Volume 8
May 1777
Thursdy 22d
Do [Cape Ann] N 78° W 53 Leags
at ½ past Noon Saw a Sail to the SE made sail & Gave Chace as Did the Diamond at 7 PM Shortn'd Sail. Spoke the Chace a Sloop from Boston bound to Martinico Sent 3 Men on board her
Friday 23d
at ½ past 8 AM Sound'd 21 fathm Course sand & small stones at Noon the Diamond & Prize in Company ー at 4 PM took the Prize in tow... Continue Reading
Date: 24 May 1777
Volume: Volume 8
Wednesday last the Continental Brig Hampden, Capt. [Ezekiel] Burroughs, in passing Bristol Ferry for this Place, was fired on from the Enemy's Battery near the Ferry, and by a Frigate lying near Bristol. One Shot only struck the Brig, which passed through her Fore-Topsail. The Fire was briskly returned, but with what Effect we have not learnt.
All Seamen and Marines, belonging to the Alfred Ship... Continue Reading
Date: 24 May 1777
Volume: Volume 8
There are ten ships in the Bay coming up towards Newcastle: I fifty gun ship 1 forty four, 2 frigates, a Brig & 4 tenders & a pilot boat, no transports: we imagine These ships are come up to water & get live stock.
The enemy are yet quiet: I suppose they will not attempt any thing of consequence till the[y] receive reinforcements from Europe: by the time those reinforcements arrive, I... Continue Reading
Date: 24 May 1777
Volume: Volume 8
There are four Men of War and four Tenders in Delaware Bay. The Roebuck, and a Fifty Gun ship, and two other Frigates, are the Men of War. They come up the River a little Way to get Water sometimes with Fear and Trembling, and dare not come up far enough to get fresh Water, but content themselves with brackish Water.
They go on shore sometimes to steal some lean Cattle, if any happen to wander... Continue Reading
Date: 24 May 1777
Volume: Volume 8
Yesterday the Alarm Gun was fired and to Day an Express informs us of ten Sail coming up the River: a fifty Gun Ship ー the Roebuck of forty four Guns ー a Frigate ー four Tenders ー a Brig and two Pilot Boats ー The Gondolas are gone down ー The Congress has adjourned to go down in Barges to see the Sport. ー
Congress took up Capt Nicholsons Affair and were unanimously of Opinion he had not made the... Continue Reading
Date: 24 May 1777
Volume: Volume 8
Sunday May 25th [1777]
at Noon Wood
Island NWBN
dist 3 Leagues
this 24 hours fresh breeses of wind & Hazey weather
we keept togather 9 Sail of us untill 4 oClock PM when the [General] Miffiin hoisted her collours & bore away for casco Bay 2 in the course of the Night the wind haul'd round to the No & NE, and came to blow fresh —
Date: 25 May 1777
Volume: Volume 8
I have the Pleasure of informing your Excellency and the Honorable Council, that I sailed from the Port of New London, on Thursday last, afternoon [May 22], and arrived safe in this Harbour on Friday ー The Ship proves a very good Sailer, and in other Respects fully answerable to our greatest Expectations ー I hope to get mann'd soon, as I brought out 102 Men and shall open a House of Randezvous... Continue Reading
Date: 25 May 1777
Volume: Volume 8
While at New Haven we had Information that a body of Refugees about one hundred in number was at Saggharbour on a Foraging party with One Armed brig of 14 guns, and 13 Coasting-Vessels in order to carry away what was collected, their business being about completed, and ready to depart when the Information was given. Immediately Colo [Return Jonathan] Meigs provided a number of Whale Boats and... Continue Reading
Date: 25 May 1777
Volume: Volume 8
By Andrew Snape Hamond Esquire
Captain of His Majestys Ship the
Roebuck
You are hereby required and directed to Station His Majesty's Ship under your command in the Main Channel between the Narrows and the Brandywine, so as best to intercept any of the Enemies Ships or Vessels that May attempt to pass that way; You are to move the Ship up and down occasionally and to have a particular attention... Continue Reading
Date: 25 May 1777
Volume: Volume 8
I have the pleasure to inform You that on Monday the 19th inst at day break ー then near St Lucia & Struggling in vain to get to Tobago we fell in with & engag'd a Privateer of the Rebels and in less then 3 quarters of an Hours Close Action. She yielded to the Superior Valour of My Officers & Men. She carries 24 Guns 14 of them are french 9 pounders ー her Compt 150 Men but had only 125... Continue Reading
Date: 25 May 1777
Volume: Volume 8
I had the Honor to receive Your Excellencys Letter Dated the 19th Current, acquainting me of Your safe arrival at Your Government of Martinique; on which give me leave to Congratulate You; and to wish Yeur Excellency Health and Happiness therein; and also to hope, that a Mutual Confidence may exist between us; and that we may both use our best Endeavours to maintain perfect good Harmony and... Continue Reading
Date: 25 May 1777
Volume: Volume 8
Monday 26th May [1777]
42:55N Latd
67 . . 15W Longd
this 24 hours brings Strong gales of wind and rainy disagreeable weather, made a Snugg Ship & carried Short Sail According to the weather, had sight of Most of the fleet untill towards Night ー house'd all the guns and wallow'd in water all night the gundeck Leak'd so that the most of the people were wet below as well as the officers.... Continue Reading
Date: 26 May 1777
Volume: Volume 8
Deserted from the Continental Frigate Warren, the following Persons, viz. Francis Ederick, belonging to the State of Rhode Island, about 20 Years old, about 5 Feet and half high, dark Complexion, wears his short brown hair. ー Thomas Allen, says he was born in Boston, but brought up in England to the Sea, dark complexion, a little mark'd with the Small Pox, a Scar or large Mark a cross his Nose,... Continue Reading
Date: 26 May 1777
Volume: Volume 8
Yours of the 30 March I received and have advertized your Ship for Sale. for Some time but have not yet had any Application, for her, worth Notice, our River has been long blocked up by Men of Warr, that Many fine Vessels lay Idle here, our Merchts Seems Discouraged, and knowing, that Vessels have been Sold Very Cheap, in New England, wont talk with me at any thing Near the price you Mention, 8,... Continue Reading
Date: 26 May 1777
Volume: Volume 8
State Navy Board
[Philadelphia] May 26th, 1777
The Board taking into Consideration that the fire fleet wants a Pilot, have Appointed Frederick Bird Pilot of said Fleet, who is at all times to Obey the Order of the Commodore, for which he is allowed Forty two Dollars P Month and two Rations.
Jacob Bird is appointed Captain of the Sloop Defiance, in the Room of Frederick Bird Promoted.
Date: 26 May 1777
Volume: Volume 8
Capt. Nathaniel King, who arrived at a safe Port in this State on Tuesday last, in 12 Days from St. Thomas's, beat off three Tortola Privateers (of uncommissioned Rovers) that watched him coming out of Port, and made several Attempts to take him during the Course of a whole Day. ー Many small American armed Vessels have fallen into the Hands of these Rovers, by not firing upon them, and from an... Continue Reading
Date: 26 May 1777
Volume: Volume 8
The armed Brig Diligent, Lieut. Edward Dod, commander, was lost on the Gannet Rocks in the Bay of Fundy on the 15th Instant, and her Officers and Men were only saved and taken up by the Transport Brig Berry, and carried into Annanpolis [Royal].
Date: 27 May 1777
Volume: Volume 8
Cause.
Henry Mowatt Esqr Commander of his Majesty's Ship of War the Scarborough, vs. the Schooner Esther & Cargo. —
7th May 1777.
Libel filed & Entered Order made thereon as on file.
Registers Office May 10th 1777.
Charles Callaghan being duly Sworne deposeth that being in the Scarborough on the 29th Day of April they fell in with the Schooner Esther bound from Carolina to... Continue Reading
Date: 27 May 1777
Volume: Volume 8
I have the Honor & pleasure of informing you of my safe arrival here in the Brig Penelope a Prize taken by Capt John Clouston in the Brigantine of War Called the Freedom belonging to this State According to his orders to me I wait your Honors Further Instructions, her Cargo Consisting as per the Inclosed Invoice, my maintopmast being Sprung I Can't carry any After Saile having had a Gale of... Continue Reading
Date: 27 May 1777
Volume: Volume 8
Account of Captain Abraham Hunt against a Number of Soldiers that had inlisted in the Continental Army & received their Bounties & are now Sailors on board the Ship Boston a Continental Frigate Commanded by Capt Hector M'Neill praying that the Continental Agent may be ordered to stopt out of their Wages & Prize Money as follows Vizt
Richard Nowlan
Twenty Six pounds
Michael... Continue Reading
Date: 27 May 1777
Volume: Volume 8
Pages
