January 1777
Sunday 12th
Do [Cape Henlopen] N35W 51 Lgs
AM, at 6 saw a sail to the SE and gave chace at 9 Spoke the chace which prove'd to be our Prize sloop from Georgia
First & Latter Squally with some Rain P. M. at 1 Saw a Sail to the South Wd & gave chace. at 3 came up With the chace which was a French Brig said to be from Gaudolupe to Mequilon Sent a Midshipman on board with... Continue Reading
The Comee have agreed that Mr [Benjamin] Dunn shall take the Command of the armed Prize taken by the Andrew Doria — 2 & I enclose a Commission, which you will please to fill up, we have agreed to call the Vessel the Surprize his Commission to be Lieut & Commander 3
January 1777
Monday 13
Turks Island fm So to SWbW off Shore 2 Lgs
A M at 7 down all Sails & lay a hull at 9 saw a Sail to the Nwd Out Sweeps & md Sail after her
Light Airs & Cloudy Weather, Came up with the Chace She proved to be a Sloop from Turks Island bound to Nantucket loaded with Salt, sent 3 hands on board to take Charge of her
Tuesday 14
AM The Prize in Co
at 3 sent... Continue Reading
Jany 77
Tuesday 14th
The Island of Mona Sob S Wt Dist 22 Leagues.
At 6 A M saw a Sail to the Soward gave Chace Fired 6 Shott at the Chace to bring her too ½ past 10 the Chace brot too, hoisted out a Boat, the Chace prov'd he Brigg Prince Frederick Saml McLellan mastr from Tortuga bound to St Croix.
Fresh breezes and fair
A List of Seamen who will be necessarily wanted for Lake Champlain by the beginning of April 1777.
It is to be observed this Calculation is made as small as possible particularly with respect to the Gun Boats Long Boats and Vessels to be built for the Conveyance of provisions & Stores.
Inflexible
100
Maria
50
Carleton
45
Washington
45
Thunderer
30
Loyan Consert
25
Lee Cutter
25... Continue Reading
In Addition to the preceding Letter [January 8], Sir, I beg leave to acquaint their Lordships that H M S Lizard arrivd here on the 9th Instant from the Bay of Fundy, in a very weak State, as their Lordships will see by her weekly return, & by her Defects mark'd No 5.
Lord Howe was pleasd to signifye to me his Permission that I might send the Milford to England to be cleand, if Capt [John]... Continue Reading
This is only to inclose you Letter & to inform I've received yours of the 24th Ultimo from Baltimore, am much obliged for the Intelligence I find many of my Letters have miscarried; I shall be obliged to send some person &c for money to carry on the Business as I am entirely out and all my own expended I shall write you fully then am Cutting Timber for the 74 but no Snow to hall it am... Continue Reading
You are Immediately to proceed to Boston, and take Charge of the Alfred, to which Ship you are appointed by Congress — You will give Captn Jones a Receipt for all the Provision & Stores onboard her — and you arc to deliver the Cabot to Captn Jos. Olney who is appointed to Command her and take his Receipt for the Provisions & Stores onboard her and Lodge the Same with Mr Bradford the Agent... Continue Reading
You are to go immediately to Boston, and there take Charge of the Brigt Cabot, mann her as soon as possible and proceed directly on a Cruize against the Enemys of these States, and Chiefly for Transports — When you are near ready to Sail you will let me know, so that you may have the latest Instructions which I have from the hon. Marine Board — I am Sir [&c.]
Captn Hinman and Mr Thomas Mumford have applied to me with a Power from the Officers and People belonging to the Cabot for their Prize Money — If the Ship taken by her and sent into your State by Capt Hinman is Sold, I believe it will be best to' pay him the Captors part, so that the Men may be Satisfied, or it will be difficult to keep Men in the Service 2 I am Sir [&c.]
In a day or two after,3 I went over on a party to Capt. Nicholas Websters, to Rehobeth, while I was on this party Governor [Stephen] Hopkins & Com. [Esek] Hopkins sent over Capt. Henry Dayton to me, to come to Providence, immediately after, they informed me that they contemplated fixing out a Cartel, to send to Newport and for me to take out of the Sloop Providence 2 men to go with... Continue Reading
You will immediately proceed to Connecticut or any of the Eastern States and use yor best Endeavors to recruit a Company of Seamen, whereof you are to be the Commander — Your pay will be ten pounds, two Lieutenants who will each be allowed six pounds, one Master six pounds, one Boatswain, one Carpenter, one Gunner and one Clerk four pounds ten Shillings each, one Gunner's Mate three pounds four... Continue Reading
Being yet unable, from the Effects of a late Illness, to attend much to Business, I must hope their Lordships will permit me on the present occasion to refer them for Information respecting the State and Disposition of this Fleet, to the Returns and Copies of Instructions to the Commodores Sir Peter Parker and Hotham, herewith enclosed.
To those Papers I have added the Duplicate of a Letter I... Continue Reading
Eagle
off New York
15th January
1777
Disposition of His Majesty's Ships and Vessels employed in North America under the Command of the Vice Admiral the Viscount Howe
Rate
Ships Names
Guns
Men
Commanders
Appointments
In the East River off New York.
3
Eagle
64
520
V. A. Lord Howe
Cap. Duncan
Bomb
Carcass
70
—— Dring
—
Thunder
80
—— Molloy
F.S.... Continue Reading
In Marine Committee [Baltimore] 15th January 1777
Ordered that Messrs Purveyance & Stewart the Continental Marine Agents in the State of Maryland be directed to proceed immediately to provide Timbe[r] for building the two thirty six gun Frigates ordered to be built in the said State,2 and to proceed in other respects to provide materials for the completion of said Frigates. —
Sir, Captn Kelty comes up to take the command of the Ship you purchased for us the other day. — also to look out for men, we should be obliged to you to let us know whether a cargoe of Toho could be got for her Speedily at Baltimore Town and at what Price, also in what Time she could be loaded with flour and the Price of it. — Be pleased to let us hear from you, we request you would buy a Quarter... Continue Reading
Mr John King Naval Officer for Elizabeth River District having offered Mr William Armistead Bayley for his Deputy, & he being approved of by the Board; His Excellency administered unto him the Oath of Office & gave him a Commission as Mr King's Deputy.
January 1777
Wednesday 15
Moord in Port Royal Harbour
PM Arriv'd the Diligence and Florida Surveying Sloops from Pensacola, which Saluted with 13 Guns Retd 11 Do
In Addition to my Letter of yesterday, I beg leave to inform their Lordships that Capt John Burr of His Majestys Ship Milford dyd at Halifax last Night; Capt [Henry] Mowat commands the Milford, & Mr Michael Hyndman (first Lieut of the Rainbow,) the Albany Sloop in his Room, till their Lordships, or Vice Admiral Lord Viscount Howe's Pleasure is known concerning the Appointment. I am Sir [&...
Dr
Capt William Bartlet with the Sloop Revenge and her Prizes
Cr
1777
To Sundries Goods bid off at Auction P Bill
£ 330
17
5
By a 22d part of one half the Net Proceeds of the Ship Anna Maria — Brigt Fanny & Sloop Isabella and their Cargos & the Cargo of the Polly amountg P Estimate to 20013..18..1 the one half
936
19
19
January 16
To Cash
690
—
—
By a 22d Part of the whole of the... Continue Reading