The adventures of Ebenezer Fox

Preface

" Grandfather," said my eldest grandchild, last Thanksgiving eve, " I wish you would relate to us all your revolutionary stories. You have told us a great many stories, but we wish very much to hear the whole at once."

In this request the second joined, who was soon followed by the third, while the fourth caught me by the hand, saying, " Do, grandpa, tell us something about the war." " yes, do, grandpa," said the fifth ; while the next, a little boy of three, jumped up on my knee, and lisped out his request that I wouM tell a story ; and the baby, making her way into the circle, added to the clamor with the most articulate sounds she could utter ; and then all seven joined in one grand chorus, though not in unison, and the burden of the song was, " Do tell us your revolutionary adventures."

Now I love nothing better than giving pleasure

IV PREFACE.

to children; and, although this was rather a comprehensive request, I at length consented to give them a connected recital of the adventures of my youth, during a time when everything was interesting to those who love excitement and action.

Accordingly, when the young folks had tired themselves with " blind-man's-buff" and various other games, with which I am not acquainted, they formed a circle round the fire and called on me for the fulfilment of my promise.

But to their great disappointment, I soon found that a troublesome cough, which I had in the winter, effectually prevented my giving them anything like the connected narrative they were so desirous to hear.

They all expressed so much regret at being deprived of their anticipated pleasure, and it seemed so unlikely that I should be any better able to gratify them, that I at length concluded to commit my adventures to writing, and give the manuscript to one of my grandchildren to read to the others.

This decision met with general approbation, and I commenced my task.

Though I am an old man of seventy-five, I am an earlier riser than most of my grandchildren,

PREFACE. V

and was generally up an hour or two before sunrise in the winter, and used to tell them at breakfast that I had written several pages before they were awake.

As I had nothing to interrupt me, and the reminiscences of my younger days proved very interesting to myself, I was able to recollect much more than I expected I should ; for the events which occur in our youth, especially such as it has been my lot to participate in, make a much more lasting impression on our minds than those of a later period, when we have become more accustomed to the vicissitudes of life.

One circumstance after another revived in my memory, and was detailed on paper, — until I found that my manuscript had increased to a much larger size than I, or those for whose Pleasure it was written, had anticipated.

At last, to their great delight, it was completed ; • md was received with so m.uch approbation by ifie young auditors, that it was thought it might oe interesting to matuier minds ; and it was lent ^o several friends, who expressed so favorable an opinion of it, and were so desirous that I should ^ive the public an account of my revolutionary adventures, that I have consented to prepare for the press the manuscript orig^inally intended for 1#

VI PREFACE.

ray own family, with the hope that it may prove as interesting to the rising generation, as it has to my own grandchildren.

Should it be thought that my simple narrative does not contain matter of importance sufficient to interest the reader, I can only say, that the partial judgment of friends, and my belief that any circumstances relating to the most interesting period of our history, would prove entertaining to the young, must be my excuse for presenting it to the public.

EEVOLUTIONARY ADVENTURES

OF

EBENEZER FOX.

Introduction

The year 1763, in which I was born, was signalized by the conclusion of the treaty of peace between England and France, at the termination of the long and harassing war, known as the "Old French War."

The colonies had borne the foremost part in the conflict, with very slight assistance from the mother country ; and as their men and money had been freely contributed, and every demand of the Enghsh government promptly complied with, the close of the war found the colonies in a state of great depression, impoverished and dispirited.

S REVOLUTIONARY ADVENTURES

Throughout the country, hardly a town could be found, which had not sent out its little band of warriors, or aided in defraying the expenses of the soldiers, and many had ^^st relatives or friends in the prolonged contest; while those who returned to their homes were, many of them, sick and enfeebled from the exposure and hardships which they had encountered.

It would have seemed bat just and reasonable, that the scarcity of money and the condition of business should have exempted ^he colonies from the additional burden of taxation.

But such was not the opinion of the British ministry. Although the colonies had jntil this period been perniitted to tax themselves, without the interference of England, Parliament now, with an apparent deternination to reduce them to the lowest conlition of servitude, passed an act in 1764, -vhich imposed a duty on several articles, '.nd the preamble to which was in these i^ords :

" Whereas it is just and necessary, that a ^dvenue be raised in America, for defraying the expenses of defending^ 'protecting^ and securing the same, we, the commons," &c. &c.

The colonies considered this act extremely unjust and arbitrary ; but, while they would not admit the right to tax them, it was submitted to, though not in silence.

The patience of the colonists, and their respect for their own rights, were insulted in the following year by the passage of the famous stamp act, which eflfectually aroused the spirit of liberty in every American bosom, and excited so universal a storm of indignation throughout the country, that the English parliament felt obliged to repeal it.

The satisfaction of the colonies was of short duration; for, in 1767, an act was passed, imposing heavy duties on glass, paper, tea, &c., and was followed by several equally vexatious, and the dissatisfaction of the people was renewed; meetings were called in various parts of the country, and resolutions passed against the measures of the British government.

Among many other insults against the feelings of the people, the stationing of garrisons in New York and Boston was particularly obnoxious; and in the former city, the house of assembly was suspended by the governor, for refusing to pass a bill supplying the soldiers with provisions, &c.

In 1768, the arrival of two regiments of British soldiers in Boston, which were stationed in the State-House^ in consequence of the inhabitants refusing to furnish quarters for them, excited the most intense hatred and resentment against the tyranny and oppression of government, and was an insult to the house of their public assembly which could not be tolerated.

The assembly, considering the peace and dignity of their house violated by the presence of British troops, refused to hold their council, unless the soldiers were removed.

The governor therefore adjourned them to Cambridge, and demanded a supply of money for the troops, which was of course refused, as derogatory to the dignity of the Province.

In 1769, parliament, as if resolved to try every sort of insult, in an address to the king, requested him to give orders to the governor of Massachusetts, — which had shown a more determined spirit of resistance than any other cj^lony, — to send all who might be guilty of treason to England, that they might be tried there.

The house of burgesses of Virginia met soon after, and passed a resolution, " denying the right of his majesty to remove an oifender out of the country for trial." The next day the governor dissolved the house. The assembly of North Carolina followed the example, and were likewise dissolved by their governor.

In 1770, on the fifth of March, a violent tumult, produced by an affray between the soldiers and citizens, in which several of the latter were killed, still more enraged the people against these instruments of arbitrary power; and the anniversary of this outrage was for several years commemorated by addresses to the public, which served to keep awake the spirit of independence.

The detested duty on tea was imposed in 1773, and no American can forget how it was received^ particularly in Boston.

In the same year England, desirous to crush the spirit of rebellion^ as it was termed, decreed that all public officers should be rendered independent of the colonies, by receiving their salaries directly from the crown, without the concurrence of the colonial assembUes.

This measure, tending as it did to deprive the Americans of all their rights and to reduce them to mere bondsmen, increased instead of subduing the determination to secure the liberty of the country.

Regular clubs were formed, each headed by a chief, in all the principal towns of Massachusetts, with a system of correspondence between them ; and it became evident to all, that a conflict must soon take place between England and her wronged and insulted colonies. The other provinces followed the example of Massachusetts, and similar associations were formed throughout the country.

In retaliation for this, and similar manifestations of the determination to resist the British government, the " Boston Port Bill" was brought forward in parliament and pissed as a just punishment to that rebel- Hous city, which had been foremost in rebellion.

In September, 1774, the first congress was convened, consisting of deputies from eleven of the colonies.

This assembly agreed upon a declaration of their rights ; passed many important and spirited resolutions ; and, having finished their business in less than eight weeks, dissolved themselves, recommending another congress to be convened on the tenth of May ensuing.

No one, who is at all acquainted with the history of our country, needs to be reminded of the events which followed in the next year, the memorable 1775, which dates the commencement of our Revolution.

An account of the action at Lexington was transmitted to Great Britain by the provincial Congress of Massachusetts, which was then in session, and in conclusion they used this language :

"Appealing to Heaven for the justice of our cause, we determine to die, or be free."

The battle at Lexington was followed in 2 rapid succession by the taking of Ticonderoga and Crown Point, and the Battle of Bwiker^s Hill, which taught England that it would be no easy task to repress, or resist; the spirit of liberty which animated the heart of every American.

From this time, the rebels, as they were termed in England, daunted by no obstacle and discouraged by no dangers, went steadily forward in the great contest, which resulted in forcing our insolent oppressors to admit that Americans could not be conquered ; and obliging Great Britain to acknowledge, and respect, the independence of the people she had wantonly insulted and despised.

From this rapid sketch of the period immediately preceding our Revolution, the facts of which are no doubt familiar to every reader of American history, it will be seen, that my childhood was passed in the midst of excitement, and every year was marked by events of the most intense and absorbing interest.

Chapter I

I WAS born in the East Parish of Roxbury, state of Massachusetts, January 30th, 1763.

Nothing out of the ordinary course of human events occurred, of which I have any recollection, until I arrived to the age of seven.

My father, who was a tailor, being poor and having a large family, thought that my physical powers were adequate, at this time of life, to my own maintenance ; and placed me under the care of a farmer named Pelham. The house in which that gentleman resided was situated in what was then called Roxbury Street.*

* Mr. Pelham's house stood upon the spot now occupied by the store of Deacon Caleb Parker, and his farm was the land near the Creek, belonging to the heirs of the late Rev. Dr. Porter.

One day, while employed in the field, I left my work, being alone, to try my skill at riding on horseback ; and, while attempting to put on the bridle, the horse suddenly bit a piece of flesh from my cheek, the scar of which is evident to this day.

With him I continued five years, performing such services in the house and upon the farm as were adapted to my age and strength. I imagined, however, that I suffered many privations and endured much hardship; which was undoubtedly true, were my situation compared with that of many other boys of my age at that time, or in this more refined period. Boys are apt to complain of their lot, especially when deprived of the indulgences of home. They do not estimate their advantages or disadvantages by comparison ; but view them in the abstract, and judge their circumstances as the results of positive evil, when they might be considered as comparative blessings.

I had for some time been dissatisfied with my situation, and was desirous of some change. I had made frequent complaints of a grievous nature to my father ; but he paid no attention to them, supposing that I had no just cause for them, and that they arose merely from a spirit of discontent which would soon subside.

Expressions of exasperated feeling against the government of Great Britain, which had for a long time been indulged and pretty freely expressed, were now continually heard from the mouths of all classes ; from father and son, from mother and daughter, from master and slave. A spirit of disaffection pervaded the land ; groans and complaints, and injustice and wrongs were heard on all sides. Violence and tumult soon followed.

Almost all the conversation that came to my ears related to the injustice of England and the tyranny of government.

It is perfectly natural that the spirit of insubordination, that prevailed, should spread among the younger members of the community; that they, who were continually hearing complaints, should themselves become complainants. I, and other boys situated similarly to myself, thought we had wrongs to be redressed ; rights to be maintained; and, as no one appeared disposed to act the part of a redresser, it was our duty and our privilege to assert our own rights. We made a direct application of the doctrines we daily heard, in relation to 2* the oppression of the mother country, to our own circumstances; and thought that we were more oppressed than our fathers were. I thought that I was doing myself great injustice by remaining in bondage, when I ought to go free ; and that the time was come, when I should liberate myself from the thraldom of others, and set up a government of my own ; or, in other words, do what was right in the sight of my own eyes.

In all great undertakings a friend is needed, with whom we can advise and consult. Men experience this want, and Sieldom is any remarkable achievement effected alone and unaided. I felt the necessity of acting in unison with some one, who should be actuated by the same motives as myself, and have a similar object in view.

I sought a friend, and found one in a companion with whom I had long associated, John Kelley, who was a little older than myself. To him I imparted my views and wishes in regard to future operations.

We held many consultations in secret, and, mutual confidence being established, we came to the sage conclusion, that we were Hving in a state of servitude that ought to be scorned by the sons of freemen.

In our opinion we were abundantly capable of providing for our own wants ; of assuming all the responsibilities of life; and needed no protectors.

Our plan was soon formed, which was nothing less than to furnish ourselves with whatever we thought indispensable for our undertaking, to leave home privately, and take the most direct route to Providence, R. I., where we expected to find employment as sailors on board of some vessel.

Our greatest trouble was to raise the means for the expedition. Having collected what few articles we possessed and securing them in two small bundles, we secreted them in a barn at some distance from our habitation.

The place for our meeting was the steps of the church, which stood where the Rev. Mr. Putnam's now stands.* According to

* The Rev. Mr. Adams was the pastor then. Deacon Crafts, grandfather of Mr. E. Crafts of Roxbury, used to read aloud one verse at a time of the psalm or hymn, which the choir would sing, and then wait till he had read another.

appointment, I found my friend Kelley nn the spot at eight o'clock in the evening on the eighteenth of April, the night before the memorable battle of Lexington.

Kelley' s first question to me was, " How much money have you got?" I replied, ''A half a dollar." "That is just v/hat 1 have got," said Kelley, "though I might have taken as much as 1 wanted from the old tory; but I thought I would not take any more than what belonged to me."

I know not whether this proceeded from Kelley' s principle of honesty, or from a fear of pursuit, in case he had embezzled anything which would render him an object

Hymn-books were not in general use ; they were, some time after, in the pews of the wealthy part of the congregation. At a subsequent period, a kind of music, called Fugueing tunes, was introduced; and they had a literally ./ug-ueing- effect upon the elder people, the greater part of whom went out of church as soon as the first verse was sung.

I very well remember the first Sabbath that the first bassviol was used, as an accompaniment to the singing. The old pious people were horror-struck at what they considered a sacrilegious innovation, and went out of meeting in high dudgeon. One old churcli member, I recollect, stood at the church-door, and showed his contempt for the music by making a sort of caterwauling noise, which he called " mockingthe Banjo.''

worth pursuing. Kelley had Hved with a gentleman named Winslow, who was highly esteemed for his benevolence and other virtues ; but, being a friend to the royal government, he was stigmatized with the epithet of " Tory," and considered an enemy to his country, and was finally obliged to leave the place when the British troops evacuated Boston. After spending some time in making arrangements, we started about nine o'clock at night, and travelled till we arrived at Jamaica Plain and stopped on the door-steps of the Rev. Dr. Gordon's* church to rest ourselves and hold a consultation.

We concluded to continue on our route, and directed our course to Dedham, where we arrived shortly after ten the same night.

As I have observed, this was on the night previous to the battle of Lexington. At that time, much excitement prevailed in the public mind. Great anxiety was manifested in the country in the vicinity of Boston to know what was going on there. People were out in all directions to hear

* Till within a few years the Rev. Dr. Gray's.

the ''news from town." As we were too young to be very well informed in regard to coming events, and were ignorant of the great plans in agitation, our fears induced us to think that the uncommon commotion that appeared to prevail must have some connexion with our escape, and that the moving multitudes we saw were in pursuit of us. Our consciences reproved us a little for the step we had taken, and our fears magnified the dangers to which we were exposed.

After making some cautious inquiries at Dedham, we directed our course to Walpole with the intention of reaching it that night.

About eleven o'clock, finding ourselves excessively fatigued, we determined upon taking up our night's lodging on the ground by the side of a stone wall.

With feelings of despondence I stretched myself upon the earth, with my bundle for a pillow, and observed to my companion, "This is hard lodging, Kelley, but we may have harder;" little anticipating the hardship and suffering I was to endure in some succeeding years. After a cold and uncomfortable night's rest, we started before day, and reached Walpole about ten o'clock in the morning.

Before we entered the village, we stopped at a tavern and called for a bowl of bread and milk, the price of which was three pence; but the kind-hearted landlord refused to take any compensation. We now were constantly meeting with people, who, anxious to hear the news from Boston, frequently interrogated us respecting whence we came and whither we were going, 6lc. ; in answering which we adhered as nearly to the truth as our fears of discovery would permit.

We stopped at Mann's tavern in Walpole, and here a multitude of people collected, having apparently some great object in agitation. Being seen coming in the direction from Boston, we were again assaibd with more questions than we knew how to answer consistently with our safety. The tavern-keeper excited our apprehensions by abruptly asking us whither we were going?

'' To seek our fortunes," we replied.

"You have taken hard times for it," and he advised us to return home.

During this conversation, the stage coach from Boston arrived at the tavern, where the passengers were to dine. They brought the news of the Lexington battle, with an exaggerated account of a loss on the side of the British of two hundred men, and on that of the American of only thirty. This was received with loud shouts of exultation, while the militia marched off full of ardor and zeal.*

By this time, my companion and myself felt the need of some refreshment ; but our funds would not permit us to indulge our appetites with the luxury of a dinner ; we therefore contented ourselves with a simple luncheon.

Tired of walking, our next object was to

* The exaggerated account of the battle of Lexington must have been merely of that part of it which happened 'ibout: sunrise, the firing of the British upon the militia assembled upon the green near the meeting-house.

The subsequent fighting at Lexington was too late in the day, for the passengers in the stage to give any informatiou at the time they arrived at Walpol^.

drive a bargain with the coachman for a ride to Providence. The price demanded was one and sixpence for each of us, and that upon condition that one should ride with the coachman and the other on the baggage.

The coachman's seat to stage-coaches in those days was not the comfortable place which it now is ; and the baggage used to be fastened directly upon the hind axle-tree. Racks and such-like conveniences are the improvements of modern times. To sit upon the baggage, then, could not be considered a great privilege, and it required not a little exertion to keep one's position. For such accommodations one and sixpence each we considered an exorbitant price; and, after a great deal of haggling, a bargain was made to carry us both for two and eightpence. We left Walpole about one o'clock, and arrived in Providence about sunset.

Any one, who has experienced the forlorn and destitute feelings that arise in the mind when he feels himself alone in a strange city, may easily imagine what ours were at this time. The moving multitudes were 3 returning to their homes, after their daily occupations were over, to meet their famiUes and their friends and to spend the quiet night. But we, two poor boys, had no home to receive us, no friends to welcome us.

Solitary and desolate, we felt as it were '^ strangers in a strange land." We wandered about the streets, without seeing or expecting to see any one who would afford us any assistance, or sympathize in our distress. Hungry and weary, with but thirty coppers in our pockets, it would be, we thought, unjustifiable extravagance to indulge our appetites with the luxuries which a tavern might afford ; we accordingly, seated upon the steps of a church, attempted to appease the cravings of hunger upon some provisions in our bundles, with which we had the precaution to provide ourselves before leaving Roxbury. Having finished our scanty meal, we found night approaching, and that it was necessary to obtain lodgings somewhere at a small expense.

Our design in coming to Providence naturally led us to the part of the town where the shipping lay. We found a vessel at a wharf, which appeared to have no person on board. We went on to her deck, and, finding the cabin doors open, entered, took possession of two vacant berths, in which we slept soundly till morning, when we left the vessel without meeting with any person belonging to her.

We strolled about the town with spirits considerably depressed, and breakfasted upon what remained of the cold food on which we had supped the night previous.

I and my companion then thought it best to separate, for the purpose of seeking employment, in different directions; and we parted without thinking to fix upon any time or place for a subsequent meeting. 1 have since ascertained, that Kelley found employment on board of a vessel, and went to sea. What was his fate I know not; for after that day I never saw him, nor to the present time have I ever heard any more respecting him than what I have related. Should he meet with these pages, he is informed that I reside in the town from which we absconded sixty-three years ago.

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He would find me altered in the appearance I presented to him in our last interview. But probably he has long since gone to that world "from whose bourne no traveller returns," and to which my age and infirmities admonish me that I must soon repair.

In the course of my perambulations I went into the market-house, and while there I saw a gentleman who was addressed by the name of Curtis. He was habited according to the fashion of gentlemen in those days ; a three-cornered hat, a club wig, a long coat of ample dimensions that appeared to have been made with reference to future growth; breeches with large buckles, and shoes fastened in the same manner, completed his dress.

His face appeared familiar to me, and, feeling some interest in him, I was induced to make some inquiries respecting him, and found that his christian name was Obadiah; and that he had lately removed to Providence from Boston. With this gentleman an aunt of mine, a sister of my mother, had lived in Boston, and I thought it probable that she might have removed to Providence with his family.

With this impression I followed Mr. Curtis to his house, and to my great joy found my aunt. She expressed some surprise at seeing me so far from home ; and I had to exercise not a little art, and to depart not a little from the truth, to account for my unexpected visit. My aunt, however, extracted enough from the answers to her many questions to satisfy herself that I had left home without the knowledge of my parents. After satisfying my appetite wit h su a abundance of good things, to which I had been some days a stranger, she endeavored to persuade me to give up my project of going to sea, and to return to Roxbury. This I obstinately refused, and finding it useless to remonstrate with me any more, she dropped the subject, after warning me of many evils which might ensue if I persisted in my undertaking. To this good woman was I indebted for sustenance while I remained in Providence, and for many articles of clothing, of Avhich I was in great need. 3*

Chapter II

After seeking for a situation on board of some vessel for several days, I at length found one in the service of Capt. Joseph Manchester, who was in the employ of Nathaniel Angier. I shipped in the capacity of Q^bin boy, for a compensation of twenty-one shillings per month, to go to Cape Francois in the island of St. Domingo. The wages of the sailors were forty-two shillings per month.

By the assistance of my good aunt, in a few days I was tolerably well equipped for the voyage. The vessel was hauled off into the stream, and shortly after we sailed for our destined port. This being the first time i ever was at sea, I experienced a considerable amount of that mental and bodily prostration called "sea-sickness;" but in a few days I became accustomed to the motion of the vessel, and recovered my usual health and spirits.

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Being what is termed a "green hand," I had everything to learn that belonged to my duties ; and of course made some blunders, for which I received more curses than thanks.

Among other misfortunes, I unluckily placed a large pot of butter in the larboard locker, without the precaution to fasten it in its place. It rolled out in the course of the night, and the fragments of the pot together with the contents were scattered about near the foot of the cabin steps. At the time of the accident the captain was upon deck, and having occasion to go below, he stepped into the midst of the greasy particles and measured his length upon the floor. The butter received a stamp of considerable magnitude in the form of a head, which, although it served to protect the captain's from any lamentable damage, did not shield mine from a volley of oaths and threats arising from the irritation of the moment at the awkward predicament in which he found himself placed.