Chapin’s service aboard the Providence is clouded by conflicting accounts. A sergeant in his detachment, cited in Chapin’s pension records, claimed that Chapin “broke” in December 1776, with the sergeant allegedly promoted into his position. However, another source places Second Lieutenant Chapin at the court-martial of Navy Lieutenant Richard Marvin aboard the Providence on April 3, 1777, off Field’s Point in the Providence River.
That same December, the British occupied Newport, Rhode Island, blockading the fledgling Navy and trapping the USS Providence in port until it ran the blockade on April 30, 1778.
That same December, the British occupied Newport, Rhode Island, blockading the fledgling Navy and trapping the USS Providence in port until it ran the blockade on April 30, 1778.
Chapin eventually left the Continental Marines, transitioning to the Rhode Island troops. On July 19, 1777, he was commissioned as a First Lieutenant in Captain James Webb’s Company, part of Colonel Henry Sherburne’s Battalion. This unit endured Valley Forge, fought in the Battle of Rhode Island in 1778, and participated in the Battle of Staten Island in January 1780. In July 1780, Chapin was promoted to captain in a three-month regiment raised by the Rhode Island Legislature. He also played a critical espionage role before the Battle of Rhode Island, relaying signals from a spy in British-occupied Middletown, Rhode Island, across the Sakonnet River to Compton.
In his later years, Chapin earned the title "Deacon" and married three times. He died on November 15, 1833, at age 87 in his hometown of Mendon, where he was buried. Seth Chapin’s legacy as the first Marine recruiter in Plymouth reflects a man who tirelessly served his emerging nation through military service, recruitment, and espionage.
In his later years, Chapin earned the title "Deacon" and married three times. He died on November 15, 1833, at age 87 in his hometown of Mendon, where he was buried. Seth Chapin’s legacy as the first Marine recruiter in Plymouth reflects a man who tirelessly served his emerging nation through military service, recruitment, and espionage.
Assigned to the USS Alliance, Lieutenant Warren served under Marine Detachment Commander Captain Matthew Parke and alongside Lieutenant Thomas Elwood until June 1781. Parke, a veteran of the Raid on Nassau under Captain Samuel Nicholas—the first Marine Commandant—had also commanded Marines on John Paul Jones’s USS Ranger. Elwood later became the last Continental Marine in service. The Alliance, led by French Captain Pierre Landais, struggled with a fractious crew of foreigners and British prisoners of war, placing Marine officers like Warren in a critical role for maintaining discipline.
On January 14, 1779, the Alliance embarked on its first mission, transporting the Marquis de Lafayette to France to secure aid. Arriving February 6, 1779, the voyage uncovered and thwarted a mutiny led by a ship’s sergeant. Later, under Benjamin Franklin’s orders, the Alliance joined Captain John Paul Jones’s squadron to raid British coasts and support France’s invasion plans. Tensions flared as Landais clashed with Jones, culminating in the Battle of Flamborough Head. There, Jones’s USS Bonhomme Richard famously defeated HMS Serapis, with Continental Marines excelling in sharpshooting and boarding actions. Defying orders, Landais engaged Countess of Scarborough separately and later fired on Bonhomme Richard, contributing to its loss. The squadron reached the Netherlands on October 3, 1779, to recover.
On January 14, 1779, the Alliance embarked on its first mission, transporting the Marquis de Lafayette to France to secure aid. Arriving February 6, 1779, the voyage uncovered and thwarted a mutiny led by a ship’s sergeant. Later, under Benjamin Franklin’s orders, the Alliance joined Captain John Paul Jones’s squadron to raid British coasts and support France’s invasion plans. Tensions flared as Landais clashed with Jones, culminating in the Battle of Flamborough Head. There, Jones’s USS Bonhomme Richard famously defeated HMS Serapis, with Continental Marines excelling in sharpshooting and boarding actions. Defying orders, Landais engaged Countess of Scarborough separately and later fired on Bonhomme Richard, contributing to its loss. The squadron reached the Netherlands on October 3, 1779, to recover.
Jones took command of the Alliance in December 1779, relieving Landais, and resumed raids from France in early 1780. That June, Landais, backed by Franklin’s rival Arthur Lee, hijacked the ship to return to America. His tyrannical rule—imprisoning dissenters and demanding loyalty—sparked resistance. Captain Parke and Lieutenant Warren defied him; Parke was confined for 11 days. Near Boston, the crew ousted Landais, arriving August 19, 1780. The Navy Board, including Warren’s father, investigated swiftly. Captain John Barry, appointed commander, ordered Marines, including Warren and Parke, to forcibly remove Landais from his quarters on September 19, 1780, ending his tenure.
In February 1781, the Alliance sailed to France with dignitaries like Colonel John Laurens (son of Henry Laurens), Thomas Paine, and the Vicomte de Noailles. Returning in March, it targeted British shipping. On May 28, 1781, off Nova Scotia and Newfoundland, the Alliance battled HMS Atalanta and Trepassey. Lieutenant Warren suffered a severe knee wound, ending his service, while Marine Lieutenant Samuel Pritchard and Sergeant David Brewer died. Captain Barry was also injured. Victorious but battered, the Alliance reached Boston on June 6, 1781.
In February 1781, the Alliance sailed to France with dignitaries like Colonel John Laurens (son of Henry Laurens), Thomas Paine, and the Vicomte de Noailles. Returning in March, it targeted British shipping. On May 28, 1781, off Nova Scotia and Newfoundland, the Alliance battled HMS Atalanta and Trepassey. Lieutenant Warren suffered a severe knee wound, ending his service, while Marine Lieutenant Samuel Pritchard and Sergeant David Brewer died. Captain Barry was also injured. Victorious but battered, the Alliance reached Boston on June 6, 1781.
Warren returned to Plymouth, where his leg was reportedly amputated at home. Supported by family and fellow Marines, he secured a pension with an affidavit from Parke and Lieutenant Samuel Cooper in 1784, submitted by his father. Later, he served as Plymouth’s postmaster, a position John Quincy Adams attributed to his family’s support for Thomas Jefferson over John Adams. James Warren Jr. died unmarried and childless on August 5, 1821, at age 64. He is likely buried in the Warren family vault at Burial Hill, alongside other relatives of his generation.
Document stating how veterans of war who lost a limb can apply for a pension.
Matthew Parke's affidavit supporting James Warren Jr.'s service.
John Russell and Fortunatus Bassett were both Privateer Marines from our area who sailed on the Brigantine General Arnold. Before the story of the General Arnold can be told it is necessary to write about each man because each fought for the Colonies from the very first moments of the Revolution before they signed on to this Privateer crew.
John Russell was born in 1747 and was from Barnstable, Massachusetts. He married Mary Gorham in 1768 and already had a family in April 1775 when the alarm after Lexington and Concord went out. As a sergeant with the local militia, he marched to Marshfield where there was a British contingent. Afterwards he was commissioned as a Captain in Colonel Gamaliel Bradford’s Regiment, which would become the 14th Massachusetts Regiment.
With the 14th Massachusetts Regiment Russell fought in the Battle of Saratoga in October 1777. Following Saratoga Russell spent the winter of 1777-78 at Valley Forge with the Continental Army under Washington. Muster rolls show that in April 1778 Russell resigned from his position and that he was not recommended to be recommissioned due to poor health. The next record of John Russell have him as Captain of the Marine Detachment aboard the Brigantine General Arnold.
Fortunatus Bassett was born in 1742 in Chilmark on Martha’s Vineyard. As a very young man he fought in the French and Indian War. As Russell did, Bassett responded to the alarm after Lexington and Concord and was with the 14 Massachusetts Regiment as Russell’s 1st Lieutenant. Bassett was also at Saratoga and Valley Forge. The muster rolls indicate that he was furloughed on Christmas Eve 1777, and it is reported that he never returned. Records then have Bassett as the First Lieutenant of the Marine Detachment of the General Arnold.
The General Arnold sailed from Boston under the command of Captain James McGee on Christmas Eve 1778 with the Revenge. They had been provided with letters of marque from Massachusetts to raid British shipping in southern waters. The General Arnold and the Revenge sailed directly into a severe nor-easter. Captain McGee sought safety for the General Arnold in Plymouth harbor, while the Revenge decided to ride out the storm at sea. The General Arnold ran aground on the sandbar of White Flat, and the heavy surf battered the ship apart. Survivor accounts tell of how Captain Russell encouraged the men to take all actions to save the ship and crew. The heavy seas made it impossible for the crew to rescue themselves and prevented Plymouth’s townspeople from rescuing them. Records indicate that 72 of the crew froze to death, and that there were only 33 survivors. Captain John Russell and Fortunatus Bassett were among the dead. Ship Captain James McGee survived. The dead were brought ashore by the people of Plymouth and brought to the courthouse. Ultimately, they were buried in a mass grave on Burial Hill. Russell and Daniel Hall, his brother-in-law, who was a ship's Lieutenant on the General Arnold were buried alongside each other in a grave apart from the mass grave because they were from the local area.
Captain James McGee continued to serve and command other ships during the war, but always grieved the loss of the General Arnold and its crew. McGee directed that when he died, he wanted to be buried in the mass grave with the General Arnold’s crew.It is speculation, but could it be after their service at Saratoga and the bitter winter at Valley Forge, could both of these men have opted to sign on as Privateer Marines with the hopes of winning profitable prizes in comparison to the pay they may or may not have been receiving, and a cruise to warmer climates be a welcome relief?
General Benedict Arnold was a hero at Saratoga. Up to this time General Washington considered Arnold one of the most trusted Generals in the Continental Army. The brigantine General Arnold was most assuredly named in his honor. In September 1780 General Benedict Arnold betrayed his country and met with British Major John Andre on the banks of the Hudson River just south of West Point.
The headstone on Captain John Russell's and Lieutenant Daniel Hall's grave located on Burial Hill in Plymouth.
The obelisk in memory of the crew of the General Arnold located on Burial Hill in Plymouth.