Know Ye that this twenty third day of February in the Year of Our Lord one thousand seven hundred and seventy seven before me personally appeared Samuel Lightbourn late Master of a Certain Brigantine called the Fanny who Solemnly made Oath on the Holy Evangelists of Almighty God that he Sailed with the said Brigantine under his Command from the Island of Antigua on the Thirty first day of July... Continue Reading
I had the Honour to receive Your Excellency's Letter of the 12th Current, by Monsieur Bougon: and have very great pleasure to perceive my Letter addressed to Your Excellency the 7th Instant has given the Satisfaction I wished.
From Your Excellencys known Justice and Integrity I doubt not, that when You are Rightly informed of the Collusion and Deceit practised between the American Rebels and some... Continue Reading
Captain [Robert Palliser] Cooper delivered me your obliging Letter of the 3d Instant, to acquaint me that several Adventurers belonging to Antigua encouraged by the opinion of the Attorney General and other Lawyers, have fitted out several Armed Vessels, and without Commission, and which are sent out to Cruize against the Americans.
I entirely agree with You that self appointed Cruizers are... Continue Reading
Accos of Prizes taken & brot into the State of New Ramps, since the Commencement of Hostilities with Great Brittain
Viz.
State of N H.
Ship Prince George 2 abt 200 Tons, Richd Emms Comr in Governmt Service, having on Cargo 1800. bbS Flour —
4456 . 14 . 6
Schooner Rainbow abt 30 Tons, Jno Monegale [McMonagle]
Continental
Comr from Nova Scotia bound to Boston — Cargo... Continue Reading
That your Petitioner James Foot Master of the Sarah and Elizabeth with a very valuable Cargo was taken on his Voyage from Jamaica to London by a Privateer of Cape Ann (the Warren Capt Coase [William Coas]) 2 and carried in there some Months ago, the Captors have generously given him half of his adventure which has enabled him thro' that means and other little matters which he had to... Continue Reading
The Officers and Men of the Sloop Providence have Impowerd Mr Nathaniel Green to Receive from the Continental Agents their Prise Money, which if shortly Paid will be a Service to the Fleet, as most of them will ship again on Board the Sloop or some Other Vessel in the Fleet Mr Green and Mr Trivet [John Trevett] will call on the Agent at Boston to make a Demand of the moneys due to the Sloops Crew... Continue Reading
The following lines contain the reasons why we Signed the petition against Commodore Hopkins. we consider him, on the account of his real Character, quite unfit for the important publick Station where in he now pretends to act. We know him to be, from his conversation and conduct to be a man destitute of the principles, both of religion arid Morality; We likewise know that he Sets the most... Continue Reading
I the Subscriber have heard Commodore Hopkins Say that the continental Congress were a pack of ignorant Lawyers Clarks and that they know nothing at all. I also have heard him Say, when earnestly persuaded to remove the fleet to Boston, being in constant expectation that this river would be blocked up, the Ships Shall not go to Boston, by God.
P. James Brewer
Ship Warren Feby 24 1777.
I the... Continue Reading
I the subscriber do know that our Commander, Commodore Hopkins, allows himself to speak in the most disrespectful manner concerning the honorable Continental Congress, although I have lived in the cabin with him, I do not remember that he has ever once spoken well of those guardians of America, but seems to embrace every oppertunity in order to disparage & slander them. He does not hesitate... Continue Reading
I now informe you that I never undertuck a Voyage to sea in my Life that I Did not pirforme and this more Espetially as your honour & your worthy Counsell have thought on me & have put such Confidance in me & take it as an honour Dun me & am much obligd to you all for the same
I must tell you that I scorne to Resine or to pirtision to your honour for a Dismission but must aquant... Continue Reading
Agreeable to your order, I send you by Lieut. [Bela] Elderkin an exact and acurate list, of Officers, Seamen, & Marines belonging on board the Ship Oliver Cromwell, as I can possibly Ascertain.
The Ship is Graved & Ballast, and I think in a very fair way to gett to Sea in 15 or 16 days if nothing material may happen — The Alteration of the Ship and reducing the Guns will reduce the men on... Continue Reading
We hear, that several Ships laden with Tobacco and bound for France, under Convoy of the Randolph Frigate, built by the Rebels, have stolen out from Philadelphia and got to Sea. It is supposed, that some of the late Gales of Wind had driven the King's Ships from their Station near the Capes; but 'tis not improbable, that a good Account may be given of some of them before they can .cross the... Continue Reading
You will receive herewith a packet directed to the Commissioners from the United States of America at Paris, and you are to proceed therewith so soon as you have receiv'd your Letter of Credit from the secret Committee of Congress, either to Nantes or Bordeaux in France, as the Circumstances of wind and weather will permit — when you arrive you will immediately apply to the Continental Agent to... Continue Reading
I have the honor to inform you that on my passage from America to this place I retook the Ship Mackerel employ'd in His Majestys Service, and loaded with provissions for the Army at New York, on examining the prisoners I found them to be all subjects of France except one who said he was born in america I have not been able to procure any comission, or other information excepting that they had... Continue Reading
I have the Honour to transmit You this by Capt John Adams who goes express by order of Congress with dispatches for the Honble Commissrs at the Court of France, with orders to deliver them himself. The secret Committee were desirous of making as valuable a Remittance as might be, to put the schoonr in a set of Ballast, But it happens we have no Oil, pot Ash or any Article at market, wch we... Continue Reading
That your Petitioner having been Appointed Agent for the Eastern Indians; by the Honble Continental Congress,2 is necessiated to purchase a small Vessel of about Thirty Tons; in Order to Negociate the business with said Indians, and Convey Intelligence from time to time, to the Continent; which Vessel it will be requisite shoud have some Artillery & a Greater Number of men than... Continue Reading
That your petitioner is a Native of Ireland and of the City-of-Cobrain, and hath been in this Country about three Years, — the last year he Served as a Marine on board the Columbus Frigate belonging to these States, and faithfully did his duty, and hath Obtained a discharge, And now being desirous to go home to see his friends. —
He humbly prays your Honors would be pleased to permit him to take... Continue Reading
Wm Coit Esqr
Capt & Commander
Present
Michael Mellaly
1 Lieut
Do
John Chapman
2 Do
Do
John Smith
3 Do
Do
Levi Young
Master
Do
Thos Chatfield
1 Mate
Do
Nathaniel Wilson
2 Do
Do
Albegence Waldo
Surgeon
Do
Thomas Gray
Do Mate
Do
Luther Elderkin
Midshipman
Do
Allen Christophers
Do
Do
John Bailey
Do
Do
Giles Hollester
Do
Do
Selvenus Pinkham
Do
Do
Robt Craige
Gunner... Continue Reading
Elifelett Robarts
Captn
Furlow
John Prentice
1st Lieut
Present
Bela Elderkin
2 Do
Furlow
Solomon Lord
Sergant
Do
John Spencer
Do
Present
Wm Moseley
Capts Clerk
Dischargd
Gurdon Burnham
Drummer
Runaway
Isaih Rogers
Private
Present
John Spencer
Do
Furlow
Saml Robinson
Do
Do
Silas Flint
Do
Do
Thomas Holbrook
Do
Present
Saml Stoddart
Do
Furlow
Abel Woodworth
Do
Small Pox... Continue Reading
Five Prizes came up to Town this Morning. One of them a new large Ship, laden with Tobacco, & bound from Baltimore to France, was taken by Com. Hotham in Chesapeak Bay; and is valued at near £20,000. She has about 500 Hhds on board. 2