January 1776 Sunday 21
Elizabeth River [Virginia] at 10 A M Departed this life John Dawson Seaman Variable Weather at 4 P M the Rebels fired on a Merchantmans boats taking off Tobacco the property of English Merchants from Norfolk, on which the Liverpool and us began to cannonade them to cover the boats which continued till 8 o'clock
1. PRO, Admiralty 51/663.