Displaying 1 - 20 of 190
Colony of the Massachusetts Bay
The Major Part of the Council of the Massachusetts Bay in New England,
To Greeting
You being appointed to take the command of the armed Sloop called the of the burthen of Tons or thereabouts, mounting carriage Guns, and navigated by men, Fitted out at the expence and for the service of this Colony,
By virtue of the power vested in us, We do by...
Date: 10 May 1776
Volume: Volume 5
A Letter from the Committee of Newbury Port Informing the Honble Court that one Mr Dalton was sent up to that Town by the Committee of Falmouth with a desire that he might be sent to the Honble Court that he was a Midshipman on board of the Milford & was taken in a sloop that he was on board of Bound to Boston, by One Capt Drinkwater and Carried into Falmouth ー
In Council Read & orderd...
Date: 1 June 1776
Volume: Volume 5
Recommendation from Capt John Fisk of Jonathan Harraden and Joseph Stockman as Suitable Persons for First & Second Leuts to Serve on board the Sloop Tyrannicide whereof said Fisk is Captain, Read & Ordered that the said Harraden & Stockman be Commissionated as first & Second Leuts accordingly. ー
Date: 3 June 1776
Volume: Volume 5
You being appointed Master of the Sloop Swift fitted out by this Colony for the gaining Intelligence Respecting the British Fleets and Armys ー You are therefore, as soon as your Vessell is Ready, to Sail for some part of the Coast of Nova Scotia, or you may Cruise on the Seas between Cape Nova Scotia ー and Use your utmost Endeavours for the gaining Intelligence Ann & as aforesaid, and when...
Date: 6 June 1776
Volume: Volume 5
Richard Derby Esqr reported a Letter to General Ward which was read and Accepted & Ordered to be Signed by the Secry in the Name and by order of the Council & lmeadly forwarded which is as follows ー
Sir
The Board have this moment receivd Information of a very Valuable Prize being sent into Glocester by one of the Fleet under the Command of Admiral Hopkins2 and as tis very...
Date: 7 June 1776
Volume: Volume 5
Petition of Elias Hasket Derby of Salem owner of the Schooner Sturdy Beggar Humbly Sheweth ー That your Petitioner has at his own expence fitted out an armed Schooner Call'd the Sturdy Beggar burthen about Ninety Tons Mounted with Six Carriage Guns three Pounders, & Navigated by Twenty-five Men, with Provisions for four months designed for the purpose of Making reprisals on the Enemies of the...
Date: 13 June 1776
Volume: Volume 5
The sloop Tyrannicide under your Command, being in part Equipt in warlike manner, & also being so far Maned as to Enable you to go out on a Cruise, you therefore have Liberty to Cruise near the Coast of this Colony & from Harbour to Harbour in the same Colony & Newha(m]pshire, using all Necessary Precaution to Prevent your Vessell from falling into the hands of the Enemy, and w[h]ere...
Date: 13 June 1776
Volume: Volume 5
Es[s]ex ss Pursuant to an Order of the Major part of the Council to me directed to make return of all the Prisoners now Confined in the Several Goals in said County, by whom they were Confined, for what and their present Circumstances have herewith Inclosed a return Accordingly
Ipswich June 12th 1776 ー Michael Farley Sheriff ー
A Return from Sheriff Farley of the Prisoners in the Goals in Essex...
Date: 15 June 1776
Volume: Volume 5
This Board being informed that one of the Enemy's Frigates with a large sum of Money on board for the Payment of the British Troops may be expected in our Bay within a few days together with ten or twelve Transports under her Convoy, Ordered That James Bowdoin & Walter Spooner Esqrs with Such as the honble House shall join be a Comtee to Sit imediately and project some effectual means whereby...
Date: 19 June 1776
Volume: Volume 5
by the Major part of the Council.
Capt Richard Welden
The Brigg Riseing Empire under your Command being now Equipt in warlike Manner, & also being properly maned & Enabled to go out on a Cruise, You are first directed to Come to Boston & there to apply to the Commesary Genll of this Colony for such provitions as you farther stand in need of and then You are Directed to Cruize on the...
Date: 27 June 1776
Volume: Volume 5
To the Keeper of the Goal at Concord in the County of Middlesex ー Greeting:
You are hereby Ordered, & directed to release from your Custody John Loring Committed to your keeping in the Month of April last, for being in the Employ of the Enemies of the united Colonies, having been taken on board of the Schr Valiant bound to Boston with Supplies for them, On his giving Bonds with sufficient...
Date: 27 June 1776
Volume: Volume 5
By the Major Part of the Councill
Capt Jno Fisk
The Sloop Tirannicide under your Com[m]and being in All Respects Equiped in warlike manner, & being also well & properly man'd so as to Enable you to proceed on a Cruise,
You therefore are Directed Imediately to proceed on a Cruise not only against our unaturall Enemys, But Also for the Protection of the Trade of the united Colonys, and you...
Date: 4 July 1776
Volume: Volume 5
Resolve of the Board that the Honble Walter Spooner Esqr be Impower'd & directed to Clear out all such Vessells that are now in the harbour of Dartmouth furnishing them with the Necessary Papers and taking Bonds with Sufficient Suretys agreeable to the Resolves of the Congress of 6th March 1776, and also agreeable to the Resolves of the General Court of the Colony and Especially One Published...
Date: 5 July 1776
Volume: Volume 5
A Form of a Register, draughted by Mr [Richard] Derby for the Schooner Diligent Duncan Campbell Master & Owner be a form for all Future Registers ー Vizt
LS Jurat ー Duncan Campbell of George Town in the County of Lincoln & Colony of Massachusetts Bay Mariner ー That the Schooner Delight Whereof the said Duncan Campbell is at Present Master, being a Square Stern'd Vessell, of the Burthen of...
Date: 9 July 1776
Volume: Volume 5
Resolved that Philip Dalton a Midshipman and Prisoner of War now confined under his parole to the limits of the Goal Yard in Concord be admitted to sign a new Parole prescribed by this honble Board on the day of inst and thereupon be enlarged accordingly and discharg'd from his former Parole And that any other Officer who may have sign'd a like Parole with the said Dalton, be admitted to sign...
Date: 12 July 1776
Volume: Volume 5
Ordered that The honble Tho. Cushing Benja Austin & Wm Phillips Esqrs be a Committee to enquire into the Conduct of the Masters and Mariners of the Three Transports lately brought into Boston, and who are now resident there and make report as soon as may be ー That the said Com[m]ittee give notice to the said Masters & Mariners of the time & place of said enquiry that they may be...
Date: 17 July 1776
Volume: Volume 5
Petition of Jeremiah Obrian for Himself & the Machias Liberty Crew ー Humbly Sheweth, that your Petitioner with the above Crew hath been Employ'd in the Colony Service since the first day of February last, & have not receiv'd any Pay therefore the Chief of the Men being Almost Naked, & have no other dependance but the Money Allow'd by the Honble Court ー which Court through false...
Date: 18 July 1776
Volume: Volume 5
Messrs Jackson Tracy & Tracy Merchts of Newburyp[ort] are very solicitous to procure a Release of the Officers & Men of their late Privateer (Yankee Hero) which was taken after a brave & manly Resistance, by the Milford Frigate they are now in the hands of our Enemies We take leave to recommend their Case to yr Excell[en]cys consideration, not doubting but you will attend to any...
Date: 18 July 1776
Volume: Volume 5
Whereas it is represented that Yesterday a Vessell from Ireland ladened with Pork and Other Provisions assign'd for Supplies to our Enemies entered the Harbour of Boston and was Compell'd to Submit to the Fortress of this State placed there,2 and as the said Provision is wanted for the use and Service of this State, it is Ordered dpt the Commissary General be and hereby is directed...
Date: 22 July 1776
Volume: Volume 5
Recommendation from Capt Simeon Sampson of Mr Daniel Adams & Sarni Higgins as 1st & 2d Lieutenants of the Brigantine Independence, Read & Ordered that said Adams & Higgins be Comissionated Accordingly ー
On Motion Ordered, that the Comissary Genl be directed to deliver out of the Colony Magazine & Stores, for the use of the Colony Sloops Republic & Freedom, Unto Capt John...
Date: 26 July 1776
Volume: Volume 5