October 1776 Tuesday 8th
Block Island NbW½W 9 or 10 Lgs at 3 Tkd Exercised Great Guns & sml Arms at 11 mde Sail Cerberus in Co P:M: at 2 saw 3 Sail under the Land gave chace fired 3 Shot at a Brigg left her for the Cerberus, & haul'd up for the other two to prevent them from running a Shore. they hoisted out their Boats & people went on shore, then the Two Vessels bore down for us, bro't too hoisted out our Boats & took Possession of them. a Snow from Barbadoes for Ireland & a Brigg from the Bay of Honduras for Glasgow, they were taken by Rebel Privateers. sent a Boat Arm'd [to] the other Brigg in Shore, the Cerberus having brot her too at 7 hoisted in the Boats & stood to the So wd
1. PRO, Admiralty 51/930.