American Theatre from January 1, 1776, to February 18, 1776
I have the honor to acknowledge the receipt of your letter of the 11th of January by Captain Evelyn, signifying your appointment to the Command of His Majesty's forces intended to act in the Southern Colonies; and I beg leave Sir at the same time to offer you my congratulations on your nomination to this important Command, and to assure you that I receive the intelligence of it with the greatest... Continue Reading
A petition of Henry Aitkin, master of the ship Port-Henderson, and Nathaniel Russell, of Charles-Town, merchant, was presented and read.
Ordered, That the said petition be taken into consideration to-morrow.
Ordered, That Mr. [Daniel] De Saussure, Col. [John Lewis] Gervais, and Mr. [Francis] Salvador, be a Committee to extract such parts, as they shall judge proper to be made generally known,... Continue Reading
Capt. [Joseph] Turpin attended; and having requested an order for certain articles wanted for the brigantine Comet, and for the return of the seamen lately removed from the said brigantine Prosper.
Ordered, That the seamen lately removed from on board the colony brigantine Comet into the ship Prosper, be now returned on board the said brigantine, under the command of Capt. Joseph Turpin
Ordered,... Continue Reading
Colonel [Christopher] Gadsden lately coming from Philadelphia in one of our Pilot Boats was driven on Shear on the Coast of North Carolina by a Schooner tender to a Man of War in the offing supposed to have been the Syren 2 himself his eldest son the Master of the Boat & all the Crew escaped with all papers of consequence & many other articles but the Boat was hove off by the... Continue Reading
On his Majesty's service.
To the Hon. James Mackay, Esq; and the rest of the members of his Majesty's Council at Savannah.
On board his Majesty's ship Scarborough
at Cockspur, February the 13th, 1776.
Honourable Gentlemen, After using my best endeavours for upwards of 3 weeks, to prevail on those in whose hands the present ruling powers are, that the commanders of his Majesty's ships here might... Continue Reading
I am just arrived from Savannah and fully intended waiting upon your Excellency with the utmost Dispatch, but Matters of the last consequence to my little Settlement lays me under an absolute necessity of being here a few Days.
The Governor and Council of Georgia have been under Arrest (by orders of the present Rulers of the Province) these five Weeks past and I had it in charge from the Governor... Continue Reading
... An act of Parliament arrived here the 10th instant, by a ship from London in four weeks, which prohibits all connection with the United Colonies under very severe penalties; all vessels and cargoes for the future are to be legal prizes, that are found trading to or from those Colonies, till the rebellion, so called, is at an end. ー No vessels can have a clearance from the custom house for any... Continue Reading
February 1776
Monday 12
West end of Martinico NE dist 3 Leagues
11 A M Fired 3 Swivells to bring a Brig and Sloop too, found them to be Americans and sezed them as Prizes, sent on board the Sloop an Officer and 5 Men and on Board the Brig an Officer and 7 Men, and took their Crews on board us 2
Fresh breezes and Cloudy
at 5 P M fired a Swivell Shotted to bring too a Brig at 7 Spoke... Continue Reading
I the Subscriber being of lawful age, do testify and say that a Gentleman known by the Name of Colo. [Ethan] Allen was brought on Board the Gaspee Man of War, then lying before the Town of Montreal some Time in the Month of September one thousand and seven hundred and seventy five and pursuant to the Ordersof Capt Ryall, who then commanded said Ship, I put a pair of Irons on said Allen's Legs,... Continue Reading
Feby '76
Wednesday 14th
Sambro Light House N 40° E Diste 28 Lgs
Modr Breezes and Cloudy Weather
at ½ past noon saw a strange sail standing to the Eastwd and Gave Chace cleared for Action at 3 the Convoy bore NNE came on thick Snow, fired several shott at the Chace at 4 Brt to the Chace out Yawl and sent Her on Bd she proved to be the Schooner King Solomon Danl Turner Master from Cape Persue... Continue Reading
Through you I beg leave to lay before Congress, the Inclosed Letter from Lord [James] [Dr]ummond to General [James] Robertson, which came to my hands a few days agoe in order to be sent into Boston. 2
As I never heard of his Lorships being vested with power to treat with Congress upon the Subject of our Greivanc[es] nor of his having laid any propositions before them for an... Continue Reading
An engrossed Bill for encouraging the fixing out of armed Vessels to defend the Sea-Coasts of America, and for erecting a Court to Try and Condemn all Vessels that shall be found infesting the same:
Read, and Resolved, That it pass to be enacted 2
On one of the Petitions of Col. [James] Cargill, read Feb. 9th, Resolved, That he be allowed to detain the Schooner therein mentioned till... Continue Reading
Febry 1776
Wednesday 14th
Gurnett Head WbN. 3 Leagues
Light Breezes & hazey with Snow
at 2 P M saw 5 Sail to the Soward ー out all reefs and gave Chace, at 4 shortned Sail & brought too ー spoke H. M. Brig Hope with another Brig (Prize) in Company; at 5 spoke the Tryal Schooner & 2 Prizes ー sent 6 Men on board the Tryal and took 8 do from one of the Prizes ー at 6 made Sail to the So... Continue Reading
this may Inform you that, Last Satorday Morning a Vessell from the Mole was Cast on Shoar Neer the Herring River and Neer the House of Wm Chase [illegible] her Lading Consists of about one Hund Hogsheads Malasses, and One of sugar, with a few small articles on being Informd of it the Committee of Yarmo with Zenas Winslow and Joseph Nye Esqrs of Harwich met to Consult what to Do with regard to the... Continue Reading
Memorandum Of Agreement Between Messrs. Jos. & William Russells, & Nicholas Brown, on the one part, and Mr Gideon Young on the other part Witnesseth, That the said Young Doth frieght Letten the Sloop Enterprize, burthen about seventy five Tons(but subject to be Measured on her return which is to Determine her bigness) on a Voyage to the foreign West Indias, and back to Providence James... Continue Reading
You being Master of the Sloop Enterprize with Our Cargo on bord Bound, As p his Honr the Governors Permit to Any of the Foreign West India Islands, Our Orders Are that you proceed with all Dispach, Wind & Weather Permiting May Touch first at St Loucie Martineco, or Guardiloope, and at Any of these places to Dispose of your Cargo & lay out the neet proceeds in Any of the Articles Mentioned... Continue Reading
A sense of the trust repos'd in Us, A Love of our Country, and the Duty We owe to Mankind ー forbid a Neglect on our part of giving the earliest & best Intelligence of every Matter appearing to effect the Publick ー How far the Publick may be affected by the Conduct of the Person who wrote the Letter of which the Inclos'd is a Coppy ー and the Original in the Hands of the Bearer at your Service... Continue Reading
... The Governor and Capt of Man of War had threatend perdition to the Town if the Cannon was remov'd from the Batteries and wharfs, but I ever considerd their threats as a Brutum fulmen, and even perswaded the Town to be of the same way of thinking ー We accordingly conveyd them to a place of safety in the middle of the day, and no cannonade ensued ー Capt [Hyde] Parker [Jr.] publishes a pleasant... Continue Reading
Messrs. Murray, Sansom & Co. sent in a request by Mr. Robert Murray, for leave to send provisions and certain other articles in their request mentioned, on board of the ship Dutches of Gordon.
The Congress consented that part of the said provisions be sent on board, together with the other articles. Thereupon,
Ordered, That Messrs. Murray, Sansom & Co. be permitted to put on board of the... Continue Reading
Since Sunday last [February 11] the Intercourse to all who had not the Congress's Permit was interdicted by General Lee but Mr. Mayor having yesterday adjusted all Obstacles we proceeded to the Dock apprehending no Difficulties from the Guards ー A centinel forbid the Clerk of the Council to set his Foot in the Boat upon which we retired & I went Home ー The Congress took the Alarm apprehending... Continue Reading
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