Aquidneck Island Is the largest island in Narragansett Bay. At the time of the Revolution, it was known as “Rhode Island” (named for the Greek island of Rhodes). This was the origin of the colony/state’s original full name: Rhode Island and Providence Plantations. On the island are situated three settlements: Newport, Middletown, and Portsmouth. Portsmouth, the northernmost, sits very close to Bristol, across the water of Bristol Ferry. Newport was home to a large population of loyalists, and the island as a whole was home to many Quakers.
Many of Bristol’s veterans had connections to Aquidneck Island. Sion Martindale was originally Newport, for example. Early in the war, many members of the militia were deployed to guard Newport. In 1777, Joseph Spencer’s Expedition was intended to recapture Aquidneck Island from the British Garrison in Newport. The next year, troops under John Sullivan’s command were deployed to Portsmouth and Middletown, once again in an attempt to capture Newport. During this campaign the, the Battle of Rhode Island was fought, with the main American base on Butts Hill in Portsmouth.
Rev War Bristol 