Displaying 1 - 20 of 36
Sir Inclosed is A Copy of a Letter I received Yesterday: The Gentleman who writes it I understand is a Man of Character, and by his Intelligence You may further judge of the Disposition of the People in this Country2 ー however I hope in God, to make them pay dear for their frolick, should they attempt it.
I am Sir, [&c.]
Date: 9 February 1775
Volume: Volume 1
Gentlemen I have received your Letter containing your Sentiments upon the present Alarming Crisis, and will transmit them to the Admiralty by the first Opportunity2 ー it is my Duty and Inclination to give every Assistance and Protection in my Power to His Majesty's Loyal Subjects. I am, Gentlemen [&c.]
Date: 9 May 1775
Volume: Volume 1
Sir On the 3d instt An Insurrection happened here ー The People took it in their heads, A Merchant (Mr [George] Rome) had bought some Provisions for the Use of Government ー they stopped the Carts, threw about the Flour, flew to Arms with an avowed intent to destroy the Merchant's House and Stores crying out through the Streets now was the time to kill the Tories ー Intelligence was given me of...
Date: 5 June 1775
Volume: Volume 1
I have received your letter of the 14th inst.; although I am unacquainted with you, or what station you act in; suppose you write in behalf of some body of people; therefore, previous to my giving an answer, I must desire to know whether or not, you, or the people on whose behalf you write, are not in open rebellion to your lawful sovereign, and the acts of the British legislature!
I am, sir your...
Date: 15 June 1775
Volume: Volume 1
Sir, Since my last, of the 5th Instt I had information of this Colony's fitting out Arm'd Vessels from Providence to attack the King's Ships ー Report says a Brig of 18 Carriage Guns, 200 Men, a Sloop of 14 ー 80 Men and four or five other smaller, besides two fitting out at New London, and two at Dartmouth ー In consequence of this, I sent the two packets out different ways to reconnoitre;...
Date: 19 June 1775
Volume: Volume 1
Sir The Pirate Sloops mentioned in my last of the 19th Inst still keeps up about Providence, they propogate Reports, that they have thirty Whale Boats and seven Sloops ready to come upon Us, When a convenient Opportunity offers, however this Town appears to be divided. Many are jealous of the Providence People, and I am promised an Association acknowledging their Allegiance and binding...
Date: 30 June 1775
Volume: Volume 1
Colony of Rhode Island
Providence, ss.
At a Court erected to try and condemn all Vessels, that shall be found infesting the Sea Coasts of America, and all Vessels belonging to any of the Inhabitants of Great-Britain, [and] brought into said Colony, ー to be holden at Providence, in the County of Providence, in said Colony, on the 4th Day of July, AD. 1776, at the Hour of Ten in the Forenoon, will...
Date: 15 June 1776
Volume: Volume 5
Since my Arrival here in the Providence the 7th Current I have from a Variety of events been altogether Unable to give you any Satisfactory account and for that reason have defered Writing. I now inclose you copies of my letters down 'till the 30th Ulto & You have also inclosed a Short account of my whole Cruise and I have now to Inform you that on the 22d Currt I was directed by the Commr in...
Date: 30 October 1776
Volume: Volume 6
Decemr 1776
Saturdy 7
Rhode Island NE 4 Leagues
AM at 4 the Commodre made the signal to weigh weigh'd & came to sail, at 8 out all reefs, Clear'd Ship for Action, the Commodre signl to prepare for Battle, hoisted out the Longboat, at 11 the Commodre signal to make more sail, at Noon shortened sail & in 1st reefs Topsails, all the Convoy in Compy
Modte & fair PM at 1 the Commodre...
Date: 7 December 1776
Volume: Volume 7
The Army landed this morning at Weaver's Cove near Mr Stoddard's house, in the following order —
The first Embarkation consisted of the Light Infantry, Grenadiers, and 10th Regiment, under the Command of Major General [Richard] Prescott. As soon as they had landed, the boats returned for the three other Battalions of the 3rd brigade, which formed the whole of the 1st Division.
The 2nd Division...
Date: 8 December 1776
Volume: Volume 7
The frost being very severe, the three brigades which are encamped, were this day ordered to go into Cantonments in the farm houses, but the order being received too late to admit of making the necessary regulations, the movement was deferred until toMorrow.
The Chatham, Preston, and some other ships of War, went down to Newport this morning, and anchored off the town.
Capt [Duncan] Drummond,...
Date: 11 December 1776
Volume: Volume 7
The Rebels fire at our men from the height a'bove Bristol ferry, whenever they see four or five of them together; but hitherto no person has been hurt. Indeed we have not had a man killed or wounded since we landed.
The Emerald Frigate is anchored in the passage between this Island, and Prudence Island; another Frigate is stationed above Prudence to prevent any vessel from passing between...
Date: 13 December 1776
Volume: Volume 7
A Prize taken lately by a Rebel Privateer, came into the harbour yesterday, not knowing the Island was in our possession. She struck after a shot or two had been fired at her. 2
Date: 18 December 1776
Volume: Volume 7
Frost, and some Snow.
A boat with a Lieutenant and 5 men belonging to a Rebel Privateer Sloop of 10 Guns, came on shore this morning on part of Brenton's neck. They were immediately seized by some of the troops quartered there, and brought to Headquarters. The vessel They belong to is off the point of the Eastern Main, and they were sent on shore by the Captain of her to obtain intelligence of...
Date: 28 December 1776
Volume: Volume 7
In consequence of Orders from the Viscount Howe, I have sent the Asia and Experiment to England — nothing material has happen'd since my Letter of the 11h past by the Mercury. The Continental Fleet is in Providence River byond our reach at present, and in addition to the last List I sent, there are, as I am inform'd, about 15 Small Privateer Sloops from 8 to 12 Guns.
The 18h Decr I retook the...
Date: 8 January 1777
Volume: Volume 7
February 1777
Friday 7
Moored between Prudence & Rhode Island.
AM ... passed by a Cartel from Providence for Newport. Fresh Gales & Cloudy Wr.
P M Sent the Galley armed with a Mo[r]ter in her to the Diamond . . . at 10 heard several Vollies of small Shot from the NNE.
Saturday 8
AM the Galley retd with the Carriage of her prow Gun Disabled. She having thrown a Charge of Round...
Date: 8 February 1777
Volume: Volume 7
The Captain of the Amazon had leave to Negociate an Exchange of Prisoners on equal terms. — I have an Account of an Armed Schooner which was taken by the Amazon, but none of any Trading Schooner. — Mr Trumbull must have mistaken the matter for had Mr Andrew Palmer been Master of a Trader, he would have been exchanged with the others, because no Masters of Merchant Vessels are considered as having...
Date: 28 February 1777
Volume: Volume 7
Sir, Intelligence being given me that the Assembly of Rhode Island had passed an Act for taking the Stock off the Islands with intent to prevent the Kings Forces from being Supplied, I wrote the inclosed Letter to the Town of Newport to prevent (if possible) their giving any Assistance. And as I was informed at the same time 250 Men were at Stonytown ready to embark to Block Island for that...
Date: 9 September 1775
Volume: Volume 2
Upon my Arrival here from a Cruize found his Majesty's Ship Nautilus with two Brigs from the West Indies which she had taken. The Swan being upon a Cruize; the petty Officers and trusty men belonging to his Majesty's Ships here being absent on Duty; The Collector wanting to send the Custom house money; and other Vessels necessary to be sent round (of which inclosed I send a List); I thought it...
Date: 28 September 1775
Volume: Volume 2
Sir. I hope you will please to pardon my taking the liberty of laying these few lines before your excellency, but if I had not I should have thought it would have been doing a great injustice to my conscience, & I think every well meaning man who is a real friend to liberty would join in my sentiments to stop such outragious actions & rebellious works which are going to be put into...
Date: 4 October 1775
Volume: Volume 2