In response to the Boston Tea Party, Bristol citizens at the town meeting of February 28, 1774, adopted an 11-point resolution of support declaring that, rather than seek another asylum, they were determined to join with their brethren on the continent in all lawful measures to defend the rights and privileges passed down by their fathers. On Saturday, October 7, 1775, a fleet of fifteen warships under Capt. James Wallace anchored here and demanded thirty cattle and four hundred sheep; when refused, the town was bombarded for an hour and a half, damaging many homes and terrorizing the citizens. On Sunday, May 25, 1778, five hundred British and Hessian troops under Lt. Col. John Campbell landed two miles north of this site and invaded Warren, where they burned the Warren Baptist Church and several other buildings and destroyed Continental Army longboats; returning to Bristol, they looted many homes, burned thirty buildings including St. Michael's Church, and took thirty citizens to Newport as hostages. French troops under Major Gen. Lafayette occupied several positions in Bristol and Warren in August 1778. The people of Bristol first celebrated Independence Day on July 4, 1785, beginning a tradition Bristolians proudly continue. Bristol men also served their country in the War of Independence.
