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 ST1UCTI0N OF THE GASPE1 
 
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 HK'I \ir,NT\l!V IIISTOliY 
 
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 DESTRUCTION OF THE GASPEE. 
 
 i "\irii i;i> for the ri;n\ idem ejoi i;\ \i.. 
 
 \'.\ lln\. WILLI \M i;. STAPLES. 
 
 P R O V I DEN ( E 
 K N »» \\ A N D A N T H O N \ 
 
 i : 
 
Entered according l<» Act of Congress, in the year 1845, by Knowi i -, 
 in the Clerk's Office of the Districl of Rhode-Island. 
 
 
DESTRUCTION OF THE GASPEE. 
 
 The lirsl appearance, of his Majesty's arm- 
 ed 'I i the Gaspee, in the waters ol 
 
 Narragansett Bay, was in March, 1772. She 
 was 'if patched here hy the Commissioners 
 ol I u ! in to prevent breaches of the reve- 
 nue laws, and to put a stop to the illicit trade 
 that had been successfully earned on for a 
 long time in (his colony. .Soon after her ar- 
 rival tin- following letter was sent hy Deputy 
 Governor Darius Sessions, then residing in 
 Providence, to Governor Joseph Wanton, of 
 Newport : 
 
 Phovidence, March 21, 1772. 
 
 Sin : — Tin- inhabitants of this town have, 
 oflate, been much disquieted in their minds, 
 by repeated advices being brought of a 
 schooner which for some time past hath 
 'iin ed in ilir Narragansett Bay and much 
 disturbed our Navigation. She suffers no 
 -. ' el '" pa ii"i even packet boats, or oth- 
 ers of an inferior kind, without a strict exam- 
 ination, and where any sort of unwillingness 
 i di covered, they are compelled to submit, 
 by an armed lorce. Who he is and by what 
 authority he assumes such a conduct, it is 
 thought needs some inquiry, and 1 am re- 
 i - I by a number of gentlemen of this 
 town, on their behalf, to acquaint your Ho- 
 nor therewith, and that you would take the 
 matter into consideration and, if the com- 
 mander of that schooner, has not as yetmade 
 proper application and been duly authorized 
 in his proceedings, that some proper mea- 
 1 1 >■• i be taken to bi ing him to account. 
 
 Ii is uspected he has no legal authority to 
 
 ju tifj hi c lni't, and his commission, if he 
 
 [in any, is some antiquated paper, more of a 
 fiction than any thing else, ami this seems to 
 1"' confirmed by Mr. Thomas Greene, who 
 aw it. and believes it to be no other 
 than the commission the famous Ileid had, 
 who lost his sloop at Newport, or something 
 else of no validity. In consequence of the 
 above mentioned application, 1 have consulted 
 with the Chief Justice thereon, who is of opin- 
 ion, that no commander of any vessel has any 
 right to use anj authority in the Body of the 
 
 Colony without previously applying to the 
 Governor and showing his warrant for so do- 
 ing and also being sworn to a due exercise 
 of Ins ..Dice— ami tins he informs me has been 
 the common custom in this Colony. 
 
 [ am. sir, with the greatest respect, your 
 Honor's most obedient and humble servant, 
 DARIUS SESSIONS. 
 
 Gov. Wanton. 
 
 The 'famous Reid," above referred to. 
 was master of the armed sloop Liberty, 
 which the commissioners sent to Newport in 
 1769 for the suppression of illicit trade. — 
 Capt. Reid exhibited a laudable zeal to ex- 
 ecute his orders. Dressed in a little brief au- 
 thority from the government at home, he lit- 
 tle regarded the supposed rights of the colo- 
 nists. He seemed inclined to consider that 
 his commission warranted the exercise of un- 
 restricted authority over Americans, and he 
 required from them the same passive obedi- 
 ence to his orders which had been the fash- 
 ionable court doctrine in some previous reigns. 
 On the 17th of July, he carried into the har- 
 bor of Newport a brig and a sloop taken in 
 the Sound, on suspicion of their being en- 
 gaged in illicit trade. No proof was exhib- 
 ited against the brig. Capt. Packwood, who 
 commanded her, had reported his cargo at 
 the custom house previous to his sailing.. — 
 On the 19th, no prosecution having been en- 
 tered against him or his vessel, Capt. Pack- 
 wood went on hoard the Liberty to get some 
 of his clothes which had been transferred to 
 that vessel, in order to proceed on his voy- 
 age. Capt Reid was not on board, but the 
 commanding officer refused to deliver up the 
 things required, and offered personal violence 
 to Capt. Packwood. He succeeded, how- 
 ever, in forcing his way over the side of the 
 Liberty into his boat. Before lie reached 
 
the wharf, several muskets were discharged 
 at him, but without effect. The Liberty was 
 then lying between Long Wharf and Goat 
 Island. In the evening Capt. Reid was met 
 on the wharf as he was going on board the 
 Liberty, by a large concourse of people, and 
 was required to send for the Liberty's men to 
 come on shore. Soon after they had landed, 
 the Liberty was boarded, brought to Long 
 Wharf and there scuttled,her masts cut away, 
 and her boats taken out and carried to the 
 Common in Newport and there burnt. The 
 Liberty was afterward towed over to Goat 
 Island near where the Light-house now is, 
 where she was subsequently burnt. The 
 brig received her papers from the custom 
 house and proceeded on her voyage. The 
 sloop escaped. No inquiry was instituted as 
 to the authors of this outrage on one of his 
 Maje fy's vessels. 
 
 The letter from Deputy Governor Sessions 
 led to the following correspondence between 
 the Governor and the commanding officer of 
 the schooner: 
 
 Newport, Rhode Island, > 
 March22, 1772. $ 
 
 Sir:— A considerable number of the in- 
 habitants of this Colony have complained to 
 me of your having, in a mosl illegal and un- 
 warrantable manner, interrupted then- trade, 
 by searching and detaining every little pack- 
 et boat plying between the several towns. 
 As I know not by what authority you as- 
 sume this power, I have senl off the high 
 sheriff, to inform you of the complaint exhib- 
 ited against you, and expect that you do, 
 without delay, produce me your commission 
 ami instructions, if any you have, which was 
 your duty to have done when you (irsi came 
 within the jurisdiction of this Colony. 
 1 am your humble servant. 
 
 J, WANTON. 
 
 To the c Handing officei of a schoonei 
 
 near Brenton's Point. 
 
 Gaspee, Rhode Island, March 23, 1772. 
 
 Sir:— Las! night, 1 received your letter 
 informingme thai a "number of the inhabi- 
 tants ofthisCoIony had complained" to you 
 of my having "in a most illegal and unwai 
 rantable manner interrupted their packel 
 boat plying between the sev< ral (owns." 
 
 In answer to which, 1 have done nothing 
 but what was my duly, and their complaint 
 can only be founded on thei noranci ol 
 that. When 1 waited on you, on my ar- 
 rival, I acquainted you of my being sent to 
 
 thi ■ i\ ni to assii i the revenue. I had 
 
 my commissi. hi to show you if required, as it 
 was evei understood by all lus Majesty's 
 governors I have had the honor to wait on, 
 
 that every officer commanding one of his 
 Majesty's vessels was properly authorized 
 and never did produce it, unasked for. The 
 officer I send is equally qualified, and lias 
 been in the boats in boarding most of the 
 vessels, and can give any information relative 
 to my proceeding. 
 
 Sir, your humble servant, 
 
 W DUDDINGSTON. 
 
 Newport, Rhode Island, j> 
 March 23, 1772. s 
 Sir: — Yours of this day I have received, 
 which does not give me that satisfaction I 
 had a right to expeel ; neither was the bear- 
 er of the letter qualified to give me any au- 
 thentic information respecting the legality of 
 that authority you have presumed to exercise 
 within this Colony. I expect that you do 
 without delay, comply with my request of 
 yesterday, and you may be assured that my 
 utmost exertions shall not be wanting to pro- 
 tect your person from any insult or outrage 
 on coming ashore. 
 
 1 am your humble servant. 
 
 J. WANTON. 
 To. Mr. W. Di'ddinciston, of the Schooner 
 Gaspee. 
 
 Here ended the correspondence between 
 the Governor and the Lieutenant. It would 
 seem that the Lieutenant's sense of propriety 
 was .hocked, by the letters of the Governor, 
 implying as they do, a right to control, in 
 some degree, the proceedings of one of his 
 Majesty's officers, while within the colony. 
 
 He therefore enclosed the letters to Admi- 
 ral Montagu, then commander-in-chief of his 
 Majesty's fleet on this station. The Admi- 
 ral sympathised with the Lieutenant, He 
 felt his own dignity wounded in the requisi- 
 tion made by the Governor on his Lieuten- 
 ant. Forgetting that he was the Governor 
 of a colon) of free Englishmen, elected by 
 themselves, and not a royal governor of a 
 Province, who held his office at the will of the 
 King, Admiral Montagu addressed the fol 
 lowing letter to ( lov. Wanton: 
 
 I li :o V 6th April 1772. 
 
 f>n< : — Lieutenant 1 luddingston, command 
 er ol' his Majesty's armed schooner ami a 
 part of the squadron under my command, 
 has sent, me two letters he received from you 
 of such a nature I am at a lo 
 to give them, and ashamed to find they come 
 from one of lus Majesty's Governoi III 
 informs me that he waited upon you and 
 showed you the admiralty and my orders for 
 his proceedings, which, agreeable to his in- 
 unctions, he is to do, that you may be ac 
 quainted thai he is on that station to protei t. 
 your province from pirates and to give the 
 
trade all the assistance he can, and to en- 
 deavor, as much as lays in his power, topro- 
 tecl the revenue officer, and to prevent (il 
 possible) the illicit trade that is carrying on 
 al Rhode Island. 
 
 He, sir, has done his duty and behaved 
 like an officer, and it is your duty as a gov- 
 ernor, to give hun your assistance, and not 
 endeavor to di tress the King's officers for 
 strictly complying with my orders. I shall 
 give them directions, that, in ca le they re- 
 . eive any molestation in the execution of 
 
 then- duty, they shall semi ever)' man so 
 taken in molesting them, to me. 1 am also 
 informed, the people of Newport talk ol fit- 
 ting out an armed vessel to rescue any vei 
 el the Ki mi t mav take carrying 
 
 on an illicit trade. Let them be cautious 
 u hal they do ; for as sun- as they attempt it, 
 and any ofthem are token, I will hang them 
 ai piratei . [shall report > our two insolent 
 letters to my officer, to In M ije ty's Secre- 
 tary s of State, and leave them to di tet .nine 
 what right you have to demand a sight of 
 all orders I shall give to all officers ol' my 
 squadron, and I v, o ou nottoi end 
 
 5 our Sherifl on boat d the K in ; 's ship again, 
 on such ridiculous errands. The Captain 
 and Lieutenant i have all my ord< i to rive 
 lance i\ hene\ ,i- you di mand it, but 
 further you ha\ with them. and. 
 
 be a lured, il is not their duty to show you 
 oie. part <•',' my orders or instructions to 
 
 I am. sir your most humble servant. 
 J. MONTAGU. 
 
 This produced the following spirited an- 
 swer : 
 
 Rhode Island, May S, 1772. 
 
 ■ our letter dated April the 8th at 
 Boston, I have received. Lieutenant Dud- 
 ding iton ha ■ dour well in transmitting my 
 letters to you. which 1 sent him; but I am 
 sorry to be informed there is any thing con- 
 tained in them that should he construed as a 
 design of giving offence, when no such thing 
 ided. I lut Mr. Duddjngi ton ha 
 : ting to you "he 
 waited on me and showed me the admiralty 
 and your orders for his proceedings which 
 agreeable to his instruction he is to do," but 
 in that he has altogether misinformed you, 
 lor he, at no time, ever showed me any or- 
 ders from the admiralty or from you and 
 positively denied that he derived any autho- 
 rity either from you or the commissioners; 
 therefore, it was altogether out of m, now 
 
 .. ifthei he can.e hither to protect 
 us from pirates, or was a pirate himself. — 
 
 he ha done his duly ami behaved 
 like an officer." In tins 1 apprehend you 
 must be mistaken, for 1 can never believe it 
 is tlic duty of any officer, to give t'alse in- 
 formation to his superior..'. As to your attempt 
 to point out what was my duty as Governor, 
 V : < ase to he informed, that I do not receive 
 instructions for the administration of my gov- 
 
 ernment, from the King's admiral stationed 
 i. You sei that ] have 
 endeavored to distress the King's officer, for 
 strictly complying with your orders. In this 
 you are altogether mistaken, fori have at all 
 times heretofore, and shall constantly for time 
 to come, afford them all the aid and assistance 
 in my power in the execution of their office. 
 The information you have received "that the 
 people of Newport talked of fitting out an 
 armed vessel to rescue any vessel the King's 
 schooner might take carrying on an illicit 
 trade," you may he assured is without, 
 foundation, and a scandalous imposition, lor 
 upon inquiring into this matter. I cannot find 
 that any such design was ever made, or so 
 much as talked of, and, then fori'. 1 hope you 
 will not hang any of his Majesty's subjects 
 belonging to his colony upon such false in- 
 formal , I am greatly obliged for the 
 
 promise of transmitting my letters to the See- 
 retary of State. I am, however, a little 
 shocked at your impolite expression made 
 use of upon that occasion ; in return for this 
 good office, I shall al o transmit your letter 
 to the Secretary of State, and leave to the 
 King and his ministers to determine on which 
 ide the charge of insolence lies. As to your 
 idvice not to send the Sheriff on board any 
 if your squadron, please to know, that 1 will 
 -end the Sherifl of this Colony at any time, 
 and to any place, within the body of it, as 
 I shall think lit. In the last paragraph of 
 your letter you are pleased flatly to contra- 
 "ct hat you wrote in the beginning; for 
 there you assert that Duddingston, by his in- 
 structions, was directed to show me the ad- 
 miralty and your orders to him, and here you 
 assert, that I have no business with them, 
 and assure me that it is not his duty to show 
 me them or any part thereof. 
 
 I am, sir, your humble servant, 
 
 J. WANTON. 
 The Governor laid the preceding letter 
 from Admiral Montagu before the General 
 Assembly, at their May Session 1772, and 
 the following resolution passed that body in 
 relation to the answer sent to the Admiral. 
 
 "Resolved, That his Honor the Governor 
 lie requested to transmit, a copy of the writ- 
 ten letter to Admiral Montagu, and likewise, 
 that his Honor, the Governor, be requested 
 to transmit to the Secretary of State, a nar- 
 ration, containing the proceedings referred 
 to in said letter, together with a copy of the 
 Admiral's li tter, as soon as may be, and that 
 hepresenta copy thereof to this Assembly 
 tit the next session ofthe same." 
 
 The letter of the Governor led to some 
 further correspondence between the Admiral 
 and the Lieutenant, of which only the follow- 
 
 g letter has been obtained : 
 
 Sib : — I have received your letters ofthe 
 14th and 18th inst and copy of commission- 
 
t) 
 
 ere to you. By theire, I see plainly. I ran 
 not look to them to be supported for i ending 
 p and 1 1 mi i" I loston, notwithstand 
 ing I was assured by their officers at this 
 ■ seizure could be safe with them.— 
 There wai only the alternative to send her 
 or remain in this harbor and guard twelve 
 ds of rum. a bait, the inhabitants of 
 ernmenl would willingly put in my 
 way, if that could fix the schooner. I was 
 not, at the time, ignorant of the statute to 
 the contrary, but never donbti d il thi loop 
 got afe I should be supported by them, a I 
 mini med the board. The owner of the nun 
 resided in Coventry, which is but little fur- 
 ther from Boston than Newport, of course 
 could, at as little ex] ense defend his proper- 
 ty at 'I te as the other. As I find the ex- 
 
 igi ncies not considered, but law referred to 
 by them, for the future shall I ike care not to 
 act repugnant to it, let what may be the con 
 sequence. If I should have any doubt about 
 that, will take the opinion recommended to 
 then- officers relative to the officers in the 
 Navy bi in lie All 
 
 General. 1 shall he on my guard nol to put 
 it in their power to arrest me or any officer 
 under my command in this government. — 
 What passed between the governor and me 
 was. near as 1 can recollect, what follows. 
 The morning after my arrival from Boston 
 wa u hen I first saw him. 
 Sir, I command his Majesty's schooner 
 
 Gaspee, and am ordered into tin. vern 
 
 menthy Admiral Montagu, to assist the re- 
 Governor — Is it the schooner ('apt. Allen 
 commanded ' (meaning the Lieutenant I 
 supersede. 1. ) 
 Lieut. D.— Yes. 
 
 Govet in. i \\ e have had many different 
 schooners hero lately, (mentioning the Sul- 
 tana, St. John and Halifax.) 
 
 Lieut. — Yes; and you may rememhrr me 
 
 .hi two years ago when the < iolonels 
 Dalrymple and Robinson came with me. (1 
 am not sun- whether liesaid he did or not.) 
 
 ( iovernor What vi ssel was that which 
 the Packet ' 
 
 I told him whom she wa- commanded bj 
 and belonged to, and my being there at the 
 tune, and said, it would nol have happened 
 had the officer cane near the Gaspee, which 
 was his duty, with more on the subject too 
 trivial for you to hear, lie then related the 
 conduct of 1 the ' lollector and Mr. Reid, late 
 commandet of the i ustom house sloop Lib- 
 ertj , and said n wa in then- power to have 
 saved her before . lie had received much 
 damage, and aid he would not mind what 
 the) represented concerning him, if they 
 h i I told fact i. I aid I had heard it other- 
 wi e mentioned, but hoped I should meet 
 v. nh ii" difficultj in 'I"' e- i" n of a \ 
 duty. 
 
 1 • ' ' nor You may depend on my sup- 
 port and assistance. 
 
 I then observed, it was not clear to m( 
 if I made a seizure it would be safe. 
 ( iovernor — I will do powet 
 
 I then instanced what had been the fate 
 of one made by the officers of the port a little 
 before, and added. I did not think if 1 made 
 one 1 should put it to the trial. 
 
 Governor — I suppose you will be much 
 here. 1 shall always be glad to see you. 
 
 Lieut. D. — I shall be when- 1 find I can 
 best execute the service. I was much 
 obliged to him. 
 
 Governor — 1 hope, Captain, we -hall have 
 i li rstanding. 
 
 I said it was my wash, and should give 
 p ale. Much was 
 a: about his government and police, hut 
 never did he ask me to show my ord< i 
 even mention them. The weather kept me 
 some days in the harbor, and I was in com- 
 pany with some of his friends, but never 
 heard my authority questioned, till 1 ent the 
 loop to Jioston, on my return here, at which 
 I rave him m\ n letter, a 
 
 copy of which 1 enclose to j ou, for nol show- 
 ing mj orders, as he, till then, had never re- 
 quired me to do o el which time I i nl 
 them by an officer, which I informed you of. 
 I inn i now beg leave to ol erve. if lie had 
 asked me to show ray orders, is il possible I 
 should b nli . officer and 
 
 gentleman, in telling a falsehood, by doing 
 
 which I mast he ruined as an officer and in 
 
 reputation forever ' The fallacy 
 
 seen when it is considered, the only thing 
 
 that makes the schooner res] cted 
 
 in be mi nicd by me. I lad such an assertion 
 
 come from a private character, I should hope 
 
 for reparation for an attempt to wound my 
 
 reputation as an officer. In my pre; enl sit 
 
 nation I hie ly to hope my person will 
 
 he re pei ted as an offici r ,'■■- much as any 
 Governor, who can make it appear b) no 
 bettei e\ idence than an old woman and clerk 
 in the naval office, and nol in the station of a 
 gentleman, and I do not think either would 
 be base enough to n itm : i o great a fal ;e- 
 
 I I. As to his h tter, it cannot be looked 
 
 upon as la but the Assembly's, where it was 
 
 put. to the vote tn answer your letter or not. 
 
 '['hey were all l'"r the answer, the (iovernor 
 
 alone, for sending it to Lord 1 lill b 
 
 Mr ( ireem i one of the house, the owner of 
 
 the rum. 1 i mild expert no qua] 
 
 p ople o ai ■ : imp. ( 'a the 10th the sloop 
 
 was condemm d. I have taken the liberty 
 
 tn enclose my letter to the Commi inner: for 
 
 your perusal, open, as it was (he intention of 
 
 the people here to have the I op old in the 
 
 manlier they have been rj led to, llich ai 
 
 ways falls into the old owners' hands without 
 opposition. I hope soon to ha\ e the board's 
 an wet to determine her de stination. 
 
 your most obedient and humble 
 servant, \V. DUDDINGSTON. 
 
 , , ... s GA3PEE,May22, 177:.'. 
 
 Admiral Mum. ml j U „, , 11L . f s , A , D . 
 
At the next session ot' the Assembly, 
 which was in August following, Gov. Wan- 
 tun presented a copy ofhis letter to the 8ec- 
 retary of State, which was as follows : 
 
 Newport, Rhode Island, May 30, 177:.'. 
 
 My Lord: — In conformity to it vote of the 
 General Assembly of this colony, 1 herewith 
 transmit jour Lordship a copy of a letter I 
 received from Admiral Montagu and the an- 
 swer: They have also requested me to trans- 
 mit i" your Lordship a narrative of all the 
 proceedings referre I to in said letter. 
 
 As Admiral Montagu has endeavored to 
 'in! on my character and adminis- 
 trations Governor of this i lolony, by charg- 
 ing me with attempting to distress the King's 
 officci rrom trictfy complying with his or- 
 ders, your Lordship will indulge me with 
 giving a short account of my proceedings, 
 by which the ungenerou accusation of Ad-, 
 miral Montagu will, 1 Hatter myself, appear 
 not to have the least foundation in truth. 
 
 On the2lsl of March last, a number of the 
 inhabitants of this colony, gentlemen of es- 
 tablished character, and whose loyalty to 
 their Sovereign is not to be questioned, ex- 
 hibited to me a complaint in writing, that a 
 
 certain sch< :r was cruising in the Varra 
 
 ganscti river, boarding every vessel and boat 
 that pi icd, and otherwise interrupting them 
 in the pursuit of their lawful busini i; and 
 not knowing by what authority the persons 
 belonging to said schooner exercised that 
 I ithin the bod) ofthe colony, request- 
 
 ed me to make such enquiry concerning the 
 same as was consistent with law. It. there- 
 fore, became my indispensable duty, in order 
 the complaints, to demand of the 
 commanding officer of said schooner, the rea- 
 son ofhis thus acting, and whether he was 
 vested with such power as would justify his 
 proceedings, which produced my letter to 
 him ofthe 22d ol March. It was answered 
 by Win. Duddingston, of the schooner Gas- 
 pee, but, as he did not give me thil satisfac 
 lion 1 conceived 1 had an indisputable right 
 t'i expect, 1 wrote another letter, whereupon 
 he sent me by one of lus officers, an order 
 from the Lords ofthe Admiralty, for his com- 
 manding the schooner Gaspee ; also their 
 letter to the commissioners at Boston r quest 
 ing that board to give him a deputation in 
 the customs, both which I returned to the 
 officer in the same hour he brought them, 
 without attempting in the least to distress or 
 oppose him in the execution of his duty. — 
 This, my Lord, is a true state of facts, and. I 
 belie\ e, youi I .ordship is com inced that, in 
 my proceeding i, I have done nothing but 
 what was my duty, and that Admiral Mon 
 •aim's accusation is as groundless as it is il- 
 liberal. 
 
 When I wrote my first letter, I do upon 
 
 honor declare, that "l did not know whether 
 
 una ci implained of v. u the < (a pee 
 
 ir not. and even it I did, in my opinion 1 am 
 
 justifiable, as 1 was entirely unacquainted 
 with Mr. Ouddingston's authority, either as an 
 officer in the revenue or navy ; and, I do not 
 believe, he had any right to officiate as a 
 custom house officer within the body of this 
 colony, before he had communicated to me, 
 or some proper authority, his commission for 
 so doing. | must not omit mentioning, that 
 the information which Admiral Montagu says- 
 he has received that the people of Newport 
 talk of fitting out an armed vessel to rescue 
 any seizures which may lie made by the 
 King's vessels, is, your Lordship may be as- 
 sured, a malicious representation, calculated, 
 by the enemies of our happy constitution, to 
 injure the colony, and bring upon the inhab- 
 itants his Majesty's displeasure. 1 acknow- 
 ledge it a singular happiness, that this affair 
 is brought, before your Lordship, and that 
 your candor and inflexible integrity will fix 
 the charge of insolence where it really be- 
 longs. I submit the dispute, with pleasure, 
 from a thorough conviction that your Lord- 
 ship's opinion thereupon will be consonant to 
 the strictest equity. 
 
 It is now my turn to complain of Wm. 
 Duddingston's illegal proceedings, in carrying 
 a quantity of rum he had seized on hoard a 
 small boat, lying within the county of Kent, 
 in this colony, to Boston, for trial, notwith- 
 standing by the 8th of Ins present Majesty, it 
 is expressly declared, that all forfeitures of 
 this kind shall be tried in that colony where 
 the offence is committed. To recite every 
 particular of his unwarrantable proceedings, 
 would, my Lord, he tedious. Let it then 
 suffice, that since the Gaspee and Beaver have 
 been stationed in tins colony, the inhabitants 
 have been insulted without any just cause, 
 with the most abusive and contumelious lan- 
 guage, and I am sorry that. I have reason to 
 say, that the principal officers belonging to 
 said vessels have exercised that power with 
 which they are vested, in a wanton and ar- 
 bitrary manner, to the very great injury and 
 disturbance of the colony. 
 
 I have, my Lord, constantly afforded the 
 King's officers all the assistance in my pow- 
 er in the legal discharge of their trust; if any 
 ofthem through prejudice, ignorance of their 
 duty or youthful indiscretion, insult the colo- 
 ny, it is my duty, as his Majesty's governor, 
 to remonstrate against it. 
 
 I am, with the greatest deference and re- 
 spirt, my Lord, your Lordship's most obe- 
 dient humble servant. J. WANTON. 
 
 To the Right. Honorable Earl of Hills- 
 borough, one ofhis Majesty's principal iSec- 
 reta f State. Whitehall. 
 
 The tacts stated and alluded to in the fore- 
 going letters must have done much toward 
 rendering the situation of Lieut. Dudding- 
 ston inure uncomfortable, and the discharge 
 ofhis duties less acceptable to the colony. — 
 In one instance, at least, he had violated the 
 
8 
 
 express provision of an act of Parliament re- 
 lating i" • i aires made for illicit trade The 
 act required thai goods so seized should be 
 adjudicated upon by the court of Via \>! 
 mindly in the colony where seized. He 
 seized a sloop with twelve hog iheads of ruin 
 on board, within the county of Kent, and cnt 
 them to Boston lor trial, He stales that the 
 owner ofthe rum was a Mr. < frecne, a mem- 
 ber of the General Assembly from Coventry, 
 [f so, it must have been Nathaniel Greene. 
 Jr. For this act he had been threatened 
 with a suit, and dared not go on shore lor 
 fear ofbeing arrested. Things continued in 
 this state, growing even worse rather than 
 better, until the destruction ofthe Gaspee in 
 .tune following, which is thus described by an 
 eye witne 
 
 'Intheyear 177:.'. the British government 
 had stationed at Newport, Rhode Island, the 
 schooner called the Gaspee, ol eight guns, 
 commanded by Wm. Duddingston, a Lieuten- 
 ant in the British Navy, for the purpose of 
 preventing the clandestine landing ofai tides . 
 subject to the payment of dutj The ( lap 
 tain "| this schooner made il In practice to 
 stopand hoard all vessels ntering or leaving 
 of Rhode Island, or leaving New- 
 port for Providem e 
 
 On the 10th day of June. 171 !. Capt. Tho- 
 mas Lindsey left Newport in his packet for 
 Providence, about noon, with the wind at 
 North ; and soon after, the < Jaspee was under 
 sail, in pursuit of Lindsey. and continued the 
 chase a i fai as Vamquit Point, which runs 
 off from the farm in Warwick about seven 
 miles below Providence, now owned by Mr. 
 John Brown Francis, our late < rovernor. — 
 Lindsey was standing easterly, with the tide 
 on ebb about two hour-, when he hove about, 
 at the end ol Namquit Point, and stood to the 
 westward, and Duddingston in clo e chn e 
 
 cl ged his course and ran on the Point, 
 
 near its end, and "rounded. Lindsej C011 
 tinued on his course up the river, and arrived 
 at Pro\ idence about sunset, v. hen he immc 
 diately informed Mr. John Brown,oneof nur 
 first and mo I n pectable merchants, of the 
 situation of the Gaspee. He immediately 
 concluded that she would remain immova- 
 ble until after midnight, and thai now an op- 
 portunity offered of putting an end to the 
 trouble and vexation she daily caused, Mr. 
 Brown immediately resolved on her dc true 
 lion, and he forthwith directed one ol h 
 
 trusty shipmasters to collect eight of the 
 
 lai gc it long boats in the harbor, with five 
 oarsto each, to have the oars and row locks 
 well muffled, to preveni noise, and to place 
 ile 'in at Fenner's wharf, directly oppo ite to 
 the dwelling of Mr. Jamc Sabin, who kept 
 a house ofboard and entertainment 
 tlemen, being the same house purchased a 
 
 lew years after by the late Welcome Ar- 
 nold and is now owned by and is the resi- 
 dence of Colonel Richard J. Arnold, his son. 
 About the time ofthe shutting up of the 
 hops -in after sunset, a man passed along 
 the Main street beating a drum and inform- 
 ing the inhabitants ofthe fact, that the Gas- 
 pee was aground on Namquit Point, and 
 would not float off until 3 o'clock the next 
 morning,and inviting those persons who felt 
 a dispo ition to go and destroy that trouhlc- 
 
 ome e el to repaii n th< ei , , i n g to Mr. 
 James Sabin's house. About 9 o'clock, 1 
 took my father's gun and my powder horn 
 and bullets and weal In Mr. Sabin's, and 
 found the southeast room full of people, w here 
 I loaded my gun, and all remained there 
 till about 1U o'clock, some casting bullets in 
 the kitchen, and others making arrangements 
 for departure, when orders were given to 
 cross the street to Fenner's wharf and em- 
 hark ; which soon took place, and a sea cap- 
 tain acted as steersman of each boat, of 
 whom 1 recollect < lapt. Abraham Whipple, 
 Capt. John ]!. Hopkins, (with whom 1 em- 
 harked.) and Capt, BenjaminDunn. A line 
 from righttoleft was soon formed, with Capt. 
 Whipple on the right and Capt. Hopkins on 
 the right of the lefl wing. 
 
 The party thus proceeded till within about 
 sixty yards of the Gaspee. when a sentinel 
 hailed, "Who comes there 7 No answer. — 
 He hailed again and no answer. In about a 
 minute Duddingston mounted the starboard 
 gunwale in hisshirtand hailed, "Who comes 
 No answer. Hehailed again, when 
 ( lapt. Whipple answered as follows — "I am 
 
 the sheriff ofthe county of Kent, G — d d n 
 
 you. 1 have got a warrant to apprehend 
 
 you, <; eld n you; so surrender, G — d 
 
 d n you." 1 look my seat on the main 
 
 thwart, near the larboard row-lock, with my 
 gun by my right side, facing forwards. As 
 soon as Duddingston began to hail, Joseph 
 Bucklin, who was standing on the main 
 thwart b) my right side, said to me, "Ephe, 
 reach me your gun and I can kill that fel- 
 low.' I reached i I to him accordingly, when, 
 dining Capt. Whipple's replying, Bucklin 
 fired and Duddingston fell, and Bucklin ex- 
 claimed, "1 have killed the rascal.'' In less 
 than a minute alter ( 'apt. Whipple's answer, 
 the boats were alongside ofthe Gaspee, and 
 boarded without opposition. The men on 
 deck retreated below as Duddingston enter- 
 ed the cabin. 
 
 As it was discovered that he was wounded, 
 John Mawney. who had lor two or three 
 years been studying physic and surgery, was 
 ordered In go into the cabin and dress Dud- 
 
 dingston's wound, and 1 was directed to as- 
 sisthim. Onexamination.it was found the 
 ball look ellect about live inches directly be- 
 low the navel. Duddingston called for Mr. 
 Dickinson to produce bandages and other ne 
 ccssanes for the dressing of the wound, and 
 when finished, orders were given to the 
 
9 
 
 is company to collect their clothing 
 
 and e\ < <-\ thing beloi tl em and put 
 
 them into their boats, ■>- all of them were to 
 be sent on shore. All urn- soon collected 
 and put on board of the boats, including one 
 ol our boats. They departed and landed 
 Duddingston at the old -(ill house wharf, at 
 Pawtuxet, and put the chief into the house of 
 Joseph Rhodes. Soon after, all the partj 
 were ordered to depart, leaving one boat for 
 the leadei i pedition, who soon set 
 
 the i e el on Sre, which consumed her to the 
 waters' edge. The names of the mosl con- 
 picuou actors are as follows, viz : Mr.John 
 Brown, Captains Abraham Whipple, John 
 !'». Hopkins, Benjamin Dunn, and five others, 
 i\ ho ic name I ha\ e forgotten, and John 
 Mawney, Benjamin Page, Jo eph Bucklin, 
 in,! Turpin Smith, my youthful companions, 
 all of whom are dead, [believe, every man 
 of he party, excepting myself, and my age is 
 eighty-six years this 29th day of August, 
 lighteen hundred and thirty-nine. 
 
 EPHRAIM BOWEN." 
 
 9 The fore ;oing I itement was published by 
 i !ol. I low en al the time i' bear date. Since 
 then he al o ha followed his "youthful com- 
 panion i" to the grave. 
 
 < !ol. Bowi u mistook in his recolli 
 to the d proclamation, 
 
 ued Jane 1 2th, vvh 
 
 . t the Ga pei wo destroyed on 
 lie ■-. the (| ili day of June. ( 'apt. Lind- 
 p, called the Hannah, according to 
 tin Pi dencc i (azette of June 13, arrived at 
 Newport on Monday, from New York, and 
 after reporting her cargo at the cu torn 
 house, proceeded up the river on Tuesday. 
 
 Mr. John Mawney, who is named in Col. 
 Bowen's narrative, in a statement published 
 in the American and Gazette in the year 
 I S26, records the following additional facts. 
 After hearing the drum beat, he repaired to 
 Mr. Sabin's, where he learned the object of 
 'I" 1 meeting , and ome ol hi: acquaintances 
 t lie re, urged him to go with them as surgeon. 
 
 Ti I readil) consented, and 
 
 wi ui i" i !oi li ' v. li hi' with Capl I 
 Tillinghast, who commanded the barge, it 
 beiim- the last boat that put oil', and in going 
 down we stopped at I ' apt. < Jooke's ivli art'. 
 where we to >k in sta\ es and paving stones, 
 w in' 'b done followed our i ommander and 
 came up with them a con iderablc distance 
 down the river, after which we rowed alone 
 ! rettj rapidly till wi came in sight of the 
 schooner, when Capt., the late Commodore 
 Whipple, ordered us to forma line, which 
 was instantly complied with, alter which we 
 oil;, along, till we had " il near the 
 schooner, when we were hailed from on 
 
 board with the words, "Who comes there 7" 
 Capt. Whipple replied, "I want to come on 
 board." The reply was, "Stand off, you can't 
 come on board." On which Capt. Whipple 
 roared out. "1 am the sheriff of the county of 
 Kent, I am come for the commander of this 
 vessel, and have him I will, dead or alive — 
 men, spring to your oars ;" when we 
 an in tanton her bows. I was then sitting 
 with Capt. Tillinghast in the stern of the 
 barge, and sprang immediately forward, and 
 seeing a rope hang down her bows, seized it 
 to help myself in. The rope slipping, I fell 
 almost in my waist in the water, but being 
 activeand nimble, 1 recovered, and 'was the 
 first of our crew on deck, when Simeon H. 
 Olne) handed mc astave, with which, seeing 
 one that I took to be of the crew of the 
 floundering below the windlass, I 
 was in the altitude of levelling a stroke, when 
 he cried out, '-John, don't strike." Being 
 very intimately acquainted with Capt. Sam- 
 uel Dunn. I knew his voice, left him, and 
 sprung back of the windlass, where there 
 was commotion and noise, but which soon 
 ubsided, the crewjumping down the hold, I 
 < !y following, when I ordered them 
 to bring cords to tie their hands, and told 
 them they should not be hurt but be sent on 
 shore. They brought some tarred strings, 
 with which 1 tied the hands of two behind, 
 when John Brown, Esq., called tome saying, 
 I was wanted immediately on deck, where I 
 was instantly helped. When ] asked. Mr. 
 Brown what is the matter, he replied, "Don't 
 call names, but go immediately into the cab- 
 in, there is one wounded, and will bleed to 
 death " I hastened into the cabin and found 
 Lieut. Duddingston in a sitting posture, 
 gently reclining to the left, bleeding profuse- 
 ly, with a thin, white, woollen blanket, loose 
 ab.au ban, which I threw aside and discov- 
 ered the effect of a musket ball, in his left 
 groin, and thinking the femoral artery was 
 cut, threw open my waistcoat and taking my 
 shirt by the cellar, tore it to my waistband, 
 when Mr. Duddingston said, "Pray, sir, don't 
 tear your clothes, there is linen in that 
 trunk," upon which I recpacsted Joseph 
 Bucklin to break open the trunk and tear 
 linen and scrape lint, which he immediately 
 ittempted, but finding the linen new and 
 strong, could nor make the lint. I then di- 
 rected bun to place bis hands as I had mine, 
 which was, the ball of my left hand on the 
 orifice of the wound, and giving him the 
 word to slip his hand under mine and to 
 press hard to prevent the effusion of blood ; 
 which being done, I went to the linen and 
 attempted to scrape il into lint, but found I 
 could not effect it. As daylight was fast 
 coming on and our time short, I then tore the 
 linen into strips for compresses and the ne- 
 cessary bandages, which was done by knot- 
 ting them into long strips, placed the mm- 
 ine , fiveorsix deep, and with the liga- 
 tures, by the Lieut. All being prepared. I 
 
10 
 
 told Bucklin to raise his hands, when I in- 
 stantly placed the compresses on the orifici 
 and placing the bandage round the thigh 
 over the wound and crossing it above, drew 
 tight, so that the effusion of blood v. 
 ped. During the operation, I was several 
 times called upon at the door, but now was 
 ready. When the door was opened manj 
 rushed in and attacked the bottles. 1 hav- 
 ing boots on, stamped cm them, and requi 
 ed others to assist, which was readily done. 
 During this, Mr. Duddingston was carried 
 out ofthe room, and I never saw him atter. 
 notwithstanding I had several invitations, 
 through Dr. Henry Sterling. When 1 came 
 on di i i. I saw < 'apr. Tillinghast, and some 
 others. We got into the boat and rowed up 
 the river a certain distance and went by 
 land to town, when Capt. Tillinghast, who 
 was then living with me, after taking break- 
 fast, went on the hill to view the smoking 
 ruins ofthe vessel, which was all in flames 
 soon after we left it.' 1 
 
 In the proceeding statement of Dr. Maw- 
 ney, are some facts not recollected by Col. 
 Bowen; facts which did not, and could not, 
 considering the different parts they acted, 
 fall under his observation. They are evi- 
 dently different parts of the same transac- 
 tion. The attention of Dr. Mawney was 
 particularly directed to his patient, the wound- 
 ed Lieutenant, though, it seems, he was 
 equally ready to inflict as to cure wounds. — 
 From a subsequent statement of Dr. Maw- 
 ney, it appears that Lieutenant Duddingston 
 was not wanting in gratitude to Ins surgeon. 
 After his wound was dressed, he offered 
 Dr. Mawney a gold stock buckle as a testi- 
 monial of his gratitude. This was refused, 
 buta silver one was afterward offered and 
 accepted, and worn by Dr. Mawney but a 
 little while before his death. 
 
 Daniel Pearce was the individual who beat 
 the drum through the streets. At, the tune 
 of tins occurrence there were, two packet 
 masters bj the name of Lindsey. Col Bovs 
 en was mistaken in the name of the Capt. 
 ofthe Hannah. Thai was Benjamin and 
 not. Thomas. 
 
 Deputy Governor Sessions addressed the 
 following letters to Gov. Wanton, which 
 probably gave him the first notice of the 
 de truction of the ' la pi e 
 
 Providence, June 1 1, \~':i. 
 Sin : — A very disagreeable affair has 
 lately happened within this part ofthe colo- 
 nj La t Tuesday night, as his Majesty's 
 schooner the < laspee lay aground on the 
 point of land called Namquit, a little below 
 
 Pawtuxet. site was hoarded in a hostile 
 manner, by a number of persons unknown, 
 who, in the attack, dangerously wounded the 
 commander, William Duddingston, by firing 
 a pistol or musket ball through his arm, from 
 whence it passed and entered near his groin, 
 and is now lodged in some part of his body. 
 As soon as they had secured the possession 
 ofthe vessel, they took out the captain with 
 all the people, the greater part being first 
 pinioned, put them into boats, and put them 
 ashore on the main land near Pawtuxet ; af- 
 ter which they put fire to the schooner, which 
 soon reduced her to ashes, dowai to the wa- 
 i r edge. Upon my receiving the news. I 
 immediately set out for Pawtuxet, attended 
 by some gentlemen from this town, went di- 
 rectly to Capt. Duddingston, told him if he 
 needed any money, surgeons, or a removal 
 hi his person to a place more convenient, I 
 would give him all the assistance in my pow- 
 er. He replied, he wanted no favors with 
 respect to himself, but only desired some 
 care might be taken of his people, that they 
 might be collected together, and sen! either 
 to Boston tn the Admiral, or i Ise to the 
 Beaver al Newport, which I promised I 
 would take care to do. 1 theninformed him, 
 that the design of my visit, at that tune, was 
 nut niil\ in afford him any relief his circum- 
 stancesmight require, but also to gain a de- 
 claration from his own mouth respecting the 
 attack that had been made on his person and 
 i the vessel he commanded, that the perpe- 
 trators might be brought to justice. He an- 
 swered, he would give me no account of the 
 matter; first, because ol his indisposition of 
 body, and secondly, because it was his duty 
 to forbear any thing ofthe nature till he had 
 dime n to lus commandin : offii er, al a courl 
 martial, to which, if he lived, he must be call- 
 ed, but if he died, he desired it might all die 
 Willi him. 1 then asked him if he was wall- 
 ing 1 should examine any of his officers and 
 people. He said he was willing. 1 then 
 proceeded to examine a number of them, 
 they all agreeing nearly to the same thing, 
 and herewith convey to your honor, cop 
 ies of the most material of their declara- 
 tions. The dangerous fendency of this trans- 
 action is too obvious to pass it nver with the 
 least appearance of neglect, and. therefore, 
 doubt not your honor will give il due alien 
 linn, and prosecute such measures as wisdom 
 and prudence shall dictate. 
 
 It is the prevailing opinion of the gentle- 
 men in tins quarter, thai a proclamation, with 
 a large reward, be issued lor the apprehend- 
 ing the persons who have thus offended. You 
 will please consul! the gentlemen your way. 
 and in the meantime, I will endeavor to col- 
 lect the sentiments of the members of the 
 Assembly, and other principal gentlemen by 
 name and send the same to your honor a 
 soon as may be. 
 
 I am, with respect, your honor'smosl hum- 
 ble servant. DARIUS SESSIONS. 
 
i 1 
 
 Enclosed in this letter were the. following 
 affidavits : 
 
 The examination of Bartholomew I 'heever. 
 mi in lately belonging to hie Majesty's 
 schooner, the Gaspee, taken by Darius Ses- 
 lions, deputy governor of the colony of Rhode 
 Island, &c.j is as followeth, viz: That the 
 naiil schooner being bound from Newport up 
 to Providence, to take on board some of Ins 
 Majesty's seamen that were expected from 
 Boston, did, on the 9th of this instant, at about 
 
 ilu i e o'clock in the alien i of said day, run 
 
 aground on apointof laud, about six miles 
 below the town of Providence, where she, the 
 said schooner, lay until twelve o'clock at 
 in la at which time he, the said Cheever. 
 i ailed upon deck to lake the watch ; 
 about three quarters of an hour afterwards, 
 the schooner yet being aground, he observed 
 some long bo it . ab ml six or seven in num- 
 ber, full of men, drawing near to the schoo- 
 ner, upon which he informed the commander, 
 i lapl I tuddin ton, w ho immediately came 
 
 00 deck, and ordered him to hail them and 
 bid them stand oft on their peril, to which 
 they answered, I >amn j ou, we ha\ o you 
 The captain then ordered him to call all 
 hands on deck, which lie did ; but before 
 many of them got tip, the boats were along- 
 side and the crew gettingon board ; and as 
 they were entering the schooner, he saw the 
 flash and heard the report of a muski I and 
 
 heard the I m|> lain cry out, he was a dead 
 man. We were then ordered into the hold, 
 and la!, en out separately and put into the 
 in ; .di' the most of us being pinion- 
 ed, and thru put on shore on the main land, 
 where wc had not hern long before we saw 
 , inci on fire, n here she continued 
 till the fire reached the wati i i 
 Question— Did you, or do you know, or do 
 mber ever to have seen before any 
 ,,i' Hi,, .:■ person: thai boarded the schooner 
 at thai time ■ 
 
 An wei So. Ins 
 
 BARTHOLOMEW X CHEEVER. 
 mark. 
 
 i lolonj of I! mode Island, &c, } 
 Warwick, June 10, 177:,'. \ 
 
 The :i1,m\ e named I Sartholomew < 'I ver 
 
 "inl\ sworn to the truth of the fore- 
 i laration, to the which he has sub- 
 . I fore 
 
 DARIUS SESSIONS, 
 1 (eputy < fover \ 
 
 The examination of John Johnson, boat' 
 
 swain of his Majesty's scl ner Gaspee, 
 
 commanded by William Duddingston, to- 
 gi ili, r wiih the examination of "William Ca- 
 ple n ram in mi bo ail said schooner, taken 
 thi i 'nth day of June, in the twelfth year 
 
 01 In Majesty's reign, A. D. 1772, before the 
 lion. Darius Sessions, deputy governor,— 
 severally say. that on the ninth of June, being 
 bound with said schooner to the town of Pro- 
 
 vidence, in order to take onboard some of his 
 Majesty's seamen, which was expected from 
 Boston, m order to replace them on board his 
 Majesty's ship to which they belonged, about 
 liner o'i dock in the afternoon of said day the 
 schooner grounded on a point in the Narra- 
 gansett Bay, about six miles southward of 
 the town of Providence ; and about the mid- 
 dle of the night following, the schooner still 
 being on ground, there being but one hand 
 on deck, he discovered seven or eight long 
 boats, with a number of persons aboard them, 
 on which the person on deck informed the 
 commander, William Duddingston, who bail- 
 ed the boats and ordered them to keep off; 
 but the persons on board said boats not re- 
 garding the commander's orders, came near 
 in order to board said schooner, on which 
 the captain or commander called all hands; 
 but before we was on deck, we beard two 
 small arms or pistols fired; and when coming 
 on deck, the schooner was boarded, and be- 
 uiL r iii the hatchway, said Johnson received 
 several blows with a stirk. and as soon as 
 we wa ■ on deck, we was bound, and all the 
 rest ofthe seamen bound likewise, and put 
 on board their boat, and landed on the 
 west side ot'said Bay, together with captain 
 or commander, who was much wounded. 
 
 Question — Have you any knowledge of 
 the persons that boarded the schooner? 
 
 Answer — No. his 
 
 JOHN jxj JOHNSON. 
 mark. 
 his 
 WM. J. (xj CAPLE. 
 mark. 
 Colony of Rhode Island, &c, > 
 Warwick, June 10, 1772. $ 
 
 The within John Johnson and Wm. Ca- 
 ple made solemn oath to the truth of the with- 
 in, or foregoing declaration, to which they 
 have subscribed, before 
 
 DARIUS SESSIONS, 
 
 Deputy Governor. 
 
 On the following day, June 12, Governor 
 Sessions addressed another letter to Gov. 
 Wanton. The bearer of which probably 
 broughl the proclamation of Governor Wan- 
 ton: 
 
 Proviuence, June 12, 1772. 
 
 Sin : — Since I wrote you yesterday by 
 Hacker, I have r ceived the advice of till the 
 civil authority in this town, as well as an ap- 
 plication m writing, signed by a great num- 
 ber of the most reputable inhabitants, who 
 mimosuly of opinion, and earnestly 
 desire that your honor forthwith issue a pro- 
 clamation with a proper reward, for the ap- 
 prehending and bringing to justice any and 
 every person that was concerned in destroy- 
 ing the schooner Gaspee, or in assaulting 
 and wounding William Duddingston, the 
 commander ol said schooner; and, if your 
 honor find it expedient to put forth such pro- 
 clamation, it is requested that a copy there- 
 
12 
 
 of may be sent by the bearer, who ■ 
 press, and has orders to wait until it is de- 
 termined whether a | roclamaiion be i 
 or ii"i ; and if il be, to bring it [ 
 him timely, th; in erted in our 
 
 r to morrow. Somi 
 
 being called his Maj 
 esty's sch thought by - imi 
 
 n fact, reall) wa : not, and consequently did 
 n ,,i di - xvethat appellation. If the evidence 
 wc have in that respeel I"- sufficient to de 
 nominate her* a King's vi sel, she oughl to 
 be called so, if nut, then only without anj 
 compliment, the schooner Gaspee, which is 
 submitted to your honor'i better knowledge 
 and discretion by 
 
 Your honor's mosthumble n rvant, 
 DARIUS SESSIONS, 
 p. S. — Dr. Sterling, who attends Cant, 
 Duddingston, informed us yesterday that lie 
 u;i. iii a fair wa) to recover of his wound 
 ( Jovernor Wanton, 
 The Hon. Jo* eph Wanton, Esq., at New- 
 port. 
 
 By the Honorable Joseph Wan- 
 'i [L. S.J ton, Esquire, Governor, Captain 
 ( teneral and ' !ommander-in-chief 
 of and over the English < iolony of Rliode 
 Island and Providenc 
 England in America— 
 
 A PROCLAM VTION. 
 
 Whereas, on Tuesday, the 0th 
 the night, a number of people unknown, board 
 
 ed his Majesty's armed schi er the < (a pec 
 
 as she lay aground on a point of land called 
 Namquit, a little to the southward ol Paw- 
 tuxet, in the colony afore: aid, who danger 
 lunded William 1 (uddingi ton, the 
 commander, and by force took him with all 
 his people, put them into boats, ai.d landed 
 them near Pawtuxet, and afterward sel fire 
 to the said schooner, whereby she \\ i total 
 ly destroyed. I have, therefore, thought fit, 
 by and with the advice of such of hi Maji 
 
 icil as could be seasonably convened 
 I,, issue this proclamation, strictly charging 
 and commanding all his majesty's officers 
 within the said colony, both civil and milita 
 rv. to exert them eh es with the utmo I \ 
 ilance to discover and apprehend tl 
 guilty of the aforesaid atrocious crime, that 
 
 they may be brought I" condign \ h 
 
 inrni. and 1 do hci ebj oiler a reward of one 
 hundred pound ti rling monej of ( treat 
 Britain to any per :on or persons who shall 
 ill cover the pel petraton ol the aid villainy, 
 to be paid immediately upon th i 
 of any one or more of them. 
 
 And the il '■■■ m the aid colony 
 
 ari hereby required forthwith in cause ihi- 
 pro 1 unation to be posted up in the mosl pub- 
 lic places in each of the towns in their re 
 e counties. 
 
 < riven under my hand and seal al arm a1 
 Newporl this I2th day of June, in the twelfth 
 year of the reign of his Most Sacred Maje 
 
 ty George the Third, by the Grace of God, 
 King of Great Britain and so forth. Anno 
 Dom. 177-'. J. WANTON, 
 
 imand : 
 Henhv Ward, Secretary. 
 ( Jod save the King. 
 Notwithstanding the wound of Lieutenant 
 Duddingston, he probably on the morning of 
 
 the tenth of J i di patched a mi 
 
 Admiral Montagu, with the news of the losf 
 ofhis vessel, The messenger was probably 
 William Dickinson, a midshipman. The 
 communication led to the following letter to 
 • , . , . anton from the Admiral : 
 
 Boston, i lib June, 1772. 
 Sin: — Enclosed I transmit your Excellen- 
 ej a deposition taken before me of the pi- 
 ratical proceedings of the people of Provi 
 dence in R hode Island £ eminent, by at- 
 tacking in klaj chooner n ith an armor 
 
 lb] ce, w ounding hei ci nander in a danger 
 
 oi, manner, and then setting her on fire. I 
 am to request your Excellency will use such 
 methods as you shall think proper for appre 
 hending and bringing the olfen lers to justici 
 I am now d< patching a sloop to England 
 with the account I enclose to you. and am 
 
 your Exci ern humble 
 
 servant, J. MONTAG1 . 
 
 1 lis Excellency * iov. Wanton. 
 
 The deposition enclosed was that of Wm 
 Dickinson, which was as follows: 
 
 William Dickinson, midshipman of his 
 Majesty's schooner Gaspee i ayeth : That 
 
 cl :r was hi single am hor aboui 
 
 three leag ue bi I ■ ■.■. Pro\ idence, in Rhode 
 Island government, nub of June, 177.'. ami 
 aboul half pni i twelve o clock in the night 
 or morning, the watch gave the alarm that a 
 number of boats wei e coming down the riv- 
 er, and very near us, ( being an i 
 ing i lark night,) we hailed them, and ordered 
 them to Keep off. They instantly gave us 
 three cheers, on v. hich wc fired at them with 
 muskets, which they immediately returned 
 with half a dozen mui kets, (or tin reabouti . | 
 U e ib n bred our pistols, on which they 
 
 boarded us upon the i tarl rd bow, and 
 
 fired a number of small irm - Immediately 
 I lieutenant I hiddinu ion (her commander) 
 cried out, "Good ( rod, I am done for," and 
 was wounded m his groin and arm. \\ bile 
 we were di puling forward, relative to their 
 boarding us, three other boa: boarded us 
 up in the quarter. In the three boat 3 which 
 bo irded u upon he quarti r, there were 
 thirty or forty men al least, and in the whole. 
 I suppose, about 150 in number, on which we 
 
 though! proper (the Lienti nant beingw I 
 
 render. When they had aol po i- 
 I the schooner they used the people 
 very ill, by pinioning of them, and throwing 
 them into their boats, and refused the Lieu- 
 tenant aid officers :nn necess trie i bul what 
 
13 
 
 they had on, and not even suffered the com- 
 manding officer to have his papers, and rob- 
 ilver spoons, and 
 throwed his linen and apparel overboard.— 
 We were thensenl a hore, in two different 
 boats, the Lieutenant and part of the men in 
 one boat, and m\ self u ith the rest of thu peo- 
 ple in the other boat, at the distance of atjoui 
 two miles asunder, as we found al daylight. 
 1 remained on the beach, and about half-pas! 
 three o'clock saw the schooner on fire, and 
 about half-past four I saw three boats put 
 off from her, full of men. and rowed up to- 
 wards Providence, and an hour after another 
 boat came by her and landed her men at 
 Paw tuxet. 
 
 Q tions by Ulmiral Montagu. 
 
 Question.- -How long had you been lying 
 in Providence River ■! 
 
 Answer. -Wc came to an anchor there at 
 o cloi 1. hi the afternoon of the 9th of 
 June 
 
 Q. — Had yon sent any boat ashore ' 
 
 but employed sounding the Harbor. 
 
 Q. Had j "ii been Pi i nee before 
 during the time you were upon that station '. 
 
 A.- \o 
 
 Q. — !><> you imagine that the people who 
 boarded you, i i : from Pro i 
 
 ii landed her men at 
 Pan tuxet. 
 
 <j What ui tance is Pawtuxet from Pro- 
 vidence by land ' 
 
 A.— Five miles. 
 
 iV \\ hat di tancc were the boats from 
 tin ill a when thej were firstseen? 
 
 I. I v.. a.. i upon deck at first my ill 
 hut win n I saw them thej n ei e about LOO 
 yards. 
 
 (J —Why did you not fire your great guns 
 al them ! 
 
 A.— They 1> 'ded us upon the boi 
 
 u ere .ii i" us that we had not time to 
 
 ... ..in ..mi ..ui ai the bow ports 
 
 Q. — Did any of the people that boarded 
 you appear like gentlemen ' 
 
 I. iTes; man) of them appeared like men 
 and trade men, and but few like 
 common men. 
 
 Q. — Did they make use of any opprobrious 
 language ' 
 
 I. -Yes ; by threatening to put the I lieu- 
 tenant to death, and calling us piratical ras- 
 
 Q. Where did von leave the Beaver ' 
 i i iff i .i the mouth of 
 
 ■ |.. age. 
 Q. \\ Ii it di tance from you ' 
 
 I. -Al mile 
 
 ij i ..iil.l she be in sight when this hap- 
 pened .' 
 
 tveen 
 Q. — Is tin . 
 recollect ' 
 
 L. -^ cs -. one of the people took me by 
 the collar, and said, "Damn you, where is 
 
 your Pilot Doget." I answered he was 
 discharged six weeks ago. He answered, 
 ''Damn your blood, you lie ;" and said they 
 would find him, and [illegible] him alive. 
 
 Q. — Did they suffer the Lieutenant to put 
 on any clothes after he was wounded ? 
 
 A. — No; he was in his shirt with his great 
 coat over his shoulders, and a blanket round 
 his body. 
 
 Q. — Was any other person wounded ex- 
 cept the Lieutenant ! 
 
 A. — Yes : one in the head. 
 
 And 1 further declare, that when Lieuten- 
 ant Duddingston came on deck, I saw him 
 go and stand by the starboard foreshrouds, 
 in his shirt, with a pistol in one hand and a 
 hanger in the other. After lie was wounded 
 lie got alt and sat down by the cabin com- 
 panion way, when the two ringleaders, with 
 a number following them, came lo him and 
 said, ''Now you piratical rascal, we have got 
 you. Damn you. we will hang you all by 
 the laws of < treat Britain. 1 >amn you, what 
 made you lire when we answered you that 
 the head sheriff was in the boat." The Cap- 
 tain V B. The head sheriff and captain are 
 
 ii.i.n ames that the c o ringleaders went 
 
 by) said, ''Stand aside and let me despatch 
 ih" piratical dog.' 1 He then lifted a hand- 
 spike over Mr. Dudding ton' head who ask- 
 ed "if they would give no quarters." Tin y 
 answered. " No.'' He then desired they 
 would let me bind up his wounds, for he was 
 shot, and showed them the wound in his left 
 arm. They then said. : 'Damn your blood, 
 you are shot by your own people." He was 
 then taken down into the cabin by seme of 
 the mob. They then pinioned me and put 
 me into the boat, where I remained for half 
 an hour, when one of the mob called to their 
 people in the boat to loose me for the Lieu- 
 tenant wanted me. I went down in the cabin 
 to him. He was laid on the alter lockers, 
 and one of the mob washing and binding up 
 his wounds. The mob then go1 him on deck 
 and put him in a boat and put off Soon af- 
 ter, I was ordered into the boat again, and 
 put off. In going onshore I saw a negro 
 with the Lieutenant's hanger ; being asked 
 by another how he got it, he said he took it 
 from the Captain. 
 
 I Ii M ' down in the cabin with I lieutenant 
 Dudding ion. the ringleaders and someofthe 
 principal of the mob demanded his papers 
 and orders for his proceeding in such pirati- 
 cal manner. 1 then showed them the com- 
 mission from the Lords of the Admiralty, 
 with all his orders and instructions that lie 
 had received from the Admiral, which they 
 took and carried away. In goingashore one 
 of the mob that rowed the boat said, that he 
 and several more would not have been there, 
 but that they wer i I tl en out of a house by 
 ,] ic) beat a 
 
 drum round the town of Providence in the 
 evening to rai e a mob. 
 
 W DICKINSON. 
 
14 
 
 Province of Massachusetts Bay, 
 
 Suffolk, bc. Boston, June 1 1, 1772. 
 
 The above named William Dickinson 
 personally appearing, maketh solemn oath 
 to the truth of the foregoing deposition, as 
 wrote upon this and the six preceding pages. 
 which is taken at the request of the Honora- 
 ble John Montagu, Esq. 
 
 Before me, EDMUND QJJINCY. 
 
 Governor Wanton's reply was as follows: 
 Newport, June 12, 177J. 
 
 Sir: — I have this moment received your 
 honor's letter of yesterday upon the destruc- 
 tion ofhis Maje ty's schooner Gaspee. Up- 
 on the first information of this unhappy af- 
 fair, which gives me, and every friend to 
 government, the highest concern, 1 called to- 
 gether all the members of the General As- 
 sembly that 1 could conveniently, who unan- 
 imously advised me to publish trie proclama- 
 tion of which 1 enclose you a copy. 
 
 I h:i\ e not, as \ et, I" en able to collect all 
 the circumstances of this daring insult upon 
 authority, so ai to give you a perfect idea of 
 it, but by the e\ idi nee ofthree of the people 
 of the Gaspee, taken before his honor the 
 deputy governor, copies of which I transmit, 
 you will perceive that there is a material dif- 
 ference between them and the account given 
 by Win. 1 >ickinson. 
 
 You may n (y upon the utmost and con- 
 tinue,] exertions of the officers of this Colony 
 to detect and bring to justice the perpetrators 
 of this violent outrage. 1 have the pleasure 
 to inform you that Lieutenant Duddingston 
 is in a fair way of rem ery. 
 
 I am, sir, your honor's most obedient and 
 most humble servant. J. WANTON. 
 
 His 1 lonor Admiral Montagu. 
 
 On the 12th, Lieutenant Duddingston had 
 so far recovered as to be able to write to Ad- 
 miral Montagu a letter, containing his ver- 
 sion of the affair, of which the following is a 
 copy. In perusing it. it should be borne 
 in mind, that both he ami Ins midshipman 
 Dickinson had every inducement to repre- 
 sent the circuin lances as favorably to them 
 .eh e/ a ill' \ could. 
 
 Pawtuxet, l-'ili June. 177:.'. 
 
 Sib : < 'n \\ ednesday morning, aboul one 
 
 o'clock a In: Maje ly's seho sr was lying 
 
 upon a spue of in. I called Nancutf, the ci n 
 tmel- di eo\ en A a number of boats coming 
 down the R iver towards u . As soon as I 
 
 was acquainted with it. I came upon dec]; 
 
 and hailed the ho. its, forbidding them i mi 
 
 near tin- schooner, or I should order them to 
 be fired upon. They made answer, they had 
 the hct ill' with them, and must come on 
 board. 1 told them, the . heriff could not he 
 
 admitted on board at thai tune of nighl 
 
 which they set up a hallow ami rowed a fa 
 a thej could towards the ves el bow: . I 
 wn ■ then n ting every means in my power to 
 
 get the guns to bear upon them, which i 
 could not effect, as they came right ahead 
 of the vessel, she being aground. 
 
 1 then ordered the men to come forward 
 with their small arms and prevent them from 
 boarding. As I was standing myself to op- 
 pose them, and making a stroke with my 
 sword at the man who was attempting to 
 come up. at that instant I found myself dis- 
 abled in my left arm, and shot through the 
 groin, i then stepped from (lie gunwale with 
 an intention to order them to retire to close 
 quarters, hut soon saw that most of them 
 were knocked down, and myself twice, (after 
 telling them I wa mortally wounded.) They 
 damned me, and said I was not wounded; 
 —if] was, my own people had done it. As 
 loss of blood made me drop down upon.'deck, 
 they ordered me to beg my lite, and com- 
 manded the people to surrender. As 1 saw 
 there was no possibility of defending the ves- 
 sel against such numbers, who were in every 
 respect armed ami commanded with regu- 
 larity by one who personated the sheriff, 1 
 thought it besl for the people's preservation, 
 to propose to them that 1 would order them to 
 surrender if they assured me they should not 
 be hurt, which thej did. 1 then called out, 
 which was immediately echoed by the peo- 
 ple round me. that 1 had given them orders 
 to surrender. They hurried all the people 
 below and ordered them up one by one and 
 tied their hands behind their backs, then or- 
 dered them into different boats. I then beg 
 ged they would either despatch me or sutler 
 my wounds to he dressed ; upon that they al- 
 lowed my servant to be unbound to get me 
 things lor dressing, and earned me below. 
 But what was my surprise when I came down 
 in the cabin, two surgeons were ordered down 
 from the deck io dress me, who were furnish- 
 ed with drops and began to scrape lint for 
 that purpose. During tins time I had an op- 
 portunity of observing the persons of about a 
 dozen, who were in the cabin. They appear- 
 ed to me to be merchant-- and master of 
 vessels, w ho w re at my bureau re, .aim Uil | 
 examining my papers. They promised in 
 
 let me have the schooner's 1 ks ami my 
 
 clothes ; instead of which, as thej were hand 
 
 ing me up to go in the I I they' threw them 
 
 overboard, or into eon I ' tin. boats. I was 
 
 soon afterwards thrust into a boat, almost 
 naked. During the time they were rowing 
 me on shore, I had an opportunity of observ- 
 ing the boat, winch appeared to me to he a 
 very large lone- boat. I sew by the man 
 who steered her a cutlass l\ ing h'v him. and 
 directing the men to have their arms ready. 
 \ soon as Iheyputoff, the Sheriff gave them 
 
 orders In laud me on some neck, anil the boat 
 to come oil' immediately, and told me if] Jid 
 not consent to pay the value of the rum I 
 must not expeel to have any thing belong 
 
 •o lie' saved. 1 made answer, whatever re- 
 paration law would give, I w.i ready and 
 willing: as to my thing- they mii'ht do with 
 
15 
 
 them as they pleased. They were accord- 
 ingly going to land me on this neck, which 
 I told them they had better thro-.v nie over- 
 board. One man, who had a little more hu- 
 manity than any of the rest, said they had 
 better land me at the Point of Pawtuxet. 
 A I was unable to stand, they unbound five 
 of the men and gave them a blankctto carry 
 me up. When 1 was half way on shore I 
 heard some of the schooner's guns go off, 
 and heard the people say she was mi tire. 1 
 hail not been carried tar when the people 
 exclaim'd, I was on an Island ; and they saw 
 no house — on which they laid me down and 
 went in quest of one. Soon after they came 
 to acquaint me they saw one, which I was 
 carried to ; a man was immediately des- 
 patch^! to Providence for a surgeon. A lit- 
 tle after the people joined me with the mid- 
 shipman ; all of whom that 1 could persuade 
 are sent on board his Majesty's sloop Bea- 
 ver. The schooner is utterly destroyed, and 
 every thing appertaining to her, me, and the 
 schooner's company. If 1 live, 1 am not 
 without hope of being able to convict some of 
 the principal people that were with them. 
 The pain with the loss of blood rendered me 
 n ip l'!c of informing you betbre of the par- 
 ticulars. There are none of the people any 
 ways wounded, but bruised with handspikes. 
 [ am. sir, your most humble servant, 
 
 W DUDDINGSTON. 
 
 On (he receipt of this, Admiral Montagu 
 addressed the following letter to Governor 
 Wanton : 
 
 Boston, loth June. 1772. 
 
 Sin: — By return of express I am favored 
 with your Excellency's letter, ami tun much 
 obliged Ibr the part jam havi taken in en- 
 deavoring to find out and bring to justice, 
 those rebellious, lawless, and piratical people 
 uho were concerned in wounding the King's 
 Lieutenant and burning his schooner. 
 
 [t will not hear a dispute lint that they be- 
 longed to Providence, as they were heard by 
 four of five gentlemen that were in the town, 
 ami are imu here, beating the drum to arms 
 to raise a body of people to destroy the King's 
 schooner. I have perused the depositions 
 which your Excellency inclosed, and al- 
 though thej differ in words, yet the matter is 
 much to the same purpose. 
 
 I have, since I received yours, received 
 
 one from Lieutenant Duddingston, whose 
 account nearly agrees with the other, with 
 this addition only . that when he was carried 
 down to his cabin, after lie was wounded, lie, 
 to his gnat surprise found two surgeons that 
 came off from the shore in the boats, ready 
 to drei Ins wounds, with drops and scraping 
 of lint, and at leasl a dozen of these people 
 who were ill the cabin, which were at lis 
 
 bureau reading and examining his papers, 
 appeared to him to he merchants and mas- 
 ter of vc els. It givei ine plea ure to hear 
 '.he Lieutenant is in a fair way of recovery. 
 
 I am your Excellency's most, obedient and 
 humble servant J. MONTAGU. 
 
 His Excellency Gov. Wanton. 
 
 Gov. Wanton transmitted the following ac- 
 count of the transaction to the Earl of Hills- 
 borough, on the 10th of June : 
 
 Newport, Rhode Island, i 
 June 16, 1772. \ 
 
 My Lord: I had the honor to write your 
 Lordship on the 20th inst. I am now re- 
 duced to the necessity of addressing your 
 Lordship upon a most disagreeable subject; 
 the destruction of the schooner Gaspee, un- 
 der the command of Lieutenant W. Duddings- 
 ton, by persons unknown. The particulars re- 
 lating to this unwarrantable transaction, so 
 far as 1 have been able to collect them, are 
 as follows : 
 
 On the 19th inst., she run aground on a 
 point of land called Namquit, a little below 
 Pawtuxet, on the Narragansett River, within 
 this Colony. About three quarters of an 
 hour after 12 o'clock at night, there being 
 but one hand on deck, six or seven boats, full 
 of men, were by him discovered drawing to- 
 wards said schooner; and before many of 
 her hands had time to get upon deck, was 
 boarded by the people in the boats, who, as 
 soon as they had secured the possession of 
 the schooner, took out the captain and all 
 the people and set them ashore on the main 
 land. After which they set lire to the schoo- 
 ner. In the attack, Wm. Duddingston was 
 wounded by a ball through Ins arm. from 
 whence it passed and lodged in some part of 
 his body. Mr. Sessions, the deputy "< i n 
 or of this Colony, immediately upon hearing 
 of this unhappy affair, went to Wm. Dud- 
 dingston, and offered him all the help and as- 
 sistance in his power, but Mr. Duddingston 
 said he wanted no favors for himself. The 
 deputy governor then told him that he came 
 not only to offer him any relief his distressed 
 circumstances might require, but also to ._rain 
 a declaration from his own mouth respecting 
 the destruction ol the schooner under his 
 command, that proper and rigorous measures 
 might lie taken to discover and bring the 
 perpetrators to justice. Mr. Duddingston 
 answered, he would give him no account be- 
 cause of his indisposition, and also, because 
 it was his duty to forbear any thing of that 
 kind, till he had done it to his commanding offi- 
 cer, at a court martial, to which, if he lived, he 
 must he called, but if he died, lie desired it 
 might all die with him. The deputy gov- 
 ernor, with the consent of Mr. Duddingston, 
 then proceeded to examine a number of his 
 men. an. 1 on the 11th transmitted copies of 
 the most material of the examinations to me ; 
 upon the receipt whereof, I immediately con- 
 vened such of his Majesty's council and the 
 lion e of deputies as could be seasonably no- 
 tified, and laid before them the proceedings 
 of the deputy governor, which they highly 
 approved of, and unanimously recommended 
 
[6 
 
 aing a proclamation, with a reward of 
 
 , the discovery of any of ihe 
 
 persons concerned in this violent insult upon 
 
 ii in. which I cheerfully complied 
 
 with, and sent them into the several towns in 
 
 this < lolony. 
 
 This transaction gives me the utmost un- 
 
 and your Lordship may be assured, 
 thai the utmost vigilance of the civil autho- 
 rity will not be wanting to bring the perpe- 
 trators to exemplary and condign punish- 
 ment; and injustice to the inhabitants of the 
 Colony, I must not omil mentioning, that the 
 conduct of those who committed this outrage 
 h. by them, universally condemned. 
 
 my Lord, those officers who have 
 lately been sent into this Colony, under a 
 pretence of assisting trade, hail conducted 
 with that temper, prudence and discretion 
 which persons entrusted with the execution 
 of the laws ought, upon every occasion, to 
 manifest. In my last, I informed your Lord- 
 ship, that the inhabitants had been insulted 
 withoul any just cause, and I am extremely 
 sorry that 1 have still reason to say, that the 
 trade of this Colony is interrupted in a most 
 unprecedented and oppressive manner, with- 
 oul contributing, in the least, to tin service 
 of the revenue. Inward bound vessels have 
 In .-ii detained several daj - « ithoul the leai t 
 color ible pretes t. and then delivered up. < )ne 
 from South K ingstow a, for liavi n boat .1 
 
 tantitj "i tobacco ol the growth of 
 i i iy. which the owner was transport 
 
 in" to Mew [mi t for a market ; i tlier for 
 
 having only three or four dozen wine laid in 
 by the Captain for sua .-tores. The small 
 freight boat t plj ing between the 
 towns with the produce ofthe Colony, are, hy 
 the "- erity of these officers, subjected to 
 greal inconvenience, which very sensiblj af 
 feels the whole Colony, particularly the town 
 of Viewport, its metropolis, whose inhabitant 
 an- principally suppliedwith the necessaries 
 of life by water, and the ob trui tions they 
 now experience have contributed not a little 
 to enhance the price of fuel and provisions. 
 to the great disadvantage of the town; and 
 in my humble opi m, ii uch men 
 permitted to be pursued, the < lolony will ere 
 long be i ". oh : in the dcepei t calamity. 
 These, my L rd, arc ;eriou i and important 
 our I lOrdship, from your thor- 
 ough i.iiou ledge of the < Jolony, must be per- 
 fectlj a; in tinted v, ith the nature and extent 
 of out trade, ihe profits of which ultimately 
 centering in < (real I tritain, for the purchase 
 of her manufacturci I ha\ c no room to doubt 
 of your Lordship's interposition in behalf of 
 tin t 'olony. that all cause of complaint against 
 
 anj of the King's officers stati id here may 
 
 be removed, and the inhabitants treated with 
 that respeel which is due to th subject - ol 
 hi I Iritanic Maje sty. 
 
 pi oof, my Lord, thai the trade of this 
 
 I inde upon as fair and legal a fool 
 tradi of any pai : of hi Majestj '.- 
 
 dominions, out of two hundred sail of vessels 
 which have entered this port since the first 
 day of March last, only two in that number 
 
 have been prosecuted and c leraned for 
 
 bri nil ol acts of trade, one of which belongs 
 to the Massachusetts Bay, notwithstand- 
 ing they have been searched and rummaged 
 with the greatest severity. These two ves 
 eels, although seized and condemned here, 
 \\ i re i ni h', Capt. I linzee, of the Bea\ er, 
 and Lieutenant Duddingston, to Boston, tor 
 sale, in direct opposition to the orders ol* the 
 court of Vice Admiralty within this Colony, 
 and the marshal of said court prevented hy 
 force from libelling one of these vessels for 
 payment of the mariners' wages. 
 
 The e, my Lord, are but a few of the ma- 
 ny grievances which the people of this (.'ol- 
 ony have been for months past harrs 
 i i rpli ed with ; but as the General Assem- 
 bly will be convened, 1 make no doubt they 
 will order a more particular remonstrance to 
 be made. In the meantime, permit me, my 
 Lord, to implore your attention to the com- 
 plaints of a much abused and injured people, 
 whose loyalty and affection to their Sove- 
 reign claims your Lordship's countenance 
 and patronage. 
 
 I am. with the greatest respect, my Lord, 
 your Lordship's most obedient humble ser- 
 vant, J. WANTON. 
 
 The Rig : tin Earl of Hills 
 
 borough. 
 
 There is Mule room to doubt but thai Gov. 
 Wanton and the officers of the colony would 
 have been satisfied thai the authors of the 
 mischief should remain undiscovered ; al- 
 though their duty as officers, and their inter- 
 ests required them to exhibit a great zeal and 
 loyalty on tin occasion. On the other hand, 
 Admiral Montagu and his brother officers in 
 the Navj and l!>\ enue, were incere in their 
 exertions to bring the perpetrators to con- 
 dign punishment, 'flu i appears from the fol- 
 lowing letter : 
 
 Boston. 8th July, 177:.'. 
 
 Sir: — By express lasi night from Capt. 
 Linzee, ofhi Majesty's i loop Beaver, I re- 
 cei\ ed the em lo ed account ; and. although 
 it comi from n negro man. it carries with it 
 the appearance of truth, as it o 
 circum tances with Lieutenant Dudding ton 
 letter, (tome. I and also with the deposition 
 of the midshipman of the (la pee; add to 
 iln i, a man belonging to Lhc < faspee, v, ears 
 to this negro', being in the boat that put him 
 ashore, and challenged him as nun a he aw 
 
 .. m board the Bea^ er. The e coi i obo- 
 inces put ii out of all doubt 
 
 with me that he was actually concerned in 
 
 taking and burning the King' schooner. And 
 as he ha impeached n era] other i that were 
 
 'ii mil in thai piratical act, 1 am to beg 
 
 your Excellency, will get tnc people men- 
 
n 
 
 tioned in the enclosed account apprehended, 
 thai they may be examined before you, in ihe 
 pr ence of Lieutenant Duddingston, who, 1 
 dare -a_\. will remember the person of the 
 that dressed Ins wounds, and may 
 possibly recollect the persons of Potter and 
 Brown, who appear to me to have been the 
 ringleaders in destroying his Majesty's schoo 
 ner. is this affair was transacted in your 
 Exi ellency's government, 1 must totally rely 
 nn j ou to have these people secured and ( if 
 efficient proof against them) brought 
 tn justice. 1 doubt not hut that you will exert 
 yourself a i much as in your power, and I 
 flatter myself, that, with your assistance, the 
 King will have justice done him, and the of- 
 fenders brought to punishment, which 1 hope 
 will in future prevent the King's officers from 
 being upon all occasions insulted, and check 
 the lawless and piratical behavior of the peo 
 pie ol Rhode I I md. 
 
 ir, your Excellency's most obedient 
 J. MONTAGU. 
 
 His Excellency Gov. Wanton. 
 
 I'. S.— 1 shall be glad your Excellency 
 would inform me whether this acl was com- 
 mitted on the high seas or in the body of the 
 county; if, on the former, I doubt not but, as 
 one of the commissioners, you will use eve- 
 r\ proper method to get them apprehended, 
 
 that they i be tried, [f you should think 
 
 it proper to take the negro's di po iti n 
 
 oath, I should 1»- glad you would suffer a 
 
 proper person ti i board the Swan to 
 
 take it. and that you will favor me with a 
 copy nl' it. 
 
 ■\,ir i i, a negro man, has declared that he 
 in Providence, tin 1 evening his Ma- 
 ! ionei Gaspee was burnt, towards 
 VVarren, where he met a man called Potter, 
 nt Bri tol, in a iow ing boat, with eight men, 
 arm oil with pistols, guns and clubs : the said 
 Potter desired him to go with him. In con- 
 sequence of Potter's desire, I rowed by his 
 boat until 1 came within a quarter of a mile 
 of the King's schooner, that was on shore on 
 a spite of sand. I then got into Potter's 
 
 I t by ln~ desire ; ho told mo with others. 
 
 thai In' was to join other boats that wa ■ com 
 no' down from Providence, m order to burn 
 ' -schooner that lay on shore. In 
 about half an hour after, we joinei 
 teen boats from Providence, commanded, as 
 tin \ informed me, by John Brown. Imme- 
 diately after the boats joined company, we 
 rowed towards the schooner; before we 
 came close to the schooner, they hailed the 
 iid them coming on board : but 
 notwith landing the officer of the schooner 
 forbidding the boat.- to come on board, we 
 had ordi rs to row up to the schooner, which 
 we did immediately, and boarded her. [saw 
 Brown tire a musket when in the boat un- 
 der the hows: the captain of the schooner 
 immediately fell from the place he v 
 
 ii'tT on ; the surgeon that was ordered to 
 
 dress the captain was a tall, thin man, called 
 Weeks, of Warwick ; very soon after we got 
 on board the schooner, the mens' hands be- 
 longing to the schooner was tied behind their 
 backs, and put in boats and put on shore. I 
 rowed the bow oar in the boat that the cap- 
 tain ciime on shore in; I think there was 
 five people belonging to the schooner in the 
 boat. The captain lay abaft all the oars; 
 Potter, of Bristol, was m the boat, and John 
 Brown, of Providence ; Brown steered the 
 boal on shore; 1 had on a red and white 
 spotted handkerchief tied on my head, and 
 two frocks on my body. A list of five men's 
 names, that was concerned in destroying his 
 Maji stj 's schooner < iaspee : 
 
 John Brown and Joseph Brown, principal 
 men of the town of Providence; Simeon 
 Potter of Bristol; Doctor Weeks, of War- 
 wick; Richmond, of Providence. 
 
 Instead of pursuing the course recommend- 
 ed by the Admiral, the Governor took the 
 following affidavits, going to discredit Aaron's 
 statement : 
 
 Samuel Thurston, of the island of Pru- 
 dence, in the township of Portsmouth, in the 
 count) of Newport, of lawful age, declareth 
 and saith, that Aaron, mulatto lad of aboul 
 16 year ol age no \ on hoard his Majesty's 
 ship the Swan, commanded by (.'apt. Ays- 
 cough, is an indented servant to Samuel 
 Tompkins, of Prudence aforesaid son in-law 
 to the s.od Samuel Thurston, which Samuel 
 Tompkins hath lived in the same house with 
 the declarant for many years past, and have 
 jointly managed a farm together; that lie is 
 fully persuaded, the said Aaron hath not 
 been oil' from the said island for more than 
 twelve months preceding the 2d day of July 
 instant; in the night of which the said Aaron 
 stole their boat, and went on board his Maj- 
 e ty's -lap tie- Beaver; that particularly on 
 the nighl alter the ninth of June last, being 
 the ame night that his Majesty's schooner 
 the ( Iaspee was burnt, he is well assured 
 that the said Aaron remained in his bouse the 
 whole of the night, he having seen him in the 
 ■ \. inn ! and early in the morning of the 10th 
 at his work ; that at thai tune, there was but 
 one boat at (hat end of said island, winch 
 was then so much out of repair that the said 
 declarant thinks she could not swim, and then 
 lay bottom upwards in order to be refitted, 
 being the same boat the said Aaron stole af- 
 ter she was repaired ; that he, the declarant, 
 thinks ii absolutely impossible, thai the said 
 Aaron should have been, that night, any 
 where near the place where the said schoo- 
 ner was burnt ; and that the said Aaron re- 
 mained at home from the said ninth of June 
 until the said 2d day of July, and never, dur- 
 ing that tune, gave him the least informa- 
 tio . u fgestion orhint of having any know- 
 ledge of the business of the said schooner. 
 SAM'L THURSTON 
 
J8 
 
 ,, of Rhode Island, St., I 
 Newport, July 10, 1772. S 
 Personally appeared Samuel Thur ton. | om 
 I Dple called Q ind nn his 
 
 solemn affirmation, declared that the abovi 
 written declaration is true, before 
 
 J. WANTON, Governor. 
 
 Samuel Tompkins, of the island of Pru 
 dence, in the township of Portsmouth, in the 
 county of New port, on oath di iclat - 
 aaith, that Aaron, a mulatto lad of aboul 1C 
 
 F age, now on board his Ylaji : , 
 ship the Swan, commanded by < ' 
 
 an indent! d er\ anl to the depo- 
 nent; that he is fully pen uadcd 
 
 Aaron hath not been off from the said i 1 i 
 
 more than once or twice for twelve months 
 preceding the 2d day of Jul) inst., in the 
 night of which, the said Aaron stole a boat 
 belonging to the deponent and his father-in- 
 law, Mr. Samuel Thurston, and went on 
 board his Majesty's ship the Bea' 
 particularly on the night after the ninth ol 
 June last, being the same night that his Maj- 
 chooner the ( iaspee was burnt, he is 
 well assured the . aid Aaron remained in hi 
 house the whole of the night, ho having seen 
 him aboul 9 o'clock that event ig, with the 
 rest of tl ily, about 
 
 which time they retired to bed; and, al o 
 very early in the morning of the 10th, the 
 said Aaron, accordin tal custom, 
 
 brought the cows into the yard to be milked - 
 
 thai at the tone there was but 
 
 that end of the island, which w£.s then so 
 
 much out of repair that the di ponenl i i < 
 
 Bdent she could not swim, and then laj bot- 
 tom upwards, in ordei to be i I being 
 
 the one boat the aid Aaron stole alter she 
 u;i repaired ; that he, the said 
 thinks it absolutely impossible that the :aid 
 Aaron should have been that night any 
 where near the place where the schooner 
 pei v, as burnt ; and that he, the : aid 
 emained al home from tin 
 ol June until the i aid 2d d ij of July . and 
 never, during that tune, gave him the lea I 
 information, tuggestion, ot hint ofhishaving 
 any the least knowledge ofthe de truction of 
 
 the said sell 
 
 SAM I, TOMPKINS. 
 
 ( lolony of I! hode 1st ami, &c, t 
 
 Newport, July 11, 1772. \ 
 
 Mr. Samuel Tompkins per tonally appear 
 ed and made i oleum oath to the (ruth of the 
 above deposition by him sub; cribed, before 
 J. WANTON, Governor. 
 
 Somer el a mul tto, and Jack, 
 indented ;ervants. living with Samuel Thurs- 
 ton and Samuel Tompkin . on the island of 
 l'i udence, in the township ol P 
 
 the county of New port, ol lav\ ful :, on 
 
 oath severally depose and say: That to their 
 
 Certain knowle.hu>. Aaron, D inula I to lad, who 
 is also an indented servant to the aid S ini 
 
 uel Tompkins, and now, as they are inform- 
 ed, on board of a man-of-war, has not been 
 off from said island lor many months pre- 
 ly of Jul) in t. : in the night 
 the said Aaron stole a boat belong- 
 ing to the said Samuel Thurston and Sam- 
 uel Tompkins, and went on board a man-of- 
 war ; that the said Aar.ni ha lept with the 
 di ponents in the same bed for everal yi ars, 
 and particularly on the night the schoonei 
 
 I 
 
 was al home, at the dwelling house of the 
 
 said Thurston and Tompkins, and that he, 
 
 Varon, la; i the one room and 
 
 h the deponents the whole of that 
 
 , n tired to bed together between 
 
 nine and ten o'clock in ting; and the 
 
 severally say that 
 or had the leas! hint, or infi 
 the stud Aaron ol In ha ring anj know ledge 
 of the burning of the said schooner Ga pee, 
 and that they are well assured that he knows 
 nothing of the transaction. And til i di po 
 nents further saj not 
 
 The murk "of .^s^ SOMERSET. 
 The mark of _|- JACK. 
 
 Colony of Rn I land. iX c, ) 
 New] nrt, July I 1, 1772. S 
 
 :a tie i; e and appeared 
 
 nami d .--.ener and Jack, and at' 
 ter being cautioned to tell the truth, and 
 nothi - but the I n oath to 
 
 the above dep . hich they have 
 
 before 
 J. \\ UNITON, Governor. 
 
 About the same time, Capt. Linzes, of tin 
 Beaver, then lying in p. d 1 
 
 following .1. po tition to be taken : 
 
 The deposition of Patrick Earle. i 
 age, late belonging to his M armed 
 
 ...■In loner Gaspei led i.\ i ,j :utenanl 
 
 U illiam I luddingston, bul n 
 
 dp the 1 leaver, command) d by John 
 Ian/.... Esq. This deponent saith, that al- 
 tera numberofboats boarded the, eel choo 
 he lay aground, and the peoples' 
 hand i were tied, lie, with . everal others, was 
 put into the same boat that the captain was 
 earned ashore in, and that he helped a ne- 
 gro man. called Aaron Briggs, to row the 
 
 bow ', winch negro is now on b -.1 his 
 
 ship Beaver, who hath sworn that 
 he. did row ho e with the bow oar, and fur- 
 ther : .nth not. 
 
 The mark of jxj PATRICK EARLE. 
 Sworn in Newport 16th July, 1772. 
 Before me, CHARLES BARDIN. 
 Ju tice of the Peace. 
 
 July 10th, ) he. Wan Idre ed the fol- 
 lowing note to t 'not. Linzee Beaver: 
 Newport, July 15th 
 
 Silt: Having received information from 
 the Honorable Admiral Montagu, th it 
 a mulatto lad, on board his Maje : 
 
lit 
 
 the Bcavcr. under your command, has con- 
 fessed that he was concerned in destroying 
 his Majesty's schooner the Gaspee, as she 
 lay aground on Namquil Point, in the coun- 
 ': of Kent, within this Colon) ; and as il is 
 highly necessary that this lad should be ex- 
 amined by the civil authority concerning 
 whal he knows of that affair, I have directed 
 
 the Sheriff to in 1 request 
 
 thai you would deliver Aai on into his en to- 
 dy, in order to be brought on i bore, ilia uch 
 
 I m c 'in a in > l' r had ami done in this 
 
 matter as are agreeable to law. The K ing'e 
 Attorney General will attend the examina- 
 tion, and I : liould be glad if you, or anj of 
 your officers, would likewise attend. If you 
 areof opinion thai it is most for his Majes- 
 ty's service to return Aaron mi 1 -d your 
 
 i !ir lin ■' been e ■ amined, in tead ol 
 committing him in jail, you may he a 
 shall he done. Mr. Brenton also waits on you. 
 ■ : pin 'il matti r ol law t '■ ■ ■ ' 
 
 service to you in this important affair. 
 1 am, sir, your humble servant, 
 
 J. WANTON. 
 To John i ., \,.\ e, E q., commanding his 
 
 hip the Beaver. 
 
 It appears from the following letter from 
 
 Lieutenant I kidding! ton to Admiral Mon- 
 
 ■r his personal saf ty 
 
 ivcd : 
 
 Sin : Thi da) i n i f the Sth 
 
 inst., and am hardly able to give answer, 
 
 painful situation 1 am in, nor is it 
 
 mi to be ol the least 
 
 ro ! have no doubt 
 
 of his beiiij; in the boal with me, and it is 
 
 h Irit I expected, thai the « fovi rnor would 
 
 say he was an impostor; and I cannot help 
 
 hi thai without I was able to retire 
 
 i hould nol i .i i one night on 
 
 shore, if I was cap ible to make oath to one 
 
 of the peo] ed 1 beg this may be 
 
 pi i\ ate till 1 as the ropy of 
 
 the I* irmer letti le public to the 
 
 b i Governoi | 
 
 danger. 
 
 m ' ' obedient humble ser- 
 vant, W. DUDDINGSTON. 
 Brenton's Point, near ( 
 
 \eWj l| \ 
 
 imunicated his pro- 
 Vdmiral 
 
 Admiral M 
 i !ovei nor Wanton 
 cccdings in n 
 
 Newport, Jvi 
 
 Sth in ' ' liave 
 reci i\ ed to ;> ther i\ ith the informal] 
 
 ■ mulatto sen ant, relative to 
 i ; on receiv ing 
 1 pursued evi ry hum ure in my 
 power to investigate and' lin. 1 out the truth 
 of the vii i in his de- 
 
 claration : for which end I caused to be ex- 
 imini d on o ith unc of the familj h ith whom 
 
 this declarant lived as a servant, persons of 
 credit and established character, Who were 
 separately examined,and whose testimony per- 
 fect^ agreed in every circumstance on such 
 examination, by which, and from the general 
 had character of the declarant, I was fully 
 convinced thai no regard could be had to this 
 information; thai the declarant could not be 
 present at the time when this oliencc was 
 committed, as it is fully proved that he was 
 at home, on an island near seven miles from 
 the place where the di aster happened ; how- 
 is i m olicitous that every inquiry 
 should be made that might reflect light on this 
 unhappy affair, I bad a conference with one 
 of the Judges of tin' Superior Court, before 
 whom this matter must finally come to be ad- 
 judged, who gave it as his opinion, that it 
 
 ab lutelj i isi ary thai this declarant 
 
 should be delivered up to the civil authority 
 to be properly examined. He therefore is- 
 sued hi i warrant to take Aaron into his cus- 
 I idy. ii the -Hue time 1 wrote Capt. Lin- 
 zee a letter requesting him to deliver him to 
 the Sheriff in order to his being examined, 
 both which were treated by Capt. Linzee 
 with greal contempt, and by him utterly dis- 
 regarded. Whal could be his motives or 
 i for such his conduct, 1 am not able to 
 account for. It certainly is agreat contempt 
 of the civil authority of this colony, who have 
 the only jiower and jurisdiction to try all and 
 every offence committed within the same, to 
 refuse delivering up an offender, who. by his 
 own confession, hath acknowledged his guilt, 
 and what is . ufficient for his conviction, sup- 
 posing whit he hath declared to be true, and, 
 if i therwii e, he ought to be proceeded against 
 agreeably to law, and punished according to 
 in offence. 1 have transmitted to you the 
 epo itions, by which I apprehend you 
 will agree with me in opinion, that no depen- 
 dence can he had on the declaration given 
 by the informant, but must wholly be disre- 
 garded. Villany of this kind is not new. — 
 Wc have a recenl instance of this sort at 
 home. Britain and others conspiring in the 
 id manner to charge the officers of 
 state with a crime that the whole world knew 
 tld not possibly be guilty of. 
 
 Tin schooner, when she was destroyed, 
 lay aground in a narrow river near thirty 
 miles from the main sea, and as all ports and 
 haven are infra corpus comitatus, I am of 
 opinion, that m tins case, the Admiral hath 
 no jurisdiction. His Honor the Chief Jus- 
 v ored me with his opinion on this 
 matter, which herewith I enclose. When 
 Aaron is delivered into the hands of the civil 
 authority, whatever is legal and necessary 
 will undoubtedly be done. I have advised 
 with the King's Attorney, whose opinion and 
 advic coincides with what 1 have written on 
 I ol Aaron's declaration. 
 
 I am your Honor'., most obedient humble 
 servant.' J. WANTON. 
 
 The Honorable Admiral Montagu. 
 
20 
 
 The following was his answer: 
 
 Boston. I.i September, 1772. 
 
 Sir :— ] peci i\ ed j our letter dati .1 ' 
 
 July, wiili three depos - em I" i d. 1 de- 
 
 i i red an wering it till I had seen and exam- 
 
 ini .1 v i ; thi black indi nti .1 ervant, who 
 
 sin s hi was in one of tlie boats that boarded 
 and burnt the Gaspee; and it is clear to me 
 from many corroborating circumstanci thai 
 he is no impostor. Sorrj I am that no re- 
 gard can be had to his information in your 
 opinion. In my opinion, the depositions your 
 Excellency sent me prove nothing that con- 
 futes any thing he has said. However, it is 
 not in my power to do more than 1 have to 
 bring the offenders to justice ; the whole must 
 rest with you, who are upon the spot. 1 find 
 the master of Aaron, the black, has arrested 
 Captain Linzee for the detention of his ser- 
 vant; therefore, as Captain Linzee has done 
 nothing but by my orders, 1 have hailed him, 
 and will keep the fellow. 1 did intend send- 
 ing him to you, had not his master taken this 
 step. I shall not trouble your Excellency any 
 more on the subject of the < Saspee, but leave 
 the re suit of the whole conduct of his Ma- 
 jesty's good subjects at Rhode Maud to him 
 ami his ministers, am! am, sir, your mosl obe 
 client and humble i ei \ ant, 
 
 J. MONTAGU. 
 
 Governor Wan ion. 
 
 Here ended the proceedings of the colony 
 and the English Admiral in relation to this 
 subject. Soon after the following papers ar- 
 rived in this country from the government at 
 home : 
 
 [L. S.] GEORGE R. 
 
 By the KINO. 
 
 A PROCLAMATION . 
 For the discovering and apprehending the per 
 sons who plundered and burnt the Gaspee 
 i cl ner, and barbarously wounded and ill- 
 treated Lieutenant William Duddingston 
 commander of the said schooner. 
 Whereas, we have received information 
 that upon the 10th day of June last, between 
 the hours of twelve and one 111 the morning, in 
 the Providence or Narragansett river, in our 
 colony of Rhode Island and Providence Plan 
 i ations, a great number ol pet on . armed 
 with guns and other offensive weapons, and 
 
 led by two persons, who were called the 
 captain and head sheriff in several armed 
 boat . attacked and hoarded our vessel call 
 ed the < laspee schooner, then lying at single 
 anchor in the said river, commanded by our 
 Lieutenant William Duddingston, under the 
 orders of our rear Admiral John Montagu, and 
 having dangerously wounded and barba- 
 rou |y treated the said \\ illiam I >uddingston, 
 
 took, plundered, and burnt the said ; ih iei 
 
 We, to the intent that said outrageou and 
 heinous offenders may be di covered, ami 
 brought to condign punishment, have thought 
 lit. with the ad\ ice of our Privy I louncil, to 
 issue this our royal proclamation. And we 
 
 are hereby graciously pleased to promise, 
 that if any person or persons shall discover 
 any other person or persons concerned in 
 the said daring and heinous offences above- 
 mentioned, so that he or they may be appre- 
 1 brought to justice, such discoverer 
 shall have and receive, as a reward for such 
 dii every, upon conviction of each ol the said 
 offenders, the sum of Jive hundred pounds. 
 And if any pi rson or persons shall discover 
 either of the said persons who acted as, or 
 railed then, elvi ot weri called by their 
 said accomplices, the head sheriffor the cap- 
 tain, so iliat they, or either of them, may be 
 apprehended and brought to punishment, 
 such discoverer shall have and receive, as a 
 reward for such discovery, upon conviction 
 of either of the said persons, the further sum 
 of Jiv< hundred pounds, over and above the 
 sum of five hundred pounds herein before 
 promised for the discovery and apprehend- 
 ing any of the other common oflenders 
 above mentioned ; and if any person or 
 persons concerned therein, except the two 
 persons who were called the head sheriff 
 and captain, and the person or persons who 
 wounded said Lieutenant William Duddings- 
 ton, shall discover any one or more of the said 
 accomplices, so that he or they may be ap- 
 prehended and brought to punishment, such 
 iverer shall ha\ e and receive' the said re 
 ward or rewards of five hundred pounds or 
 one thousand pounds as thecase may he : and 
 also our gracious pardon for his said offence: 
 And the commissioners for executing the of 
 li. e of Treasurer of our Exchequer, are here- 
 by required to make payment accordingly of 
 the said rewards. And we do herein strictly 
 
 eli and command our Governors. Deputy 
 
 Governors, Magistrates, officers, and all oth 
 er our loving subjects that they do use their 
 utmost diligence, in their several places and 
 capacities, to find out, discover, and appre- 
 hend the said offenders, in order to their be- 
 ing brought to justice. And we do hereby 
 command that this our Proclamation be print- 
 ed and published, in the usual form, and al 
 fixed in the principal places of our town of 
 Newport, ami other tow ns in our said colony, 
 that none may pretend ignorance. 
 
 < riven at our Court at St. Jame: . the 
 twenty sixth day of August, 1772, in the 
 twelfth year of our Reign. 
 
 ( Jod save the Is ne' 
 
 • ieorge the 'fluid, bj the i irace of < rod, 
 ofGreat Britain, fiance and Ireland, King, 
 Defender of the Faith, &c, To our trusty 
 and well beloved Joseph Wanton, Esquire, 
 
 Gover 'of our Colony, called the English 
 
 • 'olouy of Rhode Island and Pin\ idence 
 
 Plantal s, in New England in America ; 
 
 our tru ty and well beloved Jame- Horse- 
 inander, Esquire, our Chief Justice of our 
 province of New York ; our trusty and well- 
 beloved Frederick Smythe, Esquire, our 
 i Jhief Justice of our I'm incc of New Ji i ;e\ ; 
 
21 
 
 our trustv and well beloved Peter Oliver, 
 Esquire, Chief Justice of our Province of 
 Massachusetts Bay in New England; and our 
 trusty and well beloved Robert Auchmuty, 
 E q., our Judge of our Vice Admiralty Court 
 established at Boston, with jurisdiction in all 
 causes arising within the limits of our Colo- 
 nics of New Hampshire, Massachusetts Bay, 
 Rhode Island and Connecticutt : 
 
 Greeting. 
 
 Whereas, our armed schooner, called the 
 i hooner, commanded by Lieutenant 
 William Duddingston, under the orders of 
 Rear Admiral Montagu, was stationed in 
 Providence or Narragansett river, in or near 
 to our Colony of Rhode Island and Provi- 
 dence Plantations in New England, the said 
 Lieutenant William Duddingston having 
 proper commission and authority to seize to 
 our use such prohibited and unaccustomed 
 goods, as he should find carried in and on 
 board any ship, bottom, boat or other vessels 
 contrary to law, whereby the same is for- 
 feited. 
 
 And, whereas, we have been informed 
 that very many ill disposed persons have 
 dared, from time to time, in defiance of our 
 laws and authority, to insult and otherwise 
 hinder the said Lieutenant William Dud- 
 dingston, in thi performance of his duty, and 
 their boldness in that respect grew to so des- 
 perate an height, that on or about the tenth 
 day of June last, great multitudes of people 
 wi re a sembled in our town of Newport and 
 places adjacent in our said colony, by beat 
 of drum, armed with guns and other offensive 
 weapons, and led on by two persons, whom 
 they called the head sheriff and the cap- 
 tain, and so proceeded in warlike manner, 
 with armed boats to attack our said schoo- 
 ner, and having traitorously wounded the 
 said Lieutenant, overpowered the crew, took, 
 plundered and burnt our said vessel : We 
 being desirous to be perfectly informed how 
 so danng an attempt could 1"' concerted, 
 prepared and carried into execution in the 
 chief town of our said colony, the residence 
 of the < lovernor and principal ma 
 thereof, not only for the purpose of bringing 
 the said offenders and their maintainers, aid- 
 ers and abettors, to condign punishment, but 
 also to the end. thai lit and speedy order may 
 be taken for securing the future peace, obe- 
 rlii n i and well government of our said col- 
 ony ; and placing much confidence in your 
 wisdom, diligence loyalty, and integrity, do. 
 1>\ iia e pi csent . appoint yen. the said Jo 
 seph Wanton, Daniel Horsemander, Frede- 
 rick Smythe, Pi tt i I Hiver, and Robi 
 unity, our commissioners to inquire into and 
 report to us a full and true account of all the 
 circumstances relative to the attacking, tak- 
 ing and plundi rue 1, and burning i 
 schooner, and to the a sembling, arming 
 training, and leading the people concerned 
 therein, and to the concerting and preparing 
 the said attack, and of all other insult: and 
 
 obstructions which have been given to the 
 said Lieutenant Duddingston, or to our ser- 
 vice in general in our said Colony of Rhode 
 Island and Providence, Plantations, and of 
 the causes which have occasioned so daring a 
 violation of our laws and authority, and also to 
 inquire and report what measures have been 
 taken or used by the magistrates of our said 
 Colony and other our good subjects therein 
 respecting the same. And for the better ex- 
 ecution of our royal will and pleasure there- 
 in, we do hereby give unto you, the said Jo- 
 seph Wanton, Daniel Horsemander, Frede- 
 rick Smythe, Peter Oliver, and Robert Auch- 
 muty, or any three of you, full power and au- 
 thority to receive all such informations and 
 advertisments as shall be brought unto you 
 by or from any of our hiving subjects or oth- 
 ers, touching the premises ; and, also, to in- 
 quire, by the examination of witnesses on 
 oath, which oath we do hereby give you or 
 any of you full power, warrant and authority 
 to administer, or by such other ways and 
 means as you, or any three of you, shall, in 
 your discretion, think lit, into the premises or 
 any of them ; and we do further give you, or 
 any three of you, full power and authority to 
 send for such persons, papers, and records as 
 shall be useful to you for the better carrying 
 on the service hereby intended, willing and 
 requiring you, the said Governor, the Deputy 
 Governor, and all other our magistrates, of- 
 ficers, and loving subjects within the said 
 Colony, to be in all things helpful, aiding 
 and assisting to you. and every of you, 
 in the execution of this our royal commission. 
 And we do further strictly charge and com- 
 mand you, and every of you, that, in the exe- 
 cution and performance of the powers and 
 authorities to you hereby given, you and ev- 
 ery of you, do carefully observe and conform 
 yourselves to such instructions as shall be 
 given and sent unto you, in writing, under 
 our sign manual, and to report to us a full 
 and true account of your proceedings herein. 
 In witness whereof we have caused these 
 our letters to be made patent. Witness our- 
 self at Westminster, the second day of Sep- 
 tember, in the twelfth year of our reign. 
 By the King himself, 
 
 YORKE. 
 
 GEORGE R. 
 
 [L.S.] 
 Instructions to our trusty and well beloved 
 Jo i | ib Wanton, Daniel Horsmander, Frede- 
 rick Smythe, Peter Oliver and Robert Auch 
 muty, Esquires, our Commissioners for en- 
 quiring into the circumstances relative to the 
 attacking, plundering and burning our armed 
 schooner, called the Gaspee schooner, within 
 our Colony of Rhode Island in America, on 
 the tenth day of June last, and into the 
 causes thereof, and of the violences and in- 
 sults offered upon that occasion to our offi- 
 cer.- employi d in our service : Given at our 
 Court at St. James, the fourth day of Sep- 
 
23 
 
 tembcr, 1772, in the twelfth year of our 
 reign. 
 
 Article 1st. With these our instructions 
 you will receive our commii 
 
 il ofGreat Britain constituting and 
 appointing you our commissioners for enquir- 
 ing into and making report to us of all the 
 circumstances relative to the attacking, plun- 
 dering and burning tin i hooner on 
 the tenth of June last in the Narragansett 
 river, within our Colony of Rhode Island, and 
 tn the assembling, arming, and leading on the 
 persons who made the said attack, and to the 
 concerting and preparing the same ; to- 
 gether with all such other powers and au- 
 thorities as arc judged necessary for that 
 purpose : You arc therefore to take upon you 
 the execution of the trust reposed in you. 
 and so soon as three or more of you shall 
 have been ai embledal Newport, within our 
 said Colony of Rhode Island, you are to 
 
 it .-aid commission to he read and 
 published in such manner and form, and with 
 such solemnity as are due to the authority 
 from which it proceeds, and the important oc- 
 casion which it is issued, using your own dis- 
 cretions as to all such other times and places 
 of your meetings, ai cordi to what shall ap- 
 pear to you, or the maj part i if you, to be 
 nir.-i lit and pro] 
 
 Art. 'id. You at (o u : your ul 
 and diligence pun nam to the authoritie: and 
 directions contained in our said commi ion, 
 inmakinga very full and particular inepjiry 
 into all the circum lances relative to die at- 
 tacking, plundering, and burning our armed 
 schoonei thi I (a pet on the tenth of June 
 
 la.-t in the Varragansetl river, witl iur 
 
 said Colony ol Rhode Island, and to the as- 
 sembling, tinning, and leading on the per- 
 sons who made the . aid attack, a alt o into 
 the causes and occasions thereof, and into all 
 
 thai have been taken by the civil 
 ites in their respecth e ■ tations, foi 
 the ill co\ i r\ and puni Fimenl of the perpe- 
 trator of those heinous offences,and to those 
 endsyou are to summon before you, all such 
 
 ! as you i hall think may be able to 
 
 give any information touching the said ob 
 jects of inquiry, and likewise t 'der till in- 
 formations, depositions and examinations. 
 which may have been taken and made in 
 
 urit touching those matters or authentic 
 
 copies thereof, to be laid before you, and to 
 make a. report ton. by one of our principal 
 Seen taries of State, of all your proceedings 
 and of what shall appear to you respecting 
 
 the lucl of the magistrates and people ol 
 
 Island mi thai occasion. 
 Art. 3d. And, whereas, the civil magis- 
 tratei and officers within our sai 1 ( !o!ony of 
 
 land, arc mini, ii ! with the power 
 and authority to arre I anil commii to cut tod} 
 such of the person i concerned in the plunder 
 
 Ii inn ing the < (at pi e . choonei . and 
 in the inhuman treatment of our officer u ho 
 commanded her, ag tin it >\ horn any informa- 
 
 tion shall lay, taken in order to the said of- 
 fenders being sent to England to be tried lor 
 that offence ; it is therefore our will and 
 pleasure that you do, from time to time, com- 
 municate to the said civil officers and magis- 
 tch informations as you shall be aide 
 to collect touching the persons concerned in 
 that daring attack upon our authority and 
 commi sion, to the end that they maj be ac- 
 cordingly arrested and delivered to the cus- 
 tody of the commander-in-chief of our ships 
 < sels in North America, pursuant to 
 such directions as we have thought St 
 for that purpo e. 
 
 Art. 4th. And whereas it is of importance 
 u ith regard to the mode of procet ding 
 against the said offenders that they should 
 he exactly informed of the place where the 
 offence was committed, It will therefore be 
 your duty to take care in all your proceed- 
 ings upon this enquiry, as well as in your 
 reports thereof to us, by one of our principal 
 Secretaries of Stale, to ascertain with the 
 greatest precision whether the offence was 
 committed and done within the body of the 
 Colony, and if so, within what County or 
 district thereof, if not so. in what other place 
 the said offence was committed and done. 
 
 Art. 5th. And whereas there may be rea 
 son to apprehend, from the outrages which 
 have been committed within our said colony 
 of Rhode Island, by numbers of lawless per- 
 sons, that insults may be offered to you ; It is 
 therefore our will and pleasure that if tiny 
 disturbance shall arise with a view to ob- 
 struct yon in the execution of your duty, and 
 any violence should in consequence thereof 
 
 I tiered to you, you do in such case, give 
 
 im liate notii e thereof to the con. 
 
 in-chief of our forces in North America, and 
 
 require of him to send such a militarj force 
 
 into the < 'oloay as you shall judge 111 
 
 for your proic. lion, and for the ti 
 
 civil magistrates in supprei ing any tumults 
 
 oi- noi- and preserving the public peace. 
 
 I .It is our will and pleasure that you 
 
 do lake an account by way of Journal of all 
 \ our acts and proceedings in the t 
 ol the powers and directions given to you. 
 and that the reports which you are to make 
 
 ii . bj : of our principal Secretaries of 
 
 State, oi i pi . ling , be in w riting and 
 
 igned by any three or more of \ ou. 
 
 G. i:. 
 
 These papers were transmitted to Admi 
 ral Montagu, and senl by i to Gov. Wan- 
 ton, by expre is : 
 
 row, ! Ith Dcccmbei 
 Sin: — Last night an express arrived with 
 
 despatches from the Right II able my 
 
 I .onk; Commi toners of the Admiralty, by 
 
 v, hid] came under cover to me, the packet 
 I send to you herewith. As it may be of great 
 consequence, 1 have thought proper to charge 
 Mr. Montagu, one of my Lieutenants, with it. 
 In my despatches from their Lord Inns I 
 
23 
 
 am directed to repair to Rhode Island to as- 
 sist you and the rest of the gentlemen in the 
 
 which 1 shall do as -non as you 
 
 inform me that \ ou are ready, u ith the c - 
 
 i : nei i proceed to business and deliv- 
 ei thee immission, and the King's instructions 
 to you, In the meantime, Captain Keeler, 
 in his Majesty's ship Mercury, has my or- 
 ders i" at i i you and receive any prisoners 
 or person you maj send him. Permit mc 
 to say. I should think d advisable to have 
 the per: on i apprehended that I sent you an 
 account of some months ago, which the in- 
 dented mulatto informed and ha 
 against. The mulatto remains on board 
 with the Captain, and shall be ready to at- 
 tend the commission whenever he is called 
 for. 
 
 As I find Captain Keeler is often made a 
 
 pris :r from frequent arre ts he meets with, 
 
 as well as insults when he comi shore, 1 
 
 am to desire, in case the commission should 
 time waai him, you will direct his 
 cured from insults or arrests. 
 
 Whenever you will favor me with your 
 commands, you will had me ready to co-ope- 
 ratewithyou in ever)' dun'/ for the King's 
 sen ice. 
 
 1 have the honor to be, sir,your mosl obe 
 dient humble servant. J. MONTAGU. 
 
 ( iov. Wanton. 
 
 P. S. ! un: i in" leave to recommend to 
 you, as tirst in the commission, to appoint a 
 time i :r the first meeting, and to L r ive notice 
 to the other gentlemen named in the com- 
 and me, and that you will make the 
 timi liort as you can consistent with pro- 
 
 per notice, tin- particular reasons. 
 
 This led to the following correspondence 
 before the opening of the session of the com- 
 
 i li ,'. mber L4, i . < J. 
 Sir :- 1 am favored with yours by Mr. 
 i ether with despatches from the 
 
 Right Honorable tin- Marl of Dartmouth, re- 
 specting the destruction of tin 1 < I 
 shall appoint a tune for meeting the com- 
 liorised to inquire into the car- 
 dial transaction, as soon as 
 and give you the earliest intelligence 
 thereof, in conformity to In Ma |e ty's orders. 
 His Maj [nation I shall cause to 
 
 be printed without delay, and sent into the 
 several town; within the Colony. 
 1 am your most humble servant, 
 
 J. WANTON. 
 
 1 Ion. uahle J. MONTAGU. 
 
 \ i ,■ :: i , I leeember, 1 1, 1772. 
 
 Sir: l'\ cxprei i from Admiral Montagu 
 
 I lis moment received a letter from (he 
 
 Earl of Dartmouth, advising of your being 
 
 ■ commissioners for inquiring into 
 
 i m i ol burning the 
 I have thought proper to give you 
 this information, and that 1 shall fix upon a 
 
 time for meeting the commissioners, and give 
 you and the other gentlemen named in the 
 commission, notice thereof without delay. 
 
 I am, with real regard, sir, your most obe- 
 dient servant, J. WANTON. 
 
 The Honorable Peter Oliver, Esq. 
 
 Roxburv, December 11, 1772. 
 Sir. — I embrace this opportunity of ac- 
 quainting you that I have received his Maj- 
 esty's orders to attend you and other gentle- 
 men commissioners for examining into the 
 business and plundering the schooner Gas- 
 pec. In obedience to which, I shall on no- 
 tice, with all convenient despatch, attend you 
 on that affair. I shall be glad to know when 
 you think the gentlemen can be got together, 
 with great respect, 
 jfour Honor'smosl obedient servant, 
 
 ROBERT AUCHMUTY. 
 To i iov. Wanton. 
 
 Newport, December 14, 1772. 
 
 Sir: — 1 have received your favor by Mr. 
 1 shall fix upon a time for meet- 
 ing the commissioners appointed to inquire 
 into the circumstances of destroying the Gas- 
 pee ' liooner, and give you and the other 
 gentlemen mentioned in the commission the 
 earliest intelligence thereof. 
 
 1 am, with esteem, your mosl obedient ser- 
 vant, J. WANTON. 
 
 Hon. Robert Auchmuty, 
 
 December 21, 177:?. 
 
 Sir : — When I received the. Earl of Dart- 
 mouth's letter of the 4th of September, and 
 in consequence thereof wrote you on the 14th 
 inst, I was preparing to set out for the As- 
 sembly, who were adjourned to meet that 
 day at Providence, and therefore I had not 
 then time to attend so maturely to his Lord- 
 ship's letter as its importance required. The 
 letter I received from Admiral Montagu, by 
 the same express which broughtme the des- 
 patches from Lord I Dartmouth, induced me to 
 suppose I was authorized to appoint a time 
 for the first meeting of the commissioners; 
 but as Lord Dartmouth has signified to me 
 that my associates in the commission are di- 
 rected to repair to Newport, and by a vessel 
 tins day from New York, 1 am informed that 
 the Chief Justice of that Province and the 
 Chief Justice of New Jersey have, engaged 
 their passages, and will be here some time 
 next week. 1 thought it proper to gi 
 this information, ami that i am ready to meet 
 you i eably to the royal instructions, when- 
 ever it may suit your convenience to attend. 
 As soon as a quorum can be got together, I 
 shall, without less of time, notify Admiral 
 Montagu, in obedience to the King's com- 
 mand. 
 
 I am, sir, your most humble servant, 
 
 J. WANTON. 
 
 Circular to the Judges Oliver and Auch- 
 mutv. 
 
•24 
 
 Newport, Dec. 22, 1772. 
 
 Sir :— In obedience to the King's com- 
 mand signified to me by the Right Honora- 
 ble the Earl of Dartmouth, one of his prin- 
 cipal Secretaries of State, I have caused to 
 be printed his Majesty's proclamation for dis- 
 covering and apprehending the persons who 
 plundered and burnt the Gaspee schooner, 
 copies of which I send you by express, which 
 you are forthwith to affix in the most public 
 places of the several towns within your 
 county. 
 
 I am, sir, your humble servant, 
 
 J. WANTON. 
 
 Circular to the Sheriffs of the several 
 towns. 
 
 December 21, 1772. 
 Sir: — By a vessel this day from New York, 
 I am informed that the Judges Horsemander 
 and Smythe, have engaged their passages 
 in the sloop Lydia, John Freebody, master, 
 and will probably be here in about a weelc. 
 I give you this information for your govern- 
 ment. 
 
 I am, sir, your most obedient servant, 
 
 J. WANTON. 
 Admiral Montagu. 
 
 Boston, 28th December, 1772. 
 
 Sir : — I am favored with your letter in- 
 forming me the Judges Horsemander ami 
 Smythe are expected at Rhode Island in the 
 course of the week. If you will be pleased 
 to inform me when you are ready to receive 
 his Majesty's commission. I will take care 
 to have it delivered agreeable to my instruc- 
 tions. 
 
 1 shall be glad to know whether you in- 
 tend to proceed to business, or adjourn to 
 any particular time, thai 1 may conduct my- 
 self relative to his Majesty's service here, ac- 
 cordingly. 
 
 I am, sir, your most obedient humble ser- 
 vant, J. MONTAGU. 
 
 His Honor Gov. Wanton. 
 
 Newport, Jan. 1, 1773. 
 
 Sir : — The Judges Horsemander and 
 Smythe arrived here last evening from New 
 York, and are ready 10 proceed immediately 
 upon business. A number sufficient to con- 
 silium n quorum arc now assembled at New- 
 port waiting to receive from you the royal 
 commission and instructions, of which I have 
 thought it proper to give you this informa- 
 tion by express. 
 
 I shall be glad to wait on you at Newport, 
 and am, sir, your most obedient and humble 
 servant, J. WANTON. 
 
 Admiral Montagu. 
 
 Newport, January 1, 1773. 
 Sir: — The Judges Horsemander and 
 Smythe arrived last evening from New York. 
 This will be delivered you by express I send 
 
 to the Admiral, and hope I shall have the 
 pleasure of waiting on you this week, if your 
 health will permit. My letter to Judge Oli- 
 ver, you have, without doubt, sent him. I 
 am therefore in expectation of seeing him 
 every hour. I have only to add the compli- 
 ments of the season, and am, sir, 
 
 Your humble servant, 
 
 J. WANTON. 
 Judge Auchmoty. 
 
 Newport, January -1, 1773- 
 Sir : — The commissioners meet at 12 
 o'clockthis day at the Colony house, at which 
 time I expect the return of the express, when 
 it is probable it will be determined whether 
 it is proper to defer opening the commission 
 until the Admiral arrives. Your attendance 
 will be necessary. 
 
 I am, yours, &c, 
 
 J. WANTON. 
 Captain Keeler. 
 
 Boston, 2d January, 1773, / 
 at 3 o'clock afternoon. $ 
 
 Sir: — I am this moment favored with your 
 letter by express, acquainting me the Judges 
 Horsemander and Smythe are arrived at 
 Newport and ready to proceed immediately 
 upon business, and are therefore ready to re- 
 ceive his Majesty's royal commission, which, 
 by my instructions, I am to cause to be de- 
 livered to them. I beg leave to inform you 
 that my Captain left this place yesterday 
 morning charged with the commission to be 
 given to Captain Keeler, the senior officer of 
 his Majesty's ships at Rhode Island, who has 
 my orders to wait on you and know your 
 pleasure, when he shall wait upon the com- 
 missioners with it. He is also directed to give 
 the commissioners all the assistance in his 
 power, and to receive such persons, either 
 prisoners or witnesses, as they shall send to 
 him. He has likewise my directions to in- 
 form the commissioners that he has some on 
 board that can give information relative to 
 the burning the Gaspee. as well as of the 
 persons concerned in that affair, and he is di- 
 rected to send them to the commissioners 
 whenever they are pleased to demand them. 
 
 As the season of (lie year does not admit of 
 my coming to Rhode Island with my flag, 
 and such ships as shall be necessary to as- 
 sist the commissioners agreeable to my in- 
 structions, yet if the commissioners shall 
 think it right, and for the good of the service 
 they arc upon, that, my presence is necessary, 
 I shall he ready to set out the moment I re- 
 ceive sui h notice from them. But I flatter 
 myself they will be able to do so without me, 
 as I have nothing to do but to receive such 
 persons as may [illegible] from them. 
 
 I am, with respect, sir, your most obedient 
 humble servant, J. MONTAGU. 
 
 Gov. Wanton. 
 
'.» 
 
 The commissioners met at the State House 
 inNewporton the fifth day of January, 1773. 
 Their proceeding from day to day are 
 minuted in their Journal : 
 Colony of Rhode Island, &c. 
 
 Proceedings had and taken by virtue of a 
 royal commission under the seal of Great 
 Britain, directed to the Honorable Jo eph 
 Wanton, Esq., < iovernor of the English < !ol- 
 onj of Rhode Island and Providence Planta- 
 tions in New England in America; Daniel 
 Horsemander, Esq . Chief Justice of the 
 Province ol New Vml ; Frederick Smythe, 
 Esq., Chief Jusiice of the Province of New 
 Jersey; Peter Oliver, Esq., Chi f Justice of 
 the Province of Massachusetts Bay, in New 
 England , Etoberl Auchmuty, Esq., Jud eol 
 the \ ice \'l alt; < iourl established at Bos- 
 ton, with jurisdiction in all cases arising 
 within the limits of the Colonies of New 
 Hampshire, Massachusetts Bay, Rhode Is- 
 land and < lonnecticut, coi iners ap- 
 pointed for enquiring into and reporting to 
 his Majesty a full and true account of the 
 en. inn tances relative to the attacking, tak- 
 ing, plundering and burning his Majesty's 
 armed schooner called the Gaspi 
 manded by Lieutenant William Duddings- 
 ton, Esq., within the Colony of Rhode Is- 
 land in America, on the \<K\i day of June, 
 A. D. 1772, and for other purposes therein 
 mentioned, ai the Colon) House al Mew- 
 port, in Rhode I land, Tuesday the fifth day 
 of January, A. IV 1773 the above commis- 
 sioner being present. 
 
 His Majesty's said royal commission, with 
 instructions to said con tinder his 
 
 Ma i ami sign manual, wi re de 
 
 livered to the commissioners by Robert Kee- 
 
 lei , I ■'. q., ci nander of his Maje I ■■. hip 
 
 Mercury, which said commission was public- 
 ly rind ami proclaimed. 
 
 On the perusal of said instructions, the 
 commissioners conceived that the presence 
 of Rear Admiral Montagu, commander-in- 
 chief of his Majesty's ships and vessels em- 
 ployed in North America, is necessary for 
 tlic furtherance of the present service. The 
 li tter i\ a ihei eupon written and 
 delivered by James Clark, onoofthe Secre- 
 taries of the commissioners, to Captain Sim- 
 
 n . in be by him immediately conveyed to 
 
 Admiral Montasu. 
 
 The commissioners then proceeded to take 
 the usual State oaths, which were adminis- 
 tered first l'\ Daniel Horsemander, Esq., to 
 Joseph Wanton, Esq., and afterwards by 
 him tn the other commis ionei i. The i om- 
 then appointed James Brenton 
 and James Clarke, Esqs., joint Secretaries, 
 who were accordingly sworn truly and faith- 
 fully to execute the dutie i oflheir office. 
 
 a a. a mi in iin.ir.nN al ii ... loi k, 
 
 then to mi el at 'I e I iolon; Hou c 
 
 Wednesday, Jan. 6, 1773. 
 
 The commissioners, met according to ad- 
 journment. 
 
 The commissioners determined that it was 
 necessary that an advertisement be publish,- 
 i d in the next Newport Mercury, giving no- 
 tice that die said ccymmissioners had assem- 
 bled and. wen; now daiiy sitting at the Colo- 
 n\ House, in Newport, for the purpose of 
 proceeding on and duly executing the said 
 commis ion, and that they are ready to re- 
 ceive information relative to the attacking, 
 taking, plundering ami burning the Gaspee 
 schooner on the 10th of June last, in conse 
 quence of which resolutions, the following 
 advertisement was ordered to be published : 
 
 The public are hereby informed, that the 
 honorable the commissioners appointed un- 
 der the great seal of Ureal Britain, for in- 
 quiring into the circumstances of attacking, 
 plundering and burning his Majesty's schoo- 
 ner Gaspee, under the command ol Lieuten- 
 ant Win. Duddingston, on the 10th of June 
 last, are now convened and continue to set 
 every day, Sundays excepted, at the Colo- 
 ny House, in Newport, in conformity to his 
 Majesty's instructions: Wherefore, all per- 
 sons who can give any information to the 
 said commissioners relative to the assembling, 
 arming and leading on the persons wdio 
 made the said attack, and to the directing 
 and preparing the same, are requested forth- 
 with to give information thereof to said com- 
 iii' sioners at the above mentioned place." 
 
 The proceedings on said commission were 
 then adjourned till to-morrow at 10 o'clock, 
 i hen to meet at the Colony House aforesaid. 
 Thursday January!, 1773. 
 
 The commissioners met according to ad- 
 orn nmeut. 
 
 Present. Joseph Wanton, Esq., Frederick 
 Smythe, Esq., Peter Oliver Esq., Robert 
 Auchmuty, Esq. 
 
 Governor Wanton laid before the commis- 
 sion! rs four loiters which had passed be- 
 iween him. Admiral Montagu and Lieutenant 
 Duddingston, also one other letter, signed by 
 Governor Wanton, and transmitted by him 
 by order of the General Assembly of the 
 Colony aforesaid to Rear Admiral Montagu, 
 which letter.- arc prior in date to the attack- 
 ing and burning his Majesty's schooner Gas- 
 pee. which were read and put on tile. Sun- 
 dry papers, leiiers.iuid depositions to the num- 
 ber of twenty, containing the proceedings of 
 the Governor and Deputy Governor of the 
 Colony aforesaid relative to the burning the 
 schooner, wen- delivered by Governor Wan- 
 ion in the commissioners, which were also 
 read and ordered on file. 
 
 Governor Wanton informed the commis- 
 sioners, that Mr. Sessions, Deputy Governor 
 of the Colony, was in Newport and ready to 
 attend the commissioners to give them an 
 . -.- .a' .a' the -tee~- h • hoi taken in order to 
 di covei .... ,.' .- •...- i, no destroy i J hi ilaj 
 esty's schooner Gaspee. A message was 
 
26 
 
 sent to Mr. Sessions requesting his attend- 
 ance, who accordingly came before the com- 
 - md wns by them requested t i 
 give in writing, upon oath, a full and particu- 
 lar accounl of the measures he had taken in 
 order to the discovery of the persons who 
 perpetrated the aforesaid crime, which he 
 assured the commissioners he would do with- 
 out In 3 of time. 
 
 Stephen Hopkins, Esq.. Chief Justice ol 
 said Colony, also appeared before the com- 
 missioners and assured them he was ready 
 and willing to aid and assist the commission- 
 ers in the exercise of the power and autho- 
 rity with which they are invested for dis. 
 covering the persons who destroyed the Gas- 
 pee schooner, &c. The commissi irs then 
 
 requested Mr. Hopkins to give them in wri- 
 ill and particular account of all the 
 procei lings had and dour by him I 
 eringand bringing to justice the persons who 
 ommitted the aforesaid offence, and also 
 what knowledg ■ information he had ob- 
 tained of the assembling, arming, and lead- 
 ing on the persons who perpetrated the 
 same, which he also promised to do without 
 loss of time. 
 
 The proceedings on the commission w< re 
 then adjourned till to-morrow at ten o'clock 
 before noon, then to meet at the Colonj 
 House aforesaid. 
 
 Friday, Januarys, 1773. 
 
 The commissioners met accoi lin 
 journment. 
 
 Present, Joseph W I Daniel 
 
 Horsemander, E q., Frederick Smythe, Esq., 
 Peter Oliver. Esq., Robert Auchmuty, Esq. 
 
 Mr. Brenton, one of the Secretai u 
 the present commission, was examined bj 
 the commissioners touching the obstruction 
 to the execution of a warrant issued bj Met- 
 calf Bowler, Esq., on the 17th of July last, 
 in order to apprehend the negro Aaron [hen 
 on board his Majesty'- ship the Beaver, 
 which examination was reduced to writing, 
 sworn to before the commissioners, and or- 
 dered to be riled. 
 
 The commissioners thought it advisable to 
 drier the examination of any ofthe witnesses 
 respecting the burning of the < laspee, &c, 
 until the arrival of Admiral Montagu at New- 
 port, or they receive : swer from him to 
 
 their letter written the 5th inst, a 
 mitted by Capt Symonds. 
 
 The proceedings on the commission then 
 adjourned till to-morrow at ten o'clock in the 
 forenoon, then to meet at the Colony House, 
 aforesaid. 
 
 Saturday, January '■•', 1773. 
 
 The commissioners met according to ad- 
 journment. 
 
 Present, Joseph Wanton, Esq., Daniel 
 I loi semander, Esq., Frederick Smythe. Esq,, 
 Peter Oliver, Esq., and Robert Auchmuty 
 Esq. 
 
 Darius Sessions, Deputy Governor of the 
 Colony of Rhode Island, attended the com- 
 
 missioners with a declaration in writing con- 
 taining a full and particular account of the 
 measures he had taken in order to make a 
 discovery ofthe persons concerned in the at- 
 tacking and burning the Gaspee schooner, 
 which was read, sworn to. and ordered to he 
 filed. 
 
 A letter was delivered to the commission- 
 2 o'clock, P. M., then setting at the 
 Colony House, by express, in answer to theii 
 letter of forwarded by Capt. Sy- 
 monds, which was read and ordered to be 
 filed. 
 
 The commis ioners immediately agreed 
 to an answer, which was writti n a, cording- 
 !;. and sent oil about 3 o'clock b) the imi 
 expre -■. 
 
 During the session of the commissioners, 
 various letters passed between them and Ad 
 miral Montagu. These will be given in the 
 order ol time. 
 
 Newpor r January 5, 1 773. 
 
 Sir: — We, his Majesty's comm 
 for enquiring into the attacking, burning and 
 plundering his Majesty's schooner the Gas- 
 pee, & ■■-.. being met at this place, in order to 
 prevent thedelaj of business, thought proper 
 to receive the royal commission and instruc- 
 tions from Capt. Keeler, which, until yours 
 of the 2d inst., we concluded would have 
 been delivered by you. This day thi com- 
 pi necl and published, and the 
 insti actions carefully pci 
 we find the (oil i 
 that the} may be accordingly arre I 
 
 i i the custody of the commander- 
 in-chief of our .-hip- and vessels 10 North 
 America, par. nam to such directioi 
 have thought fit to give for that pur] 
 By virtue ofthese words, we conceive, that in 
 case an} person or persons should be arrested 
 for the above mentioned crime, you an the 
 hi to whom such prisonei s can reg 
 ularly be delivered for safe custody; there- 
 fore we think your attendance at Newport 
 is absolutelj necessary. We are sorrj to 
 give you this trouble, hut our duty, as we 
 apprehend, obliges u I i do it. 
 
 We an . sir, with great rei pect, your most 
 obedient and most humble servants. 
 
 Copy of letter forwarded to Admiral Mon- 
 tagu by Capt. Symonds. 
 
 Boston. 8th Jan., 1773. } 
 I o'clock P. M. S 
 Gentlemen :— I was last night favored 
 with your letter \<\ Capt. Symonds, and as 
 you are so desirous of having meal Rhode 
 Island 1 shall, without you alter your opinions, 
 set out on .Monday next. At the same time, 
 give me le ive to observi to you. that my 
 coming at the time i i attended vs ilh a "real 
 - Ins Majesty's si r\ ice here and at 
 and can answer no purpo 
 have fully and properly directed the com 
 
27 
 
 mantling officer in thai place in what man- 
 ner he i - to acl relative to hi i ssisting the 
 commi ■ iceiving the prisoners. 
 
 ^ ou : i\ by j our instructions you are di- 
 rected to deliver to the c Ij of the com- 
 mander in-chief of his Majc n ' hip and 
 
 el " North Amei ica all such 
 i in i ■ bi apprehended ; and Iherefori you 
 are of opinion thai in that case, if any per- 
 son or persons should be arrested for the 
 cninc sel forth in j our commi :ion 1 am the 
 only person to whom i uch pri son r can reg- 
 ularly I"' dcliven d for safe custody : 
 
 , er lo u hich I beg lea\ e to n (' r 
 you in the sixth paragi apli ol my Lord ! lart- 
 
 :i i!:' letter lo < fovernor Wanton, where 
 
 you will i risoners are to be deliv- 
 
 ered (o the care and custody of Rear \dmi- 
 ril Montagu, or the conunander-in-i hief in 
 North America for the time being, or to such 
 iffir.er as he shall appoint to reci ive them." 
 B my insti action from the Lords of the 
 cted i" repair to Rhode 
 I iland ;i soon ;i conveniently may be with 
 such ol' his M : i 
 
 ommand as 1 shall judge proper, 
 
 i all the ai 1 
 
 i to justice 
 
 the nders. The whiter sea: on is so far 
 
 '>!■. ance I my complj ing with 
 
 that part ofmj order :. as it is ^ cry improper 
 to mo\ e '1 large a ship as the Captain at 
 ■I ilie year, and without In 
 le t ; 'i me lo enrrj on the sen ii e 
 1 flatter myself there has been no d 
 b owing in my nol coming v. itli the 
 
 in for had i been thi re I ' ould 
 ha\ e tendered ii in the i nine manner I ha\ e 
 : 'linns. 1 ma directed, 
 ire ready to n cen e 
 it, in cause it to be delivered lo them. 
 
 rertainly set out on Monday nexl it 
 I ran complete my bu here I be 
 
 ■■:■■■.' J 
 
 I am, v\ . illemen, your most 
 
 I MONTAGU. 
 To hi m at Rhode 
 
 Rl 
 1-lth January. 1773. S 
 
 ilihough 
 
 onable lime of the year, and 
 
 r 1 ina directed by my in- 
 
 I 
 
 imc to this pi ice. and 
 
 bom i the I .i :?, ird 
 
 1 shall m will ni- 
 
 I can to ) mi in 
 
 the e> ecutio i of your commi ion. 
 
 _ I flatten d myself I had given < ' iptain 
 
 K ei ■ officer of his Ma jest) V 
 
 mid not have re- 
 
 ■ atti ml, in. -r until I was able to 
 
 i proper manner with the 
 
 ships under my command, and at a proper 
 ear. 1 doubt nol but what he 
 would have faithfully put his orders in force, 
 and have given you the same assistance I 
 can posi ibly da now I am come. 
 
 I have ordered Aaron, the Negro, to be 
 * the wharf agreeable to your sum- 
 mons, who will he delivered to your officer, 
 and 1 am to desire, when you have done with 
 him, the civil officers may be directed to see 
 him safe to the boat again. 
 
 entlemen, your most obedient and 
 humbl i servant, J. MONTAGU. 
 
 To Hi Majesty's commissioners at New- 
 port. 
 
 rLlzZARD, 10th January, 1773. 
 Gi vri emen:— As 1 am informed there is 
 a ship bound to England, I shall embrace 
 the opportunity of writing to my Lords ( lorn- 
 miss :rs of the Admiralty, acquainting 
 
 them ni my proceedings, as also of the im- 
 probability of my remaining here, to assist 
 the commissioners, until 1 can come in a 
 proper manner, at a proper season of the 
 year. 
 
 . wheth- 
 
 iia Dud- 
 
 dingston i- necessary, that 1 may apply to 
 
 their Lordships for his being sent out as soon 
 
 as convenient. 
 
 \- the business of the naval department 
 is totally at a stand, and cannot be ear- 
 ned on without 1 bad my ships here, I 
 propose returning to Boston on Wednes- 
 day next, and shall, al a convenient time of 
 the year repair to this place again agreeable 
 lo my instructions from their Lordships. In 
 (lie meantime I shall lake care to leave such 
 ord t with the senior officers of his Majesty's 
 will answer every purpose of my 
 
 IS ill" 
 
 before I go, lay before you the 
 nami sol Mime persons who can give you in- 
 formation relative to the assembling the peo- 
 ple concerned in burning the King's schoo- 
 ner. 
 
 beg your answer, as I cannot close 
 my letl i to the Admiralty until I receive it. 
 
 entl in your mosl obedient hum- 
 
 J. MONTAGU. 
 Majesty's commissioners assembled 
 ■ poi l. 
 
 Ji I n Andrew, Esq., Judge of the court, of 
 
 \ ice Admiralty within the I lolonj of Rhode 
 
 Mr. Arthur Fenner, Clerk in the 
 
 ii C mi i in the county of Providence ; 
 
 in I ni' 1 . George Brown, and Dan- 
 
 1 itchc ick. A Itornej s al I ,aw in the town 
 
 of Providence; James Sabin Vintner, in the 
 
 town o|' P| ,\ id, ■nee. 
 
 Il is the de- ire of Admiral Montagu that 
 the above named persons may be summoned 
 Mined before the commissioners re- 
 lativc to the assembling of people in the town 
 of Providence, in the evening of the 9th of 
 June last as a measure necessary towards 
 
the discovery ol' the persons concerned in the 
 burning his Majesty's schooner the Gaspee. 
 .1. MONTAGU. 
 
 Council Chamber, Newport, } 
 January, L6th, 1T73. s 
 
 Sir: — Yours of the 14th instant we should 
 have answered yesterday, but the weathi r 
 was so extremely had as in prevent the com- 
 missioners meeting. You remark to us your 
 coming here at a very unseasonable time, 
 and not in the manner as yon are directed 
 by your instructions, to which you an 
 
 ble we are not utter strangers, nor v, a it 
 
 intention in writing to yon to infringe in the 
 leastupon the same. As we have already 
 informed you how our instructions air word- 
 ed, we omit a repetition of the same, but beg 
 leave to refer you to the last paragraph in 
 the commission, by which you will perceive 
 thai we are expressly charged to conduct our- 
 selves by such instructions as we should re- 
 ceive under the signet ami sign manual, ami 
 agreeable to which we have acted. 
 
 We have no doubt hut Capt. Keeler would 
 have punctually obeyed your orders. The 
 difficulty did not arise on that head, hut from 
 a conviction of the irregularity of departing 
 from our instructions. 
 
 We shall he much obliged I" you when 
 convenient, if you would attend us as a board, 
 having some questions to ask you relative 
 to the information Lieutenant Duddinirslou 
 gave you concerning the burning and destroy- 
 ing the Gaspee. 
 
 To the Honorable Admiral Montagu, com- 
 mander-in-chief of His Majesty's ships, &c, 
 in North America 
 
 Council Chamber, Newport, t 
 January 16, 1773. ^ 
 
 Sir: — After repeatedly informing you of 
 our instructions, and also in our last of a cer- 
 tain paragraph in our commission, copies of 
 both which you have, and our sense of the 
 same we submit the construction of your or- 
 ders from the Lords commissioners ol' the 
 Admiralty entirely to you. 
 
 In our last, and before we received yours 
 of this day, we had desired your attendance 
 in order to give us an account of what Lieut. 
 Dudding'ston had related to you concerning 
 the burning and destroying the Gaspee. 
 
 Weshallhe always ready to receive anj 
 information from you relative to the business 
 we are met on, and are, sir. 
 
 Your most obedient humble servants. 
 
 To the Honorable Admiral Montaj i 
 mander-in-ehief of his Majesty's ships in 
 North America. 
 
 Newport, 19th January, 1773. 
 Gentlemen : — As an opportunity oiler- 
 for sending to England, I am willing to em- 
 brace it, to inform my Lords commissioners 
 ot the Admiralty of my arrival and proceed- 
 ings at this place. As vnu were pleased to 
 
 signily to me your intention of writing upon 
 the subject of adjourning your court, I shall 
 be glad to receive it as soon as possible, that 
 1 may close my public letters, as I propose 
 leaving this place to-morrow morning. 
 
 1 am, with respect, gentlemen, your most 
 obedient humble servant, 
 
 J. MONTAGU. 
 
 His Majesty's commissioners, &c, &c, 
 at Newport. 
 
 Council Chamber. Newport, } 
 January 19th, 1773. $ 
 
 Sir: — In our last conversation with you, 
 you were pleased to inform us that by re- 
 port Capt. Duddingston had made such de- 
 clarations relative to his recollection of the 
 persons concerned in the destruction of the 
 Gaspee that his testimony would he very 
 material in our present inquiry, and from the 
 language of Air. Duddingston's letter to you, 
 which you laid before us. we must be of the 
 same opinion, as it is our determined resolu- 
 tion to do all in our power faithfully to exe- 
 cuti the commission his Majesty hasthought 
 lit lo honor us with; we must request of you 
 to take Buch measures as you think proper to 
 •jet i 'apt. Duddingston to America, in order 
 that he may he examined. 
 
 In the s one conversation you also informed 
 us that at tins inclement season of the year 
 it was impossible for you properly i" execute 
 your orders relative to the affair we are now 
 met on. ami (hit the other duties of your de- 
 partment must suH'er if you did not very soon 
 return to Boston, and therefore it was your 
 determination to go thither to-morrow, or 
 next day. if possible. 
 
 Your absence from us, youare sensible, as 
 we construe our instructions, and as we yes- 
 terday informed you, must male an adjourn- 
 ment of this hoard necessary. Indeed, with- 
 out this difficulty, it is highly probable we 
 should find ourselves under a necessity of 
 adopting the same measure for the want of 
 I 'apt. Duddingston, ami from the extreme 
 rigor of the season, which renders it almost 
 impossible to get witnesses who are at any 
 distance from us. 
 
 We are. with great respect, your most 
 obedient and humble servants. 
 
 P. S. — Though the time to which the emu 
 mi sioners will adjourn is not absolutely 
 fixed, yet it sei ms to he their opinion that it 
 ma t he mi or about the 26th of May next, 
 which they hope will be agreeable to you. 
 
 According to the preceding journal of the 
 commissioners, two or three letters which 
 [Kissed between them and the Admiral are 
 wanting to complete the file of the correspon- 
 dence. During their session they examined 
 several witnesses, and held correspondence 
 with several others. These will now be giv- 
 en in their proper order. 
 
29 
 
 James Brenton, now residing in Newport, 
 in the Colony of Rhode Island in North Ame- 
 rica, Esq., being of full age, duly sworn up- 
 on tin- Holy Evangelists, deposes and saith, 
 that i.| mi the seventeenth day of July last, 
 he was requested by the Hon. Joseph Wan- 
 ton, Esq., Governor of the colonj ol Rhode 
 Island aforesaid, to attend Robert Lillibridge, 
 one of the deputy sheriffs in the countj of 
 Newporl in said colony, who was ordered 
 with ■ warrant from Metcalf Bowler, Esq., 
 one of the Justic \ i in said colony, 
 to repair on board his Majesty's ship the 
 Beaver, and to make diligent search for one 
 Aaron, a mulatto lad, charged with being 
 concerned (with others unknown) in attack- 
 ing and burning his Majesty's sch ier the 
 
 Ga i" mi the tenth of June last, and upon 
 rinding the said Aaron, to take him before 
 the said Metcalf Bowler, or some other law- 
 ful authority, in order that the said Aaron 
 might be examined relative to the said trans- 
 action, and lie proceeded against accord- 
 ing to law. 
 
 That this deponent, about one o'clock in 
 the afternoon of the said seventeenth day of 
 July, went with the said deputy sheriff from 
 said Newport, in order to go on hoard his 
 Majesty's ship the Beaver, then lying in the 
 harbor of Newport ; that when the boat in 
 which this deponent and the said deputy 
 sheriff were, came near the said ship, they 
 were forbid by the sentinel upon the ship's 
 gangway from going on board. Thisdepo- 
 ■ 11 i it then acquainted a person, who appeared 
 to be the commanding officer, upon the deck 
 of said ship, that he, this deponent, with your 
 said deputy sheriff, were then come to de- 
 mand that Aaron, a mulatto lad, who was 
 charged with being concerned in the attack- 
 ing and burning the schooner Gaspee, and 
 wdio they were informed was then on hoard 
 said ship, might be delivered to the deputy 
 sheriff in pursuance of a warrant for that 
 purpose; that the said officer then on deck 
 d this deponent, that ( Japtain land 
 sey, the commander of the said ship, was not 
 on board, and that he, the said office] could 
 do nothing without orders; the said officer 
 further acquainted them that Capt. Lindscy 
 u ;i then mi -here at Brenton's Point ; thai 
 ,i.i deponent then, together with the .-aid 
 deputy sheriff, went mi shore at the farm of 
 Jahleel Brenton, where, af the said Jahleel 
 Brenton's house, tin- - deponent saw the said 
 ( ;:pi. I dndsej and acquainted linn that he 
 came to attend the deputy sheriff with a 
 warrant, in order In demand ol' him, the -aid 
 ('apt. Lindsey. that he would deliverupto 
 ilu: civil rnagii tratc a mulatto boy called 
 Aaron, (wdio, they \\,re informed, was on 
 Beaver man of war under In com 
 inand.) in order for his examinal and com- 
 mitment, and at the same time, tin- deponent 
 showed to the said Capt. Lindsey the said 
 warrant, and he was then and there request- 
 ed to deliver up said mulatl n tence 
 
 thereof; to which the said Capt. Lindsey 
 then answered, that it was true that he had 
 the said mulatto then on board his Majesty's 
 saiil ship the Beaver, but that he would not 
 deliver him to any civil authority whatever 
 in ilu said colony. This deponent then told 
 Capt. Lindsey, that he, this deponent, came 
 to wait upon the said Capt. Lindsey at the 
 particular request of Gov. Wanton, the chief 
 magistrate of said colony, in order to ex- 
 plain in him.il' necessary, the nature of the 
 warranl and the impropriety of Capt. Lind- 
 sey's conduct in withholding a man charged 
 with a capital crime from the civil power ; to 
 which Capt. Lindsey replied, that he knew 
 no civil authority in said colony; that in re- 
 gard to the ( (overnor, lie was a damned ras- 
 cal, and that Admiral Montagu's power was 
 the only power he. knew* in America, and 
 without his orders he should not deliver the 
 said mulatto. 
 
 The deponent then asked him, the said 
 Capt. Lindsey, ifhehad any doubt about the 
 legality of the warrant, which this deponent 
 held in his hand; to which Capt. Lindsey, 
 looking carelessly upon it. said, it might be 
 good lor what he knew, hut that he did not 
 regard it any more than it it was a piece of 
 blank paper. 
 
 This deponent further saith, that the depu- 
 ty sheriff (who was with tins deponent at 
 Jahleel Brenton's farm) did not go into the 
 li' ■ 1 1 ■ i where Capt. Lindsey was, but waited 
 without doors, as Capt. Lindsey (being at 
 that time suspicious of being arrested by 
 civil process, on account of some seizures 
 which had been made by him.) would not 
 consent the deputy sheriff should see him, 
 and further this deponent saith not. 
 
 J. BRENTON. 
 
 Newport, Januarys, 1773. 
 
 Sworn to before the commissioners, 
 
 ./. Wanton, Fred. Smythe, 
 
 Dan. Horsemander, Peter Oliver, 
 
 Hob!. Auchmuty. 
 
 i lolony of Rhode Island. &c. 
 
 Be it remembered that at Newport in said 
 colony, on the ninth day of January in the 
 year of our Lord one thousand seven hundred 
 and seventy-three, before the commissioners 
 appointed by a commission under the great 
 seal ol i (real Britain, for inquiring into and 
 reporting unto his Majesty all the circum- 
 stances of burning bis Majesty's schooner 
 Ga pee, &c, on the tenth of June last, in 
 his proper person came and appeared the 
 Hon. Darius Sessions, Esq.. of Providence, 
 and deputy governor of the colony aforesaid, 
 who being duly sworn upon the Holy Evan- 
 gelists of Almighty God, testifieth and saith; 
 that in the evening of the ninth of June last, 
 at about nine o'clock, he heard a drum beat 
 in the street opposite to his house. Soon af- 
 ter he went to his window and looked out, 
 and saw the drum surrounded by a number 
 of boys at some distance from the house go- 
 
30 
 
 ing up street ; in a short time afterwards he 
 heard the drum returning, whereupon he 
 went back to his window, where he remained 
 until it passed his house, and, as the moon 
 shone very bright, he could plainly discover 
 they were only a company of boys, not ex- 
 ceeding ten or twelve in number, two or three 
 of which appeared to be about thirteen or 
 fourteen years of age, the others about ten 
 or twelve; and concluding they were gath- 
 ered together with no other design than to 
 divert themselves wilh the drum, he retired 
 from his window without saying anything to 
 the boys, soon after which the noise of the 
 drum ceased; the remaining part of that 
 night he heard not the least noise or dii turb 
 ance in the streets or in any other pari of 
 the town, nor received any the least hint, 
 gestion, intimation or information of any 
 I iot, outrage or tu nultuou assembling of the 
 people, nor intention thereof, neither did lie 
 then know there was an armed vessel in the 
 rivi r nearer than the town of Newport, which 
 is thirty miles from Providence; had he 
 known or even uspected any riot, his utmost 
 endeavors would have been exerted in sup 
 
 pressing it. ' : i ol hi 
 
 neighbors came and told him the Gaspee 
 was burnt ami the captain wounded, and that 
 had arrived in tovs n for a surgeon 
 the wounds of the officer who lay 
 (leu at Pawtuxet, about live miles from Pro- 
 vidence. Immediately upon hearing this 
 Lblc m v. lie set out with a design 
 to examine into the affair, and when 
 ed Pawtuxet he saw the chooner on fire, 
 lying on a point of lend called and known 
 by the name of Namquit Point, about two 
 miles from Pawtuxet, in the town of Warwick, 
 in the county of Kent, and colony aforesaid. 
 He made inquiry if any of the offendi rs were 
 known, but could get no information ; he 
 
 then went to a small house by the si . 
 
 where he heard Lieutenant Duddingston 
 was lodged, and there found him in danger- 
 ous circumstances. He told Lieutenant I lud- 
 i if he wanted money, surgeons, or 
 l"i:e'-\ or any kind of assistance. 
 he should have every relief in his power. 
 Mr. Duddingston replied, thai he had savi d 
 his money, which was about one hundred 
 dollars, and therefore wanted no favors for 
 himself, bul desired thatsome care might be 
 taken of his people, that they might be col- 
 lected together and sent to the Admiral to 
 Boston, or on heard the Leaver at Newport, 
 which the deponent promised he would do. 
 He then told Mr. Duddingston the 
 his visit at thai, time was not onlj to afford 
 him any assistance he might need, but also 
 to proi are such a declaration from his own 
 mouth respecting the attack that had been 
 made on his per. on, and the i esse] lie com 
 in inded, thai the offenders mighl be broughi 
 i. Mr. Duddin :red, thai 
 
 he woul I i account of the matter; 
 
 first, because ofhis indisposition of bodj . and 
 
 second, because it was his duty to forbear 
 anything of that nature until he had done it 
 unto a court martial, unto which, it he lived, 
 he would be called by his commanding offi- 
 cer. The deponent then asked him if he 
 was willing he should examine his officers 
 and people, which, after some refusal, he 
 consented to, and they all agreeing nearly 
 to everything matt rial relative to the de- 
 struction of the schooner, he forthwith trans- 
 mitted copies nC their examinations to the 
 Governor. The deponent then gave orders 
 that the seamen should he collected together 
 and provided with victuals and lodgings, and 
 thai a boat should he got ready by the next 
 morning to carry them on hoard ihc Beaver, 
 all which was executed with care and cx- 
 pedition. Tin; deponent also gave orders 
 dial the i tore.-- and remain -- should he col- 
 lected and lodged in a ware house, which 
 was done, and soon after delivered to Capt. 
 Lindsey, of the Beaver, lie also desired a 
 gi aileinen, who lived near Mr. Duddings- 
 ton to supply said Duddingston with any 
 thing he wanted, and also that he would 
 lodge and entertain any surgeon- or others 
 who might com. .Inch the 
 
 deponenl vc rily belii . complied 
 
 wilh. These expenses were recommended 
 by the deponenl to the General Assembly, 
 who ordered payment out of the public trea- 
 sury. The deponent consulted Willi the 
 Chief Justice, and most of the civil authority 
 in (hat part of the colonj where he resides, 
 who highly disapproved of the riot, and uni- 
 versally declared they were ignor tnl of any 
 of tin proceedings, and gave it as their 
 
 opinion that me es on .hi to he pursued 
 
 for discovering and bringing to justice the 
 
 perpetrator i. A proclamal u as oon al 
 
 I by the ( iovernor, which u a po i 
 ed up m all the towns near where theoflence 
 was committed ; but as yet the deponenl has 
 ii"i reci ived any information of any of the 
 persons concerned in thai offence, neither 
 has he ever heard that information has been 
 made to any of the civil authority within the 
 colony, and further this deponenl ;aith not. 
 DARIUS SESSIONS. 
 N. B.--The word :, "nor intention thereof," 
 on the fifth line of the 2d page ; "and colony 
 
 in the i i jhteenth line of t] 
 page ; ■ . hii h after some refusal he con ent- 
 
 ed t id they," in the 19th line of the 3d 
 
 page ; "relative to the destruction of the 
 i ' in the 20th line ol the same page, 
 were interlined before the above deposition 
 and sworn i i. 
 Swoni to. at Newport, this 9th day ol Janu 
 ary, before us, 
 ./. Wanton, !'i , ./'. Smythe, 
 
 Dan. I In ... Peter Oliver. 
 
 Robt. hichmttty. 
 
 Newport, January 11. 1773. 
 Gentlemen: — In obedience to his Majes- 
 ty's commands, signified by Lord Dartmouth 
 
31 
 
 i Honor the Governor, dated Whitehall, 
 September 1th, 1772, which was laid before 
 the General \ssembly, wherein his Lord- 
 hip expre: ed hii M.i]'- ty's dependence on 
 the care and vigilance of the civil magistrates 
 of the colony to take the pi oper rrn 
 arresting and committing to custody, in or- 
 der i" theii being brought to ju stice, such 
 persons as shall, upon proper information 
 before them or before his Majesty's commis- 
 sioners, appeartohavc been concerned in the 
 plundering and dc troj ing his Majesty's 
 schooner Gaspee and dangerously wounding 
 and ill treating his Majesty,s officer who 
 commanded her. &c. 
 
 \ a civil magi trate, and one of his Maj- 
 esty's Justices of Issize in and throughout 
 the colon} . impn ■ sed n ith a regard for the 
 ol the i 'I'ciwn. and the welfare of the 
 colony, I now tender my assistance, when- 
 ever it shall be nece sary ; and when called 
 upon bj the commissioners, or otherwise, 
 will exert every authority which the colony 
 has invested me with, towards the appre 
 bending ai y per ons against whom informa- 
 tion may be lodged, of bi ing concerned in 
 the dc truction of his Majesty's schooner the 
 < la pee, or may appear to have been anj 
 ways aiding or assisting in that most daring 
 insult offered against his Majesty's Crown 
 and dignity within the colony on the 10th of 
 June last. 
 
 I am, with the greatest respect, your most 
 obedient humble i n ant. 
 
 ■ \i,r Ben 
 
 i [onorable hi tlajestj 's ( loramii - 
 doners. 
 
 The examination on oath of Stephen Gul- 
 e the honorable commi ion 
 12th day of January, A. I >. 1773. 
 
 Q W\ it i s our name and occu- 
 
 pation .' 
 
 Answer.- Stephen < iulley is my n 
 a husbandman my occupation. 
 (/. — What age are you ! 
 A. — Aged II years. 
 (/—Where is your place of abode? 
 A.— At Smithfield, in the county of Provi- 
 dence, in the colony of Rhode Island. 
 
 (J — I i. been on board any 
 
 of hi Mo U lint ship >. How 
 
 trd ? 
 I Tl it : .,- ho been on hoard hi - Maj 
 p the Lizzard e\ er i inee Tuesday 
 that he went voluntarily on board 
 ifety. 
 Q \\ hat re lsi in had you to i uppos e you 
 iva unsafe ? 
 
 Mondaj night, the fifth inst., I went 
 into tin ■ public house at the ferry on Rhode 
 Island side, where he set down and called 
 
 drink, which they gave him ; he 
 then called forsuppi r and had it ; afterwards 
 
 1 i 
 
 a e. i. 
 
 iknown to him, came and 
 
 ■ bound ; 
 he said to Newport ; the man told him he 
 would not get there; lie asked him for what 
 reai on he thought so; he replied, thei 
 about twenty armed men in the road, one of 
 them with two lira - pi tols, who, he said, 
 were come to take him alive or, lead, to car- 
 ry him hack to Providence ; that he, said 
 man, went out into the other room ; the land- 
 lord then . poke to the deponent and told him 
 he would give him a word of advice ; he said 
 there were about twenty armed men that 
 said they would have him, the deponent, and 
 that he did not know but they would tear his 
 hou •■ down if he stayed there; he then 
 called his children and, he believes, his wife, 
 into the room, and gave them a strict charge 
 to tell the men if they inquired after this de- 
 ponent, that he was gone out with the land- 
 lord to talk together, and that this happened 
 about eight o'clock in the evening ; the land- 
 lord then told him he would show him a way 
 where he might escape their hands, that they 
 might know nothing where he was gone. 
 The landlord then went, with him about a 
 quarter of a mile, he thinks front said house, 
 in ight of a pond, and they then parted, the 
 landlord first directing him the road to New- 
 port. 
 
 Q. — What do you know relative to the at- 
 tacking and burning the Gaspee schooner on 
 
 said tilth of June la- I :' 
 
 A. — As to my own knowledge I know no- 
 ut it ; but that some time about the 
 ' v. -mlier last lie was told by Capt 
 William Thayer, of Mendon, in the province 
 of Massachusetts, that Saul Ramsdale, late 
 of Mendon. who wa a shoemaker at work at 
 Providence, at the time the Gaspee was 
 burnt, told him and one of his sons he knew 
 who the persons wire who were concerned 
 ■ he, the said Rams- 
 lah ',. hi , ompany with them before they 
 went oil from Providence, but did not go 
 himsi If; upon which, this deponent went im- 
 mediately to Ramsdale. who was then at 
 Mendon; he found a young fellow with him, 
 but upon this deponent telling Ramsdale that 
 he wanted a private conversation with him, 
 
 the young man went away ; this deponent' 
 then asked him about the burning of said 
 diooner, and whether he had any 
 knowledge of that matter; Ramsdale then 
 ai la ,1 him who told him that he. Ramsdale, 
 knew anything of thai mailer; he told him 
 he did not choose to say who gave him (hat 
 intelligence; he, said deponent, then told 
 him ii he would give thi deponent any in- 
 about burning the < (asp e schoo- 
 ner he would be a g I friend to him; Rams- 
 dale then told him he did know omething 
 about the thing ; that lie. knew the heads of 
 the gang that went down the river with that 
 intention ; that he saw two men with guns 
 
 under their arms, and f them swore. 
 
 ery high oath that he would be re- 
 ; ie was agoing upon 
 
32 
 
 before he returned, and that he, the said 
 Ramsdale, was picked for one of the gang to 
 go with them, but being faint hearted and 
 discouraged, he did not go ; this deponent 
 then asked him whether some of the Browns 
 were not concerned. Ramsdale answered 
 yes, but does not remember that he mention- 
 ed his Christian name; he, this deponent, 
 then asked him how many in number there 
 were, if there was two hundred ; lie said 
 more; he then asked him if there was four 
 hundred ; he said not so many; he then ask- 
 ed him if there was three hundred; he said 
 yes; he then asked him if there was any 
 more; he said jes, something upwards ; he 
 then parted with said Ramsdale, and this de- 
 ponent then went to Boston. This deponent 
 further saith that he had been acquainted 
 with said Ramsdale many years ; that lie 
 told said Ramsdale that he would be sent 
 for, and Ramsdale begged he would not dis- 
 cover him. STEPHEN GULLEY. 
 
 Newport, 12 January, 1773. 
 
 Sworn to before us, 
 
 ./. Wanton, Fred, Smylhe, 
 
 Dan. Horsemander, Peter Oliver, 
 
 Robt. Auchmuty. 
 
 Newport, ss 
 
 Colony of Rhode Island, '( 
 January 13th 177::. S 
 
 Joseph Borden, of Portsmouth, in (lie 
 county of Newport, in the colony of Rhode 
 Island, Ac., landholder, of lawful age, ap 
 peared before the honorable commissioners 
 for inquiring into the circumstances of burn- 
 ing the Gaspee, ccc, and being sworn upon 
 the Holy Evangelists of Almighty God, dc- 
 poseth and saith : — 
 
 That some time in the beginning of last 
 week, a man came to his house in Ports- 
 mouth, who called himself Stephen Gulley ; 
 he appeared to be in liquor, and requested 
 that he might have supper and lodgings, 
 which the deponent told him he miuiii have ; 
 before supper he went from the deponent's 
 house in company with one Thomas Ayles- 
 bury, and as they had both been noisy and 
 used very bad language, the deponent fast- 
 ened the doors of his h mse, in order to keep 
 them out; after some tune this Stephen Gul- 
 ley returned and knocked al tin door, upon 
 which lie let him in, and told him his supper 
 u i ready in (he back room; and while he 
 was eating his supper Aylesbury returned, 
 and said to Gulley, my friend, 1 believe you 
 are upon some bad design, as 1 understood, 
 by your talk, you are going to Newporl to 
 •jive information about burning the Gaspee; 
 to which Gulley replied, that it was nobody's 
 business but his own ; then Aylesbury told 
 him he would not get to Newport, as there 
 were a number of Indians with brass pistols 
 in the road, who would take care of him : 
 but this di pom nl in fact sayeth thai he did 
 n..t know, neither has he any reason to be 
 lieve, there were any Indians in the road 
 
 leading to Newport, and the deponent sup- 
 posed that Aylesbury told this story to Gul- 
 ley with no other design but to frighten him. 
 After Aylesbury left the room Gulley asked 
 the deponent what he should do ; and as he 
 recollected Aylesbury was in liquor, and did 
 not know but there might be some disturb- 
 ance between him and Gulley, he, the de 
 ponent, told Gulley there was a lower road 
 that he might go in, by which he might 
 avoid that which Aylesbury had told him the 
 Indians were in, and if he would pay his 
 reckoning he would go and direct him to 
 that road ; on which he asked the deponent 
 if he would not take a weapon with him ; 
 whereupon he replied that he should not 
 take a weapon with him, as he did not be- 
 lieve any body would hurt him, the deponent, 
 or the said Gulley, and then immediately 
 proceeded to show him the road, by going 
 with him as far as his barn, which is about 
 twenty rods from the deponent's house, and 
 showed him a pond near to which was a 
 road, and directed him to take that road and 
 mlhward till he came into the main 
 road, which he would soon do. The depo- 
 nent then left Gulley, and returned to his 
 dwelling house, where he saw nobody but 
 his own family, either in the house or about 
 it, and every thing remained epiiet. And this 
 deponent further saith, that while he was in 
 the kitchen, sunn after Gulley came to his 
 house, and before Aylesbury had told Gul- 
 ley he believed he was upon some bad de- 
 sign, lie heard a person reading the King's 
 proclamation fur discovering the persons who 
 burnt the Gaspee schooner, upon which Gul- 
 ley said it was a fine reward, and he intend 
 eii to have it; and the deponent believes that 
 Aylesbury was then in the room, and further 
 this deponent saith not. 
 
 JOSEPH BORDEN. 
 
 Sworn to at Newport the day and year be- 
 fore written, before us, 
 
 ./. Wanton, Fred. Smythe, 
 
 Dun. Horsemander, Peter Oliver. 
 
 Robert Auchmuty, 
 
 The examination of Aaron, a mulatto, up- 
 on oath, taken this 14th dav of January, A. 
 D. 1773, 
 
 Aaron Briggs, aged eighteen ; 
 thereabout, declares, that at the age of five 
 years he was bound by the town of Ports- 
 mouth, an apprentice to < apt. Samuel Tomp- 
 kins, of Prudence island, until he should ar- 
 rive at the age of twenty-four years ; from 
 which time, until he went on board the man- 
 of-war, he was constantly in the service of 
 the said Capt. Tompkins, as a laborer on his 
 farm ; that his master kept a two mast boat 
 to transport his farm produce to market, 
 which was the only sail boat within five 
 miles of bis master's farm at the time the 
 Gaspee was burnt ; that " fi 
 
 Remington, who lived aboul one mile from 
 where the deponent lived, had. a row boat 
 
33 
 
 large enough tor six hands to row; also one II was out all night, and flog him ; upon which 
 
 . at about a mile and a half Potter said, there is no can't in the matter, 
 
 , ,,l , t W n mast bnnt ind that the ynn must ?n alonaf with me. we shall be h ick 
 
 hi hi [-in's boat .-linn- time before thd night 
 on which the < Jaspee was burnt, and she 
 leaked in such a manner that i he could not 
 sail ; that a little after sunset, on the night 
 on which the < lai pee was bui nt, he left the 
 island of Pi udence, but doe not know the 
 the week, or the day of the month; that 
 
 he we If the island in a little fishing bout 
 
 of two oars, which boat lay jusi before the 
 house; that before sunrise, and ah ut an 
 hour after daybreak, he returned to Ins mas- 
 ter's house from the shore where they land 
 
 nl the people bel jing to the < hispee, which 
 
 shore w as about n mile abo\ e aid ( laspee, 
 and the ' Saspee about six miles Irom his mas- 
 ter's house, and that it was about four or five 
 milrs from his master's to the place where 
 they landed the Gaspee people; that he 
 found the oars in the boat that he went oft' 
 Baid island in; that the reason he went off 
 ' i in. I. was to carry the boat round to the 
 
 e of i lid ! land, to carrj a m tamed 
 
 Samuel Faulkner, a hired man, to Bristol the 
 him night, and that tin youn man told the 
 deponent that he would ask his masti r's leave 
 for that purpose ; that going round said is- 
 land, at about half a mile from said shore ol 
 said island, he met a boat and one Potter. 
 I ' 1 1 lian name he does not know, and 
 whom he, in company with Faulkner abovi - 
 named, had once seen on a wharf at Bristol, 
 ami there heard him railed by the name of 
 Potter; and further says, that said Faulkner 
 
 told him that thai was the person wl wind 
 
 the ropewalk at Bristol winch they had hern 
 in ; that h hen he mi I aid Pottei a 3 alw e 
 mentioned, he was in a boat which was row 
 ing with eight oars ; that the time he met the 
 
 lid Potter was about half an hour after he, 
 this deponent, left the island, and 
 Potter, was about five miles from Bristol ; 
 that there were eleven men in said boat, lid 
 Potter was in the stern sheets; that the 
 weather was cloudy ; that when Putter hailed 
 .'/ere about fifteen reds distant ; the 
 lirst words Poller spoke was |, v asking who 
 was in that boat: the deponent answered, he 
 was in there ; Potter told him to come that 
 way. he wanted to speak to him; upon which 
 he went to lain, and Potter told him he want- 
 ed this deponent to go up with linn about n 
 mile, that lie would be hark in an hour-, tins 
 
 : p mi nl said he <■■ iuld not. he wa -■ Iiur- 
 
 ■ home ; to which Putter replied, lie 
 inn in with him : the deponent answered. 
 In could not. he must go home, or Ins mas- 
 ter would punish him, and this deponent then 
 in ' in to row away ; Potter told In in he want- 
 ed this deponent to L r o with him to letch some- 
 thing down which tins deponent had forgot, 
 and that he would pay him for so doing ; this 
 
 deponent said he had rather go home, for il 
 hie master should miss him he would say he 
 
 5 
 
 painter, you need noi row we will carry yon 
 up there; u|ion winch this deponent gave 
 them the painter; that he, this deponent, he- 
 
 ing in Ins own boat, was rowed up by Pot- 
 
 ii ? boat nil they came within half a mile of 
 
 the schooner ; Potter II, en said to this depo- 
 
 i ■ into mj boat : that he got ii.ro the 
 
 li" : . Poller then told him lliej wen _ g 
 
 to burn the n -of-war schooner, and that 
 
 lie. ilu- deponent, must go Willi lllln ; to 
 which i e replied, that il was hard for linn to 
 
 lie brought there, where he jht lose lus 
 
 life; Potter tin ii said I hey were all upon their 
 
 lives; this deponent still repented, it WHS 
 
 hard lor him to go; but Potter said he must 
 L'o now he was there ; th it tin j would uive 
 
 him a weapon, and he must .1 - they did, 
 
 knock them down, and not let them kill him if 
 he could help it. and gave him a handspike; 
 the rest were armed some with cutlasses, 
 some wilh muskets ; this happened at about 
 ten o'clock at night ; Poller further told this 
 deponent that they expected 16 or 17 more 
 heats from Providence ; in about an hour af- 
 terwards they met eighl boats about half a 
 mile Irom the schooner, which appeared to 
 be pretty full of people; upon their meeting, 
 Poller and two men. called Browns by the 
 pen; le. whom this deponent did not know, 
 talked about how they should hoard the 
 ;chooner ; one of these persons called Brown, 
 got into Potter's hoat, on which they were 
 hailed from the Gaspee and told to Stand off; 
 upon which, Brown said row up ; immediately 
 alter, he, this deponent, saw the captain of 
 the schooner come upon deck in his breeches, 
 and fired a pistol into one of the boats and 
 
 wounded i of the men in the thigh; that 
 
 h ' '■ a man who was in the boat with Pot- 
 ter, and who was called Brown, fire a mus- 
 ket, which wounded the captain ; alter which 
 there was no more firing, but they instantly 
 hoarded the schooner; that the captain of 
 the iliiiiinr. when he was wounded, he 
 thinks, tend by the foreshrouds upon the left 
 hand side ; when they got on hoard there 
 were about four of the schooner's men on 
 deck, and the rest were coming up out of the 
 hold, and somebody said knock 'em down and 
 kill them, no matter what you do with them; 
 that this deponent di I not know the Browns, 
 n if hear them called by their Christian 
 names, and further declares that it was John 
 Brown who shot the captain, and that be 
 hath never seen either of the Brown- ince ; 
 that after they got possession of the vessel, 
 they ionic the hands belonging to the schoo- 
 ner and threw them down the hoM, and this 
 happened about 3 o'clock in '.r.e morning; 
 
 then the people searched the V< SSel, took the 
 
 captain' papers, which he tli sired they would 
 give him : but they refused, tore them and 
 threw them overboard , then they took the 
 
34 
 
 Gaspee's people, tied their hands, and put 
 them into the boat and carried them ashore, 
 this deponent going with them; by the time 
 they got halfway ashore, the schooner was 
 on lire ; that before they went ashore, a doc- 
 tor, whom they called Weeks, from one of the 
 boats, dressed the Captain's wounds; that 
 when they had landed the people, they un- 
 tied their hands and let them go, and the 
 captain of the schooner they carried up to a 
 house ; after they had landed the men they 
 put oil' to return, and Potter told them he 
 would give him two dollars I'm' what he li.nl 
 done, which hi- accordingly did ; upon which 
 this deponenl set elfin his ownboatand row- 
 ed home; that it was about 1 o'clock when 
 they had landed the schooner's people; Unit 
 it was a moonlight night hut sometimes 
 cloudy ; that soon -liter the people had hoard- 
 ed the schooner, they hoisted the lop sail.-. 
 her head laying up towards Providence, and 
 he saw nothing further done to her or her 
 sails; that the schooner when they boarded 
 her was aground ; that the person who 
 acted as surgeon, he thinks he has een al 
 his master's house, but is nol sun' it was thi 
 same person. This deponent further says, 
 that tin' person to whom he li>' t gave an ac- 
 count of the above affair of burning the ( las- 
 pee, was Capt. Lindsey, of the Beaver; 
 sometime after the burning of the schooner 
 he went on hoard the Beaver in his m i ter'i 
 said boat ; that immediately upon hit going 
 on board they puthim in irons, because they 
 imagined he intended to run away from his 
 mastet ; it was about ten o'clock al night 
 when the deponent was put in irons, and was 
 released about ten o'clock the next, day, and 
 then they were going to flog him ; after he 
 ■was tied up to the mast, one of the I 
 men, called Paddy Alis, jumped up and told 
 the captain that he thought that he, this de- 
 ponent, was one that was aboard the schoo- 
 ner Gaspee. At this time the deponenl had 
 said nothing about the burning of the schoo- 
 ner, nor had made no discovery relal ( 
 
 what he knew; the captain asked the man if 
 he was sure of it ; he said yes; the captain 
 asked what clothes he had on; tin n 
 two frocks ; then the captain told the man to 
 examine what clothes he had, which they 
 found wen- two frocks; there was no men- 
 tion made of any other clothes. The next 
 day Paddy Alis and the deponent wen call 
 ed up before the captain, who a ked the 
 Paddy if he was sure thai this deponent was 
 one concerned in the attack of the 
 he said yes; he further asked him if] g could 
 swear to it; he answered yes; that the cap- 
 tain then administered an oath to the said 
 Paddy upon the Bible, who swore that tins 
 de,„.._."nt was there; the captain Ll 
 to this deponent, my lad, you see this man 
 has declared you was there, and if you don'l 
 tell who was there with you, I will hang yon 
 at. the yard arm immediately, and if you do, 
 you shall not be hurt ; upon which this de- 
 
 ponent told the captain all the heads that was 
 there, the captain saying lie did not want to 
 know any thing about the poor people, but 
 only the heads. This deponent further says, 
 that lie never spoke to any of the Beaver's 
 crew till he got on board ; that his master's 
 boat, in which this deponent went on board 
 the ship, his master went on board and re- 
 ceived again; that this deponent went on 
 board said man-of-war with an intention not 
 to return again to his master; that he, this 
 deponent, never was christened, and that he 
 should have told Capt. Lindsey all he knew 
 relating '" the Gaspee immediately upon his 
 going on hoard if they had not put him in 
 irons. The deponent further says, that the 
 morning after the burning ol the schooner, 
 when he returned to his master's, lie went to 
 bed with two black servants, with whom he 
 usually slept ; he lay there a little while, and 
 upon hi i master's knocking, he got up and 
 went to fetch the, rows; that when he first 
 returned to his master's house, he got in at 
 a lower window on the southwest part of the 
 house, which opens into the middle room; 
 that during the whole transaction on said 
 night the schooner was burnt, no man called 
 thi I ; one.n1 hy h nai r knew him. 
 
 AARON X BRIGGS. 
 
 mar!-:. 
 
 Sworn lo this I lih day of January, A. D. 
 177:;, al the Council Chamber in Newport, 
 befon u 
 
 ./. Ilo,'.' m, Fred. Smythe, 
 
 Dan. Horsemander, Peter Oliver 
 
 Hubert Auehmuty, 
 
 I, Rufus Greene, Jr., of Eai t ( ireenwich, in 
 the colony ofRhode Island, mariner, deposi 
 and a\ ; thai i ome time in February last, I 
 was in board of and commanded the - loop 
 Fortune, lying al anchor in the Narragan- 
 si it Bay, off North Kingstown, having a 
 quantity of rum on hoard, belonging to Na- 
 thaniel < ireene iV < lo., when one Dundass, an 
 officer ol the i chooner < iaspee, under the 
 command of Lieutenant Duddingston, came 
 on hoard ami asked this deponent ifhe would 
 take an} freight on board; to which this de- 
 ponent answered no; he then ordered this 
 deponent to unlay the hatches; and this de- 
 ponenl telling tin' said Dundass thai said 
 hatches wen- unlaid, he then ordered him 
 into Mi" cabin ; and being demanded by 
 what authority he thus did, replied, "If you do 
 ato the cabin I'll let j mi know.' draw- 
 ing his sword; he then caught this deponent 
 h\ the collar, and pushed him into the cabin; 
 this deponenl then came oul of said cabin, 
 and went forward lo prevent the anchor's be- 
 ing weighed ; he then clenched upon this 
 deponent again, thru.-t him into the cabin, 
 jammed the companion leaf upon his head, 
 knocked him down upon a chei t in said cab- 
 in, and confined him there for a considerable 
 time ; after this deponent entreating the said 
 
36 
 
 Dundassto lei him free, he did so, and made 
 a seizure of the said vessel and cargo, (as 
 aid,) and jiut the letter "I!" upon her 
 hatches; then towed said sloop to said 
 schooner (it being calm) with three boats. 
 This deponent being commanded aboard the 
 schooner aforesaid, obeyed ; wont before said 
 Lieutenant Dudding ton. and after some con- 
 versation, u.i j ordered from Ins presence and 
 confined in the gangway ; this deponent ;isl 
 ed said Duddingston ifhe had a commission 
 to seize, A c, to which said 1 >uddinj 
 swered that he had a good commission from 
 his Majesty, bul showed none. The next 
 day this deponent was pul on board another 
 vessel, and further saith not. 
 
 RUFUS GREENE, Jr. 
 
 Kent, ss. 
 
 East < !i be w. ii h. Jan. I Ith, 1773. 
 
 Personally appeared the above deponent, 
 Rufus Greene, Jr., and being cautioned to 
 speak the truth made solemn oath upon the 
 Evangelii tsof Almighty ( !od, thai the be- 
 fore going narrative is true II its pans. 
 
 Coram, HOPKINS COOKE, 
 
 Justice Peace. 
 
 I do hereby certify that the above depo- 
 nenl is of a respectable family, sobei life, 
 md oughl to be credited. 
 
 II. COOKE, Justice Peace. 
 
 The examination of Patrick Earls, fakcn 
 
 oi ih this ii'in ol January, 1773. 
 
 Patrick Eai I . ol full age, a manner, on 
 board hi Maje i\ '. i hip the Lizzard, com- 
 manded by Capt. Inglis, being duly, sworn, 
 
 1 , ... sailor on 
 
 boai I the Gn | i chooner ; on the 10th of 
 
 Imi'' I -i. u hen she was run agi ound on a 
 
 pa of Ian. I. thai betwei none and two oYlock, 
 
 the captain called all hand i on deck, and Ihis 
 
 i oraing ni. w ith the n i i ofthe seal 
 
 i\\ a numbei ..1 arm. d men 
 
 ' . i or three muskets and club ; thai 
 
 he saw tin e | r break open the arm- 
 
 il furnish themselves with i 
 
 una after this, this deponent was knocked 
 down with i club, and pitched into the hold, 
 and in about a quarti r of an hour, was called 
 upon dcrk, where his arms were tied behind 
 I shoved into ;i boat, u hi.'li. with 
 aboul six others, was lying alongside the 
 schooner ; thai i the deck was 
 
 cle ire I ol all the officers and sailors belong- 
 ing to the Gaspee and put into the boats, 
 ihey were rowed to a small village toward 
 Providence, about three mile distant from the 
 schooner, when the) iven landed. This 
 depondnl further saith, that Lieutenant Dud- 
 dingston in the stern of the same 
 boal in which he, the deponent, i 
 shore, an i thai hi . in their passage to the 
 shore, contrived to unloose his anus, and 
 took an our from a negro man. at the bow of 
 the boat, whom he vet ilj believe i to be the 
 negro Aaron, now on board the Lizzard, and 
 helped him to row the boat; and that, to the 
 
 best of his belief, it was about three or lour 
 o'cloi k in the morning, when he, with the 
 captain and the others, were landed. This 
 deponent also saith, that he well remembers, 
 that while the persom were attacking the 
 Menu.-, on board the schooner, he heard the 
 name of Potter mentioned ; that, one of the 
 people sanl. "Potter, it is the best, way to set 
 the men on shore, for that it was not their 
 fault, but the officers ;" to which a person, 
 then standing on the quarter deck, to whom 
 the above expression was directed, who was 
 a tall slim man. with a long sharp nose, in 
 light colored long clothes, his hair tied be- 
 hind, wlm looked 'e like a shoreman than 
 
 a seaman, am wered, "Let it be so." He al- 
 so saith, thai after he was landed, he saw 
 
 the I ts return towards the schooner, and 
 
 in about half an hour after lie saw the. schoo- 
 ner on fire, and the guns blowing off; that it 
 was cloudy and calm weather. And this de- 
 ponent further saith. that on the morning af- 
 ter the negro Aaron came on hoard the. Bea- 
 ver, at 8 (.'clock, he saw him in irons in the 
 galley, and immediately recollected him as the 
 same person whom he assisted to row the 
 boat :i above mentioned, but did not speak 
 to him, but directly told one John Johnson, 
 the boatswain ofthe schooner, that he well 
 knew the negro was one ofthe persons who 
 raved the boat on shore with him ; that on 
 the next day, • apt. Lindsey, commander ot 
 the Beaver, gave directions to his boatswain 
 
 ' ome spun yarn to tie up the negro, 
 
 and give I two or three dozen, to find out 
 
 what he came on hoard for, or if he knew 
 any thing concerning the burning the schoo- 
 ner ; that he was stripped in order to be pun- 
 ished, upon which the boatswain of the Gas- 
 pee then .ailed out, "one ol the men knew 
 him to be one ofthe persons who rowed the 
 captain on shore, and was concerned in burn- 
 ing the schooner;" upon which the captain 
 asked which of the men knew him ; that he 
 called out to this deponent, and asked him if 
 he knew any thing of the negro, and caution- 
 ed him tn he careful in his answers ; that the 
 negro was then ordered in irons again, and 
 th. deponent called into the cabin and order- 
 ed by the captain to describe the negro's 
 dress when onboard the boat, which he did, 
 to wit: A spotted .a- checked handkerchief 
 round his head, a frock, a pair of long trow- 
 sers, no shoes, and his hair tied behind not 
 longer than an inch, or an inch and a half. 
 Soon alter, the captain sentfora Justice from 
 the town, which Justice swore him, and he 
 confirmed the above account he had given 
 under oath relative to the negro. The depo- 
 nent first saw the schooner on fire about 
 breakfast time, which was about six o'clock, 
 when he was ashore, and heard the guns of 
 th. srh. inner blow off. but did not see her 
 from the time he first left her till he saw her 
 on fire. He set along side of the negro in 
 the boat from the time the boat put off from 
 the schooner until she struck the shore where. 
 
36 
 
 he landed, and that while rowing ashore he 
 was cold, and asked the negro to let him row 
 to warm himself; which he did ; and as they 
 sat together, asked him, the negro, fbra chew 
 of tobacco, winch he gave him. Anil fins 
 deponent further saith that he never saw the 
 said negro before he saw him in the boat, 
 his 
 PATRICK _|- EARLS. 
 mark. 
 
 Sworn to at Newport on the 16th day of 
 January, A. D. 1773, before 
 
 ./. Wanton, Fred. Smythe, 
 
 Dun. Horsemander, Peter Oliver. 
 
 Robert Auchmuty, 
 
 Providence, Jan. 19, 1773. 
 
 Honorable Sir: — I received a citation, 
 signed by you ami a number ol other gentle- 
 men, commanding my attendance al the 
 Colony House in Newport, on the twentieth 
 day of January instant, to give in evidence 
 to what I know relative to the attacking, tak- 
 ing and plundering his Majesty's schi ir 
 
 called tbe Gaspee, &c. ; in consequence of 
 which I now inform you, that I am a man of 
 seventy-four years of age, and very infirm. 
 and at tbe time said schooner was taken and 
 plundered, 1 was in my bed, and I knew 
 nothing of it until next day ; ami as fur my 
 not attending a-, commanded. I must plead 
 my age ami infirmity in excuse. 
 
 From your most obedient friend and bum- 
 ble servant, ARTHUR FENNER. 
 
 To the Honorable Joseph Wanton, Esq. 
 
 Providence, January 19th, 1773. 
 To the Honorable tin- Commissioners ap- 
 pointed t<> enquire into the circumstances 
 relative to the destroying the 
 
 Gentlemen : — 1 now address you on ac- 
 count ofa summons I received from you, re- 
 q-iiringmy attendance at the Council Cham- 
 ber in Newport, on Wednesd ty, 20th inst. 
 Now, gentlemen, I beg leave to acquaint you 
 what renders me incapable of attending. In 
 the first place. I am an insolvent debtor ; and 
 therelore my person would lie subject to an 
 
 arrest by s i one or other of my creditors ; 
 
 and my health has bee lecline tin-si-' 
 
 two months pa-t, mnl it would be dangerous 
 should 1 leave my house; and further, were 
 I to attend. I could give no informalion rela- 
 tive to the assembling, arming, training and 
 leading on the people concerned in destroy- 
 ing the schooner Gaspee. (in the 9th day of 
 June I, ist mi night 1 was employed at mj 
 house attending company, which were John 
 Andrew, Esq., Judge of the court of Admi- 
 ralty, John Cole, Esq., Mr. Hitchcock, and 
 George Brown, win supped al my house 
 and stayed there untn !wo of the clock in the 
 morning following; ami I have not any 
 knowledge relative to the matter on which I 
 
 am summoned ; which I am ready to make 
 oath to before any Justice of the Peace. 
 
 I am, gentlemen, most respectfully, your 
 most humble servant, JAMES SABIN. 
 
 East Greenwich, Jan. 19th, 20th, 1773. 
 
 May it please your Honors: — Late last 
 night 1 received asummonsfrom Providence 
 to appeal at the Council Chamber in New- 
 port before your honors, there to give evi- 
 dence of what I knew concerning the burn- 
 ing of the schooner Gaspee, and 1 should 
 have waited on your honors accordingly, but 
 tin' Courtof Common Pleas was then sit- 
 g in the county uf Kent, and being concern- 
 ed in several eases then pending in said court, 
 could nut possibly attend according to sum- 
 mons, therefore hop'- you will excuse my not 
 attending. It has long been a custom for the 
 attorneys, upon tin' concluding evening of 
 filingpleas to the court, to meet together to 
 -peinl tin- evening; that night the said schoo- 
 ner was burnt happened tube the concluding 
 evening of filing pleas; accordingly, the 
 Gent, of the bar, together with myself, met 
 at the house of James Sabin, in Providence, 
 that being a public house of entertainment. 
 Some time after, I being there, heard a drum 
 heat; I asked the reason of said drum beat- 
 ing ; wa answered by some one of the com- 
 pany, that there was a number of boys met 
 together, the) supposed, to divert themselves. 
 I knowing it to be no uncommon 1 1 1 i n o-, 
 
 thought in re about it ; and do solemnly 
 
 declare thai 1 have no knowledge, directly or 
 indirectly, of any plot being laid, or any per- 
 son concerned in perpetrating so vile a crime, 
 and shall he ready at all times, when in my 
 power, to appearand answer any question 
 relating to said affair, if required. 
 
 1 am sientlemen, your honors m ist obedi- 
 ent and humble servant, G. BROW N 
 
 East Greenwich, Jan. 20th, 1773. 
 May it please your Honor.-: — Late last 
 evening 1 received by the way of Provi- 
 dence a citation to appear before your 
 
 honors, at II o'clock this lore to give 
 
 evidence of what I Know relative to the 
 burning and destroying the schooner Gaspee. 
 As the Court of Common Pleas is now sit- 
 ting here, and a number of clients depending 
 upon my assistance in thru- several rases, I 
 hope your honors will dispense with my at- 
 tendance nt the I Council < !hambi r at the 
 lime appointed. 1 am disposed to uive your 
 honors all the information that has come to 
 my knowledge concerning the affair, which 
 is extremely small. The evening preceding 
 the burning of the < I is pee 1 spent at Mr. 
 James Sabins' Tavern, in company with sev 
 eral gentlemen ; about 7 or 8 o'clock, hearing 
 a noise in the street, I pulled bark the shut- 
 iei> of one of the windows next the street, 
 and saw several people collected together, 
 but did not know any of them; upon which, 
 1 made inquiry of the gentlemen in the room 
 
37 
 
 if they knew the occasion, and was answered 
 by some of the company, but by whom I can- 1 
 nol particularly recollect, thai he hoped they 
 were not designed for mischief; to which 1 
 replied, I believed not, if they were they 
 would nol be so public. Some time after- 
 ward, a drum was beating along street; up- 
 on which, I again opened the shutter, and 
 saw three 01 foui boj with a drum, and no 
 other persons. And this, may it plea e your 
 honors, is all 1 know relative to this affair, 
 and which I am ready to make oath to be- 
 fore any of the civil authority in Pi 
 to whicl) place I shall return to-morrow or 
 next day. 
 
 I am, with all deference, your Honors most 
 obedient anil most humble servant, 
 
 JOHN COLE. 
 
 East Greenwich, Jan. 20, 1773. 
 May it please your Honors: — Late last 
 night I had a citation from Providence to 
 appear before you this day at 11 o'clock in 
 the forenoon, to give evidence with regard 
 to the burning the schooner Gaspee ; and 
 as 1 driest all such open violations of the 
 law, should have been willing to have waited 
 upon your honors to let you know every- 
 thing within the compass of my nowledge 
 relative to that matter, had not my engage- 
 ments at Kent Court, in this place abso- 
 
 l.i. I my attendance; and therefore 
 hope your honors will pardon rue on that ac- 
 count ; but every thing 1 know touching that 
 matter I am ready to relate. It has been, 
 may it please your honors, a long custom in 
 
 nj . for the attornej s the concluding 
 of tiling of pleas for court, to meet some 
 where together and spend the evening; that 
 night, the schooner was burnt happened to be 
 the concluding evening. We met at Mr. 
 Sabins', fi\ ourselves, and about S o'clock I 
 went to the door, or, finally, kitchen, and saw 
 a number of people in the street, hut paid no 
 attention to them, as thai place was a place 
 of public resort. Some lime alter 9 o'clock 
 I hear. I a drum beat, and was asked by some 
 body in the room, what was the occasion of 
 the beating of that drum: am! it. was an- 
 swered by somebody, that it was beat by 
 some boys, which quieted all further inquiry 
 by me ; neither del I imagine that any thing 
 of that nature was about being perpetrated, 
 till after it was m fart done. This, may it 
 your honors, is every thing that 1 
 know, or ha come to my knowledge, i ela 
 live lo that transaction, and which 1 am wil- 
 ling, on solemn oath, to state before any of 
 the civil authority in Providence, to which 
 place I shall ill a clay or Inn return. 
 
 I am your Honors most obedienl humble 
 servant, I'. HITCHCOCK. 
 
 Pnovini n-ce, .km. 20, 1773. 
 < i i n i i EMEN - I i i .1 . one 
 
 1 I o'clock, i ' questing my attendance 
 il ) I o'i lock this day. at the Court House in 
 
 Newport, in order to give evidence before 
 your honors to that knowledge I have re- 
 lating to the burning and destroying his 
 Majesty's schooner called the Gaspee, and 
 to the assembling, arming, training and lead- 
 ing the people concerned therein. I should 
 have cheerfully obeyed said summons had 
 my health permitted, but I have been con- 
 fined for a week past with a swelling in my 
 hand, which hath rendered me unable to stir 
 out of doors ; but as soon as I am able, I 
 shall wait upon your honors, and inform you 
 all I know relating to that matter, winch 
 your honors will judge just nothing at all lo 
 the purpose. 
 
 I am, with great regard, your Honors most 
 obedient and most humble servant, 
 
 JOHN ANDREWS. 
 
 P. S. — I have judged proper to inform your 
 honors of all particulars of knowledge I have 
 relating to the burning his Majesty's schoo- 
 ner called the I la pi e, in the Narragansett 
 River. I was in Providence town the eve- 
 ning before the mischief was done, and in 
 company with a number of gentlemen, I 
 heard a disturbance in the street, and in- 
 quired into the cause, and was answered, 
 that it had been a training day and they 
 were breaking up their frolic, and I heard 
 nothing further that evening relative there- 
 to, but went to bed, and nigh morning was 
 surprised with the news of the said schooner's 
 being burned and destroyed. 1 then wait- 
 ed upon the Deputy Governor immediately, 
 and he, with me, repaired to the spot, where 
 we found Mr. Duddingston badly wound- 
 ed, and the said schooner appeared at. a dis- 
 tance to be on fire.and burned down to the wa- 
 ter; and the Deputy Governor inquired of Mr. 
 Duddingston if he had any knowledge of any 
 dI' the trespassers, and he made answer that 
 he should give no account about the matter 
 before he was brought before the court mar- 
 tial, wleae he expected his trial, but was 
 willing that his people should declare all they 
 knew of the matter, and were sworn before 
 
 the Deputy Governor accordingly. I 
 
 Mr. Duddingston afterwards, and 
 
 desired him, if he had any knowledg 
 of the persons who did the mischief, he would 
 inform me thereof that they might he brought 
 lo condign punishment, but always declined 
 saying any thing at. all ; and that is the sufi- 
 stance' ol the knowledge i have of the mat- 
 ter, and which I am ready to swear lo. 
 
 JOHN ANDREWS. 
 
 To the Honorable Commissioners. 
 
 Joseph Wanton. Esq., Governor of the 
 English Colony of Rhode I land, on oath 
 declares and says : That at an interview he 
 had with Lieutenant Duddingston, late of the 
 schooner Gaspee, he asked him whether he 
 had any authority from the comi 
 at Boston, or from Admiral Montagu ; to 
 ivhi ii lie replied, he had not, but received his 
 authority from the Lords of the Admiralty, 
 
38 
 
 and that he was come into the Colony of 
 Rhode Island by virtue of that power, and 
 no other whatever. The deponent thru ask 
 ed how long it vvas probable he should con- 
 tinue in the colony ? to which he answered, 
 at present he was in the colony, but how long 
 lie should continue was uncertain. And this 
 deponent saith, that he does not remember 
 that he hath since that time seen the said 
 Lieutenant Duddingston. 
 
 On or about the 20thof March last, a com- 
 plaint was transmitted to the deponent, by 
 the deputy governor of the colony, signed 
 by sundry persons residing in and near the 
 town of Providence, that an armed schooner 
 was cruising in the Narragansett Bay, inter- 
 rupting their legal commerce, by searching 
 and unnecessarily detaining the freight boats, 
 &c, and therefore requested the deponent to 
 make such inquiry as was necessary for ob- 
 taining information, whether the persons be- 
 longing to said schooner were duly author- 
 ized to exercise that power within the body 
 of the colony. Upon receiving the complaint, 
 the deponent conceived it was his duly, in 
 order to satisfy the complainants, and at the 
 same time to give the persons complained 
 of an opportunity of exculpating tin in elvi 
 from the several charges and accusations 
 which were exhibited against them, to pur- 
 sue such measures as were prudent and legal. 
 and thereupon wrote a letter to the com- 
 manding officer of said schooner, advising 
 him of the information the deponent had re- 
 ceived respecting Ins conduct and proceed 
 ings since his arrival within this colony, and 
 requesting that he would produce his com- 
 mission and authority. This letter was an- 
 swered by Lieutenant Duddingston, which, 
 not being satisfactory, the deponent wrote 
 him another letter, on the 23d of March; in 
 consequence whereof, Lieutenant Duddings- 
 ton sent the deponent, by one of his officers, 
 whose name was Dundass, an order from the 
 Lords of the Admiralty for his commanding 
 the schooner Gaspee, also their letter to the 
 commissioners at Boston, requiring them to 
 give a deputation from the commissioners at 
 Boston, directed to the said Dundass, all 
 which the deponent, after he had read and 
 examined, returned to the said Dundass, who 
 had the charge of them, without the least de- 
 lay or interruption whatever. The deponent 
 took this opportunity to remonstrate to the 
 officer against the impropriety of Mr. Dud- 
 dingston's proceedings, in sending a quanti- 
 ty of rum he had seized in the county of 
 Kent, within this colony, for illegal importa- 
 tion, to Boston for trial, it being, in the de- 
 ponent's opinion, repugnant to an act of Par- 
 liament made and passed m the eighth year 
 of his Majesty's reign, as there was a Court 
 of Vice Admiralty established within this 
 colony ; and that if he persevered in such 
 measures, he must expect, that a process 
 would be issued against him. A short time 
 after this another complaint was brought 
 
 against Mr. Duddingston, by one Faulkner, 
 of Portsmouth, in this colony, and proprietor 
 of a certain island called Gould Island, within 
 the said colony, who alleged that the people 
 belonging to said schooner Gaspee had been 
 upon said island, and committed a trespass 
 and waste thereon, by cutting down thirty or 
 more trees and carrying the same from off 
 said island. The deponent recommended to 
 the complainant to make application to said 
 Duddingston, and demand such satisfaction 
 as was adequate to the damage he had sus- 
 tained, and if possible to avoid a lawsuit, 
 winch, he said, he had been urged to com- 
 mence ; after which, he was informed by said 
 Faulkner, that Lieutenant Duddingston had 
 paid him about fifteen dollars on account of 
 the above named trespass and waste, with 
 which he appeared satisfied. 
 
 On the 1 1th of June, the deponent received 
 from Darius Sessions, Esq., of Providence, 
 and deputy governor of the colony, an ac- 
 count of the destruction of Ins Majesty's 
 schooner the Gaspee ; upon which, he imme- 
 diately called together such of his Majesty's 
 council and members of the General Assem- 
 bly as could be seasonably imtilied, and com- 
 municated to them the disagreeable intelli- 
 gence, who unanimously recommended a 
 proclamation, with a. proper reward, for dis- 
 covering the offenders, which was thereupon 
 issued, and sent into the several towns with 
 in the colony. 
 
 Admiral Montagu, on the Sth of July, 
 transmitted to the deponent the declaration 
 of a mulatto lad, called Aaron, impeaching 
 several persons therein named with being 
 com eined iii burning the aforesaid schooner. 
 As this declaration was not made before any 
 of the civil authority, either in this or any oth- 
 er colony, the deponent was of opinion that it 
 was higiily nere isary that Aaron should be 
 taken into custody, and therefore due, ted 
 one of the Judges of the Superior Court to 
 issue his warrant for Aaron, that he might 
 be legally examined ; ami as he was then in 
 m the care of (..'apt. Lindsey, wrote him a loi- 
 ter dated the 16th of July, (which letter ac- 
 companied the warrant,) requesting that he 
 would deliver the said Aaron to the sheriff, 
 that he mighl he examined respecting what 
 he knew of attacking and burning the Gas- 
 per ; hut (.'apt. Lindsey refused to deliver 
 up the witness, and treated the letter and 
 warrant with the hiirlicst contempt, as the 
 deponent was informed by James Brenton, 
 Esq., who waited upon Capt. Lindsey with 
 the. letter at the deponent's request. If Aaron 
 had any knowledge of burning the said 
 schooner it was out of the power of the de- 
 ponent to obtain it, through the unjustifiable 
 conduct of the said Capt. Lindsey. 
 
 The deponent communicated to Admiral 
 Montagu, in a letter dated the 23d of July, 
 the steps he had taken for obtaining Aaron s 
 declaration in full expectation that he would 
 have given positive orders for the delivery 
 
39 
 
 of Aaron into the custody of the civil autho- 
 rity, especially as the deponent had assured 
 Capt. Lindsey that after his examination he 
 should be returned onboard the King's ship. 
 
 The deponent cited Mr. Samuel Thurs- 
 ton and Mr. Samuel Tompkins, of the island 
 .if Prudence, the gentlemen with whom 
 Aaron had lived as an indented servant, to 
 give i vidence of what they knew of the de- 
 struction of the Gaspee, &c, and also two 
 servants, who lived in the same house with 
 Aaron at the time the said schooner was 
 burnt, who agreed in thru- several testimo- 
 nies, that Aaron was a runaway, and could 
 not, for the reasons given in their deposi- 
 tions, have any knowledge of that transac- 
 tion; copies ol which testimonies the deponent 
 transmitted to Admiral Montagu. 
 
 This deponent further declares, that the 
 several letters and papers he has delivered 
 to the commissioners, contain a lull and par- 
 ticular account of all the knowledge he hath 
 of the destruction of the said schooner Gas- 
 pee, in. I thi hum: iih'-: which have been pur- 
 sued for discovering the offenders. 
 
 .1. WANTON. 
 
 Sworn tii ai Newport mi the 25th day of 
 Jannan . 1773, before 
 
 FRED. SMVT11E, 
 PETER OLIVER, 
 ROBT. AUCHMUTY. 
 
 The examination of Peter May. taken up- 
 on oath tin-; 19th day of January, A. D. 
 1773: 
 
 Peter May. of lawful aire, being duly 
 
 v i deposeth .mil saith, that he was late 
 
 bo u'. 1 his Majesty's schooner 
 and that some time I; -t summer, as 
 thej were going in said schooner towards 
 Providence, about :i or 3 o'clock in the after- 
 noon. ihe\ strm I. aground upon a point of 
 land about a musket shot from the land ; that 
 she lav so dry that they walked round her 
 iped her bottom, the water being 
 ah.iii' niie tiiot on one side, and about two 
 feel mi the other; that tiny gol an anchor 
 out. ami endea\ ored to gel h t oil; b il after 
 striving till sunset they desisted from tny fur- 
 ther attempts •. all hut the watch, u I 
 i i ted hi' three, were ordered by I ... 
 Duddingston in go to slei p; that between 
 12 and 1 o'clock the schooni r was attacked 
 h\ a number of boats with people on board, 
 a run. I nm with clubs, some with other wea- 
 pons; thai tin- deponenl was below at the 
 tune the people hoarded the schooner, and 
 
 when he r inie upon ili'i'L ; ie :- : l w I .iel '' i ' 1 1. 1 lit 
 
 Duddingston discharge a pistol, bul whether 
 it wounded any body he cannot tell; imme- 
 diately alter, he saw a man in the bow of 
 one of the boal lire a muslat and wound the 
 Lieutenant, upon which, the Lieutenant cried 
 out, "i.oi',1 have mercy upon me, I am done 
 for;" that immediately after this, the depo- 
 nent was knocked down the hatchway, ami 
 
 recovering himself, went into the steerage 
 
 in order to get some clothes, and from thence 
 stepped into the cabin, and there heard the 
 la' uti i nit desire the people not to haul and 
 pull him about as they did, but to assist 
 him ; on which they said they had no doc- 
 tors, but would send him as soon as they 
 could to a place where they could get one ; 
 he soon after, when the Lieutenant was on 
 deck, heard several people ask him whether 
 he would make amends for the rum which he 
 had seized out of the sloop, and if he would, 
 they would return him the schooner ; one of 
 which people was named Greene, whom he. 
 saw in the cabin of the Gaspee the day after 
 they had seized a sloop, of which he appeared 
 to be the owner and out of which he took 
 some rakes ; this deponent saith that the 
 said Greene is a tall, slender man, wearing 
 his own hair of a brown color. Tins depo- 
 nent further saith, that alter they had taken 
 possession of the Gaspee, the hands belong- 
 ing to the Gaspee were put into a boat and 
 lowed ashore at a place about a mile dis- 
 tant, between 3 and I o'clock in the morning, 
 and that he saw the schooner on lire when 
 the) were about half waj in the shore, and 
 the lire began upon tin- quarter deck ; and 
 further this deponent saith not. 
 
 his 
 PETER -f- MAY. 
 marl;. 
 
 Sworn to this 10th day of January, A. D. 
 L773, at the Council Chamber in Newport, 
 before, 
 
 ./. Wanton, Fred. Sun/the, 
 
 Dun. Horst mander, Peter Oliver. 
 
 Robt. Auchmuty, 
 
 While the commissioners were in session, 
 other officers of the colony were, by force of 
 circumstances, impelled to take certain evi- 
 dence, ami hold certain correspondence, 
 which, as the papers containing them were 
 before the commissioners, are here inserted : 
 
 Providence, January 15th. 1773. 
 [Sir: — This forenoon came to my house 
 Capt. William Thayer, of Mendon, and in- 
 formed me thai he had been cited by the 
 honorable commissioners at Newport, to ap- 
 pear before them this day and declare what 
 he knew relative to the destruction of the 
 Gaspee. He tells me he is near seventy 
 years of age, grievously afflicted with the 
 rheumatism, attended with many symptoms 
 ol i' : ilysis, and that riding yesterday in 
 the cold, stormy weather, has revived ami so 
 much increased his disorder, that he was un- 
 able to proceed to Newport, but must en- 
 deavor to return home as soon as possible: 
 Besides, he declared he knew nothing ol' the 
 affair for which he was summoned, and so- 
 licited me very much to take his examina- 
 tion and transmit it to the commissioners. I 
 at last yielded to his request, am! have en- 
 closed to your honors his deposition, which, 
 
40 
 
 if you think proper, maybe laid before the 
 commissioners. I have known Mr. Thayer 
 for many years past, and have always under- 
 stood that he was a man of good character. 
 He says, if the gentlemen who cited him had 
 any idea of the villany of the fellows who in- 
 formed them, neither he nor any one else, he 
 believes, had been troubled by them. 
 
 And this evening, another person (one 
 Ramsdale) came to me, who said he also 
 was summoned to Newport upon some oc- 
 casion, and that he knew nothing respecting 
 the matter for which he was cited, and urged 
 me very much to take his deposition to that 
 purpose, that he might he dismissed ; but as 
 he appeared to be a young, healthy man, 
 and lest the commissioners might conceive 
 I was too officious in previously examining 
 their witnesses, I advised him to deliver what 
 he had to say to the commissioners. 
 
 I am, sir, with the greatest respect, your 
 honors most obedient and humble servant, 
 DARIUS SESSIONS. 
 
 Governor Wanton. 
 
 P. S. — Since I wrote the above, 1 received 
 a deposition from Greenwich, which I have 
 also enclosed to your honors. 
 
 Colony of Rhode Island, &c. 
 
 The examination of Capt. William Thay- 
 er, of Mendon, in the county of Worcester, in 
 the province of Massachusetts Bay, Inn- 
 holder, taken in Providence, in the colony 
 aforesaid, this 15th day of January, in the 
 thirteenth year of his Majesty's reign, Anno 
 Domini 1773, by Darius Sessions, Deputy 
 Governor of said colony. 
 
 Question. — Do you know any circumstan 
 ccs relative to the attacking, taking, plunder 
 ingand burning his Majesty's schooner call- 
 ed the Gaspee, and to the assembling, arm- 
 ing, training, and leading on the people con- 
 cerned therein, and to the concerting and 
 preparing said attack 1 
 
 Answer. — No. 
 
 Q. — Where was you when said schooner 
 was destroyed, which was on the 10th day 
 last ? 
 
 A. — At home, in Mendon. 
 
 Q. — How far is that from Providence? 
 
 A. — About twenty-two miles. 
 
 Q. — How long a time after the schooner 
 was destroyed before you was in Providence? 
 
 A. — I was not there until the latter end of 
 June, or the beginning ol July. 
 
 Q. — Did you hear any person say, when 
 you was in Providence, or at any other time 
 or place, that they knew any of those per- 
 sons that were concerned in that affair ? 
 
 A.— No. 
 
 Q.— Did you ever hear the names of any 
 persons suspected to be concerned in thai 
 matter ? 
 
 A.— I heard the names of one Potter and 
 Brown, or Browns, but did not know them, 
 nor where they lived. I don't recollect any 
 other. 
 
 Q. — Do you remember who mentioned 
 those names ? 
 
 .4. — No; it being only some rumor which 
 I heard among people in my house, ii being 
 a public one. WILLIAM THAYER. ° 
 
 On the day and year above said, Wi lliam 
 Thayer, the subscriber to the above exam- 
 ination, made solemn oath to the truth of the 
 several answers annexed to the foregoing 
 interrogations, before 
 
 DARIUS SESSIONS 
 
 I 'epiiiy Governor. 
 
 I, Daniel Vaughan, of Newport, in the col- 
 ony of Rhode Island, being of lawful age, do 
 depose and say: That sometime in the sum- 
 mer last past, being in a sloop taking out 
 some old iron from the wreck of the Gaspee, 
 and afterwards going down to Newport in 
 said sloop in company with Capt. Lindsey, 
 n In Majesty's ship the Beaver, one morn- 
 ing, not far from the island of Prudence, I 
 saw a small boat alongside the Beaver, and 
 immediately told the people on board the 
 sloop, that somebody had gone on board the 
 Beaver that night ; A few days afterwards, 
 as the Beaver lay at Newport, near the fort, 
 I was ordered to haul the sloop I was iii 
 alongside a schooner, which then lay along- 
 side the Beaver, in order to take out some 
 sugar; and going on board the Beaver, I 
 saw a mulatto fellow under the forecastle in 
 irons. I said unto him. "so you are one of the 
 rogues that have been burning the Gaspee ;" 
 he replied, "he never saw her, nor knew any- 
 thing about her ;" I then asked him what he 
 came there for; he answered, "his master had 
 used him badly, and lie was determined to 
 leave him." Two or three days afterwards, 
 being on board said schooner, I heard < !apt, 
 Lindsey order said mulatto to be carried out 
 ol the Beaver on board said schooner, and 
 then to be tied up to the mast and whipped; 
 and after he was laid hold on, and they were 
 about to tie him up to the mast, he began to 
 declare he knew some of the people that 
 burn) the Gaspee. and that Simeon Potter, 
 John Brown and others, (whose names 1 have 
 f rgot,j were concerned therein. Upon this 
 n. hi was released from a whip- 
 ping, si nt on board the Leaver, where 1 af- 
 terwards saw him in irons on the quarter 
 deck. DANIEL VAUGHAN 
 
 Providence, sr. 
 
 Pri ividence, Jan. 16th, 1773. 
 Daniel Vaughan appeared in person and 
 made solemn oath to the truth of the forego- 
 ing declaration, unto which he has subscribed, 
 before DARIUS SESSION. 
 
 Deputy Governor. 
 
 Providence, Jan. 18, 1773. 
 Sir :— In consequence of an application 
 made unto me in writing, signed by Barzillai 
 Richmond, Joseph Brown and John Brown, 
 I summoned Daniel Vaughan and took his 
 deposition relative to what he knew respect- 
 
41 
 
 ing the treatment of the mulatto Aaron on 
 board the Beaver, and I herewith inclose it 
 I had not done it but our 
 river is fasl shut up, and it is very uncertain 
 when Mr. Vaughan will reach Newport. I 
 i ho i e Mr. Vaughan should give his deposi- 
 tion before the commissioners, if he arrives in 
 ir that purpose ; but it' lie doth not, 
 and you think proper to i of what i 
 
 now send. 5 on h ive libei tj to im] i 
 anj waj you think il may promote truth and 
 justice. 
 
 1 am. sir, your humble servant, 
 
 DARI1 S SESSIONS. 
 ( rO\ W i\ roN. 
 
 I 'i. ivioence Jan. 18th, 1773. 
 
 Sir: -Havingbeen informed by a person 
 who came from Newport Inst Saturday, thai 
 the inul itto had been examined, and that a 
 report prevailed thai his evidence carried 
 many m irks of truth with it. and as it is im 
 possible ins I tin re can be a woi il 
 
 of truth in it, and as I look upon it my duty 
 tu protect the innocent, as well as punish the 
 guilty, I though! it my duty to lei your honor 
 .inn' circum tanccs that may throw 
 some light on tins affair 1 took notice in the 
 mulatto's declaration of his having a red and 
 white handkerchief about Ins head at the time 
 
 he was on I I the 'i i -i"' 1 '' and when he 
 
 rowed the boat ashore. I suppose he was 
 told to relate this circumstance, that some of 
 the Gaspee's people might, with the greater 
 appearance of truth, swear to his being on 
 board the schooner that night. The d i al 
 ter the Gaspee was destroyed, I examined 
 several of her people, viz: Bartholomew 
 Cheevcr, John Johnson, Win. < ; aple, Joseph 
 Bowman, Patrick Whaler, Patrick Earls, and 
 Patrick Reynolds, who, although the ques- 
 :ere not pel down in 
 . . 
 verbal. Tl given by son 
 
 them (the re agi ei in ; tin reto | are as I'ol- 
 viz : 
 
 Q Was the moon down ; 
 
 Insvi r. } i 
 
 H Was it dark ? 
 
 A.— Yes. 
 
 (<> —Was (her ■ any held on board ol the 
 when she was boarded lo the boats'? 
 
 .1. — Yes; hut ii was immediately put out 
 before n i 
 
 Q. — Was there no other light afterwards 
 struck up 
 
 I. Vii that they saw, though they believe 
 there was one Ii ;hled up in the cabin to dress 
 the I lieutenant's wounds. 
 
 Q.— Were the people who mine on hoard 
 unmasked, or in disguii e ' 
 
 I Some of them were either blacked or 
 
 2 ii but it was f o dark we could not tell 
 
 The above questions put to any of the 
 
 G ; pi i ■' people, who pretend to e tablish 
 
 the negro's evidence, by swearing to the 
 6 
 
 identity of him, 1 think, must convince any 
 one that their testimony is absolutely i'a se. — 
 I ihipman al Boston swore that it was 
 
 a very dark night; and how is it possible 
 that the teatures and dress of a negro could 
 be sworn to a month afterwards. 
 
 I am requested by some persons in this 
 town to inform your honor that one David 
 James, a young man. who served his time in 
 tin town, and is properly an inhabitant there- 
 1 la veek impressed out of a sloop 
 belonging here, Joseph Tillinghast, master, 
 and carried on board the schooner Halifax. 
 
 The young man was horn in , in 
 
 Virginia, where he had left him by his father, 
 sinii. .stale ill land, which, by several letters 
 of a late dale from his brother, and his guar- 
 dian, appears to be sold, and that the money 
 thereof will be sent to him very soon by a 
 
 sell a that is now gone there. I have 
 
 seen the letters myself this day, and make no 
 doubt but they are genuine. If your honor 
 will interposeso far as to use your endeavors 
 to get him disi harged, you will do a singu- 
 lar I a\or to the young man and to his ac- 
 quaintances here. If he remains in confine- 
 ment there will be nobody lo take rare of his 
 mo ley or goods that may bi sent him from 
 his patrimony, which will be his total ruin. 
 
 I am sir, your most obedient and hum- 
 ble servant, DARIUS SESSIONS. 
 
 Gov. Wanton. 
 
 The following rough dral't of a letter is filed 
 among the papers of the commissioners, and 
 is supposed to be the report ol' their proceed- 
 ings up to their adjournment in January: 
 Newport, Rhode Island, Jan. 21, 1773. 
 
 Mv Loin: — In obedience to his Majesty's 
 commands, signified to us by your Lordship's 
 letter of the lib of September last, we, with 
 the utmost dispatch in our power, repaired 
 
 ... I . . | . . ... ... the 
 
 great seal of ("heat Britain, was delivered (o 
 us in the Council Chamber al Newport by 
 i 'apt Keeler, commander of his Majesty's 
 ship the Mercury, and the commanding offi- 
 cer in the naval department at that place ; 
 upon which, we immediately ordered the 
 same to he publicly read and proclaimed, 
 which was accordingly done before a great 
 concourse of people, who, on the i 
 behaved with great decency. This being 
 dune, we proceeded, with all despatch in our 
 power, to business, and finding in the last 
 
 iusi in our commi ion, that in the execu- 
 tion and performance of the power and au- 
 thority thereby given us, we are strictly 
 charged and c landed carefully to ob- 
 serve and conform ourselves to such instruc- 
 tions as we should receive in writing, under 
 the King's sign manual ; whereupon we ap- 
 plied ourselves to the careful examination of 
 ihose instructions: in one of which are the 
 words, "to the end that they may according- 
 ly be arrested and delivered to the custody 
 
4,2 
 
 of the commander-in-chief of our ships and 
 vessels in North America, pursuant to such 
 directions as we have thought fit to give lor 
 that purpose." Being convinced that the 
 above charge given us by his Majesty in our 
 commission referring to the instructions under 
 the sign manual, could not be dispensed 
 with, we wrote to Rear Admiral Montagu 
 that we were fully of opinion that his attend- 
 ance at Newport was necessary, in order if 
 there should appear evidence against any 
 person sufficient to arrest him upon, he must 
 be delivered to the Admiral according to our 
 instructions, from which we could not depart, 
 notwithstanding your lordship's letter ol the 
 4th of September last to Gov. Wanton, 
 wherein you inform him "that such offenders 
 as may have been or shall be arresled and 
 committed within the colony of Rhode Is- 
 land be delivered to the care and custody of 
 Rear Admiral Montagu, or the commander- 
 in-chief of his Majesty's ships in North Ame- 
 rica for the time being, or to such officer as 
 he shall appoint to receive them." We here 
 beg leave to assure your lordship, that we 
 had not the least inclination to deviate from 
 your lordship's letter had not we been fully 
 convinced that the express words of our com- 
 mission obliged us to do it. Sever;. I letters 
 passed between us and the Admiral on tins 
 subject, wherein we explained to him the ne- 
 cessity, according lo our commission and in- 
 structions,of his being here in person. Though 
 we did not agree on this head, he thinking 
 that, according to his instructions and your 
 lordship's last mentioned letter, his | 
 was not at all necessary ; yet he was polite 
 enough to come to Newport on the 18th day 
 of the month, and meeting us at the < Jouncil 
 Chamber on the L8th int., he informi I u 
 that he believed from the information he had 
 received from others, Capt. Duddingston 
 would be able to make such declaration rela- 
 tive to the business we are on. as would 
 prove very material, and at this inclement 
 season of the year it was impossible for Inn. 
 nroperlvto execute his orders from the Lords 
 commissioners of the Admiralty relative to 
 the business we are now upon. Also that 
 the other duties of his department at tins 
 time absolutely required his attendance at 
 Boston, and therefore in a very tew days he 
 must return. Taking all these matters into 
 consideration, and the extreme rigor of the 
 season, which renders it almost impossible to 
 procure witnesses who are at any distance 
 from us without waiting a veryunrea on ' le 
 time for them, we though', an adjournment 
 to May next necessary for his Majesty's ser- 
 vice, and accordingly notified Admiral Mon- 
 tagu that we should adjourn to on or about 
 the a6th of that month, when he will un- 
 doubtedly be here. Copies of the letters- 
 passing between the Admiral and us on these 
 subjects are herewith transmitted to your 
 Lordship. 
 
 We have proceeded to examine such wit- 
 
 nesses as we could obtain, and also carefully 
 to look into all papers which Gov. Wanton 
 has laid before us relative to the conduct of 
 the magistrates of this government in the 
 business we are upon ; but find it totally im- 
 possible at present to make a report, not hav- 
 ing all the evidence we have reason to ex- 
 pect. We therefore hope, for these rea- 
 sons, that our omitting it will not be disa- 
 greeable. In short, we have hitherto, my 
 Lord, exerted ourselves to our utmost abili- 
 ties in the execution of the trust his Majes- 
 ty has been pleased to honor us with, and 
 your Lordship may rely on our future en- 
 deavors to discharge ourselves with that fi- 
 delity which the nature of so important a 
 
 Co nssion demands. 
 
 We are. with the utmost respect, my Lord, 
 your Lordship's most obedient and most 
 humble servants. 
 
 The commissioners adjourned to meet on 
 the 26th day oI'May, 1773, at Newport. The 
 journal of their proceedings, if any were kept, 
 is not among the papers. To remove the 
 difficulties between Admiral Montagu and 
 the commissioners, relative to his personal 
 attendance at Newport, the board of Admi- 
 ralty in England despatched him special 
 orders as follows : 
 
 By the commissioners for executing the of- 
 fice of Lord High Admiral of Great Bri- 
 tain anil Ireland, &c. 
 
 Whereas you represented to us by your 
 leitn of the 19th ol January last lrorn Rhode 
 Island, as the season of the year was so far 
 advanced as to render it hazardous lor you 
 to proceed thither with the ships under your 
 command agreeable to our instructions of the 
 7th of September last, you had given Capt. 
 Keeler, of the Mercury, the senior officer of 
 the King's ships at that Island, to whom you 
 had before despatched his Majesty's com- 
 mission for enquiring into the circumstances 
 n lativi to the burning of the Gaspee schoo- 
 ner, orders to aid and assist the commission- 
 ers then-em naiin d in the same manner as 
 you should have done had you been there; 
 hut, as the said commission expressly directs 
 the prisoners to he delivered to you. the com- 
 missioners Jul not choose to proceed to busi- 
 ness until your arrival ; that, in consequence 
 iving such information, you had pro- 
 ved thither bj land, an. I had hoisted your 
 flagon board the Lizzard; and that the com- 
 mis ioners had examined some few persons; 
 and whereas you further represented to us, 
 by your said 'letter, that, if your are obliged 
 t,i attend the commissioners at Rhode Is- 
 land, the naval business at Halifax and Bos- 
 ton will he greatly retarded, as it will be im- 
 possible lor you to attend to those and your 
 other duties, and have therefore desired, as 
 the senior officer of his Majesty's ships at 
 I Rhode Island will, in your opinion, in every 
 
43 
 
 respect, answer the purposes there as well 
 as yourself] that you may receive our direc- 
 tions to remain at Boston with your flag, un- 
 less there appears to be an absolute neces- 
 sity tor your being at Rhode Island ; and 
 whereas the Earl of Dartmouth, one of his 
 Majesty's principal secretaries of state, to 
 whom we sent an extract of so much of your 
 letter as related to this business, for his Maj- 
 esty's information, hath, by his letter of the 
 20th instant, acquainted us that his Majesty 
 is pleased to approve thai the execution of 
 In Majesty's orders respecting the service 
 at Rhode Island, should be entrusted to the 
 senior Captain of such of his ships of war as 
 in. i % from time to time be stationed at that 
 colony. You are therefore hereby required 
 and directed to entrust the execution of his 
 M ije ty's said orders to such senior captain 
 accordinglj . 
 
 Given under our hands the 26th ol March, 
 1773. SANDWICH, 
 
 J. BULLER, 
 LISBURNE. 
 
 By command of their Lordships : 
 Ciias. Stephens. 
 
 To John Montagu, Esq., Rear Admiral of 
 the Blue and commander-in chief of his Maj- 
 esty's ships and vessels in North America, at 
 Boston. 
 
 Previous to the reception of these orders, 
 the following letters passed between the com- 
 missioners and the officers of the Navy sta- 
 tioned in New England : 
 
 Boston, 24th May, 1773. 
 
 Gentlemen: — As I understood you are 
 soon to meet to proceed on business, I am to 
 inform you I have ordered to Capt. Keeler, 
 of his Majesty's ship Mercury, William Dick- 
 enson, late midshipman of the Gaspee, and 
 Bartholomew Cheever, one of her seamen, 
 two evidences sent out of England by the 
 Right Honorable the Lords Commissioners 
 of the Admiralty. As they were on board 
 when captain Duddingston was wounded, 
 thi e people if the men called the head 
 sheriff and captain can be found) can swear 
 to their persons. You will be the best judg- 
 es what use to make of them when they ap- 
 pear before you. 
 
 I expect the Captain man-of-war will re- 
 turn from Halifax in ten days, when I shall 
 lose o time in repairing to Rhode Island; 
 but if. in the meantime, you should think 
 my presence absolutely necessary. I will set 
 out by land, although it will be atti ndi d n ith 
 great inconvenience to me 
 
 Capt. Keeler has my orders to give you 
 every assistance in his power, and I doubt 
 not hut that he will faithfully execute them. 
 
 I am, gentlemen, your most obedient hum- 
 ile ervant, .1. MONTAGU. 
 
 Mercury, in Rhode Island } 
 Harbor, May 27, 1773. S, 
 Sir :— Admiral Montagu finding the King's 
 
 commissioners meeting at Newport, he ha« 
 sent me an officer and one seaman, late be- 
 longing to the Gaspee, and just arrived from 
 England, to give information of the persons 
 that were concerned in the burning of said 
 schooner. 
 
 Likewise a letter directed to his Majesty's 
 commissioners at Rhode Island, with direc- 
 tions to me to deliver it to you when sitting ; 
 but as I am detained on board on account of 
 a writ being issued out against me, I an. to 
 desire you will give me notice in writing, 
 when you meet, that the letter may be sent 
 by a proper officer, and of the time you 
 choose to have the evidences on shore to be 
 examined. 
 
 I am, sir, your most obedient humble ser- 
 vant. J. KEELER. 
 
 To Hon. Joseph Wanton, Esq.. President 
 of his Majesty's commission at Newport. 
 Rhode Island. 
 
 Newport, May 27, 1773. 
 Sir: — Though there are three commis- 
 sioners met at Newport, yet, as the other two 
 gentlemen are daily expected, it is thought 
 
 most c lucive to his Majesty's service not 
 
 io proceed on business till they join us. At 
 which time we shall acquaint you, when the 
 witnesses you mention to us may be exam- 
 ined, and Admiral Montagu's letter deliver- 
 ed, and in the interim, are 
 
 Your most obedient humble servants, 
 
 J WANTON. 
 
 PETER OLIVER, 
 
 ROBT. AUCHMUTY. 
 Capt. Robert Keeler. 
 
 Newport, May 31, 1773. 
 Sir : — The gentlemen commissioners are 
 now arrived from the southward ; therefore 
 we are ready to receive Admiral Montagu's 
 letter mentioned in yours of the 27th inst., and 
 to-morrow morning shall also be ready to 
 take the depositions of those witnesses you 
 inform ns are arrived from England. The 
 commissioners will attend such examination 
 to-morrow morning at ten o'clock, and are 
 your most obedient and humble servants, 
 J. WANTON, 
 PETER OLIVER, 
 ROBT. AUCHMUTY. 
 Capt. Robert Keeler. 
 
 Newport, June 2, 1773. 
 Sir: — Three of the commissioners met at 
 this place on the 26th ult., but as the gentle- 
 men from the southward were not arrived 
 and daily expected, it was thought by those 
 present most conducive to his Majesty's ser- 
 vice to delay entering on business till they 
 were joined by their brethren. Your not re- 
 ceiving an answer sooner to your favor of the 
 2 llh of last month was owing to that reason. 
 The gentlemen being now on the spot, beg 
 leave to observe to you that the witnesses you 
 mention have been examined, and that it will 
 
I i 
 
 be very agreeable to them to have the plea- 
 sure of your company at Newport whenever 
 it will comport with his Majesty's service in 
 general, but at present see no immediate 
 occasion for your coming without your ships, 
 and are, with the greatest respect, sir. 
 Your most obedient humble servants, 
 To John Montagu, Esq. 
 
 Boston, 14th June, 1773. 
 
 Gentlemen: — In answer to your letter of 
 the 2d, which I received the 12th, 1 beg leave 
 to inform you that as the service will not ad- 
 mit of my being at Rhode Island this sum- 
 mer, I have sent orders to Capt. Keeler, of 
 his Majesty's ship Mercury, to render you 
 every service in his power in the execution 
 of your commission, agreeable to his Majes- 
 ty's directions signified to me In my Lords 
 commissioners of the Admiralty by their or- 
 der of the 26th of March 1773, a duplicate ol 
 which 1 herewith inclose to you. and am 
 with respect, gentlemen, 
 
 Your most obedient, humble servant, 
 
 J. MONTAGU. 
 
 His Majesty's Commissioners at Rhode- 
 Island. 
 
 The following evidence was submitted to 
 them at this session: 
 
 The examination of William Dickinson, 
 late midshipman of his Majesty's schooner 
 the Gaspee, taken on oath at \< wport. in 
 the colony of Rhode Island, this first day of 
 June, A. U. 1773: Who saith, that on the 
 tenth day of June, in the year one thousand 
 seven hundred and seventy-two, between the 
 hours of 12 and 1 in the morning, the said 
 schooner, then working in her duck upon 
 Namquit Point, about two miles below Paw- 
 tuxet, and notable to get off; the watch be- 
 ing on deck, as he supposed, gave the alarm 
 that a number of boats were coming down 
 the river; upon which Lieutenant Duddings- 
 ton went on deck and hailed the boats, and 
 ordered them to keep oil or he would fire in- 
 to them; but as they refused to keep off we 
 fired at them, and they returned the fire, 
 whereby Lieutenant Duddingston was wound- 
 ed in the left arm, and in the groin; they 
 then boarded us, and used us very ill. by 
 beating and knocking down the people, and 
 afterwards by lying them and 1 1 iioivujlt 
 them into their boats, the rip, tun of the gang 
 swearing he would give no quarters. The 
 captain of the gang ordered Lieutenant Dud- 
 dingston on his knees and to beg Ins life : he 
 said he could not, he was wounded; where- 
 upon the said captain answered. "Damn your 
 blood, you are shot by your own people;" 
 they then took him into tiie cabin, where two 
 men dressed his wounds, who, by their be- 
 havior, appeared to have so skill in sur- 
 
 g ■/. And this examinate further saith, that 
 while Lieutenant Duddingston's wounds wen 
 dressing, those two persons who assumed to 
 be the head sheriff and the captain, demand- 
 
 1 ed the papers belonging to the vessel, which 
 he delivered by Lieutenant Duddingston's or- 
 ders to them, consisting of the Lieutenant's 
 commission from the Lords of the Admiralty, 
 Admiral Montagu's instructions, letters, and 
 other papers; and upon his particularizing 
 those papers as he delivered them, they 
 damned him, and told him they did not come 
 there to receive any instructions from him, 
 but would examine the papers at their lei- 
 sure, which they put into tiieir pockets, and 
 then carried Lieutenant Duddingston on 
 shore about two miles from the schooner. — 
 The examinate after this continued on hoard 
 said schooner about three quarters of an 
 hour, and was told by the captain of the gang, 
 that unless he quitted the schooner he would 
 throw him overboard ; during tin:- tune they 
 continued plundering the schooner. The 
 examinate was landed in one ol' their boats 
 on the shore opposite to the schooner, where 
 he remained some time ; and that within an 
 hour after he was landed, hi- saw the said 
 schooner on fire, and it being then daylight, 
 he saw three of their boats put oil' from the 
 chooner full of men, one ol which landed 
 the people at Pawtuxet, and the- other two 
 rowed towards Providence. This examinate 
 further saith, that the said schooner when 
 she was burnt lay about eight or ten miles, 
 to the best of his judgment, from the north end 
 of the island of Prudence, and that several 
 negroes were on hoard the said schooner, and 
 also rowed the boats which boarded the 
 schooner, but he does not know their names, 
 and he cannot recollect thai he saw any of 
 those negroes enter the cabin; and he also 
 saith that he does not know the namesofany 
 of the persons who hoarded ami destroye 1 
 said -chooner. or wounded Lieutenant Dud 
 ibn- -Ion, but that the captain who was call- 
 ed the captain of the gang, was a well set 
 man. of a swarthy complexion, lull Ian-. 
 hoarse voice, and wore a white cap, was well 
 dressed, and appeared rather above the com- 
 mon rank of mankind ; ami that the greater 
 part of those be saw on board the schooner 
 and in the cabin were persons well dressed, 
 many of them with ruffled shirts, and appear- 
 ed as store-keepers, mi rchants or mastei ol 
 vessels; the person who was called the head 
 sheriff was a tall, genteel man, dressed in 
 blue clothes, Ins hair tied behind, and ha j on 
 a ruffled shirt. One ol the persons who act- 
 ed as surgeon in dressing Lieutenant Dud- 
 dingston's wounds, appeared to be about 
 eighteen years of age, > p ery much marked 
 wiili lie- small pox, 1 i i_ r 1 1 1 brown fair tied be- 
 hind, about live feet live or six inches high ; 
 the other was a very genteel man, appeared 
 lobe aboul twenty-two years of age, In- hair 
 tied behind, a thin person, and about five 
 feel eiohi nl - nine inches high. This exam- 
 inate I'ui iher saith. that afterhe returned from 
 Boston to Providence, a few day.-, after the 
 schooner was destroyed, the first described 
 surgeon met him in one of the streets in Pro- 
 
45 
 
 vidence, and asked him whether he knew 
 how Lieutenant Duddingston did, but the ex 
 aminate does not know hi name, and fur- 
 ther saith not. W. DICKINSON. 
 
 Sworn to al Newport on the day and year 
 above Baid, before 
 ./. II antmi, Fred. Smythe, 
 
 Dan. Horsmanden, Peter Oliver. 
 
 The examination of Bartholomew Chee- 
 
 ver, mariner, and late a seaman onboard his 
 M . ' ■ schooner the Gaspee, taken on oath 
 .ii \r» port, iii the colon} of Rhode Island, 
 on the firs! day of June, 17?:; : V. 
 that on the 9th day of June last, the schooner 
 Ga pei run aground on her passage to Pro- 
 vidence, on a point of land about two or three 
 
 mill bi low a small town, and about li\ e 
 miles Irani the: town of Providence; that 
 aliuni three quarters afti r twelve o'clock the 
 next dm. nam;, being the t nth of June, he 
 was standing upon the^quarter deck of said 
 schooneras a sentry, ever} other per on be- 
 
 i'l ner bi ing below, he saw 
 
 a number of boats coming towards said 
 schooner, which he hailed, hut no answer 
 returned; be then immediately gave 
 notice to Lieutenant Duddingston and the 
 midshipman, who instantly came upon deck; 
 were again hailed, and the 
 
 returned bj some of the people in said I is 
 
 was, "Damn your blood, we have you now." 
 The captain ordered them to keep oil. and 
 told them if they did not he would lire into 
 them ; Ihey answered, they did not care, they 
 would be aboard i irectly. The captain then 
 ordered all hands on deck, but the people 
 who were in the boat boarded the schooner, 
 and as the} wire entering said schooner, 
 they shot the captain, and afterwards tied 
 the people belonging to said schooner and 
 carried them on shore nearly opposite to the 
 
 bcI ner ; they then broke open the arm 
 
 chesl and took posses ion of the small arms; 
 and alter they had landed all the Gaspee's 
 people lie saw the said chooner on fire, but 
 he knoweth not the names of any of the per- 
 sons who wen- concerned in destroying said 
 schooner ; and that those who acted as prin- 
 cipals were called the la-ad sheriff ami the 
 captain, and one ol them was called consta- 
 ble. \ u,i tin . e\ animate further saith, that 
 while la- was attending upon Lieutenant 
 Duddingston at a town called Pawtuxet, he 
 
 saw two Ol till pel m who were count tied 
 in destroying said schooner but did not know 
 their nami his 
 
 B IRTHOLOMEW CHEEVER. 
 mark-. 
 Sworn to at Newport the day and year 
 
 aid, before 
 ./ II q Fi ed. Smythe, 
 
 Dan. Horsmanden, Peter Oliver, 
 
 The examination of John Cole, of Provi- 
 dence, in the colony of Rhode Island, Esq., 
 taken on oath in Newport, in said colony, 
 
 this third day of June, A. D. 1773 : Who 
 saith, that the evening preceding the burn- 
 ing the Gaspee I spent at Mr. James Sabin'a 
 tavern, in Providence aforesaid, in company 
 with several gentlemen ; about 7 or S o'clock, 
 hearing a noise in the street of said town, I 
 pulled hack the shutter of one of the win- 
 dows next the street, and saw several men, 
 about twelve, as I apprehend, but did not 
 know one of them, collected together; upon 
 which, 1 made inquiry of the gentlemen in 
 
 the r i if they knew the occasion, and was 
 
 answered by one of the company, but whom 
 I cannot particularly recollect, that he hoped 
 they were not upon an) design of mischief; 
 to which I replied, "I believed not ; if they 
 were on such a design they would not be so 
 pul lie." Some short time alter. 1 heard a 
 drum heal in the street; upon which 
 opened the shutter, saw three or four boys 
 passing along with the drum, and no other 
 persons; between 11 and 12 o'clock in the 
 same evening, 1 left the said tavern, at which 
 tune I found the street clear and still ; I then 
 observed that 1 believed if any mischief was 
 intended, they had thought belter of it and 
 gone home. Early in that evening, and be- 
 fore I first opened the shutter, I heard, but 
 whether after I joined the company or in the 
 street going to said tavern, 1 cannot recollect, 
 that the Gaspee was then run onshore; nei- 
 ther do 1 remember the person giving me 
 that information ; I never heard any intima- 
 tion of an intention to burn the Gaspee, nor 
 do I know any person or persons concerned 
 in that transaction, or ever heard who they 
 were. The place where the said Gaspee 
 was burnt was in the township of Warwick, 
 in the county of Kent, in the colony of Rhode 
 Island. From the cove near Mr. Samuel 
 Tompkins's house to the place where the 
 1 la pee schooner was burnt, is, according to 
 the best judgment 1 can form, near, if not 
 quite lour leagues ; and further this deponent 
 saith not JOHN (.'OLE. 
 
 Taken and sworn to at Newport on the 
 day and year before written, before 
 
 J. Wanton, Fred. Smythe, 
 
 Dan. Horsmanden, Piter Oliver. 
 
 Robti Auchmuty. 
 
 I'h ■ examination of John Andrew, Esq., 
 of Cranston, in the colony of Rhode island, 
 taken on oath at Newport, in said colony, on 
 the 5th day of June, 177;:: Who declares 
 and says, that he was in the town of Provi- 
 dence the night that the schooner Gaspee 
 was destroyed, at a tavern where he spent 
 the evening with a number of gentlemen; 
 and after supper he heard a drum heat in the 
 sheet, aid inquired into the cause thereof, 
 and received for answer, thai it had been 
 training day. and the people were breaking 
 up their frolic; about 12 o'clock he repaired 
 to his lodgings, it heme- verj dark, and went 
 to bed ; the next morning, the sun about half 
 an hour high, was surprised with hearing 
 
46 
 
 some persons say to each other that the said 
 schooner was burnt, upon which, lie opened 
 the window and saw on the other side of the 
 street two black fellows and one white man 
 talking together ; I inquired what was the 
 matter, and received for an answer from the 
 white man, that some people in the night had 
 burned the man-of-war schooner ; upon 
 which, he immediately dressed himself, and 
 waited upon the deputy governor; and he 
 informed him that he had heard the news, 
 and sent for his horse, in order to repair to 
 the spot and enquire of Capt. Duddingston 
 and his people, and find, if possible, the per- 
 sons that had done the mischief; we procured 
 a horse iis soon as possible, and went to Paw- 
 tuxet where we found Mr. Duddingston bad- 
 ly wounded, and we saw the said schooner 
 on shore about a mile and a half distance, 
 which appeared by the smoke to be on fire, 
 and burnt down almost to the water's edge. 
 The deputy governor, in bis hearing, inquired 
 of Mr. Duddingston, if he had any knowledge 
 of the persons that committed this trespass ; 
 he made answer that he should render no 
 account about the matter until he appeared 
 before a court martial, where he expected to 
 be tried, if he survived his wounds, and such 
 account might be made use of to his advan- 
 tage, but was willing that his people should 
 be. sworn, and had them called in, and cau- 
 tioned them to swear the truth ; he then, as 
 his Majesty's Commissary for the colony, 
 conferred with Mr. Duddingston concerning 
 saving such guns and stores as could be 
 saved, and agreed to save all that was possi- 
 ble to be saved, and procured a man to un- 
 dertake the business; and he likewise re- 
 quested that his people might be taken care 
 of, and sent on board his Majesty's sloop of 
 war called the Beaver, then at Newport, and 
 procured a small vessel to carry them on 
 purpose ; he visited Mr. Duddingston seve- 
 ral times, and requested of him if he had any 
 knowledge of such persons as had done the 
 mischief that he would inform him thereof, 
 that the persons might be brought to con- 
 dign punishment, but he always declined say- 
 ing any thing in the affair. And further, that 
 early in the morning after the said schooner 
 was destroyed, he met with Daniel Jenckes, 
 Esq., Chief Justice of the Common Pleas, in 
 the county of Providence, who said that he 
 had informed the deputy governor of what 
 had happened the preceding night respecting 
 the Gaspee, and then urged that the deputy 
 governor and this exaniinate would repair 
 immediately to Pawtuxet. and examine such 
 of the Gaspee's men as could be found, while 
 it was fresh in their memories, that the vil- 
 lains might be discovered and not the whole 
 colony blamed. JOHN ANDREW. 
 
 The foregoing examination was taken and 
 sworn to at Newport on the day and year 
 afore written, before 
 ./. Wanton, Peter Oliver, 
 
 Dun. Hbrsmanden, liobt. Auchmuty. 
 
 The examination of James Helme, Esq., 
 of South Kingstown, in the county of King's 
 county, and colony of Rhode Island, &c, 
 taken on oath at Newport, in said colo- 
 ny, this fifth day of June, A. D. 1773: Who 
 saith, that in October following the burning 
 the schooner Gaspee, the Superior Court of 
 Judicature, &c, for said colony, sat at East 
 Greenwich, in the county of Kent, at which 
 Court I presided, being the eldest Justice of 
 the same present. Before the sitting of said 
 Court I had heard of the said schooner's be- 
 ing burnt, and of Lieutenant Duddingston's 
 being wounded. I did not give any charge 
 to the grand jury at that court, nor is it usual 
 in this colony to give either general or spe- 
 cial charges to grand juries ; but before the 
 meeting of said court I informed my breth- 
 ren that if I presided at said court 1 fully in- 
 tended to give the affair of burning the said 
 schooner and wounding the Lieutenant in 
 charge to the jury ; but having been near 
 two months on the circuit it entirely went out 
 of my mind when the grand jury was em- 
 pannelled, and there being no business laid 
 before said jury, they were soon dismissed; 
 immediately after, I recollected the omission 
 of what I intended, and then mentioned to 
 some of the other judges of the court, that I 
 had entirely forgot to give the business of 
 destroying the Gaspee and wounding Lieu- 
 tenant Duddingston in charge to the grand 
 jury, whicli 1 had designated, and further this 
 deponent saith not. JAMES HELME. 
 
 Taken and sworn to at Newport on the day 
 and year first within written, before 
 
 ./. Wanton, Fred. Smythe, 
 
 Dun. Horsmanden, Peter Oliver. 
 
 Hubert Auchmuty, 
 
 The examination of George Brown, of 
 Providence, in the colony of Rhode Island, 
 Esq., taken on oath at Newport, in said colo- 
 ny, this fifth day of June, A. D. 1773: Who 
 saith, that the evening preceding the burning 
 of the schooner Gaspee, he, with several oth- 
 er gentlemen, met at the house of Mr. James 
 Sabin, in Providence aforesaid, it being a 
 public house, to spend the evening together ; 
 about ti i o'clock, as I suppose, I heard a 
 drum beat in the street ; I asked the reason 
 of said drum beating, on which some one of 
 the. company, but whom 1 do not recollect, 
 answered, that there were some boys beat- 
 ing the drum, which was common fir two or 
 three years past in summer evenings in said 
 town : it is also usual for the young people 
 to assemble to learn to beat a drum, and 
 other military exercises ; before sunset that 
 evening 1 had heard that the said schooner 
 was aground ; but had not then the least sus- 
 picionthat any mischief was intended to be 
 done to said schooner, or any body on board 
 ofher, not having heard any intimation to 
 that purpose ; and I further declare that I 
 have not any knowledge, directly or indi- 
 rectly, of any plans being laid to burn or 
 
¥i 
 
 otherwise destroy said schooner, or of any 
 concerned in so vile a crime, or 
 wounding Lieutenant Duddingston; some 
 time alter I heard the drum, I had occasion 
 to go to the door, when I plainly saw about 
 ten or a dozen boys with a drum, and am 
 confident there was not at that time one man 
 among them ; nor had I during that eve- 
 ning, any conception of any mischief intend- 
 ed. The place where said scho hut was 
 burnt is in the township of Warwick, in the 
 count] ofKent, in the colony of Rhode Is- 
 land and Providence Plantations. From the 
 dwelling house of Mr. Samuel Tompkins to 
 the place where said schooner was burnt, is, 
 according to my judgment, about nine miles ; 
 and further this deponent saith not. 
 
 G. BROWN. 
 
 Taken and sworn toatNewport en the day 
 and j ear above written, before 
 
 ./. Wa Fred Smythe, 
 
 Dun. Horsmanden, Peter Oliver. 
 
 Robert Auchmviy, 
 
 The examination of Samuel Faulkner, of 
 Bristol, m the colony of Rhode Island, and 
 laborer, taken upon oath, at Newport, the 
 I lib day of June, 177:>: Who saith, that he 
 lived Willi Mr. Samuel Tompkins, of the is- 
 land of Prudence, in said colony, from the 
 Istof April, 177-'. io the last of July follow- 
 ing, and knoweth a negro lellow named 
 Aaron, who lived with said Tompkins part 
 me, and as lie understood was an 
 indented servant to said Tompkins ; that sev- 
 eral persons came over from Bristol to said 
 island, and said that the Gaspee schooner 
 was burnt two or three days before, which 
 was the first time he heard of it ; that he never 
 reque ted the said Aaron to go with him 
 from Prudence to Bristol in any part of the 
 aforementioned time of his living with the 
 said Samuel Tompkins, having then no oc- 
 casion to go to Bristol; that when the people 
 of Biistcil gave an account of the burning 
 of said schooner, Aaron was present, and did 
 nol either at that time or at any other time 
 
 afterwards discover lie had any ktl 
 
 troying of said schooner ; that when 
 the people from Bristol gave said account, 
 they mentioned the particular night on which 
 
 r was burnt, and to the best of 
 
 his recollection, Aaronmilked the cows after 
 sunsel thai night, and was at home early the 
 next morning, and therefore concluded that 
 Aaron was al his master's house the whole 
 of thai nighl ; that he does not remember his 
 telling the said Aaron he would ask his mas 
 ter to lei him go with him to Bristol in any 
 part of the above mentioned time of bis living 
 with - dd Tompkins, but well remembers that 
 
 oer before, when he also lived with 
 said Tompkins, that he asked him once o 
 
 let Aaron go with him to I li i sto] 
 thai he never was in company with Aaron 
 when Mr. Potter, of Bristol, was present; 
 
 Bristol in company with Aaron ; neither was 
 he ever on a wharf in Bristol with Aaron, 
 nor at any time pointed out Mr. Potter to 
 said Aaron, and he does not recollect that 
 when he was in Mr. Potter's ropewalk as 
 aforesaid that he told said Aaron whose it 
 was ; and that when they went to Bristol to- 
 gether the summer before the Gaspee was 
 bm in. they landed on the shore; that when 
 Aaron ran away from his said master he stole 
 Ins small boat, which lay on the shore, and 
 weiii away in her ; and that when the people 
 from Bristol brought the said news of the 
 1 la pee's being burnt she was then lying on 
 the shore with her seams much opened ; that 
 some time after this, and before Aaron stole 
 her, she was repaired; that he does not re- 
 member that the people from Bristol men- 
 tioned any persons names of being concerned 
 in destroying said schooner, and he does not 
 know any of the persons who burnt said 
 schooner; and this examinale further saith, 
 that the said Aaron was looked upon by the 
 people where he worked as a person much 
 addicted to lying. 
 
 ' SAMUEL FAULKNER. 
 Taken and sworn to at Newport on the 
 day and year above-mentioned, before 
 J. WANTON. 
 FRED. SMYTHE, 
 ROBT. AUCHMUTY. 
 
 Darius Sessions, Esq., of Providence, on 
 oath declares and says, that, in the month of 
 March, A. D. 1772, or thereabouts, sundry of 
 the principal inhabitants of the towai of Pro- 
 vidence made application to the deponent in 
 writing, representing that there was and had 
 been lor some time past, a schooner cruising 
 in the Narragansett river, that disturbed all 
 the vessels and boats that were passing there- 
 in, by chasing, firing at and searching them, 
 and often treating the people aboard of them 
 with the most abusive language, and that 
 the commander showed no commission to 
 support such proceedings ; they therefore re- 
 quested me to inform the Governor thereof, 
 that if he knew not who he was, or if he had 
 not been acquainted with his commission 
 and authority, he would he pleased to make 
 inquiry therein; soon after I received said 
 writing hearing that the chief justice was in 
 the court house near by, I wrote a line on the 
 back of said paper and sent it to him, desiring 
 his opinion on the affair; it was soon return- 
 ed with something written under mine, to this 
 purpose, viz: That it was his opinion that 
 for any person whatever to come into the 
 colony and in the body thereof, to exercise 
 any authority by force of arms or otherwise, 
 without showing his commission to the Gov- 
 ernor, and (if a custom house officer) without 
 being sworn into his office, was guilty of a 
 trespa i, if not piracy. All which proceed- 
 ings, to the best of my remembrance, I af- 
 terwards sent to the Governor. And to the 
 
 but has been in Mr. Potter's ropewalk in II best of his remembrance, the aforesaid com 
 
48 
 
 plaint was signed by the following persons : 
 John Brown, Ambrose Page, 
 
 Nathan Angell, Darius Sessions, 
 
 Joseph Nightingale, James Lovett, 
 
 Job Smith, Nicholas Brown, 
 
 Thomas Greene, 
 
 Newi'oht, June 12th, 1772. 
 
 Sworn to before J. WANTON, 
 
 Governor. 
 
 On the 7th of June, the commissioners re- 
 quested the personal attendance of the Jus- 
 tices of the Superior Court of the Colony- 
 The design of the commissioners will ap 
 pear in the following papers : 
 
 The honorable the commissioners, appoint- 
 ed by royal commission, lor examining into 
 the attacking and destroying his Majesty's 
 armed schooner the Gaspee, commanded by 
 Lieutenant Duddingston, and wounding the 
 said Lieutenant, having laid before us, Justi- 
 ces of the Superior Court of Judicature, 
 Court of Assize. &c, within and throughout 
 the Colony of Rhode Island, two examina- 
 tions of Aaron Briggs, two examinations of 
 PatrickEarls, the examination of Peter May, 
 H ■ a mination of William 1 )ickin on, the 
 deposition of Samuel Tompkins, Samuel 
 Thurston, and of Somerset and Jack, indented 
 servants, for our advisement thereon: 
 
 It appeareth unto us from our considera- 
 tion had thereupon, that no particular person 
 or persons are made mention of as being con 
 periled in that atrocious crime, except in the 
 examination of Aaron Briggs, a negro, and 
 of Peter May, one of the Gaspee's people. 
 The confession of the said Aaron upon his 
 imination was made in consequence 
 <>l illegal threats from Capt. Lindsey of hang- 
 ing him (the said Aaron) at the yard arm if 
 ons v, ere 
 i (aspi i : and b< s ides, mo t 
 of the circumstances and tacts related in both 
 of his examinations are contradictions repug- 
 nant to each other, and many of them im- 
 possible in their nature. It is evident (rum 
 the depositions of Tompkins, Thurston, and 
 Aaron's two fellow servants, that lie was at 
 home the whole of that night on which the 
 Gaspee was attacked; especially as there 
 was no boat on that part of the island in 
 which he could possibly pass the bay in the 
 manner by him described. In short, another 
 circumstance which renders the said Aaron's 
 testimony extremely suspicious, is Capt. Lind- 
 scy's absolutely refusing to deliver him up to 
 be examined by one of the Justices of the 
 said Superior Court when legally demanded, 
 Peter May, in his deposition, mentions one 
 person only, by the name of Greene, whom 
 he says, he saw before on board the Gaspee; 
 but the family of Greene being very numer- 
 ous in this colony, and the said Peter not 
 giving the Christian name or describing 
 him in such a manner as he could be found 
 out. it is impossible for us to know at present 
 
 j the person referred to. Upon the whole, we 
 are all of opinion that the several matters 
 and things contained in said depositions do 
 not induce a probable suspicion, that persons 
 mentioned therein,or either or any of them, are 
 guilty of the crime aforesaid. It is, however, 
 the fixed determination of the Superior Court 
 to exert every legal effort in detecting and 
 bringing to condign punishment the persons 
 concerned in destroying the schooner Gaspee. 
 And if the honorable commissioners are of 
 a different sentiment we should be glad to 
 receive their opinion for our better intbrma- 
 tion. 
 
 S. HOPKINS, ChiefJustice. 
 J. HELME, 
 M. BOWLER, 
 J. <'. f BENNET, 
 Rhode Island, June 11, 1773. 
 
 Assistant 
 Justices. 
 
 Gentlemen : — We, the commissioners, ap- 
 pointed by his Majesty for inquiring into the 
 attacking, plundering and burning his Majes- 
 ty's schooner called the Ga: pee, and wound- 
 ing the Lieutenant, late commandant of said 
 schooner, received your report on the exam- 
 inations bj us laid before you. In the con- 
 clusion of the same report you are pleased to 
 say, il we differ from you in sentiment, you 
 should be glad to receive our opinion for your 
 better information. As by our instructions 
 we are required to lay before the civil mag- 
 istrates all such informations as we shall re- 
 ceive, and as it is your proper office to judge 
 and act thereupon in such manner as you 
 conceive most likely to answer the ends of 
 public justice, therefore we decline giving 
 any sentiment or opinion in the matter, and 
 are, with much respect, gentlemen, 
 
 Your most obedient humble servants. 
 
 Newpob r. June 12, 1773. 
 
 To the I Ion. Stephen Hop! in ' ' , md 
 the three Assistant Justices. 
 
 The following i [uest of Chief Justice 
 Smythe was thought worthy ol preserva- 
 tion : 
 
 June 23d, 1773. 
 
 Gen n emen : I desire the enclosed may 
 beinserted in the journal of our proceedings. 
 I am sorry it is not in my power to meet you 
 this morning. As this minute contains only 
 the plain tacts. I hope there will be no ob- 
 jection to the request of 
 
 Gentlemen, yours, most heartily, 
 
 FRED. SMYTHE. 
 
 To the Commissioners, Gov. Wanton, Mr. 
 Horsmanden, and Mr. Auchmuty. 
 
 June 21. — ChiefJustice Smythe requested 
 the board that some particulars of an attack 
 
 of an armed s<| ner called the St. John, by 
 
 the gunner ol' Fort George, in this Colony, in 
 con equence of an order signed by two mag- 
 istrates, dated July 1764, had la-en imparted 
 to him on Saturday last, and conceiving that 
 great irregularity, violence and disorder ac- 
 companied that transaction, and might be 
 
l!> 
 
 considered as a leading cause to the destruc- 
 tion of the Gaspee, reque ted the board to 
 tiikr the affaii into consideration and receive 
 uch information as might be procured on 
 the subject; whereupon Gov. Wanton ac- 
 quainted the board that Ins son was deputy 
 nun' of the colonj al the timi of the 
 tran action, and could fully explain 
 the affair, thai the said gunner of the fort 
 was in town and might be called upon ; then 
 the board agreed to take the matter into 
 i ition i" morrow morning. 
 June ' ' The board being reminded by 
 Mr. Smythe of his motion yesterday, pro- 
 duced the original order signed by the tnag- 
 rati . and inquiring if the Governor's son 
 or the gunner had been applied to for in- 
 formation on the subji > l Mr. Auchmuty 
 proposed that the sen e of the board should 
 tin i be taken w hether the afl tir should be at 
 all inquired into or not; whereupon (lav. 
 Wanton and Cli H idea were 
 
 of opinion that no notice whatever of the at- 
 tack of the schooner St. John .night to be 
 taken by this board. Mr. Smythe, on the 
 contrary, was of opinion that a strict in- 
 quiry ought to be made on the ubject and 
 inserted in the report. Mr. Auchmuty 
 doubted. 
 
 A part of the journal i I" the session of the 
 commissioners held in January was omitted 
 in its proper place, by mistake, and is here 
 inserted : 
 
 Monday, January ll//i. I. I). 1773. 
 Tin' commissioners met accordin ■ 
 journment. 
 
 Pre 'Hi .1" eph Wanton, Esq., I (aniel 
 Horsmanden. E iq., Frederick Smythe, Esq., 
 Peter Oliver, E q., and Robert Auchmuty, 
 Esq. 
 
 I In' com al toners receh ed a letter lroin 
 Metcall Bowler, Esq., one of the Ju 
 
 1 the colon} of Rhode Island tender- 
 ing his services in aid of the commission, 
 which was read and ordered to lie filed. 
 The commi .sioner issued a summons for 
 ni iri them Stephen Gulley, a wit 
 in relative to the taking and burning of 
 
 In 1 • 1 1 schooner, in order to be 1 
 
 .in.! In lor. ' tlirm al II o'clock to-morrow 
 morning. 
 
 Tuesday, January 12. 
 Thr commissioners met according to ad- 
 journment. 
 
 I'n 1 ni .1" - ph U anton, Esq., Daniel 
 ' Esq., Fi ederick Sm\ the, Esq., 
 
 1 1 1 Robert Vuchmutj . Esq, 
 Stephen Gulley, who was summoned to 
 give evidence to the commissioners of what 
 . ning tin' attacking and burn- 
 in" the 1 .a in''. &.c,. appeared before them 
 an. I was examined upon oath, which exam- 
 ination u.i reduced in writing, signed by the 
 deponent, and ordered to !"■ filed. 
 Thr commissioners were of opinion that it 
 <■ a illiniums to Saul 
 
 Ramsdale, William Thayer, and Joseph 
 Borden. A summons was accordingly is- 
 sued and delivered to Samuel Clark, = who 
 was sent off express at 2 o'clock. 
 
 Wednesday, Jan. VS. 
 1 he commissioners met according to ad- 
 journment. 
 
 Present, Joseph Wanton, Esq., Daniel 
 Horsmanden. Esq., Frederick Smythe, Esq., 
 I''',,- Oliver, Esq., ami Robert Auchmuty, 
 E - 1 
 
 Joseph Borden, of Portsmouth, inn-holder, 
 pursuant to summons, appeared before the 
 
 commissioners and was examined U] oath, 
 
 which examination was taken in writing, and 
 ordered to be filed. 
 
 Thursday, 1 \ih January. 
 
 The commissioners met according to ad- 
 journment. Present, all. 
 
 Aaron, the mulatto, appeared before the 
 commissioners, and was examined upon oath, 
 relative to the burning the Gaspee. which 
 was taken in writing and filed. 
 
 fhr commissioners issued a summons for 
 Patrick Earls to appear before them on Fri- 
 day, the lath inst, to give evidence of what 
 ho knows respecting the burning of the Gas 
 pee, &c. 
 
 The commissioners received a letter from 
 Admiral Montagu, acquainting them of his 
 arrival at Newport. 
 
 Thr commissioners received from Admi- 
 ral Montagu the deposition of Patrick Earls, 
 taken the kith ofJuly last before a justice of 
 the peace in the town of Newport. 
 
 Thr commissioners adjourned till to-mor- 
 row morning at ten o'clock. 
 
 Friday, Jan. 15. 
 
 The weather being extremely cold and vi- 
 olent stormy, the commissioners did not meet. 
 Saturday, \0th January. 
 
 The commissioners met'according to ad- 
 journment. 
 
 Present, Joseph Wanton, Esq., Frederick 
 Smythe, Esq., Peter Oliver, Esq., Robert 
 Auchmuty, Esq. 
 
 Patrick Earls, a mariner, on board his 
 Majesty's ship the , pursuant to sum- 
 mons., appeared before the commissioners, 
 and was examined upon oath, which exam- 
 ination was taken in writing, and ordered to 
 be tiled. 
 
 A letter was delivered to the commission- 
 ers by the Admiral's clerk, at about half past 
 eleven o'clock from Admiral Montagu, which 
 was ordered to he filed. 
 
 The commissioners immediately agreed to 
 an answer, as well to this letter as to the let- 
 ter received from the Admiral on the Uih 
 inst, in the following words: 
 
 Which letters were delivered to J. Bren- 
 ton, Esq.. one of the Secretaries, who at- 
 tended the Admiral with them, and delivered 
 them to the Admiral's Secretary, the Admi- 
 ral being abroad, with the following message 
 from the commissioners, that they were now 
 sitting, and would be glad to see the Admi- 
 
.,(. 
 
 rai at the board at any time this day before 
 2 o'clock in the afternoon, or on Monday or 
 Tuesday next, if convenient to him. 
 
 At two o'clock a message was received 
 by the commissioners from Admiral Montagu 
 acquainting them he would wait on them on 
 Monday morning next. 
 
 The commissioners then adjourned the 
 business of the commission to Monday morn- 
 ing at ten o'clock. 
 
 Monday, I8lh "I January. 
 
 The commissioners met according to ad- 
 journment. Present, all. 
 
 The Hon. Admiral Montagu waited upon 
 the commissioners agreeable to his message 
 oi'Saturday last. 
 
 The Admiral laid before the commissioners, 
 letters which he had received from Lieuten- 
 ant Duddingston during his residence at 
 Pawtuxet and Newport after the destroying 
 of the schooner Gaspee. 
 
 The Admiral also delivered to the com- 
 missioners, a list ol persons who reside in 
 Providence as material witnesses relative to 
 the assembling of the people prior to the at- 
 tacking the Gaspee, in consequence of which 
 they ordered a summons to be issued for 
 John Andrews, Esq., John Cole, Esq., Dan- 
 iel Hitchcock, Esq., and George Brown. At- 
 torneys at Law, and Arthur Fenner and 
 James Sabin, to attend on Wednesday next 
 at 11 o'clock, which was issued accordingly. 
 The summonses were delivered to Samuel 
 Clark, who was sent as express by the com 
 missioners at 20 minutes after 3 o'clock. 
 
 The commissioners adjourned till to-inor- 
 row at ten o'clock. 
 
 Tuesday, 19th January. 
 
 The commissioners met according to ad- 
 journment. Present, all. 
 
 Peter May attended the commissioners 
 pursuant to summons, and was examined 
 upon oath, which examination was reduced 
 to writing and ordered to be filed. 
 
 Robert Masters, who was also summoned, 
 appeared, and upon examination on oath, 
 there appearing nothing material in his tes- 
 timony, he was discharged without making 
 any deposition. 
 
 The commissioners received a letter from 
 Admiral Montagu, which was read and or- 
 dered to be filed; an answer was immedi- 
 ately ordered, which was accordingly written 
 
 in the following words : ■ , and delivered 
 
 to the Admiral by . 
 
 The commissioners also received another 
 letter from the Admiral, enclosing the depo 
 
 sition of Aaron Briggs, taken the day ol 
 
 , which was ordered to be filed. 
 
 The commissioners adjourned till to-mor- 
 row at 10 o'clock. 
 
 Wednesday, Jan. 20. 
 
 The commissioners met according to ad- 
 journment. Present, all. 
 
 The commissioners directed copies of the 
 several letters which have passed between 
 them and Admiral Montagu to be made out 
 
 in order to be transmitted to the Earl of 
 Dartmouth. 
 
 Thursday. Jan. 21. 
 
 The commissioners met according to ad- 
 journment. 
 
 Presi at. Joseph Wanton, Esq., Frederick 
 Smythe, Esq., Peter Oliver Esq., and Rob- 
 ert Auchmuty. Esq. 
 
 Samuel Clark, who was charged with the 
 delivery of the several summonses issued by 
 the commissioners on the 18th hist., made re- 
 turn upon oath of his service thereof, which 
 was ordered to be tiled. Samuel ('lark ex- 
 hibited his account to the commissioners for 
 performing two journies for them, one to 
 Mendon, and the other to Providence, which 
 amounted to , and was paid by the com- 
 missioners. 
 
 The commissioners agreed to address the 
 Earl of Dartmouth, whereupon a letter was 
 drafted in the follow ing words : 
 
 Joseph Wanton, < tovernor of the colony, 
 made oath of what he knew respecting the 
 • (a ipee, &c. 
 
 An adjournment being determined upon, 
 Mr. Auchmuty and Mr. Oliver signified then 
 intention of returning home, and took leave 
 
 of tl thercommii sioners accordingly. 
 
 Friday, 22d January 
 
 The commissioners met according to ad- 
 journment. 
 
 Present Joseph Wanton, Esq., Dana I 
 Horsmanden, Esq., and Frederick Smythe, 
 
 Esq., 
 
 Samuel Clark, who was charged with the 
 service of summons on the 12th in. i . for two 
 persons ai Mendon, made return upon oath 
 of his service thereof, which was ordered to 
 be filed 
 
 The commissioners received a letter from 
 Arthur Fenner, al Providence, excusing his 
 attendance in obi dience to a summons of the 
 18th: 
 
 Also a letter from James Sabin, excusing 
 Ins attendance in obedience to a summons of 
 the sane- date. •..-' ich were ordered to be 
 
 hied. 
 
 The commissioners adjourn all further pro 
 ceedings until the 26th day of May next, then 
 to meet at New] ot t. 
 
 The following is the form of oath t iken by 
 the commissioni r 
 
 We do solemnly and sincerely, in the pre- 
 sence of God, profess, testify and declare, that 
 we do believe, that in the sacrament of the 
 Lords supper there is not transuhstantiation 
 of the elements of bread and wine into the 
 
 body and blood of Christ, at or after the 
 
 thereof by any person wdiatsoever: And that 
 the invocation or adoration of the Virgin 
 Mary, or any other Saint, and the sacrifice of 
 the Mass, as they are now used in the Church 
 of Rome, are superstitious and idolatrous: 
 And we do solemnly, in the presence of ( tod, 
 profess, testify and declare, that we do make 
 this declaration and every part thereof, in the. 
 
51 
 
 phiin and ordinary sense of the words read 
 unto us, as they are commonly understood 
 Protestants, without any evasion, 
 equivocation, or mental reservation, whatso- 
 ever, and without any dispensation already 
 granted us for this purpose by the Pope, or 
 any other authority or power whatsoever, or 
 without any hope o! such dispensation from 
 anj person or authority whatsoever, or with- 
 out thinking that we are or can be acquitted 
 before God or man, or absolved of this de- 
 claration or any part thereof although the 
 pope, or any other person or persons, or pow- 
 er whatsoever shall dispense with or annul 
 
 thesame, ordeclare thatil was null and void 
 
 from the beginning. 
 ./. Wanton, Fred. Sun/the, 
 
 Dan. Hoi smandt n, P< U r Oliver. 
 
 Ixubt. AucHpiuty, 
 
 \\ e do truly and sincerely acknowledge. 
 profess, testify and declare ill our conscience. 
 
 before God and the world, that our Sovereign 
 Lord. George the Third, is lawful and right- 
 ful King of tins Realm, and all other his 
 I '.- dominions thereunto belonging ; 
 
 And we do solemnly and sincerely declare, 
 
 thai we do believe in oui c 'ices, that 
 
 not any of the descendants of the pi rson « ho 
 preti nded to be Pi ince of \\ ales during the 
 life of the late King James the Second, and 
 since Ins decease pretended to be, and took 
 upon himself the stlye and title of King of 
 England, by the name of .tames the Third, 
 or of Scotland, by the nana' of James the 
 eighth, or the style and title of King of Great 
 Britain, hath am right or title whatsoever 
 to the Crown ol this Realm, or any other 
 
 ■ i ato be! ing ; And we 
 
 do renounce, refuse, and abjure any allegi 
 ance or obedience to any of them : And we 
 do swear, that we will hear faith and true 
 
 i to hi Majestj . King < leorge the 
 Third, and him will defend to the utmost 
 of our power, against all traitorou i n pi 
 
 id attempts whatsoever, which shall 
 be made against his person, crown or dignity: 
 And we will do our utmost endeavor to dis- 
 close and make known to his Maji -i\ and 
 hi in- 01 . ill trea n and traitorous <<>u 
 spirai iei u Inch we i hall know to be against 
 him. or any of them : And we do faithfully 
 promise to the utmost of our power to sup- 
 port, in uiitain. and defend the sucoi i il 
 the crown against the descendants of the 
 said Jame . and against all other persons 
 wi a! oever, wln.h succession, to an act en- 
 titled, "An act for the further limitation of 
 the crown, and bi ttei i curing the rights and 
 
 of the ubji ct," is and stands limited 
 to the Princess Sophia, Electoress and Dutch- 
 ess Dowager of H; ver and the heirs of 
 
 her body being protestants : and all these 
 things we do plainly and sincerely acknow- 
 .1 swear according to these express 
 words by us spoken, and according to the 
 plain and common sense and understanding 
 
 of the same words, without any equivocation, 
 mental evasion, or secret reservation whatso- 
 ever: And we do make this recognition, ac- 
 knowledgment, abjuration, and pro- 
 
 iiily, willingly, and truly, upon the 
 true faith of a Christian. So help us God. 
 ./. Wanton, Fred. Smythe, 
 
 Dan. Horsmanden, Peter Oliver, 
 Unlit. Auchmuty. 
 
 We do swear, that we do from our hearts, 
 abhor, detest, and abjure as impious and he- 
 retical, that damnable doctrine and position 
 that princes excommunicated or deprived 
 by the pope or any authority of the See of 
 Rome, may be deposed or murdered by their 
 subjects or any other whatsoever. And we 
 do declare that no foreign prince, person, 
 prelate, state, or potentate, hath, or ought to 
 have, any jurisdiction, power, superiority, 
 pre-eminence or authority, ecclesiastical or 
 spiritual, within this realm. So help us God. 
 
 V'/ZrW 
 
 , Ysrff &c»4*r»*« 
 
 The commissioners probably closed their 
 labors on the 23d of June, on which the lol- 
 lowing letter, enclosing the report of their 
 proceedings, was sent home: 
 
 Newport, June 22, 1773. 
 
 My Lord: — So much time being neces- 
 sarily spent in the business of his Majesty's 
 royal commission renders our return to our 
 several colonies highly expedient, and hav- 
 ing executed the same to the utmost of our 
 abilities, we beg leave to enclose to your 
 Lordship, a report thereon. 
 
 Your Lordship is very sensible ibr the ex- 
 
52 
 
 ecution of the trust his Majesty hath been 
 graciously pleased to honor us with, it was 
 strictly necessary to have the assistance of 
 secretaries, messengers to summon witnesses, 
 or go express on the business, some con- 
 stant attendants and stationery. No partic- 
 ular mode having yet been pointed out to 
 us for defraying these expenses by govern- 
 ment, we have discharged the same, except 
 the secretaries Mr. Brenton and Mr. Clark. 
 
 bur at this, our second meeting, we found'rand the total want of evidence of even an in- 
 
 one of those gentlemen sufficient for the same. 
 
 Mr. Oliver would have joined us in the re- 
 port to his Majesty if the duly of Ins office 
 had not indispensably required him to take 
 his leave of us a lew days since. 
 
 My Lord, as we have used the utmost as- 
 siduity, and made the stronge I possible el 
 forts to the thorough accomplishment of the 
 end and design ol' the commission, though 
 not attended with thai succi ss most ardently 
 wished for by all. yet we humbly hope his 
 Majesty will be graciously pleased to accepl 
 of our services and ende: vors therein, which 
 will reflect the greatest honor on your Lord 
 ship's most respectful and most obedient hum 
 ble servants. 
 
 "TO THE KING'S MOST EXCELENT 
 MAJESTY: 
 
 May rr please vniii Majesty: — In obe- 
 dience to your royal commission .on! instruc- 
 tions, and from a due sense of the duty there- 
 in enjoined on us, we have used our utmost 
 care and diligence for (he purpose of enquir- 
 ing into ami reporting to your Majesty ail 
 the circumstances relative to iln attacking, 
 plundering and burning the schooner Gas- 
 pee, wounding Lieutenant Dudditigston, ami 
 all other mattersin the same commi 
 instructions contained. 
 
 We now bee; leave, most humbly, to re 
 
 contained under the inquiry into the assem- 
 bling, arming, and leading on the people to 
 attack the Gaspee, also the concerting and 
 preparing the same, we have been particu- 
 larly attentive. But after our utmost etlorts ; 
 we are not able to discover any evidence 
 of either; and therefore, are humbly of opin- 
 ion, both from the unforeseen event of the 
 < iaspee's running on shore, the suddenness 
 ofihe undertaking and its accomplishment, 
 
 tention to destroy her, though many witness- 
 es of credit as well inhabitants ofProvidence 
 as other places, were strictly examined on 
 :1ns head, that the whole was conducted sud- 
 denly and secretly. 
 
 On the tenth of June last, about 1 in the 
 morning, a number of armed people, many 
 of whom, by their dress, appeared much 
 above the rank of common people, and were 
 accompanied by several negroes and others, 
 boarded the schooner Gasper, then onshore 
 on a point of land called NamquitJ which ii 
 viiliiu the township of Warwick', and county 
 of Kent, m this colony, and about six miles 
 from the town of Providence : and aftei 
 wounding the Lieutenant, and using the crew 
 with great harl>, i nlv. first plundered and then 
 burnt the schooner, taking the Lieutenant 
 and his people on shore, to a place called 
 Pawtuxet, about two miles distant. With 
 i [he conduct of the magistrates, on 
 the morning of the eleventh of June, the dep- 
 uty governor, being informed of the destruc- 
 
 t ; ' the i laspee, the Lieutenant being 
 
 wounded on shore at Pawtuxet, first inquir- 
 ing if any of the offendi k were know n. and 
 no information ol such, immediate 
 ly repaired to the place, and finding the 
 Lieutenant in a dangerous condition, offered 
 him everj pr rpi r assistance, to which the 
 Lieutenant replied, he wanted no favors for 
 port to your Majesty, thai on peopli might be taken 
 
 telligence of your Majesty's commands, we 
 with the utmost dispatch in our power, re 
 paired to Newport, where, on the fifth of 
 January last, your Majesty's royal commis- 
 sion was published in the presence of a large 
 
 number of people, who, on tie :aston be 
 
 haved with great propriety • ■■ ■ nexl pro 
 ceeded to give public notice of the subject 
 matter of the commission and our being as- 
 sembled for the execution thereof requi sting 
 ' all persons who could give us any informa- 
 tion relative to such matters forthwith so to do. 
 We beg leave to observe lo your Majesty, 
 that the place where the Gaspee was de- 
 stroyed, is, at least, twenty-three miles lion- 
 Newport, and the accident of her running 
 aground but a few hours before the attack 
 take away all possibility of the inhabitants of 
 the town being instrumental in or privy to 
 the destruction of her; nor have we any evi- 
 dence, even of the slightest kind, to induce 
 suspicion to the contrary. 
 
 We further beg leave humbly to represent 
 to your Majesty, that in the part of our duty 
 
 care of mid sent on board the Heaver, which 
 was iccordingly done. The deputy govern 
 or then told the Lieutenant the design of his 
 
 nly to afiord him en, 
 . nice, hut to procure such a declaration from 
 las own mouth respecting the transaction that 
 the offenders might be brought to justice; 
 to which the I ti utenanl answered, he would 
 no! give him any account ol" the matter, first, 
 becaui e of his indisposition, and, i icondly, 
 it was his duty to forbear any thing of that 
 nature until he h id done it unto a court mar- 
 tial. The deputy governor then a I id the 
 Lieutenant if he was willing that his officers 
 and men should be examined, to which, af 
 ter some refusal, he consented. They were 
 accordingly t xamined on oath, but k 
 able to give information against any person 
 in particular. Mr. Andrews, Judge ol the 
 court of \ ice Admiralty in this colony. amend- 
 ed the deputy governor, and behaved very 
 properly on the occasion. The same day the 
 deputy" governor, by letter, informed the 
 Governor of what had happened, and of eve- 
 
53 
 
 ry step he had taken as a magistrate, and 
 sent him all the depositions. In another let- 
 ter ofthe 12th of June, he further informed 
 the Governor, it was the unanimous opinion 
 of a great number of the most respectable in- 
 habitants of Providence, that a proclamation 
 with a proper reward, should, by the gov- 
 ernor lie issued, lor the apprehending and 
 to justice the persons concerned, 
 which was accordingly done. In July fol- 
 lowing, a warrant was granted for the ap- 
 prehending one Aaron Briggs, a negro, then 
 on board your Majesty's ship the Beaver, 
 commanded byCapt Lindsey, tor being con- 
 cerned in burning the Gaspee and wounding 
 the Lieutenant. The same was delivered to 
 a shentl, who. after making Ins business 
 known, was refused admittance into said ship, 
 hut the captain was not then on board. Very 
 . nou alter such refusal the captain was in- 
 formed of said warrant and requested to de- 
 liver up the negro, whom he acknowledged 
 was on board, hut treated the civil a 
 in a most contemptuous and unjustifiable 
 manner. Here the civil magistrates ceased 
 ideavore to di i n er tin- offenders; 
 a Superior < 'ourt held 
 a a id for the county ofKent in October fol- 
 lowing the burning the Gaspee, at which 
 id just ci presided, the chief justice 
 being absent, not any charge was given to 
 I jury to inquire into that atrocious 
 breach of law. nor any information thereof 
 by the then acting Attorney General, nor was 
 
 any thing done, thereon that we can di cover. 
 
 Having now laid before your Majesty the 
 substance of the proofs relative to the de- 
 of the Gaspee, the barbarity and in- 
 solence exerci < . 1 upon the commander and 
 seamen lielniiL'itig n> her. with othei neces 
 sary matters, we proceed, in obedience to 
 your Majesty'i directions, to assign some pro- 
 bable causes which we conceive might lead 
 to so bold a violation of your M I 
 
 and authority. 
 
 The great impatience of some people in 
 this colony under any restraint of trade, how- 
 ever illicit; the check which your Majesty's 
 navy officers have put to such trade by the 
 
 aid and assistance which they have 
 afforded the revenue officers ; the plundering 
 and burning a .loop called the Libi 
 this harbor, in July L769, then employed in 
 j urn Maji r\ ice, and < om 
 
 manded by William Reid, liberating a ves 
 sel and cargo then under seizure by said com- 
 mander, and in a violent and outrageous 
 manni r ass lultina an I di taining him in this 
 town, in duress, till the accomplishment of 
 i , 
 o said sloop, through 
 h " them ; and the per- 
 
 petrators ofthe 
 
 impunitj bi tng so much as 
 
 i led on this occasion. It must be 
 
 further, with humble submission toyourMaj- 
 
 tarked, that it does not appear to us. 
 
 that any complaint or information was given 
 to any peace officer or other magistrate 
 against any person whatever, as concerned 
 m the above transaction, excepting four dep- 
 ositions, taken before a single magistrate, and 
 which do not appear to have been laid be- 
 fore the Governor and council, or to have had 
 any effect. Certain persons, principal inhab- 
 itants ofthe town of Providence, in March 
 preceding the burning of the Gaspee, com- 
 plained to the deputy governor, also an in- 
 habitant of that place, against the conduct of 
 Lieutenant Duddingston for disturbing and 
 obstructing their vessels and boats, firing at 
 end searching them, without showing any 
 commission for so doing, and requested the 
 deputy governor to inform the Governor 
 thereof, that he might inquire into the said 
 Lieutenant's authority ; on which the depu- 
 ty governor laid the same before the chief 
 justice, also an inhabitant of the town of 
 Providence, for his opinion, how to conduct 
 in the affair, to which ho soon returned an 
 answer to the following purpose : It was 
 his opinion, "that for any poison whatever to 
 come into this colony and in the body there- 
 of, to exercise any authority by force of arms 
 or otherwise, without showing his commis- 
 sion to the Governor, and if a custom house 
 officer, without being sworn into his ollice, 
 was guilty of a tresspass, if not piracy." But 
 what effect such an opinion might have on 
 the minds of the perpetrators of the crime, 
 we must most humbly submit. If Lieutenant 
 Duddingston, on his first arrival in the har- 
 bor of Newport, had waited on the Governor, 
 acquainting him with his power and authori- 
 ty, and thereby early made his duty a matter 
 of notoriety, lie would, at least, have acted a 
 prudent part ; but whether his duty obliged 
 him so to do, we do not presume to determine. 
 There is also too much reason to believe that 
 in some instances Lieutenant Duddingston, 
 from an intemperate, if not a reprehensible 
 zeal to aid the revenue service, exceeded the 
 bounds of his duty. 
 
 After exerting ourselves to the utmost of 
 our abilities to collect evidence against the 
 persons concerned in burning the Gaspee 
 and wounding the Lieutenant, and judging 
 that we had got all there was any probabili- 
 ty of obtaining, we laid such before the dep- 
 uty governor, the chief justice of the colony 
 and three of his associates, among which tes- 
 timonies was Aaron's, the negro, wherein 
 some persons are expressly named and 
 charged as guilty, and Mr. Dickinson's, late 
 midshipman of thi Gasj e end on hoard at 
 the time, she was destroyed, very particularly 
 described others. The justices were then in- 
 formed that the same witness was now pre- 
 sent, and might be by them re examined. 
 rwar Is, at the request ofthe judg- 
 es, we also delivered them other dep 
 which had been laid before us by the Gov- 
 ernor, and which tended to discredit the tes- 
 timony of said Aaron. The day following, 
 
54 
 
 we received their report in the words follow- 
 ing: 
 
 "The honorable the commissioners appoint- 
 ed by royal commission, tor examining into 
 the attacking and destroying his Majesty's 
 armed schooner the Gaspee, commanded by 
 Lieutenant Duddingston, and wounding the 
 said Lieutenant, having laid before us, justi- 
 ces of the Superior Court of Judicature, 
 Court of Assize, &c, within and throughout 
 the Colony of Rhode Island, two examina- 
 tions of Aaron Briggs, two examinations of 
 Patrick Earls, the examination of Peter May, 
 the examination of William Dickinson, the 
 depositions of Samuel Tompkins, Samuel 
 Thurston, and of Somerset and .'ark, indented 
 servants, for our advisement thereon : 
 
 It appeareth unto us from due considera- 
 tion had thereupon, that no particular person 
 or persons are made mention of as being con- 
 cerned in that atrocious crime, except in the 
 examination of Aaron Briggs, a negro, and 
 of Peter May, one of the Gaspee's people. 
 The confession of the said Aaron upon his 
 first examination was made in consequence 
 of illegal threats from Capt. Lindsey of hang- 
 ing him (the said Aaron) at the yard arm if 
 he would not discover who the persons were 
 that destroyed the Gaspee ; and besides, must 
 of the circumstances and facts related in both 
 of his examinations are contradictions repug- 
 nant to each other, and many of them im- 
 possible in their nature. It is evident from 
 the depositions of Tompkins, Thurston, and 
 Aaron's two fellow servants, that he was at 
 home the whole of that night on which the 
 Gaspee was attacked ; especially as there 
 was no boat on that part of the island in 
 which he could possibly pass the bay in the 
 manner by him described. In short, another 
 circumstance which renders the said Aaron's 
 testimony extremely suspicious, is ('apt. Lind- 
 sey's absolutely refusing to deliver him up to 
 be examined by one of the Justices of the 
 said Superior Court when legally demanded. 
 
 Peter May, in his deposition, mentions one 
 person only, by the name of Greene, whom 
 lie says, he saw before on board the Gaspee; 
 but the family of Greene being very numer- 
 ous in this colony, and the said Peter not 
 giving the Christian name or describing 
 him in such a manner as he could be found 
 out, it is impossible for us to know at present 
 the person referred to. Upon the whole, we 
 are all of opinion that the several matters 
 and things contained in said depositions do 
 not induce a probable suspicion, that persons 
 mentioned therein, or either or any of them, are 
 guilty of the crime aforesaid. It is, however, 
 the fixed determination of the Superior Court 
 to exert every legal etfort in detecting and 
 bringing to condign punishment the persons 
 concerned in destroying the schooner Gaspee. 
 
 And if the honorable commissioners are of 
 ;i different sentiment we should be glad to 
 receive their opinion for our better informa- 
 tion." 
 
 To the latter part of which we answered; 
 "that by our instructions we were commanded 
 to lay before the civil magistrates all 6uch 
 information as we should receive, and as it 
 was their proper office to act thereupon, in 
 such manner as they conceive most likely to 
 answer the ends of public justice, we declined 
 giving any sentiment or opinion in the mat- 
 ter." 
 
 Touching the depositions of Aaron, the 
 negro, we humbly conceive it our duty to 
 declare to your Majesty, that the conduct of 
 Capt. Lindsey tended too strongly to extort 
 from a weak or wicked mind declarations 
 not strictly true ; that some parts of said dep- 
 ositions falsify others; that allowing the ac- 
 count he gave of the time he left the Island 
 called Prudence, the. place of his residi nee, 
 on the night the Gaspee was burnt, and his 
 return thither, to be true, or even near the 
 truth, must render his being at the taking 
 and destroying her, totally impossible, the 
 distance being so great between Namquit 
 Point and said Island. In addition to all 
 which, there is full and satisfactory evidence 
 to prove him, the whole of that night, to have 
 been at home, and the request which he de- 
 posed was made him. to carry a person off 
 said Island that night, and which he declared 
 was the occasion of his going from home, 
 proved on the examination of the very per- 
 son, to be an absolute falsehood ; and there- 
 fore we are most humbly of opinion, no credit 
 is due to said Aaron's testimony. 
 
 May it please your Majesty, the civil mag- 
 istrates being entrusted with the power of 
 apprehending and committing, and having 
 determined against both, upon the evidence 
 before them, and there being no probability 
 of our procuring any further light on the sub- 
 ject determines our inquiry. 
 
 All which is most humbly submitted to 
 your Majesty's royal wisdom. 
 
 ./. Wanton, Fred- Smythe, 
 
 Dan. Horsmanden, Robt. Auchmuty. 
 Newport, Rhode Island, June 22, 1773. 
 
 The meeting of these commissioners at- 
 tracted the attention of the House of Bur- 
 gesses in Virginia, and led to the appoint- 
 ment of committees of correspondence, in the 
 several colonies. In March, 1773. the House 
 resolved to appoint a committee of corres- 
 pondence and enquiry, consisting of eleven 
 persons, to obtain the earliest information of 
 the proceedings of the British Parliament and 
 to keep up a correspondence with the sister 
 colonics. They were instructed without de- 
 lay, "to inform themselves particularly of the 
 principles and authority on which was ion 
 stituted a court of enquiry, said to have been 
 lately held in Rhode Island, with power to 
 transport persons accused of offences com- 
 
55 
 
 knitted in America, to places beyond seas to 
 be tried." 
 
 In reviewing the report of the commission- 
 ers, our surprise is not so much excited at the 
 conclusion to which they came from the evi- 
 dence before them, as at the small amount 
 of testimony they collected. It would be do- 
 ing great injustice to the memories and cha- 
 racters of Gov. Wanton, Judges Horsmanden. 
 Oliver and Auchmuty, to suppose that they 
 suppressed any evidence, or did not exert 
 themselves to the utmost to procure testimo- 
 ny. The course they afterwards took in the 
 war of the revolution, when they joined the 
 ministerial party in the country, is a sufficient 
 guaranty that they were, by no means, luke- 
 warm in the service of his Majesty. They 
 were surrounded, too, at the time of their 
 sessions, by the officers of the crown, and in- 
 dividuals high in rank and standing, who 
 were eager in the chace of those who insulted 
 their sovereign in the person of his represen- 
 tative, Lieut. Duddingston. Under these 
 circumstances, it is passing strange, that no 
 persons could be found, who could identify 
 those engaged in the enterprise, or that the 
 great reward ottered on the occasion should 
 not have induced some one to have turned in- 
 former. That the enterprise was suddenly 
 conceived, there can be no doubt ; but every 
 circumstance shows, that no great care was 
 used to preserve secrecy. They were called 
 together by the beating of a drum in the 
 streets. The collecting of the boats, the as- 
 sembling at a public house, the embarking 
 from a public wharf, all must have attracted 
 the notice of the inhabitant . The parties 
 assumed no disguise of any kind but went in 
 their usual dress. Among them were some, 
 little conscious of the crime they were com- 
 mitting and the penalty they were incurring. 
 Mr. John Howland says, that on the morning 
 after the affair, Justin Jacobs, a young man, 
 was parading himself on "the great bridge," 
 then the usual place of resort, with Lieuten- 
 ant Dudding ton' gold laced beaver on his 
 head, detailing to a circle around him the 
 particulars of the transaction, and the man- 
 ner m which he obtained the hat from the 
 cabin of the Gaspee. It required sharp 
 words to induce him to retire and hold his 
 ["here were othen . probably, equally 
 indiscreet ; and yet not an individual could 
 
 be found who knew anything about the af- 
 fair. 
 
 With the following song, made on the oc- 
 casion, it is designed to close this prolix ac- 
 count of the Gaspee : 
 
 SONG. 
 'Twas in the reign of George the Third, 
 Our public peace was much disturbed 
 By ships of war that came and laid 
 Within our ports, to stop our trade. 
 Seventeen hundred and seventy-two, 
 In Newport Harbor lay a crew, 
 That played the parts of pirates there, 
 The sons of freedom could not bear. 
 Sometimes they weighed and gave them chase, 
 Such actions sure were very base. 
 No honest coaster could pass by 
 But what they would let some shot Hy ; 
 And did provoke, to bigli degree, 
 Those true born sons of liberty ; 
 So that they could not longer bear 
 Those sons of Belial staying there. 
 But 'twas not long 'fore it fell out, 
 That William Duddingston, so stout, 
 Commander of the Gaspee tender, 
 Which he has reason to remember, 
 Because, as people do assert, 
 He almost had his just desert, 
 Here on the tenth day of last June, 
 Betwixt the hours of twelve and one, 
 Did chase the sloop, called the Hannah, 
 Of whom one Lindsey was commander. 
 They dogged her up Providence Sound, 
 And there the rascal got aground. 
 The news of it flew that very day, 
 That they on Namquit Point did lay. 
 That night about half after ten 
 Some Narragansett Indian men, 
 Being sixty-four, ifl remember, 
 Which made the stout coxcomb surrender , 
 And what was best of all their tricks, 
 They in his breech a ball did fix ; 
 Then set the men upon the land, 
 And burnt her up, we understand ; 
 Which thing provoked the King so high 
 lie said those men shall surely die ; 
 So if he could but find them out, 
 The hangman he'll employ, no doubt ; 
 For he's declared, in his passion, 
 He'll have them tried a new fashion. 
 Now for to find these people out 
 Kihl' George has offered very stout, 
 I In. thousand pounds to find out one 
 That, wounded William Duddingston. 
 One thousand more he says he'll spare, 
 For those who say they sheriffs were . 
 
56 
 
 One thousand more there doth remain 
 For to find out the leader's name ; 
 Likewise five hundred pounds per man 
 For any one of all the clan. 
 But let him try his utmost skill, 
 I'm apt to think he never will 
 Find out any of those hearts of gold, 
 Though he should offer fifty fold. 
 
 The name of the author of this song is lost. 
 He richly deserves the thanks, not only of 
 his cotemporarics, but of posterity; not so 
 much for the sweet poetry of his song, as for 
 
 the ballad shape in which he invested the 
 transaction. Undoubtedly, some tune was 
 found, at the time, to match it, notwithstand- 
 ing the limping gait of some of the stanzas ; 
 and as it was sung in the circle of boon com- 
 panions, they recalled the light of the burning 
 Gaspee to their recollection, and hailed it as 
 being, what subsequent events have shown 
 it to be, the dawning light of freedom, whose 
 mid-day effulgence now overspreads our 
 land. 
 




 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 

 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 1ECKMAN W 
 UNOfcW ,NC ■ 
 - s APR 89