FHE 
 
 HISTORY OF WARREN, 
 
 RHODE ISLAND. 
 
 IN THE WAR 
 
 THE REVOLUTION, 1776-1783. 
 

 
 • ' • ■«— »- i «• 4 V i I 
 
 SWAIN SCHOOL
 
 r\i' A I M ^. 
 
 N . • .-''-1.1 
 
 THE 
 
 HISTORY OF WARREN, 
 
 RHODE ISLAND, 
 
 IN THE WAR 
 
 OF 
 
 THE REVOLUTION, 1 776-1 783 
 
 BY VIRGINIA BAKER. 
 
 PUBLISHED BY THE AUTHOR, 
 
 WARREN, R. I. 
 
 I9OI 
 
 -^
 
 Entered according to the Acts of Congress at the Office of the Librarian 
 of Congress, by Virginia Baker, on the 27th day of March, One Thous- 
 and, Nine Hundred and One, CI 90 J,) at Washington, D. C.
 
 AUTHOR'S NOTE. 
 
 The material composing this sketch has been col- 
 lected from various sources. Among authorities 
 consulted may be mentioned Rhode Island Colonial, 
 and Warren Town Records, Arnold's "History of 
 Rhode Island," Fessenden's "History of Warren," 
 the "Spirit of '76," "Our French Allies," the "Diary 
 of Col. Israel Angell," files of the "Providence Ga- 
 zette," and Warren "Northern Star," manuscript 
 notes of Gen. G. M. Fessendcn, and unpublished let- 
 ters, documents, etc., of the Revolutionary period. 
 The author desires to express her gratitude to those 
 persons who, by the loan of private papers, have as- 
 sisted her in her work. 
 
 Warren, March, 1001.
 
 THE HISTORY OF WARREJf, RHODE ISL- 
 A^B, m THE WAR OF THE REVOLU- 
 TION, 1776-1783. 
 \t the beginning of the Revolutionary War, War- 
 ren, Rhode Island, was one of the most flourishing 
 towns on the New England sea-coast. Though 
 within its limits agricultural pursuits were followed 
 to some extent, the inhabitants were chiefly employed 
 in the various branches of maritime trade. The 
 building of vessels was an important industry, and 
 the Warren ship-yards were justly noted for the 
 variety and excellence of the craft launched from 
 their stocks. Remote, indeed, were the regions un- 
 penetrated by the hardy sailors of the little seaport, 
 which was engaged in coasting, in the West India 
 and merchant service, and in the whale fishery. To a 
 community almost entirely dependent upon favor- 
 able commercial conditions for its existence the 
 breaking out of war with the mother country was a 
 most alarming portent, threatening serious disaster 
 if not ultimate ruin. 
 
 The pioneer settlers of Swansea, Massachusetts, 
 of which town Warren originally formed a part, 
 were a strong and steadfast race of men, resolute, 
 courageous, and liberty loving. The characteristics 
 so marked in them descended to their posterity. 
 Naturally, therefore, at the outset, the inhabitants
 
 6 THE HISTORY OF WARREN, RHODE ISLAND, 
 
 of Warren qiiietlv but firmly resisted tlie oppressive 
 policy of George III, though no people more fully 
 realized the dangers that would beset them in the 
 event of an open rupture with England. The sen- 
 timents of the citizens were first openly voiced in 
 January, 1774, wlien, following the example of New- 
 port and Providence, Warren held a public meeting 
 to consider the tea question, at which the right of 
 Parliament to tax the American colonies was em- 
 phatically denied. When a few months later the 
 odious Port Bill closed Boston harbor against all 
 commerce, Warren was among the first localities in 
 Rhode Island to render material assistance to the 
 distressed towoi. It is a noteworthy fact that 
 throughout the entire Revolutionary period the in- 
 habitants of Warren acted unanimously in defend- 
 ing their rights. Indeed, tradition asserts that but 
 one native of the place was ever proved to have 
 cherished Tory principles and, so far as can be as- 
 certained, tradition in this instance is correct. 
 
 Although a maritime community Warren could 
 boast an honorable military record. The opening 
 scenes of that terrible tragedy, King Philip's War, 
 had been enacted within its limits. It had sent stal- 
 wart sons to Louisburg and Cro%vii Point. So when 
 armed resistance to British misrule became neces- 
 sary, the sturdy little seaport was not unprepared to 
 do its share in the struggle for liberty.
 
 IN THE WAR OF THE REVOLUTION. 7 
 
 The news of the Battle of Lexington created in 
 Rhode Island, as elsewhere, the most intense excite- 
 ment Throughout the colony active preparations 
 for military service were begun. Ammunition was 
 distributed to all the towns, Warren's proportion 
 being 24 pounds of powder, 38 pounds of lead, 
 and 152 flints. The General Assembly voted 
 to raise an "Army of Observation" to consist 
 of 1,500 men. One regiment was enlisted in 
 the counties of Newport and Bristol under Col. 
 Thomas Church, William Turner Miller of Warren 
 being appointed Lieutenant-Colonel. A committee 
 of safety consisting of t^x) members from Provi- 
 dence and one from each of the other counties was 
 appointed, and the several towns adopted such pre- 
 cautionary measures as they deemed advisable. At 
 a ToAvn Meeting held in Warren, June 5, 1775, it 
 was voted to purchase "six good guns" for the toMm. 
 Fearing possible attack from the British fleet under 
 Wallace which occupied the bay it was voted, 'Nov. 
 20th, to keep a watch in the town and Daniel Cole 
 and Samuel Miller were appointed to "decide how 
 often each man should watch." Captain Ezra 
 Ormsbee was selected to "have the care of sd. watch 
 and to Notify the people when they should Avatch," 
 and how many should "Stand upon the watch in one 
 night." The penalty for refusing to Avatch was fixed 
 at three shillings. Captain Ormsbee was required
 
 8 THE HISTORY OF WARREN, RHODE ISLAND, 
 
 "to Provide wood for the sd. watch," and was em- 
 powered to "furnish the watch house that is built in 
 Bristol by the inhabitants of Warren and to build a 
 Gentry Box." The watch house stood upon one of 
 the elevations still known as "Burr's Hills," located 
 on the east bank of Warren river and now included 
 within the limits of that part of the town termed 
 South Warren. It commanded a view of J^arragan- 
 sett Bay and the shores of Bristol and Barrington. 
 During the previous year a "Trained Band" * had 
 been formed in Warren, and there was also in the 
 town a company of "Alarm Men." Many members 
 of the Alarm company were mere striplings. Some 
 of the firearms that appeared at "trainings" had 
 seen service at Cro^Ti Point and Ticonderoga. The 
 men utilized as flints the Indian arrow-heads which 
 abounded in the vicinity of Burr's Hills and along 
 the shores of Belcher's Cove and the Kickemuit 
 river. ■• 
 
 On January 12, 1776, about 250 British troops 
 from Wallace's fleet landed on Prudence Island 
 where they burned seven dwellings, dispersed a com- 
 pany of minute men, and seized a number of sheep. 
 On the following day reinforcements from Warren 
 and Bristol proceeded in whaleboats and other craft 
 
 *The officers of the Trained Band, in 1775 were Amos 
 Haile. Captain; John Ormsbee, Lieutenant; Smith Bowen, 
 Engign.
 
 IN THE WAR OF TlilC REVOLUTION. 9 
 
 to the island and an action ensued which lasted three 
 hours. The British were driven off with a loss of 
 fourteen killed and several wounded, the Americans 
 losing only four killed and one taken prisoner. On 
 the next night two houses on Patience Island were 
 fired by the enemy. Fearing that Bristol might be 
 attacked the troops were withdrawn from Prudence 
 and stationed in that town. The General Assembly 
 appointed a committee to draft a memorial to Con- 
 gress representing the inability of Rhode Island, 
 "from its situation, smallness, and poverty" to defend 
 itself, and praying for assistance. Sylvester Child, 
 one of the Deputies from Warren, was a member of 
 this committee. His colleagues were Deputy Gover- 
 nor Bradford, Henry Ward, William Ellery, Joseph 
 Bro^\^l, Henry ]\[archant and Gideon ]\rumford. 
 
 The seaboard towns now redoubled their precau- 
 tions. In To^vn Meeting, Feb. 5th, it was voted 
 that the Touti Council of Warren should "make a 
 list of all persons in the town who were not able to 
 equip themselves with arms and accoutrements ac- 
 cording to law." The Council reported only two in- 
 dividuals who lacked the necessary equipment and 
 the to\\Ti supplied them with "two good firearms 
 with bayonets and cartuch boxes." It was also voted 
 to raise an Artillery company in the town, of which 
 Daniel Fisk was chosen Captain and Benajah Cole, 
 Lieutenant. On May 6th, the Town Treasurer was
 
 lO THE HISTORY OF WARREN, RHODE ISLAND, 
 
 ordered to "imploy Suitable Persons to make up the 
 powder and Balls into Carteriges Belonging to the 
 tov/n stock as soon as Conveniently May Be" and all 
 persons possessing lead or bullets were desired to 
 bring them to the To\a'ii Treasurer who was directed 
 to purchase them. It was voted also that "all the 
 Militia and Alarm men should Bring their gnms to 
 the town treasurer at or Before the fifteenth Day of 
 this instant ]\Iay in order that their Carteriges May 
 be Made." 
 
 The scarcity of provisions at this time had become 
 a serious question. Common salt, alone, commanded 
 six dollars per bushel. To prevent extortion the 
 (General Assembly at length took charge of this 
 necessary commodity, and sold it to the various 
 towns at six shillings per bushel. Warren's pro- 
 portion was fifty bushels, and on July 1st William 
 Turner Miller was appointed to divide the salt 
 among the different families in town. It was voted 
 that all persons who should neglect to make appli- 
 cation for salt by July 12th should be refused a 
 share, and the Town Clerk was directed to "Set up 
 three advertisements in three Publick Places in the 
 Towm to Notify the inhabitants of the promises." 
 
 The population of Warren at this time (1776) 
 was 1,005 including slaves. The town was required 
 by law to furnish ten men for military service, but 
 in September it was voted to increase the number to
 
 IN THE WAR OF THE REVOLUTION. II 
 
 twelve. Ten. sliil lings were allowed to every sol- 
 dier found able to "Equip himself With a Gun, 
 Bavonet, and Cartuch Box," and ten shillings in ad- 
 dition to each man for the "Use of a Blanket and 
 Kapsack." In October the Deputies were requested 
 to tender the Test Act to all male citizens, and the 
 Town Clerk was directed to "make record of the 
 number of Guns, Cartuch Boxes, Blankets, and 
 Xapsacks Belonging to the to^\^l." William Tur- 
 ner Miller was authorized to make a second distri- 
 bution of salt, it being stipulated, however, that "No 
 Person Be allowed to Receive Salt that Kefused to 
 Subscribe the Test Act." 
 
 The appearance, on December 2d, of seven 
 ships of the line and four frigates in the vicinity of 
 Block Island caused widespread consteniation 
 throughout Rhode Island. The militia was at once 
 called to arms. On December 8th, the enemy landed 
 at ]S[ewport and took possession of the town. 
 American troojDS were despatched to Tiverton, 
 Bristol, and other points on the coast. Many in- 
 habitants of ]S^e^vport took refuge on the main land. 
 The court records of Newport County were hastily 
 transported to Warren, but the exposed situation of 
 the town caused the Assembly to order the Clerk of 
 the Court to remove them "to some safer place 
 further distant from Rhode Island." 
 
 At a later date a guard of sixteen men was sta-
 
 12 THE HISTORY OF WARRKN, RHODE ISLAND, 
 
 tinned at Warren, and the row-gallej Washington 
 was sent to protect the entrances to Warren and 
 Kickemuit rivers. On the 2d of April, 1777, an 
 explosion occurred on board the galley by which 
 eight lives were destroyed. The vessel was, how- 
 ever, afterward repaired, schooner rigged, and put 
 in service again. The bodies of the unfortunate vic- 
 tims of this accident were buriod on the west shore 
 of Kickemuit river near the "narrows" of the 
 stream, not far from the scene of the disaster. 
 
 The Artillery company, which had previously 
 beK?n supplied with two field pieces, was furnished 
 with drums, colors, and an ammunition cart. Re- 
 cruiting was briskly carried on in the toAvn and there 
 was scarcely a household that had not one or more 
 members engaged in military service. It must not 
 be imagined that while the men of Warren devoted 
 themselves to the cause of liberty, the women dis- 
 played a less patriotic spirit. Though debarred from 
 carrying muskets their hands were not idle, as the 
 number of stout woolen stockings and other articles 
 of clothing furnished by them to the troops amply 
 testified. 
 
 Provisions still continued scarce, while the in- 
 crease of current expenses rendered necessary a pro- 
 portionate increase of taxes. The poll tax which 
 had been fixed at 6s. 5d. was raised to 12 shillings. 
 A number of flat-bottomed boats for use of the state
 
 IN THE WAR OF THE REVOLUTION. 1 3 
 
 were this year constructed at the shijn-ard of Crom- 
 well Child. These boats were destined to play an 
 important part in the history of Warren. The cap- 
 ture of the British General Prescott by Lieut. Col. 
 William Barton in July, raised the hopes of Rhode 
 Islanders, Warren being especially gratified at this 
 brilliant achievement of one of her sons. An ex- 
 pedition under Gen. Spencer against Rhode Island 
 was planned and, in October, a number of boats, in- 
 cluding those built at Warren, were collected at 
 Tiverton. Unfavorable "SA-ieather, however, delayed 
 the execution of the scheme which was finally aban- 
 doned. 
 
 With the opening of another year (1778) a new 
 danger confronted Warren. Small-pox, that scourge 
 of the olden times, made its appearance. On Janu- 
 ary 3d, it Avas voted that innoculation for the disease 
 "be set up Within the Town," and Col. Xathan Mil- 
 ler was appointed "to Prepare an Innoculatory Hos- 
 pital under the direction of the Council." The site 
 selected for this hospital was a point on the right 
 bank of the Kickemuit river a few rods north of the 
 present pumping station. It was also voted to fine 
 any person receiving one ill of small-pox into his 
 house the sum of £50. 
 
 It being deemed expedient to attempt a second 
 expedition against Rhode Island the flat-bottomed 
 boats before alluded to, about seventy in number,
 
 14 THE HISTORY OF WARREN, RHODE ISLAND, 
 
 wore brought up tlic Kickeiniiit river and moored 
 near the stone bridge, to which point a quantity of 
 tar and other stores was transported. Great secrecy 
 was preserved in regard to their plans by the Ameri- 
 cans. But, unfortunately, there lurked within their 
 midst an enemy in disguise. The school master of 
 Warren was an Englishman named Holland. De- 
 spite his nationality, he professed allegiance to the 
 patriot cause, and was generally believed to be sin- 
 cere in his professions. He discovered the designs 
 of the Americans and found means to communicate 
 his knowledge to Gen. Pigot, the commander of the 
 British forces on Rhode Island, who at once deter- 
 mined to frustrate the schemes of his opponents. 
 
 On Monday, the 25th of May, a party of British 
 and Hessians troops numbering about 500, under 
 command of Lieut. Col. Campbell, were despatched 
 by boat from Newport to Bristol where they arrived 
 before daybreak, and landing near Peck's Rocks 
 marched up Bristol Neck towards Warren. On 
 reaching the Gorham farm, they paused and raised 
 a sheet from the chimney of the farm house as a 
 signal to their shipping in the bay that all was well. 
 They then resumed their line of march and entered 
 Warren, rousing the terrified inhabitants with their 
 loud huzzas for King George. At the centre of the 
 town Campbell divided his forces into parties- One 
 detachment was sent to guard Kelley's ferry in the
 
 IN THE WAR OF THE REVOLUTION. I5 
 
 north part, while a second hastened to the foot of 
 King, now Washington street, where was another 
 ferrv known as Carr's ferry.* The greater portion 
 of the troops were, however, hurried through Mar- 
 ket street to Kickemuit, where they piled the unfor- 
 tunate flat-bottomed boats together and burned them 
 with the row-galley Washington, and a quantity of 
 tar, pitch, and other stores. They then set fire to 
 two dwelling houses and a grist mill near the lower 
 bridge. Tradition relates that the terrified miller 
 when he saw his property about to be destroyed cried 
 out, "Spare the mill, brothers!" "Brothers," re- 
 peated one of the soldiers, "Do you call us that? If 
 we are your brothers we shall do you a favor by tak- 
 ing you out of this nest of rebels," and he beckoned 
 to his companions who immediately made the poor 
 miller their prisoner. In the attic of the Phinney 
 farm house near the bridge a number of arms were 
 concealed. The redcoats visited this house but fail- 
 ed to discover the hidden muskets. A party of sol- 
 diers approached the inuoculatory hospital. Its in- 
 mates, three in number, rushed to the windows and 
 throwing them open shouted frantically, "Don't 
 come here. We are sick with small-pox !" The soldiers 
 at once hastily retreated. But their disappearance 
 failed to reassure the panic stricken invalids. Terri- 
 
 ♦Seeing the red-coats at this ferry a man on the opposite 
 shore of Harrington shouted wildly for "quarter," greatly to 
 the amusement of the soldiers.
 
 1 6 THE HISTORY OF WARREN, RHODE ISLAND^ 
 
 fied lest a second detachment of redcoats less afraid 
 of disease should appear, they nished from the 
 house down the road crying, "The Regulars have 
 come I The Regulars have come!" At the stone 
 bridge they turned up the School House Road, thence 
 into the Birch Sv^amp Road, still uttering their 
 warning cry. One of the good housewives of the 
 neighborhood who was engaged in preparing break- 
 fast heard the shouts. She looked from the window, 
 and recognizing the men grasped the situation. 
 Seizing the coffee-pot in one hand and a large bowl 
 in the other, she opened the kitchen door and com- 
 manding the men to halt inquired where they were 
 going. "To Swansea to give the alarm," they re- 
 plied. "Well," she answered, "you don't go a step 
 farther until you have drank some coffee," and de- 
 spite the expostulations of her family she compelled 
 the not unwilling travellers to each swallow a bowl- 
 ful of the smoking beverage. She then resumed her 
 domestic labors, while the refreshed pilgrims con- 
 tinued on to Swansea where their appearance creat- 
 ed as much consternation as the Regulars themselves 
 would have occasioned. Finding no place of refuge 
 offered them, the weary sick men were forced to re- 
 turn to Warren and re-enter the hospital. Strangely, 
 their long journey was productive of no ill results 
 cither to them or any of the various persons with 
 whom they came in contact during it.
 
 IN THE WAR OF THE REVOLUTION. 17 
 
 While the capture of the miller was being effected 
 at the bridge, a scene of quite an opposite nature 
 transpired in another part of Kickemuit. A trio 
 of soldiers crossed some fields and approached the 
 farm of Mr. Ephraim Cole. The sun was now high 
 in the heavens, and Mr. Cole was hoeing in his corn- 
 field. Himself unperceived, he espied the advan- 
 cing redcoats. I^Tot seeing any way of escape he 
 quietly dropped behind a stone wall, hoe in hand. 
 The soldiers reached the wall and were about to 
 clamber over it Avhen, suddenly, Mr. Cole sprang 
 erect and brandishing the hoe in their faces ex- 
 claimed in a voice of thunder, "Come on, my brave 
 boys, and we'll have every lobster '"f 'em!" The 
 astonished "lobsters," thinking a large party of 
 Americans concealed behind the walls, turned in con- 
 fusion and ran in different directions, Mr. Cole pursu- 
 ing: them shoutinor, "March to the east'ard! Head 'em 
 off to the west'ard !" Not daring to glance behind 
 them the soldiers continued their flight. Two of 
 them escaped, but Mr. Cole overtook the third and, 
 as he afterwards drily remarked, "surrounded him 
 and took him prisoner." 
 
 Having completed the main object of the expedi- 
 tion, the destruction of the boats. Col. Campbell 
 marched his men back to the compact part of the 
 town where terror and confusion reigned supreme. 
 The citizens endeavored to protect their property,
 
 18 
 
 THE HISTORY OF WARREN, RHODE ISLAND. 
 
 but the overwhelming number of the enemy rendered 
 their efforts futile. Many households were with- 
 out male protectors as a large portion of the able- 
 bodied men of the town were engaged elsewhere in 
 military service. The Baptist meeting-house and 
 parsonage and other buildings were burned to the 
 ground, the powder magazine was blown up, and the 
 privateer "General Stark," which stood ready for 
 launching in one of the shipyards, was partially de- 
 stroyed. Cattle and poultry were killed, stores and 
 houses pillaged, and women and children terrified. 
 The appearance of the marauders is described by 
 Fessenden in his historical sketch of Warren. The 
 British were attired in red coats, cocked hats, and 
 small clothes, with shoe and knee buckles and a pro- 
 fusion of gold lace. The Hessians wore huge fur 
 caps and great boots, and the latter they utilized as 
 receptacles for booty of every description. These 
 German mercenaries rendered themselves particu- 
 larly obnoxious to the to"wnspeople. A party of 
 them who had been wounded in a skirmish with some 
 citizens visited the Burr Tavern on Main street. 
 Mrs. Burr, the landlady, kindly dressed their 
 wounds and they displayed their gratitude to her by 
 destroying her dishes and furniture. At another 
 house they fired several shots at the women and 
 children whom they found assembled there. Five 
 burly giants effected an entrance at the residence of
 
 IN THE WAR OF THE REVOLUTION. 19 
 
 Jesse Baker on what is now Water street bj dashing 
 in the windows. Mrs. Baker was alone in the house 
 at the time. Thev compelled her to mount a chair 
 and from the upper shelves of the china closet to 
 pass to them such articles as thej desired, Xatural- 
 Iv as thej addressed her in German she did not un- 
 derstand their orders very readily, but she trem- 
 blingly handed to them dish after dish each of which 
 they dashed to the ground with oaths and laughter. 
 In the midst of their sport an English officer sudden- 
 ly made his appearance. At a glance he compre- 
 hended the situation and raising a silver handled 
 riding-whip, which Mrs. Baker recognized as the 
 property of Col. N'athan Miller, he struck the ring- 
 leader of the party across the cheek cutting the flesh 
 open. He then sternly ordered him and his com- 
 panions to leave tlie house, and after they had dis- 
 appeared courteously assisted the half fainting 
 woman to alight from the chair, assuring her that he 
 would protect her from further molestation — a 
 promise he faithfully performed. ^o other in- 
 stance of forbearance on the part of the assailants is 
 recorded, the officers, generally, rather encouraging 
 than restraining their men in the work of devasta- 
 tion. Some of the soldiers even went so far as to 
 tear the brass rings from the fingers of the negro ser- 
 vants. The guard posted at Kelley's ferry intercept- 
 ed a respectable Irishman who was endeavoring to es-
 
 20 THE HISTORY OF WARREN, RHODE ISLAND. 
 
 cape from the town. They turned him around on his 
 horse, set his wig and hat awry, and putting the muz- 
 zle of a gun to his cheek compelled him to swear alle- 
 giance to King George which he did with a very ill 
 grace. Mr. Peter Cole, a prominent citizen, eluded 
 capture by a clever ruse. Seizing a large butcher's 
 knife, he rushed from his house along Main street 
 brandishing his blade and crying, "I am Peter Cole 
 and I don't care for a d — d soul!" The British 
 soldiers, supposing him deranged, permitted him to 
 pass through their midst unmolested. Other of the 
 the townspeople were less fortunate and a number of 
 prisoners w^ere secured, among them Sylvester Child 
 and his son-in-law Rev. Charles Thompson, a chap- 
 lain in the Continental service who was then at 
 home on a furlough. The family of Col. Nathan 
 Miller escaped by boat to Barrington, carrying with 
 them valuable state papers which Campbell had 
 hoped to secure. One of the British soldiers fired a 
 shot at the boat which whistled close to the head of 
 the Colonel's young daughter. The Miller resi- 
 dence was ransacked, the soldiers expressing great 
 regret that they had not captured the "fellow with 
 the big boots" as they nicknamed Col. Miller.* 
 They quenched their disappointment in a barrel of 
 cider which they discovered in the cellar, first, how- 
 
 *Col. Miller weighed upwards of 300 pounds. His boots 
 held a bushel of corn each.
 
 IN THE WAR OF THE REVOLUTION. 21 
 
 ever, compelling a young slave girl whom they found 
 hidden in the house to taste it as an assurance that 
 it contained no poison. 
 
 As the morning sun rose high, Col. Campbell, 
 fearing the Americans would rally from the neigh- 
 boring to^vns prepared to retreat, and the straggling 
 squads of soldiers were called together on Main street. 
 One detachment passing the home of the Tory 
 schoolmaster cheered loudly, whereupon Holland 
 emerged from the door and joined them.* Camp- 
 bell placed his prisoners and their guards in the van. 
 Behind them marched the Hessians, presenting an 
 exceedingly grotesque appearance with articles of 
 every description peeping and dangling from the 
 wide tops of their huge boots. The English com- 
 panies followed with Campbell himself at the rear of 
 the procession. As the retreating column filed slow- 
 ly along Main street, a party of ladies who were 
 watching it from the windows of what is now the 
 Fessenden Hotel espied, lagging far behind his com- 
 rades, a diminutive individual encumbered with a 
 large drum, and very much the worse for the numer- 
 ous drams of West India rum with which he had re- 
 galed himself. The ladies determined to make him 
 their prisoner. One of them placing herself at the 
 head of the party snatched a brass candlestick from 
 
 *The house occupied by Holland is still standing on 
 Church Street, just east of the Methodist Church.
 
 22 THE HISTORY OF WARREN, RHODE ISLAND, 
 
 a table near by, and, followed by her companions, ran 
 into the street. Pointing the candlestick at her vic- 
 tim, she commanded him to halt. Pale with terror 
 the little man staggered back exclaiming, "Don't 
 fire, ladies! Don't fire! I surrender." The ladies 
 surrounded him and triumphantly conducted him 
 into the house where they locked him securely in a 
 closet. He expressed great pleasure at being cap- 
 tured, saying that he was exhausted with the weight 
 of his heavy drum. 
 
 Despite the precautions of the enemy messengers 
 had early been despatched to Barrington, Providence, 
 and other points to secure aid, and as Campbell be- 
 gan the march towards Bristol a portion of Capt. 
 Yial Allen's company which had been stationed at 
 Rumstick Point entered Warren. They were, how- 
 ever, too few in number to render assistance. 
 Shortly afterward Gen. William Barton, with a party 
 of mounted troops in advance of a large body of in- 
 fantry under Gen. Sullivan, appeared and hastened 
 in pursuit of the foe, collecting a number of volun- 
 teers along the route. Mrs. Williams, in her bio- 
 graphy of Barton, states that as the doughty General 
 galloped along he hailed Col. Campbell, daring him 
 to single combat. "Come back you d — d coward," 
 he shouted in thunder tones. "I am the man who 
 
 to(Jv Prescott, and by if you will just step out 
 
 of y.,^vr lurking place I'll hack you to pieces in less
 
 IN THE WAR OF THK REVOLUTION. 23 
 
 time than it took to take him." Bart-ou overtook the 
 British near Bristol Ferry where he received a 
 severe wound in the leg from a musket ball. This 
 accident and the insufficiency of his force induced 
 him to abandon the pursuit. After repeating in 
 Bristol the scenes enacted in Warren, the enemy re- 
 embarked in their ship and set sail for Newport, 
 barely in time to escape attack from Sullivan who ar- 
 rived at Bristol shortly afterwards. 
 
 The disastrous effect of this raid upon Warren 
 cannot be adequately portrayed. Yet with praise- 
 worthy courage and energy the citizens immediately 
 resumed their labors in the cause of liberty. On 
 June 1st it was voted to levy a tax of £900 for the 
 to"\Am's use. The fortifications at Burr's Hills were 
 strengthened and a watch stationed there during the 
 day as well as at night, the town being further pro- 
 tected by a guard boat placed at the entrance to the 
 river by order of Congress. The privateer ''Gener- 
 al Stark" was repaired and towards the last of June 
 started on her first cruise. Gen. Sullivan had be- 
 gun negotiations for release of the prisoners cap- 
 tured at Warren and Bristol. Many of these were 
 men too advanced in years to bear arms, who were 
 treated with unnecessary harshness by their captors. 
 Pigot signified his willingness to exchange them on 
 the usual terms, but stated that if the exchange was 
 not effected at once the prisoners would be removed
 
 24 THE HISTORY OF WARREN, RHODE ISLAND, 
 
 to New York. After a sharp correspondence the ex- 
 change of several was arranged, and three or four were 
 released on parole. Among the citizens of Warren 
 who were transferred to the Jersey prison ship were 
 Hev. Charles Thompson, (^aleb Turner, and James 
 Maxwell. The privations endured by those confined 
 upon this foul and overcrowded vessel were of the 
 most severe nature. Rev. Mr. Thompson after being 
 detained in captivity for several weeks was given 
 his freedom, but was never able to discover to whom 
 he owed his release. 
 
 The arrival of the French fleet in American waters 
 early in July caused intense joy throughout the 
 country. Immediately, however, the enemy began 
 to send reinforcements from N^ew York to Rhode 
 Island. On July 15th, 300 troops were landed at 
 jSTewport. The Council of War fearing an attack 
 on Providence called out half the military force of 
 the state to serve for twenty days, ordering the re- 
 maining half to hold themselves in readiness for 
 action at a moment's notice. On the 29th D'Es- 
 taing's fleet appeared in the bay and blockaded New- 
 port. On August 9th Sullivan, with about 10,000 
 troops, crossed from Tiverton to Portsmouth. On 
 the 21st D'Estaing withdrew hif ships. bu1 Sullivai 
 continued his preparations while awaiting the re- 
 turn of the fleet. On the 29th the Battle of Rhode 
 Island, which Lafayette pronounced "the best fought
 
 IN THE WAR OF THE REVOLUTION. 25 
 
 action of the war," took place. To this ''Rho<lc Isl- 
 and Expedition," as it was termed, Warren contri- 
 buted its full qnota of men. One company in Col. 
 Miller's regiment was commanded by Captain Rob- 
 ert Carr, a native of the town and a most zealous 
 patriot. Warren Mason, a negro belonging to 
 John Mason of Warren, was one of the slaves who ob- 
 tained freedom by enlisting in the "black regiment," 
 which under the leadership of Col. Christopher 
 Greene distingiiished itself by three times repelling 
 the furious attacks of the Hessian columns with the 
 most desperate courage and determination. 
 
 On Aug-ust 31st the care of the troops on the eas- 
 tern shore of ]^arragansett Bay was entinisted by 
 Gen. Sullivan to the Marquis de Lafayette, who es- 
 tablished his headquarters at Bristol. Toward the 
 latter part of SeiDteinber he removed them to Warren 
 where a portion of Varnum's brigade was stationed. 
 Col. Israel ^Ingell's regiment encamped in the fields 
 on the eastern slope of Windmill Hill in the norther- 
 ly part of the town near the Kickemuit river. A 
 little more than half a century ago a post driven into 
 the ground indicated the spot where Lafayette's 
 marquee stood, just southeast of the ledge of rocks 
 on the summit of the hill. On the farm of !Mr. 
 Henry Clark on the east side of Belcher's Cove are 
 still to be seen the remains of earth works which it is 
 said were thro^^^l up under the supervision of the
 
 26 THE HISTORY OF WARREN, RHODE ISLAND. 
 
 marquis. The gallant French officer was very popu- 
 lar with the townspeople, his frank and engaging 
 manner winning all hearts. Tradition states that 
 he was extremely partial to the old-fashioned "Rhode 
 Island johnny-cakes" baked on a board at the hos- 
 telry of Ebenezer Cole, famous throughout the 
 colonies for its good cheer ; and that he and an Ameri- 
 can officer once engaged in a "johnny-cake match," 
 which he easily won, outstripping or rather out eat- 
 ing his competitor by two or three cakes of more 
 than ordinary size. Lafayette's stay in Warren was of 
 short duration, the middle of October finding him in 
 Philadelphia. , 
 
 Though the enemy maintained great watchfulness, 
 the privateers belonging to the seaboard towns man- 
 aged to elude all vigilance and to constantly cross 
 and recross the bay. In September the "General 
 Stark" returned to Ehode Island, having captured 
 two prizes, one a brig laden with cotton-wool and 
 red-wood, the other a ship from Halifax bound for 
 Jamaica and carrying a cargo of fish and spars. 
 About the same time the schooner "Weasel," Mau- 
 ran, master, another privateer sent out from Warren, 
 succeeded in taking a brig of 140 tons which sailed 
 from New York with wood and provisions for the 
 king's troops at Newport. , 
 
 The winter of 1778-9 was a severe one. The 
 camp at Windmill Hill was abandoned and the troops
 
 IN THE WAR OF THE REVOLUTION. 27 
 
 "were quartered in stores on the wharves and in pri- 
 vate dwellings. On Christmas Eve the Warren river 
 was complet«ly frozen over, and Col. Angell excused 
 his men from the usual drill. A violent storm 
 raged on the 26th, the baracks being filled with snow 
 and huge drifts blocking the roads. On New Year's 
 Day, Warren received the melancholy tidings of the 
 wreck of the "General Stark." Xineteen members 
 of the ill-fated vessel perished bj freezing. The 
 extremely cold weather and the scarcity and high 
 price of provisions caused great suffering among the 
 poor. The inhabitants of the to^vn nimibered at 
 this period 789, together with fourteen refugees 
 from the county of Newport, some of whom were en- 
 tirely dependent upon charity for support. The 
 to"\vn treasury was nearly depleted, and in March it 
 became necessary to hire the sum of $1,500 for the 
 purchase of grain from Connecticut for the town's 
 use. 
 
 On March 11th, Daniel Cole, Joseph Smith, and 
 William Barton were appointed a committee to as- 
 certain what persons had performed more than their 
 proportion of military duty in the two expeditions 
 against Rhode Island, and to allow such persons 
 whatever sums of money they might deem were just- 
 ly due them. In April the militia of the several 
 counties were, by order of the Assembly, formed into 
 brigades. Col. Nathan Miller being elected brigadier
 
 28 THE HISTORY OF WARREN, RHODE ISLAND. 
 
 of the counties of Newport and Bristol. As the 
 enemy greatly outnumbered the American forces, 
 and continued to make incursions upon the seaboard 
 towns, it was deemed prudent to increase the guard 
 at Warren, and August 4th Shubael Kinnicutt and 
 l^athan Bardin were empowered to enlist twenty- 
 six men to serve for twenty days. £300 was appro- 
 priated to pay the guard, and Moses Turner was di- 
 rected to "draught a petition to Gen. Gates for Ra- 
 tions for Sd. Guard." This guard was stationed at 
 points along the shore where it was feared the Brit- 
 ish might attempt to make a landing. Fortunately 
 Warren was destined to escape a repetition of the 
 misfortunes which had befallen her the previous 
 year. The South having become the seat of war it 
 became necessary for Sir Henry Clinton to centralize 
 his forces there, and on October 25th, to the unbound- 
 ed joy of the suffering inhabitants of Rhode Island, 
 the enemy evacuated l^ewport. 
 
 As winter approached the weather became extreme- 
 ly cold. Again was Warren river frozen completely 
 over, and communication with Barrington was main- 
 tained by crossing the ice on foot or in ox teams. 
 Fire-wood was very scarce, commanding twenty dol- 
 lars per cord, and so insufficient was the supply of 
 food that a famine seemed imminent. But it was not, 
 alone, temporal privations that the people of Warren 
 were forced to endure. There were spiritual hard-
 
 IN THE WAR OF THE REVOLUTION. 29 
 
 ships also. The clestniction of their meeting-house 
 had compelled the Society of Baptists to unite, tem- 
 porarily, with the neighboring church of Swansea. 
 The severity of the weather and condition of the 
 country roads, however, prevented the regular atten- 
 dance of church. But all trials of what nature so- 
 ever were borne cheerfully, indeed, in many in- 
 stances, heroic fortitude was displayed. 
 
 Early in the summer of 1780 active military 
 operations were begun in anticipation of the arrival 
 of the French fleet in Ehode Island. Washington 
 asked for additional troops to co-operate with the 
 allies, and a militia force was called out to serve 
 for three mouths. Recruiting officers were appoint- 
 ed for each town, those chosen for Warren being Na- 
 than Miller, Sylvester Child, Daniel Cole, Robert 
 Carr, and William Barton. On July 2d, the to^vTi 
 voted that Nathan Bardin and Edward Mason ''be 
 added to the Committe for Enlisting Soldiers," and 
 on the same day it was ordered that "a. Propper Per- 
 son be appointed at the Expense of the Town to 
 Carry Such Winter Clothing as the friends and Con- 
 nections of Such Soldiers as May enter into the Con- 
 tinental Service at the Present Campaign may pro- 
 vide for them." De Corny, the French Commis- 
 sary General, having requested the General Assem- 
 bly to repair the ferries between Providence and 
 Newport, a committee consisting of Hon. Wm.
 
 30 THE HISTORY OF WARREN, RHODE ISLAND. 
 
 Bradford, Gen. Miller and Col. Joseph Xightinp;ale 
 was appointed by the Assembly to confer with him 
 were appointed by the Assembly to confer with him 
 regarding "the accommodation of the expected arma- 
 ment," and Ephraim Bowen, the Deputy Quarter- 
 master General, was empowered to draw £10,000 
 from the state treasury for the purpose of making 
 the necessary repairs at Providence, Warren, and 
 Bristol. On July 10th, De Terney, with a fleet of 
 twelve ships of war and thirty-two transports and 
 six thousand troops under Count Rochambeau, ar- 
 rived at ISTewport where, on the following day, the 
 troops were landed. In August a dinner at the ex- 
 pense of the state was given in honor of the allies. 
 Gen. Miller was a member of the entertainment com- 
 mittee. He was popular with the French officers 
 owing to the fact that a strain of Huguenot blood ran 
 through his veins. A warm friendship sprang up 
 between him and Count Rochambeau with whom he 
 exchanged rapiers. The Rochambeau weapon is 
 now owned by a descendant of General Miller. 
 
 The work of raising the British vessels sunk in the 
 harbor of N^ewport had begun in June. Cromwell 
 Child purchased a j^ortion of this wreckage which 
 was transported on scows to Warren. Tradition 
 states that Ebenezer Cole built a barn of some of the 
 timbers, which was for many years a landmark in 
 the town, and wliich the owner was very fond of 
 pointing out to the guests who frequented his hos- 
 telry.
 
 IN THE WAR OF THE REVOLUTION. 3 1 
 
 On August 5th, the to\m of Warren appointed 
 Ezra Ormsbee to furnish the militia with camp fur- 
 niture. He was directed to purchase "21 Mess Pots, 
 21 Pails, 21 Mess Boles, 5 Xarrow Axes, 3 Baggage 
 Carts and give his Receipt for the articles in Behalf 
 of the Town." At the same time it was voted to 
 raise $10,000 as a town tax. 
 
 In October a detachment of French troops was 
 quartered in Warren and remained there during the 
 winter. These troops occupied during a portion of 
 their stay the old camping place at Windmill Hill. 
 They are said to have been admirably disciplined, and 
 were very friendly with the neighboring farmers, 
 whose waves supplied them with brown bread for 
 which they displayed as great partiality as Lafayette 
 evinced for Landlord Cole's Rhode Island johnny- 
 cakes. 
 
 In February, 1781, the Assembly, in expectation 
 of the withdrawal of the French troops, called out 
 twelve hundred militia to serve for one month under 
 Brigadier General Miller. On March 6th, Gen. 
 Washington arrived at Newport for the purpose of 
 arranging with Rochambeau for the coming cam- 
 paign. On the 10th the French fleet sailed and all 
 but three hundred of the Rhode Island militia were 
 dismissed. On the 13th Washington proceeded to 
 Providence, passing through Bristol and Warren en 
 route. In Warren he was entertained at the expense
 
 32 THE HISTORY OF WARREN, RHODE ISLAND. 
 
 of the state at the famous hostelry of Shiibael Burr, 
 which, like its rival Cole's Tavejrn, was noted 
 throughout 'New: England. Burr's Tavern was lo- 
 cated at the corner of Main and King (afterwards 
 Washington) streets. The room assigned to Wash- 
 ington was a rather small apartment, but considered 
 at the time a very elegant guest chamber. Burr's 
 tavern, after standing for more than a century, was a 
 few years since torn do^vn. 
 
 On March 22d, the town voted to purchase 3-4 cwt. 
 of sugar, 1-4 cwt. of coffee, and a bushel of rye meal 
 for the "Soldiers Doing Duty on Khode Island that 
 Went from the Town ;" John Child was directed 
 to procure these articles. The depreciation of con- 
 tinental currency caused the town to vote in June 
 "that the Town Treasurer Keceive no more old Con- 
 tinental Money into the Treasury for Taxes Due 
 from the Collector." The privateer sloop "George" 
 of Warren, Thomas Champlin, master, was this 
 month captured off Sandy Hook by Arbuthnot's 
 fleet. In July Gen. Miller, wearied with his un- 
 ceasing labors, tendered his resignation to the As- 
 sembly, but at the earnest request of that body with- 
 drew; it. In August he was appointed to proceed to 
 New York in "the flag-of-truce Nancy," for the pur- 
 pose of arranging for the exchange of citizens of 
 Khode Island held prisoners by the enemy. His 
 mission proved successful and, at a later date, the
 
 IN THE WAR OF THE REVOLUTION. 33 
 
 released prisoners returned in a "flag" to Rhode 
 Island. 
 
 In August the schooner "Hunter" of Warren sail- 
 ed for Virginia with provisions and hospital stores 
 for the American troops. In a letter addressed to 
 his wife from "Off Jamestown in James River," and 
 dated September 19, 1781, the captain, William Tur- 
 ner Miller, predicted the fall of Cornwallis which oc- 
 curred on the 17th of the following mouth. The 
 tidings of the victory at Yorktown caused the most 
 intense joy throughout Rhode Island. By the dis- 
 play of flags, the ringing of bells, and the firing of 
 cannon the people demonstrated their satisfaction. 
 Several prisoners of war * were tranported from 
 Yorktown to Rhode Island by the sloop "Abigail" of 
 Warren, John Hailc master. Thirteen of these 
 prisoners were privates, the remainder were officers. 
 Two negro servants accompanied the latter. 
 
 ♦Among papers preserved by the descendants of Capt. 
 Haile is a partial list of these prisoners as follows: 
 
 "Capt. Steward, ~| 
 
 Lt. James Campbell, j 
 
 Lt. Donald Campbell, | N. C. Loyalists. 
 
 Ens'n Dugald Campbell, | 
 
 Ens'n Donald Campbell, J 
 
 Ens'n O'Boyle. | ^ g ^^^ g^^ 
 
 Ens n Eald, j 
 
 Capt. Althouse, ^ N Y V 
 
 Ens'n Althouse, { . . ., 
 
 Lieut. Murphy, South C. Corpse, 
 
 Lieut. Searjeant Kings, A Reg't, 
 
 Mr. Ker, Comis'y. 
 
 Corn't White, B. Legion. 
 . Mr. Edwards, Comis'y."
 
 34 THE HISTORY OF WARREN, RHODE ISLAND, 
 
 The Assenibl}^, in December, directed the several 
 towns to prepare estimates of the damage inflicted 
 in each by the enemy during the war. Warren's loss 
 by the incursion of British troops on May 25, 1Y78, 
 as appraised by William Turner Miller, amounted 
 to the sum of £12,101 ; 17s. ; 3d. 
 
 The closing year of the war was a comi)aratively 
 eventless one as regarded Warren. In March, C'apt. 
 David Barton was appointed to enlist the town's 
 proportion of men for the continental army. The 
 same month John Child Avas authorized "to purchase 
 fifty-six yards of tow-cloth and eight pairs of stock- 
 ings according to the act of the General Assembly 
 and to deliver these articles to their use at East 
 Greenwich." In October Gen. Miller requested the 
 Assembly to furnish him with a "flag" in which to 
 proceed to New York for the purpose of obtaining 
 the release of certain prisoners confined there. He 
 was authorized to commission a vessel under Wm. 
 Turner Miller for the purpose specified. 
 
 The condition of Warren at the end of the war was 
 a most unhappy one. Business was almost entirely 
 prostrated, and many families were impoverished. 
 The toAvn treasury was nearly depleted. The loss of 
 shipping amounted to 1,090 tons. Household after 
 household mourned the loss of dearly beloved mem- 
 bers. Many a man who had gone forth to do ser- 
 vice for his country in the full glory of vigorous
 
 THE HISTORY OF WARREN, RHODE ISLAND, 35 
 
 manhood had returned the mere shadow of liis forine,r 
 self. Yoimg wonieii had grown prematurely old 
 under the too heavy burdens of anxiety, privation, 
 and grief. The farms were neglected, the streets 
 ovcrgrowai with grass, the ship-yards were deserted, 
 the docks empty. But with the same courage and 
 determination that had distinguished them in the 
 darkest hours of adversity, the people instantly set 
 about the bettering of their condition. The build- 
 ing of vessels was resumed, the farms were tilled, 
 shops were re-opened, a new church built, and in less 
 than a decade after the signing of the treaty of peace 
 at Paris, Warren was once more a busy and prosper- 
 ous maritime town.
 
 APPENDIX. 
 
 (From original, Fessenden Msfi.) 
 
 Roll of C'apt. Ezra Ormsbee's Company of Militia 
 in the Town of Warren, 1776. 
 
 Sargant, Amos Haile, 
 
 " Thomas Easterbrooks, 
 '' Curtis Cole, 
 " Gardner Mason, 
 
 Corporal, William Child, 
 " Jacob Sanders, 
 
 " Oliver Salisbury, Jr., 
 " Ichabod Cole, 
 
 Drummer, 
 
 Fifer, 
 
 James Child, 
 
 *Cromwell Child, 
 
 Samuel Miller, 
 
 *William Salisbury, 
 
 *Daniel Richards, 
 
 *Joseph Kelley,
 
 38 THE HISTORY OF WARREN, RHODE ISLAND, 
 
 Edward Eddy, 
 *Jonatban Salisbury, 
 Jeremiah Child, 
 * James Salisbury, 
 Isaac Gorham, 
 Jesse Baker, 
 Georg Cogashell, 
 William Lewis, 
 Joseph Smith, 
 Pel eg Easterb rooks, 
 Caleb Eddy, 
 Haile Child, 
 John Harding, 
 Joseph Kelley, 
 Daniel Kelley, 
 Jonathan Bliss, 
 Barnaby Luther, 
 ^Nathan Bowen, 
 William Haile, 
 Caleb Turner, 
 Jeremiah Comstock, 
 John Bo wen, 2nd., 
 Stephen Bowen, Jr., 
 William Hoar, 
 Samuel Wheaton, 2nd., 
 Samuel Mason, 
 Haile Barton, 
 David Barton, 
 
 Thomas Barden, 
 Richard Barton, 
 *Samuel Hicks, 
 Hozckiali Buterworth, 
 Gideon Luther, 
 Elisha Finney, 
 Richard Haile, Jr., 
 Isaiah Cole, 
 *Frederick Luther, 
 James Mason, 
 ISTathan Haile, 
 John O'Kelley, 
 Edward Mason, 
 Joseph Mason, 
 Joshua Whiting, 
 Whitfield Whiting, 
 Mini Luther, 
 Job Salisbury, 
 Perez Wheaton, 
 William Hill, 
 Amariah Cole, 
 William Wheaton, 
 John Bowen, 
 Edward Kinnicutt, 
 Sam'l D. Wolf, 
 Caleb Miller, 
 Job Miller, 
 Rufus Chase,
 
 IN THE WAR OP the; REVOI.UTION. 
 
 39 
 
 Level Maxwell, 
 **Ebenezcr Boswovth, 
 James Boweii, 
 Ellicksaiider Mason, 
 Joseph McMilon, 
 William Luther, 
 William Arnold, Jr., 
 Stephen Hicks, 
 ** Samson Sims, 
 Caleb Salisbury, 
 Joseph Barton, Jr., 
 Daniel Easterbrooks, 
 James Cole, 
 Jonathan Carr, 
 Barnard Ilaile, 
 Edward Cole, 
 Gideon Cole, 
 Samuel Hicks, 2nd., 
 
 John Haile, 
 
 Benjamin Easterbrooks, 
 
 2nd.. 
 Warring Easterbrooks, 
 William Miller, 
 James Maxwell, 
 Edward Easterbrooks, 
 Jeremiah Joles, 
 Barnard Salisbury, 
 William Salisbury, 
 John Cowin, 
 John Sisson, Jr., 
 John Cole, 
 Jonathan Towgood, 
 Daniel Cole, Jr., 
 Barnard Hale, Jun'r, 
 i\rarmaduke Mason, 
 Martin Easterbrooks. 
 
 Roll of Captain Caleb Carr's Company, Col. Wm. 
 Richmond's Regiment, Oct. 10, 177G. 
 Caleb Carr, Captain, Thomas Pearse, 
 
 Samuel Stevens, lieuten- Consider Tripp, 
 
 ant, N^athaniel Humphrey, 
 
 Samuel Hicks, Ensign, Samuel Bosworth, 
 
 *In the original muster-roll a line is drawn through these 
 names. 
 
 **Ebenezer Bosworth and Samson Sims were members of 
 the crew of the privateer "Warren," which was captured !)y 
 the enemy Dec. 29, 1777. They were committed to Mill 
 Prison, Plymouth, Eng., June, 1778.
 
 40 THE HISTORY OF WARREN, RHODE ISEAND, 
 
 George Ox, 
 Joseph Gladding, 
 Gideon Hathaway, 
 John Easterbrooks, 
 Daniel Wardwell, 
 Constant Chnrch, 
 Walter Durfee, 
 David Luther, 
 Caleb Miller, 
 Esex Jones, 
 John Norris, 
 Amos Luther, 
 Philip Carr, 
 David Maxfield, 
 Wheaton Turner, 
 James Pike, 
 Daniel Maxfield, 
 Samuel Martin, 
 J^athaniel Wilson, 
 Elisha Hathaway, 
 
 Joseph Shana, 
 
 John Pearse, 
 
 Hail Child, 
 
 James Bushee, 
 
 Thomas Peck, 
 
 Gideon Bead, 
 
 Joseph Turner, 
 
 Wm. Read, 
 
 Wilson Low, 
 
 John E. Cedrup, 
 
 Gideon Cole, 
 
 ISTathaniel Humphrey, 2d. 
 
 Nathaniel West, 
 
 John Sunday, 
 
 Samuel Wheaton, 
 
 Hicks West, 
 
 Levi Cole, 
 
 Asa West, 
 
 Joseph Hathaway, 
 
 John More. 
 
 {From original, Carr M.ss.) 
 A True List of all the Soldiers in the Towti of 
 Warren both in the Alarm and Militia who were 
 Drafted the 28th day of Sep't'm., A. D. 1777. To 
 Serve one Month from the First day of October En- 
 suing the date above in my Company under the com- 
 mand of the Hon'l. Major General Spencer, viz. :
 
 IN THE WAR OP THE REVOLUTION. 
 
 41 
 
 Men's Names Drafted. 
 
 Their Substitntes. 
 
 Where Snbs. Belongred. 
 
 Martin Luther 
 
 Jeremiah Jolles 
 
 Bristol 
 
 Sylvester Child 
 
 Joshua Turner 
 
 Palmer's River 
 
 Benjamin Cole 
 
 William Meeker 
 
 Rehobolh 
 
 John Mason 
 
 John Woodmansee 
 
 Swanzey 
 
 Benjamin Diman 
 
 Ebenezer Blanding 
 
 Palmer's River 
 
 Shuael Burr 
 
 Samuel Yiall 
 
 Barrin^'ton 
 
 Barnard Miller 
 
 Job Miller 
 
 Warren 
 
 Daniel Cole 
 
 Esquire Pearse 
 
 Rehoboth 
 
 James Miller 
 
 
 
 
 James Child, 2d 
 
 
 
 John Child, 2d 
 
 James Brown 
 
 Barring'tou 
 
 Shubael Kinnicutt 
 
 Daniel Bullock 
 
 Rehoboth 
 
 Marmaduke Mason 
 
 Joseph Mason 
 
 Warren 
 
 William Barton 
 
 Christopher Bowen 
 
 Palmer's River 
 
 Benjamin Barton 
 
 Grindall Chase 
 
 Swansea 
 
 Edward Gardner 
 
 Joseph Thayer 
 
 Mendon 
 
 Warren Militia who were added to my Company: 
 
 Men's Names Drafted. 
 
 Their Substitutes. 
 
 Where Subs, belongred. 
 
 Ichabod Cole 
 Edward Mason 
 James Child 
 
 
 
 
 
 James Bowen 
 
 Warren 
 
 Gardner Mason 
 
 Rufus Chase 
 
 Swansea 
 
 William Lewis 
 
 Joseph Allen 
 
 Barrinpton 
 
 Ben j. Cole, 2d 
 
 
 
 
 Edward Eddy 
 
 Peter McMillioii 
 
 Warren 
 
 Jesse Baker 
 
 Elisha Mason 
 
 Palmer's River 
 
 James Maxwell 
 
 Nathaniel Cole 
 
 Swansea 
 
 Nathan Haile 
 
 George Brig-gs 
 
 Newton 
 
 James Short 
 
 
 
 
 
 Nath'l B. Whitting- 
 
 Peter Richards 
 
 Newport 
 
 John Child, 2d 
 
 Joseph McMillion 
 
 Warren 
 
 Richard Barton 
 
 Ephriam Cole 
 
 Swanzev 
 
 Richard Haile, Jr. 
 
 
 
 
 
 Elisha Finnev 
 
 Henry Peck 
 
 Rehoboth 
 
 Thomas Burden 
 
 Thomas Stevens 
 
 Newport 
 
 Bennajah Cole* 
 
 
 
 
 Johnathan Sissont 
 
 
 
 
 
 Cromwell Child, 2d 
 
 James Chase 
 
 Swanzey 
 
 Samuel Miller 
 
 
 
 
 
 Samuel Burr 
 
 John Bowen 
 
 Warren 
 
 Hezekiah Butterworth 
 
 Anthony Thracher 
 
 Rehoboth 
 
 ♦Entered the Eleventh of the Month. 
 t Sick Child, Abner Baker, IS day. 
 
 N. B. — All those with a Long Stroke did their own Tower of Duty. 
 Witness Dan'l Bradford, Capt. Alarm.
 
 42 THE HISTORY OF WARREN, RHODE ISLAND, 
 
 {From original, Carr Mss.) 
 
 A Muster Roll of Capt. Robart Carr's Company 
 of Col. Nathan Miller's Reg't. of Militia now. in Ser- 
 vice of the United States Engaged for the Term of 
 Twenty Days after onr arrival at Place of Rende- 
 fuse. Taken to August 1, 1778. 
 
 Robart Carr, Captain, 
 Joshua Bicknel, 1st Lieu- 
 tenant, 
 Benjamin Bosworth, 2d, 
 
 'No. of Sargants. 
 Nathan Bardeen, 
 Thomas Pearse, 
 Luther C'ole, 
 Esek Remington, 
 
 No. of Corprols. 
 John Linsey, 
 
 No. of Privates. 
 Ephraim Southard, 
 Asel Crossman, 
 Ezra Briggs, 
 Sam'l Pearce, 
 Wm. Arnold, 
 Joseph Munro, 
 Ambros Cole, 
 Joseph Oldridge, 
 Nath'l Philips, 
 
 Joseph Vial, 
 Thomas Swan, 
 Joseph Moran, 
 
 ran?) 
 Hezekiah Hicks, 
 Negro Premous, 
 John C!hildes, 
 Samuel Bosworth, 
 William Greene, 
 Steplien Paine, 
 Jeliobad Carey, 
 Sheapard Pearce, 
 Joseph Emmerson, 
 Sam'l C-arpenter, 
 Elijah Shaw, 
 Sam'l Newman, 
 Nath'l Smith, 
 Jeames Hervey, 
 Jacob Sanders, 
 John Ingraham, 
 
 (Man-
 
 IN THE WAR OF THE REVOIvUTlON. 43 
 
 Sam'l Bowen, Aaron Knap, 
 
 Joab Rcedc, Thomas Tempten, 
 
 Amos Ilailc, Joseph Williams, 
 
 Jeames Goff, Sam'l Allen, 
 
 Wm. Munro, 3rd., Thomas Snmner, 
 
 Thomas Gray, Joslina Ingreham, 
 
 Bristol Miller, Panl Mnmford. 
 
 (Warren men who Avere members of the Alarm 
 Company of Bristol County in 1779 were: John 
 Mason, Edward Gardner, Benjamin Barton, Daniel 
 Cole, Smith Bowen, Ebenezer Luther, James ]\Iiller, 
 Samuel Pearse, William Arnold, Ezra Ormsl^ee, 
 John Kinnicutt, Barnard Miller, Jacob Sanders, 
 Crumel Child, Caleb Child, Sylvester Child, Mar- 
 tin Luther, Samuel Luther, Moses Turner, Shubael 
 Burr, John Child, 2d., Caleb (^arr, Samuel Wise, 
 2nd., James Child, 2nd., Benjamin Cranston, Mar- 
 maduke Mason, William Barton, John Wheaton, 
 Joseph Eddy, Wm. Bliss.) 
 
 {From original, Carr Mss.) 
 
 Captain Robert C^arr's Comi)any of the Senior 
 Class in the County of Bristol in Gen. Miller's Brig- 
 ade, 1780. 
 
 Men's Names. Benjamin Bosworth, >h\., 
 
 Robert Carr, Capt., Ensign, 
 
 Thomas Allen, Lieut., Luther Cole, Sergt.,
 
 44 THE HISTORY OF WARREN, RHODE ISLAND, 
 
 Shiibal Kinnicutt, Sergt., Moses Turner, 
 Thomas Pearse, Sergt., John Child, 
 
 Joseph Vial, 
 Privitts. 
 Jonathan Russell, 
 Nathaniel Waldron, 
 Anthony Vandoran, 
 Jeromiali Ingraham. 
 Hezekiah Monro w, 
 Thomas Swan, 
 Samuel Barker, 
 Jeremiah Finney, 
 Amos Haile, 
 John Howland, Jr., 
 Samuel Wardwell, 
 William Wardwell, 
 Stephen Smith, 
 Ephraim Carey, 
 William Lawless, 
 Arehabcl Monro w, 
 James Miller, 
 Jacob Sanders, 
 Caleb Child, 
 
 John Haile, 
 Parley How, 
 Benjamin Cranston, 
 Rufus Barton, 
 William Barton, 
 JSTathaniel Heath, 
 Henry Bowen, 
 Samuel Allen, 
 Josiah Vial, 
 Samuel Bosworth, 
 Matthew Watson, Jr., 
 James Brown, 
 Matthew Allin, 
 Samuel Kint, 
 Moses Tyler, 
 Elkanah Humphrey, 
 Joseph Smith, 
 Consider Tripp, 
 Solamon Townsend, 
 Nathan Bardeen, 
 Samuel Hix, 
 Luther Martin. 
 
 Samuel Luther, 
 
 Fifteen of this Company belongs to Warren, 
 Cole's Company, 16 of this Company belongs to 
 Bristol Troop's Company, 15 of this Company be- 
 longs to Barrington Viol Allen's Company. Total 
 
 46.
 
 IN THE WAR OF THE REVOLUTION. 
 
 45 
 
 (From original, Fessenden Mss.) 
 
 A List of Capt. Curtis Cole's Company in Cur'nl 
 Nathan Miller's Kegiment. 1781. 
 
 Thomas Easterbrooks, 
 
 Leftenant, 
 Ichabod Cole, Eiisine, 
 Edwar Mason, Sarjant, 
 David Barton, 
 Landon Col, 
 Barney Luther, 
 Jonathan Easterbrooks, 
 William Luis, 
 Benjamin Cole, 2d., 
 Edward Cole, 
 Crumil Child, 2d., 
 Caleb Child, Jr., 
 John Child, 2d., 
 Nathel B. Whitin, 
 William O. Bron,, 
 
 (O'Brien,) 
 Peter Reynolds, 
 Jeremiah Comstock, 
 Josier Bowen, 
 Seth Snell, 
 Jeames Cole, 
 Caleb Turner, 
 Jonathan Blis, 
 
 Samuel Fish, 
 
 Jesse Baker, 
 
 Simeon Tugud, (Too- 
 good,) 
 
 Samuel Bur, 
 
 John BoAven, 2d., 
 
 N^athan Haile, 
 
 Josif Mason, 
 
 Josif McMilyon, 
 
 William Bowen, 
 
 John O. Killey, 
 
 Joabe Millar, 
 
 Barnot Haile, 
 
 Ellick Sandas Easter- 
 brooks, 
 
 Richard Haill, Jr., 
 
 Caleb Solberry, (Salis- 
 bury,) 
 
 William Luther, 
 
 Jeames Graves, 
 
 Jeames Goff, 
 
 John Haill, 
 
 John Cole, 
 
 Jabez Luther, Jr.,
 
 46 THE HISTORY OP WARREN, RHODE ISLAND, 
 
 John I). Wolf, 
 Hczckiah Butcrwork, 
 Seth Cole, 
 Elisher Finey, 
 Jeames Shoart, 
 Jeaines Mason, 
 John T. Child, 
 Josif Tngnd, 
 Isack Cole, 
 Garner Mason, 
 George Sisson, Jr., 
 John Sisson Jr., 
 Thomas Bnardin, 
 Samuel Mason, 
 Nathan Bowen, 
 Josif Killey, 
 Daniel Killey, 
 Jonathan Bowen, Jr., 
 Benjamin Barton, Jr., 
 John Thnrber, 
 William Hoar, 
 John Haill, 
 Jonathan Haile, 
 Lavil Maxwell, 
 Thomas Parse, 
 Ebenczer Cole, Jr., 
 Thomas Cole, 
 John Whetin, (Wheaton,) 
 Abner I^iither, 
 
 I\lariin Easterbrooks, 
 Daniel Easterbrooks, 
 Abner Butter, 
 Charles Collins, 
 Gideon Luther, 
 Beniah Cole, 
 John Killey, 
 Samuel BoAven, 
 Jeames Maxwel, 
 Abrem Butter, 
 Holder Mason, 
 Josif Eddy, 
 John Brown, 
 Josif Barton, 
 Jonathan Carr, 
 Filip Carr, 
 Caleb Miller, 
 Samuel Miller, 
 Sylvester Haile, 
 John Bowen, 
 Caleb Hill, 
 Edward Eddy, 
 Caleb Cranston, 
 Jcrrimiah Child, 
 Jeames Child, 
 Barnot Solberry, 
 Joarge N^eals, 
 **N"iclis Camil, 
 Benjamin Bowen. 
 
 *Nicholas Cambell was a member of the "Boston Tea 
 Party."
 
 IN THIC WAR OF THE REVOLUTION. 47 
 
 "VALUATION LIST" OF WARREN, R. L 177S. 
 
 168 Polls. 
 14 slaves from 10 to 50 years of age. 
 57 Horses. 
 345 Horn Cattle including 40 oxen. 
 340 Sheep and Goats. 
 7 chaises. 
 5 Wharfs. 
 147 Onnces Plate. 
 149 Hogs. 
 
 2 Grist mills, one each wind and water. 
 1 Distil Honse. 
 
 1 Tan yard. 
 
 3 Ship yards. 
 
 2700 acres of land in the township. 
 (176 acres wood and waste.) 
 4600 bushels of grain. 
 
 127 Barrels cider made. 
 Amount total of debts owed $367. 
 7 Acres orcharding. 
 
 314 Tons English hay (cut.) 
 Taxable value of real estate and personal $126,000. 
 Total value cash and trading stock $15,000 and 
 $14,800, all other personal.
 
 48 THE HISTORY OF WARREN, RHODE ISLAND, 
 
 Eeal estate $90,200. 
 
 Personal $29,800. 
 
 $126,000 total as above. 
 
 2 slaves owned by Sylvester Child. 
 
 2 " 
 
 
 John Child. 
 
 2 " 
 
 
 John Mason. 
 
 c, a 
 
 
 Martin Luthor. 
 
 2 " 
 
 
 E'athan Miller. 
 
 T-l 
 
 
 Cromwell Child. 
 
 1 C( 
 
 
 William Lewis. 
 
 1 '' 
 
 
 Robert Carr. 
 
 1 " 
 
 
 ISTathan Whiting. 
 
 1 ^' 
 
 
 John Haile. 
 
 1 Chaise owned 
 
 by John Child. 
 
 1 '' 
 
 
 James Miller. 
 
 1 ^' 
 
 
 Wm. Lewis. 
 
 1 '* 
 
 
 Martin Luther. 
 
 1 '^ 
 
 
 Shubael Burr. 
 
 1 '' 
 
 
 George Coggeshall. 
 
 1 " 
 
 
 Nathan Miller. 
 
 1 Wharf owned by Sylvester Child. 
 
 1 " 
 
 « 
 
 Martin Luther. 
 
 1 '^ 
 
 a 
 
 Cromwell & Caleb Child. 
 
 1 ^^ 
 
 i( 
 
 Nathan Miller. 
 
 1 ^' 
 
 a 
 
 Charles Collins. 
 
 207 D\\ 
 
 celling Houses and other buildings. 
 
 789 Inhabitants. 

 
 IN THE WAR OF THE REVOLUTION. 49 
 
 SOUVENIRS OF THE REVOLUTION. 
 
 There are in the possession of the Warren Artil- 
 lery Company two field-pieces of peculiar historic in- 
 terest. These guns are brass six-poundcrs, one hav- 
 ing engraved upon it the name "Pallas," the other 
 ''Tantae," while both bear the inscription "Stras- 
 bourg, 1762." They were captured from the Brit- 
 ish at the surrender of Burgoyne, Oct. 17, 1777, and 
 were either given or transferred to the State of 
 Rhode Island. They remained in the custody of 
 the United Train of Artillery, Providence, from 17S1 
 until the "Dorr War," when they were presented to 
 the Warren Artillery in recognition of the services 
 of that company at Federal Hill, May 18, 1842. 
 
 SHIPPING LOST DURING THE REVOLU- 
 TION. 
 
 Beside the privateers "General Stark," and 
 "George," the following vessels belonging to War- 
 ren were lost during the Revolution. Schooner 
 
 "Roby," Kingsley, 100 tons, brig Mason, 120 
 
 tons, sloop "United States," Coddington, 45 tons, 
 schooner "Weasel" (privateer) Pain, 15 tons, 
 
 brig , Mauran, 120 tons, schooner "Moses," 
 
 Miller, 60 tons, sloop "Polly," Whiting, 45 tons, 
 brig "General Wayne," Pearce, 120 tons, sloop 
 "Abigail," Miller, 45 tons, schooner "Swordfish,"
 
 50 THE HISTORY OF WARREN, RHODE ISLAND, 
 
 Collins, 120 tons, sloop "Rebecca," Champlin, 60 
 tons, and schooner "Hunter," Crawford, 60 tons. 
 
 (From original, Fesenden Mss.) 
 An account of the Losses sustained by the Inhabi- 
 tants of Warren by an Excurtion of the Enemy from 
 Rhode Island, May 25, 1778. 
 
 ACCOUNT OF PETER REYITOLD'S LOSS 
 SUSTAINED BY THE BRITISH TROOPS 
 25TH OF MAY, 1778. 
 
 1 Blacksmith's Vise— 5 gowns £8 2 
 
 25 yds. Toe Cloth whitened— 10 yds. 
 
 Kersey 3 15 
 
 9 yds. Sagatha — 1 pair Woman's 
 
 Stays 2 11 
 
 1 pair Cloth Shoes — one Axe — Coife 
 
 mill 1 10 
 
 2 Silk Cloaks— 1 Looking Glass ... 3 3 
 4 Table Cloths— 6 Towels 2 11 
 
 1 Doz. Earthen Plates 1 Large Stone 
 
 Platter 1 1 
 
 Glasses, Cups, Saucers and Bowls. . . 12 
 
 1-2 Doz. Aprons — 6 pairs Stockings . 3 12 
 Shirts, Shifts, &c. — 3 pair Pillow 
 
 Cases 3 
 
 2 Petticoats — 2 pewter Plates and 
 
 Porringer 2 
 
 31 17
 
 IN THE WAR OF THE REVOLUTION. 5 1 
 
 EBENEZER BOSWORTH'S LOSS. 
 
 1 Suit New Broad Cloth Cloaths. . . 12 
 
 2 Shirts — 1 Silver Spoon and 1-2 
 
 Doz. Tea Ditto 2 2 
 
 1 Pair Silver Buckles 18 
 
 15 
 
 JACOB SANDERS' LOSS. 
 
 2 Bed Blanketts— 1 Red Broad Cloth 
 
 Long Cloak £5 8 
 
 1 Chinee Gown — 2 LaAvn Aprons . . 5 5 G 
 
 1 Lawn Handkerchiff — 1 Kenting 
 
 Ditto 15 
 
 1 Check'd Handkerchiff— 1 Pr. Silk 
 
 Stockings 1 7 
 
 1 Great Coat— 1 Hollen Shirt 2 18 
 
 1 Gun— 1 Teapot— 1 pair Sheets.. 3 8 
 
 Children's GoAvns — 1 Curtain 2 Caps 18 6 
 
 1 Towel — 2 pillow cases 5 
 
 Damage done his house by Explosion 
 
 of the Magazine 12 
 
 1 yard Gauze — 1 Pair Buckles 2 
 
 Handkerchiffs 1 14 
 
 1 pair Silk Gloves 3 yds. Ribbon — 
 
 1 porringer 9 2 
 
 34 8
 
 52 THE HISTORY OF WARREN, RHODE ISLAND, 
 
 NATHANIEL B. WHITING'S LOSS. 
 
 50 Paper Dollars— 1 Cutlass £4 7 
 
 WILLIAM T. MILLER'S LOSS. 
 
 1 Gun 1 pair Leather Breeches .... £3 
 
 1 Dressed Calf Skin— 1 pair Stays 18 
 
 1 Table Cloth— 2 Jacketts 7 
 
 1 Sword— 1 ax 2 2' 
 
 Tea Cups and Saucers 3 
 
 6 10 
 
 RUFUS WHITTAKER'S LOSS 
 
 as Per Bill £60 7 
 
 DANIEL COLE, ESQ.'S, LOSS. 
 
 2 Pair Shoes £0 12 
 
 1 Grind stone 12 
 
 2 Pair Stockings 10 
 
 2 Pillows 4 
 
 6 Check'd Handkerchiffs 8 
 
 1 Pair good Deerskin Breeches. ... 1 16 
 
 7 Pair Stockings good 1 10 
 
 1 new Linning Sheet 10 
 
 1 Pair pillow cases 4 
 
 3 good Shifts 1 16 
 
 4 yds. New Linning Cloth 8 
 
 1 Stock and Buckle Silver 12 
 
 1 Lawn Handkerchiff 3 
 
 9 05
 
 IN THE WAR OF THE REVOLUTION. 53 
 
 REBEKAH SHELDON'S LOSS 
 
 as Per Bill 9 15 6 
 
 THE BAPTIST MEETING HOUSE 
 
 Valued at G30 6 4^ 
 
 THE PAESOXAGE HOUSE 
 
 Valued at 309 8 11^ 
 
 EBENEZER COLE, ESQ., LOSS BY THE 
 ENEMY. 
 
 350 Paper Dollars 26 5 
 
 2 Hollen Shirts— 1 Linning 2 2 
 
 5 Silk Handkerchiffs 1 10 
 
 2 Linning Ditto 4 
 
 2 pair Stockings 12 
 
 1 Sword — 1 Cannister & Tea 1 1 
 
 31 14 
 
 BELONGING TO THE TOWN. 
 
 3 Muskets — 3 Cartoush Boxes 4 10 
 
 EBENEZER COLE, JUN'R, LOSS 
 
 as per Bill 5 4 
 
 LEAH HANDY'S LOSS 3 12 
 
 ELISHA PHINNEY'S LOSS ... 85 6 
 
 SAMUEL LUHTER'S LOSS.... 14 11 
 
 DEACON BENJAMIN COLE'S LOSS 
 
 as per bill 52 10
 
 54 THE HISTORY OF WARREN, RHODE ISLAND, 
 
 MARTIN LUTHER'S LOSS. 
 
 27 yards Hollen 6 15 
 
 1 Frock 16 
 
 1 Shirt— 2 Handkerchiffs 15 
 
 1 Silk Gown 3 12 
 
 1 Frock 9 
 
 Damage done the Desk 12 
 
 1 Broad Ax 15 
 
 13 14 
 BENAJAH COLE'S LOSS. 
 
 1 Sheet [N^ew 10 
 
 JAMES CHILD, 2D'S., LOSS. 
 
 3 :N"ew Sheets £1 10 
 
 WIDOW ABIGAIL HILL'S LOSS. 
 
 One Silver Table Spoon 12 
 
 1 Hollen Apron— 1 Check'd Ditto. . 12 
 
 1 pair Gold Sleeve Buttons 14 
 
 1 Hollen Handkerchiff 4 
 
 1 Check'd Handkerchiff 3 
 
 1 Black Belong Handkerchiff 6 
 
 1 Feticoat — 1 porringer 6 6 
 
 1 Cannester & Tea 4 6 
 
 1 yard Black Ribbond 1 
 
 1 Pair Shears 2 
 
 5
 
 
 
 G 
 
 
 
 1 
 
 10 
 
 
 
 
 
 6 
 
 
 
 IN THE WAR OF THE REVOLUTION. 55 
 
 XATHANIEL HILL'S LOSS. 
 I pair Cotton Stockings 
 
 6 Gallons Rum 
 
 1 Pair Taylor's Shears 
 
 2 8 
 
 Loss sustained by IN^ATHAN MILLER, May 25, 
 1778, when the Enemy made an Excursion from 
 !N"ewport to Burn the Boates and destroy the Maga- 
 zeen. 
 
 3-8 of a Privateer 125 Tuns set on fire 
 
 the whole loss £900 the 3-8 £337 10 
 
 1 Hogshead W. I. Rum in the Store 
 
 adjoining the Magizeen 240 
 
 1 Sword and Hanger 30 
 
 3 small Arms 10 16 
 
 4 Silver Tea Spoons 1 16 
 
 7 Shirts 25 
 
 6 Pairs Stockings 9 
 
 1 Pair Buck Skin Breeches 9 
 
 1 Paire Hollen Sheets 3 
 
 3 yards & 1-2 ISTew Linning Hollen 4 4 
 1 pair Gold Sleeve Buttons belonging 
 
 to Caleb 2 16 
 
 1 Gold Ring 1 12 
 
 1 Pair Paste Buckles • S
 
 56 THE HISTORY OF WARREN, RHODE ISLAND, 
 
 1 Black Ilandkerchiff— 2 Silk and 
 
 Cotton Ditto 3 4 
 
 3 Pair Pillow Cases 2 8 
 
 701 G 
 
 (^Consolidated at 4 for one 175 6 
 
 SAMUEL MILLER'S LOSS. 
 
 4 Hollen Shirts 3 10 
 
 4 Pairs Silk and Worsted Stockings 110 
 
 5 8 
 
 The Mill belonging to SMITH 
 BOWEN and SAMUEL PEARSE 
 
 at Kickemuit £88 12 
 
 SMITH BOWEN'S LOSS OUT OF HIS HOUSE. 
 
 35 Skeins yarn £1 3 4 
 
 1 Silver Watch 6 
 
 2 Axes 1 T 
 
 2 Saws — 4 Chizzels 1 4 
 
 2 Guns— 1 Sword 7 10 
 
 9 Sheets 3 7 6 
 
 7 Pillow Cases 14 
 
 3 fine Shirts 1 16 
 
 4 other Shirts 1 16 
 
 3 Shifts 1 16
 
 IN THE WAR OF THE [REVOLUTION. 57 
 
 2 Table Cloths IG 
 
 4 Towels— 6 Ilaudkcrchiffs 1 1 G 
 
 5 Aprons — 24 })air Stockings 7 15 
 
 3 Gowns 
 
 2 Petticoats — 1 Jacket 2 5 
 
 1 Pair Buckles 15 
 
 1 pair Gloves — Children's Clothing 2 
 
 1 Looking Glass — 2 Basons IG 
 
 2 plates — 2 porringers G 
 
 2 Quart Pots — 1 punch Bowie 18 
 
 50 10 
 CROMWELL CHILD, CALEB CHILD & MOSES 
 
 TURXER'S LOSS 
 as apprised by Samuel Pearse & Sliu- 
 bel Kinnicutt on the 24th of Dec, 
 
 1778 £8450 18 6 
 
 Lawful Paper Money which Consoli- 
 date 6 and 1-2 for one 1300 
 
 ALLIX COLE'S LOSS 
 
 as per Bill 18 4 
 
 SYLVESTER CHILD'S LOSS 
 
 as per Bill 100 1 
 
 The Damage done the Other Half 
 of the GEX. STARK, PRIVA- 
 TEER, not Charged in any bill be- 
 fore 112 10
 
 58 THE HISTORY OF WARREN, RHODE ISLAND. 
 
 JAMES CHILD'S LOSS. 
 
 Two Beds— 4 Blankets £10 10 
 
 Four pair Sheets — Six pe\^'te^ plates 3 7 
 4 Pewter Porringers — one Copper 
 
 Tea Kittle 1 9 6 
 
 4 Pillow Cases — Two pair Leather 
 
 Breeches 2 8 
 
 1 Coat— 3 Jacketts 4 IG 
 
 Shirts 3 Silk Handkerchiffs 2 5 
 
 2 Shifts— five Children's Shirts 2 17 
 
 5 Children's Gowns — 2 pair Shoes. 2 5 
 
 1 Frjdng Pan — one Warming Pan . . 18 
 
 3 Pewter Platters — one Looking Glass 18 
 15 ponnds Candles — Twenty pounds 
 
 Beef 17 
 
 30 lbs. Pork— three lbs. Sugar 17 3 
 
 2 lbs. Coffe — one Barrel Soap 1 5 
 
 1-2 Bushel Meal 1 6 
 
 1 Silk Cloak— five yds. silk 3 14 
 
 6 yards Hollon — thirty skeins yarn 2 16 
 
 4 yards Drab— 6 yds. Toe Cloth.. 1 18 
 1 Bonnet — Two Pewter Basons .... 16 
 
 1 Quart Pot — 1 pint ditto 9 
 
 1 Milk Kittle— one Coffe Pot 11 
 
 1 Bowie — one Earthen Platter 8 
 
 9 Earthen Plates— one Teapot 10 
 
 15 Pe^vter Spoons — 3 Earthen Tea- 
 pots 9 3
 
 IN THE WAR OF THE REVOLUTION. 59 
 
 1 Sett Tea Cups & Saucers •. . . 3 
 
 6 Bowls for Coffc 4 G 
 
 3 Case Bottles — 18 Bound ditto 11 3 
 
 1 Case Knives and forks 3 
 
 Rasors — 1 yarn Coverlid 1 7 
 
 2 Lawn Aprons — Baby's Cloathes. . 118 
 
 50 19 8 
 
 RICHABD HAILE'S LOSS 
 
 as pr. Bill 9 17 
 
 JAMES BUSHEE'S LOSS. 
 
 54 Squares Glass 1 17 G 
 
 Other Damage to the House 3 
 
 4 17 6 
 
 JOHX HARDOT'S LOSS. 
 
 1 Pair Pillow Cases 4 
 
 1 Bed 3 15 
 
 1 Calico GowTi 3 
 
 1 Pair Stays 1 4 
 
 1 Velvet Jacket 2 
 
 1 Teapot— half Barrel pork 3 8 
 
 18 11 
 
 BAR:N'ARD SALISBURY'S LOSS 95 16 
 
 RUFUS BARTOX'S LOSS 9 9 G 
 
 CALEB CARR'S LOSS 5 17
 
 6o THE HISTORY OF WARREN, RHODE ISLAND, 
 
 EEV'D CHAELES THOMPSON'S LOSS 
 
 Saddle and curb bridle just bought. . 3 
 Two Bever Hatts one wore a little, the 
 
 the other not wore 4 
 
 Two new Hollen Shirts and seven 
 
 new Ilollen stocks 3 10 
 
 pair of new lather Boots of the first 
 
 rate 2 2 
 
 Three home made shirts half wore. . 15 
 
 four pocket handkerchiefs 2 8 
 
 twelve pair stockens all wore some. . 2 8 
 
 One flannel gown 15 
 
 two home made shirts wore some. . 12 
 
 two Check Aprons 8 
 
 One lawn henkerchief 5 
 
 four lawn and cambric caps 9 
 
 two pairs stockens 6 
 
 pair of cloth shews 5 
 
 Childrens cloaths the whole I judge 
 
 at the lowest computation could 
 
 not be less than 3 
 
 Baby things to the amount of 1 10 1 
 
 2 yds. and 1-4 of linning 11 
 
 1 yd. of home made broad cloth .... 6 
 
 2 yds. ticking 6 
 
 five pair of sheets half wore 5 
 
 two pair of pillow caises 9 
 
 two table cloaths one cersy the other 
 
 Diaper IS
 
 IN THE WAR OF THE REVOIyUTlON, 6 1 
 
 four cersj towels 8 
 
 two caises of knives and forks 8 
 
 One Dozen of Mettle Spoons (» i) <) 
 
 four pewter porringers G 
 
 one Quart Bason 4 G 
 
 one pewt-er plait 1 6 
 
 one set of china 15 
 
 fonr small Delpli boals 4 
 
 two pairs of conmion beaker glasses . 3 
 
 warming pan 10 5 
 
 large frying pan 4 
 
 one pair brass candlesticks 9 
 
 one large Iron Dish Kittle 12 
 
 Iron tea kittle G 
 
 two Cedar washing tubs 15 
 
 Milkpail water pail and canny pail. . 7 2 
 One Barrel full and firken half full 
 
 of sope 1 4 
 
 four Cider Barrels almost as good as 
 
 as new 12 
 
 one pounding tub with IGO weight 
 
 of beef 3 12 
 
 one pounding tub with 180 weight 
 
 of pork 6 
 
 two bushels of indien and one of ry 
 
 meal 9 
 
 flower perhaps no more than 14 
 
 weight 6
 
 62 THE HISTORY OF WARREN, RHODE ISLAND, 
 
 Three chiezes about eight pounds 
 
 each IG 
 
 Three pounds of butter 3 
 
 a firken with six pounds of hogs 
 
 fat 6 
 
 six pounds of candles 6 
 
 a new icder firken with 30 weight of 
 
 shuger 1 2 
 
 Coffee twelve pounds 14 
 
 fifty weight of flax 2 
 
 Eio'ht pounds of wool 6 
 
 pair of Cotton Cards 5 
 
 two common cheirs 6 G 
 
 beadstead and whale sinew cord .... 1 4 
 
 two large brown stone pots 3 
 
 one large white stone pot for butter. 4 
 
 one Dozen chunk bottles 9 
 
 Cloaths brush, harth brush and flore 
 
 brush 9 
 
 Six milk pans 4 quarts apeace .... 4 
 
 two ginn gugs 1 
 
 one black gug held 3 quarts 1 2 
 
 two earthen pots 1 6 
 
 bread trough common size G 
 
 paire of seal skin saddle bags 18 
 
 two large cloathes baskets 6 
 
 One Iron candlestick and pair of 
 
 snuffers 4
 
 IN THE WAR OF THE REVOLUTION. 63 
 
 1 cord of wood 1 
 
 Snuffers <» -t 
 
 Barrel of sand 4 
 
 Pair of steel spurs 6 
 
 four flower barrels 6 
 
 67 14 3 
 
 The EEV'D ERAS:\rUS KELLEY 
 lost almost all his furniture which 
 
 cannot be Estimated at less than £G0 
 
 JOB MILLER'S LOSS 139 
 
 CALEB SALISBURY'S LOSS.. 12 
 
 MARY SIMS' LOSS 11 10 
 
 Total Loss £12,101 17 03 
 
 * THE "GENERAL STARK." 
 The privateer "General Stark" was a sloop of 
 about 130 tons burden and mounted 14 guns. She 
 was owned by Lebaron Bradford, Benjamin Pearce, 
 Samuel Bro^\Tie, Xathan Miller, and Cromwell 
 Child, Her officers and crew, were Benjamin 
 Pearce, Captain ; Josiah Church, 1st Lieut. ; Dan'l 
 Scovil, 2d. Lieut. ; Chris. Prince, Master ; Jno. Bart- 
 lett. Surgeon; Edmund Tiley, P. Master; Simon De- 
 Wolf, P. Master ; Benjamin Fry, Officer of Marines, 
 and 2nd. M. ; Geo. Viall, Boatswain ; Jona Carr, Car- 
 penter, Benj. Cranston, Sen'r, Thos. Tripp, Master's 
 Mate; Peter McMillen, Jno. Wilbur, Nathan San-
 
 64 THE HISTORY OF WARREN, RHODE ISLAND^ 
 
 ders, Caleb Ilill, James Allen, Alexander Mason, 
 Wm. DeWolf (boy,) Augustus Sanders, Warren 
 Easterbrooks, Preserved Alger (boy,) James Bowen, 
 Thomas Cole, Wm. Gorham, John Bowen, Haile 
 Child, Lenox Bullock, Geo. Shaw, Pomp Gardner, 
 Cuff Nixon, Nelson Miller, Wm. BroAvn, Caleb Mil- 
 ler, Jos. Rhodes, Jared Holmes, Isaac Babcock, 
 Jun., David Bro\^^l (boy,) Paul Burdick, Henry 
 Champlin, James Hancox, P. Master; James W. 
 Brayton, Peleg Hancox, Gilbert Thomas (boy,) Wil- 
 liam Easterbrooks, Joshua Palmer, P. Master; Wil- 
 liam Sheffield, Joshua Gladding, Andrew Cheese- 
 borough, Josiah Sanborn, George Welles, Wm. 
 Hammet, Elisha Tilton (boy,) Solomon Daggett, 
 
 Daggett, Daniel Babcock, Collinjjs York, Jun., 
 
 Gardner Stanton, Jos. Brand, Josiah Wardwcll, Ste- 
 phen Andrews, Preserved Briggs, Thomas Finney, 
 David Latham, Sylvester Haile, Lairs Crandall, 
 John Burdick, Robert Fisto (boy,) Nathan Brand, 
 Prize Master. 
 
 LETTER OF WILLIAM TURNER MILLER. 
 
 ''Hunter off James To^^1l in James River 
 Virginia, September 19, 1781. 
 *T3ear Lydia — I arrived here three days agoe after 
 being 15 days at Sea and the Rest of the time which 
 hath Elapsed since the 25 of august in the Chessa-
 
 IN THE WAR OF THK REVOLUTION. 65 
 
 peek, we had Some i)retty Ixough Weather at Sea but 
 we all arrived safe but Rufiis Barton's vessel which 
 parted from the fleet in a Gale of Wind on the 10th 
 day of our passage as near as I can Remember and 
 we have not heard from him Since but presume they 
 have Returned to Rhode Island, there is now Lying 
 in the Harbor, the Hunter — the Delight — the Lydia 
 — the Molly and two other Small Vessels that Sailed 
 with us from Rhode Island. Captain James Mar- 
 tin's Vessell is at Cape Charles about 100 miles from 
 hence but he is here himself all the people are in good 
 health and High Spirits belonging to the fore men- 
 tioned Vessells. I unloaded what hospital Stores I 
 had on board yesterday and am Lying to wj^it for 
 orders where to Land my Provisions — and it is Im- 
 possible for me to tell when that will be as the Event 
 of a battle between the Two Annies may decide the 
 matter so that the time and place for Landing the 
 provisions be better known. Lord Cornwallis Lies 
 on a Xeck of Land between this and York River 
 with about 6 Thousand Troops besides Re- 
 fugees and Negroes perhaps to the amount of 
 3 Thousand and more which they Say are so badly 
 Armed and Disciplined as can Render him but little 
 Service. Gen. Roshambeau and the Marquis are 
 Said to have an Army of about 20 Thousand good 
 Troops and I think from all Circimistances that 
 Cornwallis must fall but I believe he will fight first
 
 66 THE HISTORY OF WARREN, RHODE ISLAND, 
 
 he hath a Large mnnber of Transports in York 
 River but tlicy will not avail him to make his escape 
 for Count DeGrass and Count Barrass with their 
 Combined fleets Lies in the Chessapeek in both fleets 
 is 35 Sail of the Line besides Frigates and they have 
 Sent Ships up to block York River which puts an 
 Effectual Stop to the British by water. There were 
 a few days agoe 27 Ships of the British Line seen just 
 at the Mouth of the Chessepeek who I dare say wish 
 to come in with Safety but the French appear to wish 
 for no better Sport than to meet them. 
 
 The French Captured Two British Frigates who 
 attempted to come in while I Lay in sight of them 
 about a week agoe. I hope to be able to Load my ves- 
 sell with Corn home on my own account as Corn here 
 could be purchased for Six Shillings pr. Barrell 
 (which is five Bushells) my hogshead of Rum I 
 have sold part of for Two Dollars a gallon and make 
 no doubt I shall Dispose of the Rest as well. I ex- 
 pect Capt. Stephen Olney on board to Dine with me 
 to-day it is impossible to tell you when to Look for 
 me home I wish it may be within one month but don't 
 be Impatient if it be Two. I am my dearest your 
 most Effectionate & Loving Husband, 
 
 WILLIAM T. MILLER.
 
 IN THE WAR OF TIIIC REVOLUTION. 67 
 
 ANCIENT LANDMARKS. 
 The Baptist meeting-house destroyed by the Brit- 
 ish troops was located near the site of the present 
 stone church at the corner of ^Main and Miller 
 streets. It was a plain wooden structure, having up- 
 on the roof a cupola surmounted by a vane. With- 
 in the cupola hung a bell, beasring the date 17G4. 
 This bell was bought in England and paid for with 
 tobacco, and was generally styled the ''tobacco bell." 
 In this meeting-house was held the first commence- 
 ment of Rhode Island (.'ollege, now Bro\vn Univer- 
 sity, which was originally situated in Warren. 
 South of the meeting-house stood the parsonage built 
 by subscription in 1765 and designed for the Rev. 
 James Manning then pastor of the church and his 
 successors. The cost of the parsonage was £4630 
 "old tenor." 
 
 The building at the corner of Main and Market 
 streets, now occupied by the Warren Bank was, in 
 1778, one of the finest residences in the town and 
 was painted a peach-bloom tint. When the powder 
 magazine on the opposite corner blew up this house 
 was considerably damaged. Among other houses 
 still standing in Warren which were built prior to the 
 Revolution, are the Gen. Miller house, at the foot 
 of Miller street., the Baker house, corner Water and 
 Baker streets, the brick house at the corner of Water 
 and Church streets, the Hail house, comer Washing-
 
 68 THE HISTORY OF WARREN, RHODE ISLAND, 
 
 ton and Water streets, the old Onnsbee house, located 
 on the west side of Main street between Broad and 
 Wheaton streets, and the Bowen house at the junc- 
 tion of Water and Main streets. Some of the farm- 
 houses in the east part of the town are probably old- 
 er than the houses in the compact portion. Cole's 
 Hotel erected in 17G2 was destroyed by fire in 1893. 
 This building was one of the most interesting land- 
 marks of Warren.
 
 FRANKLIN PRESS COMPANY 
 
 PRINTERS 
 
 PROVIDSNCB, R. I.
 
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