April 1778
Monday 6th
Remarks at Tiverton [R.I.]
This 24 Hours wind at SW. Pleasant Weather Lieu Cartwright,1 with nine Men in the Barge with Capt Thomas, & a Whale Boat under Command of Lieut Helme, Ferry Boat under the Command of Mr Gifford2 Master of the Spitfire Boarded the Sloop mentioned, on Thursday 2d April, and notwithstanding the fire from the enemy fort, & Guards Set her on Fire, & Destroyd her within, 80 Rods of the enemy fort on Rh Isld.3
D, UkLPR, H.C.A. 32/455/1.
1. Paul Cartwright, second lieutenant of Spitfire.
2. David Gifford.
3. British battery at Bristol Ferry on the island of Rhode Island. Capt. Frederick Mackenzie noted on 7 Apr. in his diary: "The Rebels burnt the Sloop at Bristol ferry last night, without loss or opposition. Everything of value had been previously taken out of her.” Mackenzie, Diary 1: 265.
