[Lebanon] Friday, August 2d, 1776
Resolved and ordered, That Capt. John Deshon and Mr. Nathl Shaw Junr be and they are Instructed to Purchase the New Providence Sloop belonging to Mr. Charles Walker now Lying at New London2 for the use of this government to be fitted out as an armed Vessell, at the Easiest and Cheapest Rate in their Power and to Execute Proper Contracts on the Part of this Colony for that Purpose and Receive Suitable Writings of Conveyance to Pass the property of the Same to this State Accordingly
And that thereupon Capt Seth Harding Do Immediately Proceed to alter and fit up said Sloop as an Armed Brigantine with the Greatest Dispatch and that he make use of the Masts Sails rigging Guns and other Implements & Furniture of the Brigantine Defence now under his Command for that Purpose and that he Employ the Officers Sailors and Marines of said Brigantine Defence in fitting said Sloop as aforesd.3
and said Mr Shaw is Directed to furnish Capt Harding with what shall be Necessary for that Purpose
1. Charles J. Hoadly, ed., Public Records of the Colony of Connecticut... (Hartford, 1890), XV, 495. Hereafter cited as Hoadly, ed., Connecticut Records. An attested copy is in Nathaniel and Thomas Shaw Letters and Papers, NLCHS.
2. The sloop Endeavour, which Esek Hopkins had impressed into service to carry some of the cannon from New Providence, promising Walker that he would be reimbursed. This Congress did to the amount of two thousand dollars, restoring sloop and her original cargo to the owner.
3. The sloop, converted to a brigantine, was also named Defence.
