Captain Ephraim Bill, Connecticut Militia, to Joshua Huntington, May 5, 1778

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Transcription

Norwich Shipyard [Conn.] May 5 1778

Sir

Agreeable to your Desire I offered The men five Shilling ⅌ Night for Keeping Guard at the Ship¹ which They Refused and Demand Six Shill^s. And Eight Pence & half Pint Rum Each ⅌ Night of which I did not think Proper To Give without your order I Should Be Glad you would Advise in the affair and your order Shall be Strictly Notice^d By Sir Your Hum^bl. Serv^t.—

Ephraim Bill²

L, PHi, Frigate Confederacy Papers, 1776-1779. Addressed on cover: “To Maj^r./Joshua Huntington/Norwich." Docketed: "Cap^t Eph^m. Bill/Letter May 5 1778.” Huntington, a major in the Connecticut militia, was superintendent of construction for the Continental Navy frigate Confederacy.

1. Frigate Confederacy.

2. Ephraim Bill later served as a second lieutenant of marines in frigate Confederacy; the exact date of his commission is unknown, however, but his appointment was probably made after Confederacy was launched on 8 Nov. 1778. Smith, Marines in the Revolution, pp. 432–33. When he wrote the above letter, therefore, he was probably not serving as a lieutenant of marines but as a Connecticut militia captain.

Document Information

Date

1778 May 5

Volume

Volume 12

Series

American Theatre from April 1, 1778 to May 31, 1778