John Bradford to John Hancock, September 30, 1776

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Boston 30th Sepr 1776

Dear Sir

By last post I inclos'd to Mr [Robert] Morris the State of the Case of the Condemnation of Ship peggy. as she is Claim'd by the former Owners who have Appeal'd to Congress and beg'd the favr of Mr Morris to give it into your hands. I have only to say there are sundry persons of Credit in town who have made their Escape from Hallifax which saw the process &. were in Court at the trial and know she was Condemned²

As I know it gives you pleasure to hear of the Success of your friends I wou'd inform you that Johnny Winthrop is 1/4 or 1/3 part concern'd in a Small privateer out of Cap[e Ann]³ wch has sent in a valuable prize loaded with Sugar and a large quany (somwhere abot 100 pipes) [illegible] Madeira [wine] A second prize a packet of Abot. 70 tuns no Cargo on [board but] Elaphants teeth. the vessel is valuable & she has Six Brass Cannon Carrying a pound & half shot, they have taken a third prize, which is a three deck ship the privateer got in last Saturday with a Sum of money and a quany of plate taken out of her and left the prize near the land, it is probable she is in at Cape Ann, As the wind was favourable Yesterday and last night and no Enemy on the Coast, none of the Enemies ships have been seen from our shores for more than a fortnight,⁴ we are told the Columbus has sent in a prize to portsmo without any farther particulars,⁵ the Cruisers from this State dont shine in taking prizes. [Daniel] Waters in [the] Lee I heard of last week she was then in the track of the Jamaica ships, after wasting a whole month in harbours before she went abroad, [John] Ayres I have not heard from since he Sailed wch is near four weeks, [John] Skimmer and [Samuel] Tucker Sail'd last week fitted for a two months Cruise Some good might Arise from keeping them vessells in [the] Service with good Commanders but the Characters of none not now employ'd are very Exceptionable⁶

I hope these may find you and your good Lady Rejoycing in the Blessings of health. be pleas'd to offer my best Compliments to her, and believe me to be [&c.]

Jn^o Bradford

Ive wrote to Mr Winthrop to pick out a pipe of the best wine for your private use we shall be able to accomodate you with a hhd of best Barbds powderd Sugars wch are to be Sold on Wednesday next

1. Society Collection, HSP.

2. The Peggy, captured by Washington's armed schooners Hancock and Franklin, was condemned at Boston, September 5, 1776. The appeal from the verdict was based upon whether she had been properly condemned in the Admiralty court at Halifax. If not she could be considered only as a recapture, and not a prize. The appeal was finally dismissed "neither party appearing" on May 24, 1784. Revolutionary War Prize Cases, Records of the Court of Appeals in Cases of Capture, 1776-1787, NA.

3. John Winthrop, Jr. was part owner of the Massachusetts privateer schooner Warren.

4. The three prizes were the ship Picary, brigantine Swallow and ship Sarah and Elizabeth. The latter arrived safely at Cape Ann on the same day that Bradford wrote.

5. The ship Royal Exchange.

6. The men named were captains of the small armed schooners originally commissioned by Washington in 1775.

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1776 September 30

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