Elizabeth Town, Feby. 10th. 1776
Sir
I am ordered by the Committee of Elizabeth Town, to acquaint the Congress of the Capture and State of the Ship, Blue Mountain Valley, now lying at Elizabeth Town Point, and to desire particular Directions from the Congress, what is to be done with the said Ship, Cargo, Officers & Seamen.
On Monday, the 22d of January, between eleven & twelve oClock, Lord Stirling with about thirty Men of his Regiment (being near all that were then armed at this Place the rest being at Long Island) set out for Amboy on a secret Enterprise ー In the Evening of the same Day, an Express arrived in this Town with a Letter directed to Lord Sterling, and in his Absence to the Chairman of the Committee of this Place, informing, that an armed Vessel with a Detachment of Marines & Seamen was sent off from New York that Day from the Ships of War in New York to the Transport Ship.
On the Chairman's Receipt of this Letter, he immediately called the Committee which met about six oClock in the Evening, and from the Letter & Express, collected & concluded that Lord Sterling left this Place with an Intention to procure a Vessel at Amboy and go in Quest of the Transport Ship which he then thought was in a defenceless Condition; not knowing of the Reinforcement sent from New York, and that if the Intelligence should reach him that Night, he would not be able to procure Vessels & Assistance in Season at Amboy to secure Success and might be repulsed with Loss. ー On which the Committee resolved to send a Detachment of an 100 Volunteers in three or four Boats by the way of the Narrows to take, or assist Lord Sterling to take the armed Vessel or Transport of which they immeadiately notified Lord Sterling by an Express; And to encourage Volunteers to enter assured them they should share of the Prize or Prizes according to the Regulations that were or should be made by the Continential Congress. ー Volunteers were soon procured, and furneshed by the Committee with Ammunition, Provision, & what Arms were wanting. ー Of the Townsmen about 80 and of the Contmental Troops about 30. ー The Committee also procured three Boats and fitted them in the best Manner the Night & Hurry would admit of. ー Between twelve & one OClock at Night the Armament was ready to sail but on Account of the Tide & Ice they could not proceed by the way of the Narrows; they therefore set out with a fair wind by the way of Amboy, where they stopped & called upon Lord Sterling, who with a Boat by him procured for the Purpose & about forty of his Regiment set out with them in Quest of the Ship & armed Vessel. ー At Sunrise from the Mast head they descried the Ship at Sea, stood for, met & boarded her without Opposition, at ten OClock in the Morning. ー They found her to be a Transport from London with Coals, Porter, Potatoes, Hogs, & Horse Beans designed for the ministerial Troops at Boston commanded by John H. Dempster, Brother to George Dempster Member of Parliment for Dundee &c, in Scotland. ー But the armed Vessel by great good Fortune saved herself by returning to New York not having discovered the Ship to the great Disappointment of our People. ー Lord Sterling gave the Command of the Ship to Mr [William] Rogers a Sea-Captain, with Orders to proceed for this Place, but being detained by Tide & contrary Winds, on Wednessday near Amboy, The Committee being Apprehensive of an attempt by the Man of War to retake her, on Wednesday Evening sent a Reinforcement of about 80 Men to secure her against any such Attempt and on Friday she arrived in Safety at Elizth Town Point, where she remained under the Care of Lord Sterling gaurded by some of the Troops under his Command untill Teusday Last, when he & his troops were ordered to New York; since which Time she hath been & now is under the Care of the Committee. ー By Order of Lord Sterling & the Committee, the Porter & Beans are stored, the Sails & Rigging are taken on Shore; The Potatoes which are cheifly rotten & Coal remain on Board the Ship. ー The Capt & Seamen remain Prisoners at large in this Town. ー The Committee expected Lord Sterling would have, before this Time, procured the particular Dire[c]tions of the Congress for the Disposition of the Ship & Cargo, but in this they are disappointed and every Thing respecting the Ship is in Suspen[se.] The Hogs remaining being only seven (out of eighty) and the remaining Potatoes they have concluded to sell. ー The Coal is in great Demand for making of Arms, and is liable to be destroyed with the Ship by an armed Force which may be despacthed privately in the Night from New York, which is but about fourteen Miles distance. The Seamen who are boarded out by the Committee are uneasy & soliciting the Committee for their Wages, which, they say, were promised by Lord Sterling. ー The Capt is anxious to know how long he is to be detained, and the Committee are desirous that he may be soon dismissed & be at Liberty to return Home & inform his Freinds & Countrymen of the Usage he has received from the Americans. ー
This, Sir, is the State of Affairs relating to the Store Ship called the Blue Mountain Valley taken & brought to this Place. ー
The Committe[e] earnestly request that the Congress will immeadiately take the same into Consideration & will fully determine in what Manner the said Ship & Cargo shall be disposed of, and that they will very speedily give Directions particularly, for the same. ー That if the Congress shall determine that the Ship & Cargo or any Part thereof shall be distributed among the Captors that they will order very particularly the Manner & Proportion of such Distribution, for which Purpose a List of the Officers & Men as near as the Committee can find is [i]nclosed. ー The Committee are also desirous that the Congress will determine what is to be done with the Captain, Officers & Seamen belonging to the said Ship & also respecting their private Property due. ー A Bill of the Wages is inclosed. ー The Committee are informed & beleive that Lord Sterling soon after taking the Ship assured the Captain & Men that their Property then on Board should be restored to them and that they should receive all their Wages that were then due. ー The Captain's Adventure amounts to about one hundred & twenty Pounds sterling, Sixty Pounds of which are insured. The Committee do not know whether that Sum should be allowed him or whether he should be refered for the same to the Insurers in England. They desire Directions from the Congress.
Here is also enclosed a Copy of the Bill of Laden of the Ships Cargo, which among other Things proves the Ships Destination.
The Committee desire you will be pleased to lay this Matter before the Congress immediately & hasten an Answer as soon as possible. I am [&c.]
Robert Ogden Chairman of the Committee of Elizabeth Town
P.S. Since writing the above, the Committee have received from Lord Sterling, a Copy of the Resolves of Congress of the 29th of Jany last, relating to the Ship Blue Mountain Valley, but as they then did not fully determine the Matter, they therefore beg the Congress will now resume the Consideration & send their particular Determinations on each Head, which will be chearfully submitted to & give full Satisfaction to all concerned.
A List of the Officers & Men Belonging to the Melitia of Elizabeth Town Who Entered on Board of three Different Shallops as Volunteers in Order to take the Ship Blue Mountain Valley Jany 22d 1776 Under the Command of Elias Dayton Coll
1 |
Elias Dayton Coll |
40 |
Edwd Jones |
2 |
Edward Thomas Lieut Coll |
41 |
Wm Clark |
3 |
Oliver Spencer Captain |
42 |
Jona: Clark |
4 |
William Britten Captain |
43 |
Jona Nichols |
5 |
Francis Barber 1st Lieut |
44 |
Sall Mann |
6 |
Aaron Hatfield 1st Lieut |
45 |
Silas Freeman |
7 |
Thomas Morrel 2 Lieut |
46 |
Wm Meeker |
8 |
George Everson Quartermaster |
47 |
Sall Ogden |
9 |
Smith H[at]field Capt Boat |
48 |
Gabriel Meeker |
10 |
John Thomas Capt Boat |
49 |
Jona: Piersons |
11 |
John Trail Capt Boat |
50 |
Ellihue Piersons |
12 |
William Barnet Surgeon |
51 |
Dall Bo[ute]yt |
13 |
William Higens Sergt |
52 |
Robt Spencer |
14 |
David Ross Sergt |
53 |
Wm Ramsden |
15 |
Henry Baker Sergt |
54 |
Sall Sealey |
16 |
Sall Smith |
55 |
Sall Lee |
17 |
Lewis Blanchard |
56 |
Thos Hoyt |
18 |
Edmund Thomas |
57 |
Lewis Woodruff |
19 |
Thos Elstone |
58 |
Isaah Gray |
20 |
Ephraim Marsh |
59 |
Willm Livingston Jnr |
21 |
Adam Lee |
60 |
Browst Livingston |
22 |
Thomas Quigley |
61 |
John Hendrix |
23 |
[blank] Macarty |
62 |
Sall Morehouse |
24 |
Henry M'Munagal |
63 |
Jacob Carle |
25 |
Price pareel |
64 |
Benja Woodruff |
26 |
Barny Ogden |
65 |
Jonathn Woodruff |
27 |
Timy B. Stout |
66 |
Benjn Hinds |
28 |
Jos: Meeker Jun[r] |
67 |
John Gray |
29 |
Geo: Weeks |
68 |
James Clenehey |
30 |
Edwd Connet |
69 |
John Miller |
31 |
Azerrias Beaty |
70 |
John Runyon |
32 |
David Stewart |
71 |
Nicholas Deane |
33 |
Dall Craig |
72 |
Moses Connet |
34 |
Thos Lee |
73 |
Godfrey Blackney |
35 |
Stephen Wheeler |
74 |
Timy B[a]rns |
36 |
Farrington price |
75 |
Simon Simonson |
37 |
Elijah Woodruff |
76 |
Richd Miller |
38 |
Dall Woodruff |
77 |
John Miller 2d |
39 |
Aaron Ogden |
|
|
The Above is a True List to the [best] of My Knowledge & Beliefs
Edwd Thomas
Elizth Town F[e]by 9 1776