The Gaspee Affair

We are pretty solidly descended from New England stock.  Massachusetts, New York, Connecticut, Rhode Island... much of our lineage can be traced back to these New England colonies.  So many early colonists were related to each other in some way - I have often wondered how many times our genetic lines crossed.

Our direct ancestors include many important colonial leaders.  Descendants of Roger Williams in Providence RI were patriots and conspirators in the early movement against Britain.  These names - Godfrey, Sabin, Greene, Hopkins and Ashton - are commonly found in many early Rhode Island historical accounts. Our own Captain Samuel Godfrey was a participant in the "Gaspee Affair," one of the most significant events leading up to the American Revolution.

Sabins Tavern in Providence was the meeting place of a group of early revolutionaries as they planned an attack on the British ship Gaspee.  The attack took place on June 10th, 1772. The ship was grounded at a spot on the Providence River now known at Gaspee Point.  Eight rowboats full of Providence men quietly approached the ship during the night and burned her.  The ship burned to the waterline before her powder magazine exploded.  This incident is recognized as the first act of violence toward Britain, predating the Boston Tea Party and the "shot heard 'round the world."  Britain never learned the identity of the culprits.

If you want to know more, check this out:  http://www.gaspee.org/

Providence is now on my bucket list of places to visit.

Abbott > Whitfield > Godfrey > Greene > Sayles > Roger Williams.
Abbott > Whitfield > Godfrey > Ashton > Williams > Roger Williams.