17 June 1780

Lindsay, Samuel, fl. 1780

Document signed

Title: [Receipt for food]

Cosigned by Thomas Heming. Receipt for food for Lindsay for three days work aboard the Brig Ranger.

GLC01450.080

24-29 August 1779

Boston, Sileas, fl. 1779

Document signed

Title: [Receipt for victuals]

Signed by many other men of various brigs returning from the Penobscot expedition certifying that they received breakfast or dinner at Thaddeus Broad's.

GLC01450.081

1 July 1779

Document

Title: [Printed articles of agreement for schooner Unity]

Partially printed agreement between Joseph Bubiere, the master, the men of the Schooner Unity, and the state of Massachusetts binding the schooner as a transport vessel going to Penobscot from Boston.

GLC01450.082

circa July-August 1779

Marston, Brackett, 1747-1781

Document

Title: [Receipt for payment of food for sailors]

Receipt listing ships, how many men on each, and the quantity of bread for each. Mentions privateer ships the Black Prince, the Warren, the Hazard, etc. There is a note at the bottom of the page signed by Marston stating he received 135 pounds in full for the meals listed above. This document was possibly related to the Penobscot Expedition (July-August 1779), a failed American offensive against the British fortress at Penobscot (modern Maine).

GLC01450.083

1776-1779

Catherwood, Robert, fl. 1764-1783

Header Record

Title: Legal documents relating to captured American privateers [Decimalized .01-.10]

Collection of legal documents dated 1776 to 1779. Consists of 10 documents relating to captured American vessels which contained enslaved people and cargo,

GLC01411

October 15, 1776

Lee, Richard Henry, 1732-1794

Autograph letter

Title: to John Page

Lee, a Continental Congressman, informs Page that he is pleased to hear supplies will be coming in. He comments on news that some enemy ships "fell down to Sandy Hook" and appear to be leaving for Rhode Island. Letter comes with attached integral address leaf completed in Lee's hand and free franked by him

GLC01412.06

30 May 1690

Burgess, James, fl. 1690

Manuscript signed

Title: [Articles of agreement]

Cosigned by Christopher Kilby and Eliezer Moody as witnesses. Agreement between James Burges of Boston and Enoch Badcock of Milton, Massachusetts to build a briganteen. Not signed by Badcock.

GLC01412.09

15 September 1780

Penhallow, John, 1692-1735

Document signed

Title: [Privateer document for outfitting ship]

Cosigned by Joshua Wentworth, John Langston, Jacob Treadwell, Nathan Sherburne, Woodbury Langdon, and W. Gardner. Describes the privateers' prize division between parties.

GLC01412.32

2 November 1776

Sever, William, fl. 1766-1776

Document signed

Title: [Agreement and appointment of William Sever]

Cosigned by William Sever, John Avery, and Timothy Foster. Witnessed by Alexander Gray and Seth Loring. Agreement in which Sever, Avery, and Foster are bound to Henry Gardner (Treasurer of Massachusetts) in the amount of ten thousand pounds, unless Sever accepts appointment as agent of the Southern District (Massachusetts). As agent to the Southern District, Sever disposed of prizes taken from captured British vessels.

GLC01412.51

September 22, 1779

Groves, William, fl. 1769-1779

Letter signed

Title: to unknown

Groves reports the capture of the British schooner Revenge. The schooner, formerly commanded by Hugh Gorden, is expected to arrive at Beverly Port.

GLC01412.57

April 19, 1777

Morris, Robert, 1734-1806

Autograph letter signed

Title: to Samuel and Robert Purviance

Morris, chairman of a Congressional secret committee, acknowledges receipt of correspondence from the Purviance brothers, merchants in Baltimore, Maryland. Transmits inventories (not included) of two prize vessels, discusses a recent purchase of flour (possibly for military use) conducted by the Purviances, and relates that the committee will not purchase the prize vessels. Refers the Purviances' previous request regarding military clothing to James Mease, appointed in 1776 as clothier general. Referring to Captain James Nicholson, in command of the ship Virginia, states "It would give us…

GLC01135

14 August 1777

Hancock, John, 1737-1793

Document signed

Title: [Appointment of Samuel Nicholson as Commander of Frigate Deane]

Signed by Hancock as President of the Countersigned by Charles Thomson, Secretary of the Continental Congress.

GLC01450.001

December 24, 1779

Jay, John, 1745-1829

Document signed

Title: [Appointment of John Wheelwright as Commander of the privateer ship The Neptune]

Countersigned by Charles Thomson, Secretary of the Continental Congress, and John Avery.

GLC01450.002

December 24, 1864

Peixoto, Augustus, fl. 1864

Manuscript document signed

Title: [Consular note of protest against the Confederate privateer "Shenandoah"]

Consular documents from Bahia, Brazil: 2-page "Marine Note of protest" and 10-page "Public Instrument of Declaration and protest." Clerical signature of Henry Libbey, master of the ship "Kate Prince" on page 2. Two clerical signatures for Peixoto on pages 2 and 11. Peixoto's signature is also on page 2 and 12. Document says Libbey was in command of the "Kate Prince," a ship based out of Portsmouth, New Hampshire, that was captured by the Confederate privateer "Shenandoah" on 12 November 1864. He was released after signing a $40,000 bond. This document is a copy of the protest of that bond.…

GLC01843

10 October 1778

Gaylord, Moses, Mrs., fl. 1778

Autograph letter signed

Title: Mrs. Moses Gaylord

Connecticut Revolutionary War soldier's letter to his wife in West Hartford. Mentions that there is not much news. Says a flag of truce was flown after a packet of materials came in from Congress. Suspects that it involves the exchange of 500 French troops in New London. Describes the fortifications at Fort Griswold and Fort Trumbull. Says he saw several privateers and captured ships in the harbor. Says they will fire their cannons from the forts on 17 October in remembrance of Burgoyne's surrender on 17 October 1777.

GLC02023

1776-1803

Barry, John, 1745-1803

Printed document signed

Title: [Certificate for distribution of naval prize money]

Signed as a captain in the navy. Blank document certifying that the bearer, aboard a ship under Barry's command, is entitled to a portion of the prize-money (from ships seized). Penciled in notes indicate the document's connection to the navy and the rarity of Barry's autograph.

GLC02297.07

circa 1797-1800

Hamilton, Alexander, 1757-1804

Autograph manuscript

Title: [Trial notes in a case involving nonpayment of an indemnity for a ship seized by the French]

Written by Alexander Hamilton as counsel to the ship master, answering the underwriter's attempt to avoid payment. An armed American ship carrying unspecified contraband was seized by the French, and the ship's Master attempted to take back the vessel. Argues that the ship was legally armed "with intent to resist privateers" and that the Master's attempt to retake the ship was legal. Uses testimony to show the Mate and crew supported the Master and did not act belligerently against the French boarding party. Docket title reads: Autograph brief of Genl Hamilton.

GLC02377

5 October 1791

Brett, Piercy, fl. 1788-1792

Autograph letter signed

Title: to [John Maunsell]

This appears to have been sent to British General John Maunsell, who mentioned to Knox that he would pass along letters from Brett (see GLC02437.05188). References receiving a letter "with the enclosed from your brother the Clergyman." Writes, "I have no news to send you this time; the times do not afford any. The troubles of Europe are nearly at an end, and every thing begins to assume a face of tranquillity. Louis the 16th has accepted of the new constitution, and all the people of France, [&] Paris in particular, rejoicing thereat, and nothing now heard in any quarter of that city but…

GLC02437.05186

20 July 1801

Bingham, William, 1752-1804

Autograph letter signed

Title: to Henry Knox

Writes to Knox regarding the legal troubles he is having. Appears a suit has been brought against Bingham by Caboth and others for the recovery of cargo during the last war (Revolutionary War). Complains of "vile misrepresentations" and "prejudices" being made during the trial. Also says his testimony could explain the nature of the transactions and justify Bingham's conduct but it has been rejected. Notes it has been hinted that a "judgment obtained in the Supreme Court of Massachusetts might be levied on my [Bingham's] land in Maine." Encloses (not included) a statement about the case and…

GLC02437.07572

8 October 1861

Lincoln, Abraham, 1809-1865

Document signed

Title: [Authority to affix the seal to letter of marque to R. B. Forbes]

Authorization signed by President Lincoln for the Secretary of State to affix the Seal of the United States to a letter of marque granted to the propeller "Pembroke," owned by R.B. Forbes. Document was previously framed and discoloration has occured where the document was exposed to the sunlight.

GLC01484

28 August 1812

Monroe, James, 1758-1831

Printed document signed

Title: Additional instruction to the public and private armed vessels of the United States.

Signed by Monroe as Secretary of State, directed to privateers. In response to the repeal of British Orders in Council, instructs naval and privateering ships to assist American-owned vessels bringing British goods to the United States. Issued shortly after the beginning of the War of 1812. States "The public and private armed vessels of the United States are not to interrupt any vessels belonging to citizens of the United States coming from British ports to the United States laden with British merchandize... " Compare to GLC01494.

GLC01665

1 December 1744

Shirley, William, 1694-1771

Document signed

Title: [The Province of Massachusetts Bay v. James Cattee, et al.].

Summons Lieutenant Governor of the Province of New Hampshire David Dunbar to appear "at the Court House in Boston upon Wednesday the Twelfth day of December instant at ten o'clock in the forenoon at a Court of Admiralty." James Cattee, Morgan Williams, John Regan, Daniel Harrington, Mathew Ryan, Roger Ryan, Thomas Rigby, Morris Kirby, and Peter Terry, "His Majesty's natural born subjects," are accused of committing diverse acts of hostility "upon the high seas under colour of a commission from the French king." Signed as Royal Governor of the Province of Massachusetts. One black and white…

GLC02468.21

January 12, 1862

Benjamin, Judah Philip, 1811-1884

Autograph letter signed

Title: to Henry A. Wise

Written on letterhead of the War Department of the Confederate States by Acting Secretary of War Judah Benjamin to Brigadier General Wise. States that the bearer of this letter, William A. Pratt, wants to import "some cargoes of iron" from abroad under the English flag. He wants to then run them ashore on small vessels. Asks Wise to facilitate the enterprise as far as he possibly could.

GLC02469.01

12 December 1798

Adams, John, 1735-1826

Document signed

Title: [Privateer's commission for "the Concord"]

Signed by John Adams as President and countersigned by Secretary of State Timothy Pickering. Allows Ebenezer Sage and Benjamin Williams to outfit a privateer, the "Concord," to attack French shipping under a Congressional law passed on July 9, 1798. The 8 gun, 20 man crew will be captained by William Vandeursin. Allows the Concord to capture French ships on the high seas as well as recapture American ships seized by France. The American government sanctioned these actions at a time of heightened tension with France known as the Quasi War. Large embossed paper Seal of the United States at…

GLC02517.01

21 October 1781

McKean, Thomas, 1734-1817

Printed document signed

Title: [Privateer's license for William Van Duerson]

Partially printed document signed by McKean as President of Congress and countersigned by Charles Thomson as Secretary of the Continental Congress. Identifies Van Duerson as the commander of the brigantine Middletown owned by Chauncey Whittlesey. The verso has a signed statement by Connecticut Governor Jonathan Trumbull providing a physical descriptions of Duerson and his lieutenant, William Spencer, given at Hartford, Connecticut. Includes a paper seal.

GLC02542.18