Norwich [Conn.] 2d June 1778
Sir
The New privateer1 being so forward makes it Necessary for Us to know from what Quarter We are to have our Cannon for which purpose Capt Billings2 waites on You & We are to request the favour of You to determine Us by him.—We are Informed by C Leffingwell Esq3 that we could have them from the Cromwells Prize Ship4 now at Boston & that you was to make application for them If you have applied & have engaged them please to assist Capt Billings in getting Orders to receive them & in settleing the Price of the same—If you fail in getting those We shall be glad to have the Salisbury5 Nine pounders which You have now by You as We are Inform'd—We made application sometime since to the Govr & Council6 for those Nines (supposing they belonged to the State) & received for Answer that they had none except what was Engaged to You. We mention this to remind you of the Cannon that lays here & them which Braddick7 carried down to N London with an Intention to carry to Seabrook for Ship Trumbull8 which are the Cannon We have Reference to—We refer You to Capt Billings for the Situation of the Governor Trumbull9 & the pressing Necessity there is for the Cannon &c &c—We are respectfully Sir [&c.]
Howland & Coit10
L, CtY, Nathaniel and Thomas Shaw Papers, packet 28, no. 1728. Addressed below close: “Nathl Shaw Esqr." Docketed: "Howland & Coits/Letter/June 2d 1778."
1. Connecticut privateer ship General Putnam, Capt. Thomas Allon, commander.
2. Capt. Henry Billings.
3. Christopher Leffingwell, merchant at Norwich, Connecticut.
4. This could be either snow Admiral Keppel or ship Cyrus, both prizes of Connecticut Navy ships Oliver Cromwell and Defence. These prizes were armed with 6-pounder cannon.
5. Salisbury Furnace, Salisbury, Connecticut.
6. Gov. Jonathan Trumbull and Connecticut Council of Safety.
7. John Braddick.
8. Continental Navy frigate Trumbull, Capt. Dudley Saltonstall, commander.
9. Connecticut privateer ship Governor Trumbull (20 guns), Capt. Henry Billings, commander, which was built at Willet's Shipyard at Norwich in 1777 for Howland and Coit. She was commissioned on 19 Nov. 1778. Middlebrook, Maritime Connecticut, 2: 100–101.
10. Joseph Howland and Thomas Coit, merchants at Norwich, Connecticut.
