Oldtown Martha's Vineyard March 17th: 1778
Dear Sir
The bearer Capt Church arivd here yesterday from St. ustatia in compy of a Schooner belonging to Jos: Russell1 from Hispaniola they bring nothing that is verray material as to News—only that ye. Courts of France Spain & Portugal had acknowledg'd our Independence—you will give what Credit to the Acco you please—They have letters from Wm Packwood2 who has arivd at Curracoa—
We3 are still impatiently wating a Wind to get to Sea we have now a prospect of going tomorrow as the fogg has just blown off—We have Seventy five or Eighty good People on Board & could get many more if we chose—
Some of our People are about to chuse Mr. Mumford4 their Agent whether they will or not cant say the Cheiff officers being against it—Have never ben able to get any certain intelligence from the Main since we arivd here hope everything goes on agreeably with you—Excuse me to Lucy for not writing her & give her my best Love Accept same for the rest of Family—That you may be the happy possessor of the same good Health that at this present I Enjoy is ye. Prayr & Wish of Your Affect. Friend & huml. Servt
Simon Wolcott5—
P.S: The extreme uncertainty of [Co]nveyances is ye. Reason of not writing I having nothing Material to say & You being her [illeg.]
L, CtY, Nathaniel and Thomas Shaw Papers, packet 70, no. 4128. Docketed in Shaw's hand: "[Simon] Wolcott/Letter/March 17th: 1778." Docketed in another hand: "4128."
1. Joseph Russell, merchant at New Bedford, Mass.
2. Capt. William Packwood of New London, master of the ship Betsey, was chartered by the Connecticut Council of Safety in July 1777 to sail to Curaçao for salt. He returned on 8 Aug. 1777 with 3,000 bushels of salt. Louis F. Middlebrook, Maritime Connecticut During the American Revolution, 1775-1783, 2 vols. (Salem, Mass.: The Essex Institute, 1925), 2: 9, 266.
3. Connecticut privateer sloop American Revenue, Samuel Champlin, Jr., commander.
4. Thomas Mumford, merchant at Groton.
5. Wolcott was one of the bonders of the privateer American Revenue.
