Stamp Act: Newport Marks 250th Anniversary

NEWPORT, RI—Two-hundred-and-fifty years ago this spring, American colonists experienced their first direct tax: The Stamp Act.

This tax sparked a series of riots in colonial cities, including Newport, and is considered one of the first conflicts in the American Revolution.

To commemorate this milestone, the Newport Historical Society will host Don N. Hagist to present The Stamp Act in Newport: How the World Heard the News as Reported in American and British Newspapers on Thursday March 24, 2016 at 5:30pm.

This talk will explore how newspapers reported the tension and turmoil in Newport from the time the Stamp Act was passed in 1765 until it was repealed in 1766. Most Rhode Islanders are familiar with the burning of Gaspee, but they are not aware that Rhode Island’s vehement opposition to Parliamentary policies actually began a decade earlier when colonists refused to abide by laws that violated their colonial charter. By presenting extracts from 18th century newspapers in Rhode Island, other colonies, and England, Hagist will illustrate how news of this opposition traveled and how other people learned what was happening in Newport.

Don Hagist is an independent researcher and an editor for Journal of the American Revolution (http://allthingsliberty.com). His focus is on the demographics of the British Army, an interest that grew from the discovery that there was paucity of literature on the common British soldier, and that much of the conventional wisdom on the subject was inconsistent with available first-hand information.

This led to a continuing quest to find and assimilate primary sources in Great Britain and America to better understand the thousands of professional British soldiers who served in America during the 1775-1783 war. Don’s specific areas of expertise include British operations in Rhode Island, wives of British soldiers, and the service of the 22nd Regiment of Foot (the Cheshire Regiment) in America. He maintains a blog about British common soldiers, http://redcoat76.blogspot.com, and has published a number of articles in academic journals including the Newport Historical Society’s journal Newport History.

His recent books include The Revolution’s Last Men: The Soldiers behind the Photographs (Westholme Publishing 2015) and British Soldiers, American War (Westholme Publishing 2012). Don works as an engineering consultant in Rhode Island, and also writes for several well-known syndicated and freelance cartoonists.

The Stamp Act in Newport takes place at the NHS Resource Center, 82 Touro Street, Newport, RI, and costs $5 per person, $1 for NHS members, active and retired military with ID. Reservations suggested as space is limited; call 401-846-0813 x110 or email mdelaire@newporthistory.org.