History - Kings Orange Rangers

48
your Heads &c...” A Mr. Stevenson who arranged for Watson’s release so affronted Howard
that he struck and abused him, following him from Mrs. Dexter’s tavern at Fort Point to his own
home and there striking Stevenson down with his wife begging and screaming for Howard to
stop. Watson was released the next day. 175
On August 28th, one of the KOR, Thomas Dudgeon 176 , approached Perkins requesting that he
intercede with Captain Howard as he was under sentence for sleeping at his post. Perkins and
Howard agree that there will be no punishment unless the offence reoccurred.
On the same evening Captain Howard and Lieutenants Stewart and McLeod came to Perkins’
house. They complained that John Lewin Jr. 177 , Hugh McLearn and some other former
privateersmen were stirring up trouble against KOR soldiers near Dexter’s tavern. Howard had
gone out to quiet them and was attacked by them with Lewin striking him. Lewin was
consequently confined. Perkins agrees that in the morning he will issue a warrant for their arrest.
On the 29th, a warrant was issued for the arrest of John Lewin Jr., Hugh McLearn, William
Grearson and James Stevens. Perkins then the justices to appear at Dexter’s where the evidence
was heard. Lewin was ordered to appear at the next General Sessions and to keep the peace.
Stevens was ordered to keep the peace while he remained in Queens County and until the
sessions. Captain Howard was “very Angry that the Court was not more Severe”. 178
September 13th 1780 was the day the Yankee privateers came to town with the intention of
laying it waste. Shortly after midnight Captain Benjamin Cole in his privateer Surprize and with
the consort Delight which had only a short while before been taken from Liverpool, slipped into
Ballast Cove and sent most of their 70 men ashore. By 4:00 AM they had overpowered the
sentries and were in possession of Fort Point. “At Four O’Clock in the morning, three of the
Officers, all the Soldiers but Six, the Fort & Ammunition, the Gunner, and Some of the
Inhabitants, with a Number of the Militia Arms, were in Possession of Capt, Cole” wrote
Perkins 179 . Captain Howard, the other captured KOR officers and Sheriff Joseph Tinkham who
had also been captured, were taken to Cole’s schooner and place under guard.
Perkins was awakened at about 3:00 AM by Prince Snow and advised that the fort had been
captured along with most of the officers and that the towns people living at the Point were also
captive. Lieutenant McLeod and Ensign Cameron soon appeared at Perkins house and
confirmed the alarming state of affairs. One of the KOR had deserted to the privateers and
spread the rumour among the townsfolk that the enemy numbered 500 or more, that there were
several ships in the harbour and that all the KOR had joined them.
Perkins dispatched his son Roger to town to raise the alarm and to get Captain West and Captain
Freeman and all others he could and get them under arms. Roger returned in short measure to
175
Ibid. P. 38.
176
Dudgeon appears from time to time to have worked for Perkins as a hired hand.
177
He would be a brother-in-law of Sgt. Fadey Phillips.
178
Ibid. P. 37.
179
Ibid. P.42.
King’s Orange Rangers