Newport Mercury from Newport, Rhode Island • Page 6

PACK SIX NEWPORT MERCURY AND WEEKLY NEWS FR1DA7, OCTOBER 16, 1931 PIRACY, SLAVERY, lENTAl Seventh Chapter Ot History 01 Jamestown And i Early Days Around Narragansett Bay CHAPTER Vil were made more and more dl3- until the Last (lays of the Piracy, Slavery and Ortent.il Trade i century, when the waters around England were comparatively ICM--1800 The close of the 17th century found England and France at var, and for the following hundred years and more the two countries were "in a state of continual enmity, if in open warfare. Tho two nations were natural rivals and each had hopes of supremacy In American domination. It has been that "from the accession ot William III lo-ahe downfall Hi the enmity of these two great nations sprung from their "colonial ambitions." On Way 30, 1690, Governor Lelslcr ot New York appealed to the colonies for assistance in protecting Ms people from the Imminent danger from French aggression. Rhode Island refused to send men in. response to this request; they could not bt spared from the limited man power of her settlements, but the Rhode Island General Assembly voted a tax of three hundred Pounds for the sole purpose of giving aid to New York in this extremity.

The effective defense force ut New England about this tlmo, as shown by a tabulated statement by Sir Edmund Andros to tha Royal Council was over 13,000 mea. Of these 800 were In Rhode Island, and (he vicinity of Jamestown, there were the following under nrms: Captain Pelhams' Company, 1st Newport Company 101 men Captain Roger's Company, 2d Newport Company 85 men Caplaln Arnold's Company, Portsmouth Company 105 men Captain Joseph Arnold's Company, Jamestown Company Total' 328 men free from active attacks. In the meantime, however, well founded reports came to the Governor of Massachusetts that Captain Kldd had turned pirate, and that he. In turn, was robbing on the high seas. Upon his return to Boston after one of his absences, he wag arrested and put In Jail.

At his trial, he claimed Innocency, but the testimony proved him guilty of piracy, and murder of his mate, and he was hanged In 1701 In London, where he had been taken for safety. As a buccaneer and sea- rover, he has been handed down iu story as the most notorious character of his kind during the period of three years when he swept the. The tradition and belief that Captain Kldd burled untold wealth at some point or points along the sigo and food, and were then at liberty to work for pay, and to save to accumulate the necessary to qualify themselves as free- I men In the colony. These were cot Slaves but indentured prisoners of war and misfortune. Many of these of coble blood and were afterwards founders of respectable, even distinguished, colonial families.

England at one time, encouraged African slavery Because it was profitable to her commerce, and the- merchants who dealt with these slaves found the business lucrative and filled with adventure and speculation. In 1696 the first luman cargo of negro slaves In a Rhode Island vessel came Into Newport hartjor from Africa. Soon, slave trade became a popular ausiness and carried with it no reproach of conscience nor Indignity, ind It flourished for about one hundred years. Newport built slave ships, equipped with chalai 'and handcuffs for safely securing their unwilling human cargo just as the masts, sails and rudder were provided to insure the ship's safety Rhode, natural St. Paul's Church, of which he business, southern rector, that on one occasion he Isiand has utilized her catechised "near about or more charms, her wonderful healthful than a hundred." Under date of balmy breezes, her October 2-1, 1743, Is this entry In'scenery and developed many plea- his Inimitable Diary: 'This morn- sure and summer resorts, furnish Ing, my negro woman Maroca was brought to bed with another girl.

Good God, do Thou direct me what to do with her. 1 am perplexed about her conduct with Colonel Updike's negro. She Is a Xn, but seems not concerned about her soul nor rninds.her promises of chastity which she has often made to me." Then the following June he records, "Gace Maroca two or three lashes for receiving presents from Mlngo. I think It was my duty to Ing In Newport, the mother city of Jamestown across- the Bay, the most attractive and noted water- Ing resort In America, If not la the world. CHAPTER VIII Historical Events And Growth From 1100 to July 4, 1175 our present day of rapid transit our wonderful network of creatures that ire put on jhall be seized and clapped Into the Pound, and there lie until the masters of such creatures redeem them and pay all charges." This stopped the encroachment or a generation, but twenty five later the same trouble with heir neighbors again developed, and the Jamestown Quarterly Jeetlng of April 14, 1726, "VOTED, That all persons for correct her and whatever passion sm()ot broad highways from passed between my wife and me ocean to Meia ant 0 the Great on this occasion, good Lord forgive Lakes to the Gulf of Mexico, and It-" flying around the world lo the air The Bale of slaves and the rum th3n a mc Dtr is like the trade brought great wealth to 6tory of ar otber wor to read of southern Rhode Island to such an he expcrlence3 travelers, and astonishing degree that in tlrr.e but methods of transportation of against the battling storm, as parts of the ship's equipment.

A cargo of slaves would he taken on from Africa, carried to the West Indies and traded for molasses and sugar, which in turn were brought to Rhode Island and made Into rum nnd sent back to Africa for trading purposes. It was a most profitable business. It has been claimed that from to 2,000 Pounds profit would be made from one ship load of slaves alone, and there waa always large profit made from other goods which were carried as cargoes for trading along the route of sailing, Bartering in human lives was legalized by the few of her merchants wero not directly or Ind! the traffic. Tli traders and the owners ol slaves were irectly Interested In dred ago Wl he cnlldren of these mas to re- our of only two hun must tax our recognize in the 3 and the owners 01 smves 5 plodding, patient and ur brought up in leisure, and mttle matter-of-fact traveler when In the course of time, slavery. the lglh cenUlry the forebears was abolished, and they were the fas motor-driving tourist, brought Into contact with men enthusiast or speed-boa educated to labor and self Inde- racer of the present av pendence, the habits they had ac- The arterial highways of Rhod quired from their wealthy parents Jsland W(M pr i nc nil those tha and from slavery, proved the ruin md uncd and furnishei of many, and Jn tlrr.e their In- the bays ana Meli herlted properties were Incumbcrcd and bb shorM and then sold and so passed into th wate nvays, the Ktu sites where diggings have been done In vain search for the alleged treasures of doubloons, bars of silver and jewels of this old shipmaster.

Even quiet, circumspect Jamestown has been Included in these visionary talcs and It was really believed by some old James- townera that a part of Captain Kldd's piratical treasures were hidden somewhere on the Island of Conanicut. the streets At the north end of the Island was the home of his life-long friend, Captain Paine. There Is sllll extant, nn order from Sarah Kidd, the wife of Captain Kidd, upon Captain Paine to pay to the bearer twenty-four ounces of gold for the support of herself and her luisbar.d not other hands. colonists would The abolition of slavery ateJ and es3 Un own to Rhode Island was gradual. In 1(74 nnother Tmvel by lamj Wa3 Meli anii th: Rhode Islan have been mor on the General Assembly passed a resolution prohibiting the Importation of slaves, and every slave stage coach, on horseback--ofte two on one back--and by foot.

Th trip to New York, requiring Indians, with tbo following result: Whites Newport 3,843 Portsmouth 643 Providence 3,707 Warwick Westerly 1.02S 1,620 Atlantic seacoast la one of the i laws Of Rhode Island, nnd more most tenacious delusions in ac-1 than one wealthy and prominent counts of Imposture nnd credulity, i Rhode Island family's fortune was No one can estimate the number of the outcome of the African trade of generations ago. In 1703, Newport put an Import tax of 3 Pounds upon every slave brought Into the harbor. A portion of this tax was used to repair the streets, and to build bridges In Newport. In 1715. the Rhode Island General Assembly, in a preamble lo a resolution voting "280 Pounds, 17 shillings 3 pence granted the town of Newport toward paving brought Into the state was declared was an outstanding event in free.

Then It became a law that ft man and nade tllelr "all children born of slave mothers venturing out. Villages after March 1, 1784 snail be free." (a towj)3 the rect Wghw y3 These measures were the beginning connected with their nearest of the decline In ownership of hu- nelgnbor3 Inillan traMs on iy. man lives. The law trial "no negro fh fro to New or mulatto save m.iy be set free frflm Jame5town to the being duties from A trip from Conanicut, over the Narragnnsett Bay to Newport, and white in Jail in Boston. One cast shore of Mackerel Cove, EmboWened by the lack of seacoast defenses and armed protection, a fleet of seven French privateers visited the eastern shores ot New England In 1C90 and took possession of Nantiicket, Murlna'j Vineyard and Block Island and confiscated and destroyed much property.

On July 12, of the same year, a small fleet entered Newport Harbor in tho night and surprised tlie town; but the inhabitants, having been warned of their proximity, were somewhat prepared lo protect themselves against great destruction and succeeded In driving the French away. The privateers then proceeded to the Connecticut shores. They burned and destroyed everything upon the, defenseless Fisher's Island, and then turned upon New London, where they were driven off witliout accomplishing great harm. Immediately after the attack upon Newport, a relief expedition was put on fool, and on July 20, 1690 two sloops and about ninety volunteer men, under the of Captain Thomas Paine, of Jamestown, and Captain John Godfrey, Paine's second in command, left Newport with the determination of destroying the pirates or driving them from their shores. The following day they discovered five French vessel." cruising cff Block Island.

Paine sent few men on shore to prevent the i-'rench from landiug, and ran his vessels Into shallow water to prevent being surrounded. The French numbered two hundred men under IL man named Peknr, a Frenchman who had sailed as a lieutenant with Captain Paine In privateerijg expeditions some years before. At 5 o'clock in the afternoon the Frenchmen came up with the intention of boarding the native 'expedition, hut were repulsed. For two and a half hours a wicked hand-to-hand combat followed until I night closed upon them and separated them. Pekar withdrew after a loss of about one half of hia men in killed ar.d wounded.

The next day tho French put out to sea, but -Captain Paine gave chase anil compelled them to sink a prize loaded with R.id brandy which they had taken. The dangers of the sea and the sterner perils of war and ths leglll- macy of privateering united to produce a race of adventurous, seafaring men, whose courago an hardihood could not re s-- paFsec The daring and succcssf-il exploits or' Captain Paine nt cr.ce inspire', otter men this cear-the-sea co.ony with spirit of greater daring, and the piracy that followed produced in Rhode Island's history a short which we Ihe far from the Jamestown bathing I beach. Is a sea hidden cave, known ns the Pirate's cave; while on the farm below Mackerel Cove, known the importations of slaves," states that "Newport Is the metropolitan city of this Colony, and it hath very miry streets, especially that leading from the Jamestown ferry or landing place, up to the Colony House, so that members of the Court arc very much discommoded therewith." Again in 1729, it was "voted lhat'ons half of the tax received from th'- Importation of slaves be devDteJ to making and repairing streets and bridges iu Newport." Jimmy, was the last of me island slave. He at rtcnce of John Rowland on prcparalion anll COM ern for In- witli the future that hath any right or are entitled to put on any stock on Dutch Island shall-'give en account of the number and mark of a the stock or creatures that they shall put on Dutch Island unto oneJ of the overseers of the Island, or otherwise to have their stock so put on, fetched off by the overseers for the time being and empounded and pay all the costs and charges accruing thereon." From this time until acquired by the Government Dutch Island continued to be a private preserve and pasture lor Jamestown husbandry- men. In 1704 an attempt was made to determine the exact bounds ot private properties and public highways.

In a Town authorized survey highways laid out and boundaries of the farms were carefully defined under more accurate surveyors and surveying system than had been possible in the previous surveys. The farms were platted and the surveyor's report was made a matter of offlclaF Town record. visions were vant to have ten acres of land as a free gift upon his being admitted to the Town as a freeman. Four icres were assigned to each house except in Mr. Coddington's aouse lot, where six acres were granted as an orchard.

The first official census of Rhode Island was made in 1708. II was a general and unclassified account of all the people and showed the population of the colony as follows: Newport has Portsmouth 628 Inhabitants Jamestown New Shoreham Providence Warwick East Greenwich North Kingston Westerly North Kingston 1,875 South Kingston 665 East Greenwich 1,149 Jamestown 222 New Shoreham 250 Negroes 619 100 128 77 68 105 333 40 80 20 Indians 118 70 81 73 250 65 225 34 19 SO Total 15,302 1,648 9S5 17,935 Whaling was an established and nourishing industry In Rhode Island as early cs 1723, but in 1731 to encourage greater activity and further stimulate the business the Colonial Assembly provided a bounty of 5 shillings a barrel whale oil and 1 penny a pound on whale bone. Sperm candles were first manufactured about 1730, Jamestown did a thriving busines at the East Ferry making candles. The winter of 1740 was one the most frightfully severe winter ever known to New England. Th snow on Jamestown lay three fee on the level nearly all winter.

In this survey, pro- made for every ser- began snowing on tho Decembcr and continued 10th until th ays be a j-JJ" coaches were without springs am 2.203- Inhabitants. 20G inhabitants the seats were hard; the roads colonial village-- who was a trusted were rough, with boulders and tree and much respected Individual. In roots and deep ruts and quagmire the fulfilment of his duties, he as the Benedict Arnold farm Dr. W. Lincoln Bales, formerly colonial days, is another site sup-1 president of the Jameslown HIs- poscd to have been visited by torical Society, states in a paper pirates.

All of these have been 1 read before that organization, that more than thirty years prior to 1704, Rhode Island sent to the coast annually eighteen vessels, carrying hogsheads of rum and -the commerce of rum and slaves afforded about forty thousand Pounds a year for remittance from the Coloay to Great Britain." Newport, at one time owned one hundred and eighty four ships engaged in the slave trade and she maintained twenty two rum stills. -natures obstructions. The journeys were started at the crack of dawn; the horses were frequently, but the passengers claimed by tradition to have been repositories of these mysterious caches. The story was told some years ago, around the middle of the 19th century, of a young man of James- towrt by the name of Thomas, on flrdent believer in these wild and wterd atoriea of hurled treasure on the Island, strengthened by the then popular "dime novel' 1 craze, antl his faith In the efficacy of the so-called divining conniving! Only South Carolina exceeded this ntul Trade, The treaty of peace after the Revolutionary War worked a great hardship upon Rhode Island and especially the towns bordering an Narragansett Bay. It ended the lucrative trade with Hie British West Indies, Including the tobacco and rice trade.

New England, after that war, could ship to England only goo.ls produced In the stale of which the Lu 11 1 ship's owners were citizens. Th2 carrying trade In rice and tobacco i In an ancient Scrap Book found from the southern states to an old Jamestown attic is this land was thus closed to New Eng-. amusing description and picture land ships. New England was from the diary of a Newport forced, therefore, to find new nun- I Quaker. The Quaker took the tnp tries for trading; new waters for in the stage as far as Bristol, on her sblps and sailors.

The cast-- the north end of the Island of the Orient-nccKoned, and soon Rhode Island, and oa his return New England ships were round- made the following entry In his Ing Cape Horn and plowing the: diary: "Imprimis, 7th day 5tn long rolling seas of the Pacific Mouth. I have this day taken the Ocean in trade with China, Japan' longest Journey I.ever made in my and India. Yankee ships and Van- life, having traveled as far as 208 inhabitants MIC Inhabitants 480 Inhabitants 240 Inhabitants 1,200 inhabitants 570 Inhabitants Total 7,181 Inhabitants Public auctions were HI vogue in Newport from the earliest days. These were advertised by the Town Crier-- the daily dispatcher of the trusted with a witch and a wizard In a search for the buried treasure. They were to share the booty equally.

The story runs that one night, when the moon was right, the three met by agreement at thu lonely appointed spot. The witch cautioned the young man against speaking. "Now," said she, "no matter what you hear or sec; even if the devil himself comes, don't speak; if you do, the charm is Immediately broken." Silence waa promised by each. Mow, the wizard, little state in this terrible traffic i strange human and life. "divining-rod" in around the selected tand, ground until Farmers enlarged their rural activities with the labor of these inported blacks and history proclaims a general awakening in business nnd country activities bc- of the abundance of cheap labor, the rod pointed to the earth.

Then the witch took the rod and cirew a circle on the ground. The moon shone coldly on the sleeping earth, ns with s'lovcl in hand, Thomas nd the wizard utgan to dig he circle, while the witch outside honied a weird song all her own. 'homas worked feverishly, but the vizard, accustomed to work, dug away slowly. The crowing of the ocks in the distant barn yard totd horn of the approaching hours of lawn. Then the wizard tried the almost leaped from his hands.

Encouraged, they worked on; now digging; now throwing out stone after stone, from what Deemed to be a filled well, until came to and lifted great flat boulder. After removing the broken rocks beneath It, Thomas tried the rod; it sprang from his hand nnd sank hnlf w.iy into the loose soil producing as It struck, a loud metallic clink. Forgetful of his promise, forgetful of everything but tha ringing sound or the rod which he supposed had struck a chest of wealth, the young man Jumped up, waving his nrms and shouting, "We have found it; we During the Revolutionary War, Colonel Christopher Greene, who commanded regiment under General Sullivan, had in his command one company of one hundred and fifty negro slaves, who by their enlistment war service were promised freedom at the close of hostilities If they were alive. They -participated in the Portsmouth IK. JO campaign.

nnd brave- withstood thci'chargo of British troops and more than once re- ulscd them. Wealthy Cuban and Jamaican planters were attracted to Newport ind Narrgansett Bay through kee seamen became familiar sights in Canton, Shanghai, Nagasaki and Calcutta. The first American ship to cnttr Chinese trade was the Empress China, with a cargo of rum and ginslng in February 17S-1, bringing back silk, tea, embroideries, etc. The first American flag carried to Japan was on the Boston ship Franklin many years previous to Commodore Perry's historic visit. Mr.

Thomas Robinson Hazard, In his "Johnny-cake Papers of Shepherd Tom' 1 tells us that "On one occasion Captain Green Chau- son, of one of Mr. Bowler's East Indian shipn, chanced to rescue from shipwreck a prince of the royal b'ODd of Persia, whose father, stopped at every street and lane corner, ringing Ills hand-bell, and 13th of March the following year Great banks of snow were piled along the highways and drifts i the meadows and stone wall cor ncrs were like small mountain April snow was still lying the level fields. Is stated in newspaper item that a man drov a horse and sleigh from Hell Gat near New York, to Cape Cod Ice at this time. The Narraganse Bay was frozen over and peop passed" from Newport to Provident oa skates. The loss to farmers both domestic and wild anima during this winter was disasterou and great Inroads were made In all animal life on Conanicut.

War clouds were gathering America; war had been declar between Spain and Great Britai: and the Mother Country had her hands more than filled at England was levying taxes upon her colonies to help carry on these wars; men were being drafted for service--a picture was being filled En with pertinent Influences; history was being made day by day through Inevitable developments. In. retrospect, the finished picture stands out clearly in bold lines today. sslng a tax ui 10,000 (Old Tenor) upon the of the colony, be it therefore ENACTED, by the General sembly, and It la enacteJ by tT, authority thereof, that the portion upon the Town Jamestown be 162 shillings:" "May 18, 1745, That no man or boatman nor any pry, may transport any seaman the Island of Conanicut for space of three days--June 19, and 21--upon penalty Pounds fine, for every except he have a certificate fjJJ His Honor, the Governor. 1H because the colony were to bodied seamen to board the ship Vigilant, a of-war now in the service of Hii Majesty before tne harbor 11 I Ixjulsburg, on tho coast of r.

Island of Cape Brenlcu." On the same date it "VOTED, that His Honor Governor give out a warreat ti impress 40 seamen to mm HJ Majesty's ship Vigilant. Ft 4.. one who are Impressed terwards enlist they shall nt the bounty of 17 Pounds (o; Tenor) offered for 1 Again, same date, "VOTED Ta; the captain of Fort George and he Is hereby directed empowered to stop all boats, canoes and all other sels, whatsoever, going the harbor of Newport, uniil it- 26th day of June 1745 at o'clock, and that the cap'ji tako the most effective care carrying out this order." In February 1747-48 a Us 5,000 Pounds was assessed colony, of which Jamestown's was 100 Pounds and At this time Jamestown land selling for not less thaa Pounds an acre. The rate of h- tcrest on the Town's borrow money was and the popuiat of Jamestown was 420 souls, whom 284 were white 110 negroes and 26 Indians. While the French and Icj troubles were the ostensible rei for raising maintaining tro and carrying on military It may be seen that these partitions, perhaps were helping to prepare colonists for the great I was to visit them and their ren a generation removed.

In 1753 Captain Samuel was placed in. command of town's militia, or train bti George Franklin was secon-l i command an Ensign Carr, the son of Edward r.u I the junior officer. The in a clarion, inonotonous 'voice. Let us glance at some events as recorded In the of the official business arrgar asoc iatlons in the slave in the fervor of his gratitude anving- and restoring to him trade; from early colonial days the salubrious, bracing, cool sea- air of the ocean-washed shores of Rhode Island was a favorite prescription for needed recuperation, as well as in many cases to complete important business matters with the thriving Rhode Island merchant. Here we see the logical reason for the founding of Newport as a watering resort.

At one time, Rhode Island's riding her rasy were, mucn sought after nnd purchased in for his san, presented to the captain from, his own garden, situated on the site of the ancient Garden of Eden, a young apple tree growing In a porcelain tub, which was declared to be one of the few direct lineal descendants of the tree of knowledge. On his arrival In Newport, Captain Chausen. as in duty bound, presented the young tree to bia employer, Mr. Bowler, who was delighted beyond measure with the preclons gift, and thought to guard protect it. he put it in a hot house, some remains of which are yet to be seen, but was admonished in a dream by an angel, claiming to be Mother Eve.

to do no such thing, as the climate of southern x'n Bristol Ferry--a distance of twelve miles. The journey vas fatiguing, and as it seems to me, not without peril lo life and limb, which, however, I think I may say, I am not without compensation, for as 1 was mercifully preserved from all danger and have learned through my many experiences therein that traveling expands the mind." At the beginning of the 18th century travel and freight over the Jamestown ferries from New York and the mainland had greatly increased. Newport was fast growing into a metropolis and trade center and was drawing heavily from the prosperous farmers of eastern Connecticut nnd the Narra- gnnselt mainland country and Con- Jiicut for farm products and tome industrial handicraft. The erries were doing a thrivin; announced to the listening audience at windows, doors and gates, certain town news, auctions, lost and found items, town meetings, etc, etc. The Boston "News Letter" established in 1704 was the first permanent newspaper in America.

Jamea Franklin, the elder brother of Benjamin Franklin, to Newport "about 1727, and in 1730 he "received the first printing press to come to Newport which lie had ordered from England. The first newspaper to be published in Rhode Island was the Rhode Island in 1732, which Colonial Records Iu the archives of Rhode Island. Tbe following show that the colonists acted aa loyal British subjects, electing their own officers, anticipating tbe necessity for building their own defenses, organizing their, own forces and preparing themselves for the war live en their Mot he Country and Spain: Colonial Records, Vol. LV, page 565 "Feb. 26, 1730-40.

Aft ACT FOR MAKING SOME NECES- SAKY PREPARATIONS FOR THE DEFENSE OF THE COUNTRY IN TIME OF Furious, the witch he largo numbers for the use of Cuban Rhode Island was. If anything, a and Jamaican gentlemen. The Redwood family, of whom Abraham Redwood, the father of the founder of Redwood Library, were large slave owners and traders of the West Indies. A list of negroes In his possession in May 17CO shows the names of 233 souls; were icriucJed great nr.a-s of JQ- cumer.ta, nearly a hundred in number, Accumulated for the most part have found and the wizard decbred a had broken the spell, refused to of whom were men in the field, worK on, ar.d they left him alone is were women In the field, and 22 In UK wee small hours of the cold boys ar.d 14 girls; 18 were listed early mom. Thomas now tried and as super-annuated and 3S tned alone to find the metal ob-1 tradesmen, mechanics ar.d house- strucllon, but the rod refused to hold sen-ants.

Many landowners counted their slaves as members of their families. We read in Thomas Rowland Hazard's delightful "Recollec- From the time of the trial and lions of Olden Times" that Cover- execution of Captain Kidd there Robinson, who was one of the evidence support charges against Rhode Island. Probably the most notorious figure in piracy was that of Captain whom some think a purely fictional character. He was. on the contrary, quiet real.

He was born in Xtw York city cf Scottish parentage and at one time was an honored and respected merchant ot was a general transition to better conditions upon tbe execution of I went six pirates on Gravel ly Point in Newport, the seas were practically permanently cleared of piracy, and icgUmale sea-trade was a natural outcome. Slavery in Khodo Island. In the early clays of the Rhode Island colony, there was the necessity and for cheap labor, which Mafisachusetts. He waa sent by trie couH be met only by the Immigra- Earl of Bellmont, the governor of i tion of free labor or Importation of Massachusetts, to round up anJ' slave labor. Prisoners of war, (and drive cff the notorious pirates a i a had great hordes), were bucanr.eers who were infecting the I shipped to America nnd their ser- New Eaglar.d coast, villages and.vices sold to the colonists for the towns.

Sometimes, these maraud-: price cf their pass-age and subzis 11 Ing parties numbered as many as ajtence. Cromwell sent several thousand rr.en. They came In large; loads of his Scoach and Irish numbers and wcr? tenc loads prisoners to America robbers. Both Caplain Kfdd After generally CapUiln Paine very success--three or more years of servitude 1 in thoir onslaughts and sea vie- the prisoners hart worked out the fanners and slave owners of the time In southern Rhode Island "used to congratulate himself upon having his parlor and kitchen family reduced in the win ter to seventy persons, all told." Frof the nature of the climate the necessity for winter clothing and other protection from th rigors of the northern climate the expense of supporting slave waa greater in Rhode Island than in the Fouthcrn altitudes, nnd pub lie opiniori would not sanction no tolerate or ill treal ing the New England slave. The interesting Dbry cf the Re 1 James MacSparran offers man pen pictures of the trials rvnd use fulness of his slaves In his Diar written between 1713 and 1751.

devoted himself earnestly to th welfare of his negroes and thos in his parish. In 1741 it is ttle more favorable to Its growth lan that of southern Assyria rom whence It was removed. iowler had such faith in this ision that he hid the tree care ully removed from the tub ase with the earih attached business, rowing There demand urose a natural, for inns and 'houses of entertainment" in con- icquence, giving a profitable, easy and honorable business. On May 20, 1701, ilarsh was granted a license to eep a house of entertainment for one year, without a fee; Captain Josiah Arnold was granted a license for the same purpose upon fiaying the clerk 10 shillings" and "Stephen Remington was given a license to keep a house of entertainment for the trouble of having his house used for Town Meetings," and within the year, "Thomas 'Barker was given a license for one year to keep a pub- lis house of entertainment," making four- licensed taverns on this small island in 1701. The following year, the place for holding the regular Town -Meetings was changed from Stephen Remington's house lo that of Sampson Batty, who because no rent was ransplanted into Rhode Island' charged the town for the use of his 1 to sell a fee.

Ions, and finally developed" Into The small island, known as vhat has ever since been called the Dulch Island, lying due west of ived only 'about seven months. James Franklin, Senior, died In 1735 and for thirteen years his widow ar.d her daughter carried on Ihe business of the printing shop. Then her sou James, who had been apprenticed to his Benjamin, came to Newport, and on June 12, 175S, printed the first issue of the Newport Mercury, which has been published continuously to the present time with the exception of a short period during the time the British were in possession of Newport (luring the Revolutionary War --an outstanding record, and not matched by any newspaper In America. The qualifications' of a freeman of the town of Jamestown were re stricted In February 1723-2-1 to freeholders of land lo the value one hundred pounds, or forty shlll ings per annum, or the eldest son of such a freeholder. Six yean ater It was changed to freeholder! of land to the value of two hundrei pounds or ten pounds per annum.

Whal youth raised on a farm even a hundred years ago did no find as part of his passtime th trapping of small animals an birds and hunting eggs in the near by swamps and woods? Imagin the thrill to tho small boy colonial days to have a rewar paid to lilm for this quest and conquest Because of the fact that the Indians believed the first seed of their Indian corn, or maize, had WHEREAS, war clared by His has been de- Most Sacred Majesty against the King of Spain, etc VOTED, That there shall be built one watch house In the most convenient placo at Jamestown by Mr. John Wilson, the cost of which will be Urawuj out of the General Treasury; VOTED, That each towa keep a watch in said watch houses at their own chargi (cost) and will be under the'ic- gulalions of the Council of War VOTED, That there will be on beacon erected at New Shore ham, one at Point Judith, one a Beaver Tall, one at Newport and one at Portsmouth, at the charge (cost) of the several towns where they shall be erected; VOTED, That 18 barrels of gun powder, 3 reams of cartridge pap'er, 200 weight musket balls and 4. dozen crab hand spikes be purchased and sent to Fort George; twelve one a gunner shall be enlisted and sent to Fort George and 38 men shall be enlisted and held in readiness to go to Fort Grorge upon receiving notice." Then five years later came England's trouble with tho French. The Colonists' anxiety and constant fear of an Indian attack passed with the ardhilation of the Pequols and the death of King Philip, but the Mother Country's entanglement with European powers now filled Ihem with the fear of the civilized aggression cf their French General Assembly was launcihj well planned campaign for TOtcction against auy he clouds of the coming vcre I quietly gathering; the mands of the Mot he Comi ere topics of common cop.veria- ion and serious tllscussious. Royalists or British sympathiEis if Jamestown were openly any move on the part of Assembly to usurp military protection of the Kcrt subjects.

They were Britisioj oyal British subjects to ILtir. degree. One of Jamestown's ardent Royalists wag John. an old gentleman who had imminent and forceful the Jamestown settlement many years. He gallantly his King when criticisms.

made in his presence, and I occasion denounced the jr.s of the General Assembly in with great emphasis and spiriL fi contrast to the free speech of ibi present a'ge oa the part of private I citizens and even foreign era in America who utter abuse against, and arraign officials supreme in our Nation's offices responsibility, the oc been brought to them in tbe be-'neighbors who were showing signs oil, where It grew and flourished bouse, was also allowed wyond his most sanguin expecla- dr i on year" without Ihode Island Greening." In Rhode Island at tho close he ISlh century great ships were arriving and departing daily, handling immense cargoes of teas, spices, cloths, foreign liquors, silks, and embroideries, and the wharves along the water front were lined with store houses. But War of 1812 was to change all I Lhis prosperity and world-wide trade In New England. The economic transition of i.he 17th century from the agricultural to the commercial regime was followed by still further transition to the manufacturing In- duslncs during the closing years of ihe ISth century ar.d early years of the 19th century. Commercial interests were nlmost entirely de- slroyed, partly because of the abolition of slavery nnd slave trade, partly because of the embargo and the war of 1812, but mainly because of the advent of railway transportation and the fact that the situation of Newport and thft Narraganselt Bay towr.s did not furnish favorable terminals for a railway system. Stripped of her sea trade, hi Jamestown west to the Government, but at that time a part of the township of Jamestown, has had a varied history.

Used as a Dutch base for trading with the Indians in old Amsterdam days, for grazing when it became a part of tee township of Jamestown nnd now for a Government reservation, it has been the subject o' varied con- since its discovery'- In 1701 ginning of time from their god Cowtantowit In the left ear of the crow, this bird was held in great reverence and never allowed to be molested or killed by them. However, so overrun with crows and black' birds were the farms of Jamestown that the Town Fathers oo May 17, 1726, "VOTED, That the town pay out of the Treasury two pence per head for crows; penny per head. one and a half for black bird's James towns' usurped the mainland right of neighbors using the island for grazing purposes, which brought forth the following protest from the Jnmestown Town Council: "Whereas, we see great necessity for prc vc nt i r. any pc rson or persons belonging to the town of Kingston, or any other town, who are not concerned in the island called Dutch Island, should put over rams or any other creatures, contrary to the best heads, and three pence per doien for bfock bErd'3 eggs." With this Incentive the energetic Jamestown country lads made great inroads Into the pest population, enriching both farmers and their sons. Jamestown paid her town sergeant at this time the munificen' sum of 12 pence per annum per freeman for notifying him of the town meetings.

But evidently with of great activity and hostility. Under the guidance of the Massachusetts royal governor Phlr- ey an expedition waa fitted out in 1745 against Lewisburg, the French Gibralter of the New World, ant England raised and army. Not an English red coa was present. The English naval forces cc-operaled in a later stage of the and contributed to its successful conclusion. This victor, and the capture of Quebec, whet about half of the troops wer colonists, meant to New Englan tbe elimination, of a fighting fron tier.

For a hundred and twenty fiv th years after 1GS3, covering years of the Colonists' with the Mother Country, which terminated in the American Revolution, France and England were in a state of constant enmity. It was therefore quite natural thai cipline meted to Mr. Martin i seem tinctured with tyranny. However, the General Assembly of Rhode Island In HI fit to pass the following resolutus: I it appeareth to Assembly, by the evidence of i'r. Rouse Hclme, that John of Jamestown, hath treated Itj Assembly In a very gross, ah- sive and scandalous tttKHir, which Is a great insult upon lha dignity and their It la VOTED, and directed that I Sheriff of tho county of Nti- port shall apprehend tl.e John Martin and bring him k- fore this Assembly to be Mi- mined and dealt with accord to his demerits." Then in the Auguust minutsa he General Assembly meeting, recorded that WHEREAS, John Martin Jamestown was brought this Assembly (which 1 itself Into a grand in consequence of a warren! suetj against him'for grossly sccndalously abusing it being fully proven Ihit to John Martin is guilty of crime, it Is VOTED, That the salrt Martin shall be forthwith milted nnd closely confined His Majesty's gaol In Newport- without the liso of pen, 1-X paper, and that no person t-- the Sheriff shall without of this Assembly have the iiWo to speak to him or confer whim on any occasion whatswvir.

and there he will remain u-'-J further orders from this bly." Mr. Martin waa committed cordingly and remained until succeeding session of the CcHJj Assembly, when he was 1 before that body and after IT.JSI-S troubles aQ Md ctraclM lime even this expense French should join, arms with interests hereby. of Jamestown, we do ENACT AND DECLARE that If any other person, whatsoever, do presume to put on the Island great for our careful guardians of the Town's treasury, and two years later the stipend was changed to 3fi shillings per year for all his scr- vises as town sergeant. In 1720 the colony of Rhode Island and Providence Plantations was divided into thiee counties; namely, Providence, Newport nnd Kings. Newport county, of whlcn Newport was the county seat, consisted of the towns ot Newport, Portsmouth, Jamestown nnd New Shoreham and the adjacent islands.

In 1730 Rhode Island had tea towns. The census taken by the colonists against England, and more so, for even at that remote day we can see that France was Inevitably moving toward the more democratic form of government of a republic. The following quotations from the Records cf the General Assembly are interesting in that they show the steps, little by llltlc, which eventually led up to the break with England and the independence of the English colonies in America: "June 19, 1744, Tho General apology ar.d was made to sign the was umut; sign n.v acknowledgement, which is a of the Stale Records: "Newport, August 2.1, IT5J- John Martin, do v'. acknowledge that I have r) and scandftloiuly slanderc-i abuscd this Honorific for which I am heartily cerely sorry, anil I very xl entreat your Honours T' 3ri and promise for the future r.c" to bo guilty of the like crixe. (signed) JOHN The Mercury prints this seventh and part cf the cMpter of "The History and- -the pirate practices pledged for their pas- recorded in the IMrlsh Register of cheap labor, her legitimate trade of Dutch Island, except them order of the King, rnd divided the' Assembly, by virtue of a warrcnt 1 town.

Other chapters to from His Honor tha Governor, irora week to week are concerned, that the said into whiles, negroej, aad passed an. act for levying, or as- pleted..