American Theatre from May 9, 1776, to July 31, 1776
I have been so exceeding ill ever since my Return from below, & the weather is so intollerably bad for my disorder That I cannot without certain injury to my wretched health Stir abroad today: Therefore I am in hopes the committee will indulge me unless there is an absolute necessity for my presence wch I can hardly think will be the Case
Upon considering the business as it now stands I am of... Continue Reading
Date: 17 May 1776
Volume: Volume 5
. . . Yours of 7th Inst is come to hand this After noon, The Tobacco I expect will be safe in the Public Warehouses, Tokely has been here since my last to you, & he then had not a hand belonging to his Vessel but himself ー & he says they are not to be got, 2 I have advanced him forty One pounds 12/6 by the inclosd Rects, for which I was once going to make out an Acct against Mr. Hews [... Continue Reading
Date: 17 May 1776
Volume: Volume 5
Pursuant to powers received from the Hon. the Continental Congress, the Committee of Safety are ready to grant commissions for making reprisals upon the property of the people of Great Britain, at sea, or in the rivers, below high-water mark, to any persons who shall apply for them, and comply with the terms mentioned by Congress.
Date: 17 May 1776
Volume: Volume 5
On the 7th inst. the 15th and 28th regiments landed on a Peninsula, at the mouth of the River, but the enemy not chusing to shew themselves, the General, after reconnoitring the country, reimbarked them. A few days after, the 27th and 33d regiment went fifteen miles up the River, and dispossessed the Rebels of a post they had at that place called Brunswick. They took a few prisoners, and had one... Continue Reading
Date: 17 May 1776
Volume: Volume 5
May [1776]
Saturday 18
Pettet Passage SBW Sandy bay SEBS 5 or 6 leagues
at 6 AM Sandy bay SSE Diste 3 or 4 Leags
First part Light breezes & hazzy...at 2 P M saw 2 Sail in the SE at 3 Spoke a Sloop from Halifax who Informed us the Sloop & Schooner to Windwd was privaters and had chased him all the Morning, Fired a gun every hour & Musquet every half hour as Sigls to the Convoy... Continue Reading
Date: 18 May 1776
Volume: Volume 5
Nova Scotia
Court of Vice
Admiralty
Captain Rainer [John Raynor] of his Majestys Ship Chatham VS Richard Puller Master of the Sloop James & Cargo
Saturday
27th April
1776
Libel filed and entred and Order made thereon as on file first Court day 30th April 2d, 16th May
16 May 1774 Court open'd as usual and as the Captors had not exhibited any Proofs concerning the said... Continue Reading
Date: 18 May 1776
Volume: Volume 5
Know all Men by these Presents that we, John Fisk Mariner Richard Derby junr Esq & David Phippen [illegible] all of Salem in the County of Essex, Stand furmly bound to Henry Gardner Esqr Treasurer and Receiver General of the Colony of the Massachusetts Bay in the sum of Two Thousand Pounds L My to be paid to the said Treasurer or his Successor in said Office to the True Payment whereof we... Continue Reading
Date: 18 May 1776
Volume: Volume 5
Yesterday was brought into Boston Harbour by one Capt Muckford [James Mugford] of Marblehead, in face of the Men of War, a Brig, loaded with fifteen hundred whole barrells of Gun Powder, containing about ー seventy five Tons, one Thousand stands of Arms a large quantity of intrenching Utensils ー a Number of travelling Carriages, a quantity of English Goods &c &c ー If you want any thing... Continue Reading
Date: 18 May 1776
Volume: Volume 5
Yesterday Morning one of our Small Privateers Gave Chase to a Ship2 and follow'd her almost up to the Light House and Boarded her and to our Surprize she made no resistance, altho' our Vessell mounted but 4.2 Pounders and the Enemy had (6) 4 and 6 Pounders Loaded with Grape Shot. They brought her through Pulling Point Gut, and in Sight of 10 Sail of Poltroons unladed her in Part, and... Continue Reading
Date: 18 May 1776
Volume: Volume 5
[Resolved] That, as the colony of Virginia is intersected with many navigable rivers, six gallies be built for the protection of the troops in their transportation across the said rivers, at the continental expence, on as cheap terms as the business for which they are intended will admit of; that such other defence of the rivers and bays, as shall be requisite for the colony, be at the particular... Continue Reading
Date: 18 May 1776
Volume: Volume 5
By another express we have account, that the privateer Congress, fitted out of this port, had taken and sent into Sinepuxent a schooner from Pensacola for Grenada, loaded with flour and lumber, and a bout 200 Half Joes; when the Congress dispatched the schooner, it is said, she was in chase of two ships.
Date: 18 May 1776
Volume: Volume 5
This only serves to tell you Col [Josiah] Bartlett arrived yesterday and to enclose a Resolution of Congress which I know will not displease you.2 You see how we come on, a confederation permanent and lasting ought in my opinion to be the next thing and I hope is not far off: if so then the establishment of foreign Agencies I hope will fill our ports with ships from all parts of the... Continue Reading
Date: 18 May 1776
Volume: Volume 5
...I received a letter from Capt [Philip] Lacey for Mr [Joshua] Wallace inform[in]g him there was no provisions on board the Vessel which was in Morris River2 & that [William] McFaden (the former Capt whose bad conduct made Mr Wallace dismiss him) had carried of[f] with him the directions for signals. The remainder of 1 night I spent in enquiring after a vessel for morris River... Continue Reading
Date: 18 May 1776
Volume: Volume 5
Mr. [Benjamin] Towne ー Please to insert the following Queries in your next paper.
1. Whether it would not be adviseable to keep the fire rafts at a greater distance from each other for fear of accidents. Also to keep separate, as much as possible, all other combustible matters, such as tar, pitch, turpentine, rosin, sulphur, gunpowder, &c.
2. Would it not be well to collect all the spare... Continue Reading
Date: 18 May 1776
Volume: Volume 5
Ordered, That Treasurer of Western Shore pay to Joseph Middleton ninety one Pounds five Shillings, it being the Balance of his Acct for furnishing a Pilot Boat to 3rd Day of Instt
Date: 18 May 1776
Volume: Volume 5
Pray confer with some of Your ablest Friends at Congress upon the Subject of forreign Alliances. what Terms it will be expedient to offer. Nations, like Individuals, are govern'd by their Interest ー Great Britain will bid against Us ー whatever European Power takes us [b]y the Hand must risque a War with her. ー We want but two things ー a regular Supply of Military Stores, and a naval protection of... Continue Reading
Date: 18 May 1776
Volume: Volume 5
May 1776
Thursday 16
in Willmington River Cape Fear No Carolina
fired 6 four pounders at a party of the Rebbels who was firing at us
Friday 17
at 11 P M sent the master and 9 men to assist Captn [John] Linzee in dislodging a party of the Rebbels from Newtown ferry House.
Saturday 18
AM the Boats Returnd
Date: 18 May 1776
Volume: Volume 5
In my last letter of the 29th of April by the General Gage Sloop I had the Honor to acquaint Your Excellency that a few of the Transports had got into this River. ー and I am now to inform you of the Arrival of the greatest part of them with Lord [Charles] Cornwallis & Sir Peter Parker, who joined us on the 3d of this month ー Two more of the Transports are since arrived, and there are now... Continue Reading
Date: 18 May 1776
Volume: Volume 5
Mr.[John] Randle also delivered the Bill for renewing and prolonging the Provision Act, Concurred to by the Council, but not assented to by the Governor, with a Message from His Excellency as follows, vizt.: ー
I am directed by His Excellency to acquaint Mr. Speaker and the House of Assembly that he can by no means give his Assent to the Bill for renewing and laying on an Embargo on all kinds of... Continue Reading
Date: 18 May 1776
Volume: Volume 5
You are hereby required and directed to proceed forthwith in His Majesty's Ship Seaford under your Command, to Prince Ruperts Bay at the Island of Dominica, and there use all possible dispatch to Compleat her Wood and Water, and as soon as that is finished, you are to proceed off the Island Curassou and Cruize about that and the adjacent Islands to intercept and take as Prize of War all such... Continue Reading
Date: 18 May 1776
Volume: Volume 5
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