Pawtuxet Rangers

Living History

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Officers new

Col. Ronald W. BarnesColonel Ronald W. Barnes, Commanding Officer

Colonel Barnes enlisted with the Pawtuxet Rangers in 1987. He started off as a drummer and has enjoyed playing in the Fife & Drum. He has previously held the positions of Artillery Officer and Executive Officer. He enjoys working in the armory and making educational presentations for the Company. Colonel Barnes is also currently the Commander of the Centennial Legion of Historic Military Commands. He is a recipient of the Honorable Order of St. Barbara and the Rhode Island Meritorious Service Award. Colonel Barnes is a Life Member of the Company.

Phil Rowell, LtLieutenant Colonel Philip Rowell, Executive Officer

Lieutenant Colonel Rowell, driven by an interest in local history and the Rangers, enlisted in 2010. Starting as a private, he has risen to the rank of Lieutenant Colonel and now serves as the Executive Officer after a stint as the Company’s Adjutant. While he works with the musket line, artillery and color guard he has a particular interest in helping to maintain our historic armory.

Kenneth Gilbert, LtcLieutenant Colonel Kenneth Gilbert, Adjutant

Lieutenant Colonel Gilbert enlisted in 1988 as a musket man, was promoted to Corporal as Company Clerk and then to Sergeant. He was elected as Armory Security Officer, served as Colors Officer, Adjutant, Executive Officer and has returned to his position as Adjutant. He had served as company clerk on and off (mostly on) since 1989. He has served all positions on the artillery and is qualified as a Gun Captain. He is also very involved with the encampments. Lieutenant Colonel Gilbert is a Life Member of the Company.

Sandra Barnes, MajorMajor Sandra Barnes, Liaison to Finance

Major Barnes enlisted with the Pawtuxet Rangers in June 2004 while looking for a family oriented community group. She joined as a member of the color guard and was elected to Finance Officer shortly thereafter. She has previously held the position of Colors Officer and supports the Militia and Fife and Drum Corps. Major Barnes was awarded with the RI Militia Historic Order of St. Barbara  for her support of the artillery. Along with her duties for the Pawtuxet Rangers, she is also a proud supporter of the Centennial Legion and regularly attends their activities.

Michael Malloy, LtLieutenant Michael Malloy, Artillery Officer

Lieutenant Malloy enlisted in 1992 as a private and rose through the ranks to Sergeant Major. He was commissioned to Artillery Officer and Operations Officer before retiring in 2012.  He re-enlisted in 2016 to share his 50 yrs of reenacting experience to new members.

Meg Warburton, LtLieutenant Meg Warburton, Colors Officer

Lieutenant Warburton has been with the Rangers for five years. She has served as Colors Sergeant and recently was commissioned to Colors Officer. She grew up watching the Gaspee Days parade, which she hasn’t missed once in 23 years. Watching the Rangers lead the parade all of those years is what inspired her to join the group.

Linda Deming, MajorMajor Linda Deming, Commanding Officer, Fife & Drum

Major Deming joined the Pawtuxet Rangers Fife and Drum Corps in 1972 as a fifer when the Gaspee Days Committee formed a fife and drum Corps and reactivated the Pawtuxet Rangers Charter.  She has been an active member of the fife and drum corps since.  Under her leadership the fife and drum corps has performed at Colonial Williamsburg and Old Sturbridge Village among numerous ceremonies, parades and musters. She enjoys helping to recruit new members and making music with her fellow musicians. Major Deming is a Life Member of the Company.

Larry Perez, MajorMajor Larry Perez, Executive Officer, Fife & Drum

Major Perez enlisted with the Pawtuxet Rangers Fife and Drum Corps in July of 2003 after being encouraged to do so by his close friends/neighbors, also members of the Fife and Drum Corp.  Having relocated to Rhode Island in 1999, he was looking for a community organization to join.  He had been to several Gaspee Days Parades, where he saw a Fife and Drum Corp for the first time.  He was very excited to find the Pawtuxet Rangers Fife and Drum Corps and be able to rekindle his love of playing an instrument.  Major Perez was elected the executive office of the Fife and Drum when Major Deming took over as the Commanding Office.  He enjoys meeting weekly with the members of varying ages to play music and help keep the history of our country alive.

K. Frederick Holst, ColonelColonel K. Frederick Holst, Past Commander – Liaison, Centennial Legion

Colonel Holst enlisted in 1975 as a member of the Musket Line. He advanced to the rank of Color’s Sergeant, Captain of the Colors, Adjutant, Executive Officer and was elected as the Commanding Officer in 1997. As an aside, Col. Holst, a long time resident of Pawtuxet, has been active, in addition to the Rangers, with the Volunteer Fire Co. #1 of Pawtuxet and Harmony Lodge #9, F&AM, Pawtuxet, which at one time or another have been located at Armory Hall. Colonel Holst is a Life Member of the Company.

Richard Deming, LtcLieutenant Colonel Richard Deming, Liaison, Fife & Drum

Lieutenant Colonel Deming joined the Pawtuxet Ranger Fife and Drum Corps in 1973 and marched with the corps as support for the CO.  By 1975 he had learned to play the fife and joined the fife line. He also enlisted in the Pawtuxet Rangers R.I.M..  For many years he held the position of Commanding Officer of the fife and drum Corps.  After stepping down as Commanding Officer he continued to march as a fifer until his retirement.  Today he continues to support the fife and drum corps and enjoys helping out with recruitment.  Lieutenant Colonel Deming is a Life Member of the Company.

John Currier, LtcLtc John Currier, Liaison, USFAA

Ltc Currier Enlisted as a private in 1993 and was elected Adjutant in 1994. While serving as Adjutant he also served at various times as Operations Officer and Artillery Officer. In 2003 he was appointed Education Officer. He was elected Executive Officer in 2004 and has also  served as Acting Surgeon from 1995 – 2015.

Captain Robert Besson, Liaison, Colors
Picture Not Available

Major James Collinson, Liaison, Armory
Picture Not Available – Life Member of the Company.

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1 week ago

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When this happens, it's usually because the owner only shared it with a small group of people, changed who can see it or it's been deleted.
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2 weeks ago

Volunteers Docents/Tour-Guides and Giftshop Staff Needed for the 2023 Season

Fridays, Saturdays, Sundays and Mondays.

Are you interested in:

-Making a positive impact on you community?

- Helping to preserve history?

-Meeting people with similar interests?

-Sharing your skills and learning new ones?

-Being a part of a legacy for future generations?

No experience necessary

The Gen. Nathanael Greene Homestead is a National Historic Landmark Museum located at 50 Taft St. Coventry RI

For more information email us at nathanaelgreenehmst@gmail.com

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Volunteers Docents/Tour-Guides and Giftshop  Staff Needed for the 2023 Season
Fridays, Saturdays, Sundays and Mondays.
Are you interested in:
-Making a positive impact on you community?
- Helping to preserve history?
-Meeting people with similar interests?
-Sharing your skills and learning new ones?
-Being a part of a legacy for future generations?
No experience necessary 
The Gen. Nathanael Greene Homestead is a National Historic Landmark Museum located at 50 Taft St. Coventry RI
For more information email us at nathanaelgreenehmst@gmail.com
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Yaaaas

2 weeks ago

Think you may have a Revolutionary War ancestor? Join the RI Society of the Sons of the American Revolution informational night at the Warwick Public library. See below for details.

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Think you may have a Revolutionary War ancestor? Join the RI Society of the Sons of the American Revolution informational night at the Warwick Public library. See below for details.
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3 weeks ago

🇺🇸 🇺🇸 🇺🇸 🇺🇸 🇺🇸Join us for the Georgia Historical Society’s Georgia History Festival! The 2023 Colonial Faire and Muster will be on Saturday, February 4, and Sunday, February 5, from 10:00 A.M. to 4:00 P.M., at beautiful Wormsloe State Historic Site. Enjoy a glimpse into colonial life, live music, dancing, military and craft demonstrations, and more. Free and open to the public. Visit ; for more information.

Special thanks to Georgia Ports Authority and the Society of Colonial Wars in the State of Georgia for supporting this event.

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🇺🇸 🇺🇸 🇺🇸 🇺🇸 🇺🇸
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4 weeks ago

On This Day - December 29, 1812 – USS Constitution (Old Ironsides) was sailing in the Atlantic just off the coast of Brazil. In the morning sails were sighted on the horizon, and Constitution’s new captain, William Bainbridge, altered course to investigate. The ship proved to be HMS Java, a frigate similar to Guerriere which was recently defeated by the Consitution. Both frigates stood for each other and cleared their decks for action and maneuvered for advantage, and the following Minutes Were Taken during the Action:

At 2.10. P.M,Commenced The Action within good grape and Canister distance. The enemy to windward (but much farther than I wished).

At 2,30. P.M,our wheel was shot entirely awayAt 2.40.determined to close with the Enemy, notwithstanding her rakeing, set the Fore sail & Luff'd up close to him.

At 2,50,The Enemies Jib boom got foul of our Mizen Rigging

At 3The Head of the enemies Bowsprit & Jib boom shot away by us

At 3.5Shot away the enemies foremast by the board

At 3.15Shot away The enemies Main Top mast just above the Cap

At 3.40Shot away Gafft and Spunker boom

At 3.55Shot his mizen mast nearly by the board

At 4.5Having silenced the fire of the enemy completely and his colours in main Rigging being [down] Supposed he had Struck, Then hawl'd about the Courses to shoot ahead to repair our rigging, which was extremely cut, leaving the enemy a complete wreck, soon after discovered that The enemies flag was still flying hove too to repair Some of our damages.

At 4.20.The Enemies Main Mast went by the board.

At 4.50[Wore] ship and stood for the Enemy

At 5.25Got very close to the enemy in a very [effective] rakeing position, athwart his bows & was at the very instance of rakeing him, when he most prudently Struck his Flag.


HMS Java was in no shape to be taken as a prize, so after her crew and wounded were removed to the Consitution, she was set ablaze and sunk.

The defeat of Java, the second frigate lost to Constitution in six months, motivated a change in the tactics of the Royal Navy. No longer would their frigates be allowed to engage American frigates like Constitution alone. Only British ships-of-the-line or squadrons were permitted to come close enough to these ships to attack.

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Sample Track From Our CD

http://www.pawtuxetrangers.com/wp-content/uploads/2016/01/01track1.mp3 Learn more about the CD and purchase a copy for your enjoyment and support the Pawtuxet Rangers.
The Pawtuxet Rangers are among the most active of Rhode Island's militia groups and are one of only four fife and drum corps in the United States that are part of an actual military organization. Today the Company has Militia including color guard, musket line and artillery and a Fife & Drum corps.

Affiliations

Members of the Centennial Legion of Historic Military Commands
Centennial Legion

Members of the Company of Fifers and Drummers
Company of Fifers and Drummers

Members of the Rhode Island Historic Chartered Commands

Contact

59 Remington Street
Warwick, RI 02888
401-785-1774
pawtuxetrangers@aol.com

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