Most Rhode Islanders' have either seen or participated in or at the very least, heard about the Burning of the Gaspee on June 9, 1772.
Every year there is a parade down Narragansett Parkway in Warwick and Cranston that celebrates a fight for freedom inspired by our ancestors.
From the beginning, Rhode Islanders' were always a little different in that they did not follow the "rules". Most Rhode Islanders believed in freedom. Many Rhode Islanders sailed from England to Boston in search of freedom. When they found religious intolerance in Boston, they moved to RI and tried to start fresh.
Back in 1772, the general mood was of concern in that many Rhode Islanders were "smugglers" of tea which they sold to the "enemy" of England. On Narragansett Bay there were, and still are many nooks and crannies in which to hide a sloop or longboat (which is the largest boat carried by a "usually" merchant sail ship). Because English ships were inclined to ferret out the RI smugglers and their vessels because they (the smugglers) were not paying taxes on that tea, many Rhode Islanders' used the slogan No Taxation without representation! More than half of the RI vessels were being used to smuggle tea.
Anger had built up and legend tells us that John Brown met with others at Sabin Tavern to plot an insurgence against the HMS Gaspee, a British vessel captained by William Dudingston in pursuit of these smuggling vessels. John and others planned to lead the HMS Gaspee torwards shore and in doing so, causing the vessel to go aground on a small island that is not visible in high tide. Once this was done, the plan was to board it and burn it.
There are numerous articles on the web about exactly what happened on this date (June 9, 1772). The attack was successful and the HMS Gaspee was burned to the ground, wounding the captain and transferring the rest of the sailors on longboats into Pawtuxet Cove. The English Courts were never able to prosecute due to Rhode Islanders' lack of memory. No one was able to provide the names of the people involved! However, apparently there was a list that made it through the years!
Rhode Islanders celebrate this strike for freedom of taxation annually with Gaspee Days. These days consist of a craft fair, contests, parade and reenactments of the burning of the Gaspee. The parade brings Colonial dressed marching bands from most of New England.
Rhode Islanders have always been freedom minded. Perhaps our ancestors could teach us some lessons! If nothing else, it's a great parade through the Gaspee Village. Bring a picnic lunch and some chairs and sit back and ponder why you are there.
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