Home

The Liberty Incident

July 31, 2025

portsmouthhistorynotes Portsmouth History , Leave a comment

On the 19th of July in 1769 a Newport mob was so exasperated with the captain of a sloop owned by Royal Commissioners that they “went on board the Liberty as she lay at Anchor in the Harbour, and cut her cables, and let her drift ashore, they then set her on fire…” (Boston Chronicles, 24, July 1769). This incident was almost three years before the burning of the Gaspee. The Liberty burning has some aspects in common with the Gaspee Affair. Both were protests to the increase in taxation on the colonists. But the roots of the burning of the sloop Liberty have some interesting origins that start with charges brought against John Hancock, the original owner of the Liberty. Liberty’s story begins in Boston.

The Seizure of the Sloop Liberty

The Revenue Act of 1767, part of the Townshend Acts, placed heavy taxes on goods imported to the colony. The  American Board of Customs Commissioners was put in place so that royal officials could inspect incoming merchant vessels and charge the appropriate taxes, but Hancock had refused to allow the officials to inspect one of his vessels – the Lydia. When the customs official was sent to inspect the Liberty, he accused Hancock’s men of offering him a bribe to look the other way while they were unloading. He refused the bribe and he claimed they locked him in the hold of the ship. When news of the incident spread, an angry crowd assaulted the officials involved, broke the windows of their homes and set the officials personal boats on fire on the Commons. The sloop was seized at Boston Harbor on June 10, 1768. John Adams defended Hancock against the smuggling charges. The case dragged on and the charges were later dropped due to lack of evidence. The sloop Liberty, however, had been seized and Hancock could not get it back. It was condemned in August of 1768 and sold in September.

Illustration from John Fitzhugh Millar’s book – Rhode Island: Forgotten Leader of the Revolutionary Era

The Burning of the Sloop Liberty

Parliament’s taxation laws hit the New England economy hard, and some turned to smuggling to avoid the taxes. In 1769 the sloop Liberty came into Newport Harbor. It was the same sloop that had been seized from John Hancock. The captain, William Reid, was authorized to capture smugglers and in return he and his crew would receive a bounty. The Liberty was a private vessel hired by the Commissioners of Customs. Reid had the reputation for being overly zealous in carrying out his order. He frequently boarded and searched legitimate merchant ships and delayed their sailing.

On 17 July 1769 the Liberty took a Connecticut-owned brig into custody on Long Island Sound and brought her to Newport. But Reid could not prove the brig had violated any laws. Captain Packwood, the ship’s master, had declared his cargo at the customs house before sailing. Reid’s crew continued to hold the ship in the hopes something else would be discovered to justify their bounty for the capture. Captain Packwood visited the Liberty to take control of his vessel, but shots were fired towards him. Local Newporters became outraged and a crowd gathered. Tempers flared when local officials would not help the Captain get his vessel back. A group of men attacked the Liberty, cutting the sloop’s mooring lines and drifting her down toward Long Wharf. One report is that they cut down her masts and threw her guns overboard. The hulk drifted out of the harbor on the tide and came to rest on Goat Island, where another mob set her ablaze.

This is the account of the burning in the Boston Gazette – July 24, 1769.

“We hear from Newport, Rhode-Island, that last Monday the Sloop Liberty, Capt. Reid, said to be owned by the Commissioners, brought in there a Brig and a Sloop belong to Connecticut, that they had for some pretext seized in the Sound, which, together with the impudent behavior of the Captain and some of his People, so exasperated a number of persons there, that on Wednesday afternoon they went on board the Liberty as she lay at Anchor in the Harbour, and cut her cables, and let her drift ashore, they then set her on fire but being informed a considerable Quantity of Powder was on board, for fear of endangering the Town, they extinguished it again; they then cut away her mast, threw her guns and stores overboard, entered the Cabin and destroyed the Captains and his wife’s cloaths, bedding, broke the tables, chairs, china and other things therein, and did not quit her til 3 oclock the next morning, when after scuttling the vessel, they left her a meer Wreck, and now remains sunk near one of the wharfs there. They also seized her barge and boat and burnt them – The Brig that was seized we hear was legally discharged on Thursday, but that the Sloop made her escape in the confusion the evening before.”

An 1835 edition of the The Rhode-Island Republican (Newport, R.I.), November 1, 1837 has an in-depth story about the burning. The article starts with an account “related to us by one of the old inhabitants of the town, Mr. Benjamin Hadwin”. Hadwin adds some details of how the crowd was able to get on board the Liberty. The reporter found articles to substantiate. the story. One was from the Providence Gazette of July 22nd, 1769 and it adds more details to what incensed the crowd. The Captain of the brig went on board the vessel to retrieve his sword and other items. When he found a crew member of the Liberty in possession of it, he seized it and made for the shore. Musket fire came from the Liberty directed at the Captain of the brig. Witnesses on the shore saw the attack and Captain Reid had to bring his men on shore to answer for their actions and “a number of men, chiefly from Connecticut, went on board and rendered her unfit for service. ”

Governor Wanton issued a proclamation that officers of justice should bring the persons guilty of the crime of destroying the Liberty, but nothing became of it.

An article dated August 28th, 1769 contains the Order of the Commissioners. It names the sloop Reid brought in as the Sally whose master was Edward Finker of New London. “A reward of one hundred pounds sterling is offered to any person or persons who shall inform against any of the offenders (except Nathanial Shaw, Joseph Packwood and ________ Angell;) to be paid on his or their convictions.” Nathanial Shaw’s family were noted New London merchants and later privateers working for the Americans. The Shaws may have been the owners of the Sally.

An article in the Newport Mercury (July 22, 1769) adds a few more details. Captain Packwood of the brig had “to draw his sword to force his way into his boat whereupon the officer called upon the Liberty’s people to fire on Captain Packwood…” Captain Reid was made to send his men to shore to discover who fired on Packwood and the crowd took that opportunity to board the Liberty.

The burning of the barge and the boat the accompanied the Liberty are commemorated with a plaque in Newport today. According to the Rhode Island Republican 1835 article “The Boats were burned on the Common, opposite the Pound. They were run up the Long Wharf, then up the Parade, and through Broad Street by the populace…”

Resources: Website Founder’s archives. https://founders.archives.gov/documents/Adams/01-03-02-0016-0021 – John Adams writes about the case of Hancock’s liberty. Retrieved July 30, 2025

The Magazine of Naval History – February 2016. Retrieved July 30, 2025 https://www.usni.org/magazines/naval-history-magazine/2016/february/act-war-eve-revolution –

https://www.masshist.org/dorr/volume/2/sequence/634 The Boston-Gazette, and Country Journal, 24 July 1769. Retrieved July 30, 2025

Massachusetts in the American Revolution – the Liberty Affair. https://guides.bpl.org/c.php?g=800717&p=10389851

The article in the 1835 Rhode Island Republican can be found through the Library of Congress. Retrieved July 31, 2025.

https://www.loc.gov/resource/sn83025561/1837-11-01/ed-1/?sp=1&q=sloop+liberty&r=-0.118,1.003,0.705,0.366,0

Virginia Gazette, August 17, 1769. https://www.loc.gov/resource/sn84024741/1769-08-17/ed-1/?sp=1&q=sloop+liberty&r=-0.287,-0.166,0.959,0.498,0. Retrieved July 30, 2025.

Commanders of the Battle: (British) Lt. Col. John Campbell

July 29, 2025

portsmouthhistorynotes Portsmouth History , , Leave a comment

1731-1804

Background – His military life began in 1746 as an ensign. He had a long line of service with the 22nd Regiment of Foot. In 1775 he was promoted to Lieutenant Colonel. He retired on October 11th, 1778 but later served as Captain of the Plymouth Invalid Company. His service extended to a total of almost 48 years.

In Rhode Island Lt. Col. John Campbell served as commanding officer of the 22nd Regiment and saw action during the British Occupation and the Battle of Rhode Island. He and his regiment raided towns around Rhode Island.

The Rebels would need to reach Rhode Island (Aquidneck) by boat and the British planned to attack shipyards, lumber mills and military stores. On May 25, 1778, British soldier Mackenzie records that the 22nd Regiment, Companies of the 54th, Notenius’s Company of Hessian Chasseurs, ..etc. (500 men in total) moved to Arnold’s Point in Portsmouth. They embarked in flatboats and landed at the mouth of the Warren River. Campbell’s men were divided into two columns. In the town of Warren itself they burned down the Baptist meeting house and other buildings, ransacked homes and property. The other group of Campbell’s men headed to the Kickemuit River. By the Kickemuit Bridge they found and burned 125 boats, large batteaux capable of carrying 40 soldiers. They found a sloop loaded with military stores, a store house, and a corn mill and they burned them. They also burned houses, a bridge and gun carriages. They spiked cannons and set fire to new Privateer Sloop as well as magazines of gun powder.

2024 Bristol Re-enactment of Campbell’s raids.

Campbells troops returned by way of Bristol. About 300 Rebels were assembled behind walls, trees and houses. They burned houses, a church, ammunition magazines and twenty of the principal houses. The British boats came round from Papasquash Point to the Bristol Ferry. The British ships Flora and Pigot covered the British troops as they crossed over from Bristol Ferry.

During the Battle of Rhode Island, Campbell was in charge of the 22nd Regiment as they proceeded down East Road.

Eyewitness Account

“The twenty-second, Forty-third, and flank companies of the Thirty-eighth and Fifty-fourth regiments, marched under Brigadier-General Smith, by the east road, to intercept the retreating enemy. A stand was made by the Americans, and some sharp fighting occurred, in which the twenty-second, under Lieut.-Colonel Campbell, highly distinguished themselves. The Americans were driven from Quakers’ Hill, when they fell back to their works at the north end of the island, from which they afterwards withdrew. Major-General Pigot stated in his public despatch,—”To these particulars I am, in justice, obliged to add Brigadier-General Smith’s report, who, amidst the general tribute due to the good conduct of every individual under his command, has particularly distinguished Lieut.-Colonel Campbell and the twenty-second regiment, on whom, by their position, the greatest weight of the action fell.” The regiment had eleven rank and file killed; Lieutenant Cleghorn, Ensigns Bareland, Proctor, and Adam, two serjeants, and forty-eight rank and file wounded; one man missing”. (source: Historical Record of the 22nd or Cheshire Regiment of Foot. This is a quote from Major General Pigot letter to Sir Henry Clinton dated Newport, Rhode Island, August 31, 1778)

Resources: Good biographical material can be found in John Hattendorf’s book: The Battle of Rhode Island in 1778: The official British View as Reported in the London Gazette.

Location Mysteries – Southermost School

July 28, 2025

portsmouthhistorynotes Portsmouth History , Leave a comment

“If it wasn’t here, it was near.” That was the repeated phrase of our guide when we toured the Holy Land. I find myself saying the same thing when it comes to the second location of the Southermost School. I always thought that location was the same lot that was the home of the Gibbs School. The timing worked out perfectly. The schoolhouse went to Lakeside Farm when the Almy family bought it at auction in 1863. The building date of the Gibbs School was 1864. I imagined that the Southermost School had to be moved away for the construction of the newer school. When I went to research the Gibbs School, I began to have my doubts. There was much debate about what to do with the Gibbs School when it was no longer needed in the 1940s, because the original donor of the land (Listed as Parker Lawton in one newspaper article and Edward Lawton in another) stipulated that the property is “to be used and improved by School District No. 3 for school purposes only, forever.” (Note – at that time each of the one room schools functioned independently as is own district.). This was written in a deed in 1845. Parker sold the lot to the town for $60, but family members claimed that the land should go back to the Lawton family if it is not needed for a school.

Gibbs School from Collection of Jim Garman

Some histories of the Southermost School said it was moved around 1800 to a location on Union Street closer to West Main Road. If the Gibbs School lot wasn’t available, Southermost School could not have been in its location unless it was not on town property. A newspaper account from 1970 reports that “Southermost School was moved from its first location to the west end of Union Street – the Fred Sherman land now owned by Mrs. Robert Young.” The article states that the Gibbs School was built across Union Street from the land where the Southermost school had been. What is further confusing is that the 1850 Ward map of Newport County shows the schoolhouse to the North of Union Street close to West Main Road. Confusing!

Ward Map 1850

Commanders of the Battle: Robert Pigot

July 25, 2025

portsmouthhistorynotes Portsmouth History , , , Leave a comment

Robert Pigott- 1720-1796
Sir Robert Pigot was from a prominent Huguenot family in London. His brother Hugh was an admiral in the Navy. Pigot joined the British Army before the Revolutionary War and in 1758 was a major in Seventieth Regiment. Although he continued in the army, he was elected as a Member of Parliament. He commanded the Fifty-Fifth Regiment in Ireland as colonel in 1775. After this assignment he moved to America. During the Battle of Bunker Hill, Pigot commanded the left flank of Howe’s army. He led the second assault on the colonists’ position but he failed to break the Americans. In 1776, he was promoted to Major General and was placed in command of the British forces occupying Rhode Island. In 1778 he was in command of British forces during the Rhode Island Campaign. This was a joint effort of French and American forces, but the French pulled out unexpectedly when a storm damaged their ships. When the French ships had arrived near Newport, Pigot ordered his forces to evacuate Portsmouth. The Americans progressed close to Newport, but they began a retreat off the island when it was clear that the French would not come back to help them. Pigot’s forces hoped to catch the Americans in their retreat and his men chased the Americans as they prepared to leave via Howland’s Ferry. This action was known as the Battle of Rhode Island. The British were not able to prevent the Americans from retreating off the island. Rhode Island remained in British hands, but Pigot faced criticism for failing to capture the retreating army. He soon moved back to England.

Eyewitness Account – Pigot gives his orders on August 29th: “As soon as the day broke this Morning and we could see as far as the Enemys Encampment it was observed that their tents were struck; I went immediately on top of Dudleys house, and when it grew lighter, I could plainly perceive that the Rebels had struck their whole Camp, and had marched off; hardly a man was to be seen in their Batteries or Trenches. I rode as fast as possible to General Pigot’s quarters in Newport and informed him of it, and returned to the Camp with his orders for all the troops to get under arms with the utmost expedition. The General came to Irishes Redoubt by the time the Troops were assembled, and being satisfied that the Rebels had quitted their position, he gave orders for a part of the Army to march out, in three Columns, to pursue them, but to advance with caution, and not bring on an Action with a part of our force.” Frederick Mackenzie’s Diary – August 29, 1778.

Commanders of the Battle: John Sullivan

July 24, 2025

portsmouthhistorynotes Portsmouth History , , Leave a comment

Major General John Sullivan : Commander in Chief.

1740-1795

Sullivan was the son of Irish immigrants who settled in New Hampshire. He served as a Delegate to the Continental congress, Governor of New Hampshire, and United States district judge. The was trained as a lawyer. In 1772 the Royal governor of New Hampshire appointed him as major in The New Hampshire militia. Sullivan began to have rebel leanings. Sullivan was sent as delegate to first continental congress in 1774 and in 1775 he was sent to the Second Continental Congress. Congress appointed George Washington commander in chief and John Sullivan as brigadier general. Sullivan joined the American Army at the siege of Boston. Later he took command of a force in Quebec which ended as a failed invasion. Sullivan had to withdraw the survivors. He was captured in defeat at Battle of Long Island. British General Howe released him on parole to deliver a message to Congress. He was later released in a prisoner exchange for captured British general Prescott. He had some success in battle but had continued difficulties as well. In Early 1778 he was transferred to the post of Rhode Island where he led the continental troops and militia.

His eyewitness account:

General Sullivan writes in a letter to Congress:

“To make a retreat in the face of an enemy, equal, if not superior in number, and cross a river without loss, I knew was an arduous task, and seldom accomplished, if attempted. As our sentries were within 200 yards of other, I knew it would require the greatest care and attention. To cover my design from the enemy, I ordered a number of tents to be brought forward and pitched in sight of the enemy, and almost the whole army employed themselves in fortifying the camp. The heavy baggage and stores were falling back and crossing through the day; at dark, the tents were struck, the light baggage and troops passed dawn, and before twelve o’clock the main army had crossed with the stores and baggage. The Marquis de la Fayette arrived about 11 in the evening from Boston, where he had been by request of the general officers, to solicit the speedy return of the fleet. He was sensibly mortified that he was out of action; and that he might not be out of the way in case of action, he had rode from hence to Boston in seven hours , and returned in six and a half, the distance near seventy miles — he returned time enough to bring off the pickets, and other parties, which converted the retreat of the army, which he did in excellent order; not a man was left behind, nor the smallest article left. I hope my conduct through this expedition may merit the approbation of Congress. Major Morris, one of my aids will have the honor of delivering this to your Excellency; I must beg leave to recommend him to Congress as an officer who is in the last, as well as several other actions, has behaved with great spirit and good conduct, and doubt not Congress will take such notice of him, as his long service and spirited conduct deserves. I have the honor to be, dear Sir, Your very humble servant – John Sullivan.”

Commanders at the Battle of Rhode Island

July 23, 2025

portsmouthhistorynotes Portsmouth History , , , 1 Comment

I am working on a simple role playing game to take people through the Battle of Rhode Island. Right now I am working on cards to introduce the primary actors in the battle. I am going through the biographies of these men and I will post the material here on my blog.

John Trumbull

Aide to General Sullivan – In Battle Nathanael Greene put him in charge of Lovell’s Brigade

1756 – 1843

Military Career up to Battle of Rhode Island

Born in 1756 in Lebanon, Connecticut, John Trumbull graduated from Harvard College in 1773. He served with the Connecticut First Regiment in the early months of the revolution. Many of the biographical materials have him resigning from that regiment and going on to England to study painting, however he wrote about the Battle of Rhode Island. In 1778 he became an aide-de-camp to General John Sullivan in Rhode Island.

An Eyewitness Account by Trumbull

“Soon after daybreak the next morning, the rear-guard, commanded by that excellent officer, Colonel Wigglesworth, was attacked on Quaker, and General Sullivan, wishing to avoid a serious action on that ground, sent me with orders to commanding officer to withdraw the guard. ….. 

Nothing can be more trying to the nerves, than to advance deliberatively and alone into danger. At first I saw a round shot or two drop near me, I spurred on my horse to the summit of the hill, and found myself in the midst of the melee. ‘Don’t say a word, Trumbull;’ cried the gallant commander, ‘I know your errand, but don’t speak; we will beat them in a moment.’ 

‘Col. Wigglesworth, do you see those troops crossing obliquely from the west road towards your rear?’ 

‘Yes, they are Americans, coming to our support.’ 

‘No sir, those are Germans; mark, their dress is blue and yellow, not buff; they are moving to fell late your rear, and intercept your retreat. Retreat instantly — don’t lose a moment, or you will be cut off.’ 

And Wigglesworth did retreat.

As the action in the battle shifted to the West side of Portsmouth, General Greene moved his men to action against the Hessian troops that were attacking the Artillery Redoubt. Greene put John Trumbull in charge of Lovell’s Brigade and sent it to flank the Hessians on their left and attack their rear. The combination of Lovell’s Brigade working with Sherburnes, Jacksons, Varnum’s 2nd RI, Livingston’s First Canadian and Webb’s and Lauren’s guards succeeded in forcing the Hessians back to Turkey Hill leaving their dead and wounded behind them.

Resources used:

Battle information from Christian McBurney’s book on the Battle of Rhode Island.

Eyewitness account in Edwin Stone’s Our French Allies.

Recent Booklets on Revolutionary Portsmouth

July 9, 2025

portsmouthhistorynotes Portsmouth History , Leave a comment

A Walking Tour of Butts Hill FortDownload
drivingtourDownload
Hillsstory-pdf-P17791989Download

Remembering Revolutionary Women

July 4, 2025

portsmouthhistorynotes Portsmouth History Leave a comment

Judge Benjamin Cowell collected the stories of Rhode Islanders who applied for pensions many years after the war. He published his stories in a book called “Spirit of 76” and he started his book with the stories of women who had to step up and take extra responsibilities with their husbands at war. Cowell commented: “The women also of Rhode Island, with all the sympathies peculiar to their sex, took an active part in sustaining the “great cause,” and a more noble race of women never existed.”

Today is July 4, 2025 and I am thinking of what I have learned about what Rhode Island women endured during Aquidneck Island’s Occupation by the British (1776-1779). Would we have the bravery to face the hardships that women of that era faced?

Even before the fighting began the women of this island began to spin yarn to make homespun cloth as a protest to British taxes. Newspaper accounts confirm that “Daughters of Liberty” were active in local protest spins. The Stamp Tax required Americans to pay tax on everyday items like newspapers, marriage licenses, business papers and even playing cards. The act was named for the official “Stamp” on the paper that proved the tax had been payed. The money from the taxes were to pay for the presence of British troops in America. Some of the colonists saw this as “taxation without representation” because they had no representatives in the British Parliament.

In Newport this tax was met with some violence, but the women took more peaceful strategies. Colonists still imported a great deal of goods from Britain. The women hoped that if Americans boycotted English goods that British merchants would pressure Parliament to repeal the Act. Colonial women had the responsibility of purchasing and making goods their families needed. They were willing to make the sacrifices needed to make a political statement. It gave women a voice at a time when they couldn’t hold public office. Benjamin Franklin appeared before the British House of Commons to argue against the Stamp Act. He noted that while Americans used to take pride in wearing fine imported garments, it was now their pride “to wear their old clothes over again, til they can make new ones.” (see blog on “Revolutionary Women: the Daughters of Liberty” for more information on these protest spins.

Revolutionary Women: The Daughters of Liberty Spin Their Protest

Aquidneck Island women faced unimaginable hardships during the Occupation by British forces.

They faced homelessness when their homes were commandeered to house British forces.

They lost their orchards, wagons, fences and any other wood for the heating of the British forces.

They lost the ability to move about the island or move off the island. Travel was greatly restricted.

If their husbands were serving in the army or militia, women had to run their farms or their businesses on their own. They had to plant, tend and harvest the crops without their husband’s help.

Looking at records of those petitioning for compensation for war losses, many lost all their animals, furniture, everything they had owned. The Binney Household Manifest in the collection of the Portsmouth Historical Society is an example of what Portsmouth families lost during the Occupation.

Binney household losses included
I orchard five acres. 1 crib
I cider press and mill 2 cows and one calf 1 mare
5 hogs
12 goats
14 forks
1 –jackass
1 ox cart
4 acres of corn
12 loads of hay

Aquidneck Island families suffered the most because of the Occupation. We need to remember their sacrifices towards the liberty gained in the Revolutionary War. It is certainly a time for us to ponder what we would sacrifice to keep our freedoms – our time, our voices, our money?