Removal to 

 Rhode Island 



Newport 



146 THE FEENCH BLOOD IN AMEEICA 



was free-handed in his dealings with his fellow refugees 

 and aided many of them, who had been compelled to leave 

 all their property in France, to get on their feet. When 

 he had been a resident of Massachusetts for but two years 

 the expedition against Port Eoyal was sent forward, and 

 Bernon was not slow to contribute more than his share in 

 furnishing arms, munition and money. 



Ill 



After a residence of nine years in Boston he removed to 

 Ehode Island and settled first in Newport, from there 

 going to Providence. While in Newport his career was 

 substantially the same that it had been in Boston. He 

 identified himself with the life of the growing town and 

 was a leader in many of its numerous enterprises. With 

 Daniel Ayrault for a partner he engaged largely in the 

 West India trade, in which Ehode Island was then taking 

 the lead. It was a hazardous business, involving great 

 risks and great profits as well, as many wealthy Ehode 

 Island families of to-day whose fortunes date back to the 

 days of the * ' triangular trade ' ' attest. Fortune did not 

 favour Bernon in most of these ventures, however. He 

 suffered losses from the French privateers which scoured 

 the neighbouring waters, and from shij)wreck, also. 

 Greater than any loss of wealth to Gabriel Bernon was 

 the death of his only son, who met his death in one of his 

 father's ships that was outward bound for the Indies. 

 Soon after leaving Newport the vessel was overtaken by 

 a violent storm, and it is believed that she must have 

 foundered, for none of her ship's company was ever heard 

 from again. It was a great blow to the Huguenot, with 

 his pride of birth and ancestry, to lose the only member 

 of his family who could perpetuate the name of Bernon 

 in America. Perhaps the death of his son may have in- 

 fluenced him to withdraw from the ti*ade and take up his 

 residence in Providence, for he did so not long after- 

 wards. 



