Victims of Newport’s Stamp Act Riots Reimbursed (Not)

Bostonian merchants, sailors and dockworkers hated the Stamp Act enacted by Parliament in early 1765.  What right did Parliament have to tax Americans when they were not represented in Parliament?

Thomas Hutchinson was viewed by Patriots as a supporter of the hated Stamp Act.  Hutchinson was the most prominent Loyalist in New England.  (A Loyalist or Tory wanted America to continue its ties to King George III of Great Britain as the ruler of the American colonies.)  Hutchinson held many powerful positions in Massachusetts, including that of lieutenant governor, member of the Upper House of the colony’s General Assembly, and judge.  Ironically, and unknown to Boston Patriots, while he had not publicly come out against the Stamp Act, Hutchinson had privately opposed it in correspondence with London officials.  The Boston mob also did not care that Hutchinson’s descendants went back to the founding of Massachusetts.  The newly-organized Sons of Liberty in Boston, with members including Samuel Adams and Paul Revere, were ready to urge on the mob.

On August 26, 1765, a large, enraged mob sacked and plundered Thomas Hutchinson’s Boston mansion.  It was probably the most violent in Massachusetts incident prior to the outbreak of war at Lexington and Concord on April 19, 1775.  Hutchinson barely escaped with his life and his Boston mansion and beautiful gardens were ruined.  The rioters looted ordinary household items such as silverware, china, carpets, bedding, clothing, furniture, paintings, and even £900 in currency.  Most painful was the destruction of many original documents from New England’s founding that Hutchinson had painstaking collected over thirty years.

Governor Thomas Hutchinson of Massachusetts, whose house was ransacked on August 26, 1765 (New York Public Library)

While the sacking of Hutchinson’s house is fairly well known, what is less well known is that the Massachusetts General Assembly, meeting in late 1766, enacted a law to reimburse Hutchinson for his losses amounting to more than £3,000.[1]  The Massachusetts legislators may have felt it appropriate to reimburse Hutchinson for two reasons.  First, to right a terrible wrong.  And second, to minimize the risk that London officials would revoke the Massachusetts charter.

Newport merchants, sailors and dockworkers also hated the Stamp Act.  And they did not like playing second fiddle to Boston either.  Loyalist victims who supported the Stamp Act had to be found.  The mob did not have to think hard or long.  Likely victims were three members of the so-called Newport Junto:  Martin Howard, Augustus Johnston and Dr. Thomas Moffat.  Each had resided in Newport for decades.  They had also unwisely questioned whether Rhode Island’s charter should be revoked.  Rhode Island and Connecticut were the last remaining chartered colonies, meaning that their governor was elected by adult white male voters and not appointed by the Crown.  (Pennsylvania had a proprietorship under which the governorship was handed to descendants of the Penn family.)  Rhode Islanders adored their charter and other freedoms that went along with it.  Johnston had also agreed to be a Stamp Act tax distributor.[2]

Rhode Island ship captains and merchants were well known among Crown officials for evading maritime tax laws and smuggling in contraband.  Still, Samuel Vernon, a Newport merchant and slave trader, accused Newport Junto members of “brand[ing] the merchants of Rhode Island as smugglers which accusation alone Justly deserves death.”[3]   Vernon, along with William Ellery, the leaders of the Sons of Liberty in Newport, were ready for Newport to keep pace with Boston.

News of the August 26 riot in Boston quickly made its way to Newport.  Howard and Moffat reacted by immediately seeking shelter aboard a Royal Navy warship stationed in Newport Harbor. On August 27, a group of angry men march to the Old Colony House and hang three effigies on a wooden gallows.  They are of Howard, Moffat and Johnston.

That evening and the next day, the houses of Howard, Moffat and Johnston were attacked.  A mob entered the houses and destroyed some furniture and took some belongings.  The attack was not nearly as destructive or violent as the sacking of Hutchinson’s house in Boston, but it was enough for Johnston to join Howard and Moffat aboard the Royal Navy ship in Newport Harbor.  A few days after the attack, Howard and Moffat sailed for London.  Howard was later appointed chief justice in North Carolina and served there in turbulent times.[4]

Governor Samuel Ward wrote on June 25, 1766 that “if any application” for reimbursement of losses of Howard, Moffat and Johnston “should be made to the [General] Assembly, I doubt not that they will take it into serious consideration.”  Historian Abby Chandler writes, “Later that fall, however, Ward informed Joseph Sherwood, Rhode Island’s colonial agent in London, that Rhode Island would only compensate Howard and Moffat for their losses if Parliament reimbursed Rhode Island for money spent during the French and Indian War. Not surprisingly, neither of these things ever happened.”[5]  The General Assembly insisted that it be reimbursed its costs due from Parliament for the costs Rhode Island incurred in connection with the expedition to Crown Point, in upstate New York, in 1756.

Wanton-Lyman-Hazard House at 17 Broadway in Newport, 1934, after it was acquired and restored by the Newport Historical Society. The oldest house in Newport (ca. 1697), it has architectural elements from both the seventeenth and eighteenth centuries. It was purchased in 1757 by Martin Howard and was the scene of a riot on August 27, 1765 (Providence Public Library Digital Collections)

The General Assembly, in 1772 and 1773, finally did get around to valuing the losses suffered by Howard, Moffat and Johnston for damage to their houses and personal property inflicted by the mob in August 1765 (Johnston suffered more mob damage in December 1765).  While Rhode Island agreed to value the losses, the responses of the Rhode Island officials and efforts to reduce the loss estimates indicate that the agreement was a reluctant one.  And while the General Assembly may have believed that reimbursing the Newport Junto members was the right thing to do and would minimize the risk that the colony’s precious charter would be revoked, those beliefs were not as strong as the desire to get reimbursed from Great Britain for the expenses incurred by the colony in the campaign against Crown Point in upstate New York in 1756 during the French and Indian War.

From the Lucas-Johnston House (ca. 1713) at 40 Division Street in Newport, its doorway and signage. When stampmaster Augustus Johnston resided here, it was the location of riots on both August 27 and 28, 1765 (Christian McBurney)

The following are lists of property damaged and the responses of Rhode Island officials to the lists and valuations.  The lists are interesting in their own right as indicating the types of furnishings, books, paintings, and other items included in a home of a well-to-do Newporter in the mid-eighteenth century.  The amounts below are in English pounds, shillings and pence.

Martin Howard

Estimate of damage sustained by Martin Howard, by the Riot at Newport, Rhode Island, August 27, 1765.

Sterling

My house, which was repaired, and but just finished; cost me nearly          |£450 00 0|

Sold for, at vendue, by Mr. Rome, deducting all charges,                             |210 00 0|      £    s. d.

|240 00 0|

It is impossible to be particular, as to the loss and damage of my furniture, as I cannot recollect all the articles, which are lost and missing. What follows are the chief I can remember.

A shagreen case of knives and forks, almost new                                                                |1 10 0|

A scrutoire and book-case, with glass doors, damaged and broken              |2 00 0|

A large mahogany table, broken to pieces                                                                            |2 05 0|

A small desk lost                                                                                                                   |1 10 0|

A red cedar desk, and book-case, cut to pieces                                                                    |3 10 0|

A small tea-table                                                                                                                      |10 0|

A coach frame lost                                                                                                                   |10 0|

Four large family pictures, gilt frames; one, by Sir Peter Lely                   |35 00 0|

Several mezotinto ditto, damaged and broken                                                                        |15 0|

An escutcheon, or coat of arms, of Mr. Kay                                                                            |10 0|

A japanned tea-table, and tea-board, destroyed                                                                    |1 10 0|

A close stool, with a pewter pan                                                                                              |15 0|

A glass lantern                                                                                                                         |05 0|

Two large chairs                                                                                                                   |2 05 0|

A japanned high case of drawers, broken and lost                                                               |4 00 0|

A japanned dressing table                                                                                                     |2 10 0|

Two leather buckets                                                                                                                 |10 0|

A large demijohn                                                                                                                     |08 0|

Sundry books lost, kitchen furniture destroyed, china, empty bottles,

baskets, &c., broken and lost, at least to the value of                                                      |15 00 0|

A cask of old sherry wine, put in bottles, a little while before the riot,                   |5 00 0|

Cider, provisions in the store and cellar                                                                             |3 00 0|

A large press book-case, in my office                                                                    |1 05 0|

A common writing desk                                                                                                        |03 0|

Total: |£324 13 0|

I submit it to the consideration of the gentlemen of the committee, appointed to examine the aforegoing account, whether they will not think it reasonable to allow interest upon such sum as they shall find due to me.                                                                 MARTIN HOWARD

New Bern, North Carolina, Dec. 26, 1772.

—

Report of the Committee appointed by the General Assembly, to examine the foregoing Account.

We, the subscribers, being appointed to examine the loss of Martin Howard, Jr., Esq., by the Riot in Newport, in August, 1765, do report:

That we have examined the above account, and considered several evidences respecting his loss; that we find that the real damage sustained in the house, did not exceed £60, sterling; it having been actually repaired and put into better order, than before the riot, for that sum or less; and have accordingly deducted £180, sterling, from that charge.

And that we have also deducted £32 15s., sterling, which appears to us to have been overcharged in the pictures, and some other articles.

So that his loss, as estimated by us, amounts to £111 18s., sterling; which we submit.

JAMES BARKER,        WILLIAM ELLERY,

STEPHEN HOPKINS,      HENRY WARD.

And the premises being duly considered,—

It is voted and resolved , that the same be, and hereby is, accepted; that the said sum of £111 18s., sterling, be granted to said Martin Howard, Jr., as a full compensation for the damage he sustained by the riots, in the town of Newport, in the year 1765; to be paid when, and as soon as, the General Assembly shall receive information, that the money due from the Crown, to the colony, for their services in the expedition against Crown Point, in the year 1756, shall be received by the agent for this colony, in Great Britain.[6]

Augustus Johnston

 An Account of the Losses sustained by Augustus Johnston, in the Riots in Newport, in August and December, 1765.

£   s. d.

Two broadcloth jackets, and one pair of breeches, half worn                                  |2 1 6 0|

Four pair of fine sheets                                                                                               |3 0 0 0|

Eleven new shirts; the cloth cost me £355 8s., old tenor, which,

with the making, is                                                                                                     |1 8 0 9 0|

Four shirts, about one-third worn                                                                                |6 0 0 0|

Three yards of New Holland, which cost £10, old tenor, per yard                        |1 0 5 8|

About eighteen fine cravats                                                                                        |2 0 8 0|

One beaver hat, worn but two or three times                                                             |1 1 0 0|

Two wigs, (one quite new) which cost me 48s.                                                          |2 1 4 0|

About nine pair of worsted stockings, very fine and good                                          |1 0 4 0|

About five pair of thread stockings                                                                                |1 0 0|

All the clothes belonging to three children (one, about eight years old,)

besides what they had on, when taken out of bed, to be carried

to a place of safety                                                                                          |1 0 0 0 0|

Sundry men’s caps, at least a dozen                                                                         |1 0 0 0|

Five pair of fine pillow-cases                                                                                      |3 0 0 0|

At least two dozen fine napkins, and one dozen fine table-cloths                             |1 0 1 6|

At least two dozen homespun towels                                                                        |2 0 8 0|

A number of women’s shifts, aprons, caps and cambric handkerchiefs           |1 0 0 0 0|

A case of old Jamaica rum, a large loaf cheese, hams, and other provisions,    |5 0 0 0|

Molloy de Jure Maritimo, quite new                                                                          |1 1 6 0|

Holt’s Reports, a large folio and almost new                                                            |3 0 0 0|

First and seventh volumes of Swift’s works; the sett being eight volumes,

cost me 40s., sterling

One volume of Madam de Maintenon’s Letters; the three cost me

18s. 6d., lawful money

Pope’s Works, in eight or ten volumes (I forget which), neatly

bound and gilt; they cost me                                                                                    |2 0 8 0|

Five volumes of Dryden’s works; I can’t find what they cost me;

but the five could not be worth less than                                                                  |1 0 8 0|

Life of Count Saxe, three volumes                                                                            |1 4 0|

Two volumes of The World; the sett being six volumes, cost me                           |1 0 8 0|

One volume of Campbell’s Lives of the Admirals; the four cost me                       |1 1 0 0|

Mrs. Rowe’s works, two volumes, 8s.; Henrietta, two volumes, 3s.;

Happy Orphans, 5s.                                                                                                   |1 0 7 0|

Importance of the African Expedition, 8s.; Delinount on Death, 5s.                         |1 2 0|

Third, fourth and sixth volume Compendium Voyages; the sett

being six volumes, cost me a little time before                                                           |4 0 0|

One volume Bolingbroke’s works; the two cost me                                                  |2 0 0|

The damage done my furniture, as appraised by the committee                          |9 0 6 0|

Total:      £1 0 8 0 9 8

—

1. B. Since exhibiting my last account, I have found some few of my books, that were charged in that account; and have left them out of this.

Newport, August 19, 1773.

AUGUSTUS JOHNSTON.

Report of the Committee, appointed by the General Assembly, to examine the foregoing Account.

We, the subscribers, being appointed a committee, to examine into the losses sustained by Augustus Johnston, Esq., by the riots in Newport, in the 1765, do report:

That he exhibited to us an account of the particulars of his loss, under oath; which we have examined, together with several other evidences, respecting his loss; and, after making some small deductions, have settled it at £76 10s., sterling. Which account, with this report, we submit to the General Assembly.

JAMES BARKER,           HENRY WARD,

STEPHEN HOPKINS,        WILLIAM ELLERY.

And the premises being duly considered,—

It is voted and resolved , that the same be, and hereby is, accepted; that the said sum of £76 10s. 6 d, sterling, be granted to the said Augustus Johnston, as a full compensation for the damage he sustained by the riots in the town of Newport, in the year 1765; to be paid when, and as soon as, the General Assembly shall receive information that the money due from the Crown, to the colony, for their services in the expedition against Crown Point, in the year 1756, shall be received by the agent for this colony, in Great Britain.[7]

 Dr. Thomas Moffat

Report of the Committee appointed by the General Assembly, relative to Dr. Thomas Moffatt’s Accounts against the Colony, claiming compensation for alleged losses sustained by him, in the Riots, in the year Newport, in 1765.

We, the subscribers, being appointed a committee, by the General Assembly, to inspect the account of Doctor Thomas Moffatt, relative to his loss sustained by riots, in the town of Newport, in the year 1765, as by the vote and order of the General Assembly, hereto annexed, may appear; have, in compliance therewith, met and examined many persons, respecting the same, and considered the depositions heretofore taken, by order of the General Assembly; and having fully heard what the said Doctor Thomas Moffatt had to offer in that behalf, do report as follows:

And first, as to his loss in books.

It appears, by the deposition of Joseph G. Wanton and his wife, and Charles Cozzens and his wife; and upon a full examination of the said Joseph and Charles, that a great number of books, sufficient to fill the bodies of two large carts, were saved in their houses, and delivered to Dr. Moffatt’s friends and agents.

Mr. Cozzens, upon examination, also informs us, that he was present at the whole transaction; and is well assured that there were not more than fifty books lost. And upon inspection of some of the books saved, it appears to us, that some sets were broken, but that very few had received damage. We are therefore of opinion,

£ s. d.

that the damage sustained in the books, does not exceed—                                             |30 00 0|

In the philosophical instruments.

—

We find that a telescope, and a thermometer and barometer,

in one frame or table, and a sliding thermometer, were saved;

and the loss and damage in the other articles, we compute at                                          |17 14 0|

In furniture

—

We find a fine mahogany book-case totally destroyed;

value, by the marker’s account                                                                                         |19 02 6|

—

A book-case lost, and a desk damaged                                                                               |6 14 0|

—

Eight mahogany chairs saved; of which, three or four, were damaged                              |3 00 0|

His black walnut and Windsor chairs saved.

—

Bedsteads-one saved, and one damaged                                                                          |3 00 0|

—

Damage in mahogany tables, several being saved entire                                                 |4 00 0|

His china all saved

Three looking-glasses, or mirrors saved

Kitchen furniture, chiefly saved.

Table, bed and body linen, mostly saved.

Four paintings, and thirty-four prints, framed and glazed, saved.

Loss in kitchen and other household furniture, in bed and bedding, body,

bed and table linen, in paintings, prints, charts, drawings, anatomical

and botanical preparations, ores, fossils, reptiles, insects,

ancient coins, and other rarities                                                                                    |72 00 0|

—

Loss in manuscripts, letters, common-place books and observations

in his possession, &c.                                                                                                     |9 00 0|

—

Loss in wearing apparel                                                                                                |15 00 0|

—

`                                                                                                                      Total: |£179 10 6|

From the examination of the said Joseph G. Wanton, and Charles Cozzens, and Caleb Gardner, upholsterer, it appears to us, that the articles of the said Doct. Thomas Moffatt’s household furniture were very few; and excepting his book-case, and two or three other articles, very indifferent.

And in this opinion, we are the more confirmed, from the smallness of the house the doctor then lived in, and from an examination of his whole ratable personal estate, exhibited, on oath, by himself, in the year 1761, amounting to only £107 14s., sterling money.

And from a comparison of the value of many of his books, as charged in his account, with several printed catalogues and invoices, it appeared he had rated some double, and the others treble of the real value.

The foregoing is submitted to the General Assembly, by—

STEPHEN HOPKINS            WILLIAM ELLERY

JAMES BARKER                  BENJAMIN WEST

And the said report being duly considered,–

It is voted and resolved , that the same be, and hereby is, accepted; that the said sum of £179 10s. 6 d, sterling, be granted to Doctor Thomas Moffat, as a full compensation for the damage he sustained by the riots in the town of Newport, in the year 1765; to be paid when, and as soon as, the General Assembly shall receive information that the money due from the Crown, to the colony, for their services in the expedition against Crown Point, in the year 1756, shall be received by the agent for this colony, in Great Britain.[8]

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