Decr 75
Thursdy 28
Boston Lighthouse House So Distance 2 or 3 Mile
at 3 AM Fired a gun and made the signal for Sailg Weig'd and Came to Sail at 8 AM Saw 5 Rebel Privateers at 9 Running into Marblehead harbour found Rideing here His Majestys ship fowey Discharg'd our Pilot into her at ½ past 9 Bore away Heard Sevl Guns fired from the Fowey at the Privateers 2 at 2 P M Came to in... Continue Reading
ordered him to advertize in the Cambridge & Watertown papers, at Least eight days before that of the sale of any goods taken by the Contl Armed vessels ー
The following Gentlemen are appointed, and commissioned, by the major part of the [Massachusetts] Council, Judges of Admiralty for this colony, agreeable to an Act lately passed by the Gen. Assembly, viz.
Nathan Cushing, Esq; for the Southern district, containing the counties of Plymouth, Barnstable, Bristol, Nantucket, and Duke's County.
Timothy Pickering, jun. Esq; for the Middle district... Continue Reading
When the Fowey arrived from Halifax the latter End of last Month I received a Copy of an Address presented to Governor [Francis] Legge by the Council and Assembly praying his interposition with my Lords Commissioners of the Admiralty to put an entire Stop to impressing Seamen within the Province of Nova Scotia for the King's Fleet; and also desiring his Excellency to use his influence with me to... Continue Reading
Decr 1775
Thursday 28
Moored in Nantasket Road
Shared 323£ amongst the Captain Officers & Ships Company being due for the Prize Sally & Harlequin Sloop sold here 2
I do myself the Honor to address this Letter to your Excellency by Mr. Paul Allen, my Son in Law, who makes a Voyage by my Permission to Guadeloupe, to purchase Powder and other Articles for the use of the Colony. I beg Leave to recommend him to your Notice and entire Confidence, with Respect to the Affairs of America. The Contest between the Colonies and Britain, hath at Length arisen to so... Continue Reading
Imported in the Sloop Polly myself Master from New York, got to the Wharf last Night
140 Barrels of Flour
7 Cases of Knives & Forks
10 Tons of Pig-Iron
6 Bolts of Duck
4 Cases of Gin
½ Ton of Redwood
This Morng the Men o'War drew off in a panic (not knowing that [Charies] Lee was gone) & removed at a Distance from the Wharves. He 2 dreaded the Rifle Men, & feared least the ships from Philada were to meet Lee here.
Sir, Since my last of the 10th Inst the Rebels Issued out Orders from Providence to break off all Communication with the King's Ships, not to supply them with any thing whatever, on pain of Death; Upon which I acquainted the Town, if they were a Town, we must be upon other Terms ー A Committee came on board, desired a Truce, while they could send off a Number of Inhabitants to Providence, to... Continue Reading
I have found as I had expected that this country is in inconceivable agitation, the confederates are making immense preparation for the next spring and in spite of the rigours of the season they continue the campaign. They besieged Montreal which has capitulated and are actually before Quebec which I think will soon fall also. They have seized several of the King's vessels filled with provisions... Continue Reading
I make thus bold to Lay my present as well as tormer Situation before you. Last August Travelling Towards New York from this Town Looking for Work and finding none, hearing of the King's Proclamation to go to Boston and there have full Employment I went on Board A Transport where Afterwards I was forced to Remain as A Soldier though Quite Contrary to the proclamation, (as it Said therein) that... Continue Reading
Resolved, That Capt. John Hazlewood be appointed to the command of Ten Fire Rafts, and Superintendant at Present over the whole Fleet of Rafts.
Resolved, That for the further Defence of this Province, a Floating Battery be Built
That Samuel Howell, Robert Whyte, and George Clymer, be a Committee to have the said Battery compleated as soon as Possible, and that they purchase the Guns and other... Continue Reading
An application was made by letter from Lady William Campbell, for permission to receive some further supplies of sea-stores ー a list whereof was given in by Ralph Izard, esq.
Read a letter from the Committee at George-Town, dated 26th December, 1775.
Read a letter from Mr. Wm. Heyward, to Mr. Thos. Heyward, jun., dated 27th December, 1775, acquainting him, that he arrived from England in... Continue Reading
the Sandwich packet arrived the day before yesterday ー as we heard that many passengers were on board I sent John Calvert yesterday to learn & if possible to bring up our Letters he returned late last night ー said they (the Governor) would suffer no person to go on board nor any to come on Shoar & he heard only of Mr. Daniel Heyward 2 as a passenger
I am willing to hope that... Continue Reading
After a passage of 15 days, from Cape Henry we arrived here on the 10th Ulto the day following (in the Morning) a Ship of war appeared in the Offing of this Road, which made Capt Dickinson & I anctious to have the Cargoe landed from on Board the Schooner to effect which we were both on Shore endeavouring to make Sales, or find a convenient place in which to Store it ー In the mean time to our... Continue Reading
My Lord. As an Officer of the 14th Regiment, is arriv'd here, who left Quebec the ninth of November last, and that Province in the Utmost distress, I think it incumbent on me to transmit to your Lordship, his Account of the proceedings of the Rebel Army, under the Command of Colonel Montgomery, for your Perusal.
I likewise inclose to your Lordship, a Paragraph of a News paper, printed at... Continue Reading
A distressing Circumstance hath taken place relative to the Island St John, but more particularly to Mr Callbeck (then commander in Chief) and to myself, who were on the 17th day of last Month taken as Prisoners from our Families at Charlotte Town, by a number of armed Men from two New England Privateers then at Anchor before the Town. ー They plunder'd Governor Patterson's Mr. Callbeck's and... Continue Reading
May it Please your Excellency At the request of Mesrs Jacob Green & Co owners of the sloop Speedwell [James] Cory Master lately taken by Capt Broughton and sent into this Harbour we have, maturely considered the within Inclo Acco so far as its carried out and are of opinion that the Charges are reasonable and that the Losses were sustained And are further of opinion that the Captors in... Continue Reading
74½ Quintals Fish
a 25/
£55 .. 17 .. 6
1½ bbs Oyl
a 73/
5 .. 8 .. 0
4 half bbs Pork
a 36/
7 .. 4 .. 0
1 half bb Beef
1 .. 4 .. ー
2 .. 3 .0 Bread
a 20/
2 .. 15 .. 0
2 Cables
13 .. 6 .. 8
2 Anchors
5 .. 0 .. ー
Repairs of the Mainail & Jibb Pr Mr Sawyers Bill
4 .. 19 .. 4
To Saml Saywords Bill for Freight of... Continue Reading
Whereas several of the united Colonies have of late thought it expedient and necessary to fitt out armed Vessells for the Defence of American Liberty, and it appears to this Court necessary that Measures be taken by this Colony for our further Protection by Sea therefore
Resolved that Jno Adams & Joseph Palmer Esqrs with such as the Honourable House shall join be a Committee to consider and... Continue Reading