1775
Willm Standley [of the Prince William] Cr.
Octo 29
By 3 Cod Lines
By 1 Dozn Cod hooks
By 1 Cod Lead
By 6 Quarts Mollases
1775
Thos Russell [of the Mary] Cr
Octo 29
By 1 hogshead Salt
By 6 Pound Sugar
1775
To Sundrys taking for Use of Schr Fra[n]klin & People
Octo 29
Thomas Russell of Marblehead Cr
To 1 hogshead Salt
To 7 hooks, to 2 Emty 2... Continue Reading
May it Please your Excellencey ー I arrived here in about twenty four hours after I Left you have Collected Powder So as to make up near thirty Barrels & have Since been preparing to Set an Example to the other Seaports by Setting the Fleet at Defiance upon my arrival I was Surprized to find that the Boom So much Talked of was not prepared That the Bridge Intended for Crossing from the main... Continue Reading
Whereas a power has been granted by his Excellency General Washington, Commander in Chief of the Army of the united Colonies, unto John Glover Esqr Colonel of the 21st Regiment, & unto Stephen Moylan Esqr Commissary General of Musters, to appoint Agents for the Armed schooners & vessells, fitted out, now fitting or may hereafter be fitted out for the use of the united Colonies, against... Continue Reading
Whereas a Power has been granted by his Excellency General Washington, Commander in Chief of the Army of the United Colonies, unto John Glover Esq. Colonel of the 21st Regiment, and unto Stephen Moylan Esq Commissary Generall of Musters, to appoint Agents for the armed Schooners & Vessells fitted out, now fitting or may hereafter be fitted out for the Use of the United Colonies again[st] the... Continue Reading
Your Favor of the 25th Instant came safely to hand. Capt. Whipple's Voyage has been unfortunate, but it is not in our Power to Command Success, tho' it is always our duty to deserve it; I hope he will be more Successful in his intended Voyage, if it is proposed in consequence of the Direction of the Congress, I think it proper you should apprize him, that two Schooners have Sail'd from hence to... Continue Reading
Sir Your Favour of the 26 Inst came to Hand this Moment. I am very sorry for the Accident that happened, but we hope more Care will be taken in future The Vessel was well recommended, & as she is a good Sailor we hope you will soon put yourself in a better We expect a Brig & a Schooner taken at Martha's Vineyard will be in Plymouth in a few days, Major [Benjamin] Tupper who took them... Continue Reading
Sir Capt Coit has informed us of the Accident which hapned to his Vessel thro' the Stupidity & Unskilfulness of the Pilot ー We wonder we did not hear from you or Martindale by the Return of this Messenger. As we are quite at a Loss about the Ammunition to be got from hence & the Time of Marchg the Men to Plymouth ー However as by all Accounts the Vessel is ready I have Ordered the Men to... Continue Reading
1. The Lynch ー Schooner commanded by Captn Broughtn2.
2. The Franklin Do commanded by Capt. Sillman. both the above Vessels have sailed from Marblehead with 70 Men each to the River St Lawrence p the special Order of Congress, ー See their additional Instructions ー
3. The Lee ー Schooner commanded by Captn Manley fitted out at Marblehead ー sailes 29th Octobr on a Cruize ー N B. Capt. [... Continue Reading
Octr 1775
Sunday 29
Running through the [Vineyard] Sound
Weighed [from Rhode Island] & Came to sail Convoy in Compy Mode & Cloudy at 4 P M Fired 2 Shot at the Custom house Schooner thinking she was taken by the Rebels as She did not Answer us when we haild her & Whale boats passing and repassing from the shore to her she had in Company a Sloop which we Sopposed had taken her
I left Plimouth on tuesday evening [October 24] & arrived here the next evening, I presented the Letter to the Committee, who told me that what guns there was in town belonged to Capt Simn Potter & that he might dispose of them if he Pleased. ー I Waited on Capt Potter, but could not agree with him for them I went next morning on Rhode Island to Genl Hopkins's Quarters where I found guns... Continue Reading
Bot of Simn Potter
for the United Colonies. —
10 Carriage 4 [pd] Guns, 10 Swivels
£220..0..0
200 Shott 5 Cartouch Boxes
Sponges & Ladles, &c
[Endorsed] Then Recd his Ordr on his Excellency Genl Washington for the above, which when paid is in full
Recd of Ephm Bowen on Board the Sloop Gaspee, ten Carriage & ten Swivel Guns, Two hundred Cannon Shott, Sponges Lades &c. which I Promise to Deliver at Taunton to the Said E Bowen
Mr Ephraim Bowen Dr to. The fraght of 10 Cannon 10 Swivell Guns 10 Caredges 200 Shott &c to Ta[u]nton you finding a pilot as P Agrement
£3:12.0
To Mr Wm Christopher one Days work Getten the Guns from Ropwalk
4.6
To hyer Six hands besides & finding them Vetels 1 Day Each for [blurred]
1:4.0
Bristol Octr 29 1775 E E P
£5:0:6
By letter from Boston, dated the 4th inst. we are informed, that the General [Thomas Gage] had refused payment for the cargo of 2200 barrels of flour on board the ship Charming Peggy, Capt. [Thomas] Dowman, from this port to Lisbon, formerly taken by the Mercury man of war, and carried into Boston. The General at first refused to deliver up even the ship, but on a second application, he informed... Continue Reading
Since I had the Pleasure of seeing You, I have moved my Furniture into the Country, and am at present determined to retire to my Farm, more particularly as I enjoy but an ill State of Health ー And it's probable I shall not return to Business here again, even if Affairs are happily settled ー It will therefore be impossible for me properly to execute the Commission You favor'd me with ー it being... Continue Reading
At the Instance and Request of the Committee of Cape Ann, I dispatched Major [David] Mason to Survey and make a Report of such Works of Defence, as were already constructed there, and how far any new one might be necessaryFrom his Observations and Account I find, that a Battery may be erected, to the great Advantage, and Security of the Place. But the small Stock of Artillery, belonging to the... Continue Reading
His Excellency General Washington directs me to acquaint that, it is necessary for the publick Service that you be at Cambridge Wednesday Night [November 1] as The Vessells that were expected at Portsmouth, are said to be return'd to Boston. I apprehend they have laid aside their design upon portsmouth for the present. The General is now confident, from your Vigilance, that the Enemy can only... Continue Reading
Gentlemen, Your Favour of the 28th came last Evening ー Capt [Winborn] Adams is ordered to march immediately ー Colo [William] Burbeck is preparing the Ammunition & I hope every Thing will be got in such Order as to have them both out ー
The General approves of the detaining the 20 men ー The Capt (Glover)2 will if he behaves as We expect have a Vessel soon when he will then have it in... Continue Reading
The Committee on the Petition of William Davis, reported as follows, which was read, and accepted, viz.
As it is of the utmost Importance that this Colony be well provided with Gun-Powder, in Order to make a proper Stand against our merciless Enemy: Therefore,
Resolved, That the Petition of William Davis, be granted, and that the said Davis be and he hereby is permitted to send the Sloop Reliance... Continue Reading
Major Tupper the bearer of this will inform your Excellency in what manner he has conducted with the two Vessels taken by him at the Vinyard, it is therefore unnecessary for me to enter into particulars ー I wod just observe that Dartmouth is a place of greater safety than this Port being much less exposed to Storms & better adapted at this time for fitting out an arm'd Vessel than Plymouth (... Continue Reading