The Comtee of both Houses appointed to consider of a Plan for fiting out one or more Armed Vessels for the defence of American Liberty, have attended that service, & Report in the following Resolves, vizt John Adams Per order
Resolved that two Ships be built, as soon as may be, at the expence of this Colony; One Suitable to carry Thirty-Six Guns, vizt, Twenty Guns carrying twelve Pound Shot... Continue Reading
I take the earliest opportunity of informing Your Excellency of my appointment to the command of His Majestys Troops destined to be employed in the Southern Colonies of North America, and that I shall embark from hence in a few days for Cape Fear within Your Excellencys Government in the Province of North Carolina, but as I mean to touch in my way at New York & Virginia it will probably be... Continue Reading
I am not Certain whiter I sufficiently urged the Advantages of Geting Powder & Guns with bu[e]yonets especially the latter if to be got, tho' very high & more Especially if they Should be to be had On My Credit as Ordd As Also to Balist with Brimstone if to be got, & salt Peter is worth half a Dolr p lb here or More ー You Will remember by a Resolve of Congress the Value of the Powder... Continue Reading
Resolved, That it be recommended to the convention or committee of safety of New York, to endeavour to obtain a release of Lieutenant ———— Tyley, 2 of Brigadier [David] Wooster's regiment, now confined on board the Asia man of war by exchanging for him an officer of the same rank of the British troops in our cutody.
Dear Father, What is England grown so weak, that she cant govern her oun Subjects without foreign Aid! Surely she must be despised by her Neighbours. You depend much on their countenance in subjecting us, but be assured you are deceived, Governmentally they probably won't interfere, but every supply which we stand in need of, they will cheerfully furnish underhand. Our Coast is so... Continue Reading
Recd 11th Jany 1776 of Captain James Nicholson on Accot of Ship Defence Six pounds for work done on board the Defence by two hands Twenty two days (Negro Tom/sd James Ridley)
£ 6. ー
An Ordinance for raising an additional number of forces for the defence and protection of this colony, and for amending an Ordinance entitled an Ordinance for raising and embodying a sufficient force for the defence and protection of this colony, which had been fairly transcribed, was read a third time.
Resolved, That the said ordinance do pass; and that the title be, an Ordinance for raising an... Continue Reading
Not having an Opportunity to convey to Admiral Graves at Boston my Arrival here, nor any probability of one, I think it my Duty to beg you will be pleas'd to acquaint the Right Honble the Lords Commissioners of the Admiralty, after a Passage of fourteen Weeks from Spithead I brought hither the Brig, Maria, Ordnance Vessel, the 18th December, a most dull and heavy Sailor, and but for the... Continue Reading
Read a letter from Capt. Edward Blake of this date.
Ordered, That the commander of the colony ship Prosper, do order two good and proper men to go on board the pilot boat under the command of Capt. Smith, for the purpose of bringing into Charles-Town harbour such ships as now appear off the bar.
Ordered, That Wm. Alex. Elsinore be permitted and required to go on board the pilot-boat under the... Continue Reading
To the Honble Henry Laurens, Esq., President of the Council of Safety.
Dr. Sir, This morning between nine and ten o'clock we discovered from Fort Johnston Two ships & a sloop to the Northward of the Bar. The misty weather prevented us from distinguishing whether they were Ships of War or Merchantmen. The Fog not clearing up, about one o'clock I dispatched a boat to reconnoitre them and see... Continue Reading
His Excellency Governor [Patrick] Tonyn For the Use of His Majestys Ships Tamar & Cherokee lying at Charlestown
Dr To William Alexander
1776
Jany 11th
For 9
Barls Pork abt 210 lb each
a 70/p Barl
31 10 ー
4
Trces Beef abt 300 lb each
a 80/p Trce
16 ー ー
7
Barls Peas contg 24½ Bushl
a 6/p Bushl
7 7 ー
6
Firkins Butter 360 lb
a 9/p lb
13 10
115
Gallons Rum... Continue Reading
Gentlemen Since writing the Enclosed, 2 Genl Wooster has acquainted me he Cannot leave Montreal, but has sent Down Colo Clinton, to whom, I shall resign the Command, untill my wound, will Permit my Doing Duty, which my Surgeon thinks will be four or Six Weeks ー Colo Clinton, acquaints me, we Cannot expect more than, two hundred Men from Montreal. I have put on foot the raising a Regt... Continue Reading
Sir. As by Advice of Council it had been judg'd necessary to form a body of Troops for the defence of this Province, and particularly His Majesty's Naval Yard, & the Town of Halifax, which was threatned, and a number of Vessels fitted out by the Americans (now in Arms against his Majesty & Government) for its Destruction, The small number of Troops at the time in Garrison here, seem'd to... Continue Reading
My Lord I am just inform'd that the Somerset Capt: L Crass is under Sailing Orders for England, a Ship of Force which has been of Service in the preservation of this Place, That the Roebuck also is just ready to Sail for Virginia, and that there will remain only one Frigate the Cerberus for our Defence who is now on the Careen.
I cannot but suggest to your Lordship, that the preservation of the... Continue Reading
You are by us the Subscribers on Acct of John Langdon Esqr appointed to Command the Schooner Eagle, now Loaded, Victual'd and man'd fit for the Sea, you are to embrace the first good Opportunity and proceed to the Island of St Lucia, in Order that you may know the full intent and meaning of the Voyage, and the trust reposed in you. We Acquaint you that your Cargo on board is to be Appropriated... Continue Reading
On Wednesday the 3d of January, arrived in Pemaquid harbour, the brig Squirrel, Richard Willis, master, from Poole, in England, which place he left the 6th of November, in whom came passengers the Captains [Thomas] Palmer, [Josiah] Shackford, [Stephen] Meeds and [John] Hart of Portsmouth, and Capt. Gideon Crawford, of Providence, who on their Passage the 2d of December, in lat. 44, long. 38,... Continue Reading
The House considered the Report of the Committee appointed to consider a Plan for fitting out armed Vessels &c.
Whereupon, Ordered, That the Report be recommitted, and the Committee are directed to report an Estimate of the expencs of building and furnishing the Vessels therein proposed to be provided.
Colony of the
To the Hon: the Council of said Colony ー
Massachusetts-Bay
The Subscribers humbly shew ー
That they have a Sloop, named the Lizard, of about 32 Tons, which they intend at their own Expence, to fix out and equip for the defence of America, agreable to a late Act of the General Assembly ー We take leave therefore to recommend to your Honors, Mr Benjamin Gorham ー (who is part... Continue Reading
You are hereby required and directed to proceed, with the Kitty Transport, in his Majesty's Sloop under your Command to Cape Fear in North Carolina, And upon your arrival to facilitate an Interview as soon as possible between Captain [William Glanville] Evelyn and Governor [Josiah] Martin, Captain Evelyn being directed to gain all possible Intelligence of the Situation of the Kings Affairs in... Continue Reading
As soon as Major General Clinton is embarked and ready to depart; You are hereby required and directed to repair with him in his Majesty's Ship under your command to New York where having remaind such time as the General thinks necessary for the service he is upon, you are to proceed with him to Virginia, or to any port or place along the continent that Major General Clinton shall find expedient... Continue Reading