Since you left us, our Colony has sometimes been divided, on Questions that appeard to me to be important ー Mr C [Thomas Cushing] has no doubt a Right to speak his opinions whenever he can form one; and you must agree with him, that it was highly reasonable, the Consideration of such Letters as you have often heard read, which had been assigned for the Day, should, merely for the Sake of order,... Continue Reading
Last night col. [Patrick] Henry received an express from Hampton, with the agreeable intelligence that capt. [James] Barron, in a small pilot boat which he had fitted out, has taken and brought in there two vessels with Salt to the amount of 4600 bushels; that he had likewise taken a vessel going to the Eastern Shore for provisions for the ministerial gentry that have lately been expelled from... Continue Reading
Our Governor has sailed for some time from Cape Fear it is thought for Charles Town he had some of the Council to meet on board the Cruizer the 20th but we have not yet heard of his return, he has by some means or other kept up a Communication with the Regulators to the Westward they are very Insolent in the County of Chatham no one will accept any command in the Militia the Committees below here... Continue Reading
Mr. President laid before the board copies of two letters he had written last night, which were approved of, and are as follows:
Charles-Town, Dec. 21, 1775.
Sir ー A ship appears in the offing; it is thought, by the best judges, she is the expected packet. Expedition on our own part will enable you to reconnoitre, and if practicable, take possession of her, and conduct her into a place of safety... Continue Reading
I have the honor to receive the public despatches of October 16th last No 20 with his Majesty's Instructions for forming a Regiment for the defence of Nova Scotia, signed by your Lordship. I shall exert myself to the utmost of my ability to carry the same into execution.
The great care and attention his Majesty has expressed, for the preservation of this Province, must fill the minds of every... Continue Reading
Voted, that Capt. Pierce Long, Samuel Cutts, & Samuel Sherburne Esq: be paid out of the Treasury a sum sufficient to make up to them the Two Thousand pounds Lawful money voted them by the late Congress to Lay out in Cargoes for the Foreign West Indies to procure Arms, Ammunition &c. for this Colony.
Decembr 1775
Saturday 23d
Thatchers Island WSW, 2 or 3 Miles,
[A.M.] out 3d & 2d reeft Topsails [at 10] Sett Steering sails Fresh gales & Clear Wr
at 2 [P.M.] saw several sail to the Wtard, gave Chace to them,
at 3 down Steering sails, and hawld the wind, at 4 wore & stood for the Light House being well up the Bay, fir'd 3 shott at a schooner to Leeward, supposing her to be arm'... Continue Reading
I wrote you several Letters last week by the Ships that sailed the 15th Inst for England...
The day after the Ships Sailed from Hence for England, the Scarborough, Man of War of 20 Guns lying at Bartons Point, began firing at a New Work the Rebells are Erecting at Phipsses farm ー soon after the Salute was returned from 2 Guns they have in the Redoubt on Coblers or Mil[l]ers hill Just below Mount... Continue Reading
The bearer Capt Samuel Jackson comes with six pr[i]soners, a Midshipman & five Sailors put by Capt [George] Talbot of the Niger Frigate on board the Brigantne Peter, which Brigtn was taken by sd Frigate about 18 days ago, near the Island of Barmudas and orderd into Boston ー This Brigantine was Retaken last Wednesday [December 20] by our people, and was bra't into this Port. ー Capt Jackson the... Continue Reading
Thursday Se'nnight, [December 14] died at Conanicut, of the Wound he received in Capt. Wallace's late Expedition to that Island, Capt. John Martin, aged 77 Years.
Saturday last [December 16] the Bomb Brig and some Tenders landed a Number of Men at Brenton's Neck, in Quest of Hay; but a Party of our Men approaching to attack them, they thought proper to re-embark rather hastily, without... Continue Reading
Genmn My Son Gilbert Saltonstall attended at Hartford the 9th and 11th Inst but you were gone to the Camp... Business still prevents my waiting on you and is more pressing than before, as Capt Dudley Saltonstall is gone to Phladelphia and I do not expect he'l return before the Fleet of 2 Ships 2 Briggs and 1 Sloop make a Cruize, 2 and the Business of Shipping Seamen, Officers &c... Continue Reading
Met again at N.H. [New Haven] next evening [December 23] and did several things. Consulted Cap. [Isaac] Sears &c. about Todd's brig &c., and desired him to take care of the brig bo't of Cap. Gregg [John Griggs] 2 into N.H. &c., and prepare an estimate of stores &c. for the same, &c.
A letter from Lord Stirling 19 December, being received, was read. 2
Mr. Langdon, one of the committee appointed to repair to Ticonderoga, and confer with General Schuyler, being returned, laid before Congress a report of their proceedings, which was read.
The Committee appointed to consider the petition of Peter Berton brought in their report, which being read, was agreed to, as... Continue Reading
Upon application of the Navy Committee of Congress, By order of the Board, Robert Towers, Commissary, was directed to deliver 36lbs. Salt Petre & 100 Muskets and Bayonets, to them or their order.
Resolved, That Mr. Towers take the Powder belonging to the Armed Boats as they come up to town and put it into Store, and deliver it tothose whose Tour of Duty it is to go to their Stations at Fort... Continue Reading
Warrant.
The Naval Committee appointed to equip and fit out the Fleet of the United Colonies, having received such recommendation as satisfy them, that you John Berriman are duly qualified for the office of Boatswain We have therefore appointed and authorized you the said John Berriman to be Boatswain on board the Brigantine Andrew Doria hereby giving you full power to execute the office... Continue Reading
if Lord Dunmore had beeh able to Send a vessell of 14 guns up which he intended about 4 Weeks Since, We suppose our Whole town woud be in ashes Ere this, but Kind Providence Cut him out some other work, for Which we in this town have reason to be thankful as we are not yet prepared for any thing of the kind, but hope Ere Spring to be prepared for them... we sent you Six Casks of rice by Galbraith... Continue Reading
Resolved unanimously, That the thanks of this Convention are justly due to Col. [Thomas] Elliott, and the officers and soldiers under his command, to Messrs. James and Richard Barron, and to the inhabitants of Hampton, for their spirited and successful exertions in defeating the designs of our enemies; and that the President be desired to transmit the same, and to inform them the Convention will... Continue Reading
I laid yr. Favr. of this morning before the Commee of Safety who desire you will order a proper Escort from hence to bring up all the Prisoners from Hampton as soon as may be, as to the Salt they suspend directg. the unlading it 'til the Convention shall determine whether it may be proper to risque it round to & up York River. They approve of continuing in the service Latimers Vessell you... Continue Reading
My Dear Brother I congratulate you on the honor of Virginia being fully restored, by the desastrous attempt of Dunmores troops on our lines at.the [Great] bridge. He, & his maimed ragged crew, find no safety for themselves but by skulking on board the ships. The tories of Norfolk & inhabitants of Princess Anne [&] Norfolk have forsworn their allegiance to Dunmore; many of them, after... Continue Reading
Our most implacable enemy, Lord Dunmore, to his great grief and disappointment, through the intrepidity of our troops, has been obliged to retire to the shipping; with many of the inhabitants of Norfolk, and some Negroes. His diabolical scheme (which will perpetually disgrace him) being frustrated, and finding all attempts in vain to accomplish his designs, our troops. were suffered to enter the... Continue Reading