It is said the first blood of the American Revolution was shed when the British ship the Gaspee was burned by a mob of angry Rhode Islanders.
Captain William Dudingston of the Gaspee had become unpopular with Rhode Islanders in spring of 1772 because of his inspections of not only ocean going ships, but small boats that ferried goods across Narragansett Bay. He was looking for contraband and smuggled goods. The crew would also come ashore and plunder local farms for supplies without paying the farmers.
On June 9, 1772 the Gaspee started to pursue the sloop Hannah and ran aground off Namquit Point (now Gaspee Point). A group of locals led by John Brown and future commander of Rhode Island's first Navy, Abraham Whipple, rowed out to the gaspee at 2:00am with 8 longboats and muffled oars. When demanded to identify themselves the refused and shot Dudingston. The Providence men then boarded the ship, took the crew ashore, and burned the Gaspee.
The wounded Dudingston was brought ashore at Stillhouse Cove. A reward was placed on the heads of the men who burned the Gaspee but none were ever captured and no reward money was given out.
The burning of the Gaspee brought about the "Committees of Correspondence", a precursor to the First Continental Congress.
Enjoy this small scenic area only very short distance from Providence.