January 18, 1760

Pownall, Thomas, 1722-1805

Document signed

Title: [French and Indian War privateer's commission of Captain Samuel Partridge]

Countersigned by Thomas Clarke, Deputy Secretary. Pownall, Governor of Massachusetts Bay, authorizes Captain Samuel Partridge to "set forth in warlike manner the said Ship Race Horse under his own Command and ... seize & take the Ships, Vessels, and Goods belonging to the French King or his Vassals & Subjects ... " Features paper seal.

GLC02587

February 27, 1863

Dupont, Samuel F., 1803-1865

Autograph letter signed

Title: to Edward Bates

Written by Rear Admiral DuPont to U.S. Attorney General Bates. Says he perceives by a return made by the Navy Department to the House of Representatives on prizes that many cases have been appealed to the Supreme Court. Says many officers and himself have a financial interest in the proceedings and that he will ask his friend the Maryland U.S. Representative Henry Winter Davis to be his counsel before that court, if the goverment is not employing him. Du Pont was given direct orders from the Navy Department to launch an attack on Charleston, South Carolina, the main area in which the…

GLC02466.03

9 June 1864

Winslow, John Ancrum, 1811-1873

Autograph letter signed

Title: to unknown

Written by Captain Winslow as the commander of the "Kearsarge." References previous two notes from recipient. Says prior leaving for Flushing, Holland he sent an officer to Paris to communicate with Mr. Dayton who was trying to discover the meaning of CSS "Rappahannock's" preparation for sea. Says Dayton was informed that the commission of lawyers had not debated the subject. Claims if they decided to release the ship, Dayton would over rule it. Says the Minister of Foreign Affairs has told him there is no change in the ship's status. Doubts that the "Rappahannock" will get out of port as a…

GLC02466.16

9 November 1864

Newspaper

Title: The World. [Vol. 5, no. 1367 (November 9, 1864)]

Reports on the re-election of Abraham Lincoln as president. Contains New York election results by county and reports from other states. Also makes reference to "Republican misrule." Prints an article on the capture of the pirate ship Florida by the U.S. steamer Wachusett. Includes news from Louisiana on white schools giving way to black schools, and a report on the Army of the Potomac.

GLC08456

4 August 1804

Russell, Benjamin, 1761-1845

Newspaper

Title: Columbian centinel & Massachusetts federalist. [Vol. 41, no. 46 (August 4, 1804)]

Includes an editorial account of the 11 July 1804 duel between Aaron Burr and Alexander Hamilton on page 1 which criticizes the practice of dueling and calls Aaron Burr an outlaw. Also includes an article on the capture of the British sloop of war, Lily, by a French privateer ship. Other articles detail local, international, political, court, and ship news, advertisements, and public announcements.

GLC08726.03

11 November 1864

Bryant, William Cullen, 1794-1878

Newspaper

Title: The Evening Post. [Vol. 55, no. 91 (November 11, 1864)]

Announces the re-election of President Abraham Lincoln and lists election returns by state. Also describes plots of Confederate agents in Canada to sink the steamer Michigan and release the prisoners on Johnson's island. Reprints excerpts from General Winfield Scott's biography. Describes the capture of the pirate ship Florida by the Wachusett. Also includes an article on how the poor live in England. Other articles detail Civil War news, local and international news.

GLC08765

16 March 1778

Hancock, John, 1737-1793

Printed document signed

Title: [Partially printed document authorizing the forcible capture of British vessels]

This document serves as a form by which Continental Congress authorizes the seizure of British ships and crew members in a warlike manner. Originally signed by Hancock during his term as President of the Congress (24 May 1775- 31 October 1777). This particular document authorizes Ebenezer Williams, Commander of the Polly, to seize British vessels. States that the Polly is owned by Andrew Caldwell of Philadelphia, Pennsylvania. Signed at the bottom by William Mumford, a Secretary, and Rhode Island Governor Nicholas Cooke. Williams' name and other information appear to have been filled…

GLC00231

February 15, 1872

Woodruff, George B., fl. 1872

Autograph letter signed

Title: to the Singer Manufacturing Company

Written to The New York Singer Office, enclosing an invoice of the "Pearl" amounting to slightly over 136 pounds (not included). Says he has been busy "flying" all over the United Kingdom completing business. Is pleased that their offices are being organized efficiently. Says business is good except for "those bug-bear Alabama claims." American claims against Great Britain for outfitting the CSS "Alabama" privateer had gone to an international arbiter, which will hurt their bottom line and might lead to war between American and Britain.

GLC08682

circa May 1777

Franklin, Benjamin, 1706-1790

Letter signed

Title: to unknown

Signed by Benjamin Franklin, Silas Deane, and Arthur Lee. Reports on their activities in France including getting Mr. Hodges released from the Bastille for lying about outfitting a privateer. Mentions receipt of commissions for Ralph Izard and William Lee (both appointed May 1777) but cites a lack of salary. Also mentions loans and subsidies requested from Europe. The lack of salary for Izard and Lee caused problems between them and Franklin. Date inferred from the commissions. The last three lines are in Franklin's hand. Last page only, so letter is incomplete.

GLC00496.025

November 3, 1781

Lee, Richard Henry, 1732-1794

Autograph letter signed

Title: to William Davies

Written by Lee, a signer of the Declaration of Independence, as a legislator in the Virginia Assembly to Davies as Commissioner of the Virginia War Office in Richmond. Asks Davies to see that arms taken from militiamen at Gloucester, probably used at the battle of Yorktown, be returned to them. Says near 200 arms were taken from the militia and they have returned home unarmed. Says the situation leaves 40 miles along the shores of his county "exposed to the ravage of piratical vessels." Says General George Weedon told him that the government detained the arms to furnish militia rotations, but…

GLC00513

circa 1830

Monroe, James, 1758-1831

Autograph note

Title: Major Mountflorence

Note to himself about Mountflorence's information-gathering. Mountflorence was a prize agent and former secretary under Minister to France Robert Livingston.

GLC00496.063

October 23, 1779

Parsons, Samuel H., 1737-1789

Autograph letter signed

Title: to Thomas Mumford

Written by General Parsons to Mumford, a Groton, Connecticut merchant. Thanks him for his letter on October 17, 1779. Thanks him for procuring a place for his son, but is against him going on the ship "Trumbull" with Captain Nicholson. Would rather him go on a privateer or a merchant ship with Captain Henman. Says British have abandoned their posts at Verplank's and Stony Point for New York. Says Newport, Rhode Island is not evacuated, but that he hopes that will happen soon. Says if it happens they will have a formidable force to reduce New York. Conjectures on what British might do.…

GLC00496.075.06

1813-1814, 1860, 1864

Green, Joseph W., fl. 1812-1815

Header Record

Title: Diary and 2 letters re: War of 1812 [decimalized]

GLC00498

1813-1815

Green, Joseph W., fl. 1812-1815

Diary

Title: [Journal of a privateer and of prisoner of war during the War of 1812]

Diary written while aboard the privateer Alfred and as a prisoner of war in Melville Island Prison, Halifax, and Dartmoor Prison. Records many sightings and occasional capturing of ships. Entry on 22 February 1814 records the capture of Green's privateer by the British and being brought to Melville Island Prison at Halifax. Records writing to family and the arrival of new prisoners. Notable entries include mention of a prisoners' petition to General John Mason on 28 April 1814, the reduction of rations on 1 May 1814, the release of 90 prisoners on 23 July 1814. There are also…

GLC00498.01

02 May 1780

United States. Continental Congress.

Broadside

Title: Instructions to captains and commanders of private armed vessels...

Evans 17021. Printed broadside authorizing privateering. With Thompson's name printed at end

GLC00820

8 January 1800

Adams, John, 1735-1826

Document signed

Title: [Commission for privateer "Active."]

Countersigned by Secretary of State Timothy Pickering. Partially printed document. John Adams, as president, gives permission to David Stewart, a Baltimore merchant, to use his ship "Active" as a privateer during the Quasi War with France. The ship has a crew of 20, is armed with 10 guns, and is captained by William Storey. Large embossed paper seal of the United States at the bottom. Docket on verso is illegible because of cardboard backing added at an unknown date.

GLC00838

January 29, 1776

Brown, James, fl. 1776

Document signed

Title: [Legal document outlining sale of shares in a ship]

James Brown is selling and conveying his shares in the captured ship "Ginney" (probably a prize of privateers) to Captain Ephrem Perkins. Document says "Ginney" was taken by the schooners "Boston Revenge" and "Generell Warde." Brown received 12 pounds, 12 shillings. Brown signed his mark with an "X." Witnessed by Adam Wellman, Samuel Stevens, and Benjamin Pinden. On verso, the shares are sold again. James Perkins, presumably a relative of Ephrem Perkins, is selling Ephrem's shares in the ship "Jenny" to Ebenezer Parsons for 13 pounds, 6 shillings, 8 pence. The Perkins sale is dated 27…

GLC01450.185.01

April 17, 1781

Langdon, Woodbury, 1739-1805

Autograph letter signed

Title: to Elbridge Gerry

Langdon thanks Gerry for his concern over his recent misfortune, and says he will make the best of it. Encloses a copy of his orders to Captain Nanning of the ship "Hector" and a memorandum of provisions he can collect so he can remain at sea until June 1, 1781 if necessary (the orders and memorandum are not included here). Langdon says he has not heard of or from Nanning since he sailed on January 25, 1781 with 97 men. Gerry was a Declaration of Independence signer and a member of the Continental Congress.

GLC01450.193

July 1781

Ingersoll, Joseph, fl. 1781

Manuscript document signed

Title: [Accounts for Joseph Ingersoll]

Lists payments by "Joseph Ingresoll & Co." to various men. Each man signs attesting that he has recieved money from Ingersoll for various reasons. The payments include buying a number of ships at auction. The ships were the "sloop Bazil...Ship Elizabeth Snow Fly & sloop Marcia." The payments total near 30,000 pounds. The men signing are James Tileston, William Wyen, W. Scallon and Samuel Newhall. Also named in the document as being included in these accounts are Moses Little and Nathaneal Tracy. Not signed by Ingersoll. Ingersoll may be the same Jospeh Ingersoll who owned the…

GLC01450.195.02

June 12, 1776

Wendell, John, 1731-1808

Autograph letter signed

Title: to Elbridge Gerry

Wendell asks Gerry to use his political influence to help place him in a number of governmental positions. Says that he is confident he can attain the position of "Vendue Master" if Gerry can get him a favorable letter from the President. Also mentions his own powerful friends. He views Canada as integral to American success, though hears events are going poorly there. Letter is tipped onto a border.

GLC01450.234

January 23, 1758

Lewis, Francis, 1713-1803

Document signed

Title: The Petition of Francis Lewis and George Harrison of the City of New York Merchants

Co-signed by George Harrison. Asks Delancey, Lieutenant Governor of New York, for permission to outfit a privateer. The ship they want to outfit is the Columbine, a 90-ton ship with eight guns to be manned by 40 men commanded by a Bernard Badger.

GLC01450.299

April 17, 1759

Hardy, Charles, fl. 1716-1780

Letter signed

Title: to unknown

Letter mentions supplies for a prize ship.

GLC01450.324

15 March 1776

Dalton, Tristram, 1738-1817

Document signed

Title: Dr The Sloop Game Cock to Sundry Adventurers as a Privateer

Signed by Dalton, Jackson, Tracy & Tracy, Stephen & Ralph Cross, and Jonathan Sitcomb. Provides account information for the vessel (Dr means Debit Record), listing individual balances of the firms or persons invested. Indicates a fifth share pertaining to Colonel Moses Little, who does not sign. Discusses damages, expenditures, and the division of costs and profits. Agreed to and signed 15 March, though partially recorded 26 February 1776.

GLC01450.525

October 26, 1782

Allen, Jeremiah, fl. 1782

Autograph letter signed

Title: to Sam White

Allen has been "employ'd delivering letters, seeing plays operas &c" in Paris. Also reports "there are a number of English gentleman here, but for what purpose I know not." Asks White concerning his financial affairs in Nantes. Hears that "our Captain Barry has taken a number of prizes." Letter addressed to White at the house of "Mr. Williams" in Nantes. Seal in very good condition.

GLC01450.562

March 3, 1777

Samuel Barrett & Co., (manufacturers), fl. 1777

Letter

Title: to unknown

Discusses the firm's acquirement of barrels of wines and spirits and the fluctuating price of such goods. Mentions Mr. Hopkins. Reports that in the south ward, these goods "would fetch double the Money as soon as the restraining Bill is repeald (which will be done immediately)." Discusses the importation of rice and flour, and the removal of these goods to the recipient's storehouses (which he calls magazines). In case of an enemy attack on Boston, intends to store goods in ports which may still be free, such as Sherburne, Sudbury, Worcester, or Springfield, Massachusetts. Awaits the…

GLC01450.617