the commander was hailing the party a shot from one of the boats
gave him a wound which disabled him, and the party boarded the vessel
without opposition, demanding her surrender. The crew were directed to
gather up their effects, and were then put ashore at Pawtuxet. The vessel
was then set on fire and burned to the water's edge.
Governor Wanton, on the 12th, issued a proclamation commanding all officers
in the colony to use the utmost vigilance in apprehending the perpetrators
of this outrage, and offering a reward of £100 sterling for the conviction
of the guilty party or parties. The British Government offered a further
reward of £500 in addition for the discovery of the leader of the party who
did the work of destruction. A special court of investigation was
afterward held, but neither rewards nor judicial investigation ever led to
any discovery of the guilty parties. Bur now that long years have passed,
and the rewards for their discovery are no longer offered, we may without
any offense or injury to them expose their names. And this the more
especially since for many decades their names have been all the more
honored and respected because of their connection with this affair. The
leaders in the enterprise were John Brown, then the leading merchant in the
colony, a prominent citizen, and one of the founders of Brown
University; Abraham Whipple, a captain of a merchantman engaged in the
West India trade, formerly commanding an active privateer during the French
war, and afterward a commander in the American navy during the revolution;
John Mawney, a man of literary inclinations, who had been educated in
medicine, but never practiced to any great extent, his estate, where he
closed his long life, being that part of the present city now known as
Elmwood; John B. Hopkins, a son of Commodore Esek Hopkins and member of the
family represented by Governor Stephen Hopkins, signer of the declaration
of independence, and himself afterward commander of the ship 'Cabot' in the
revolution; Benjamin Page, a prominent ship-master and for many years
commander of a ship in the East India trade; Joseph Bucklin, a restaurant
keeper in South Main street; Turpin Smith, a young man who afterward
became a prominent and successful shipmaster, and Ephraim Bowen, afterward
a colonel in the revolution, and the last survivor of the party, he living
until the year 1840. The commander of the party was Abraham Whipple."
continued in part 8.