Many of them were under the Shaw Family flag conducting business in the East and West Indies, as well as foreign ports in Lisbon, Barcelona, Amsterdam, England and Russia.
Coopering was a valuable trade, especially with New London and the Colonies' increasing demand for Bajan (Barbados) rum.
Douglass enlisted in 1775 when the outbreaks of hostilities against Britain began and served with distinction throughout the war, ending his service in 1783.
Current documents show that it is likely that William Coit's Independent Company protected the retreating soldiers from Bunker Hill (Breeds), countered any British engagements, and allowed the survivors to return safety.
It is known that Chapman's Regiment of Foote or "Company" served under Lyme's General Samuel Holden Parsons, then living in New London, and participated at the Battle of Long Island, the defense of New York City, and the eventual retreat to the Highlands.
Douglass fought at the defense of Philadelphia, Monmouth, New Jersey, Germantown, and Brandywine engagements along with many other Eastern Connecticut men[2] Douglass served throughout the war and was the victim of atrocities when Benedict Arnold returned in 1781.
At the end of the war, with New London nearly burned to the ground and its economy in shambles, it appears Richard Douglass's business began to rebound slowly.
Douglass purchased the property from Timothy Green, then living in Fredericksburg, Virginia, to manage his family business interests.
At the close of the American Revolution in 1783, Richard became one of the founding officers of the Society of the Cincinnati[2] and it is noted in Bryce Metcalf's Original Members and Other Officers Eligible to the Society of the Cincinnati (1938) that he served until November 3, 1783.
Richard Jr. became a lawyer and moved to Ohio Territory at Chillicothe, then being populated by many of Eastern Connecticut's citizens.