Volume 1
At a Meeting of the Committee appointed by the General Assembly to act during the Recess of the Assembly held in the Council Chamber in Providence on Wednesday August 30, 1775
Voted that The Honbly Nicho. [Cooke]2
Ambrose Page Esqr. & Col. John Mathewson be a Commtee To Appoint Persons Vessel and all things Necessary in Order to proceed a Voige any place where they... Continue Reading
Date: 30 August 1775
Volume: Volume 1
The Rh[ode] Isld Assembly which Sat at providence last Week were in profound Secrecy Gov. [Samuel] Ward one of the Continental Congress laid before the Assembly Some of the schemes Conceiving in the Congress. There are in America Secret negociations for foreign powers, which have actually offered their Assistance to the Americans, & if the Congress' petition to the king shall prove without... Continue Reading
Date: 30 August 1775
Volume: Volume 1
August 1775
Wedsday 30
At Single Anchor in Stonington Harbor
at 8 A M Anchd in Stoningtown Harbour 3 fm soft bottom the T[end]rs Chac'd a Sloop alongside the Wharfs, was fir'd at which they return'd, at 10 we brought our broadside to bear upon the Town and fir'd, the Tenders brought 3 Schooners off from the Wharfs.
P M the Rebels continued firing upon the Tenders, which we returned by firing... Continue Reading
Date: 30 August 1775
Volume: Volume 1
Sir The Tenders under your Command before your coming in fired on the Town without any Provocation from the people here when some few Musket shot was unadvertently returned. ー We know not how Matters are represented to you, we mean to do what is consistent with Honour. We are a Naked Town with a distress'd parcel of Women and Children and at the Mercy of the Fire from the Ships and Tenders. ー We... Continue Reading
Date: 30 August 1775
Volume: Volume 1
Sir, I have received your Letter of this Instant wherein you say the Tenders under my Command have fired upon the Town without any provocation. Firing upon them and Wounding them is not this provocation they are all ready to make Oath you fired upon them first. I saw firing from several parts of the Town, they even foolishly fired upon the King's Ship. The Honor of Great Britain, Duty to my King... Continue Reading
Date: 30 August 1775
Volume: Volume 1
Sir I have received yours in Answer to mine And do assure you upon Honour that what I wrote you relative to your Tenders firing on us was a real fact to be attested by all the people then present. ー When they came in the Second Time and you had got into the Harbour the Tenders came and took two Vessels within Pistol shot of the Wharf. My positive Orders were not to fire, We expected the Men from... Continue Reading
Date: 30 August 1775
Volume: Volume 1
'Tis impossible I can give you any other answer to yours, while you are firing upon our people, but that of returning it.
Yours
Date: 30 August 1775
Volume: Volume 1
This morning early Cannon was fired in the Eastern board, & have continued fireing ever since & in the last hour about 40 ー we had advice a 12 C, that a Man of Warr & a tender, were fireing on the Houses at the Point in Stonington without provocation unless it was that the people had brot Stock (a small mater) from Block Island, off Block Island yesterday appeared a number of... Continue Reading
Date: 30 August 1775
Volume: Volume 1
By the ship which brings you this you will undoubtedly receive the New York Papers containing an account of the conduct of Captain [George] Vandeput of the Asia,in firing on the town to stop the removal of the cannon which were carrying away by order of the Congress. These papers speak very disrespectfully of the Captain's behaviour; but I assure you they have treated him with great injustice, by... Continue Reading
Date: 30 August 1775
Volume: Volume 1
Ordered that Colo. [George] Ross & Capt. [Robert] White be a Committee to draw up instructions for the Commander-in-Chief & the Captains of the Boats, a list of warrant Officers, and pay of Officers and Men.
Order'd that Mr. [George] Gray & Mr. [Owen] Biddle draw up a plan for supplying and regulating the provisions for Boats' Crews.
Resolved, That the Boat built by Mr. [Joseph] Marsh... Continue Reading
Date: 30 August 1775
Volume: Volume 1
Have now to advise you of sending my Brother out in a small Schooner with load Bread & flour saild 19 Inst for Hispaniola in order to engage a peceil3 of Powder also to sell his goods there if in demand, if not to proceed for Kingston & there to put the Cargo under your care provided you have complyd with my request 8 ult. ー Also to take on board a quany of Coffee & if... Continue Reading
Date: 30 August 1775
Volume: Volume 1
L--d D-----e has lately made seizure of another vessel belonging to Messrs. Eilbeck, Ross, and Co. for Government service forsooth!
The goods imported in the snow Unicorn, seized by L--d D----e as above mentioned, were ordered by the Norfolk borough Committee to be immediately returned in the same vessel; but his L--p has taken care to prevent that, by laying his hands upon the goods and... Continue Reading
Date: 30 August 1775
Volume: Volume 1
By James Young Esq. Vice Adml of the Red & Commr in Chief of His Majts Ships and Vessels employ'd & to be employ'd at Barbadoes & the Leeward Islands, & in the Seas adjacent.
You are hereby required and directed to compleat the Provisions Wood & Water on board His Majts Ship Argo, under your command to three Months & then sail to the Island of Barbadoes, & immediately... Continue Reading
Date: 30 August 1775
Volume: Volume 1
In Consequence of the Letter I received from Captain [Henry] Bryne of the Pomona Sloop the 4th Instant, (of which I inclosed a Copy to you for their Lordships perusal the 8th August p the Creighton, Ross, Master) setting forth that a Schooner from North America arrived at the Island St Croix, in Order to procure Gunpowder for America; and offering any Money for the Purchase &c, and it having... Continue Reading
Date: 30 August 1775
Volume: Volume 1
Sir I received your Letter of the 22d August on Sunday last about four of the clock in the afternoon, and them immediately appointed a meeting of His Majts Council to be held in the town of Basseterre yesterday but there being no more than five members in this island, and one of them is so bad a state of health as to render him unable to attend, which I knew nothing of till the time appointed... Continue Reading
Date: 30 August 1775
Volume: Volume 1
Hearing that you have imported a Quantity of Powder, Lead & Small Arms I have dispatched Capt [George] Bayler, one of my Aids de Camp to treat with you for it, Whatever Engagement he shall enter into for the whole or any part I will confirm: And upon Delivery to him your Bills drawn on me for the Price agreed on shall be honor'd on the Shortest Notice ー I am Gent: [&c.]
Date: 31 August 1775
Volume: Volume 1
By a gentleman from Dartmouth, we hear, that a few Days ago, as one of the piratical Ships of war (supposed to be the King-Fisher) was passing up the Sound between Martha's-Vineyard and the Elizabeth Islands, she stood into Tarpaulin Cove, close in with one of the Houses, where stood a Number of People without Arms, looking at the Ship; when, without the least Provocation they received a Number... Continue Reading
Date: 31 August 1775
Volume: Volume 1
By a Letter from General Washington I was informed that Three Ships of War and Nine Transports sailed from Boston the beginning of last Week. As the Enemy are greatly distressed for Want of fresh Provisions I conjectured this Fleet was designed to supply them; and immediately sent a Quantity of Powder, Ball and Flints to Block Island to enable the Inhabitants to defend themselves, and gave them... Continue Reading
Date: 31 August 1775
Volume: Volume 1
At a Come. to act during the Recess of the Genl. Assembly
Augt. 31. 1775. D. Mowry Cle[r]k
whereas it appears To this Committee that George Rome of Newport Merchant hath made it his Constant practice for Some Time Past To Supply the Enemies of this Country with Provisions and other supplies whereby they are Better Enabled To prosecute their hostile Intentions against usー
It is Therefore Resolved... Continue Reading
Date: 31 August 1775
Volume: Volume 1
The firing yesterday was by the infamous Cap [James] Wallace of the Rose man o' war who chased a Vessel into Stonington Harbour where are about 60 or 70 Dwelling Houses, somewhat Compact. The inhuman Wretch fired on this defencelss place.
Date: 31 August 1775
Volume: Volume 1
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