William Rotch and the Neurality of Nantucket during the Revolutionary War

Vol. 1. No. 2.Second Month (February), 1907 Bulletin of Friends' Historical Society of Philadelphia Illustration Likeness of William Rotch,. . . Frontispiece. Contents ? . William Rotch and the Neutrality of Nantucket during the Revolutionary War, by Lydia S. Hitchman,Page 49 2.Some Rhode Island Records, By Anna Hodgson, . 56 3.Pennsbury, by Samuel C. Eastburn, ...61 4.A Pennsylvania Episode, by Isaac Sharpless . . 70 5.A Correction, byJoshua L. Baily, ....75 6.Notes.......... 76 Communications concerning this Bulletin should for the present be addressed to Isaac Sharpless, Haverford, Pa. A copy of this Bulletin is furnished gratuitously to each member. Additional copies at 30 cents each. TKDtflUam TRotcb anb tbe fieutralitç of IRantucfcet burino tbe !Revolutionary Wlar Lydia S. Hinchman. William Rotch was born on the Island of Nantucket in 1734, and died in New Bedford, Massachusetts, in 1828. With his father he carried on whale fishery, and they appear to have been men of considerable importance. At the foot of Main Street, Nantucket, still stands a narrow brick building erected by Wm. Rotch. In November, 1774, the proprietors appointed a committee "to agree with Wm. Rotch 50 about building a market house," and the record says this building was "for the use of the town and adjoining to the Strait Wharf in compensation for a piece of common land to be granted to him near said wharf; and there are many evidences that during the residence of William Rotch on Nantucket he was a prominent man of affairs. When the Revolutionary War broke out, and the whaling business was practically ruined, William Rotch went first to England ; and not realizing the success expected, he went to Dunkirk, France, where special privileges were granted to him by the French Government. He carried on business in Dunkirk until 1794, when he returned to America, going first to his native town ; but after about a year he removed to New Bedford. A paper by Augustine Jones, published several years since in the American Friend, gave considerable data concerning William Rotch, establishing in the mind of the reader beyond a question the support given by William Rotch to the testimony of Friends against war. His disposition of the bayonets, which he threw into the sea that they might not be made "instruments to kill men," was only the beginning of an earnest testimony which was later to be put many times to the test, as his association and that of his family with maritime interests made them especially conspicuous on the sea and in seaports. Mr. Rotch himself owned the ship Bedford which first displayed the American flag in British waters, and his brother Francis owned the Dartmouth from which the tea was thrown into Boston harbor, 12, 16, 1773. His great-grandson, Edmund Rodman, in a letter to one of your members some years ago, tells the following story, and it was well for William Rotch that the Mayor of Dunkirk shared the feelings of General Prescott when he said, "If a Quaker will be a Quaker it is all I want of him." In this letter Edmund Rodman says : "He was a consistent friend, and had the courage of his convictions.— "He was at Dunkirk at the time of the Napoleonic wars; one day there came news of the great victory at Austerlitz. Municipal orders were issued commanding every one to illuminate in honor of the event. My grandfather was true to his principles and refused to obey the order, though every house in the street was a blaze of light. The good Mayor 51 of the city was very friendly with my grandfather and called to expostulate and, if possible, persuade him, fearing danger from the mob in those excited times, but Mr. Rotch refused. 'Well,' said the Mayor, 'the street belongs to the city, and I will do what I can.' So he procured two large lanterns and had them placed directly in front of the house, and detailed some gendarmes to walk up and down in front and explain to the people that those who lived there were not enemies, but good friendly people who did not believe in war." The position of Nantucket at the time of the...