American Theatre from November 1, 1775, to December 7, 1775
I learn the Nancy Brigantine an Ordnance Transport ー having on Board 4000 Stand of Arms complete 100,000 Flints, a Thirteen Inch Mortar with other Stores in Proportion, was taken in the Bay last week by the Rebels Privateers, and affords an Instance for this Necessity.2 The Circumstance is rather unfortunate to us, as they are now furnished with all the Requisites for setting the Town... Continue Reading
The good success of our Privateers, which you will hear before this reaches you, is very encouraging, and, I hope it will stimulate the seafaring Gentlemen to greater exertions in that way. I think we have a prospect of important advantages from exertions by sea, and I hope, with you Sir, this will be done by the Colonies separately, as, for many reasons, that greater advantages will arise... Continue Reading
I expected to have had the Honour of seeing you again soon as I promised you but the affairs of Government do not permit me to absent myself at present.
Mr Pennet [Pierre Penet] & myself shall dine to morrow with Mr [Samuel] Ward to whom we have the Letter which a Merchant of your place gave us on your account.
We were dissapointed at not finding your Brother at Phila he went from hence the... Continue Reading
This Day I shall enjoy Myself highly; next to the Pleasure of being at home is that of seeing our Friends when abroad; Govr Hop[kins], his Bror [Esek] and Son, [John Burroughs Hopkins], the Comee for Accts2 and Capt Whipple all do Me the Favor to dine with Me; never did I expect the Pleasure of seeing so many of my Countrymen on this Side Rhodeisland. I shall be happy if the Afternoon... Continue Reading
This is to whom it may concern, that I, John Trevett, sailed from Providence in a Sloop called the Catea [Katy], Commanded by Abram Whipple, E[sq.], of Providence, with a number of passengers, to sail with a fleet of armed vessels fixing at Philidelphia, in the month of Nov. 1775. Arrived there the same month, and found 1 Ship called the Alfred, 1 Ship called the Columbus, 1 Brig called the... Continue Reading
December 1775
Saturday 2nd
Fial [Fayal] No 62° East 542 Leagues
at 6 A M made the Signal for the Convoy to come under our Stern at 7 Do took them in Tow and made Sail ー at Noon a strange Sail to the No ward ー Do Convoy in Tow and Prize Sloop in Company ー2 at 2 P M brought too & sent a Boat on board the strange Sail ー the Brig Peter ー Thos Egger Master from St Ubes to New York... Continue Reading
I think it my duty to acquaint your Excellency that in compliance with your instructions I proceeded as far as Annapolis Royal in my way to St John's River that during the course of seventeen days I repeatedly attempted to cross the Bay of Fundy but was each time drove back into the Basin of Annapolis by contrary winds ー that as the beginning of the Winter had been uncommonly severe from violent... Continue Reading
Lieutenant [John] Orde of his Majesty's Ship under my command has acquainted me by letter of this date, that he has in my absence, confined the Boatswain for disobedience of Orders, contempt to his Superior officers & for using mutinous expresss
I am therefore to request you will be pleas'd (when opportunity offers) to order a Court Martial to be held on the said Boatswain to try him for... Continue Reading
Sir I had the Honor of writing to you the 30th. Ulto. inclosing an Inventory of the Military Stores taken on board the Brigantine Nancy by Capt. Manly of the Armed Schooner Lee. ー I have now to inform you that he has since sent into Beverly a Ship named the Concord, James Lowrie Master from Greenock in Scotland bound to Boston she has on board Dry Goods and Coals to the value of £... Continue Reading
I am commanded by his Excellency to Inform you that he does not consider the sloop at Cape Anne sent in by Captn Broughton, to be a prize & that he does not wish to have any thing to do with her. There should always be great care taken, that cargoes brought in, should not be injured or Embezzled ー It appears that the Vessel belongs to Genl [Nathanael] Greene & he will dispose of her as he... Continue Reading
I am commanded by his Excellency to inform you that he received your favors of the 1 & 3 Instant, & that your activity & conduct merit his approbation He is much Obligd to the people who have afforded their assistance in securg this valuable Prize & for the alertness thev'e discov[ered] & zeal for the service of their Country ー You will be pleased to spare the Committee a few... Continue Reading
I am commanded by his Excellency to acknowledge the Receipt of your favor of the 3 Inst, givg an account of Captn Manly's taking the ship Concord from Glasgow with Goods for Boston ー His Excellency has no doubt, but as the Enemy are seizing & making prizes of our Vessels every day, that Reprizals should be made; But not thinking himself authorized to declare vessels taken, transporting Goods... Continue Reading
The reason you did not see your friends upon the lines the day you went down was, it was agreed soon after the first Letters came out, that the small pox should go thro' the town, and accordg that day was appointed by (How[e]) that. the inoculation should take place, wch accordy did & they within conclud'd that it would be best Polley with the other children should take it, & they all... Continue Reading
Dear sir I recd your Favour of the 5th of Novr & the Enquiries relative to Vessels suitable to be armed, Commanders & Seamen to man the same, secure places for building new Vessels of Force &care important in their Nature, & to have the same effectually answered I propose to submit them as soon as may be to the Court that a Committee may be raised for obtaining the Facts from the... Continue Reading
Yesterday se'nnight [November 26] a large ship being near the Light off Cape Ann was struck with lightning, which set her on fire, and burnt to the water's edge, 'till she sunk. A number of cannon were heard to go off, [while] she was on fire, and 'twas thought [first that she was Jat least a 20 [gun]ship; but we have an account from Boston, that it was the Juno [sic Jupiter] transport ship from... Continue Reading
The Admiral wrote again Today to the same Officer2 inclosing a Letter for Captain [Henry] Bellow (or Officer commanding the Kings Ships) at Virginia, to inform him of the foremcntioned naval Equipments of the Rebels at Philadelphia, the certainty of their hastening to equip more, and the confident Report of their Design to attack his Majesty's Vessels and Sloops to the Southward;... Continue Reading
The Savage is returned to Halifax with the Amity Transport having on board 83 Seamen raised at Newfoundland by order of Rear Admiral [Robert] Duff, upon my application to him of which I informed you by Letter dated 6th of September. Commodore Arbuthnot has kept the Savage at Halifax and sent the Transport with part of the Men to Boston. The Fowey has the Remainder.
If a Bounty could have been... Continue Reading
By the Sloop General Gage who left Quebec the 9th of November, and arrived the 2d instant at Night, I received a Letter from Captain [John] Hamilton of his Majs Ship Lizard, containing very disagreeable Intelligence, of which I think proper to send you a Copy, exactly as represented to me: as I have not the least doubt of the Rebels attempting to take Possession of the Province of Nova Scotia,... Continue Reading
Last night the Armed Sloop Gage returned from Quebec wch place she left the 8th of November, and Confirms the Rebel Accot of St Johns & Chamblie being taken, & that it was thought at Quebec that Montreal must likewise fall into their hands, and that nothing was to be Expected from the Canadiens. General Carleton was to be in town from Montreal the 11th, When it was Expected he wou'd be... Continue Reading
Your much Esteemed Favour of the 1st Instant, p Lieutt [Henry] Champion came to hand at 8 oClock Saturday eveng I did without a moments loss of time sett out, determind, if it were possible, to get the Brigte2 to Sea next Day, which with the assistance of my good Friend Mr Spooner I happily Effected ー After Repairing on board the Brig, Saturday night, inquiring into the cause of the... Continue Reading
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