Volume 8
May 1777
Turning to Windward between St Vincents and St Lucia with a Strong Current Setting to the NW
Saturday 17
at 3 PM saw a Schooner which we Supposed to be the Rattle Snake an American Privateer made sail St Lucia Sugar Loaves SBE 2 Leagues and a half
Sunday 18
at 6 AM Saw our Chase under the land of St Lucia at Noon Sugar loaves St Lucia SE —
Monday 19
at 6 AM saw a... Continue Reading
Date: 19 May 1777
Volume: Volume 8
. . . The Subject which I alluded to in my last, is in regard to the Sale of our Produce, which the French Merchants at present absolutely refuse to purchase for the European Market; as many of their Vessels have been already visited, & American Produce which has been found therein, taken out & confiscated. This is a Matter of a very alarming Nature, Strikes deep at the Root of our... Continue Reading
Date: 19 May 1777
Volume: Volume 8
I am not favour'd with your Letter of the 12th till to day, & have the satisfaction of receiving at the same time a very polite Letter from Genl Burgoyne who is pleased to express great pleasure in my nomination to the Naval Department ー The command I am intrusted with is as you say heterogenous, neither is the footing it is put upon of much consequence, being only temporary ー whether last... Continue Reading
Date: 20 May 1777
Volume: Volume 8
Board of War
Boston 20 May 1777
Order'd That John Scollay Esq deliver John Bradford Esq seven hundred & Eight Gallons N England Rum for Ship Alfred
Date: 20 May 1777
Volume: Volume 8
State of Massachusetts Bay
Plymouth ss.
At the Superior Court of Judicature Court of Assize and General Goal Delivery begun & held at Plymouth within and for the County of Plymouth on the third Tuesday of May (being the 20th day of said Month) Anno Domini 1777. —
Isaac Jones for himself & others Claimants Appellants vs Adam Babcock Libellant Appellee from the Judgment & Decree of a... Continue Reading
Date: 20 May 1777
Volume: Volume 8
. . . I am fitting out a Brigg hear on accott of the Contint by order of the Mareane Committe for Capt [Samuel] Chew and want a Quantity of Cordage, 2 should be Glad you would let me know by the Return of the Post if it Can be purchas'd In Boston, shall also want sum Four pound Cannon ー I was att Bedford a few days past and see a Number their that came out of the Ship Mellish ー can I... Continue Reading
Date: 20 May 1777
Volume: Volume 8
Capt. [William] Rogers and his crew are so very urgent to receive their proportion of prize money and wages, due on their former cruises, that I have thought it best for the captain to wait on Convention in person, in order that the terms he entered into our service upon may be ascertained to the satisfaction of both parties, which agreement I understand was only a verbal one. Should Mr. Lewis... Continue Reading
Date: 20 May 1777
Volume: Volume 8
Voted, That the commander in chief at the forts at N. London and Groton be and he is hereby directed to employ two whaleboats properly manned to ply in the harbour and sound near New London and the adjacent coasts, especially in the night season and thick weather, to observe the motions of the enemy in the Sound and on Long Island &c., as he shall judge necessary and convenient from time to... Continue Reading
Date: 20 May 1777
Volume: Volume 8
Deserted the 18th instant, from the armed schooner Delaware, commanded by Richard Eyres, Esq; now lying at Chester, Thomas'Rawlins, an Englishman, about thirty-five years of age, slender made, fair complexion, and black curly hair. He had on, when he went away, an old hat, an English soldier's old coat faced with blue, old trousers, and old shoes with metal buckles. Whoever takes up said deserter... Continue Reading
Date: 20 May 1777
Volume: Volume 8
May 1777
Tuesday 20th
Cape Nichola SBW 8 or 9 Leagues
at 3 AM spoke with two large French Ships from Port au Prince, bound to Bourdeaux; at day break saw two Sail to Windward, who made Signals to each other, and bore down on us, hauled our wind, and as we neared them they Appeared to be armed Briggs, the Southermost of them answered the description of an American privateer, we had... Continue Reading
Date: 20 May 1777
Volume: Volume 8
To convince my Lords Commissioners of the Admiralty that the detaining the Spanish Packet boat called the Patagon on her passage from Corrona to the Ravanna was not contrary to the Law of Nations, it will be necessary to inform them of the particulars of that affair; & I flatter myself my conduct will meet with their approbation.
On the 19th of August 1776 about 10 o'clock at night we saw a... Continue Reading
Date: 20 May 1777
Volume: Volume 8
This will be handed you [by] Capt William Tant of the Brig Robert 2 belonging to the united States of America & goes to your Address for a Load of Rice &c for france, I have no perticular directions where to send the Robert, the Secret Committee chose Virginia rather than any other port as they have large quantities of tobacco purchas'd but the Navigation is rendered so... Continue Reading
Date: 21 May 1777
Volume: Volume 8
On Board the Continental Ship of War the Boston my Self commander, on a Cruize
Weather and remarks on Wednesday 21t May 1777
At 11 AM weighed anchour & Turn'd out of Nantasket road capt. Manly haveing first ask'd me if I thought it practicable, the rest of the fleet weighd & followed us, —
first part of this 24 hours fiery breeses at South & SSE, the wind hauld round to the Westd... Continue Reading
Date: 21 May 1777
Volume: Volume 8
The long wish'd for hour is at last come in which I bid farewell, to the Sleepy Agents, disheartend Tradesmen and distress'd Seamen who frequent the Streets of Boston.
Happy should I account myself on my return from a Successfull Cruise, were I assured to find matters better conducted in this quarter than they have hitherto been but alas, Complaints Vanish into Air and there is nobody at home... Continue Reading
Date: 21 May 1777
Volume: Volume 8
In reply to your favour of the 10th Instant, I am now to inform you, that I have heard that there was a Sum of Money, on board the Mellish but as that Report appeared to me, to be very improbable, and to have no other foundation than the Wishes of the People, and is what has been said of almost every Vessall, that has been captured, I took no other Notice of it then to ask, whither the Money... Continue Reading
Date: 21 May 1777
Volume: Volume 8
The Committee who weir appointed to Build The two Ships at this place,2 wrote you some time passed, and Transmitted an Account of the outstanding Bills still due to the Workmen imployed in that Service, and desired to Receive the Money or an Order on the Loan Office for the payment of them. altho I am cartain you Received This letter, yet have had no Money Order, or any other Answer.... Continue Reading
Date: 21 May 1777
Volume: Volume 8
Uriah Stone of Providence in the County of Providence and State aforesaid Gentleman, that your Petitioner having entered onboard the Gally Spitfire Commanded by Capt Israel Tyler, in the service of the State there to serve & Do Duty in Capacity of a Steward did on the 22d of February AD 1777 recieve a shot from the Enemys Battery on Rhode Island whereby he the said Uriah Stone Actually lost... Continue Reading
Date: 21 May 1777
Volume: Volume 8
That in the month of May 1776 your Memorialist being called forth by General Washington & General Mifflin to go to New York and build Row Gallies he immediately quitted his own profitable Business at home and sat out for New York where he built & finished three Row Gallies and Moulded & timbered the fourth and did other Services for the Quarter Master General, For all which in the... Continue Reading
Date: 21 May 1777
Volume: Volume 8
I rejoice at the arrival of Miller and hope Smith will be as fortunate though I confess my hopes have but little foundation as the enemy's ships are very thick off the Capes of Virginia and Delaware and I understand many are now cruizing on your coast which doubles the risk.
A ship arrived a few days ago at Cinapuckeen [Sinepuxent] from Nantz with 3 or 4000 arms and a large quantity of clothing ー... Continue Reading
Date: 21 May 1777
Volume: Volume 8
To Brigantine Delaware
reced for 1/7 Share of Brgn Delaware cargo of Thos Lawrence
3011. .5.11
1/7 share of Oznabrigs sold Genl [Thomas] Mifflin
261.17. .6
1/7 Do of Salt sole by Capt Budn
366.15. .6
3639.18.11
To Officers & Seamen of Schooner Rattlesnake
rece'd of Jas Budden Their 1/8 of Prize Money of Brigantine
360. .4. .6
Date: 21 May 1777
Volume: Volume 8
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