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 .1817 
 

 
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TO THE PUBLIC. 
 
 The design of the writer of this work, is to re- 
 vive in the minds of the public, the many strug- 
 gles our fathers endured in the cause of freedom. 
 
 There is hardly a person living in Rhode Is- 
 iand, and more especially in Little Compton and 
 Tiverton, but what had a near or distant relative 
 who was a soldier and took an active part in the 
 Revolution, and the war with Great Eritian in 
 1812. and 15. 
 
 The Author has taken great pains to draw his 
 ir. formation from parties while living, and it is 
 autheiitically correct and reliable. To cherish 
 the memory of those departed friends, and their 
 heroic deeds — every person should be the posses- 
 rsor and owner of this little Phamphlet^ because 
 it oontains information never before given to the 
 public, and which is worth retaining in every tani- 
 ily. Long may they be remembered with great- 
 ful hearts in our time^ and all coming time, by 
 tlie decendants of those who fought and bled that 
 we might be free, is the desire of the 
 
 Autlior. 
 
 Little Compton, R. L 1880. 
 
INTERiSSTING INCIDENTS 
 in Little Compton, R. I , during the Rev- 
 olntion and the war of 1812. 
 
 IF the Spartans decreed public honors iv 
 those who sent forth their sons to bleed and die 
 in defence of their country, what a wreath of glo- 
 ry ought to eitown the heroic valor of those who 
 fought and bled to obtain our freedom and liber 
 ty. A proper regard for these old heroes, is cal 
 culated to afford gi-eat satisfaction to every patri- 
 otic mind and every christian. It serves to 
 strenghten our memory of heroic deeds and im- 
 portant events — it holds up worthy and useiul 
 persons for imitation — it excites gratitude to 
 heaven and leads at once to a just estimate of the 
 privileges we enjoy ; from the great sufferings 
 and exertions they endured, to secure and pro- 
 mote the happiness and welfare of posterity. 
 
We cannot pass over these events, witliout in- 
 timating the associations connected with those 
 historical scenes. 
 
 There are many unpublished incidents in the 
 history of the American Revolution and of the 
 war of 1812 and 15, that are deserving of often 
 being reueated and retained in the archives uf 
 memory/ In the year 1834, the writer of the 
 following reminiscences, was a Justice of the 
 Peace in the town of Little Compton, and was 
 qualified agreeable to the requirments of the war 
 department, to aid the old soldiers and widows, 
 in procuring a pension. At that time, there 
 were then living in the town, forty-six men who 
 drew a pension ; but in the short space of three 
 years only twenty-three were living, the others 
 having fought their last battle with death, and 
 had been gathered to the ranks of their com- 
 rades. 
 
 The following is the names of those old heroic 
 soldiers of Littfe Compton, which we give below 
 that their names might be handed down to pos- 
 terity and ever kept in sacred remembrance. 
 
 Benoni Simmons, Navy, Owen Grinnell, 
 Frank Wilbour, land & navy. Gideon Churoh, 
 Isaac Simmons, John Springer, Joseph/Church 
 George Brown, Thomas White, Sanfoid Almy, 
 William Hunt, Edward Woodman, Robert Wood- 
 man, Dr. John Almy, Hezekiah Wilbour. Sam- 
 uel Wilbour, navy. Wililam Grinnell, James 
 
5 
 
 Walden, Gamaliel Tompkiiis, Elijah Tompkins- 
 Xathaiiiel Tomkiiis, Gideon Tompkins, Gideoii 
 Seabury, Brownell Stoddard, Thomas Wilbonr, 
 Seth Shaw, Noah Shaw, James Tompkins, Ben- 
 jamin Tompkins, navy. Charles Manchester, 
 Rouse Fearce, Right Pearce, Gideon Brownell, 
 Gardner Brownell, Thomas Briggs, Benedict 
 Palmer, Ichabod Pearce, Joseph Wilbour, Sam- 
 uel Bailey, Sylvester Brownell, David Tompkins 
 Joseph Pearce, John Taber, William Seabury 
 and host Irom Tiverton. 
 
 At the time Lafayette came as a passenger in 
 the United States ship Aliance. to America, to 
 aid our feeble Colonies in the cause of human 
 rights and freedom, one of the above named pen- 
 sioners and patriots, Mr. Benoni Simmons, wa:^ 
 in the naval service and was on board the Ai- 
 a ice. He said that during the passage they fell 
 in with one of His Majestie'ci British Men vt' 
 War, and while preparations were being made 
 for an engagment, General Lafayette approacli- 
 ed the Commander with pure French politness 
 and requested the honor of taking cliarge of the 
 quarter-deck guns, which was granted, and while 
 ill action which lasted but a short time before the 
 British surrendered; the quarter deck was clean- 
 ed of every man three times, while the General 
 stood boldly and unflinchi-gly alone upon the 
 deck unharmed. It seems that it was through 
 the interposition of a kind Providence, that the 
 
6 
 
 General escaped unscathed. Mr. Simmons was 
 a ship carpenter by trade, but while in the navy, 
 his right arm was shot off near his body by a can- 
 non bill ; but after peace was established, and 
 people quieted down at their own homes, he per 
 sued his former occupation at shipbuilding, and 
 it was said that he would hew more timber and 
 do a greater day's work with one hand and that 
 liis left, than any ordinary ship carpenter. He 
 died in full faith of universal salvation at the ripe 
 age of 79 years, in Little Compton, and is bur- 
 ied on the Commons. 
 
 Frank Wilbour, another of our naval pension 
 
 esofthe Revolution, wliile cruising the Ocean, 
 
 i.dlin with oneoftheenemie's armed vessels 
 
 a id she being much the heaviest metal, audit 
 
 ]>eing a perfect calm, the yankees decided on 
 
 boarding her. Tlie barge in which Mr. Wilbour 
 
 Avas in, pulled up under the stern of the enemy. 
 
 .,nd as a rolling sea lifted the barge, Mr. Wilbor 
 
 .^ ithont orders made a leap for a cabin window, 
 
 '.lid luckily caught hold of the casing and haul- 
 
 in- liimself up by his hands, he tried to get into 
 
 he cabin, but being a broad shouldered man, he 
 
 found it a difhcul task, but seeing a female m the 
 
 llie cabin who appeared; much frightened at 
 
 s eing a man entering her room, he stammered 
 
 out and said— "De dear wo-man don't be fri-ln- 
 
 tcncd I, I wo- wont .harm you ; for Gods sake 
 
 help me to get in." She took hold of him and 
 
Sketches & Incidents, 
 
 IN 
 
 Little Compton & Tiverton. 
 during the 
 
 REVOLUTION, 
 
 and the war of 
 
 1812. 
 
 By P. F. Little, Esq. 
 
 Never Before Piibliskd- "; ; 
 
 LITTLE COMPTON, R. I- 1880. 
 

 ^S'f ^o 
 
with groat exertion pulled him in. Thanking ner 
 he iinmeJiately van upon deck with a pistol in 
 each- hand and before tlie boats had got along 
 side, cried out with a loud voice, ''You arc 
 lakan ! \-ou are takeu !! submit and surrender ; 
 for 'he cabin is full of men.." The whole crew 
 otliceis.and alb, were conipletely panic-stricken 
 iit this suddan declaration;, and seeing the boats 
 al )i!g sid'e. they surrendored without opposition » 
 It was really amusing to hear tlie old hero re- 
 la' e t]^c advcntnie in his peculiar waj; more es- 
 .> oia^lv ^f^-'ien '-n. eai-i-ej^t a:id siainmered r,ut, — 
 
 "uini ed.di did, and so I did and I iust made 
 
 j 
 
 '.) -'t to re-reach the cabin win 'window 1 did,, and 
 il^if it had ]in^npt been for the go-^good wo-womnn 
 l.I rLCvcr siio-shoiild got into ih4he cabin I know 
 1 Bhonld'ut," "The British was terribly scared 
 when they ses me on the quar-quartcr deck.— 
 I' ad thrygiv-give ri-riglit uv>. and-and it saved a 
 good deal oi blo^d be~being shed so it did.' ' 
 Mr. Wilbour, was afterwards promoted in con- 
 isderafion of this heroic. act. He also did good 
 service against t'nc enemy after leaving the navy. 
 He soon alter joined the army, and was in Sul- 
 livan's Exriedition upon Rhode Island. He liv- 
 ed to a good old age, and died, leaving many 
 liind and warm friends behind. 
 
 AVhile the Brittish held possession of the Is- 
 laiid of Rhode Island and Newport, a period of 
 nearly three years, during which, there was ex- 
 
8 
 
 trem suffering, causing about one half of the cit- 
 izens of the Island to flee to Tiverton and Little 
 Compton, and it was deemed expedient for the 
 safety of property and the people to have guard 
 duty performed along our shores, from Rowland's 
 Ferry in Tiverton, to Seaconnet Point in Little 
 Compton. The first guard-house was called the 
 Rouse hous, eunder the command of Capt. John 
 Davis. The house was located on Brimstone-hill 
 so called, on the west side of the road leading 
 from Tiverton 4 Corners to Seaeonnet-point, and 
 once owned and occupied by the late Charles 
 Irish. The second was called the Red-house un- 
 der the command of Captain Ephraim Simmons, 
 and is now owned and kept in good repair by 
 Col. Amsa Gray, and there is a fair prospect of 
 its standing another century, to mark the watch- 
 ful spot of revolutionary date. IThe third guard 
 house, was the Col Rlchni'ond house, under the 
 command of Capt. William Richmond, This is 
 situated in a south and west direction from the 
 Red house, near the shore, iiM M pi^sent is owu- 
 ed by Mr, William Chace. The Mrth was call- 
 ed the Langley or Coe-house. under the command 
 of Capt. Benjamin Coe. This house stands near 
 the Wind-mills and where the Hon. Albert T. 
 Seabury now resides. The fifth was called 
 
 the Taggart house, under the command of Capt. 
 Thomas Church- situated at Church's Cove or 
 Breakwater, near the mansion of His Excellency 
 
9 
 
 Gov. 8isson Seaconnet point, and was standing 
 tliere alone to tell of other days, until removed a 
 iew years past. It was here at this guard-house 
 that Mr. Taggart fell a sacrifice to his country 
 by British cruelty, of whom we shall speak of 
 in another place. 
 
 The British had three armed ships moored off 
 in Seaconnet River, located in the middle of the 
 i-iver and at a proper distance from each other tu 
 cut off all commucation from the main land, and 
 1" prevent American vessels from pa«^sing up the 
 ] iver with supplies for our army. The lirst was 
 anciiord off Gov. \'v ii'oou 's shore now his grand- 
 s(jn Isaac C, Wilbour, and the south east shore 
 (jf (lie Island. The second was moored off op- 
 posite the guard or Rouse-house ; third or last, 
 was anchored off opposite the Woodman farm 
 in a south and west direction from High Hill. 
 
 This vessel the King Fisher, was very I'unoy- 
 iiig to the Yankees, and they determined to get 
 rid of liter. Accordingly every -effort was brought 
 into requisition to accomplish ihis noble design. 
 The 5^ankees hastily threw up an earth work in 
 the niglit at High Hill, which was the only pro- 
 tection from a broad-side of the enemy of giape 
 shot &G. They brought what few small canon 
 they could find from a breast-woiK at Foghuid 
 Point ; and at the appointed time this little com- 
 pany of selected yankees, opened their Battery 
 on the one object — ''His Maisties Ship of War 
 
10 
 
 .mu Fislicr/' They played upon her so nice 
 ^.rirrsmartfor an hour or two, that the british 
 ^ew l\)und it to hot, and after applying a slo:w 
 ivvvch to tlio magazine, fled in their barges to 
 o 10 of tlie '.)ther ship?^. lying fnrther down the bay 
 The Kingfisher soon blew up with a tremeu- 
 (IIoiis report and the hnlk drifted on shore and 
 a living cat, V)nt badly singed, which came on 
 Fbore on. a plank. Fuss was well provided for, 
 and lived to a good old age. 
 
 Tl-.o hjjlk of the Kingfisher went on shore at 
 v-liat is called ^'High Hill,\ near Fogland, and 
 the earth-work fortification, remains undisturbed 
 exccDt by Ihe lapse of time, as a relic of their la- 
 hur^ The .ribs of the old Kingfisher still lies 
 oiuhedcd in the sand, standing as a monument 
 it ihni event in a very good stale of perpevalion, 
 but covered with sea moss, where the tide ebbs 
 and flows, and can be seen ])y any one. ^ . 
 Ti.g; c is a six pound cannon now^ in Little Comp- 
 ' :n. in care of' Preston B. Richmond, of revolu- 
 1 .oriary date, which was used by our patriotic fa- 
 Miers wlien the King-fisher was distroyd, arid is 
 r.nv, v.srdin observing the birth of our Repub- 
 «(' It was freely used in firing on the arrival 
 i:\ xh.Q news of the surrender of Lee's army ; and 
 ihc capture of Jeff Pavis, and downfall ot the 
 Bebelion. 
 
 Willie the Britisli were in possession of Rhode 
 LdiiJid, th.ere was a j rrticular rock, called the 
 
11 
 
 the "Post Office," near Taggart's Ferry. It's 
 name arose from the fact that a Mr. Taggart then 
 residing at or near the ferry, corresponded with 
 the soldiers at Little Compton, and from time to 
 time gave the plans and movements of the Brit- 
 ish army through this '^Post-Office Rock," not- 
 withstanding a constant guard was kept to pre- 
 vent all communication with the main land, 
 
 Mr. Taggart, would write a letter giving full 
 particulars of what the English was up too, and 
 m the darkness of the night when all was quiet, 
 he would go out slyly and deposit his letter under 
 this rock, then hasten hack to his house and seta 
 light in a certain window that might be distinct- 
 ly seen from the main-land, to denote there wai^ a 
 letter st the Post oihce for them« "Uucle Sam's 
 Boys," would then man a boat, and with muffl- 
 ed oar pass the guard ship a'ld go to the post-office. 
 This he continued for a longtime, or until they be- 
 came suspicious of his doings, when he made his 
 escape from the Island, and came to Little Comp- 
 ton, where he performed guard duty until he was 
 unmercifully killed as follows. He was acting as 
 sentinel at the Taggart house Seaconnet Point, 
 on the farm of Gov. Sisson, when unexpectedly 
 the enemie's barge came round a point probable 
 where the break-water now is ;— Mr. Taggart 
 immediately gave the alarm and fought the com- 
 pany manfully for some tim3 ; when they effect- 
 ed a landing and persued after him. He then 
 
12 
 
 attempted to escape by jumping over a wall near 
 tlie guard-house, but just as he mounted the wall 
 a musket ball from the enemy fractured his leg, 
 and while lying helpless upon the ground, they 
 shamefully and inhumanly put a bayonet through 
 his body. Thus ended his useful life to the dis- 
 grace of British. Mr. Taggart was often beared 
 to say that he never would be taken ^live by them. 
 
 The Post Office Department never had a bet- 
 ter or a more faithful and energetic post-master, 
 than Mr. Taggart. 
 
 At one time while upon the Island, he commu- 
 nicated through this Post-Office Rock, that on 
 certain nights some half dozen Hessians partroll- 
 ed the shores on the east side of the Island, and 
 hinted that it would be a good plan for the yan- 
 kees to gobble them up. Whereupon Doct. John 
 Almy with six others from Little Compton, in the 
 night time, took a boat at Taylor's Lane, un-be- 
 known to any one, and proceeded across the riv- 
 er to Rhode Island, a distance of three or four 
 miles, and landed at what is called Taggart' s-fer- 
 ry. Leaving one man in charge of the boat they 
 proceeded north along the bank, until they came 
 10 a wall extending east and west to the shore 
 a little south of Holme's cart-way or landing. 
 Here they made a stand and concealed them- 
 selves behind the north side of the wall, close to 
 the barway, and waited the approach of the Hes- 
 piaus. They had been watching about half an 
 
13 
 
 hour, when they discovered six Hessians coming 
 mounted on horseback, and as they were abou 
 to pass through the barway, the boy's rose u] 
 suddenly with guns cocked and fixed bayonets 
 and ordered them to stand, dismount and surren 
 der ; to vv'hich they unhesitatingly complied with 
 out resistance. They then began to interrogati 
 and quiz them smartly, but could not obtain anj 
 valuable information respecting the British army 
 After parleying with them awhile, they t6ok fron 
 ^hem their coats, equipage, side arms, horseblan 
 kets^ saddles, bridles &c., then turned their hors 
 es lose and marched them to their boat at the 
 ferry, and would fain brought them off, but th* 
 ]>oat being small, they let them go on conditions 
 they would keep quiet until they were safely off. 
 
 These adventurers arrived back to Seaconne' 
 shore just as the day was breaking, passing with 
 in a few yards of the enemy's ship undiscoverec 
 although they could distinctly hoar the sentinali 
 step pacing the deck. They brought with then 
 their booty as a tropliy of their courage. 
 
 We have heard the old Doctor who was Cap 
 tain of the expedition, relate the incident with s 
 hearty laugh to think how they frightened th( 
 poor Hessians. 
 
 There were many soldiers in Little Compton 
 v\'ho was in Sullivans Expedition, but we are no 
 able at this remote period to mention but five, t* 
 wit : — Benedict Palmer, Frank Wilbour, Will- 
 
14 
 
 iam Hunt, Thomas White, and John Springer. 
 They were under the command of Captain 
 Ephraim Simmons, of the north company of Lit- 
 tle Compton, and belonged to Col. John Cook b 
 reoiment. They crossed over Howland's Ferry 
 to'Portsmouth, and was in the battle's fought on 
 the Island, and at ihe battle at Butt's Hill. 
 
 Sullivan made gve^t preparations for a battle 
 with the enemy. He had mounted IT pieces oi 
 Iroavey cannon, two 10 inch mortars and 3 hve 
 and a half liowitzers. In connection with Ihe 
 French fieet under Count D' Estagn, which had 
 arrived on the coast, the yankees resolved to 
 drive and dislodge the enemy from the Island 
 ^nd Newport, at which place they had retired in 
 great fear, while nearly every British ship on 
 llie coast was sunk or burnt. Just on the eve of 
 the Mnericans making an attack upon the enemy 
 a British fleet of 36 battle ships, appeared off 
 Point Judith from New York. Count D' Estagn 
 bein- eager for light, immediately got his Frcncli 
 fleet underway to meet them ; -but a severe storm 
 coming on. tlic French and English fleets were 
 l>oth seriously injured. A number oi the largest 
 French ships, one of 90 guns was dismasted and 
 put awav for Boston to repair damages, leaving 
 the Anicrican army alone to fight its own battle. 
 The storm it is said on the land was as disas- 
 tiT-us as on the sea. Not a tent was left stand. 
 ji^c. __thG amr.nition was spoiled, aud horses and 
 
15 
 
 men died from wet and exposure. On the 20th 
 day of August, a large portion of the enlisted 
 militia's time expired, and left in large squads, 
 and the American army was reduced to a force 
 much less than the invaders. The American ar- 
 my were drawn up and extended nearly or quite 
 across the Island near Quaker Hill, and the bat- 
 tle commenced in earnest and raged with energy 
 fur a week ; but the great battle between Butts 
 and Quaker Hill of August 29th, will long be re- 
 membered. We are partially indebted to Doct. 
 S. W. Coggeshall, for a vivid description of that 
 bloody battle. He says : — "The carnage was 
 frightful. Down the slope of Anthony's Hill, a 
 western continuation of Quaker Hiilj the Hessian 
 columns and British infantry, twice rushed to the 
 assault and were repulsed with great slaughter. 
 Sixty were found dead in one spot ; at another, 
 thirty Hessians were buried in one grave. — 
 
 Major General Green commanded on the right, 
 with four brigades under his immediate command 
 V'arnum's Grove's, Corneirs, and Green's per^ 
 haps the most. A third time the enemy with des- 
 perate courage and increased strength, attempt- 
 ed to assail the redoubt, and would have carried 
 it, but for- the timely aid of two Continental bat- 
 talions dispatched by General Sullivan, to sup- 
 p3rt his almost exhausted troops. 
 
 It was in repelling these furious onsets, that 
 tue newly raised regiment, under Colonel Green, 
 
16 
 
 distinguished itself by deeds of desperate valor. 
 Posted behind a thicket in the valley, three times 
 they drove back the Hessians, who charged re- 
 peatedly down the hill to dislodge them, and so 
 determined were the enemy in these charges, 
 that the day after the battle the Hessian Colonel 
 applied to exchange his command, and go to 
 New York, because he dare not lead his regi- 
 ment again to battle, lest his men would shoot 
 him, for having caused them so much loss, hence 
 the desperate courage of the enemy availed them 
 nothing against the equal valor of the yankees. 
 They at last gave way and retreated to their for- 
 tified camp on Quaker-Hill, followed closely by 
 the Americans, who captured Brady's battery on 
 the hill. Sullivan wanted to attack the enemy 
 in their works-; but the army had now been 36 
 hours without rest or food, and had continually 
 been on the march or in battle, the object was 
 therefore abandoned. The next morning Sulli- 
 van received advices from Washington that Lord 
 How was approaching with 6000 troops for the 
 relief of Newport ; and also a letter from Boston 
 that D' Estagn, could not return as soon as ex^^ 
 pected. It was therefore resolved in council of 
 officers, to leave the Island- The retreat was 
 conducted the next night with great skill.— 
 
 Sullivan brought off his troops with stores and 
 baggage ; and early next morning, the British 
 neet, with the army of Sir Henry Clinton, was 
 
17 
 
 seen off Newport from Tiverton Eights. Thia 
 was the fleet which the following week burnt New 
 Bedford and Fairhaven, and ravaged the Vine- 
 yard. 
 
 The loss of the Americans in this great battle 
 was 211 —of the British 1023. No wonder that 
 Lafayette should say, it was the best fought bat- 
 tle of the war. Whole acres of graves of those 
 who were killed, and were buried where they fell 
 was visible on the farms of Seth and Isaac An- 
 thony, until a few years since, — but the plow has 
 ^passed ovej them and they are gone : — 
 
 The inhabitance of the Island endured great 
 suffering, in the attempt to drive off the enemy. 
 A party composed of Tories, passed over a por- 
 tion of it near Newport, and distrojed every cart 
 wheel, wagon and carriage of any description, — 
 4Droke every grindstone, sythe, ax and hatchet ; 
 'bfurnt the houses and filled up the wells. 
 
 One house near the west shore, now own ed by 
 a Mr. Fish, a cannon ball, entered the top ot a 
 cradle in which was an infant, but did the little 
 occupant no harm. The cradle is yet preserved 
 as a memento of that terriable day. 
 
 Tradition says that in this memoriable contest 
 in which all did well, the black regiment did tho 
 hest of all, though some of tliem were armed only 
 with pitch forks. They must have made it a for- 
 midable weapon, for-t^ey were the terror of even 
 the well disciplined Hessian troops, whom they 
 
18 
 
 drove before them like sheep. This regiment 
 were emancipated slaves and the state paid them. 
 Their eminent valor probably is in part at least, 
 imputed to the known character of their comman- 
 der, who never run or surrendered. Their 
 commander, Col. Green, was brutally murdered 
 at Cooton River, two years after. 
 When the American army were retreating from 
 the Island to Tiverton, two soldiers beloning to 
 Little Compton, William Hunt and Benedict Pal- 
 mer, being almost starved and worn down with 
 fighting and marching, left the itanks and ran to 
 a large iarm-houee to beg some * milk and cold 
 grub. They stated their situation and hunger, 
 but they were refused even a drink of cold watei-. 
 When they came out, they sawa^largf , iron pot 
 standing by the side of the well they carefully 
 raised it up and dropped it to the bottom of the 
 well, where it remains until this day lor ought 
 we know. They were a iamly of tories, and de- 
 served worse treatment tliey said. 
 
 Very early one morning a British soldier de- 
 serted and swam across Seaconnet river to Little 
 Compton, and called at Sanford Almy's near the 
 creek, about breakfast time. Mr. Almy gave him 
 a good breakfast, which he heartily partook and 
 said :— "It gave him a good appetite swiming 
 across the ditch this morning ? " 
 
 A singular expression, '^Ditch," for a river 
 three or four miles wide. 
 
19 
 
 When the British took possession of Newport 
 and the Island in December, 1T7G, the militia of 
 Little Compton and Tiverton, were ordeied into 
 service, and were held in readiness for duty oii 
 every alarm but soon an arrangement was made 
 so tliat only one half were detailed for actual du- 
 ty for one month, when they were relieved by the 
 other half the succeeding month, and so on alter- 
 natel}', until the enemy left Newport in Novem- 
 ber, 1TT9. After they had left the Island, Mr. 
 William Hunt and others from Little Compton, 
 was detailed as Sergeant from. his company to 
 guard the shores near Fort Adams, at Newport. 
 This was as late as 1781. 
 
 During the revolutionary struggle with Great 
 Lritian, Fobes Little, who liad received a colle- 
 giale education, and who at that time went by 
 the name of Master Little, kept a public house 
 or tavern, in Little Compton, the house in which 
 the writer ol this was born, and was standing 
 a lew years since a short distance north of Oh- 
 ver K. Almy's. When the Britioh monarch 
 levied a heavy tax- on tea, he felt so indignauo 
 that he without delay, destroyed all the tea to be 
 found in or about the premises,— also demoiish- 
 ing every cup and saucer and every thing pertaui- 
 iug to tea drinking ; leaving not a vestige of tlii^; 
 d.Ucious beverage, declaring that none oi ids 
 hjii.ehold or guests, should be partakers or en^ 
 c )urage I^ritish imposts. 
 
20 
 
 Ephraim Little, son of this oW patriot, was a 
 drummer boy in the American army, and was in 
 the battle at Bunker Hill, and the writer has the 
 identicle drum-sticks that he used at that memo- 
 rable battle Juue 17th 1775, and retains them as 
 a memento of that event. He also remembers 
 well of using the same drum, but through neglect 
 or carelessness, the drum was broke. The drum. 
 mer was a great uncle to the writer. 
 
 Fobes Little, jr. , a brother of the drumer boy> 
 better known as Judge Little, was also in the ar- 
 my and his company was ordered to Boston ^ but 
 when they had got as lar as Canton, the order 
 was countermanded, and they were sent back to 
 Rhode Island and stationed at Tiverton Height. 
 Every able bodied man was held to duty and to 
 bear arms, until peace was declared. 
 It seems there was a company organized in Lit- 
 tle Compton, called the senior class, whose ages 
 exceeded 45 years and upward and probably it 
 was the case in other towns, who volunteered 
 their service and was accepted by the govern- 
 ment and they proved of great service. 
 
 When the United • States declared war with 
 Great Britain on the 18th day of June 1812. , it 
 created the most acute leelings of excitement with 
 the inhabitance of Little Compton, they being on 
 the sea coast and easy of access for the enemy ; 
 but when His Majesty's Sloop of War Nimrod , 
 was stationed at the mouth of Seconnet river in 
 
21 
 
 1814, as blockade, it roused the most patriotic 
 feelings in the breast of every citizen, and more 
 especially the indignity of the old revolutionary 
 soldiers, who were many at tlmt t«me, and took 
 an active part m delending the coast. Every 
 able bodied man between 18 years and 45 was 
 furnished with a musket, equipage and ammuni- 
 tion by the State, and were co-mpeilled to drill 
 and practice martial duty, to the neglect of other 
 duties required upon the farm. 
 
 The crew of the Nimrod was very annoying to 
 the people of this town, especially farmers on the 
 shores of the Seconnet river- They would come 
 on shore in tlie night, milk their cows, and steal 
 tlieir sheep and fowls, and in fact any thing they 
 wanted, and sometimes take articles out of pure 
 mischief. The people hardly knew, when their 
 person and property were safe. 
 
 ^V^e well remember at one tfeiie that an old gray 
 headed and rusty looking man with a large cane 
 called at my grandfather's Judge Fobes Little's, 
 very early in the morning and begged for break- 
 fast. A small round ^able was -set for him near 
 =the fire place^ while the family sat -at the usual 
 'table. He eat very fast and hearty and -stared at 
 me so ugly, that I drew off from him frightened. 
 He would not give any direct answer when ques- 
 tioned, but would mumble over something unin- 
 telligible. As soon as he had eat, he took hig 
 cane and after he got to the door, he turned and 
 
22 
 
 bowing very politely said:— "My name is John 
 Coiineley, and I belong on board of His Majestys 
 Brio' Nimrod, and thank you for my breakfast/' 
 
 Grandfather jumped up from the table, caught 
 his cane, and made for him saying : — "Get you 
 gone, you clouter-lieel puppy or I'll cane you ? '' 
 At this his two sons rose from the table and start 
 cd for liim, but he was to quick for them. He 
 ran and jumped over into the cornner of an orch- 
 ard now 0. H. Almy's, and run cross lots to tlic 
 b)iore, where a boat was in waiting to take him 
 on board the Nimrod. He proved to be a young 
 midshipman, as it was afterwards assertained. 
 
 Tiie British took several Vineyard ])oats that 
 were employed to carry clay from Gayhead to 
 Providence and Taunton. They were large pink 
 vstern, sprit-sail two masted boats, and frequently 
 there might be seen a fleet of twenty or thirty sail 
 of them passing up ,or down the Seconnet river, 
 manned by Gayhead -Indians. They would out- 
 sail any ordinary craft on the wind or before it. 
 The enemy had taken a number of these boats, 
 and by using them, often made prizes of our coast- 
 ing vessels. They annoyed tlie fishermen by this 
 strategy, but people and more especially sailors 
 soon became suspicious of every Vineyard boat 
 seen upon our waters ; and was careful to givv 
 thorn a wide birth. 
 
 At one time they took a small trading Sloop, 
 bjaded with flour, and took her to tlie Nimrod. 
 
 .^t 
 
23 
 
 The sloop was commanded by Capt. Joseph 
 Cory of Tiverton Four Corners, who was princi- 
 pal owner. She was kept in tow of the Nimrod 
 some three or four days with the Captain on board 
 hoping that he would ransom her ; but finding 
 him a hard ticket and unyielding, they proposed 
 taldng out his cargo, and giving him up his vessel. 
 The Captain swore by all that's great and good, 
 that if they took his cargo, tlicy might keep the 
 sloop and go to hell m her for lie wouldn't have her. 
 vlfter dalleyiug with liim several days, they final- 
 ly gave him up his vessel and cargo, after taking 
 out a barrel or. two ot flour. 
 
 One night several Vineyard' -boats, manned by 
 J]ritish soldiers, made a riad on the yankee coasl- 
 'ing v-esse Is, principally sloops. They took every 
 vessel afloat from seaconnet^ point in Little Comp- 
 ron to the Stone Bridge Tiverton, — 
 They put a man on board of each and got them 
 underway, and ordered, them to follow down the 
 river to the Nimrod, ''where they expected they 
 would hQ ransomed by the owners, at about half 
 their value, tliese bei^ig the terms as generally 
 understood. During the voyage down the river 
 with a head wind, one of the vessels being a poor 
 sailor fell astern and to leeward some distancf, 
 and when abreast of High Hill off Almy's creek- 
 the Eiiglishnan was knocked down, secured and 
 pit ])elow. The Captain still kept on his course 
 apparently trying to work her down the river, but 
 
24 
 
 with intcntioiical poor success until lie thought it 
 would answer , when he up helm and put back 
 up to the Stone Bridge, and escaped although 
 persued by one of tlie boates. The others were 
 taken to the Nimrod, and afterward redeemed. 
 
 One of these Vineyard boats in possession of 
 the enemy, chased on shore at Little Compton, 
 at what is called Moses Point, a schooner laden 
 Avith iron-ware. The crew made their escape to 
 the beach and concealed themselves in a swamp 
 near by. The British boarded the schooner and 
 threw over-board a large quantity of iron- ware of 
 various kinds, in order to float her off, but not 
 succeeding they give her up and left without any 
 great damage. Some of the articles afterwards 
 washed on sliore, and are in use in some of the 
 lamilies in Little Compton, at this day. 
 
 At anotlier time my grandfather his three sons, 
 Nathaniel, Fobes and Thomas, myself and h cous- 
 in Otis Little, were pickrig stones in a meadow 
 next to the shore and had a cart and oxen with 
 us. A sloop from the eastward came round Sea- 
 connet Point, and up the Seconnet river. She 
 was soon discovered from the Nimrod which was 
 lying off at the mouth of the river, and she was 
 in immediate persuit. Tliey put out her Launch 
 and Barge, and by their long sweeps gained on 
 the sloop rappidly, and soon began firing a 121b. 
 cannon at her from the Launch, a number of shot 
 passing through her sails, one of which, cut the 
 
25 
 
 bolt i'0})C of lier mainsail, making an ugly look- 
 ing rent. Tlie sloop made directly to the shore 
 where we were at work, when a 121b cannon ball 
 came whistling directly over our heads and plow- 
 ed up the ground but a few yards from us. 
 At this the old Judge said : — "Dod-zux boy's we 
 must leave or they will kill our cattle ! " 
 
 This was joyful news to iis boys, for we w^-re 
 glad to get rid of vrork ; not that we Imd any ap- 
 prehension of danger in being so openly exposed 
 to tlieir fire. The sloop was run on shore — the 
 alarm given, and jjeople began to liasten to the 
 shore with their muskets. The bars and gates 
 loading to the shore was removed to assist those 
 who were anxious to join in the defence. Old 
 Poctor Almy, a revolutionary soldier whom wc 
 liave already spoken of before, came riding at full 
 speed witli his saddle Ijags and gun, shouting for 
 the men to hurry along, saying: — '' 1 swarethey 
 shan't take that sloop." Sure enough they did 
 ]iot take lier, for our people gave them such a 
 hearty reception from behind the bank wall with 
 buck shot and balls, that they were glad to draw 
 otT beyond the reach of musketry, — ])ut they did 
 not cea-se firing cannon balls merrily, one which 
 struck within three feet of Sarah Davenport, au 
 aunt of the publislier, who had ventured upon a 
 hill and had hoisted a flag handkerchief. The en- 
 emy soon left and our people helped get the ves- 
 sel off, and she wont on her way up the river. 
 
„26 
 
 We woi;ili here remark and witli regret, tliat 
 while the people on the Seaconnet shores, were 
 fighting and defending their rights and property 
 against the encroachments -of the Nimrod's crew, 
 tlferc were those in the south.and east sections of 
 the town boldly supplying them.with information 
 and provisions to any . extent, making a grand 
 speculation ont of it. Fortunately a gang was 
 caught while returning from one of thoge visits to 
 the°Nimrod, and was dealt with, to their morti- 
 fication, which distroyed their enterprise. 
 
 On the 25th day of June, 1813,:.a severe battle 
 was faught at the John Wo-odman shore, near 
 Almy's Creek, where they chased on shore a sloop 
 laden with flour and corn. The launch aad-barg^ 
 from the Nimrod followed her from . Seconuct 
 point firing upon her all the way up the river. 
 When the sloop was run on shore, the crew left 
 her and hastened to SanfordAlmy'?. and wanted 
 his sons to protect their vessel and cargo. Three 
 of Mr. Almy's boys, Frederic, Sanford and Par- 
 don took their nuiskets, and furnishing the crew 
 with such weapons of war as was at hand, and 
 started for the shore— but on their way, they was 
 fired at by the enemy, the cannon ball striking 
 near them. The Captain and crew of the sloop, 
 turned and ran into the woods where they re- 
 mained until all was over with. The Almy boys 
 resolutely proceeded to the bank wall where they 
 ^vere joined l)y Edward and his son Humphrey 
 
27 
 
 and Robert Woodman, while others continued to 
 come. They commenced firing at tlie barge a&^ 
 it approached the sloop. One old gentleman 
 Robert Woodman, more daring than others, ran 
 down the bank which was very high and steep, 
 and concealed behind a large rock, and as the nc- 
 emy approached, he peppered them well with 
 buck-shot, while the Launch lay off beyond the 
 reaohof musket balls, and kept up a continual 
 lire from a 12 pound cannon to prevent our men 
 from changing their position to a better advant- 
 age for crippling them. When the sloop was run 
 on shore, the crew left her sails all standing,— 
 but a sailor, Ephraim Little a brother of the wri- 
 ter went on board lowered and cut away the jib. 
 and tlu-ew it overboard, but came near losing his 
 llsb from a cannon balL The barge came in di. 
 '.vvtly in range of the sloop and she lying partial- 
 ly broadside to the shore, it afforded tlie crew ot 
 the barge quite a protection. 
 
 As soon as they got on board, they settled the 
 mainsail of the sloop, which concealed their per- 
 sons. Notwithstanding this our people kept up l 
 brisk fire of musketry— and the re-enforcements 
 from Tiverton, and the approach of two Flotillas 
 or Gun-boats under command of Captain Samuel 
 Clark of Portsmouth R.L, the enemy was com- 
 i)clled to leave after setting fire to the vessel, leav 
 ino- a large quantity of blood upon the deck ; two 
 muskets, two boarding pistols and two seamen's 
 
28 
 
 caps. One musket was taken by Mr. Woodman 
 as trophy of that victory. I have shot those gun 
 many a tmie, and they are retained as a relic. 
 
 Our people sufferd no loss : but the enemy's 
 loss was reported to have been severe. Several 
 were killed and wounded and were carried away 
 in the launch or barge. In all probability their 
 loss would have been greater had Gov. Jones' 
 powder been good— but it proved to be almost us- 
 less, scarcely carrying a ball one hundred yards. 
 
 We obtain the following facts of the bat- 
 tle from the Kewport Mereury of ^iine 26tJi 
 
 1813. 
 
 "On Friday last a Launch and Barge from the 
 brig Nimrod with about 40 men, chased on shore 
 about one mile south of Fogland-ferry in tlic east 
 passage a sloop belojaglng to Nantucket IVom New- 
 York, with a cargo of flour -and cGi'ii. The crew 
 left the sloop, when she was immediately taken 
 possession of by the British and set on fire.— 
 The militia in the neighborhood assembled as 
 soon as posible, and from behind a stone 
 wall near the edge of the bank ; commenced firing 
 upon the British, and soon compelled them to 
 quit the sloop with the loss of two men. The fire 
 was immediately extinguished and the sloop was 
 got off and carried further up the river. The en- 
 emy had possession of the sloop for so short a 
 time, that neither the vessel or cargo were male 
 Vially injured. 
 
Several 12 pound shot were picked np on the 
 shore and in the bank and lickls, which was fir- 
 ed from the Launch. The spirited conduct of 
 the militia of Little Compton, is entitled to the 
 highest praise. We are gratiiied in saying, that 
 no injury was sustained," 
 
 During this engagmeut, Mrs. Deborah Grinnell 
 wife of Samuel T. Grinnell, and daughter of the 
 aforesaid Robert Woodman, was casting leaden 
 bullets and sending them to mv men as fast as 
 iliey could be run in the moulds. Robert Wood- 
 man, was a mail full of heroic i.luck, and much 
 attached to fishing' hikI gunning, and for his and 
 others aocoiiimodation, had a small house erect- 
 ed on West Island Seconnet Point, where he 
 lVe(iuentlv would spend two or three days. 
 V le^v weeks after this battle, while he was upou^ 
 ■ liis Island— the first he. discovered was one of 
 the Nimrods barge's with about 30 men, landing 
 upon the inland. The wliole crew left the barge 
 withtlieir guns^Rd -equipage, and came up to 
 his house. They made special inquires about 
 the people on the main land- To save hims.li , 
 he told them that he knew nothing what was go^ 
 in.on-thathewasapoor fisherman and only 
 w^nt off occasionly to sell fish and to procure pro- 
 visions. A sol^lier took up an ax, which was ly- 
 ino> nea. the house, and swore that he would cut 
 tire house down, at the time striking a smar 
 V,ow into the corner. An officer drew his swoid 
 
30 
 
 and told liim he would run liim through if lie at- 
 tempted another hlow. They asked, 'nfhe 
 knew anything about the battle up the river" — 
 "if any were killed or wounded ?" They told 
 him, "that it took two or three weeks to pick the 
 buck-shot out of their backs and arms." 
 
 Mr. Woodman said, — " That he was very par- 
 ticular not to tell them that he was the identical 
 person that poped so smartly at them from be- 
 hind the big rock." 
 
 On or about the first day of June 1814, His 
 Britannic Majesty's sloop of war Nimrod, chased 
 on shore at Smith's beach on the south east end 
 of Rhode Island called Setuwest beach, a Sweed- 
 ish brig "Little Francis," from St. Barts,.with a 
 cargo of molasses and sugar. As soon-, as the al- 
 arm was given, the militia of .Middlctown .under 
 Capt. George Sweet, and the third company of 
 militia of Newport, commanded by^Gapt, Stepheii 
 Pierce nnd adet achment of .^eamen from. United 
 States Flotilla^ I'c; aired to the beach as soon as 
 possible to protect the brig, but having no large 
 cannon, their efforts with muskets proved ineftec- 
 ual. The Nimrod fired upward of two hundred 
 cannon balls, one of which killed John Smith and 
 took off the leg of Isaac Basset, near his body. 
 Tlic Little Francis was boarded by the Nimrods 
 l)arge, and was set on fire in three different pia- 
 rcs,— Her stern av as burnt to the water's edge, 
 ii]id a great part of her cargo distroyed ; but by 
 
greirj exertion of tiie luiiitia the arc was ihr'ally 
 extiBguisbed. The said John Smith, that was 
 killed and Basset that had bis \c.^ sliot off Doar 
 his body, volunteered to go on board the Brig 
 to put out the fire, and had returned and with 
 others were hauVng up the boat when tlie i.Mal 
 shot did its work." It was afterward ascertain- 
 ed, that Smith was a'near relative to the Cap- 
 tain of the Nimrod, who very much regreted the 
 result. The Nimrod came to an anchor a ^idc 
 distau.e from cho .shore, out of the reacii of the 
 cannon of the Newport Artillery, which appeared 
 
 on the field of battle at rather a late hour. 
 
 It was reported that the boy's m^ade a fine days 
 work in picking up balls. When a ball etruck 
 upon ihe sandy beach, some dozen boys would 
 put chase after it before it spent its force. 
 
 Two iriui-boats which were up lhe river got «u 
 der wav and came down part of the way, and re- 
 turned back, fearin<^ to attack the Nimrod, but 
 after she had hauled oa^and gone, the gun boats 
 came down full of battle and fight. 
 
 A Captain Mayhew, during the Blockade, ran 
 a little schooner from Westport-point to Vergin 
 la, and OB a return trip came in through Long 
 T.land Sound, where he was chased by one of iho 
 Nimrod'8 terders. He run his vessel into a nar. 
 row channel on Long Island., and down sad. 
 . In cominiv down the Sound the next morning 
 he saw a Sloop close under the land near Boint 
 
32 
 
 Judith, standing out on the wind appearentlj to 
 cut him off. The Captain told his men that .is 
 soon as he neared her, he would fire a gun, and 
 if it was an enemy they would keep on, but if a 
 yankee, they would run. No sooner then he fir- 
 ed they up helm snd put back to Newport badly 
 fr ghtened. The sloop belonged at WcBtnort and 
 when the Captain found out who it .v/as, he was 
 angry and chagrined. Captain Mayliew run into 
 Buzzard's Bay, where he saw two of the Nimrod 
 boats lying directly in his track. He set a laigo 
 square-sail, and when he came near them, he told 
 the man at helm to run them down; but the 
 schooner sheered a trifle and just cleared them: 
 but as they passed, they sent a volley of musket 
 balls on board, but without any scrioiiK efTect. 
 and he arrived in port safely. 
 
 The Nimrod afterward was engaged in tlic bat- 
 tle at Stonington, where slie was badly cut Uj 
 pieces. She was so crippled tb.at she had to draw, 
 off for repairs during the higlit of the buttle, aud 
 never appeared on our coast again. 
 

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