A number of vessels with considerable cargoes of Salt, have arrived since our last.
By virtue of a decree of the Hon. Court of Admiralty of this State, will be sold for ready money, at publick vendue, in the town of York, 12 miles below the city of Williamsburg, on Monday, the 20th instant, the ship Jane, about 120 tuns, burthen, with her rigging, tackle, apparel, and furniture; also her cargo,... Continue Reading
Let all Masters and Owners of Vessels, and others whom it may concern, know, that the Naval Office of this Port is open, and the Officer expects all the inward bound to enter according to the Laws of the Commonwealth of Virginia, where they may have a Permit granted to proceed and dispose of their Cargoes to any District, Ports or Places in the said Commonwealth; and that the outward bound, when... Continue Reading
Janry 1777
Friday 10th
Castle Island NE 6 or 8 Miles
Light airs inclinable to Calms
At 3 PM Saw a Sail to the NE. do gave Chace [a]t 5 hoisted out the pinnace & sent her Man'd & Arm'd after the Chace it being Calm, at 9 Saw a light which we took to be from the Pinnace do burnt two false fires and fired a Gun as Signal for the Boat, At 10 PM the Chace came alongside, found her to be... Continue Reading
Tuesday a tender belonging to the Antelope, Mr. Willet, commander, arrived at Port Royal; she brought in here a man whom she took up at sea, off the north side of the island, a few days since, who gives the following account of himself: His name, he says, is Thomas Cobham; that he was gunner of an American privateer, called the Lively, of 14 carriage guns, which foundered in a gale of wind, and... Continue Reading
This Deponent being duly Sworn upon the Holy Evangelists of Almighty God, deposeth and saith That in the Month of December now last past and which was in the Year of Our Lord One thousand Seven hundred and seventy six he the Deponent went from the said Island of Dominica to the Island of Saint Eustatius, upon the Subject of the Capture of a Brigantine called the May whereof one William Taylor was... Continue Reading
Vote giving leave to the Ship Portsmouth Robert Parker Commander (being a private Ship of war) to Sail on a Cruise, bro't up Read and Concurred.
Since my Arrival here on the 15th Ulto I have from a variety of circumstances been unable to give you any Satisfactory account of the Situation of the Alfred. — The Council here have Amused me with unmeaning promises of taking charge of my prisoners from day to day — but have taken no effectual step 'till a day or two ago when they were escorted by land to be exchanged at Rhode Island — So that I... Continue Reading
War Office,
Boston Jany 11th 1777
Gentn
Enclos'd you have Invoice and Bill of Lading of a parcel of Rum and Sugar on board the Schooner Hazard Benjamin Hammond Master, which we wish safe to your Hands. — You will dispose of this Cargo as of the others we have ship[ped] to you & load the Schooner back with good common Flour with the Addition of Five Tons Pig Iron, and four Tons Bar Iron — The... Continue Reading
The Schooner Runfast Portlage Bill for a Voyage from Boston to Viginia or Maryland
Nehemiah Somes Master — Boston
Mens Names
Stations
When Shipt
what
P Month
Priviledge
Advance
wages
when
discharg'd
whole
Wages
Wages
due
Nehemiah Somes
Master
Jany. 7 1777
£ 7.—
100 Bushels
£ 7. .0. .0
Mate
Jany. 1777
£ 6
40 bushels
£ 6. .0. .0
Samuel Gooding
Seaman
Jany... Continue Reading
Jany 1777
Saturdy 11th
Nantucket Shoal N71 Wt Dist 18 Leagues
at 7 [A.M.] saw a sail to the No ward at 8 TKd Ship & gave Chace at 9 fired 2 shot & brot too a brig from [illegible] Capes bound to Bristol in New England — sent a Petty Officer & 8 men on board her — wore & made sail — a swell from the No ward. —
Undoubted Intelligence is received from Newport, that the Enemy consider the Inhabitants on the Island as Prisoners of War, and have absolutely refused to grant the Benefit of their boasted Pardons to a Number who made Application for the same.
We also hear that the Experiment, of 50 Guns, commanded by the infamous Wallace, sailed for England a few Days since; and that the Asia, of 64 Guns, was... Continue Reading
I am honored with your Lordships Instructions of the 22d, and also with your Letters of the 26th and 27th of last Month, and shall do my utmost to obey your Lordships Orders and fulfill your Intentions in every particular. The Senegal and Tryal arrived the 2d Instant in the Evening, and the next Morning the former returned to her Station; Captain [Roger] Curtis finding by Lieutenant Brown's... Continue Reading
By the foregoing Resolve of Congress you will See that a number of Vessels are wanting immediately to carry that resolution into execution.2 For that purpose I hereby Request you to go to Dartmouth in Massachusetts bay State & from thence to the several Sea ports in that State, where Vessels are and probably may be had for the Voiage & Procure enough if to be had to transport... Continue Reading
It is Represented to the Govr & Council of Safety that the Enemy are Cutting and Loading Wood on Shelter Island and that some Armed Vessells might Act in Consort against them with Safety and Greatly annoy those Plunderers
You are therefore with the Advice of my Said Council of Safety Directed to Consult with the Officers of the Armed Vessells in N London Harbour on the Subject and if they... Continue Reading
On Receipt of this you will with all possible Dispatch Sail with your Crew on Bord the Brig Defence on a Cruise for three months on the High Seas against the Enemies of America and take seize and Make Captures of Such Vessells and their Cargoes within your power as by the Laws and Resolves of the Congress of the united States of america and Liable to be taken and held as Lawful Prize and them... Continue Reading
the Govr & Council of Safety [are] Informed That you are Infirm & Incapacitated for your Command on Board the Brig Defence though your Skill, Courage, and Faithfulness are well Approved of —
Your are therefore Discharged from your Office and Place on Board with our Thanks for your Past Good Service
Given under my Hand in Middletown the 11th Day of Janry 1777 —
I have written you along letter on the present State of public affairs & intend this on Commircial matters. Your favour dated paris 30th Septr last is the only one I have from you and from the tenor of it I judge that several of yours to me & mine to you must have miscarried. I have long been aware that you wou'd suffer vexations for want of remittances & have often told the Committee... Continue Reading
January 1777
Saturday 11th
Do [Cape Henlopen] N 24 West 16 Lgs
A M. at 7 Saw a sail to the SE & gave chace at 9 gotone of the 9 Poundrs on the Gangway & Fire'd several 6 & 9 Pds shot at the chase, at 11 Brot too the chace which was a Brig from Cape Nichola Mole to Virginia Sent hands on Board & took the prisoners out 2
First part dark Rainy Wr Latter Fresh gales... Continue Reading
Since I closed my dispatches, I have received Information of two American Privatiers having cut out a Ship nearly loaded, from one of the Harbours on the North side of the Island, which obliges me instead of sending the Winchelsea to follow the Maidstone, for the Protection of the Convoy expected from England (which I inform'd their Lordships was my intention) to station her on the North side, in... Continue Reading