In my last of the 13 Instant P Express I wrote you that I had received your Favor of the 28 december last, & that I was oblidged to you for kindly offering to me the Care & management of Building the Two Ships, one for 74 Guns & the other for 36 Guns which the Congress had determined to build in this State & that I chearfully Accepted the off er & should endeavor to execute... Continue Reading
I have lately received orders for building a Seventy four Gun Ship in this State. I hear you have received simalar orders. I should be oblidged to you to Inform me, in What manner you have contracted for building this Ship, how you are to give for Timber & plank, What wages you are to allow the Builders or Master workmen & the Common workmen — What price you allow the Blacksmith for his... Continue Reading
As I am not well assured of your having received my first letter in the Providence — I have taken the liberty of inclosing a Copy. — I must here Assert that it is both Unjust and inimical to the intrest of the Service that any Person or persons belonging to the Navy should share in Prizes when they were themselves Absent and out of harms way when the Capture was made — by this damned Unpreceqep.... Continue Reading
Having no Friends among the Gentn at Congress, Delegates from this Government, I can daim so much personal Acquaintance with, as yourself, I take the Liberty to call off your Attention a few Minutes from the more weighty Concerns in Politics, to ask your Friendship to one or two Friends of mine, who have a Vejw to some Appointments by your honble Body — Capt James Tracy a Friend of mine &... Continue Reading
The Board of War having fitted out the Sloop Republic Allen Hallet Master, navigated with ten hands for the West Indies, mounting two 4 pd Cannon & ten Swivel Guns, & apprehending it may be of Service if the Master be fumish'd with a Commission for a Letter of Marque, do desire a Commission for him as such
By Order of the Board
Sam Phps Savage Prest
The Vessell will have 10 bbs... Continue Reading
We learn from Halifax, That the Brig Independence, in the Service of this State, commanded by Captain [Simeon] Sampson, was lately taken, by [George] Dawson,1 in Company with a Transport Ship, after a smart Engagement, and carried into Annapolis Royal, in Nova-Scotia. — The Brig engaged Dawson for near Two Hours, when the Transport Ship, having 100 Soldiers on board, concealed, came up... Continue Reading
. . . the Captains of the frigates at Philadelphia, with their brave tars and a number of pieces of cannon, had joined them [Washington's army], who were willing to beat the enemy by land as well as by sea, provided the General would let them be commanded by their own officers, and fight their cannon their own way, whose request was granted, and they swear they will never flinch while the General... Continue Reading
Sir we are Inform'd that you Are Appointed Agent for the Arm'd Sloop Called the American Revenue Samuel Champlin Commander now on a Cruize Against the enemies of the United States of America — These are Therefore to inform you that we have Several men in the Privateer which we have hired & have their Agreements now in our Possession as well as a Power of Attorney from them — if Agreable to... Continue Reading
A Flag of Truce arrived here last Sunday from Providence, with a Number of Persons whom the Rebols have had Prisoners, to be exchanged. By One who arrived, we are informed that the Rebels were removing a Number of Whale-Boats over Land; and that all their Talk was of their Intention to attack this Island! Probably, by the Arrival of the next Account, we shall hear of their Intention to attack the... Continue Reading
Voted, To purchase all the blankets and the suitable white linens imported in the Dutch vesseU at N. London, also fifteen pipes of wine if to be had at a reasonable price, also shirts and stockings, and medicine to be chosen by the doctors, and such other articles as are necessary for supplying the army with arms, ammunition, refreshments &c., excepting gunpowder. And Messrs. Nathl Shaw junr... Continue Reading
. . . Albany & all the Country round it is famous for Slays & Sleds, and we have no doubt but General Schuyler cou'd with ease collect a sufficient Number to carry 1000, or 1500 Men across the Lakes, with such Stores Provisions & Artillery as may be necessary, the quantity of these need not be very considerable because the Movement in Slays will be very rapid & the Sole object of... Continue Reading
As there are some masters, mates & mariners here that have been taken in Merchant Vessels, & wish to be sent into New York, I think your Board had best send them in discharge of your promise to Capt Hamond of the Roebuck, with a passport to that purport or if you decline doing it, I will grant them a pass to Genl Putnam to be sent over by South Amboy. I have the honor to be very... Continue Reading
[Resolved] That a copy of the letter from the convention of New York, dated at Fish Kill, 28 December last, be sent to General Washington; and that he be empowered to take such order in the several matters therein contained, as he shall think best; and that a letter be written to the said convention, informing them of what Congress has done in compliance with their several requests:
That it would... Continue Reading
I this Day am Aplied to By Capt kook for Sum Sutable plase as a Standing Warfe With Warehouses and all Other Convenient howses yards and Convenien[cies] of all kinds for the Province use to Contain Provisions Sales Riging of all Sorts a Dwelling hous yard and W eell to Bee Cept for the States use With a Proper Man to Reeve and Deliver Stores and Neseryes of a[ll] kinds I have the Conveniensies... Continue Reading
When I mentioned to you my Intentions of Leaving the Ship Defence You Was Desirous to Know my Reasons for so doing I have here Sent you them in writing. In the first place I need Expect no further Preferement in the Servise As I find the officers of the Soldiers are pref ered before the Sea officers An Other Objecktion is I doe not think the Ship will be mand for Sea this winter And I Look on it... Continue Reading
Captain Thomas Lilly, in a Cruiser of the State of Virginia, has brought into Hampton, a large Ship which he took on her Passage from Tortola to London, —— Wallace Captain. Her Cargo is valued at about 6000 l. Sterling, consisting of Rum, Sugar, &c.1
The Montgomery, a New-England Cruiser, has also sent into Hampton, a Schooner Prize, laden with Woollens, British Porter, Cheese,... Continue Reading
Commission issued to Clement Smith appointed Surgeon's Mate to the Ship Defence.
Resolved That it be recommended to His Excellency the Governor to give the following Instructions to the Agents appointed for the purpose of Purchasing Salt for this State to wit
Instructions for the Agents for this State
You are to proceed immediately to the Island of Bermuda or any other Island or Islands in the West Indies (the Dominions of Great Britain only excepted), there to purchase or... Continue Reading
The Brigt of War Comet of which you are Captain having received on board provisions and Other Stores for near three Months and having nearly a full Complement of Men, We desire that you will embrace the first favourable Opertunity to proceed to Sea. And after you are Clear of the Barr of Charles Town We recommend your stearing to the Southward Cruizing a Long the Coast as £arr as St. Augustine,... Continue Reading
January 1777
Thursday 16
NW Pt Grand Caucos NEbE 4 Leags
7 AM TKd discovered a Sail in the SE Quarter gave Chace out T Gt Sails, in Chace of a Sloop standing to the Southwd PM Fir'd 5 Four Pounders to bring a Sloop Too. she proved to be the Porcupine Prize bound to Jamaica