Sir Mr White of Marblehead from Boston who has been an Addresser, was dismissed yesterday after having been taken in a Vessel of his own with Salt & carryed up to that place ー He informs the Inhabitants of Marblehead that a transport arrived there yesterday with 150 Troops & sailed from Ireland in Company with 33 more, which had on board 8 Regiments 350 Recruits & 1 Regiment of Dragoons.2 he parted with 17 of them on Fryday last & It was supposed when they all arrived that they would be 12000 strong, but I cannot conceive that there will be this Number notwithstanding which it may be highly necessary to be ready for such an Army ー this I have by a Brother from Marblehead just arrived who recd it from White & thought it proper to apprize You of it to be communicated to Congress if necessaryー
He likewise adds an Anecdote of a Vessel in Marblehead loaded with Molasses under Custody of the Sloop of War posted there3 which the Inhabitants boarded the last Night they slipped her Cables & after running her into the Wharf Where a Number of our Men armed were posted to receive her they unloaded her Cargo & saved the whole ー I am in much Haste Sir [&c.]
Elbridge Gerry
Monday Morning [May 15, 1775]4
1. Mass. Arch., vol. 193, 276.
2. The troops which sailed from Ireland were the 35th, 49th and 63d regiments of foot, and the 17th regiment of Dragoons, with 500 drafts and recruits, comprising the first contingent, ordered to Boston, and the 22d, 40th, 44th and 45th regiments of foot, the second contingent, ordered to New York. Gage Papers, CL.
3. H.M.S. Lively, the vessel stationed in Marblehead Harbor at that time under orders from Vice Admiral Samuel Graves, had begun on April 22, 1775, to stop every vessel coming into that port. PRO, Admiralty 51/546.
4. The date is established by Graves's report of the arrival of the first transport with troops; Graves's Conduct, I, 89, MassHS Transcript.