Timelines offer a wealth of information on a broad topic and an annotated timeline offers even more. I have been busy working on materials to help 4th grade teachers, but as a retired librarian I value the reference materials that can help any one of any age understand what was going on in Rhode Island during the Revolutionary Era. Thanks to a grant from the Rhode Island 250 Commission, I was able to print these to distribute to schools and libraries, but it is available here for download.
Revolutionary Rhode Island Time-line
August 10, 2026
Portsmouth History Battle of Rhode Island, Black Regiment, British Occupation of Aquidneck, Butts Hill Fort, French in Newport, Revolutionary War Leave a comment
Revolutionary Rhode Island Women: Dorcas Soule, Sarah Tompkins and Nellie Easterbrooks
August 3, 2026
Portsmouth History Revolutionary Rhode Island Women, Revolutionary War Leave a comment
I have found more brave Revolutionary Women to add to my list. Local historical societies have been a good source for some unique stories.
Tiverton: Dorcas Seabury Soule.
Her house was located on the northest corner of the intersection at Tiverton Four Corners. She was a busy woman as the mother of eleven children. Her husband Abner was part of the Tiverton militia and he was on guard duty when this event happened. According to a Tiverton Historical Society member, Tiverton men were often called upon to to stand guard at Punkateest Neck to watch for signals about the the activities of the British on Aquidneck Island. The Soule home at the time was only three rooms, but Dorcas had company since two other women were with her. It was common for Tiverton families to encounter strangers escaping to Tiverton from the British Occupation of Aquidneck Island. Tiverton was in Patriot control. When a stranger appeared at her door asking for food because he was hungry, Dorcus agreed to share some food with him. When she asked him his name, the stranger replied “touch me not.” Dorcas became suspicious. Thinking quickly, she seated him at the table with his back to the door. She ran to the barn and returned with horse reins. She and her friends tied him up in the chair. When her husband arrived back home they discovered papers on the stranger that proved him to be a British spy.
In 1889 Dorcas’ granddaughter share her story under oath.
Little Compton: Sarah Snell Tompkins 1759 – 1837
Sarah Snell and Nathaniel Tompkins married in 1781. Nathaniel was a farmer and like most men at that time served as a soldier as well. Sarah and her husband lived on a 12 acre farm on Tompkins Lane that Nathaniel’s father had passed down to him. Life was never easy for Sarah who was the mother of thirteen children. When her husband was away on duty she didn’t have the support of servants or farm workers – she had to manage all by herself.
We have Sarah’s experience in her own words. This was recorded when she made an application for and received a pension many years later as a widow.
“[Nathaniel was] much in the service before as well as after our said marriage…. I had two children born after said marriage and before the close of the war. After our marriage, when my husband was away in the service I had to do, and did, many things, out of doors, that women in this town think they cannot do. We suffered great privation at that time.”
Sarah dictated her testimony and signed her name with an X. The small pension would have helped Sarah who according to her neighbors lived in poverty.
Warren: Nellie Easterbrooks : 1761-1836
Easterbrooks House on Church Street in Warren was occupied by Nellie Easterbrrook and her mother during the Revolutionary War. The ladies rented a room to John Holland, the Warren school master. The British raid of Warren and Bristol occurred on May 25, 1778. Roughly 500 British and German troops under Lieutenant Colonel Campbell traveled to Warren to destroy American military supplies (especially flat boats) that were being prepared for the The Rhode Island Campaign. Along the way from Warren to Bristol they sacked the towns and burned property. During this raid, Holland’s treachery was found out. “Traitor Holland” had been secretly providing information to General Pigot, the British commander. Holland was thought to be a Patriot, but the town learned of his loyalist sympathies when British troops stopped by the house on their way back to Aquidneck Island. He was cheering for the attacking army and he left town in their company. Nellie and her friends were angry at the damage the British had done toWarren people and property, so as the troops were leaving town they captured a drunken drummer. The Patriot ladies dragged him to a local hotel and locked him into a closet.
The Glen Neighborhood: Fogland Ferry During the Occupation
February 11, 2026
Portsmouth History Erich O'D Taylor, Fogland, Glen, Revolutionary War Leave a comment
The Glen area was a strategic area for both the British and American forces during Campaign on Rhode Island 1778. State Senator and historian Erich A. O’D. Taylor wrote about Fogland ferry fortifications in his article on the Rhode Island Campaign.
Octobert 22, 1777, there were rumors of an impending American landing near the Fogland ferry. American General Spencer did not try that, but English General Pigott strengthened the works at Butts Hill, Fogland Ferry and Lawton’s Valley.
Taylor wrote:
“The commander at Fogland Ferry had no small task before him to safeguard the nearby farms. It is interesting to learn therefore that this important position was usually assigned to Hessian regiments and was so well defended and its duties so well executed that the inhabitants complimented the commanders when they were relieve and returned to town. Among those who returned thanks to Captain Baron de Malsburg of the regiment Ansbach-Bayreuth on his leaving this post are to be found – Mr. Bowler, Restcome Sanford, Elisha Coggeshall, George Martin, Jonathan Davenport, John Lawton, Giles Slocum, George Taber, Giles Lawton and John Sanford…The farmers thoroughly understood the Hessian soldiers who came of a range of agriculturalists like themselves. During the quiet summers of 77 and 79 when no “assault was intended on the city,” many of these Hessians hired themselves out to farmers, working for the small wage of (about 51 cents ) a day.’
Annotated Timeline: Battle of Rhode Island and Aftermath
December 16, 2025
Portsmouth History Battle of Block Island, Black Regiment, Butts Hill Fort, Lafayette, Nathanael Greene, Revolutionary War Leave a comment
Overnight August 28 – 29, Sullivan began his preparations to defend the route to the Howland ferry towards safety in Tiverton. He positioned forces in a line from Turkey Hill by West Road and Quaker Hill on East Road. Holding this area so all his troops and baggage could get off the island was his aim. His best men, divided between militia and Continentals, were positioned to delay the British troops. John Glover commanded the troops on the left wing on the eastern side of the island. Command of the right wing was given to Nathanael Greene. Men were positioned in various positions up East and West Roads. Action in the Battle of Rhode Island took place along those two main road and Middle Road. Sometimes there were two or more actions going on at approximately the same time. This brief timeline is an approximation.
For clarification the British and Hessian leaders are noted with a (B) and the American leaders are noted with an (A).
August 29, 1778
Dawn:
*Captain Mackenzie (B) saw empty American works. He traveled to Pigot’s (B) headquarters to inform him of withdrawal. Pigot decided to hamper the retreat.
6:30 AM:
*General Prescott (B) moved out with the 38th and 54th Regiments to occupy fortifications at Honeyman’s Hill in Middletown.
*Brigadier General Smith (B) marched toward Quaker Hill by East Road with 22nd and 33rd Regiments with the flank companies of the 38th and 54th.
*On West Road Captain von Malsburg (B) and Captain Noltenius (B) with Hessian Chasseurs advanced toward Laurens (A). Behind them came Major General von Lossberg (B) leading two Anspach battalions.
7 AM:
*Von Malsburg (B) spotted Laurens (A) and Talbot (A) with their Light Corps behind stone walls to the south of Redwood House. Americans were driven back up West Road.
*Livingston’s men (A) attacked Smith’s men (B) from behind stone walls on East Road.
Commander Pigot ordered von Huyne’s Regiment (B) and Fanning’s Regiment (B) to support von Lossberg (B) on West Road.
*Pigot (B) orders Prescott (B) to send 54th Regiment and Brown’s Regiment to reinforce Smith (B) on East Road.
8 AM:
*Von Lossberg (B) sent troops toward Lauren’s positions on three sides.
*Coore’s and Campbell’s troops (B) ran into a group of Wade’s (A) pickets by the intersection of East Road and Union Street.
*British moved down Middle Road and East Road toward Quaker Hill.
8:30 AM:
*Von Lossberg (B) came to the aid of Hessian Chasseurs.
*Laurens (A) and his Light Corps was forced to retreat across Lawton’s Valley to the works on a small height in front of Turkey Hill.
*Lauren retreated to Turkey Hill. Laurens was told to retire to the main army as soon as possible.
Hessian (B) attackers arrived on top of Turkey Hill.
9 AM:
*Wigglesworth’s Regiment (A), Livingston’s Advanced Guard (A) and Wade’s pickets (A) waited for British at the intersection of East Road, Middle Road and Hedley Street.
*Quaker Hill was the scene of intense fighting.
*Americans retreated toward Butts Hill and Glover’s (A) lines.
9:30 AM:
*From top of Quaker Hill, Smith (B) could see strength of Glover’s position.
*Smith was under orders not to begin a general engagement, so he decided against a frontal assault. *Smith withdrew forces to the top of Quaker Hill.
*10 AM:
*Von Lossberg’s (B) troops arrived at Turkey Hill.
*Americans had positions on Durfee’s Hill and Butts Hill.
*Samuel Ward (A) and the 1st Rhode Island Regiment (Black Regiment (A)) held an Artillery Redoubt. *His men repulsed von der Malsberg’s (B) men.
11:30 AM:
*Von Lossberg (B) ordered von der Malsburg’s men (B) to try to attack Ward’s (A) First Rhode Island Regiment position again.
*British ships Sphynx, Spitfire, and Vigilant shelled the American positions from the West shore, but they did little damage.
*The Americans held their position.
1PM:
*British ships planned to attack American positions.
*General Greene’s (A) men dragged cannon down to the beach and forced the British ships to retreat.
2 PM:
*Pigot (B) reached Quaker Hill to observe the action.
*Pigot ordered Landgrave (B) and Ditfurth Regiment (B) to march to von Lossberg’s (B) troops.
4PM:
*General Glover (A) saw movement in British lines and ordered Tyler’s Connecticut militia (A) and Titcomb’s (A) Brigade of Massachusetts militia to positions behind stone walls (maybe Freeborn Street), but the British did not engage.
7PM:
*Landgrave (B) and Ditfurth (B) Regiments arrived at von Lossberg’s lines.
7PM (August 29) to 3AM (August 30) :
*There was sporadic artillery fire and light skirmishing. Musket and cannon shots were heard for seven hours.
*The Battle of Rhode Island was basically over.
*The Americans and British forces retired to their lines.
Aftermath of Battle
August 30
Sullivan assigns men to bury the dead. The wounded are ferried to hospitals on the mainland. American troops use the day to rest and recover. Sullivan receives word that d’Estaing is not coming back. He also receives a letter from Washington warning that Howe’s British fleet is on the way. The fleet is observed off Block Island. Sullivan moved quickly to complete a retreat off Aquidneck Island, but he staged Butts Hill to look like they were fortifying for a fight.
6PM:
*After all the baggage had been removed, Sullivan issued the order for all his men to depart the island.
11 PM:
*Lafayette returns from Boston. He assumes supervision of the retreat of the last of the pickets. He orders the building of fires to suggest the army was hunkering down.
*By midnight: Most of the troops are off the island.
August 31st: By 3 AM all the troops are on Tiverton side.
Revolutionary Places: Stories from Vernon House in Newport – A Spy, A Patriot, A Black Regiment Soldier, and French Heroes
October 31, 2025
Portsmouth History Battle of Rhode Island, Black Regiment, French in Newport, Lafayette, Revolutionary War Leave a comment
The Spy: Metcalf Bowler
The Vernon House at 46 Clarke Street in Newport has special significance in the history of the Revolution in Rhode Island. It has connections to a British spy, an American war heroes and the French in Newport. It has a history dating from 1744, but the first owner with Revolutionary connections was Metcalf Bowler who bought the property from his father in 1759. Bowler was a noted merchant and judge, but we know now that he was also a British spy. He was concerned about his country estate in Portsmouth and hoped to salvage it from British destruction by providing information to British General Gates. In 1774 he sold the house on Clarke Street to William Vernon, a merchant and slave trader. Unfortunately for Bowler, his work as a spy did not protect his Portsmouth farm.
The Patriot: William Vernon
William Vernon and his brother Samuel were early supporters of the revolution, so when the British came to Newport, William fled Newport for Rehoboth, Massachusetts. Vernon moved to Boston and In 1777 Vernon was appointed by the Continental Congress as president of the Naval Board – a role resembling Secretary of the Navy. He was responsible for building and outfitting ships for the Continental Navy. He supported the Navy cause with his own money.
The Black Soldier: Cato Vernon
Cato Vernon was probably one of the two Black males aged under sixteen listed in the 1774 census as part of William Vernon’s household in Newport. By December of 1776 the British were in Newport and William Vernon had fled. In late 1776, Cato was working in East Greenwich as an apprentice to a ship carpenter.
On March 11, 1778, Cato enlisted in the First Rhode Island Regiment of Continentals (the famous “Black Regiment”). Cato may have enlisted without permission from William Vernon who was in Boston, but by law William was entitled to Cato’s value. Enlisting in the regiment for the duration of the war had the promise of securing freedom. The Black Regiment played a key role in the American retreat during the Battle of Rhode Island on August 29, 1778. The Regiment held back three charges of British allied Hessian troops and that was one factor enabling the Americans to get away to fight another day. Cato and the Black Regiment served all the way to the surrender at Yorktown.
Life was not easy for Cato after the war. In August 1793, Cato Vernon was in a Newport jail because he could not pay his debts. He wrote a letter from jail to William Vernon and there is a record of William Vernon paying that debt so Cato would be free.
The French in Newport
On July 11, 1780, the French Fleet arrived in Newport. The Comte de Rochambeau The commander in-chief of the French forces, used the house as his quarters and the headquarters of the French forces. Records show that on March 6, 1781 General George Washington slept at the Vernon House. On July 25, 1780. Lafayette remained in Newport with Rochambeau at Vernon House until July 31, 1780.
Resources:
Newport Restorations website on the Vernon House: https://www.newportrestoration.org/programs-initiatives/telling-stories-dispersed-monument/vernon-house/
Rhode Island Rebels: Stephen Hopkins
October 30, 2025
Portsmouth History Declaration of Independence, Gaspee, Revolutionary War Leave a comment
I am working on new projects that have me looking at the whole of Rhode Island’s Revolutionary experience and those Rhode Islanders who played major roles in the action. Most of my research has been on the Rhode Island Campaign, the Battle of Rhode Island and the French role in converting Butts Hill into a proper fort. The general picture of rebellious Rhody is new ground for me. Timelines published in the Newport Mercury by John Millar and his book – Rhode Island: Forgotten Leader of the the Revolutionary Era, are helping me to focus on the larger picture.
Stephen Hopkins: 1707-1785
Lawyer, merchant, politician and co founder of Brown University.
28th, 30th, 32nd, and 34th Governor of the Colony of Rhode Island and Providence Plantations,
Represented Rhode Island Island at the Albany Congress of 1754 where he pressed for union of the colonies.
Wrote the Rights of Colonies Examined in 1764 which held that Britain’s authority over the colonies had little basis. This was in response to the Sugar Act.
In 1772, when the British vessel Gaspee was attacked and burned, Chief Justice Hopkins refused to sign the court order to arrest those responsible.
Delegate to the First and Second Continental Congress where he introduced bills to establish a navy. His brother Esek became the first admiral of the Navy.
Signer of the Declaration of Independence. Hopkins was frail and his hand shook, but the commented: “My hand trembles but my heart does not.”
Resources:
His house on Benefit Street in Providence is open to the public. http://www.stephenhopkins.org
Aisha Pierre’s Article on Stephen Hopkins as a Founding Father: https://rhodetour.org/items/show/284
“The Rights of the Colonies Examined”. Essay, 1764. From Teaching American History. https://teachingamericanhistory.org/document/the-rights-of-the-colonies-examined/ (accessed October 30, 2025).
Block Islanders Endured Military Law during Revolutionary Times
June 1, 2025
Portsmouth History Block Island, New Shoreham, Revolutionary War Leave a comment
When I speak to student groups I stress the hardships of Aquidneck Islanders during the British Occupation 1776-1779. Until I began to research Block Island in the Revolutionary era, I didn’t realize that they were suffering as well. The Rhode Island Assembly believed that leaving resources on Block Island might tempt the enemy to attack the island. Historian Reverend Livermore comments:
“The policy adopted was much like that of befriending a banker by taking away his money to save him from being robbed.”
Aquidneck Islanders had their livestock taken to feed the British army.
Block Islanders would find their livestock taken by the Rhode Island Colony. An act Passed by the General Assembly in August of 1775 directed that the the island livestock “be brought off as soon as possible, and landed upon the continent.” According to Block Island Historian Rev. Livermore: “Such stock as was suitable was to be sent immediately to the army. Such as was not fit for market was to be sold at public or private sale..” Almost 2,000 sheep and lambs were taken but there was no record how many cows and oxen. Captain John Sands, Joshua Sands, and William Littlefield were authorized to determine how much livestock was needed to feed the islanders. This same committee collected firearms and delivered them to the Rhode Island Committee of Safety. Then the went door to door and suggested that since the livestock was gone, Block Island men should volunteer for the American Army.
Aquidneck Islanders had no freedom of movement during the Occupation. They couldn’t get on or off the island or they would be suspected of spying.
The Colony of Rhode Island decided that Block Island residents were “in the power of the enemy” and therefore they could not leave the island.
“Whereas the inhabitants of New Shoreham, from their peculiar situation, are entirely in the power of the enemy, and very pernicious consequences may attend the intercourse of the said inhabitants with the continent, by means of the intelligence and supplies which the enemy may procure thereby:
” It is therefore voted and resolved, that the said inhabitants be, and they are hereby prohibited from coming from said Island into any other part of this State, upon pain of being considered as enemies to the State, and of being imprisoned in the jail in the county where they may be found, there to remain until they shall be discharged by the General Assembly…”
By the end of 1776 a committee (Sands, Sands and Littlefield) was given permission to gather needed supplies and bring them back to Block Island. In 1777 Block Islanders who were on the mainland were able to go back to the island.
Block Islanders were left under suspicion and without help from the mainland.
August of 1779: General Assembly
“Whereas, many evil minded persons, not regarding the ties of their allegiance to the United States in general, and this state in particular; but influenced by the sordid principles of avarice, continue illicitly to correspond with and supply the inhabitants of New Shoreham, in the county of Newport, with provisions, and other articles, to the great detriment and distress of the virtuous inhabitants of this state.”
“And whereas, the said town of New Shoreham hath been for a long time, and still is, within the power and jurisdiction of the enemies of the United States, whereby they obtain, in consequence of the evil practices aforesaid, supplies for themselves, and intelligence from time to time of the situation of our troops, posts, and shores; by which means they are enabled to make frequent incursions, and thereby commit devastations upon, and rob the innocent inhabitants of their property, and deprive them of their subsistence; wherefore, “Be it enacted, &etc.”
What this act did was to prohibit all trade with the islanders except by special permit. The offender’s property would be confiscated and he might have to do service in a continental battalion, or war vessel until the end of the war. Corporal punishment was the alternative if the offender was a female or unfit to be a soldier. There are records that some Block Islanders were treated as prisoners of war but their fates are unknown. By the end of 1779 the acts prohibiting Block Islanders from going to or from the mainland were abolished, but there were still restrictions on transport of goods. Even Governor Greene had to comply with these rules.
In July of 1780 messengers from the colony came to take whatever horses, cattle, grain, fish or cheese they deemed the Block Islanders could spare.
The Block Island historian Rev. Livermore wrote:
“Thus the Islanders, besides the depredations from the British, denied traffic on the main, unrepresented in the General Assembly of Rhode Island, unprotected by the colony from the enemy, was burdened with a heavy tax. This was taxation without representation; nay more, it was the imposition of a heavy burden upon those cut off from the common privileges on the main and abandoned to the cruel mercies of the enemy. But even this their faith and patriotism could endure while patiently waiting for the dawn of freedom.” (Livermore, pg. 102)
Livermore, S. T. A history of Block Island from its discovery, in , to the present time, 1876. Hartford, Conn., The Case, Lockwood & Brainard co, 1877. Pdf. https://www.loc.gov/item/rc01002999/.
Rhode Island., Bartlett, J. Russell. (185665). Records of the colony of Rhode Island and Providence plantations, in New England: Printed by order of the General assembly. Providence: A. C. Greene and brothers, state printers [etc.].
Finley, A, and Young & Delleker. Rhode Island
. [Philadelphia, 1829] Map. https://www.loc.gov/item/76692364/.
A Children’s Book on Butts Hill
April 23, 2025
Portsmouth History Battle of Rhode Island, Butts Hill Fort, Portsmouth History, Revolutionary War Leave a comment
There are not many books for children on the Battle of Rhode Island or on Butts Hill. There are bound to be corrections, so I haven’t printed many.
Revolutionary Rhode Island Women: Revisiting the “Daughters of Liberty”
March 20, 2024
Portsmouth History, Revolutionary War Daughters of Liberty, Revolutionary War Leave a comment
Last year at this time I published a blog on the “Daughters of Liberty”. Today I want to revisit the list of women associated with the Daughters. I have found that particular list in a few articles written around 1900 when chapters of the “Daughters of Liberty” were forming in various towns around Rhode Island. What I couldn’t find was any primary source confirmations of these women being involved in “Daughters of Liberty” – Mary Easton Wanton, Polly Wanton, Lucy Ellery, Patience Easton, Mary Champlin and Anne Vernon Olyphant. In searching for information on these women, I found these names and others listed in an Order of Cincinnatti in France 1905 book as giving hospitality to the French troops in Newport during 1780-1781. When I look at genealogical information on the women, I find that some were too young to participate in the 1766 spinning bees. The term “Daughter of Liberty” had been broadened to include patriotic women who furthered the cause for independence. Other sources list Martha Washington, Abigail Adams and Deborah Sampson (who actually fought as a man) as “Daughters of Liberty.”
Looking at primary sources, newspaper articles record the work of the Rhode Island “Daughters of Liberty” in protesting the Stamp Act and Townsend Act with boycotts of imported clothing. Most of the articles date from 1766. One of them is later, 1769.
An entry in The Boston Chronicle of April 7, 1766, states that on March 12, in Providence, Rhode Island, “18 Daughters of Liberty, young ladies of good reputation, assembled at the house of Doctor Ephraim Bowen, in this town. . . . There they exhibited a fine example of industry, by spinning from sunrise until dark, and displayed a spirit for saving their sinking country rarely to be found among persons of more age and experience.” At dinner, they “cheerfully agreed to omit tea, to render their conduct consistent. Besides this instance of their patriotism, before they separated, they unanimously resolved that the Stamp Act was unconstitutional, that they would purchase no more British manufactures unless it be repealed, and that they would not even admit the addresses of any gentlemen should they have the opportunity, without they determined to oppose its execution to the last extremity, if the occasion required.”
The Newport Mercury on April 14, 1766 included a letter to the editor that 20 young ladies met at the “invitation of some young Gentlemen of Liberty, and exhibited a most noble pattern of industry, from a quarter after sunrise til sunset, spinning 74 and 2/3 skeins of good Linen Yarn.” The toast was “Wheels and Flax, and a Fig for the Stamp Act and its Abettors.”
The Newport Mercury published a letter to the editor dated April 23, 1766. It detailed the results of two spinning matches held in Bristol on April 10th and 15th. A chart was attached with names and amounts of skeins spun. This is the only list of names I could find. I checked some of the names through genealogical sources and I could verify that many were Bristol girls and women.
New York Journal 24 August 1769: July 16. — Newport. July 10. “We can assure the Public, that Spinning is so much encouraged among us, that a Lady in Town, who is in very affluent Circumstances, and who is between 70 and 80 years of Age, has within about three Weeks become a very good Spinner, though she never spun a Thread in her Life before. Thus has the Love of Liberty and dread of Tyranny, kindled in the Breast of old and young, a glorious Flame, which will eminently distinguish the fair Sex of the present Time through far distant Ages.”
“Daughters of Liberty” seemed to be a term used for women who boycotted imported clothing, tea and other products. I can find mentions of the spinning bees in the period from 1766-1769. There was a patriotic organization of women’s groups around the country (circa 1900) which took the name “Daughters of Liberty.” They researched and promoted women who had been part of the Revolutionary War effort. In 1895 Alice Morse Earle wrote a book entitled Colonial Dames and Good Wives. She credits Rhode Island women with the beginning of the Daughters of Liberty.
“The earliest definite notice of any gathering of Daughters of Liberty was in Providence in 1766, when seventeen young ladies met at the house of Deacon Ephraim Bowen and spun all day long for the public benefit, and assumed the name Daughters of Liberty. The next meeting the little band had so increased in numbers that it had to meet in the Court House. At about the same time another band of daughters gathered at Newport, and an old list of the members has been preserved. It comprised all the beautiful and brilliant young girls for which Newport was at that time so celebrated.”[Pg 242].
I would love to see that “old list of the members.”
The Adventures of Silas Talbot
December 26, 2023
Portsmouth History, Revolutionary War Battle of Rhode Island, Lafayette, Revolutionary War, Silas Talbot Leave a comment
When Lafayette wrote Silas Talbot about a plan to capture the British vessel Pigot, he alluded to Talbots’s “reputation which you have already acquired by your zeal and skill in the artificial way (as a mechanic in the military).” Talbot was known as an “artificer” – “a soldier-mechanic attached to the artillery and engineer service, whose duty it is to construct and repair military materials.” 1. What was there in Talbot’s military history that had him known as a someone who could devise, construct and repair for a military campaign? Talbot had a record of invention, construction and even “daring do” to get the job done. All his past experiences made him useful to the American cause.
Silas Talbot was intimately involved in the Rhode Island Campaign. As someone with experience as a mariner and builder, Talbot helped to construct the flatboats that would take American forces to Portsmouth on August 9th of 1778. As a soldier, Talbot fought in the rear guard to protect the Patriots as they retreated to Tiverton on August 29th and 30th, 1778. Talbot alternated between roles as sailor and soldier throughout the American RevolutionSilas Talbot’s life was full of adventures. There were “rags to riches” stories and then again there were stories of monetary downfall. He was wounded in naval battles and sustained injuries on the Revolutionary War battlefields but he kept getting back into the action. This article will focus on some of those adventures of a representative figure in Revolutionary Rhode Island
Talbot came from a humble background. He was born to a farming family in Dighton, Massachusetts in 1751. His father died when he was twelve and Silas was indentured to a local stonemason. He learned his skills as a bricklayer, but Dighton was a seaport and Silas signed on as a sailor on sloops transporting cargo from Narragansett Bay to as far as the Carolinas. By 1770 Silas settled in Providence where some of his older siblings had established themselves. Silas’ bricklaying skills were put to work in construction. Talbot wanted property and he put aside enough money to buy a lot of land on Weybosset Street. In 1772 Talbot married well. He continued to purchase land and he also began to purchase slaves. Owning a black servant was a status symbol for Talbot. He moved from being a laborer to owning a construction business.
In the aftermath of the burning of the Gaspee and the Boston Tea Party, Rhode Island merchants were alarmed. Independent militias were forming and Talbot joined and was commissioned as a Lieutenant. He joined others of his company in learning military skills in a Providence warehouse, but he didn’t have any real military experience. On June 28, 1775 Talbot answered the Rhode Island Assembly’s call to send units to Boston. He marched with his men to join the Second Rhode Island Regiment and by July 1, he was commissioned a captain. Talbot and the other 1200 men in the Rhode Island brigade took part in the Siege of Boston watching over the Red Coats but not in direct battle. Talbot’s skills as a bricklayer came in handy as they built barracks on Prospect Hill.
By April of 1776 the Siege was over and Talbot and the Rhode Island men were proud to welcome General Washington as he passed through town. As Washington arrived in New London, Rhode Islander Esek Hopkins presented Washington with a problem. Hopkins was Commander in Chief of the Continental Navy. Hopkins had sought safety in New London harbor after damage to his ships. Hopkins needed a crew to sail the ships home to Providence. Washington offered to loan Hopkins men from the Rhode Island Regiment. “All those acquainted with Sea Service that have a mind to join the Admiral as Volunteer have Liberty.” Silas Talbot took that opportunity to sail home to Providence. This was the first example of how Talbot’s military service frequently switched between the army and the navy. In August of 1776 he joined the Rhode Island troops in New York. In September he took part in an attempt to place a “fireship” (literally a ship set on fire with combustibles ) next to a British ship to catch it on fire. Talbot stayed on the “fireship” as long as he could to get it closer to the British vessel. Unfortunately the fireship did little damage, but Talbot was gravely burned.
While Talbot healed he served as a recruitment officer to enroll more Rhode Island troops to the cause.
Talbot’s adventures continue in the next article.
Definition from Century Dictionary
Biographical information from William Fowler Jr’s Silas Talbot: Captain of Old Ironsides
portsmouthhistorynotes 