European Theatre from January 1, 1777, to May 31, 1777
Whereas Vice Adml Sr James Douglas Commr in Chief of His Majts Ships & Vessels at Portsmouth hath transmitted to Us in his Letter of the 4th Inst One of the same date which he had received from Capt Robinson Commr of His Majts Ship Worcester requesting that a Court Martial may be assembled for the Trial of John Williams (3) 2 a Seaman belonging to the said Ship who deserted from... Continue Reading
Date: 5 May 1777
Volume: Volume 8
Having received a letter from Vice Admira} [James] Young, Commander in chief of His Majesty's Ships & Vessels at the leeward Islands, dated at Antigua the 8 March last, 2 giving an account of sundry armed Vessels, without any Commissions, having been fitted out from those Islands to Cruize and make Capture of American Vessels &ca on the High Seas, and of the Steps which he had... Continue Reading
Date: 6 May 1777
Volume: Volume 8
Depositions of Witnesses had and taken at the House of William Harward bearing the Sign of the Three Tons at Portsmouth in the County of Southhampton the sixth Day of May in the Year of our Lord one Thousand seven Hundred and seventy seven and in the seventeenth Year of the Reign of our Sovereign Lord George the Third by the Grace of God of Great Britain France and Ireland King Defender of the... Continue Reading
Date: 6 May 1777
Volume: Volume 8
In the year one thousand seven hundred and seventy seven and on Tuesday the sixth Day of the month of May, there personally appeared before us, officers of the Admiralty of France established for Flanders in Dunkerque, Gustavus Cunningham, a native of Philadelphia aged thirty three years, Captain or master of the vessel named the Surprise, assisted by Mr Francis Coffin, agent and interpreter of... Continue Reading
Date: 6 May 1777
Volume: Volume 8
In the year one thousand seven hundred and Seventy Seven and on Tuesday the sixth day of the month of May, there appeared personally before us, officers of the Admiralty of France established for Flanders in Dunkerque, a Royal bar of Justice, John Beach, a native of Bristol in America, usually residing in Philadelphia, aged Twenty eight years, formerly Master of the Lugger named the Peacock,... Continue Reading
Date: 6 May 1777
Volume: Volume 8
Whereas we have received Information that an Irish built Wherry of about 100 Tons, fitted out as a Schooner with 8 Carriage Guns besides Swivels & commanded by one Gustavus Cunningham, late Master of an American Brigantine which has been detained at Newport some time past, sailed from Dunkirk on the 1st Inst; that, on the next Day, she Piratically took the Prince of Orange Packet Boat William... Continue Reading
Date: 7 May 1777
Volume: Volume 8
My Lords Commissrs of the Admiralty having in obedience to his Majesty's Command promoted Sr Peter Parker, to the Rank of Rear Admiral of the Blue; and their Lordships intending that when this Years Campaign in North America is over, he shall proceed from thence to Jamaica to relieve you in the Command of His Majesty's Ships and Vessels on that Station; I have it in command from their Lordships... Continue Reading
Date: 7 May 1777
Volume: Volume 8
It is confirmed that the Prince of Orange packet, Capt. Story, from Harwich to Helvoetsluys, was taken by the Surprize privateer, Capt. Cunningham, of four guns and ten swivels, within three leagues of the coast of Holland. It was at night; and the privateer coming close along-side the packet, thought she made bad steerage, and asked her if she was coming on board her, for that they should soon... Continue Reading
Date: 7 May 1777
Volume: Volume 8
By this day's post a gentleman of Gosport received a letter from Plymouth, advising him that four prizes were sent into that port by his Majesty's ships Foudroyant and Nonsuch; two of them retaken ships, and the other two American property, laden with rice and indigo.
The hospital at Forton is quite fitted up, and every necessary contracted for. The prisoners are to be removed from his Majesty's... Continue Reading
Date: 7 May 1777
Volume: Volume 8
7th [May] removed from the Queen to the Blenheim of 90 Guns where all the American Prisoners were Collected as She had been repaired for a Guardship, there we met Our Captain & Doctr & Capt Eleazer Johnson Who was taken in the Privateer Brigg Doltin [Dalton] Mounting 18 Guns & Swivels Equivolent Who was Captivated on Christmas Eve'g By his Majesties Ship the Raisonable of 64 Guns Tho... Continue Reading
Date: 7 May 1777
Volume: Volume 8
The Commissioners from the United States of America desire to represent to his Excellency the Count de Vergennes, that they have received intelligence of a Vessel belonging to the States having been taken by the Culloden, an English Ship of War, close on the Coast of France; and that the same Ship of War chased another Vessel belonging to the States so near to the French Shore as to be herself in... Continue Reading
Date: 7 May 1777
Volume: Volume 8
My Lords Commissrs of the Admty having Ordered Mr Seddon their Solicitor to direct his Agents at Portsmouth and Plymouth, so soon as they shall be respectively informed that the Prisons which by their Lordships order of the 19th of last Month you were directed to prepare for the Reception of the persons therein mentioned shall be in all respects ready, to apply to the Commander in Chief of His... Continue Reading
Date: 8 May 1777
Volume: Volume 8
Four Sloops of war are sent in Quest of the Privateer which took the Harwich Packet, and it is to be hoped will give a good Account of her: The above Packet was to have carried Fifty Thousand Pounds in Specie, besides a Quantity of Diamonds, over to Holland; but it luckily being a Jew Holiday when the Packet sailed, they were not shipped.
Date: 8 May 1777
Volume: Volume 8
Last Friday [May 2], toward the Evening, as the Prince of Orange was approaching the Coast of Holland, and being about two Leagues distant from the Land, she fell in with a large Lugsail Vessel, who came so near as to hail the Pacquet, and requested to know how the Land bore, and where she was bound to, with many other Questions of the like Nature, in a friendly Way, which were properly answered... Continue Reading
Date: 9 May 1777
Volume: Volume 8
The appearance of the American privateers in the channel has so affected insurance, that scarce any good names can be got to a policy almost at any price.
This morning 40 per cent. insurance was offered on the Dutch mail that sailed on Saturday last from Harwich to Helvoetsluys, no certain advice having yet been received of her arrival.
Date: 9 May 1777
Volume: Volume 8
9th [May] Josias Smith taken by the Albion in the Franklin [sic Montgomery] with Capt Rowe this Day Obtained Liberty to come on board to see His Brother Samll who was Chirurgeon to the Da[lt]on 2
Date: 9 May 1777
Volume: Volume 8
I had the honor of reporting to you yesterday what happened in the port of this town relative to the prizes taken by Cunningham [Conyngham], an American privateer. I am sending you the copy of the judicial and Extrajudicial declarations which that man has made, to which I annex the resume of the Explanations which I have been able to procure relative to another small vessel which is being... Continue Reading
Date: 9 May 1777
Volume: Volume 8
Yesterday government sent word to Lloyd's coffee-house, that they have received intelligence that our armed ships have taken from the rebels one hundred and forty vessels, and twenty-six recaptures since the last accounts; and that the names of the ships so taken, with other particulars, shall be sent to the coffee-house for the information of the merchants as soon as a proper list can be made... Continue Reading
Date: 10 May 1777
Volume: Volume 8
Letters arrived yesterday from Paris declare it was asserted in that metropolis, that Dr. Franklin had so far succeeded in his negociation, as to have obtained leave from Administration for several French privateers to act under the authority of the Congress, and make reprisals on the English, and that upwards of sixty vessels were actually fitting out at Brest, Rochelle, Nantz, and other ports... Continue Reading
Date: 10 May 1777
Volume: Volume 8
[1777. May] 5. This morning Joseph Hatch, one of our company, died with small-pox. He is the second of our company that has died in these hospitals. 2
6. I begin to grow bravely, and have a very good appetite for my victuals. I remain very sore, yet not so sore as I was two or three days ago; as my pox ran all together then, when I used to rise up in bed to receive any thing, and... Continue Reading
Date: 10 May 1777
Volume: Volume 8
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