Sir I am commanded by his Excellency General Washington to forward papers relative to the Sloop Polly & Schooner Industry with the Captains & Sailors, also Mr Jabez Hatch, who appears to be a noted Tory and is Owner of one of these Vessels which were taken by one of these Armed Vessels fitted out at the Continental expence,2 you will please to return these Papers... Continue Reading
Wrote to Wm Bartlett to detain the goods pr the North Britton untill further orders, allso the sloop with Fish & oyle Sent by Broughton2 ー his Excellency cannot be troupled with the disputes of people Concernd in takeing the North Britton, send the papers, found on board the Schooner Said to be taken, bound from Ireland to Boston &c3
Ordered, That the Secretary be directed to lay on the Table the Bill for encouraging the fitting out of Armed Vessels.
The Secretary, agreeable to Order, laid on the Table the Act for encouraging the fitting out armed Vessels.
Upon a Motion, Ordered, That Mr. [Elbridge] Gerry, Capt. [Josiah] Batcheler, and Mr; [Edward] Rawson, be a Committee to bring in a Resolve impowering any Person to make... Continue Reading
The Army now began to go into Winter Quarters; and in the Night the Lively and Spy armed Transport, with their Convoy from Penobscot, loaden with Wood, arrived.
Capt. Adams [sic]of Beverly, in a privateer has taken two prize schooners and a sloop, laden with fish and oil from Halifax for the besieged army in Boston,2 and has also retaken a sloop off Marblehead, with two officers, six seamen and two marines prisoners, who were put on board to pilot her into Boston3
Captain Coit in a privateer from Plymouth in this province [... Continue Reading
Novr 75
Wednesy 8th
Cape Codd N73W Dis 9 Leagues
[A.M.] at 6 saw 2 Sl ahead Standg to the westd at 8 in Co wt the above Vessells at 11 Spoke a Brig from London to Boston wt Stores2 Brig and Snow in Co
[P.M.] at 5 brot too and Sent the Cuttr onbd the above Vessells at 6 hoisted in do
Thursday 9th
Cape Codd West5 Leagues
Latter hard gales and Squally Brigg and Snow in Co at 10... Continue Reading
Gent. Resolved, with the Consent of Mr John Brown, That the Colony purchase the Sloop Katy2 as she now is with her Boats Stores and Appurtenances at the Rate of Twelve Hundred and Fifty Dollars: That the said John Brown be allowed the Hire of the said Sloop at the Price agreed upon from the Twelfth Day of June last to this Day: out of the General Treasury. And that in Case the said... Continue Reading
Novr 1775
Thursday 9
Moor'd In Rhode Island Harbour
Do Wr [Fresh breezes and fair.] A M Reced Rum, Saw 2 of the Rebel Sloops off Gould Isl'd Sent the Bolton Brigg and 4 Tenders in Chace of them.
Friday 10
Do Wr PM came down the River &Anchd the Brigg & Tenders.
Your considerations on the conspicuous light you have been placed in at this post, your watchfulness for the interests of America as far as in your power lies, suppose you mean in the expense that must attend our present works, with the many et ceteras therein, we beg leave to make the following reply:
1st. As to the erroneous distribution of 137 articifers and labourers at the post when you drew... Continue Reading
On motion made, Resolved, That a Committee be appointed to enquire into the state of the colony of Virginia, to consider whether any, and what provisions may be necessary for its defence, and to report the same to the Congress.
That the committee consist of five.
The members chosen, Mr. S[amuel] Adams, Mr. [Thomas] Lynch, Mr. [James] Wilson, Mr. [Samuel] Ward, and Mr. [Thomas] Johnson.
The... Continue Reading
The Committee appointed to Contract for building a Ship, informing the Board from the unfitness of the Season, and the many difficulties they forsee in the execution of the work, they apprehend she will not be compleated so early the next Year as the public service may require; therefore,
Resolved, That the said Committee be authorized to make an immediate purchase, and equip any Ship they may... Continue Reading
Permission is granted to Mr William Neil Merchant of Baltimore to export to the foreign West Indies 401 Bbls Flour, 24 Bbls Bread, & 2000 Staves, the said Wm Neil having agreed to lay out the Produce of the same in the Purchase of Arms, Ammunition, Lead, Sulphur, or Salt Petre, if to be had, which Articles (if imported) are to be first, offered to the Council of Safety of this Province, but... Continue Reading
We hear, from very good authority, that the ministerial squadron lost 21
of their complement in their late attack upon Hampton, besides the seven prisoners who were taken.
On sunday last [November 5] 70 fine rifle-men arrived at the camp, under the command of capt. [William] Fontaine. The same day came in 100 minute men from Chesterfield, and companies have been arriving every day since.
The N.... Continue Reading
November 1775
Monday 6
Elizabeth River [Virginia]
Moderate & fair. Employd making Plats & Nippers. Reced two [Pu]ncheons of water on board. Punishd Richd Young for [Dr]unkenness as the Articles of War direct. Sailed hence [the] Carolina Tender on a Cruize. Do Weather. [P.M.] Employ'd as above.
Tuesday 7
A M Received two Puncheons of Water. Aired our Sails. Received fresh Beef.... Continue Reading
Mr. President laid before the Congress the draught of the letter2 which he had, by their order, prepared to be wrote to Capt. Thornbrough.
And the same being read and amended, was agreed to as follows
Ordered, That the said letter be forthwith engrossed, signed by Mr. President, and sent to Capt. Thornbrough.
The Secretary, as Chairman of the Committee of Observation, reported, that in... Continue Reading
I was afterwards sent with the prisoners taken with me to an armed vessel in the river, which lay off against Quebec, under the command of Capt. M'Cloud, of the British, who treated me in a very generous and obliging manner, and according to my rank; in about twenty-four hours, I bid him farewell with regret; but my good fortune still continued. ー The name of the captain of the vessel I was put... Continue Reading
ー 8 ー
this morning we set out for Montryall again and marc[hed] to Lepperary [Le Prairie] that Night where we Lay in camp only one Night although very snowey and a bad storm
ー 9 ー
we took Battoes and saild across the river St Laurence on A small isleland where we Lay that night by fires with our tents
ー 10 ー
we took our boats and crosst A small river that Lay between the isleland and Montryall... Continue Reading
You are constantly in succession to order a Boat with an officer to Row Guard for the examination of Ships and Vessels, approaching this Port; and make a report thereof to me the next morning. Given under my hand at Halifax the 11 November 1775.
Novr 1775
Saturdy 11th
The town of Cape Ann N NE Manchester Church N W.
at 4 AM Mod. Breezes and fine Wr at ½ past 5 Weigh'd and Came to sail. at 7 Saw a Schooner under Marblehead land gave Chase at 10 Cape Ann Lighthouse Bearg N E Saw a Ship of war in the Bay which we took to be the Mercury
This Day Landed into the Care of Capt Willm Bartlet Agent 11 hogsets & tu thirds of Solt out of the Scooner Prince Willm Sands Stanly Sciper2 By me