Charleston South Carolina March the 9th 1777
Sir
it is with Satisfaction that I Can acquaint you of my arrivel here on the Eighth Instant I have Done my utmost Endeavors for to get to the northward but it was not in my power the weather proved so Very Bad after I got as far to the nord as Hatterass I was obligd to Send of [stand off] as far as the Lattd of 28 and finally Got in here after being out thirty odd Days as the Vessel provd Very leaky here I expect to over hawl my Vessel and proseed to the northward as fast as posible when it will be I Can not write you but I Shall mak all Dispatch in my Power for to get home.
I have taken the Ship Mary from St kitts bound for liverpool William Jones master 2 the Briggt Athol from Quebeck Bound for granada James waddee master the Schooner two brothers John Salter master from Ireland bound for Jamaca on the 22d of January we took the Brigt Sally from London Bound for Tobago Barry Hartwell master haveing a Cargo of Some Dry Goods and anumber of other articles to tead[i]ous to mention She was full of one article or another a fine Sailor with a good new Sute of Sailes I hope She will Get Saifee into port.3
I was in at Suranam in January lay four or five Days but Could Get no liberty from the governour for nither wood nor water though wee Got Both by Stealth
Thomson p[h]ilips arrived whilst I was there from New London with a Cargo of horses. from [&c.]
Saml Champlin Jr
1. Nathaniel and Thomas Shaw Letters and Papers, Portfolio 11, NLCHS. Champlin commanded the Connecticut privateer sloop American Revenue, twelve guns and 100 men, owned by Shaw.
2. Mary was taken November 21, 1776, and a number of the crew entered on board the privateer. The prize was sent into Bedford, and the prize crew made its way to New London, where, on March 17, 1777 they signed the following: "We the Subcribers (Seamen on board the Sloop American Revenue) do acknowledge to have Received of Nathaniel Shaw Junr the sum of One hundred Dollars each of us which is in full of our prize Money & in full of our Wages on board the Guinea Ship called the Mary commanded by Wm Jones & taken by sd Sloop A. Revenue Samel Champlen Master & in full of all Demands on any prize from sd Sloop this present Cruse," Nathaniel and Thomas Shaw Letters and Papers, Portfolio 11, NLCHS.
3. Sally was sent into North Carolina, Nathaniel and Thomas Shaw Letters and Papers, Portfolio 11, NLCHS.
