Displaying 1 - 20 of 34
In Answer to your Letter by Mr Morrison we have first to inform you we have among other Regulations that are expensive, kept Expresses going between us & our Army ever since the first Alarm ー we have no Assistance from any Towns to the Southward of us, & can't think you expect any from us between here & your place ー We shall be always ready to give you every Information in our power...
Date: 23 April 1775
Volume: Volume 1
I write you fully by this Post respecting my Seat at Congress, & takeing the Agencey and my reasons for so doing, but notwithstanding if it should so happen, that much difficulty should arise, and some other Person must be appointed, I think of no Man superiour to Capt Supply Clap, who you know to be an active Man and honest fellow, good Accountant and a staunch Friend to the Cause. Our Ship...
Date: 12 May 1776
Volume: Volume 5
Your several favor's of the 2d and 7th Instant are come to hand with the Regulations of Navey &c I think with you, that the Officers are very low especially the Captn, it will not Uniform him, I've sent a List of the first I tho't of, some time since, I now inclose another, out of which you'll take your Choice, if they are not already appointed, you say you do not like the 1 Lieut (for good...
Date: 20 May 1776
Volume: Volume 5
I've sent by several Opportunities a List of Men for Officers, I hope to hear by return of Post, of the Appointment, and Explicit Orders for me to appoint the remainder, and the Blank Warrants or Commissions sent down I hope Peter Shores, will be Lieut by all means and also John Roche which I mentioned, who is now on board one of the Continental Schooners a Lieut and what I know and can learn he...
Date: 27 May 1776
Volume: Volume 5
I now acknowledge the rect of your favour observe what you say respecting the resolves of the Congress ー I have Just heard, that the Gentn who had goods aboard the Brign,2 have petition'd the congress ー for an abatement of the Continental part of the salvage ー if they have done it, & it is before the congress, (as the resolves say after four days possesion the salvage is half)...
Date: 28 May 1776
Volume: Volume 5
Your Esteem'd favour of the 20th & 21st Ulto is now on the table, am much Oblig'd by your close attention in procur[in]g Money, and forwarding all matters, in your power, I am sensible of the trouble you have, to get things done, as I've had some Experience of it myself, I Observe what you mention about the 1st Lieutenant & [John] Roche, I've mention'd the matter fully in my Letters since...
Date: 1 June 1776
Volume: Volume 5
This will be forwarded you by Captain Peter Faneiul Jones of Marblehead who has an inclination to be Employ'd in the Continental Service on board one of the Ships, I know him well has Sailed with me, is an Excellent Seaman, young and active, I think would make an exceeding good Officer; have no doubt of his Resolution, he has saild for some time past in the Employ of my Friend Elbridge Gerry Esqr...
Date: 16 June 1776
Volume: Volume 5
Your favour's of the 2d and 5th instant are now before me, was glad to see that the Wages, of all the Officers were to be absolutely settled, that is such a material matter that I cannot engage any Petty Officers, as it will not do to lower his Wages, after agreeing. ー I am glad to hear that Congress will attend soon, to Naval matters, I am tired of doing Business at this rate, if I had not been...
Date: 16 June 1776
Volume: Volume 5
Your favour of the 10th Instant, I've receiv'd am glad that [Thomas] Thompson is appointed to the Command, of the Rawleigh, I wish it had been New Hampshire however it will do very well for the Reasons you give. I have sent you a List of the Officers, which I've spoke to, who have all accepted, Captain Follett I've appointed Master, our Ship is almost rigged, the Top Gallant masts all on end,...
Date: 24 June 1776
Volume: Volume 5
Your favo'r of the 17th ulto is now before me the Money is come to hand, but had not to[ta]l[e]d it, suppose it right. I've just receiv'd a Letter from Providence by which I find the furnace will not have done till about the first of August for themselves, and then are ready for me and Mr [Thomas] Cushing provided I have it [in] my power to contract for them, which I've desired in several of my...
Date: 1 July 1776
Volume: Volume 5
Your several favo'rs of the 22d 4th and 6th p Post, and Express I've receivd by which I see I've Liberty to Ship Hands, and shall proceed to Enter some immediately, tho' many have left us within this three Weeks for want of Employ, but we seem to work without Tools, for want of the Commissions for the Capt and Officers; and the Regulation, of the Wages for the Officers, as it seems that must...
Date: 6 July 1776
Volume: Volume 5
Dear Sir ー Yours of the 8th instant is now before me, in which I found what I've been looking for some time it was publickly read, and declared (on the Parade the 18th Instant) by the Sheriff of the County, we are in a very bad Situation for want of Guns, and Ball, for the use of the Ship, also Orders for Powder, on the Agent at Boston, provision of the Commissary who has not got any Orders to...
Date: 22 July 1776
Volume: Volume 5
...my worthy Friend you don't know what a disappointment I've met with in not having the Guns in Time and Orders early to Ship Hands; if that had been the Case; I should have furnished the Continent with as good a Ship, as can be built in any part of the World (season'd Timber Excepted) compleatly Victuald & man'd, & ready to Sail, on a Cruize, in less than four Months, from her raising,...
Date: 28 July 1776
Volume: Volume 5
My Friend ー Your favo'r of the 226 ult is now before me, in which you mention the number of Men, that are to be allowed each Ship, and that they must be shipped for One Year, or more, this is the very first of my knowing these two matters ー I am very impatient to know my Department as we may Expect some prizes bro't in by the Schooners, every Day, in that Case I should not be able to Act. if...
Date: 5 August 1776
Volume: Volume 6
By a letter from the Agent who was sent in the Reprisal, Captain Weeks [Lambert Wickes], to Martinico,2 he informs us, that the Governor (or General as they call him) told him that he had lately received orders by a frigate from France to give all possible assistance and protection to the American vessels, and that he was ordered to send out some ships of war to cruise round the Island...
Date: 27 August 1776
Volume: Volume 6
Inclosed you have a Letter from your Lady which wish safe to hand, nothing material since [y]our Departure, excepting many valuable Prizes carried into Falmouth, Salem & Newbury, ー The Ship Royal Exchange has been Tryed & Condemned, nothing allowed either to Capt or Passengers, except Wages as p Portledge Bill, ー Capt Plaince had two or three Hhds of Rum which were not Included in Cargo...
Date: 21 October 1776
Volume: Volume 6
My being out of Town for sometime past must be the excuse for my not writeing you ere this, your kind favour from Springfield I have received. It would have been of little Service if you had gone by the way of Providence, as the Guns cannot be had from there Cap. [Nathaniel] Falconer went from hence two Days since for Providence by him you'll be informed of all Matters from that Place — I've no...
Date: 6 November 1776
Volume: Volume 7
Since mine to you of the 29th Ulto I have to advise you that the Battalion Stationed here, Are for Numbers much as when I wrote you about (400) — But to Come to our Matters between us, I congratulate you on the Success that's attended the McClary Capt [Robert] Parker. Soon after he Sailed he took Two Schooners, With fish Oil and salt which were Sold Yesterday — He is also arrived Together with a...
Date: 10 November 1776
Volume: Volume 7
Iv'e not heard of the Guns from Connecticut, but have just heard that Mr Cushing has said that Mr Manly 2 is to have them Guns at Connecticut & that he has sent a Man to take them if this should be so I shall think verry hard of it we are suffered thus to be imposed on that tho' we have taken such pains to get Ready should be Obliged to lay all Summer & at last wait for Mr...
Date: 25 November 1776
Volume: Volume 7
. . . The Progress of the Enemy gives me pain, but not the least Dispirits me, the next Spring will give them Some other employ, — the Betsey frigate will Sail next week, for Bourdeaux, Iv'e bo't in the Royal exchange, for the Continent as She went Low, but shall not fit her out, as She would Carry only Small masts, want[s] much Rigg[in]g which is not to be had at any Rate, I shall therefore...
Date: 4 December 1776
Volume: Volume 7