NewBern 26th. May 1778—
Sir,
I had your letter of the 21st. Inst.1 and am very much concerned at the account you give me of the rascally behaviour of Pilots, at present I do not know that it is in my power to do any thing with them, if I find it is they shall be treated as they deserve. Mr. Bond has promised to give me a list of them.2 The Assembly directed a Tender to be purchased by Capt Easton at Beaufort.3 He advised me had made the purchase, and is fitting the Sloop for your purpose, the sooner you can send for her I think the better— Shot, Bread & flour is to be had here, I think you had best appoint an Agent, at this place to provide necessary’s for the Ship and Crew, who shall meet with every assistance I can give.4 The Ship is to be taken into the service of this State as the property of the State (by Resolve of the Assembly) arrears to be paid up, agreeable to a former Resolve, to the 20th. April, last,5 and from that time forward the pay be as follows. viz. the Commander per day 3¼ dollars— Lieut 2¼ dollars— Master 2 dollars, Doctor 2¾ dollars— Captain of Marines 2¼ dollars. Lieut Marines 2 dollars— Master mate 1½ dollars— Midshipman 1½ dollars— Boatswain 1½ dollars— Common Sailors 35 dollars per month. I have appointed Capt Easton paymaster to whom (if he accepts which you may know by writing to him) you will do well to send your account made up to the 20th. of April, and from that time a monthly pay Roll according to the above establishments. I expect a considerable sum of money from Congress in two or three weeks so soon as it arrives I shall advise Capt Easton. Enclosed you have a Captains and Lieutenants Commission for the Officers of Marines—6 An allowance was made by the Assembly for the Horse.7 I will endeavour to get a certificate and send you the money when that is sent to pay off your Crew. I am, Sir, [&c.]
R. Caswell
LB, Nc-Ar, Executive Letter Book, p. 344. Addressed below close: “Capt Willis Wilson, Ship Caswell, Ocracock.”
1. The letter from Wilson, dated 21 May, is above.
2. Hance Bond, the bearer of Wilson’s letter and an applicant for a commission as lieutenant of Marines for Caswell, provided on 26 May a list of fourteen “Occacock” pilots, including: “Wm Williams, James Williams, Richd Wade, Adam Gaskins, [Bavel?] Gaskins, John Gaskins, Wallace Styren, George Styron, William Duncan, Joseph Pahdrick, Fredk Gutridge, Benja Gaskins, Jacob Gaskins, Walentine Wade.” NCSR 12: 344.
3. On 30 April, the North Carolina legislature passed a resolution directing John Easton to purchase “a small fast sailing vessel and rig and fit her to serve as a tender to the Ship Caswell.” NCSR 12: 636-37, 642, 646.
4. Wilson asked New Bern merchant Richard Ellis to be Caswell’s agent, who agreed to take the position. Wilson to Caswell, 26 June, Nc-AR, Governor’s Papers; Caswell to Wilson, 30 June, Governor’s Papers, State Series 111, Richard Caswell, 3, April 20–October 17, G.P. 3, p. 112.
5. On 20 April, a committee of the North Carolina General Assembly submitted the following resolution, which was approved:
The remainder of the resolution set out the wages of the officers and crew, as Caswell detailed them in the remainder of this sentence and directed that a tender be purchased to serve Caswell. NCSR 12: 574- 75.
6. Wilson had requested the commissions in his letter to Caswell of 20 May, above.
7. A horse that Wilson borrowed to send an express to Gov. Patrick Henry of Virginia died while on this mission and Wilson paid the owner £30 in compensation. On 21 Apr., the North Carolina General Assembly voted to reimburse Wilson. NCSR 12: 687-88.
