BENJAMIN FRANKLIN.BENJAMIN FRANKLIN.
Before the ship he had chosen was completed, he was ordered to wait no longer in Boston, but to take theRanger, an old vessel, and sail at once for France. Through the efforts of Benjamin Franklin, the American Minister to France, the French king had acknowledged the independence of the colonies, and was ready to aid the Americans in the war.
Paul Jones was to carry a letter from Congress to the American commissioners in Paris.
This letter told the commissioners to buy a new fast-sailing frigate for Captain Jones, and to have it fitted up as he desired. They were then to advise him as to what he should do with it.
When theRangersailed out of Boston harbor, the stars and stripes of the American republic waved from the mast head.
Paul Jones was the first naval officer to raise this flag. You remember that two years before, on theAlfred, he had first hoisted the pine tree emblem.
When Jones with his ship entered Quiberon Bay, in France, the French admiral there saluted the American flag. This was the first time that a foreign country had recognized America as an independent nation.
Paul Jones anchored theRangerat Brest and went to Paris to deliver his letter, and lay his plans before the commissioners. He told them two important things:
First, that our navy was too small to win in open battle with the fleets of the English.
Second, that the way to keep the English vessels from burning, destroying, and carrying away property on the American coasts, was to send vessels to the English coasts to annoy the English in the same way.
The commissioners thought that these plans should be carried out at once; and since a new frigate could not be purchased for some time, they refitted theRangerfor his use.
On April 10, 1778, Paul Jones set out on what proved to be a memorable cruise.
You remember that when he first went to sea, as a boy, he sailed from Whitehaven. This town is on the English coast, just across the Solway Firth from John Paul's old home.
He knew there were large shipping yards there, and he determined to set fire to them. He planned to reach the harbor in the night, and burn the ships while the people were asleep.
Because of the wind and tides, it was nearly midnight when he arrived. He found threehundred vessels of different kinds lying in the harbor. His men were put into two small boats, and each boat was ordered to set fire to half the ships.
It was nearly daylight when they rowed away from theRanger. Nothing could be heard but the splashing of their oars. Their flickering torches showed to them the old sleeping town, with the many white ships along the shore.
Leaving orders that the fire be speedily kindled, Captain Jones took with him a few men, and scaled the walls of the batteries which protected the harbor. He locked the sleeping sentinels in the guardhouse and spiked the cannon.
Then, sending his men back to the harbor, he went, with one man only, to another fort, which was a quarter of a mile away. Here he also spiked the guns.
After all this had been done he returned to his boats to find that his sailors had done nothing. Not one ship was on fire!
The lieutenant in charge told Paul Jones that their torches had gone out. "Anyway," he said,"nothing can be gained by burning poor people's property."
Determined that they should not leave the harbor until something was destroyed, Paul Jones ran to a neighboring house and got a light. With this he set fire to the largest ship.
By this time the people had been aroused, and hundreds were running to the shore.
There was no time to do more. The sailors hastened back to theRanger, taking with them three prisoners, whom Paul Jones said he would show as "samples."
The soldiers tried to shoot the sailors from the forts; but they could do nothing with the spiked guns. The sailors amused themselves by firing back pistol shots.
On reaching the ship they found that a man was missing. Paul Jones was afraid that harm had befallen him. He need not have been troubled, however, for the man was a deserter. He spread the alarm for miles along the shore. The people afterward called him the "Savior of Whitehaven."
Paul Jones was greatly disappointed by the failureof his plans. He knew that if he had reached the harbor a few hours earlier he could have burned, not only all the ships, but the entire town.
Although the plan to destroy English property to aid the American cause, was a wise one, from a military point of view, yet we cannot understand why Paul Jones should have selected Whitehaven for this destruction. There he had received kindness and employment when a boy. His mother and sisters lived just across the bay, and had he succeeded in burning Whitehaven, the people, in their anger, might have injured the family of the man who had so cruelly harmed them. We wonder if he thought of these things.
The Earl of Selkirk lived near Whitehaven, on St. Mary's Isle. As theRangersailed by this island, Paul Jones thought it would be well to take the earl prisoner.
There were many Americans held as prisoners, by the English, and the earl could be exchanged for some of these.
So, with a few men, Paul Jones rowed to the shore, where some fishermen told him that the earlwas away from home. Paul Jones started to go back to his vessel. But his sailors were disappointed and asked his permission to go to the earl's house and take away the silver.
Paul Jones did not like this plan, but at last consented. He did not go with the men, however, but walked up and down the shore until they returned.
The sailors found Lady Selkirk and her family at breakfast. They took all the silver from the table, put it into a bag, and returned to the ship.
MAP OF THE IRISH SEA, SHOWING THE CRUISE OF THE RANGER.MAP OF THE IRISH SEA, SHOWING THE CRUISE OF THE RANGER.
Paul Jones was always troubled about this. He afterwards bought the silver for a large sum of money, and sent it back to Lady Selkirk with a letter of apology.
The people in the neighborhood were frightened when they heard of the earl's silver being taken.They ran here and there, hiding their valuables. Some of them dragged a cannon to the shore, and spent a night firing at what they supposed in the darkness to be Paul Jones' vessel. In the morning they found they had wasted all their powder on a rock!
The next day the alarm was carried to all the towns along the shore: "Beware of Paul Jones, the pirate!"
An English naval vessel called theDrakewas sent out to capture theRanger. Every one felt sure that she would be successful, and five boatloads of men went out with her to see the fight.
When theDrakecame alongside of theRanger, she hailed and asked what ship it was. Paul Jones replied: "The American Continental shipRanger! Come on! We are waiting for you!"
After a battle of one hour, theDrakesurrendered. The captain and forty-two men had been killed, and the vessel was badly injured. PaulJones lost only his lieutenant and one seaman. Six others were wounded, one of whom died.
THE RANGER AND THE DRAKE.THE RANGER AND THE DRAKE.
This was a great victory for Paul Jones. TheDrakenot only mounted two more guns than theRanger, but was manned by a crew that was much better drilled. The vessel belonged to the well-established English navy, which was accustomed to victory on the seas.
Towing theDrake, Paul Jones sailed northward in safety. Then, leaving the Irish Sea, he sailed around the north coast of Ireland and returned to the harbor at Brest, with theDrakeand two hundred prisoners. This was just a month from the day he had set out on his cruise.
The French government had now concluded an alliance with the American republic. War had been openly declared between France and England, and all the French people rejoiced over the victory of theRanger.
Paul Jones was not sorry when Congress sent him an order to bring his vessel to America. It was needed to protect the coasts of New Jersey from the war ships of the British.
The French king did not like brave Paul Jones to return to America. He wished him to remain where he could be of more direct service to France. He therefore caused letters to be sent to him, promising that if he would stay on that side of the Atlantic he should have command of the new frigate he had wished for so long.
Pleased with the prospect of this, he gave upthe command of theRanger, and it sailed to America under a new captain.
But promises are often more easily made than kept. The French navy was well supplied with ships and officers. These officers were jealous of the success of Paul Jones, and did all they could to prevent him from obtaining his commission.
The summer and most of the winter of 1778 passed away, and Paul Jones was still waiting for his ship. He began to wish he had gone to America.
Some wealthy men offered him a ship if he would take charge of a trading expedition for them. To do this, he must give up his commission in the American navy, and so Paul Jones said, "As a servant of the republic of America, I cannot serve either myself or my best friends, unless the honor of America is the first object."
During these months of waiting, his only weapon was his pen. He wrote letters of appeal to all persons of influence, to Congress, and also to the king of France.
One day, when Paul Jones was reading "Poor Richard's Almanac," written by Dr. Franklin, he found a paragraph which set him to thinking. It was: "If you would have your business done, go; if not,SEND."
He sent no more letters, but went at once to the French court and pleaded his case there in person. As a result, he was soon after made commander of a vessel which he named theBon Homme Richard, which meansPoor Richard. He did this out of gratitude to Dr. Franklin.
TheBon Homme Richardwas an old trading vessel, poorly fitted out for war. But after his long months of waiting, Paul Jones was thankful even for this.
He was also given command of four smaller vessels. One of these, theAlliance, had, for captain, a Frenchman named Pierre Landais, who was afterwards the cause of much trouble. Paul Jones was ordered to cruise with his small squadron along the west coast of Ireland and to capture all the English merchant vessels he could find.
RICHARD DALE.RICHARD DALE.
The officer next in command to Paul Jones was Lieutenant Richard Dale, who has since been remembered not only for his bravery during that famous cruise, but for his service to the country at a later period.
On the 14th of August, 1779, the ships put to sea. When they reached the southern point of Ireland,one of the four small vessels was left behind and deserted.
Cruising northward, the squadron soon captured two valuable prizes. Without asking the permission of Paul Jones, Captain Landais sent these captured vessels to Norway.
On the way, they were taken by the Danes, who returned them to England. The value of these prizes, thus lost through Captain Landais, was about £40,000, or nearly $200,000.
The squadron sailed round the north of Scotland, and down the eastern coast until it came to the Firth of Forth. Here was the town of Leith, and in its harbor lay some English war vessels.
Paul Jones wished to capture these. The winds were favorable, and a landing could easily have been made but for Captain Landais.
Paul Jones spent a whole night persuading this troublesome captain to help him. It was only with a promise of money that he at last succeeded. But in the morning the winds were contrary.
That day theRichardcaptured an Englishmerchant ship. The captain promised Paul Jones that if he would allow his vessel to go free, he would pilot the squadron into the harbor.
The people, seeing the fleet piloted by the English vessel, supposed the visit to be a friendly one. So they sent a boat out to theRichard, asking for powder and shot to defend the town from the visit of "Paul Jones the pirate."
Jones sent back a barrel of powder with the message that he had no suitable shot. It was not until the vessels were nearing the harbor that the object of the visit was suspected. The people, in their fright, ran to the house of the minister. He had helped them when in trouble at other times, and could surely do something now.
The good man, with his flock following him, ran to the beach, where he made a strange prayer.
He told the Lord that the people there were very poor, and that the wind was bringing to the shore that "vile pirate," Paul Jones, who would burn their houses and take away even their clothes. "I canna think of it! I canna think of it! I have long been a faithful servant to ye, O Lord.But gin ye dinna turn the wind aboot and blaw the scoundrel out of our gates, I'll nae stir a foot, but will just sit here till the tide comes in."
Just then a violent gale sprang up, and by the time it had abated the squadron had been driven so far out to sea that the plan was given up.
Long afterward, the good minister would often say, "I prayed, but the Lord sent the wind."
Paul Jones next cruised up and down the eastern coast of England, trying to capture some merchant ships that were bound for London.
About noon, on September 23, 1779, he saw not far from the shore an English fleet, sailing from the north. It was convoyed by two new war ships, theSerapisand theCountess of Scarborough.
Paul Jones at once signaled to his ships to form in line of battle. Captain Landais disobeyed.
The sight of the American squadron seemed to cause confusion in the English fleet. They let flytheir top gallant sails and fired many signals. TheSerapisand theCountessdrew up in line of battle and waited for the enemy, while the merchant ships ran into port.
It was a clear, calm afternoon. The sea was like a polished mirror, with scarcely a ripple on its surface.
The vessels approached each other so slowly that they scarcely seemed to move. The decks had all been cleared for action, and the captains were full of impatience.
Word had gone from town to town along the shore, that a great battle was soon to be fought. The people along the shore gathered on the high cliffs, eagerly hoping to see the dreaded Paul Jones crushed forever.
The sun had gone down behind the hills before the ships were within speaking distance of each other. The harvest moon came up, full and clear, and shed a soft light over the dreadful battle that followed.
Captain Landais, when he disobeyed Paul Jones' order to join in line of battle, spread thesails of theAlliance, and went quickly toward the enemy as though to make an attack. But when very near to where theSerapislay, he changed his course, and sailed away to a place where the battle could be seen without harm.
About half-past seven in the evening, theRichardrounded to on the side of theSerapiswithin pistol-shot.
Captain Pearson of theSerapishailed, saying: "What ship is that?" The answer came: "I can't hear what you say."
Captain Pearson repeated: "What ship is that? Answer at once or I shall fire."
Paul Jones' reply was a shot. This was followed by a broadside from each vessel.
At this first fire, two of the guns in the lower battery of theRichardburst. The explosion tore up the decks, and killed many men.
The two vessels now began pouring broadsides into each other. TheRichardwas old and rotten, and these shots caused her to leak badly. Captain Pearson saw this, and hailed, saying, "Has your ship struck?"
The bold reply came: "I have not yet begun to fight."
Paul Jones saw, that, as theSerapiswas so much the better ship of the two, his only hope lay in getting the vessels so close together that the men could board theSerapisfrom theRichard.
All this time the vessels had been sailing in the same direction, crossing and re-crossing each other's course.
Finally Paul Jones ran theRichardacross the bow of theSerapis. The anchor of theSerapiscaught in the stern of theRichardand became firmly fastened there. As the vessels were swung around by the tide, the sides came together. The spars and rigging were entangled and remained so until the close of the engagement.
With the muzzles of the guns almost touching, the firing began. The effect was terrible.
Paul Jones, who had only two guns that could be used on the starboard side, grappled with theSerapis. With the help of a few men, he brought over a larboard gun, and these three were all that he used during the rest of the battle.
Meanwhile the other ships of the American squadron did strange things. ThePallas, alone, did her duty. In a half hour she had captured theCountess of Scarborough. TheVengeancesimply sailed for the nearest harbor.
Worst of all was the conduct of Captain Landais and his shipAlliance. For a while he looked quietly on as though he were umpire. At 9:30 o'clock he came along the larboard side of theRichardso that she was between him and the enemy. Then he deliberately fired into her, killing many men.
Many voices cried out that he was firing into the wrong ship. He seemed not to hear, for, until the battle was over, his firing continued. ThePoor Richardhad an enemy on each side.
Paul Jones sent some men up the masts and into the rigging to throw hand-grenades, or bombs, among the enemy. One of these set fire to some cartridges on the deck of theSerapis. This caused a terrible explosion, disabling all the men at the guns in that part of the ship. Twenty of them were killed outright.
By this time so much water had leaked into theRichardthat she was settling. A sailor, seeing this, set up the cry: "Quarter! quarter! Our ship is sinking!"
Captain Pearson, hearing the cry, sent his men to board theRichard. Paul Jones, with a pike in his hand, headed a party of his men similarly armed, and drove the English back.
Some of theRichard's men ran below and set the prisoners free. There were more than a hundred of them.
One of these prisoners climbed through the port holes into theSerapis. He told Captain Pearson that if he would hold out a little longer, theRichardwould either sink or strike.
Poor Paul Jones was now in a hard place. His ship was sinking. More than a hundred prisoners were running about the decks, and they, with the crew, were shouting for quarter. His own ship, theAlliance, was hurling shots at him from the other side. Everywhere was confusion.
But he, alone, was undismayed. He shouted to the prisoners to go below to the pumps or theywould be quickly drowned. He ordered the crew to their places. He himself never left the three guns that could still be fired.
At half-past ten o'clock, theSerapissurrendered.
THE SERAPIS AND THE BON HOMME RICHARD.THE SERAPIS AND THE BON HOMME RICHARD.
When Captain Pearson gave his sword to Paul Jones, he said it was very hard to surrender to a man who had fought "with a halter around his neck." Paul Jones replied, "Sir! You have fought like a hero. I hope your king will reward you."
This battle had lasted for three hours and a half.It has since been known in history as one of the greatest victories ever won upon the seas. TheSerapisand theCountesswere both new ships, one of forty guns and the other of twenty. The crews were well-drilled Englishmen.
Everything was against theRichard, and the victory was due alone to the great courage and will of its commander. When the fight was over, Paul Jones separated the ships and set the sails of theRichard. All night every sailor was busy fighting the fire which raged on both ships.
When daylight showed to Captain Pearson the wreck of theRichard, he was sorry he had surrendered. Her rudder was gone and her rotten timbers were split into pieces. Some of the shots had passed entirely through her.
Paul Jones wished to take her into port to show how desperately he had fought, but this was out of the question. By nine o'clock the sailors abandoned her, and at ten she suddenly went down.
Repairing theSerapisas best he could, Paul Jones took her and theCountess of Scarborough, with his unfaithful fleet, to Holland.
After this great victory, Paul Jones was everywhere received as a hero. The king of France presented him with a gold sword.
He also sent word, through his minister, that, with the consent of Congress, he would make Paul Jones a Knight of the Order of Military Merit. To avoid delay, the gold cross of the order had been sent to the French minister in America, who would present it to Paul Jones when permission to accept it had been received from Congress.
The hero traveled about in Holland and France, from city to city, enjoying his great triumph. Crowds of people were everywhere eager to see him, and a word with him was thought to be a great honor.
The most serious fault in the character of Paul Jones was his vanity. He had always been very fond of praise and glory, and now his longings were partly satisfied by all this homage.
Dr. Franklin wrote him a letter, praising him for his bravery. He thanked him, most of all, for the prisoners he had captured. There wereso many of them that, by exchange, every American, held by the English, could be set at liberty.
While Paul Jones was enjoying this praise, Captain Landais was going about also, claiming for himself the glory for the capture of theSerapis, and trying to make people believe that he was the real hero.
When Dr. Franklin heard from the sailors how he had fired upon theRichard, he ordered him to Paris to be tried.
During the next year, Paul Jones made a few short cruises, but accomplished nothing more than the taking of a few prizes.
At this time the army of George Washington was sorely in need of clothing and military supplies. Word was sent to Dr. Franklin to buy them in France and send them to America by Paul Jones.
Fifteen thousand muskets, with powder, and one hundred and twenty bales of cloth, were bought and stored in theAllianceand theAriel. Dr. Franklin told Paul Jones to sail with these goods at once. This was early in the year 1780.
The summer came and passed away, and the ships were still anchored in the French harbor. Paul Jones gave excuse after excuse until the patience of Dr. Franklin was about gone.
Captain Landais had been one cause of the delay. Instead of going to Paris for trial, as Franklin had ordered, he had gone back to theAllianceto stir up mutiny against Paul Jones. He caused one trouble after another and disobeyed every order. Finally, by intrigue, he took command of theAllianceand sailed to America.
But Captain Landais never again troubled Paul Jones. His reception in America was not what he had expected. Instead of being regarded as a hero, he was judged insane, and dismissed from the navy. A small share of prize money was afterward paid to him. On this he lived until eighty-seven years of age, when he died in Brooklyn, New York.
Another reason Paul Jones gave for his delay in France was that he wished to get the prize money due for the capture of theSerapis, and pay the sailors. This gave him an excuse tolinger about the courts where he could receive more of the homage he loved so well.
Then, too, he spent much time in getting letters and certificates of his bravery from the king and the ministers. He wished to show these to Congress when he should arrive in America.
Finally, one day in October, he set sail in theAriel. He had not gone far when a furious gale forced him to return to port for safety.
For three months longer he waited, hoping still for the prize money that was due. One day he gave a grand fête on his ship. Flags floated from every mast. Pink silk curtains hung from awnings to the decks. These were decorated with mirrors, pictures, and flowers.
The company invited were men and women of high rank. When all was ready, Paul Jones sent his boats ashore to bring them on board.
He, himself, dressed in full uniform, received them and conducted them to their seats on the deck. At three o'clock they sat down to an elaborate dinner which lasted until sunset.
At eight o'clock, as the moon rose, a mockbattle of theRichardand theSerapiswas given. There was much noise from the firing of guns, and a great blaze of light from the rockets that were sent up. The effect was beautiful, but the din was such that the ladies were frightened. At the end of an hour this display was ended.
After a dance on the deck, the officers rowed the company back to the shore.
On the 18th of December, 1780, nearly a year after he had received his orders, Jones sailed for America. He arrived in Philadelphia on February 18th, 1781. When Congress inquired into the cause of his long delay, he gave explanations which seemed to be satisfactory. Resolutions of thanks were passed, and permission given to the French minister to present the Cross of Military Merit, which had been sent by the French king.
This cross was presented with great ceremony, and it was ever after a source of much pride toPaul Jones. He wore it upon all occasions and loved to be called Chevalier.
During the following year Paul Jones superintended the construction of a new war ship, theAmerica, which was being built by Congress.
This was the largest seventy-four gun ship in the world, and he was to be her captain.
Once more Paul Jones was disappointed. Before theAmericawas finished, Congress decided to give her to France. She was to replace a French vessel, which had been lost while in the American service.
Paul Jones was again without a ship. As he could not bear to be idle, he spent the time until the close of the war, with a French fleet, cruising among the West Indies.
As soon as he heard that peace was declared between England and America, he left the French fleet and returned to America. He arrived in Philadelphia in May, 1783.
Now that the war was over, and there was no more fighting to be done, Paul Jones thought that the best thing for him to do was to get theprize money still due from the French government for the vessels he had captured.
For this purpose, he soon returned to France. After many delays the money, amounting to nearly $30,000, was paid to him. It was to be divided among the officers and crews of the ships which he had commanded.
Paul Jones came again to America in 1787 to attend to the final division of this money.
While in this country, Congress ordered a gold medal to be presented to him for his services during the war.
You remember that, during the war, Captain Landais had sent two valuable ships to Norway, and so caused the loss of much prize money.Denmark had taken these ships, by force, and given them back to England.
Paul Jones determined to go to Denmark to try to induce that country to pay for these ships. In November, 1787, he left America for the last time.
On the way to Denmark, he stopped in Paris. Here he heard some news which pleased him very much.
For some time Russia had been at war with Turkey, and the Russian navy had lately met with several disasters on the Black Sea.
The Russian minister in Paris had heard a great deal about the hero, Paul Jones. So he sent word to the Empress Catherine, who was then the ruler of Russia, that if she would give Paul Jones the command of the Russian fleet, "all Constantinople would tremble in less than a year."
When Paul Jones heard that this message had gone to Russia, he was sure that a chance would come to win still more glory and fame.
He was more anxious than before to go to Copenhagen, the capital of Denmark. He wouldthen be nearer to Russia and could more quickly answer the summons of the empress.
He was not disappointed in this. He was in Copenhagen but a few weeks, when he received the offer of a position in the Russian navy, with the rank of rear-admiral.
He gave up the hope of the prize money, and started in April, 1788, for St. Petersburg.
The story of his trip to Russia shows what a fearless man he was. No danger was too great for him to brave, in order to accomplish any purpose he had in mind.
In order to reach St. Petersburg with the least delay, he went to Stockholm, Sweden. Here he took an open boat and crossed the Baltic Sea, which was full of floating ice.
He did not let the boatmen know of his intentions until they were well out at sea. Then, pistol in hand, he compelled the unwilling men to steer for the Russian shore.
For four days and nights they were out in the open boats, carefully steering through the ice, and many times barely escaping death.
When, at last, they arrived safely at a Russian port on the Gulf of Finland, he rewarded the boatmen and gave them a new boat and provisions for their return. Scarcely would any one believe the story, as such a trip had never been made before, and was thought to be impossible.
He hurried on to St. Petersburg, where he was warmly welcomed. The story of his trip across the Baltic, added to other tales of his bravery, caused the empress to show him many favors.
After a few days in St. Petersburg, Paul Jones hurried on to the Black Sea to take command of his fleet. But he again met with disappointments. He was not given the command of the whole fleet, as he had expected. Instead, he was given only half, Prince Nassau commanding the remainder. Both of these men were under a still higher authority, Prince Potemkin.
Potemkin was as fond of glory as was PaulJones. He and Nassau were both jealous of the foreigner, and Potemkin finally succeeded in having Paul Jones recalled to St. Petersburg.
He arrived there, full of sorrow, because he had achieved no fame. More trouble was in store for him. Some jealous conspirators so blackened his character that the empress would not allow him to appear at court.
Even after proving his innocence to the satisfaction of the empress, he could not regain his former position.
About this time his health began to fail. Sick, both in body and mind, he went back to Paris in 1790, having been in Russia about eighteen months.
It was nearly a year afterward, before he gave up all hope of regaining a position in the Russian service. When the empress refused him this, he quietly waited for death.
This occurred on the 18th of July, 1792, in his lodgings in Paris. His pride and love of titles had left him. He told his friends that he wished no longer to be called Admiral or Chevalier.
He wished to be simply a "citizen of the United States."
The National Assembly of France decreed him a public funeral, and many of the greatest men of the time followed his body to the tomb. The place of his burial has been forgotten.
The most enduring monument to his memory is to be found in the grateful recollections of his countrymen. The name of Paul Jones, the first naval hero of America, will not be forgotten so long as the stars and stripes float over the sea.
Oliver Hazard PerryOliver Hazard Perry
A very long time ago, there lived in England ayoung Quaker whose name was Edmund Perry.
At that time the Quakers were much persecuted. They were a quiet and peace-loving people, and would not serve in the army. They had their own religious meetings, and refused to pay money for the support of the Church of England. For these reasons, they were imprisoned, beaten, and driven from their homes.
Edmund Perry believed that the Quakers were right, and he could not endure these persecutions. So, in 1650, he came to America to live.
Thirty years before that time, a company of Pilgrims had left England because they also wished to be free to worship God as they chose.They had founded a colony at Plymouth, which is now in the state of Massachusetts.
Edmund Perry thought that in this settlement of Pilgrims he could surely live peaceably in the enjoyment of his own belief. He did not stay long in Plymouth, however. His Quaker religion was hated there, as it had been in England; and the Pilgrims did not wish to have any one in their colony who did not agree with them.
Not far from Plymouth was the colony of Rhode Island, which had been founded by Roger Williams. Roger Williams declared that a man is responsible for his opinions only to God and his own conscience, and that no one has any right to punish him for his belief.
The people in the Rhode Island colony did not quarrel with one another about religion, but lived together in peace.
Edmund Perry thought that this was the place where he could make a home for himself and his family. He therefore purchased a large tract of land on the shores of Narragansett Bay, near what is now the site of South Kingston.
Here he lived for the rest of his life, at peace with all about him, even his Indian neighbors. His descendants also lived in this neighborhood. Among them were judges, lawyers, and doctors, as well as farmers and mechanics; and they were always highly respected in the colony.
Christopher Raymond Perry, a great-great-grandson of Edmund Perry, was born in December, 1761.
At that time there were thirteen colonies or great settlements of English people at different places along the Atlantic coast of what is now the United States. But troubles had already begun to brew between the people of these colonies and the king of England. These troubles finally led to the Revolutionary War.
Christopher Perry, although a mere boy, was one of the first persons in Rhode Island to offer himself for this war. He joined a company of volunteers known as the "Kingston Reds"; but soon afterwards left the army and entered the navy. Here he served, having many adventures, until the close of the war, in 1783.
He had become very fond of a sailor's life, and when there was no more use for him in the navy he obtained a place on a merchant vessel, and went on a cruise to Ireland.
During the homeward voyage he became acquainted with one of the passengers, a beautiful girl of Scotch descent, whose name was Sara Alexander. Soon after their arrival in America, their friendship ripened into love, and in 1784 they were married in Philadelphia.
Christopher Perry, though but twenty-three years of age, was then the captain of a vessel. The young couple went to live with Christopher's father, on the old Perry estate in South Kingston.
This was then a farm of two hundred acres. The old homestead stood at the foot of a hill not far from the Narragansett shore.
Through the trees in a neighboring wood, shone the white stones which marked the graves of the Quaker, Edmund Perry, and many of his children and grandchildren.
The Perry family were glad to welcome Christopher's young wife into their home. She was asintelligent as she was beautiful; and her sweet and happy disposition made every one love her.
Christopher Perry gave up his life on the sea for a time, and many happy months were spent in the old home.
On the 23d of August, 1785, their first baby boy was born. He was named for an uncle and a great-great-grandfather, Oliver Hazard Perry.
Oliver was a winsome baby and he grew strong and beautiful very fast. Every one loved him, for he thought all strangers were friends, and was never afraid of them.
Indeed he was not afraid of anything, for to him there was no danger. We shall see that he kept this same fearlessness all through his life.
When he was three years old, he was playing one day with an older child, in the road near his grandfather's house. A man was seen coming rapidly towards them on horseback. The elderchild ran out of the way, calling to Oliver to do the same.
The little fellow sat quite still, however, until the horse was nearly upon him. As the horseman drew rein, Oliver looked up into his face and said, "Man, you will not ride over me, will you?"