Commemorating the 250th Anniversary of the Burning of the Gaspee – Rhode Island Daughters of the American Revolution

To honor the Rhode Island patriots who participated in the Gaspee affair, Rhode Island Daughters of the American Revolution, led by State Regent Amanda Lazarus (2021-2023), celebrated the 250th anniversary of the event in several ways.

On June 4, 2022, RIDAR held a wreath laying and graveside service to honor Gaspee Raider Dr. John Mawney. Dr. Mawney’s grave is in the North Burial Ground, Providence. Special guest NSDAR Historian General Laura Kessler joined the ceremony.

Mawney ceremony — Dr. Mawney’s headstone reads: “In Memory of Dr. John Mawney Who died in Cranston, March 3, 1830, in the 80th year of his age. He was one of the Captors of the British Frigate Gaspee in The war of the Revolution, and was for sometime Sheriff of the County of Providence.”

Gaspee Parade 2022

On June 11, 2022, RIDAR marched in the Gaspee Days parade marking the 250th anniversary of the burning of the Gaspee. You can find the list of known Gaspee raiders and accomplices here. We marched again in 2023!

Group shot of RIDAR participtants — R.I. DAR participants posing for a group shot before the Gaspee parade, 2023

RIDAR members riding in parade convertible — RIDAR members riding in a decorated convertible in the Gaspee parade

RIDAR parade banner — R.I. DAR in the 250th Gaspee parade

Grave Marking of Gaspee Raiders

There are 38 confirmed Gaspee raiders, many of whom are known to be buried in Rhode Island. State Regent Amanda Lazarus’s project was to mark as many graves as possible.
Over the course of 2022-23, the graves of 17 Gaspee raiders were marked with DAR commemorative markers (all but one in Rhode Island).

State Regent Amanda Lazarus marking the grave of Daniel Martin in Vermont

Paul Allen, North Burial Ground, Providence
Ephraim Bowen, St. John’s Cemetery, Providence
John Brown, North Burial Ground, Providence
Joseph Brown, North Burial Ground, Providence
Joseph Bucklin, (lost at sea; marker placed at Family Plot) Providence
Captain Samuel Godfrey, St. John’s Cemetery, Providence
Nathaniel Easterbrooks, Kickemuit Cemetery, Warren
Joseph Jencks, Mineral Springs Cemetery, Pawtucket
John Jencks Kilton, Woodlawn Cemetery, Coventry
Daniel Martin, Old North Burying Ground, Putney, VT
Dr. (Col) John Mawney, North Burial Ground, Providence
Simeon Hunt Olney, North Burial Ground, Providence
Captain Simeon Potter, North Burial Ground, Bristol
Pardon Sheldon, North Burial Ground, Providence
Benoni Simmons, Old Commons Cemetery, Little Compton
Captain Turpin Smith, Swan Point, Providence
Captain Thomas Swan, East Burying Ground, Bristol
Joseph Tillinghast, North Burial Ground, Providence

Four additional raiders’ graves could not be positively identified due to worn stones. These include:

Abial Brown, North Burial Ground, Providence
Captain Caleb Godfrey, St. John’s Cemetery, Providence
Captain John B. Hopkins, North Burial Ground, Providence
Christopher Sheldon, North Burial Ground, Providence

America 250 Marker

On May 12, 2023, an America 250 marker was dedicated in the North Burial Ground in Providence. The ceremony was led by State Regent Amanda Lazarus and included President General Pamela Edwards Rouse Wright, Mayor Brett Smiley, Ward 3 City Councilwoman Sue AnderBois, National Chair for America 250 Kathryn Walker West, State Chaplain and Honorary State Regent Jackie Smith and members of the Pawtuxet Rangers. This marker honors the men and women of Rhode Island who achieved American independence, including the participants of the Gaspee incident, the nearly 300 revolutionary war soldiers interred at the North Burial Ground, and members of the 1st Rhode Island Regiment who fought for liberty for all of us.