American Theatre from May 1, 1777, to May 31, 1777
About Ten Days ago I had the Boldness to make a Motion that a Navy Board should be established at Boston. Certain Gentlemen looked struck and surprised; however, it passed. I have moved I believe fifteen Times, that a Nomination should take Place; certain Gentlemen looked cold.
Two or three Days ago, the Nomination came on. Langdon, Vernon, Deshon, Dalton, Orne, Henley, Smith, Cushing and Warren... Continue Reading
Date: 6 May 1777
Volume: Volume 8
State Navy Board
[Philadelphia] May 6th, 1777
Sir —
Last evening we received A Letter by Express from Henry Fisher Esqr at Lewistown, Advising of the Ship Roebuck making her way up the Bay, as also two other Ships being up the Bay, and from this Manuvre of his Majesties Pirates, we are apprehensive that they intend up to procure water. As soon as you receive this, you will order all the Officers... Continue Reading
Date: 6 May 1777
Volume: Volume 8
State Navy Board
[Philadelphia] May 6th 1777
Captain Rice ー
It is with great surprize the board rece'd your Letter this day dated Yesterday, informing that your Shot would not fit Your Twelve pounders, and you were hurried away that you had not time to examine.
We think you have been two months fitting out, had repeated orders from the Commodore to be ready to sail at a Minutes warning. You had... Continue Reading
Date: 6 May 1777
Volume: Volume 8
I have heard a report that some officers from the enemies' ships of War were lately seen on shore near Muspilion [Mis pillion] Creek & seemingly made welcome by some persons there. This I hope you will make a proper enquiry concerning & if found true that you will have such enemies to their country properly dealt with, the safety & credit of the State requires it. A report likewise... Continue Reading
Date: 6 May 1777
Volume: Volume 8
The Captures of so many Jamaica Ships by American armed Vessels, have caused the Stoppage of several capital Jamaica Houses in the City of London where it was expected, some Months since, that the Price of Sugar would rise to near Three Pounds Sterling per Hundred Weight. Many more Failures are also expected.
Date: 6 May 1777
Volume: Volume 8
The Commissioners of the Navy direct that you do as soon as possible Hawl the Brigantine Notre Dame upon the Hard, and have her Bottom well scrub'd and Clean'd and a Light coat of Tallow pay'd over the present Coat now on the Bottom, and that you do have the Vessell put in the best Order to proceed to sea as soon as possible after Capt Seymour 2 arrives at Charles Town ー and that you... Continue Reading
Date: 6 May 1777
Volume: Volume 8
The Commissioners of the Navy Desire that you will forward the Compleating the Beaufort Galley as soon as possible, so as to have her Compleatly finish'd before she is Launched, and that you do Inlist at Least Twenty men to serve on board said Galley as seamen, and that you provide said men with such provissions as is allowed on Board the Navy of this State, and that you send your Accounts... Continue Reading
Date: 6 May 1777
Volume: Volume 8
Yesterday was brought into "this island a large American vessel, loaded with 500 barrels of rice and 70 barrels of indigo, from South Carolina to Martinico, which was brought in by ten of the crew: the vessel is sold, and the cargo for about 700 1. sterling.
Date: 6 May 1777
Volume: Volume 8
. . . the fair prospect I had of providing Cannon for the Raleigh is frustrated by reason of a disappointment in a quantity of Pigg Iron belonging to this State, which I had Borrow'd to compleat the set of Guns, But they being alarm'd by advice receiv'd from France, via Bilboa that General Burgoine is coming outto make a desc[e]nt on this Town, they are converting the piggs into Twenty four... Continue Reading
Date: 7 May 1777
Volume: Volume 8
I am without any of your late favors and at present have nothing very material to Offer. As I have wrote the honble Marine Board Beg leave to refer you to that letter for perticulars, I inclose a letter this day receiv'd from Mr [Leonard) Jarvis as it highly gratifies me to have his opinion of the Active (now the Delaware) knowing him to be a good Judge I hope she will be a luckey vessell to you,... Continue Reading
Date: 7 May 1777
Volume: Volume 8
To the Sheriff of the County of Suffolk — You are hereby Ordered & directed to confine all Prisoners of every Rank in close Custody in the Goal in said County until the Guard Ships are ready for their reception whereof fail not and this shall be your sufficient Warrant — Similar to the above was sent to the Sheriffs of the several Counties in this State —
Ordered that Capt [Ezra] Weston... Continue Reading
Date: 7 May 1777
Volume: Volume 8
Information having been received by this Court that two of the Enemy's Ships the Diamond of 32 Guns and the Greyhound of 28 Guns were cruising in this Bay where they have taken several Vessels bound into this State, some of them coming from France, from which place many Vessels loaded with necessary Articles of Supply which must be of great use not only to this & the neighbouring States but... Continue Reading
Date: 7 May 1777
Volume: Volume 8
You are hererby Order'd and directed to attend at a Court Martial to morrow Morning at Nine o'Clock on board the Hancock in Congress Road, There to try the following Persons, Vizt ー
Leblun Baker Pilott
Robert Stoutly
Phillip Bass Junr
David Ensigne
Nathl Winchester
Joseph Petters &
Peter Jennis
Thomas Carren
all of whom Stand Charged by Captain John Manley Commander of the said... Continue Reading
Date: 7 May 1777
Volume: Volume 8
With regard to the Complaint made against me by the Spanish Ambassador, for having caused certain Pacquets to be opened onboard (as it said) of a Spanish Ship named the Virgin-Del-Carmen in her Passage from the Havannah to Cadiz. I beg leave to state the identical Fact, as follows.
Being in Latitude 43 and Longitude 38 from the Lizard, I brought to a small Schooner of the above-name; On sending... Continue Reading
Date: 7 May 1777
Volume: Volume 8
. . . You know, Sir, my inclination is to serve my Country in the Nav.al Department; from the experience I have had in that line and from many circumstances, I am perswaded I might be more useful in that than in any other Department of public business in the present times. But of this, my Superiors will judge. I might have brought testimonies of the services which I rendered to the Continental... Continue Reading
Date: 7 May 1777
Volume: Volume 8
We have no News here except what We get from your Country. The Privateers act with great Spirit, and are blessed with remarkable Success. Some Merchant ships are arrived this Week from Maryland. They were first chased by Men of War, in attempting to get into Cheasapeak Bay ー they run from them and attempted Delaware Bay ー there they were chased again. Whereupon they again shifted their Course for... Continue Reading
Date: 7 May 1777
Volume: Volume 8
I send my Leiutennant to you to inform your Excellency of the state of the galley she is Launched & we are watting for riging I have sent twice to baltimore & Can geet none. Mr Thomas smith informs me that there is rigging to be had in Wilmington at six or eight pounds P ct, if you think proper to send him orders to geet it he will geet as much as will rigg the galley. I am tired Lying... Continue Reading
Date: 7 May 1777
Volume: Volume 8
The Brigantine of warr Comet of which you are Captain being now ready to proceed to sea on a Cruze having on board nearly a full Complement of Men and provissions and Stores for Three Months, we desire that you will Embrace the first faviourable Opertunity to proceed to. Sea, and you have our Liberty to Cruze not Exceeding Three Months from the day you leave Charles Town Barr, in such station as... Continue Reading
Date: 7 May 1777
Volume: Volume 8
18 April
1777.
Cause.
Andrew Barkley Esqr Commander of his Majesty's Ship of War the Milford, vs. the Brigantine Cabot a Privateer. — Libel filed & Entered, Order made thereon as on file. —
Registers Office 21st April 1777.
Thomas Stone Master of his Majesty's Ship of War the Milford Commanded by Andrew Barkley Esqr being duly Sworne ー Deposeth, that on Sunday the 23 March about 5 oClock... Continue Reading
Date: 8 May 1777
Volume: Volume 8
The Proprietors of the Schoonr McClary 2 some time since agreed to present his Excellency Genl Washington with a Hogshead of Cane Spirit that was Shipt at Jamaica and directed to Genl Charlton [Guy Carleton]; for want of proper conveyance it remains here; as have advice from Messrs Samuel Barret & Co of Boston, that Colo Trumbull, Commissary Genl had desired them to receive the... Continue Reading
Date: 8 May 1777
Volume: Volume 8
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