Kingston 19th Novr 1776
Sr
I yesterday addressed a line to you,2 mentioning the arrest of a prize of Capt Samson's of the Brigt Independence with a number of Irish men on board.3
as the Supporting such a number of people here will be expensive, I have thought it advisable to send Lieut Adams the prize master to Boston to take the orders of the Honble Board respecting them. can they be considered as prisoners & sent on board the flag of truce at Marblehead & if they can with propriety they may answer a valuable purpose, if not I believe a great part of them might be taken into families for their labor through the winter many of them I find have families in Ireland & are very desirous of getting home as soon as they possibly can — shall hope soon to receive the orders of the Honble Council respecting them [&c.]
W Sever.4
1. Mass. Arch., vol. 166, 52-52a.
2. Mass. Arch., vol. 211, 176.
3. Brigantine Nancy, 140 tons burden, John Churchill, master, Independent Chronicle, Boston, December 26, 1776.
4. On November 21 the Council ordered:
That such of the said Irishmen as are desirous to return home be sent on board the Flag of Truce now at Marblehead bound to Halifax; and that such of them as chuse to tarry may have liberty to enter into our sea service or be put out by the Comtee of correspondence &c at Plimouth into families where they may maintain themselves by their labor thro' the winter . . .
Mass. Arch., vol. 166, 53.
