Magazine of New England history (Volume 1) online

follows :

Officers: Andrew Stanton, Eleazer Adams, Samuel Potter,
John WiLcox. Non-commissioned officers : Joshua Babcock,
Samuel Phillips. Privates : Benjamin Pren, James Potter,
Henry Fisher, James Parker, Joseph Guild, Nathan Smith,
Isaac Brown, Billington Crumb, James Haines, Samuel Apis,
Alderman Crank, Oliver Simmons, Jack Sherman, Joel
Briggs, Clark Packard, Samuel Cory, James Weaver, Clark
(^randall, Sampson George, Joseph Ralph, Jedediah Gre-
nale, Richard Hare, Darius Wale, Joseph Denis, William
Bruff, Cliarles Hassett, Thomas Wilcox, Pardon Cory, Jere-
miah Thomas, John Hunt, Thomas Austin, Daniel Page (a
Narragansett Indian), Jack Sisson (black), and Howe, or
Whiting, boatsteerer.

From this list John Paul is not only omitted, but excluded,
apparently, by the implication of a note, which adds : "In
Allen's American Biography the name of the black man is

*The Genealogy of the Paul Family, descendants of William Paul, born 1615, one of the
original proprietors of "Taunton south purchase," etc., is now nearly completed in manu-
script, and, I hope, will be shortly ready for the press. Incidentally, a great deal of infor-
mation has Ijeen gathered concerning other original families of the same name.

tXhe accounts are in the issues of July 29, and July 12, 1777, respectively. The files of
the Providence Gazette are preserved in the library of the Rhode Island Historical
.Society. The letter in the Post appears to have been written by the Providence corre-
spondent, and may be found in the "Diary of the American Revolution."' Frank Moore.
Published by Charles Scribner, New York, i860. Vol. I, page 470, note i. The number
forty-six includes Barton himself, and his servant, Guy Watson, Jack Sisson, or Prince
(the black) , who was presumably, not of the "troops belonging to the State of Rhode
Island." Mrs. Williams' Biography, page 48, line 3; page 128, line 18. Also Rhode Island
Historical Tracts.



]\rAGAZINE OF NEW ENGLAND HISTORY. lOo

written Prince; and lie says he died at Plymouth in 1821,
aged seventy-eight years. The name given hy Mr. Barton
must be correct, for he has '•''the original paper of hla father S'

These statements are tlie only ones upon the subject I have
been able to find that are positive; and knowing that the
error they conceal, might measurcably detract from John
Paul's just reputation, I proceeded to investigate the grounds
they were made upon.

What was this original paper? General Barton, in liis own
account, does not give the names of his men; and the Rev.
James Pierce Root, of Providence, who searched the archives
of the State House for me, and examined Barton's manu-
scripts and the military papers preserved in the library of
the Rhode Island Historical Society, could not find any
original list of them. Professor J. Lewis Diman knew of
none. Hon. John R. Bartlett, of whom Mr. Lossing wrote
me: "I know of no inan so capable to give correct informa-
tion concerning Rhode Island history," had no knowledge of
such a list. Mr. Lossing, himself, says that the names in the
Field Book were printed only from a co[)y of the original
sent him by John B. Barton, above named. His son, Robert
H. Barton, of Providence, into whose i:»ossession have fallen
his grandfather's swords and commissions, and many of his
father's and grandfather's papers, has no such list, and knows
of none, except that published in Mrs. William's biography.*
And Mrs. Williams, who knew Barton, and had access to his
])apers, shortly after his death, remarks. "It is much to be re-
gretted that the whole of the names of those brave men were
not preserved."

Yet the mistake is readily explained. Intrinsically, the
list does not appear to have been made 1)}' Barton at all, for
in regard to the names of the officers who volunteered to go
with him, it differs materially, from the statement he makes



* Letters from his son William Barton, 239 Westminister Street, Providence, R. I.
dated February 20, and March 6, 18S6. I am under great obligation to him for his generous
interest,



104 MAGAZINE OF NEW ENGLAND HISTORY.

ill his uwii account of the expedition.* On the other hand,
the names in the list are'the same as those pnblished b}^ Mrs.
Williams, in 1889. Tliey are given in the same order, and
spelled in the same way, with the exception, only, of four
errors, of such a nature that they are themselves evidences of
transcribing.-)- Moreover, there is not only a possibility, but
almost a certainty, that two such lists derived from different
sources, one set down by a leader who knew the facts, the
other made up by his biographer, from the memory of surviv-
ors, would differ widely. Undoubtedly, "the original paper"
was Barton's own account of the expedition, in manuscript,
then in the possession of his son, and afterwards presented to
the Rhode Island Historical Society; and Mr. Lossing's
inability to have it at hand at the time of Avriting the note,
gave rise, possibly, to a misapprehension that it contained a
list of the men.

Mrs. Williams, however, whose interest and opportunities
informed her particularly, manifests much uncertainty con-
cerning the number of men engaged. Her estimates range
from forty-seven to fifty-one, and she confesses her inability
to determine precisely how many. Yet she gives a list of all
the names she can gather, depending, principally, upon the
memories of two men who had lived longer than their alloted
time. She says: ''Of all the company who figured on that
memorable night, in the capture, we are not aware that but
two remain — Samuel Cory, now residing in Portsmouth, and



* According to the Field Book of the Revohition, Vol. I, page 644, note 1, there were:
"Ofificers — Andrew Stanton, Eleazer Adams, Samuel Potter, John Wilcox. Non-commis-
sioned officers — Joshua Babcock and Samuel Phillips."

According to Barton's manuscript above mentioned: "The names of the officers were,
Samuel Phillips, Lieut. James Porter or Potter, Captain Joshua Babcock, Lieut. Andrew
Stanton, and Ensign John Wilcocks. Captain Ebenezer Adams volunteered with us at
Warwick Neck."

t The number of names in each list is forty. Mrs. Williams, at pages 127 and 128, di-
vides them into three classes: Officers, non-commissioned officers, and privates, and gives
the names of each class in two columns. In the Field Book, V'ol. I, page 644, note i, the
names are given in the same classes, but having been run together, those of the first col-
umn are followed by those of the second column. There is no change in the order, except-
ing, only, in the name of Pardon Cory, which seems to have been momentarily overlooked
in transcribing, and is placed after the name of Thomas Wilcox, instead of before. In
spelling, the name Ebenezer Adams, in the original, appears Eleazer Adams in the copy.
And the sirnames of Benjamin Prew, andCharles Hassett, are spelled Pren, and Havett.



MAGAZINE OF NEW ENGLAND HISTORY 105

Mr. Whitney, of New York." And yet slie lias even forgot-
ten to include ''Mr. Whitney" in her list of the "immortal
forty."

That list has heen copied by Diman, and by Cowell; and
has been accepted, not only without criticism, but almost
without comment, for fifty years. Nevertheless, though un-
doubtedly reliable enough to prove that those whom it names
accompanied Barton, it is not based upon certain and thor-
ough knowledge, is not broad enough and strong enough to
be negative evidence, and cannot exclude those whom it
omits, from the honors of such patriotic service.

Cowell, in "The Spirit of '76," gives a roster of the brigade
raised from New Hampshire, Connecticut, Rhode Island and
the Providence Plantations, and Massachusetts Bay, for the
defense of Rhode Island, pursuant to the recommendation of
the Convention of the Committees of Safety, that met in
Providence, December 25, 1776. It consisted of Colonel
John Topham's and Colonel Archibald Crary's regiments of
foot, and Colonel Robert Elliott's artillery. They were first
enlisted for fifteen months ending March 16, 1778, and by an
act of the General Assembly, for twelvemonths ending March
16, 1779, and again, for twelve months ending March 16,
1780.

Of those named above as having been with Barton at Pres-
cott's capture. Captain Ebenezer Adams, who joined him at
Warwick Neck, was possibly from the battery stationed
there. Jack Sherman, Jedediah Greuale, Thomas Wilcox
and John Hunt, were, according to the roster, men of Elli-
ott's artillery. James Potter, James Parker and Jack Sisson,
appear to have been men of Crary's regiment, and nearly all
the rest.

Lieut. Andrew Stanton, fifer John Wilcox, Captain Joshua
Babcock, Major Samuel Phillips, and Isaac Brown, Billing-
ton Crumb, Samuel Apis, Alderman Crank, Samuel Cory,
Oliver Simmons, corporal Clark Crandall, Joel Briggs, Joseph
Ralph, James Weaver, Daniel Page, Sampson George, Wil-
liam Bruff, Lieut. Daniel Wale, and Nathan Smith, were



106 MAGAZINE OF NEW ENGLAND HIRTOKY.

members of Colonel Toi)hiuirs regiment, stationed at Tiver-
ton in July, 1777, ol" \vlii(;li Harton, himself, was lieutenant-
colonel.

John Paul and Peter Paul, his brother, belonged to this
regiment. According to the roster, John Paul was a ser-
geant. He was then in the vigor of manhood, and of strength
and agility that have become proverbial. He was used to the
sea, and his home was at Dighton, on the Taunton river, that
ebbed and flowed with the tides of Narragansett bay. Short-
ly after his discharge he removed to Westminster, Windham
County, Vermont, and there, with what he had probably
saved from a soldier's pay. and received from Rliode Island
as his part of the reward for Prescott's ca})ture, he bought a
farm, and lived, an independent, thrifty. God-fearing man.*
January 20, 1804, he died, leaving eleven children. Two of
them were born in Dighton. All of them knew that he was
with Barton. Prescott's hat and metal inkstand, which he
brought away, were in the family many years. He made his
son Joshua wear the hat, and often met his protests by say-
ing: "It was General Prescott's hat, and is good enoughl"
Joshua died in Ohio, Herkimer County, New York, May 8,
1869, aged eighty-nine years; and his eldest brother, John
Paul, vvlio helped him one day, to cut up the obnoxious hat,
and hide the pieces in a stump, died at the same place, Janu-
ary 1, 1859, aged eighty. A son of the former, Charles H.
Paul, born April 5, 1807, was many years a Justice of the
Peace at Mohawk, Herkimer County, New York, and is liv-
ing there now. Of the latter's children, Richard O. Paul,
born December 27, 1813, and Edwin Paul, born August 11,
1821, are yet living, one at Wilmurt, Herkimer County, and

* John Paul was born in 1755, and in i777was about twenty-two years old. His strength
and agility at wrestlings and raisings, for many years afterwards, are proved by anecdotes
preserved by his kindred. Knowledge of the locality, and of the sea, were grounds upon
which Barton selected the volunteers. John Paul's term of enlistment expired March i6>
1780, and his sons, Joseph and Benjamin, twins, were born in Westminster, Vermont, June
20,1782. He bought the north half of lot number eleven in the eighth range of eighty
acre lots, in that township, of Benjamin Bellows, July 23, 17S3, and sliortly afterwards,
other lands. His parents lived at Dighton, Mass., until after 17S9, for March 13, of that
year, they gave house and farm to their son Peter, on condition that he should support
them through life.



MAGAZINE OF NEW ENGLAND HISTORY. 107

the other at Evans Mills, Jefferson County, New York. The
youngest of these grandchildren was born less than eighteen
years after John Paul died, and more than thirty-seven years
before his own father's death. And each of them stoutly
and honestly asserts what his father and the ])rothers and
sisters of his father said— the story I have told.

About 1805 the famil}^ removed from Westminster, going
westward across the mountains into New York. In Vermont
they had been separated from other branches. In New York
they were isolated, and soon forgotten. Yet the story of the
part born by John Paul in Prescott's capture is still pre-
served at the old homestead, in Dighton, Massachusetts, by
the grandchildren of his j^ounger brother Peter, who was by
his side in the ranks of Barton's regiment, and Avent with
the expedition, that memorable night in July, to the island,
where he was stationed at the creek to guard the boats; and
in New Jersey, by the grandfchildren of his brother, Benjamin
Paul, who was at Germantown, Valley Forge and Monmouth;
by the descendants of his sister Elizabeth, who married Asa
Briggs, another soldier of the revolution, and settled at Ply-
mouth, Vermont; and by the descendants of his brother James
Paul, my great-grandfather, who was not old enough to be of
service in the war.

He, too, having found his way up the Connecticut valley
into Vermont, eventually settled at Northtield; and his son
Amos Paul, born there March 11, 1793, was a merchant at
Danville from 1819 to 1830, and afterwards clerk of the
courts of Caledonia county. General Barton, who was for
fourteen years confined to the jail limits of Danville, mani
fested in many ways peculiar interest and confidence in my
grandfather. He did his banking at my grandfather's store;
and often, idling away an hour there, spoke of John Paul's
strength and courage, ami of the address with which he
lielped to secure the sentinel quietly, and laughing, of the
haste, yet courtesy, with which he dragged Prescott to the
boats.



108 INIAGAZINE OF NEW ENGLAND HISTORY.

To Ainos Paul's brother, also, Daniel Jewett Paul, born
May 4, 1807, Barton told these thing's many times, at Dan-
ville, while fondly exhibiting his swords and relating the
story of tiiat bold invasion of the British camp. Daniel
Paul's home was then at Danville, and he is still living at
Milwaukee, to attest these facts.

On learning of little more tlian his testimony, Mr. Lossing
was kind enough to write me: ''The evidence seems conclu-
sive in favor of the i^robability tliatyour kinsman, John Paul,
was a participant with Colonel Barton in the capture of
Prescott."

Certainly, considering that testimony and the traditions,
circumstances, and records now presented, together with the
pointed way in which they all concur, no reasonable man can
doubt that John White Paul was one of those who shared
with Barton the perils and honors of that enterprise; and so
I shall record him.

Is there another of Barton's volunteers whose conduct has
not yet been fairly recorded? Whose children never doubted
that his reputation was secure in the certainty of their own
knowledge of his practical devotion to the principles of the
constitution; whose grandchildren are dit'Hdently permitting
that knowledge to fade into belief, belief that will subside
into tradition, and be questioned? Let some one of his pos-
terity speak. Facts like these are facts of history. An inter-
est in our own history is an evidence of patriotism. And
people are beginning to have time to be patriotic again.



In 1760, a lottery was granted by the Legislature of Con-
Jiecticut to build a liglit-house at the entrance of New Lon-
don harbor. This was the first light-house on the Connecti-
cut coast. A light-lu)use of some sort had previously been
erected at the mouth of the harbor. Allusions to it are found
after 1760, but nothing that shows when it was built or how
maintained.



MAGAZINE OF NEW ENGLAND HISTORY. 109



Notes.

Founder of Harvard College. — Many people, puzzled
to see on the statue of John Harvard the inscription "Found-
er, 1638,"' have asked that the matter be explained. It has
always been known that Harvard was founded in 1636, and
that it was John Harvard who endowed the money and gave
the college its name. The facts are that in 1636 the Gener-
al Court of the Colony of Massachusetts voted a sum of money
toward the founding of a school or college. In 1638 John
Harvard died and left half of his property to the school
which had been founded two years before.

The Massachusetts Society of^ the Sons of the
American Revolution, which embraces in its membership
all male descendants, however remote, of soldiers, sailors and
recognized patriots who did service in tlie struggle for inde-
pendence, has enrolled the names of twenty-one "own sons"
of soldiers who served during 1.775 to 1783. The oldest of
these, Oliver Lawi'ence Wheeler of Ashbey, Mass., is ninety-
six years and seven months old, and the youngest, Elbridge
(j. Snow of Fitchburg, is fifty-six. Tlie list of "own sons" is
in excess of the combined list from all other States. A society
of female descendants will soon be organized in Massachu-
setts.

The Kenebec, Maine, Natural History and Antiqua-
rian Society has just been organized, its object being to
study the natural and civil history and antiquities of the Ken-
ebec Valley and adjacent territory, a i-egion rich in material
for the purpose. The society plans to begin a collection of
antiquities at once. Dr. W. Scott Hill is president and S. L.
Boardman vice president.



110 MAGAZINE OF NEW ENGLAND HISTORY.

Beverly, Mass., Historical Society. — At a meeting in
Beverly, Mass., it was voted to foi-ni a society for the purpose
of preserving matters of historical interest to the town. E.
L. Giddings was chosen chairman, Charles Woodbury, secre-
tary, and these gentlemen, with the following persons, were
appointed a committee on arrangements: A. A. Galloupe,
Lucy Larcom, Miss Sohier, Hannah Rantoul, John S. Bakei',
R. W. Boyden, H. L. Walker, R. R. Endicott, Geo. E. Wood-
bury.

An Historical Building Saved. — The Sons of the Rev-
olution of Connecticut, were unsuccessful in their attempt to
preserve the old town house at Norwichtown, but have been
successful in securing the "old war office" in Lebanon. The
building was lately deeded to Jonatlian TiumbuU of Norwich,
president of the Connecticut Division of the Sons of the Rev-
olution, and a grandson of Jonathan Trumbull of Revolu-
tionary fame. The building is not behind Faneuil Hall in
historic interest. The building has been neglected, but now
it will be cared for, and it is said the peo})le are willing to
have it placed on the village green. The building was used
as an office by Governor Trumbull in the Revolutionary
times; and, according to tradition, Washington, Lafayette
and Franklin have transacted business in it. E. A. B.

The Grave of Rev. Wauham Williams, Waltham,
Mass. — Near the southwest corner of the burial o-round at
Waltham, Mass., are several slate head stones, once the only
kind of memorial used in our ancient place of the dead, which
were generally surmounted by a rudely sculptured winged
cherub. These monuments referred to, stand in a line where,
side by side, repose the remains of seven of the family of Rev.
Warham Williams, first minister of the church in Waltham,
successor of Rev. Saml. Angler after the place of worship of
the Middle Precinct, Watertown, was established in that part
afterwards called the West Precinct, and subsequently incor-
porated as Waltham. He was the son of Rev. John Williams
of Deerfield, born Sept. 7, 1699, grad. Harv. Coll. 1719, and



MAGAZINE OF NEW ENGLAND HISTORY. Ill

oi'dained 1728. His father's captivity among the Indians of
Canada was shared by him in chihlhood witli other members
.of the family. His epitaph is as foUows:

Here lie ye Remains of ye excellent, pions, & learned Di-
vine, ye late Revd. Mr. Warham Williams, ye tirst and be-
loved Pastor of ye Chh. in Walthaisi. He was indeed a
burning and shining Light, of superior natural Powers and
acquired Abilities, diligent in Study, apt to teach, fervent in
Prayer, accurate and instructive in preaching, prudent and
faithful in Discipline, tender and skilful in Comforting, grave
in Deportment, agreeable and edifying in (conversation,
meek towards all men, constant and candid in Friendship,
endearing in ever}^ Rehition, resigned in adversity, a bright
Example in Behaviour and Doctrine, universally esteemed;
and Died greatly lamented; In ye Pulpit Febry. 10th he was
struck with ye Palsey, which put an End to his invaluable
Life June 22d 1751 in ye 29th Year of his Ministry and 62d
of his Age.

His Flesh also resteth in Hope.

Portsmouth, N. H., Historical Society. — At a prelim-
inary meeting of the Portsmouth Historical Society held Mon-
day, January 26th, 91, in the office of Messrs. Frink & Batch-
elder, Portsmouth, N. H., plans were discussed for a full or-
ganization of an association for the purpose of preserving,
for the benefit of future generations, the unwritten history
of the old town, its legends, traditions and ciuaint folklore,
and to perpetuate tlie name and fame of the gallant sons of
Portsmouth wlio have served their country upon field and
floor, to record the achievements of the eminent men who
have become famous in the arts of peace, and to designate by
suitably inscribed tablets the ancient landmarks of Colonial
days.

Earle Family. — Pliny Earle, M. D., of Nortliampton,
Mass., was forced to go to press in 1888, with his "Descend-
ants of Ralph Earl," without giving the maiden name of the
emigrant's wife. Ral})h Earle died at Portsmouth, R. I.,
1678. Recently the following extract from the Diary of
Samuel Sewall, Vol. 1. page 501, in Massachusetts Historical



112 MAGAZINE OF NEW ENGLAND HISTORY.

Collections, Vol. 5, otli series, has been sent out by Mr. Earle,
with the request that it be pasted in the book "Ralph Earle
and his Descendants" on page 17.

"1699, Sept, 15, Friday, Mr. Newton and I rode to Newport; see aged Joan Savage (now
Earl) by the way. Her Inisband, Ralph Earle, was born 1606, and his wife was ten or
eleven years older than he; so she is esteemed to be one hundred and five years old."

Thomas Savage came early to Portsmouth, R. I., but soon
returned to England. Was Joan a sister or other relative of
his? The records of the town in which he lived may give
some information in regard to Ralph Earl.

The Backus Memorial. — The Baptist churches of Con-
necticut held on Sunday, Jan. 11, special services in behalf
of the Backus memorial fund, which is to be expended in the
erection of a memorial in North Middleborough, Mass., to the
memory of Rev. Isaac Backus. He was born in Norwich,
Jan. 9, 17*24, and the 167th anniversary of his birth occured
Jan. 9, 1891. He was ordained as a preacher in Middleborough
Mass. In 1748 lie became the pastor of a new Congregation-
al society in that place, but in 1749 he, with part of his con.
gregation, became converted to the Baptist faith and with
them he organized a Baptist society. He was a prominent
divine, was for thirty-four years a trustee of Brown Univer-
sity, and a voluminous writer, his mostimportant work being
a "History of New England, with special reference to the
Baptists."

In Memory of Rev. Samuel Langdon, D. D. — A hand-
some tablet has recently been added to those in the North
Church, at Portsmouth, N. H. It was placed there by Mr.
Thomas A. Harris, a lineal descendant of Dr. Langdon. The
tablet bears the following inscription: —

MEMORIAM.

REV. SAMUEL LANGDON, D. D.

Born in Boston, Jan. ii, 1723.
Chaijlain to the New Hampshire troops at the siege of



President of Harvard College, 1774 to 17S0. Ottered



1/74-

„ the

praver for tlie assembled army the nigiit previous to the
battle of Hunker Hill.

An influential member of the N. H. Constitutional Con-
vention in 1788, for the adoption of the Federal Constitu-
tion.
Pastor of the Church at Hampton Falls, 1781 to 1797.
Died Nov. 29, 1797.



MAGAZINE OF NEW ENGLAND HTSTORV. 113



Queries.



J^istorical.

11. The Oldest Baptist Church. — Which is the old-
est church, the one founded in Providence, R. I., by Roger
Williams, or the one at Newport, R. I., by John Clark? In
1652 there was a division in the church at Providence, whicli
is the now existing church?

Duffau, Texas, J. W. Hearn.

12. The First Grammar School in Boston, Mass. —
In 1666 the town of Boston "agreed with Mr. Dannell Hin-
cheman for X40 per ann. to assist Mr. Woodraansey in the
Grammar school, and teach children to wright, the year to
begin the 4th of March 1665-6." Was this the first "Gram-
mar" school in Boston? When was it established?

Rex.

13. Col. Starr of Connecticut. — At what time was

Elias Starr Colonel of the fifteenth regiment of Infantry of

Conn ? It was between 1800 and 1825. IavouM like to know

the date of his commission if possible.

*

14. State Treasurer of New Hampshire,1791. — In