Volume 3, Chapter 23, Rhode Island, Responds
The question now arose, would Boston remain isolated and hence fall victim to English
might? Would Massachusetts be vulnerable as the only colony to take the issue to the streets
and rebel against British power? Or would the bulk of the American colonies follow and
and Press on to Victory.
The question was soon answered.
As soon as the inspiring news of August 14 was heard, Rhode Island, always libertarian,
always indomitable, leaped to follow Boston's example.
Rhode Island, enjoying a flourishing and extensive trade, had been spared the burdens of an executive
oligarchy chosen by Britain.
British governors were popularly elected and were fully as hostile to British tyranny as
the populace. Aside from a few royal appointees, such as the customs collector and naval officers,
the wrath of Rhode Islanders was directed against the ultratory Newport Junto, which
had petitioned for an end to Rhode Island's charter as a home-rule colony. Agitation began
in earnest on August 24 when William Goddard published a special, extraordinary issue of
the Providence Gazette. It was an all-resistance issue. On the masthead were inscribed two
mottos Vox Populi, Vox Dei, and Where the Spirit of the Lord is, there is liberty. Articles
Rebels filled the issue attacking the British regulations, stamp masters, and Jared Ingersoll,
the Connecticut stamp master, and praising the Boston rebels. The issue also reprinted
the hard-hitting resolves of the Providence town meeting, which denied Parliament's right
to tax the colonies, and urged a demnification of all Rhode Island officials refusing to
to Obey the Stamp Act. Moreover, the mob actions in Boston, as well as in New London
and Norwich, Connecticut, were described in loving detail. Two days later, the Newport
Mercury acquainted its readers with the mob actions in Boston and Connecticut.
On August 27, the people of Rhode Island followed in the footsteps of Boston. Massachusetts
was no longer isolated.
The three marked men hanging in effigy were carefully selected, all members of the New
Port Junto, Augustus Johnston, appointed stamp distributor for Rhode Island, Martin Howard
Jr., and Dr. Thomas Moffatt. Their effigies were appropriately and suggestively strung
together. Hung with the effigies was a copy of a song beginning with the warning verse,
He who for a post or base-sorted pelf his country betrays makes a rope for himself.
Of this an example for you we bring in these infamous rogues who in effigy swing.
The three marked men quickly took the hint.
Moffat fled town, and Howard and Johnston fled to the safety of the British ship Signet
in the Harbor, where they were joined by the hated customs collector, John Robinson. For
Robinson knew, as he put it, the disposition of the people towards all kings' officers.
The crowd then cut down the effigies and burned them in a bonfire. Nothing more was done that
night, and the Tories returned to a supposed calm. But the next day news of the Second
The Great Boston Riot reached the New Porters, who determined not to lag in the libertarian
cause.
That evening a group of men headed by Samuel Crandall buffeted Robinson a bit on the street.
When the group was then arrogantly chastised by Martin Howard, he thereby provided the
needed spark for provoking the New Porters into direct action.
A mob quickly gathered and gave Howard's house the treatment that their Boston confreres
had meted out to Hutchinson's. The mob had tasted action. They proceeded to the houses
of their other mortal enemies. Dr. Moffat's house was razed. Each house, in turn, of the
British and Tory leaders was visited and each of the men was eagerly sought by the mob.
Augustus Johnston wanted to stand fast, but thought better of it and fled when informed
that the crowd would present him with the choice of resigning his post or being lynched
on the spot. Johnston's house was visited and only spared when his friends assured the
mob that the absent stamp distributor would resign his office the next day. The revolutionary
up surge of August 28 proved brilliantly effective. His friends and family threatened as well
as himself. Johnston kept his pledge and resigned his post the next day. Howard and Moffat decided
to leave the dust of Newport behind them and sail back to England without even returning
to shore. Thus, by August 29, the people of Newport had succeeded in forcing the stamp
and Mind Violence by Weber and some of the Mob, the other leaders turned Weber over to
the signet as a kind of sacrificial offering. This betrayal of their former comrade to the
British was a grave tactical as well as moral error by Ellery, Vernon and others who were
soon to form the Newport Sons of Liberty. Weber's followers among the Mob gathered
quickly and threatened immediate destruction of the houses of the betrayers if Weber were
not released. Faced with the prospect of a dose of their own medicine, Ellery, Vernon
and the others capitulated and told the naval officers that Weber was not guilty of leading
the riots. The triumphant Weber back ashore, resumed his provo-do and continued to threaten
and Destruction of the Houses of the Sons of Liberty Leaders.
The Sons of Liberty Leadership was now thoroughly frightened of a mob commanded by the aimless,
hot-headed Weber. They offered bribes to Weber, but to no avail. A threat of armed self-defense
by the leaders got the mob to disperse that night, but the next day Weber returned to
to the attack, threatening plunder and destruction. Finally, none other than Augustus Johnston
saved the day by courageously seizing Webber and carting him off to jail. The mob surprisingly
did not react, and for a while Newport was safe from the wanton destruction threatened
by John Webber. The stamp distributor had resigned, but the hated and inflexibly dictatorial
Samuel John Robinson still remained, although aboard the signet.
The morning after the riot, Samuel Crandall sent a message to Robinson, offering him something
like the old pre-1764 arrangement of annual bribes to the customs officials for allowing
the merchants freedom of trade.
Crandall also demanded the return from Halifax of the sloop Polly and her cargo of molasses,
In return for Robinson's agreement, he would also be granted protection ashore from the wrath of the people.
Robinson reacted in characteristic fashion by ordering the arrest of Crandall and offering a $100 reward for information leading to the arrest and conviction of any other rioters.
The People of Newport would not be intimidated. The sheriff returned the warrant for arrest, stating that such was impossible to execute, except at the risk of his life in the current popular climate, and no one appeared to serve as paid informer upon his colleagues.
Robinson appeared to serve as paid informer upon his colleagues. Robinson now appealed
to Governor Samuel Ward to guarantee his protection ashore and to arrest Crandall. But Ward, in
obvious sympathy with the rebels, had left town during the rioting and now kept suavely
assuring Robinson that all was calm, that no one was in danger, and that Crandall was
The British Navy, dedicated to the Crown and unchecked on the seas by the American populace,
loomed as the preeminent menace to mercantile trade. Within a week, therefore, Ward provided
Robinson with a bodyguard and the Customs House opened once more.
The port might be open, but as November 1 approached, John Webber remained in jail.
A constant potential of trouble to the citizens of Newport. The sheriff indeed was repeatedly
threatened with harm if Weber were not released. On November 1, the Sons of Liberty organized
a peaceful demonstration against the Stamp Act, taking care to avoid any mob violence
that might be channeled into a movement to free John Weber. A mock grand funeral of freedom
was organized that day, with old freedom arising triumphantly from its coffin.
When no rescue party came, Weber, now two months in jail, tried to commit suicide in his cell.
This attempt touched off a rather feeble effort to rescue Weber, resulting in but two of his followers being arrested.
The Weber threat was over, but from that time on, the Sons of Liberty made sure of tight control over any direct mass action in Newport.
The town of Providence was inspired by the rebellious actions of Newport, and on August 2930, a crowd hung and burned in effigy of Augustus Johnston.
However, with the British officials and Tory Junto both in Newport, Providence was on the fringes of the struggle, and could, by such action, only demonstrate its solidarity with its sister city.