Displaying 1 - 20 of 255
Sir It is with the utmost Concern I find Myself called upon by my Duty to the King to communicate to You a most unhappy Affair perpetrated here this Day.
Yesterday in the Afternoon One Paul Rivere2 arrived in this Town Express from a Committee in Boston to another Committee in this Town, and delivered his Dispatch to Mr. Saml. Cutts a Merchant of this Town who immediately convened a...
Date: 14 December 1774
Volume: Volume 1
On Wednesday last [December 14] a Drum and fife [pervaded] the streets of Portsmouth, accompanied by several Committee-men, and the Sons of Liberty, publickly avowing their intention of taking possession of Fort William and Mary, which was garrisoned by six invalids. After a great number of people had collected together, they embarked on board scows, boats, &c. entered the Fort, seized the...
Date: 17 December 1774
Volume: Volume 1
As the Affair of Removing the POWDER and some GUNS from the FORT, hath been a Matter of some speculation, I was determined to enquire and judge for myself; and find upon critical Examination, that the People of the Province of New-Hampshire are well known to have supported the Character of loyal Subjects of his MAJESTY, and have been distinguished for their Obedience to all Subordinate officers,...
Date: 23 December 1774
Volume: Volume 1
Sir, Since I had the honor to write you of the [20th] instant, the weather has continued excessively severe, I have however conferred twice with Captain [Andrew] Barkley and Lieutt [Henry] Mowat of His Majesty's Ships Scarborough & Canceaux upon the best means of securing the King's service & Servants in this Town, from any sudden attack, which may be too reasonably apprehended from the...
Date: 30 December 1774
Volume: Volume 1
Sir. Yesterday Governor [John] Wentworth sent on board His Majesty's Ship under my Command, John Johnson, a deserter from the 43d Regiment desireing I wou'd keep him on board until an Oppertunity offerd to send him to your Excellency. I will therefore send him in the first Kings Vessel that goes for Boston, he seems very sensible of his past error, in desirting of His Majesty's Service in this...
Date: 13 April 1775
Volume: Volume 1
Your fav. of 24th Inst I recd duly, & observe the Contents ー The late unhappy Event, has put by all business for the present. Your order to Charter or purchase a Vessel is Impractacable here ー Therefore decline an attempt ー A Vessel cou'd not be man'd, with the greatest assurances for the seamans safety from an impress, nor is it possible to procure a Master & men for the purpose of...
Date: 28 April 1775
Volume: Volume 1
Since writg the preceedg. a Vessel is arrived from Totola by whom recd the Inclos'd letter from Cap Roberts of the Ship Lucretia, who is gone to Jamaicaー
The Master of the Vessel (arrived here) tels me Capt Roberts inform'd him Grino had got a freight at Antigua. I have again talk'd with Cap. Turner, he sais Bettenham sold for £4.10/ ー at Grenviel Bay ー wch is equal to £5.0/ ー at St Georges in...
Date: 29 April 1775
Volume: Volume 1
Sir A Brig from Biddeford in England arrived this day the Master of whom has just been with the Committee & acquaint them that his orders are to take on board six Masts of about sixteen inches diameter.
We are inform'd that the ship lately built at Casco Bay (which arrived in the Harbour this morning) is come with an intention to load Masts which are now ready for her. The opinion of the...
Date: 17 May 1775
Volume: Volume 1
Last Tuesday Evening [May 16] a Barge belonging to the Man of War in this Harbour, rowing up and down the River, to make Discoveries, with two small officers and six Seamen; the Tars not liking the Employ, tied their commanders, then run the Boat ashore, and were so unpolite as to wish the Prisoners good Night, and come off. The Officers soon got loose and rowed themselves back to the ship.
Date: 19 May 1775
Volume: Volume 1
Sailed this day for Boston, the Cerberus frigate of 28 guns, Capt. J. Chadds, with the Generals [William] Howe, [Henry] Clinton and [John] Burgoyne ー their baggage went on the 5th instant by the Prosperous Armilla, Capt. Slater
Date: 20 April 1775
Volume: Volume 1
The Memorial of us the Subscribers, Merchants, Freeholders & other Inhabitants of the Town of Portsmo Humbly shewethー
That two vessels laden with corn, Pork, Flower & other Provisions contracted for by some Merchants of this Town for the Supply of the Inhabitants, of which they are in great want, are detained by the Scarborough at the mouth of our Harbour ー and we are informed are to be...
Date: 29 May 1775
Volume: Volume 1
Mr Jae. Treadwell and Mr Jacob Sheaffe Junr present a Memorial from themselves & others Merchts Freeholders & other Inhabitants of this Town setting forth that two Vessels laden with Provisions contracted for by some Merchts for the Supply of the Inhabitants were detained by His Majesty's Ship Scarborough to be sent to Boston &ct & praying that his Excy & Honrs would interfere...
Date: 29 May 1775
Volume: Volume 1
We have two Provission Vessells seiz'd at the mouth of our harbour the Last night by the Scarborough, and upon application to Capt. [Andrew] Barclay for their release, find he has possitive Orders from the Admiral to take Possession of all Vessells Laden with Provisions, Salt or Mollasses, and send them to Boston; and says further, those Orders are Circular through the Continentー
We give this...
Date: 29 May 1775
Volume: Volume 1
We beg leave to inform you that this day eight Pieces of cannon were removed from Jerry's Point to this Town & that threats are theron thrown out by the Capt. of the Man-of-War that in case he hear of any preparation of Rafts or any other Means being used to annoy him he shall come up with his ship to fire upon the Town. We would submit it to the Wisdom of the Congress whether these Guns...
Date: 31 May 1775
Volume: Volume 1
Last Tuesday [30;May] about 30 or 40 Men from on Board the Scarborough Man of War, now in this Harbour, came on Shore at Fort William and Mary, and have tore down great Part of the Breast Work of said Fort, and did other damage.
The Day before this Attempt, the Scarborough took two Provision Vessels, loaded with Corn, Pork, Flower, Rye, &c. coming in from Long-Island; which were for the...
Date: 2 June 1775
Volume: Volume 1
Sir The Select Men and Freeholders of this Town have this Morning represented to me that the Inhabitants are extremely distress'd by sundry of their Fishermen being impress'd Onboard his Majesty's Ship Scarborough under your Command whereby the sustenance of the People is greatly reduced.
These Gentlemen on behalf of the Town, declare their universal disapprobation of the firing On your Boat,...
Date: 3 June 1775
Volume: Volume 1
Extract of a Letter from Portsmouth to the Provincial Congress, Massachusetts, and from them forwarded to the Committees of Correspondence in Connecticut.
Gentlemen, We had two provision Vessels siezed at the Mouth of our Harbour last Night, by the Scarborough, and upon Application made to Capt. Barclay for their Release, find he has positive Orders from the Admiral to take Possession of all...
Date: 5 June 1775
Volume: Volume 1
Sr You are hereby directed to man two whale Boats out of your Company, & keep them constantly cruising off & on the Coast, & direct them to acquaint all Vessels bound to Piscataqua, having Provisions, Salt, or Molasses on board, that the Man of War there has orders to Seize them; and advise them to get into York, Newbury-Port, Hampton, or Rye, as they may judge expedient.
by order of...
Date: 15 June 1775
Volume: Volume 1
directed Capt [Henry] Elkins to order his Boatmen to put in to t,he Shoals & bring to Hampton any Cannon Shot they may find there, if the People at the Shoals will allow it to be done.
Date: 26 June 1775
Volume: Volume 1
Sr Immediately after I received your Excellencys Letter of Yesterdays date (which was about 10 o'clock this Morn) relative to the Inhabitants of this Town fireing on Capt [Andrew] Barkley's Boat I sumoned the Council to meet at 12, but did not make a Quorum till this afternoon when the Council was Truely Informed that a Town Meeting was Immedately Notifyed & a very full Meeting of the...
Date: 11 August 1775
Volume: Volume 1