Displaying 1 - 20 of 83
I had the honour of writing you the history of our Cruise in the Fleet from the Capes of Delaware 'till our Arrival at N. London the 14th Ulto inclosing an inventory of all the stores taken at N. Providence &ca ー the letter contained a particular account of the Action with the Glascow in an Extract from the Alfred's Log Book ー it also contained some free thoughts on Certain Characters in the...
Date: 19 May 1776
Volume: Volume 5
I have made so many unsuccessful attempts to Convoy the Fly past Fishers Island that I have determined to give it up ー and pursue my Orders for Boston ー When I arrive there I will transmit you my letter of Attorney ー in the mean time you will singularly oblige me by Applying to the Admiral for an Order to receive for me a Copy of the Alfred's Log Book which I had made out for my Private Use...
Date: 20 June 1776
Volume: Volume 5
I sailed from Boston the 12th Currt ー but, meeting with contrary winds, did not reach this port till last night ー when I arrived safe with the Schooner First AttemjJt under Convoy. ー I should not have put in here had not the wind been directly contrary with an appearance of Bad weather and none of us well acquainted on this dangerous Coast. ー On my passage I found myself under the Necessity of...
Date: 30 July 1776
Volume: Volume 5
The next day, the 10th of May, 1776, Mr. Jones was ordered by the commander in chief to take command "as captain of the Providence." This proves that Mr. Jones did his duty on the [New] Providence expedition. As the commander in chief had in his hand no blank-commission, this appointment was written and signed on the back of the commission that Mr. Jones had received at Philadelphia the 7th of...
Date: 16 August 1776
Volume: Volume 6
I had the honour of writing to you the 27 Augt pr the Brigantine Brittania which I sent in under the Care of Lt Wm Grinnell Since that I have been to the Southward near the parallel of Bermuda & bro't too four Sail of French Spanish & Danish Ships homeward Bound but without gaining any usefull Information. ー on the first Currt. I fell in with a Fleet of five Sail ー one of them being very...
Date: 4 September 1776
Volume: Volume 6
I herewith inclose for your inspection all the letters and Papers which I found in the Brigantine Sea Nymph ー for the Particulars of my Cruise hitherto I must beg leave to refer You to the within Open letter to the Marine Board which please to lay before them ー I purpose to Stand to the Southward in hopes of falling in with some Ships which I understand are now on their Passage from Barbados ー...
Date: 4 September 1776
Volume: Volume 6
I had the honour of writing to you 27th Ulto pr the Brigantine Britannia a Nantucket Whaler which I Sent in under the Care of Lieut [William] Grinnell. ー Also 4th Currt pr the Brigt Sea Nymph from Barbadoes for London which I Sent in under the Care of Mr [William] Hopkins Master of the Providence with a particular Accot of my Cruise till that time ー nothing has Since happened till last Night when...
Date: 7 September 1776
Volume: Volume 6
I had the honour of writing to you the 27th Ulto p the Brigtine Britannia a Whaler which I sent in under the Care of Lieut [William] Grinnell likewise 4th Currt pr the Brigtine Sea Nymph which I sent in under the care of Mr W. [William] Hopkins ー also 7th Currt p the Brigtine Favourite which I sent in under the care of Mr J. [Joseph] Vesey ー the Sea Nymph was from Barbados for London, the...
Date: 30 September 1776
Volume: Volume 6
you are hereby appointed Commander of our Prize the Brigantine Kingston Packet ー You are to use your utmost endeavours to Navigate her Safe through the Shoals of Nantucket into our free State of Rhode Island you herewith receive her Register which you are to deliver on your Arrival to the Continental Agent. In any case of necessity you are at Liberty to go in to any Other Port within the United...
Date: 4 October 1776
Volume: Volume 6
He left the Delaware the 21st of August, and arrived at Rhode Island on the 7th of October, 1776. Captain Jones had only seventy men when he sailed from the Delaware, and the Providence mounted only 12 four-pounders. Near the latitude of Bermudas he had a very narrow escape from the enemy's frigate the Solebay, after a chase [and an engagement] for six hours within cannon-shot, and considerable...
Date: 7 October 1776
Volume: Volume 6
I wrote to you at Sea 4th Ulto by the Brigtine Sea Nymph my Second Prize. I have taken Sixteen Sail ー Manned and Sent in Eight Prizes and sunk, burnt, or destroyed the rest.ー
The list of Prizes is as follows.
1
The
Brigantine Britannia, A Whaler —
Manned & sent in
2
"
Brigtine Sea Nymph, West India-Man
3
"
Brigtine Favourite, — Do
4
"
Ship Alexander, Jersey Newfoundland-man
5
"...
Date: 17 October 1776
Volume: Volume 6
I do hereby certify that John Paul Jones was duly commissioned and appointed to command the armed sloop called the Providence and that the sd Sloop is now employed in the Service of the thirteen United States of North America Witness my Hand
Date: 29 October 1776
Volume: Volume 6
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
I Did not conclude my letter 'till I was enabled to give you a Satisfactory Account of the Present Expedition. ー I took command here the 22d and finding that we could not Man the Ship and two Vessels without Wasting too much time ー I concluded to leave the Providence and Proceed with the Alfred and Hamden ー I took the men out of the Providence and her Prizes which Made up my Muster Roll here to...
Date: 30 October 1776
Volume: Volume 6
I should have sailed from hence this Morning had I not been prevented by a Gale of Wind at S. E. with thick Weather ー this is the first leasure time I have had Since my Arrival here in the Providence the 7th Current ー And I with pleasure embrace it to acknowledge the Singular Obligations which I lay under to Mr Hewes. ー Inclosed you have a short Account of my late Cruise. ー When I put"in here...
Date: 31 October 1776
Volume: Volume 6
The wind being now fair, we will proceed acording to Orders for Spanish River near Cape North on the Island of Cape Briton. I will observe the former signals; but as there signals agreed on for tacking in thick or foggy Weather, to make a distinction I will fire 2 Guns immed — after one another, as a signal to tack — and to bring too on the larboard tack 2 Guns, allowing three minutes between...
Date: 1 November 1776
Volume: Volume 7
As the wind fell very light Yesterday Afternoon and had a Southerly Appearance - Captn Hacker and I thought it most Advisable to go thro' the Shoals - it was Dark when we got in here. - I found at Anchor the Privateer Schooner Eagle - Captn [Isaac] Field - And having examined her and found - John Dobie - and James Merihew belonging to the Fleet and Joseph Ryder & James King belonging to the...
Date: 2 November 1776
Volume: Volume 7
I had the honor of writing to you from Rhode Island 30th Ulto with an account of my late Cruise and Copies of my letters down to the 30th of Septr I sailed from thence 1st Current & have met with contrary winds and Stormy Weather for some time past — I have not however met with any material Disaster — I took the Brigantine Active last night from Liverpool for Hallifax with an Assorted Cargo...
Date: 12 November 1776
Volume: Volume 7
I am happy in this opportunity of acknowlidging the grate obligations I J)We to Mr. [Joseph] Hewes — by Addressing my prize the Brigantine Active to You — I have seen and do esteem Yourself — but I knew your Brother James well when I was myself a Son of Fortune. — You will perhaps hear from me agin in a short time — Meanwhile you may promulgate that I have taken the last Transport — with...
Date: 12 November 1776
Volume: Volume 7
You are hereby appointed Commander of our prize the Brigantine Active from Liverpool for Hallifax — You are directed to proceed with all possible dispatch for the State of North Carolina and to deliver your charge (the Brigantine Active with my letters) unto Robert Smith Esqr the Agent at Edenton. — I request you to be very careful to keep a good look out to prevent your being surprised or re-...
Date: 12 November 1776
Volume: Volume 7