Displaying 1 - 20 of 79
Long have the good people of this colony been oppressed by your conduct, in interrupting their lawful trade, and preventing the importation of the provisions necessary for their subsistence.
The acts of the British Parliament, already filled with restrictions of trade, oppressive in the highest degree, seem by you, to be thought too lenient.
Not controlled by those you affect to call your masters...
Date: 14 June 1775
Volume: Volume 1
The Men of War in Newport take every Thing they can get. An armed Sloop and Packet belonging to this Town went down the Bay and retook, after a small Engagement in Sight of the Ships of War, Thomas Lindsey's Packet, who had been turned into a Cruiser.
Date: 20 June 1775
Volume: Volume 1
I received a Letter last Evening from the Committee at Plymouth informing me That Two Vessels from Genl [Thomas] Gage under Convoy of an armed Cutter2 arrived at Saco with Provisions in Order to exchange for Lumber; The Com through Necessity agreed to the Exchange, but a Misunderstanding arising the Inhabitants seized the two Vessels3 and fired upon the Cutter, who was...
Date: 24 June 1775
Volume: Volume 1
I gave you a hint in my Letter of yesterday of our fitting out two armed Vessels for the protection of our trade, it looks very probable to me that if there were a few Vessels propperly armed and mannd along the Coast in different parts it would be a great means of proteckting our own trade and allso of picking up many of the provision Vessels that they the Men of War take this way and send round...
Date: 27 June 1775
Volume: Volume 1
. . . we have three men of War and one packet that are constantly aRobing and plundering allmost all the Vessels that comes in Especially those that belong to providence none Escape that they can get in their power and they have So Strong a party in their favour in the town of Newport that nothing can be said or done in the coloney but they have immediate intelligence of it our [Governor Joseph]...
Date: 18 July 1775
Volume: Volume 1
Capt. [James] Wallace in One of his mad Fits last Week drew up all Three of the Men of War before the Town of Newport and swore with the most bitter Imprecations that he would burn it. He fired several Guns over the Town which put the People, the Tories as well as the Whigs, into the most terrible Consternation. I heard that Two Women have since lost their Lives in Consequence of the Fright.
Date: 25 July 1775
Volume: Volume 1
Nicholas Cooke, Deputy Governor of Rhode Island, to Captains John Pain and John Sands, July 29, 1775
We have authentick Intelligence that 2 Men of War and 11 Transports sailed from Boston the Beginning of this Week; and we have the highest Reason to think that they are intended to take Cattle Sheep &c from the several Islands and very probably from yours in Order to supply the Enemy in Boston where they already suffer greatly for Want of fresh Provisions. As it is of great Consequence to...
Date: 29 July 1775
Volume: Volume 1
Last evening Col. [Elisha] Porter delivered me your Letter of the 4th instant, to which I have paid all the Attention the importance of it demands.
This Colony the last Fall, not confiding entirely in the precarious Supply of Powder that might be expected from the Merchants, imported a considerable Quantity, though not so large as was ordered. The supplying the Inhabitants, who were in a Manner...
Date: 8 August 1775
Volume: Volume 1
Sir, Since my last to you Mr [Samuel] Ward One of the Delegates hath returned from the Congress. He informs me that some of the Bermudians have been at Philadelphia ー soliciting for Liberty to import Provisions for the Use of the Island. They gave Information of the Powder mentioned in your Letter to me, and were of Opinion it might easily be obtained. They were told by the Delegates that every...
Date: 11 August 1775
Volume: Volume 1
I think it my Duty [to] inform you that on Friday Morning last [August 11] as Benjamin Mumford who rides Post from Newport to New London was crossing the Ferry to Newport he was taken by Capt. [James] Wallace of the Ship Rose who broke open the Mails sent some of the Letters ashore and kept the Remainder in Order to send them to Boston ー He detained Mumford until Yesterday.
As the Mails will...
Date: 15 August 1775
Volume: Volume 1
Sir, ー Your Excellency's letter of the 14th instant is now before me, the contents of which I have duly considered. When it came to hand our small sloop-of-war was out upon the cruise which I mentioned to your Excellency in a former letter. She hath since returned. The sending her on the enterprize you proposed could not be done, without some new and further powers from the General Assembly,...
Date: 30 August 1775
Volume: Volume 1
By a Letter from General Washington I was informed that Three Ships of War and Nine Transports sailed from Boston the beginning of last Week. As the Enemy are greatly distressed for Want of fresh Provisions I conjectured this Fleet was designed to supply them; and immediately sent a Quantity of Powder, Ball and Flints to Block Island to enable the Inhabitants to defend themselves, and gave them...
Date: 31 August 1775
Volume: Volume 1
Sir ー I am favoured with your Excellency's letter of the 31st instant, by Capt. [George] Baylor, who has purchased the warlike stores imported by Messrs. Clarke & Nightingale. The prices appear to be very high; but, considering the cost, expenses and risk, I believe they are as low as can be reasonably expected . . . The Committee appointed to act during the recess of the General Assembly...
Date: 2 September 1775
Volume: Volume 1
Your letter of the 14th of May respecting the cannon came to hand on the 17th. On the 18th Messrs. Levi Hollingsworth and Thomas Richardson came to this town with an order of Congress, for 20 of them to be transported to Philadelphia; and on the 20th I set out on my journey; and when I returned I found here a resolution of Congress that six only should be taken from this Colony, which have...
Date: 24 June 1776
Volume: Volume 5
Commodore Hopkins together with Capt Saltonstall of the Alfred and Capt Whipple of the Columbus, being called to Philadelphia by the Congress the Command of the Fleet hath devolved upon Capt Biddle of the Andrew Doria, who I am informed sailed from Newport on Tuesday last on a Cruize, whether he hath returned or not, I am uncertain. In this Circumstance I thought it prudent to open your Letter to...
Date: 27 June 1776
Volume: Volume 5
We have already Two Privateers out from this Place and one from Greenwich. Three more are now fitting from this Town and will soon sail. Capt [Samuel] Chace brought with him Four 4 Pounders, Six 3 Pounders, and Eight Swivels which are greatly wanted here for privateers. I have written to the General to permit us to take them for that Use at the full Value in Case they can be spared, 2...
Date: 16 July 1776
Volume: Volume 5
I have appointed Capt. Barnard Eddy, a very suitable Person, the Chief Carpenter. He hath already inlisted 20 Men, who are to be well provided with Tools and Arms at the same Rate at which the Marine Committee have inlisted those in Philadelphia. He informs me that he shall be able to procure the whole Number required of us, and march with them on Monday or Tuesday next at the farthest. He...
Date: 16 July 1776
Volume: Volume 5
Last Sunday Afternoon Lieut. Calcott, of the Merlin, a British Ship ofWar, which lay a little without the Harbour of Newport, came in a Barge, with a Flag, to that Town: The General Assembly of this State being thensitting, he was conducted to the State-House, where he delivered to his Honor the Governor a Letter and Declaration from Lord Viscount Howe, of which the following are authentic Copies...
Date: 27 July 1776
Volume: Volume 5
This Agreement or Charter party made between Nicholas Cooke Esquire of Providence Owner of the Sloop Diamond burdened Eighty Seven Tons and two thirds of the One Part and John Jenckes of said ProvidenceMerchant who acts in this Matter (together with the said Nicholas Cooke) for and in Behalf of the State of Rhode Island &c of the other Part Witnesseth That the said Nicholas Cooke hath letter...
Date: 2 September 1776
Volume: Volume 6
In Addition to what I wrote your Honor of yesterday, I now inform you that there is at present no armed vessel belonging to the Continent in this State besides the Alfred, who hath not more than forty men, inclusive of officers. She, with the two Row Gallies, make the whole of the naval force in this State. I have communicated your letter to Commodore Hopkins, and find him perfectly disposed to...
Date: 3 September 1776
Volume: Volume 6