Burning the Gaspee:: Revolution in Rhode Island

by Rory Raven

This book chronicles the history of the HMS Gaspee, a sloop in the British Royal Navy that was sent to patrol the waters of Narragansett Bay in 1772.
The Gaspee cracked down on smugglers and enforced British customs regulation, particularly the Stamp Act. The ship and her captain, William Duddington, were quickly hated by colonists for their campaign of brutality, harassment, and arbitrary enforcement. When the Gaspee ran around in shallow waters, while in pursuit of a colonist merchant ship, they took immediate action. The colonists, led by John Brown and other local notables, burned Gaspee and wounded her captain. This act of revolt preceded the Boston Tea Party by 18 months.

Genres: History

128 pages, Paperback

First published May 15, 2012

Reviews

[Michael · Rating 4 out of 5]

Many people do not know it but it was not the Boston Tea Party that was the first open resistance to British tyranny but a little known and very far reaching episode that occurred 18 months before in my home state of Rhode Island on June 9, 1772. A British Schooner named the Gaspee was chasing a lighter cargo sloop named the Hannah up the Providence River near Pawtuxet, R.I. and while the lighter ship slipped easily over a sandbar at Namquit Point, the heavier Gaspee got stuck and would stay so for many hours.
Captain Lindsay of the Hannah sailed to Providence and told John Brown, Simeon Potter, Ezra Bowen, John Mawney, and many other famous early R.I. Colonists about the Gaspee's unfortunate occurrence. About 64 opportunistic Colonists rowed out to the Gaspee in longboats, wounded the Captain of the vessel, William Dudingston, then rowed the crew to land and returned to set fire to the boat in an act of revenge for Dudingston's heavy handed dealings of the Colonists' smuggling operations. HIghly recommended for those interested in Revolutionary History. Also for H.P. Lovecraft fans it is interesting to note that Dr John Mawney, one of the conspirators, lived at 135 Benefit Street at the time which is Lovecraft's famous "Shunned House". Also for those who are fans of Lovecraft's "The Case of Charles Dexter Ward" you will recognize many of the historical names Lovecraft used in his story during the 18th century period of the story concerning the Warlock Joseph Curwen.

[Trav S.D. · Rating 4 out of 5]

Rory Raven, the Rhode Island Mentalist, has just proven that he's more than just a Southeastern New England mind reader. Now, he's a Southeastern New England author and historian. You six billion people who who know nothing of Rhode Island's vital role in the lead-up to the American Revolution (shame on you!) now have a tome to rely on. I of course got this in my nonage. Before the citizens of Boston dressed in Indian costumes and threw tea in the harbor, the citizens of Newport burned the customs vessel H.M.S. Gaspee to the waterline. You absolutely must know more, trust me.

[Teresa Austin · Rating 4 out of 5]

An account written for the ordinary person who wants to understand what this event was all about. The author makes the characters come to life and he includes many photos and interesting facts about the people of Rhode Island and British too. Only one negative... I was disappointed that my ancestor was not mentioned in the book. Only the major players were included.

[Stuart Wilson · Rating 5 out of 5]

This is a fantastic telling of a lesser-known but still interesting and impactful event. It's so Rhode Island.

[Alan Lewis · Rating 4 out of 5]

Short book of the Gasped affair. Planned in the Sabin Tavern, cousins to my Sabin ancestors who resided in Rehoboth.

[Bill · Rating 5 out of 5]

This factual account of the story of the Gaspee is a well-written, well-documented, well-illustrated, easy read for anyone interested in Rhode Island history or revolutionary war history. The book is short and tells the story without too much speculation. I consider it a must-read for anyone interested in Rhode Island.

[Marcia Matthews · Rating 5 out of 5]

Excellent research!

For anyone wanting to know more about Rhode Island’s part in the American Revolution, this book is a page-turner. Bold characters and intrigue make for a gripping plot.

[Nick Rojas · Rating 5 out of 5]

A Must for Rhode Islanders

This book is perfect for citizens of the Ocean State to learn about our history and take pride in our role in the Revolutionary War.

[Dana · Rating 4 out of 5]

Excellent work by Rory Raven.

[Sharon Teagarden-king · Rating 5 out of 5]

Loved it. Learned so much of the Revolutionary period

[Aaron · Rating 5 out of 5]

Many people outside of Rhode Island don't realize that things started getting pretty intense for the colonists before the Boston Tea Party. In 1792, some of the leading businessmen in Rhode Island had had enough, when it came to the various taxation policies they were supposed to live under. Men such as John Brown, whose family made their wealth through the slave trade and founded what would eventually become Brown University, banded together to deal with a men many believe to be a scoundrel who abused his military appointment to take advantage of the colonists. This man was Lieutenant Dudingston, and he was the captain of a small vessel, called the Gaspee, that patrolled Narragansett Bay to try and stop smuggling that was common in the colony in order to allow businesspeople an opportunity to skirt the tax laws.

On an evening when the Gaspee ran aground on a sandbar near the city of Warwick, a large number of colonists took a group of longboats to the Gaspee, boarded her, shot Dudingston, and set fire to the vessel destroying it. Many locals claim this was the first confrontation of the Revolutionary War.

The incident would lead to a lot of awkward posturing that would include a colonial investigation that would, at best, be considered inconclusive as the colony's leadership had no interested in really taking down those involved, and a mother country that wanted justice while understanding that it would place it's control over the colony at risk.

This is the third book by Raven that I have read, and each really does a nice job of looking at an interesting, unique, and important event in Rhode Island's history. Many are probably unfamiliar with the events even if they have heard of them. This is definitely a nice edition to the books he has put out.

[Raving Redcoat · Rating 4 out of 5]

A quick and engaging look at a forgotten chapter leading up the American War of Independence.