Providence September 11th 1776
Sir,
We the Subscribers all of Providence in the State of Rhode Island &c Merchants, request your Honor to grant a Commission or Letter of Marque and Reprisal to Thomas Child2 Commander of the Brigantine Industry of which we are Owners, She is burthened about One Hundred and ten Tons carries Twelve Carriage Guns Six Pounders, and Twelve Swivel Guns, manned with One Hundred Men, and fitted with a suitable Quantity of Muskets Blunderbusses, Cutlasses, Pistols, Powder Ball, and other Military Stores. She hath on board Forty-five barrels Beef and Pork, Seven Thousand Pounds Weight of Bread, with some Flour, Rice, Beans, Pottatoes &c. David Arnold is First Lieutenant Draper Toman is Second Lieutenant and Joshua Bliven ー Master. We are with great Respect sir [&c.]
Jabez Bowen
1. Maritime Papers, Letters of Marque, Petitions and Instructions, 1776-1780, R.I. Arch.
2. Ibid., Thomas Child acknowledged his commission and instructions on the same date. In the Rhode Island Historical Society is a bill from Child for expenses incurred while outfitting the Industry. It is dated September 15, 1776, and reads:
