I have been with the Governor of this State this Week, and as he has Derictions from the Congress To Build Two frigats One of Twenty Eight and the Other of thirty two Guns in this State and has been pleased to appoint Me as Superintendant for this Ship 2 as the Other is in Norwich, I there£ [oreJ Begg You as A freind is [sic if] You have any Iron that is Nott Wanted for the Use of the... Continue Reading
I have received their Lordships Commands of the 31st of August, to inquire into the Truth of the Facts stated in a Letter from Lord George Germain, one of His Majesty's Principal Secretaries of State, of the 16th of the same Month; Into the Conduct of Officers commanding such of His Majesty's Ships as were stationed in Nantasket Road, or appointed to cruize in the Bay of Boston, since the... Continue Reading
Mr. Nesbitt was directed to pay to John Watson, for dressing the wounds of men of armed Boats in May last, £ 1 4 0.
Jno. M. Nesbitt, Esq'r, was directed to continue George Smith, a Seamen that lost his hearing on board the armed Boat Hancock, Capt. [Thomas] Moore, on half pay, 'till further orders.
Whereas sundry seamen and others, belonging to the Continental sloop of war Independance, John Young Commander, have, since her arrival at this port, absconded from said vessel. These are to desire all such persons immediately to repair on board, to their duty, otherwise they will forfeit their respective shares of the prize money due to them, which shares shall be divided among the remaining... Continue Reading
I must beg You will order the Shot down to the Wasp immediately, she waits entirely for the Shot. Your attention to this directly will oblige Your friend
I have the pleasure to advise you of my Safe arrive! at this place after a passage of 19 Days we had an Excellent time off, and in a week got Within a 100 Leagues of this place then met with Westerly winds Which frequently blew hard, we Split our Main Sail from Clue to Earing, and sprung the head of our Main mast which I hope we Can Easy Repair; we saw 8 or 10 Sail on our passage, but Never was... Continue Reading
Last Night, Capt. [Robert] Cochran, in the armed Brigantine Notre Dame, arrived here from France, with a valuable Cargo, after a Passage of 7 Weeks.
Accounts were received in France before Capt. Cochran's Departure, of the Arsenal and Dock Yard in Portsmouth having been 'burnt in the beginning of December; the Loss is computed at two Millions sterling, but at the present critical Situation of... Continue Reading
February 1777
Thursday 20th
Antigua So83Wt Distance 33 Leagues
at 6 AM saw a Sail to the NE gave Chace at 9 fired 2 Guns at the Chace at 10 a Sail to the Northward standing to us fired 11 Guns at her and brought her too she proved the Adventure Snow, Wm Coffin Master belonging to Newberry Laden with Lumber and Salt Fish bound to St Eustatia Joined Company with the Perseus and Changed the... Continue Reading
I had the Honour to receive Your Excellency's Letter of the 14th Current, which was delivered me By Monsieur Le Chevalier de la Beaume and I take leave to assure You, it gives me great Concern that any thing should happen to occasion the least difference in opinion between Your Excellency and myself.
In respect to the Brigantine La Felicite's, taken and brought in here by His Britannic Majesty's... Continue Reading
I have the pleashure of Informing you of My arivel here in twenty Days and am Sorry the Markets is So Dul here My fish wont average more than 33s Shillings and out of that their is 5 / pr hundred duties My Lumber is not all Sold yet it is imposible to Get all the articles I want or Either to Sell the Vesel yet therefore if I Cannot Sell my Vesel I Shall purchace what Articles I Can and Come Home... Continue Reading
I have now confin'd in Goal, one Richd Weaver late a sailor on board the George Schooner who enter'd on board the Raleigh but now says he is only willing to fight for King George & would not fight for the Americans; — with many other threats against the ship & desired I would send him to Goal. I did so; but he has since relented and made many protestations against his former crimes &... Continue Reading
War Office,
Sir,
Boston Feby 21st 1777 —
Your orders are to proceed w1.th the first fair Wind & Suitable Weather to the Coast of Ireland, England and France, where you are to cruise until by manning your prizes or otherwise your men are reduced to 50 in number, or in Case your Circumstances otherwise require your going into Port, when you are to proceed to Nantz in the Kingdom of France -In... Continue Reading
February 1777
Friday 21
Moored between Prudence & Rhode Island.
A M Fired one Gun & Displayed a Union jack at the Mizen Peak, as a Sigl for a Court Martial to try Lieut: [John] Brown late Commander of His Majestys Armed Schooner Tryal, for the loss of the Said Vessel.
Moderate & hazy Wr with Snow, PM, the Court broke up When Lieut Brown, Commander, & Leonard Massy Master of... Continue Reading
The number of Men employed on board privateers, and Merchant V essells formed another Obstacle to raising an Army — they 2 recommended an Embargo upon all privateers and merchant Vessells, except those sent after Necessaries by permit, untill the Army was raised.
Last Sunday Capt. Stephen Clay, belonging to Connecticut-River, in 23 Days from Hispaniola, was drove ashore on Narraganset Beach, by two Frigates, who fired a number of shot at his vessel, and attempted to send a barge to take possession of her; but the inhabitants appeared for his assistance, beat off the boat, and assisted in getting off the vessel, which is since arrived safe at Stonington.... Continue Reading
The committee to whom was ref erred the application of Captain Van Bueren, relative to the shipwrights, delivered their report which was amended, and agreed to the two following resolutions:
1st. Resolved, That Captain Leonard Van Bueren be permitted to engage any of the master builders, foremen and shipwrights now in the employ of the Convention of this State, leaving one master builder and as... Continue Reading
Your Excellency will find herein A letter from the Navy board requesting the Assistance of fifteen or Twenty Rope makers, they are exceedingly wanted as we have plenty of Hemp which should be worked up with all possible expedition and we think you will greatly promote the publick service by directing A Search through the Army for these Men or as many of them as can be got sending them down and... Continue Reading
Mr. Nesbitt was directed to pay Doct'r Story Steward, of the Pennsylvania Hospital, £90 10, for Board, &c., of sick and wounded men, to be charged to Congress. Also, £2 for the Board of John Crony, who was hurt by a fall in the Province Ship Montgomery.
Joseph Rhoads directed to go down the River and examine into the State of the Chevaux de Frizes building at Billings Port, &ca., on the Jersey Shore, and made a report to this Board.
In consequence of a Resolve of the Council of Safety, 17th October last, for contracting for twelve Boats to guard the Fire Rafts, Manuel Eyre and Joseph Marsh are appainted to get finished such as are building,... Continue Reading
Your Petitioner Chas Moulton haveing on or about the 6th Inst preferd a petition to the Honble Counsel & House of Representatives, as likewise another of the 19th Inst setting forth his sittuation as a Prisoner and beging leave to purchace a Vessell under one Hundred Tons Burthen, but as your Petitoner has not receivd an Answer thereto, He humbly intreats your Honors to grant the above... Continue Reading