Rathbone genealogy

Brief Historical Notes.
(Extracts from S. G. Arnold"* Hiftory of the State of
Rhode hland, Page £&?, Vol. 2.)
Parly in Feburnary New Providence became again the scene of
a daring enterprise in which Rhode Island took a leading part. The
United States Sloop Providence or' twelve guns. Capt. John Rathbone,
landed a party of thirty men under Lieut. John Feesett. of Newport,
who. with fifteen men. scaled the walls at night and took the fort
(.Nassau. Bahama Islands). The remainder of the force, with some
prisoners who joined them, seized a small island opposite the town.
They held possession for three days: captured six vessels in the harbor,
drove of? a British Sloop of war that attempted to enter the port, and
having spiked the gun. brought away a quantity of military stores
without the loss of a man.
Coopers History of the United States Navy says: The Providence
carried only four pounders and is said to have a crew," of only 50
men—descent was made with 25 men. who were joined by a few
American prisoners. les:> than 30 it is >aid. A privateer of 16 guns
with a crew of nearly 50 lay in the harbor. An attempt of the armed
populace to overpower him was put down by a menace to burn the
town. The following day the people assembled in such force as seriously
to threaten the safety of his party, and vessel, and Capt. Rathbone
caused the guns of the Fort to be spiked: removed all the ammunition
and small arms, burned two of his prizes and sailed with the
remainder without loosing a man. He held the place two entire days.
Calls himself John Rathbone.
The command of the Queen of France was now given to Captain
Rathbone- When the ship sailed on another cruise in company
with the Ranger and Providence: 2$ guns. Capt. Whipple: the latter
being the senior officer. In July, this squadron fell in with a large
fleet of English merchantmen, that wa- conveyed by a ship oi tn° line
and some smaller crusiers. and succeeded in cutting out several valu-
able prizes of which eight arrived at Boston. Their estimated varus
exceeding a million dollars. In the way of pecuniary benefits this was
the most successful during the war. '"The Queen of France'' was a
small frigate built at Nantes ('France') on account of Commissioners
Franklin and Deane. The Queen of France war- surrendered when
Charleston was taken by the British. [780, Capt. Rathbone was M1 command
of her.