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Naval History of the American Revolution - Appendix
APPENDIX
I. SOURCES OF INFORMATION
This list includes most of the authorities consulted. The abbreviations
used in the footnotes are here indicated. Other works, cited only once or
twice, are also referred to in footnotes.
DOCUMENTS
Journals of the Continental Congress. Edited by Worthington C. Ford and
Galliard Hunt. Washington, 1904-1912. [Jour. Cont. Congr.] Contain much
naval information.
American Archives. Compiled by Peter Force. Series IV, vols. ii to vi, and
V, vols. i to iii. Washington, 1837. [Am. Arch., IV, ii, etc.] A very
important source, containing a vast amount of material for the years 1775
and 1776. In transcribing documents, occasional errors have crept in.
The Revolutionary Diplomatic Correspondence of the United States. Edited
by Francis Wharton. Washington, 1889. [Wharton.] Useful for operations in
European waters.
B. F. Stevens's Facsimiles of Manuscripts in European Archives Relating to
America, 1773-1783. London, 1889-1895. [Stevens.] Correspondence of French
and British ministers and others relating to neutrality, American naval
cruisers and privateers, etc.
Extracts Relating to the Origin of the American Navy. Compiled by Henry E.
Waite. Boston, 1890. Documents and letters chiefly relating to
Washington's fleet in Massachusetts Bay.
The Journals of Each Provincial Congress of Massachusetts in 1774 and
1775, and of the Committee of Safety. Boston, 1838.
Journals of the House of Representatives of Massachusetts, 1775-1783.
Contemporary print.
The Acts and Resolves, Public and Private, of the Province of the
Massachusetts Bay. Vol. v. Boston, 1886.
Acts and Resolves of Massachusetts, 1780-1783. Boston, 1890.
Records of the Colony of Rhode Island and Providence Plantations.
Providence, 1856-1865.
Public Records of the Colony of Connecticut. Hartford, 1890.
Public Records of the State of Connecticut. Hartford, 1894.
Journals of the Provincial Congress, Provincial Convention, Committee of
Safety and Council of Safety of the State of New York. Albany, 1842.
Pennsylvania Archives, Second Series. Vol. i. Harrisburg, 1874.
Pennsylvania Colonial Records. Philadelphia, 1852.
Maryland Archives. Baltimore, 1883-1901.
The Remembrancer, or Impartial Repository of Public Events. [Annual.
Edited by J. Almon.] London, 1775-1783. [Almon.] Contains many official
reports and letters; a very useful source.
A History of All the Engagements by Sea and Land that happened in America
and Europe and the East and West Indies during the American Revolution.
Manchester, 1787. Made up chiefly of reports of British officers.
Historical Manuscripts Commission. Fourteenth Report, Appendix I, Duke of
Rutland. 1894. American Manuscripts in the Royal Institution. Vol. i.
1904. Various Collections. Vol. vi. 1909. Manuscripts of Mrs. Stopford-
Sackville. Vol. ii. 1910. [Hist. Man. Com.] These British collections of
manuscripts, printed in recent years, contain many references to American
naval affairs.
A Calendar of John Paul Jones Manuscripts in the Library of Congress.
Compiled by Charles Henry Lincoln. Washington, 1903. Full outline of
letters, with extracts.
Calendar of the Correspondence of George Washington. Prepared from the
Original Manuscripts in the Library of Congress by John C. Fitzpatrick.
Washington, 1906.
Naval Records of the American Revolution [Calendar], prepared from the
Originals in the Library of Congress by Charles Henry Lincoln. Washington,
1906. Contains a list of nearly 1700 letters of marque issued by Congress,
giving the name of each vessel, with other information. These calendars,
as an aid in consulting the manuscripts in the Library of Congress, are
indispensable.
HISTORIES
Narrative and Critical History of America. Edited by Justin Winsor. Vols.
vi and vii. Boston, 1887, 1888. [Narr. and Crit. Hist.] Contains an
extensive bibliography, with critical discussion of authorities.
The American Nation. Edited by Albert Bushnell Hart. Vol. ix. The American
Revolution. By C. H. Van Tyne. New York, 1905.
A History of the United States. By Edward Channing. Vol. iii. The American
Revolution. New York, 1912. [Channing.] Contains the results of the latest
researches in the Revolutionary period.
Statistical History of the Navy of the United States. By Lieutenant George
F. Emmons, U.S.N. Washington, 1853. Lists of Continental navy, of
captures, and of privateers.
A Contribution to the Bibliography of the History of the United States
Navy. Compiled by Charles T. Harbeck. The Riverside Press, 1906.
Statistical and Chronological History of the United States Navy. 1775-
1907. By Robert Wilden Neeser. New York, 1909. [Neeser.] Contains a most
exhaustive bibliography and lists of captures.
Naval History of the United States. By Thomas Clark. Philadelphia, 1814.
[Clark.] The author derived some of his information directly from actors
in the scenes described.
United States Naval Chronicle. By Charles W. Goldsborough. Washington,
1824. Gives lists of officers and other data.
Battles of the United States by Sea and Land. By Henry B. Dawson. New
York, 1858. [Dawson.] Official reports and very copious references.
History of the Navy of the United States of America. By J. Fenimore
Cooper. London, 1839.
Pictorial Field Book of the Revolution. By Benson J. Lossing. New York,
1850.
The Navy of the American Revolution. By Charles Oscar Paullin. Chicago,
1906. [Paullin.] Gives an exceedingly valuable account of the organization
and administration of the Continental navy and of the state navies, with
full references. It contains a vast amount of information hitherto
practically inaccessible and is indispensable for the student of this
subject.
Diplomatic Negotiations of American Naval Officers. By Charles Oscar
Paullin. Baltimore, 1912.
The Influence of Sea Power upon History. By Captain A. T. Mahan, U.S.N.
Boston, 1890. [Mahan.]
Naval Strategy. By Captain A. T. Mahan, U.S.N. Boston, 1911.
The Annual Register. London, 1775-1783.
The First American Civil War. By Henry Belcher. London, 1911. [Belcher.]
England under the Hanoverians. Ry G. Grant Robertson. New York, 1911.
Naval Chronology. By Isaac Schomberg, R.N. London, 1802. [Schomberg.]
Gives valuable statistics.
Naval and Military Memoirs of Great Britain. By Robert Beatson. London,
1804.
Naval Battles of Great Britain. By Charles Ekins, Rear Admiral. London,
1828.
Battles of the British Navy. By Joseph Allen, R.N. London, 1868.
The Royal Navy. By William Laird Clowes. Chapter xxxi. By A. T. Mahan.
Chapter xxxii. By H. W. Wilson. Boston and London, 1898. [Clowes.]
A Short History of the Royal Navy. By David Hannay. London, 1909.
[Hannay.] Gives much information respecting British naval administration
and conditions in the navy.
Publications of the Navy Records Society. Vol. iii, Hood's Letters. Vol.
vi, Journal of Rear-Admiral James. Vols. xxix and xxxv, Instructions and
Signals. By J. S. Corbett. Vols. xxxii and xxxviii, Barham Papers. London,
1895-1911. [Nav. Rec. Soc.) These volumes contain much original material
of great value.
Histoire de la Marine Francaise pendant la Guerre de l'Independance
Americaine. Par E. Chevalier. Paris, 1877. [Chevalier.] Contains extracts
from official letters and ships' journals.
Histoire de la participation de Ia France a I'etablissement des Etats-Unis
d'Amerique. Par Henri Doniol. Paris, 1886. [Doniol.]
Franklin in France. By Edward Everett Hale and E. E. Hale, Jr. Boston,
1887. [Hale.]
A History of American Privateers. By Edgar Stanton Maclay. New York, 1899.
Rhode Island Privateers and Privateersmen. By W. P. Sheffield. Newport,
1883.
History of the Liverpool Privateers. By Gomer Williams. Liverpool, 1897.
[Williams.] Contains letters and extracts from contemporary newspapers.
Economic and Social History of New England. By William B. Weeden. Boston,
1890.
Revolutionary Incidents of Suffolk and Kings Counties with an Account of
the British Prisons and Prison Ships at New York. By Henry Onderdonk, Jr.
New York, 1849. [Onderdonk.] Contains extracts from contemporary letters
and newspapers.
Martyrs to the Revolution in the British Prison-Ships in the Wallabout
Bay. [By George Taylor]. New York, 1855.
Some Account of the Capture of the Ship Aurora. By Philip Freneau. New
York, 1899.
History of Castine, Penobscot, etc. By George Augustus Wheeler. Bangor,
1875. [ Wheeler.] Documents relating to the Penobscot Expedition.
Detail of Some Particular Services performed in America, 1776-1779,
compiled from journals kept aboard the Ship Rainbow. By Ithiel Town. New
York, 1835. [Town.]
BIOGRAPHIES
Writings of George Washington. Collected and Edited by Worthington
Chauncey Ford. New York, 1889. [Washington.]
The Works of John Adams. By Charles Francis Adams.
Boston, 1853. [Adams.]
The Writings of Benjamin Franklin. Edited by Albert Henry Smyth. New York,
1905.
Writings of Thomas Jefferson. Collected and Edited by Paul Leicester Ford.
New York, 1892. [Jefferson.]
Life and Correspondence of John Paul Jones. [By
R. Sands.] New York, 1830. [Sands.]
Life and Character of John Paul Jones. By John Henry
Sherburne. New York, 1851. [Sherburne.]
The Life of Paul Jones. By Alexander Slidell Mackenzie, U.S.N. New York,
1846. [Mackenzie.]
Memoire de Paul Jones, ecrits par lui-meme en anglais et traduits sous ses
yeux par Ie citoyen Andre. Paris, 1798.
Paul Jones, Founder of the American Navy. By Augustus C. Buell. New York,
1900. Mentioned only for the purpose of warning the reader of naval
history against it as a fabrication. Made up largely of spurious documents
ingeniously concocted by the author, it has deceived many, although often
exposed by various investigators.
Publications of the Naval History Society. Vol. i. The Logs of the
Serapis, Alliance, Ariel under the Command of John Paul Jones. Edited by
John S. Barnes. New York, 1911. Contains biographical matter. Ile
Society's second volume (1912), under the same editorship, is a reprint of
the life of Nathaniel Fanning, listed below. Vol. iii is the Despatches of
Molyneux Shuldham, Vice-Admiral of the Blue and Commander-in-Chief of His
Britannic Majesty's Ships in North America, January - July, 1776. Edited
by Robert W. Neeser. New York, 1913.
Memoirs of the Life of Captain Nathaniel Fanning, an American Naval
Officer. New York, 1808. [Fanning.]
Esek Hopkins, Commander-in-Chief of the Continental Navy. By Edward Field.
Providence, 1898. [Hopkins.]
Commodore John Barry. By Martin I. J. Griffin. Philadelphia, 1903. [Barry.]
The Life of Samuel Tucker, Commodore in the American Revolution. By John
H. Sheppard. Boston,1868. [Tucker.]
Life of Silas Talbot. By Henry T. Tuckerman. NewYork, 1850. [Talbot.]
An Historical Sketch to the End of the Revolutionary War of the Life of
Silas Talbot. New York, 1803. Published the same year in London under a
different title.
Life of Captain Jeremiah O'Brien. By Rev. Andrew M.
Sherman. Morristown, 1902. [O'Brien.]
Biographical Memoir of the late Commodore Joshua Barney. By Mary Barney.
Boston, 1832. [Barney.]
Moses Brown, Captain, U.S.N. By Edgar Stanton Maclay. New York, 1904.
The Adventures of Ebenezer Fox in the Revolutionary
War. Boston, 1847. [Fox.]
Memoirs of Andrew Sherburne, a Pensioner of the Navy of the Revolution. By
Himself. Providence, 1831. [A. Sherburne.]
The Old Jersey Captive, or a Narrative of the Captivity
of Thomas Andros. Boston, 1833. [Andros.]
The Prisoners of 1776. A Relic of the Revolution. By Rev. R. Livesey.
Compiled from the Journal of Charles Herbert. Boston, 1854. [Livesey.]
Captain Thomas Dring. Recollections of Jersey Prison Ship. Morrisania,
1865.
Narrative of Joshua Davis. Boston, 1811. [Davis.]
The Original Journal of General Solomon Lovell, kept during the Penobscot
Expedition, 1779. Published by the Weymouth Historical Society, 1881.
Diary of Ezra Green, M.D., Surgeon on board the Continental Ship-of-War
Ranger. Edited by Commodore G. H. Preble, U.S.N. Boston, 1875. Reprinted
from the New England Historical and Genealogical Register.
Colonel William Bradford, the Patriot Printer of 1776. By John William
Wallace. Philadelphia, 1884. [Bradford.]
Correspondence and Journals of Samuel Blachley Webb. Edited by Worthington
C. Ford. New York, 1893.
Letters from Sir George Brydges, now Lord Rodney, to His Majesty's
Ministers. London, 1789.
PERIODICALS
(Some of the more notable articles are mentioned.)
Collections and Proceedings of the Maine Historical Society.
Proceedings of the Massachusetts Historical Society.
Publications of the Rhode Island Historical Society. January, 1901. Papers
of William Vernon and the Navy Board.
Rhode Island Historical Magazine. July, 1885 - January, 1887. Journal of
John Trevett, U.S.N.
Historical Collections of the Essex Institute. January, 1909. The Naval
Career of Captain John Manley of Marblehead. By Robert E. Peabody. January-
October, 1909. Records of the Vice-Admiralty Court at Halifax, Nova Scotia.
Records and Papers of the New London County Historical Society.
New England Historical and Genealogical Register.
New Hampshire Genealogical Record.
Collections of the New York Historical Society.
New York Genealogical and Biographical Record.
Pennsylvania Magazine of History and Biography.
Virginia Historical Register.
Virginia Magazine of History and Biography.
South Carolina Historical and Genealogical Magazine.
The American Historical Review. July, 1903. St. Eustatius in the American
Revolution. By J. Franklin Jameson. October, 1904. Nova Scotia and New
England during the Revolution. By Emily P. Weaver.
Historical Magazine.
American Historical Record.
Magazine of American History.
Magazine of History.
American Catholic Historical Researches.
Military and Naval Magazine of the United States, 1833-1836.
Naval Magazine, 1836.
United States Naval Institute Proceedings. No. 79 (1896) Howe and
D'Estaing. A Study in Coast Defense. By Commander C. F. Goodrich, U.S.N.;
No. 83 (1897) The Sailor in the Revolution. By Commander C. F. Goodrich,
U.S.N.; No. 99 (1901) The Coast in Warfare. By Lieutenant-Commander J. H.
Sears, U.S.N.; No. 126 (1908) The True Story of the America. By Robert W.
Neeser; No. 139 (1911) American Privateers at Dankerque. By Henri Malo.
Translated by Stewart L. Mims.
The United Service. July, 1895. Letters of Paul Jones. October, 1905.
Campaign of Vice-Admiral D'Estaing. By G. Lacour-Gayet. Translated by
Chaplain T. G. Steward, U.S.A. The earlier numbers of this magazine
contain several biographical sketches of naval officers.
The Port Folio. Biographical sketches of naval officers.
Southern Literary Messenger. January - April, 1857. The Virginia Navy of
the Revolution.
Hunt's Merchants' Magazine.
Atlantic Monthly. September and October 1861, Journal of a Privateersman,
1741 [Edited by Charles Eliot Norton]; December, 1887, Paul Jones and the
Armed Neutrality. By John Fiske.
The Century Magazine.
New England Magazine.
Scribner's Magazine. February, July, and August, 1898. Articles by Captain
Mahan on Lake Champlain and John Paul Jones.
Granite Monthly. 1881 and 1882. Log of the Ranger.
The Outlook. January 3. 1903. James Barnes on Conynghams Lost Commission.
Massachusetts Magazine. 1908-1912. The Massachusetts Navy. By F. A.
Gardner.
Newspapers
The Boston Gazette and Country Journal (Watertown and Boston).
The New England Chronicle; name changed in September, 1776, to Independent
Chronicle (Cambridge and Boston; had formerly been the Essex Gazette of
Salem).
The Continental Journal and Weekly Advertiser (Boston).
The Independent Ledger and American Advertiser (Boston).
The Evening Post and General Advertiser (Boston).
The Massachusetts Spy, or American Oracle of Liberty (Worcester).
The Salem Gazette.
The Connecticut Courant and Hartford Weekly Intelligencer.
The Connecticut Gazette and Universal Intelligencer (New London).
The Royal Gazette (New York).
The Royal American Gazette (New York).
The New York Packet and American Advertiser (Fishkill).
The Pennsylvania Gazette.
Dunlap's Pennsylvania Packet, or the General Advertiser.
The Pennsylvania Evening Post.
The Freeman's Journal, or North American Intelligencer (Philadelphia).
The Maryland Journal and Baltimore Advertiser.
The London Chronicle.
Lloyd's Evening Post and British Chronicle (London).
MANUSCRIPT SOURCES
Navy Department. All the following are copies: Logbooks and journals of
the Ranger, November 26, 1777, to May 18, 1778; of the Bonhomme Richard,
May 8 to September 24, 1779; of the Serapis, September 26 to November 21,
1779; of the Alliance, November 22, 1779, to June 12, 1780; of the Ariel,
June 16 to October 14,1780; of the South Carolina, August 4, 1781, to May
21, 1782; and of the letter of marque ship Queen of France, August 20 to
September 9, 1782. Letter-book of John Paul Jones, March, 1778, to July,
1779. Miscellaneous material, including the court martial of Captain
Pearson and letters of Admiral Rodney (1780) criticizing Admiral Arbuthnot.
Library of Congress. Papers of the Continental Congress, containing much
correspondence relating to naval affairs, reports of officers, etc. Marine
Committee Letter Book, containing the instructions of the Marine Committee
and Board of Admiralty to officers of the navy, letters to the navy
boards, etc. Letters to Washington relating to naval affairs. John Paul
Jones manuscripts in eleven volumes. Miscellaneous papers, including a
list of officers in the Continental navy and marine corps. This material
in the Library of Congress is of the utmost importance and is described
more in detail in the bibliography of Paullin's Navy of the American
Revolution. The Library has also acquired transcripts of the Admiralty
Records in the British Archives.
Massachusetts State Library, Archives Division. Records of the Great and
General Court, beginning July 26, 1775. Records of the Honorable the
Council. Massachusetts Archives and Revolutionary Rolls Collection. In
volumes v to ix, xxviii, xxxv ii to xl, xliv, xlv, Iii, Iiii, cxxxix,
cxlv, cxlviii to cliii, clvii, clviii, clix, clxiv to clxxii a large
amount of information will be found, including bonds and commissions of
privateers, correspondence about prisoners, prize cases, letters, orders
and minutes of the Board of War, reports of officers of the state navy,
rolls, documents relating to the Penobscot Expedition, and miscellaneous
papers.
Massachusetts Historical Society. Papers of Colonel Timothy Pickering.
Papers of Governor Trumbull of Connecticut. Papers of Oliver Wolcott of
Connecticut.
Essex Institute. Miscellaneous papers. Most letters of interest have been
printed in the society's collections.
Harvard College Library. Sparks Papers. Arthur Lee Papers. Commodore
Tucker Papers. Miscellaneous papers, including Luther Little's narrative
of the battle between the Protector and the Admiral Duff.
Private Collections. Papers of John Adams, deposited in the library of the
Massachusetts Historical Society, examined through the courtesy of Charles
Francis Adams, Esq. Copies of four letters kindly furnished by Charles T.
Harbeck, Esq., viz.. Hopkins's sailing orders to his captains, dated
February 14, 1776, two letters of the Marine Committee, and a Jones letter
of November 1, 1776. James Barnes, Esq., kindly sent a copy of a letter of
William Bingham to Captain Conyngham. The Log of the Ranger (August 24,
1778, to May 10, 1780) was sold by the estate of E. P. Jewell, Esq. and an
opportunity to copy extracts from it was obtained. This log, down to March
2, 1779, was published in the Granite Monthly.
Archives de Ia Marine aux Archives Nationales a Paris. Campagnes; Pays
Etrangers, Commerce et Consulate; Travail du Roi et du Ministre; Ordres et
Depeches; etc.
British Archives. Public Record Office. Admiralty Records: Admirals'
Despatches, Captains' Letters, Consuls' Letters, Courts Martial, Captains'
and Masters' Logs. Transcripts of the British Admiralty Records and of the
French papers from the Archives de Ia Marine, indispensable for a
comprehensive study of Revolutionary naval history, were very kindly
furnished by Robert W. Neeser, Esq. Customs House: Minutes of the Scottish
Board of Customs; Irish Minute Books; Whitehaven Customs Letter- Book. Dr.
Charles 0. Paullin kindly allowed the use of his transcripts of these
Custom House papers.
In quoting from documents, newspapers, manuscripts, etc., pains have been
taken to avoid changes from the original except in punctuation, which has
been amended when so doing has seemed essential to clearness.
II. RULES FOR THE REGULATION OF THE NAVY OF THE UNITED COLONIES
The Commanders of all ships and vessels belonging to the thirteen United
Colonies are strictly required to shew in themselves a good example of
honor and virtue to their officers and men, and to be very vigilant in
inspecting the behaviour of all such as are under them, and to
discountenance and suppress all dissolute, immoral, and disorderly
practices, and also such as are contrary to the rules of discipline and
obedience, and to correct those who are guilty of the same, according to
the usage of the sea.
The Commanders of the ships of the thirteen United Colonies are to take
care that divine service be performed twice a day on board, and a sermon
preached on Sundays, unless bad weather or other extraordinary accidents
prevent it.
If any shall be heard to swear, curse, or blaspheme the name of God, the
Commander is strictly enjoined to punish them for every offense by causing
them to wear a wooden collar, or some other shameful badge of distinction,
for so long time as he shall judge proper. If he be a commissioned
officer, he shall forfeit one shilling for each offense, and a warrant or
inferior officer six pence. He who is guilty of drunkenness, if a seaman,
shall be put in irons until he is sober, but if an officer, he shall
forfeit two days' pay.
No Commander shall inflict any punishment upon a seaman beyond twelve
lashes upon his bare back with A cat of nine tails; if the fault shall
deserve a greater punishment, he is to apply to the Commander in chief of
the Navy, in order to the trying of him by a courtmartial, and in the mean
time he may put him under confinement.
The Commander is never by his own authority to discharge a commission or
warrant officer, nor to punish or strike him, but he may suspend or
confine them, and when he comes in the way of a Commander in chief, apply
to him for holding a court-martial.
The Officer who commands by accident of the Captain's or commander's
absence (unless he be absent for a time by leave) shall not order any
correction but confinement, and upon the captain's return on board he
shall then give an account of his reasons for so doing.
The Captain is to cause the articles of war to be hung up in some public
places of the ship, and read to the ship's company once a month.
Whenever a Captain shall inlist a seaman, he shall take care to enter on
his books the time and terms of his entering, in order to his being justly
paid.
The Captain shall, before he sails, make return to, and leave with the
Congress, or such person or persons as the Congress shall appoint for that
purpose, a compleat list of all his officers and men, with the time and
terms of their entering; and during his cruize shall keep a true account
of the desertion or death of any of them, and of the entering of others,
and after his cruize and before any of them are paid off, he shall make
return of a compleat list of the same, including those who shall remain on
board his ship.
The men shall, at their request, be furnished with slops that are
necessary by the Captain or purser, who shall keep an account of the same,
and the Captain, in his return in the last mentioned article directed to
be made, shall mention the amount delivered to each man, in order to its
being stopped out of his pay.
As to the term "inferior Officer," the Captain is to take notice that the
same does not include any commission or any warrant officer, except the
second master, surgeon's mate, cook, armourer, gun-smith, master at arms
and sail maker.
The Captain is to take care when any inferior officers or volunteer seamen
are turned over into the ship under his command from any other ship, not
to rate them on the ship's books in a worse quality, or lower degree or
station, than they served in the ship they were removed from; and for his
guidance he is to demand from the commander of the ship from which they
are turned over, a list, under his hand, of their names and qualities.
Any officer, seaman, or others, intitled to wages or prize money, may have
the same paid to his assignee, provided the assignment be attested by the
Captain or Commander, the master or purser of the ship, or a chief
magistrate of some county or corporation.
The Captain is to discourage the seamen of his ship from selling any part
of their wages or shares, and never to attest the letter of attorney of
any seaman, until he is fully satisfied that the same is not granted in
consideration of money given for the purchase of his wages or shares.
When an inferior officer or seaman dies, the Captain is forthwith to make
out a ticket for the time of his service, and to send the same by the
first safe conveyance to the Congress, or agents by them for that purpose
appointed, in order to the wages being forthwith paid to the executors or
administrators of the deceased.
A convenient place shall be set apart for sick or hurt men, to which they
are to be removed, with their hammocks and bedding, when the surgeon shall
advise the same to be necessary, and some of the crew shall be appointed
to attend and serve them, and to keep the place clean.
The cooper shall make buckets with covers and cradles if necessary, for
their use.
All ships furnished with fishing tackle, being in such places where fish
is to be had, the captain is to employ some of the company in fishing; the
fish to be distributed daily to each persons as are sick or upon recovery,
provided the surgeon recommend it, and the surplus by turns amongst the
messes of the officers and seamen without favour or partiality and gratis,
without any deduction of their allowance of provisions on that account.
It is left to the discretion of Commanders of squadrons to shorten the
allowance of provisions according to the exigencies of the service, taking
care that the men be punctually paid for the same.
The like power is given to Captains of single ships in cases of absolute
necessity.
If there should be a want of pork, the Captain is to order three pounds of
beef to be issued to the men, in lieu of two pounds of pork.
One day in every week shall be issued out a proportion of flour and suet,
in lieu of beef, for the seamen, but this is not to extend beyond four
months' victualling at one time, nor shall the purser receive any
allowance for flour or suet kept longer on board than that time, and there
shall be supplied, once a year, a proportion of canvas for pudding-bags,
after the rate of one ell for every sixteen men.
If any ships of the thirteen United Colonies shall happen to come into
port in want of provisions, the warrant of a Commander in chief shall be
sufficient to the Agent or other instrument of the victualling, to supply
the quantity wanted, and in urgent cases, where delay may be hurtful, the
warrant of the Captain of the ship shall be of equal effect.
The Captain is frequently to order the proper officers to inspect into the
condition of the provisions, and if the bread proves damp, to have it
aired upon the quarter deck or poop, and also examine the flesh casks, and
if any of the pickle be leaked out, to have new made and put in, and the
casks made tight and secure.
The Captain or purser shall secure the cloaths, bedding, and other things
of such persons as shall die or be killed, to be delivered to their
executors or administrators.
All papers, charter parties, bills of lading, passports, and other
writings whatsoever, found on board any ship or ships, which shall be
taken, shall be carefully preserved, and the originals sent to the court
of Justice for maritime affairs, appointed or to be appointed by the
legislatures in the respective colonies, for judging concerning such prize
or prizes; and if any person or persons shall wilfully or negligently
destroy or suffer to be destroyed, any such paper or papers, he or they so
offending shall forfeit their share of such prize or prizes, and suffer
such other punishment as they shall be judged by a court-martial to
deserve.
If any person or persons shall embezzle, steal or take away any cables,
anchors, sails, or any of the ship's furniture, or any of the powder,
arms, ammunition, or provisions of any ship belonging to the thirteen
United Colonies, he or they shall suffer such punishment as a court-
martial shall order.
When in sight of a ship or ships of the enemy, and at such other times as
may appear to make it necessary to prepare for an engagement, the Captain
shall order all things in his ship in a proper posture for fight, and
shall, in his own person and according to his duty, heart on and encourage
the inferior officers and men to fight courageously, and not to behave
themselves faintly or cry for quarters, on pain of such punishment as the
offence shall appear to deserve for his neglect.
Any Captain or other officer, mariner, or others, who shall basely desert
their duty or station in the ship and run away while the enemy is in
sight, or, in time of action, or shall entice others to do so, shall
suffer death, or such other punishment as a court-martial shall inflict.
Any officer, seaman, or marine, who shall begin, excite, cause, or join in
any mutiny or sedition in the ship to which he belongs, on any pretence
whatsoever, shall suffer death, or such other punishment as a court-
martial shall direct. Any person in or belonging to the ship, who shall
utter any words of sedition and mutiny, or endeavour to make any mutinous
assemblies on any pretence whatsoever, shall suffer such punishment as a
court-martial shall inflict.
None shall presume to quarrel with or strike his superior officer on pain
of such punishment as a courtmartial shall order to be inflicted.
If any person shall apprehend he has just cause of complaint, he shall
quietly and decently make the same known to his superior officer, or to
the captain, as the case may require, who shall take care that justice be
done him.
There shall be no quarreling or fighting between shipmates on board any
ship belonging to the thirteen United Colonies, nor shall there be used
any reproachful or provoking speeches, tending to make quarrels and
disturbance, on pain of imprisonment and such other punishment as a court-
martial shall think proper to inflict.
If any person shall sleep upon his watch, or negligently perform the duty
which shall be enjoined him to do, or forsake his station, he shall suffer
such punishment as a court-martial shall judge proper to inflict,
according to the nature of his offence.
All murder shall be punished with death.
All robbery and theft shall be punished at the discretion of a court-
martial.
Any master at arms who shall refuse to receive such prisoner or prisoners
as shall be committed to his charge, or having received them, shall suffer
him or them to escape, or dismiss them without orders for so doing, shall
suffer in his or their stead, as a court-martial shall order and direct.
The Captain, officers, and others shall use their utmost endeavours to
detect, apprehend, and bring to punishment, all offenders, and shall at
all times readily assist the officers appointed for that purpose in the
discharge of their duty, on pain of being proceeded against and punished
by a court-martial at discretion.
All other faults, disorders, and misdemeanours, which shall be committed
on board any ship belonging to the thirteen United Colonies, and which are
not herein mentioned, shall be punished according to the laws and customs
in such cases at sea.
A court-martial shall consist of at least three Captains and three first
lieutenants, with three Captains and three first lieutenants of Marines,
if there shall be so many of the Marines then present, and the eldest
Captain shall preside.
All sea officers of the same denomination shall take rank of the officers
of the Marines.
The sentence of a court-martial for any capital offence, shall not be put
in execution, until it be confirmed by the Commander in chief of the
fleet; and it shall be the duty of the president of every court-martial to
transmit to the Commander in chief of the fleet every sentence which shall
be given, with a summary of the evidence and proceedings thereon, by the
first opportunity.
The Commander in chief of the fleet for the time being, shall have power
to pardon and remit any sentence of death, that shall be given in
consequence of any of the aforementioned Articles.
There shall be allowed to each man serving on board the ships in the
service of the thirteen United Colonies, a daily proportion of provisions,
according as is expressed in the following table, viz.
Sunday, 1 lb. bread, 1 lb. beef, 1 lb. potatoes or turnips.
Monday, 1 lb. bread, 1 lb. pork, 1/2 pint peas and four oz. cheese.
Tuesday, 1 lb. bread, 1 lb. beef, 1 lb. potatoes or turnips, and pudding.
Wednesday, 1 lb. bread, two oz. butter, four oz. cheese and 1/2 pint of
rice.
Thursday, 1 lb. bread, 1 lb. pork, and 1/2 pint of peas.
Friday, 1 lb. bread, 1 lb. beef, I lb. potatoes or turnips, and pudding.
Saturday, 1 lb. bread, 1 lb. pork, 1/2 pint peas and four oz. cheese.
Half a pint of rum per man every day, and discretionary allowance on extra
duty and in time of engagement.
A pint and half of vinegar for six men per week.
The pay of the officers and men [per calendar month] shall be as follows:
Captain or commander, 32 dollars
Lieutenants, 20 dollars
Master, 20 dollars
Mates, 15 dollars
Boatswain, 15 dollars
Boatswain's first mate, 9 1/2 dollars
Boatswain's second mate, 8 dollars
Gunner, 15 dollars
Gunner's mate, 10 2/3 dollars
Surgeon, 21 1/3 dollars
Surgeon's mate, 13 1/3 dollars
Carpenter, 15 dollars
Carpenter's mate, 10 2/3 dollars.
Cooper, 15 dollars
Captain's or Commander's clerk, 15 dollars
Steward, 13 1/3 dollars
Chaplain, 20 dollars
Able seamen, 6 2/3
Captain of marines, 26 2/3 dollars
Lieutenants, 18 dollars
Serjeants, 8 dollars
Corporals, 7 1/3 dollars
Fifer, 7 1/3 dollars
Drummer, 7 1/3
Privates [of] marines, 6 2/3 dollars
III. INSTRUCTIONS TO COMMANDERS OF PRIVATEERS
Continental Congress, April 3, 1776:
I. You may, by force of arms, attack, subdue and take all ships and other
vessels belonging to the inhabitants of Great Britain, on the high seas,
or between high water and low water mark, except ships and vessels
bringing persons who intend to settle and reside in the United Colonies;
or bringing arms, ammunition, or war-like stores, to the said colonies,
for the use of such inhabitants thereof as are friends to the American
cause, which you shall suffer to pass unmolested, the commanders thereof
permitting a peaceable search and giving satisfactory information of the
contents of the ladings and destinations of voyages.
II. You may, by force of arms, attack, subdue and take all ships and other
vessels whatsoever, carrying soldiers, arms, gunpowder, ammunition,
provisions, or any other contraband goods, to any of the British armies or
ships of war employed against these colonies.
III. You shall bring such ships and vessels, as you shall take, with their
guns, rigging, tackle, apparel, furniture, and ladings to some convenient
port or ports of the United Colonies, that proceedings may thereupon be
had in due form, before the courts which are or shall be appointed to hear
and determine causes civil and maritime.
IV. You, or one of your chief officers, shall bring or send the master and
pilot and one or more principal person or persons of the company of every
ship or vessel by you taken, as soon after the capture as may be, to the
judge or judges of such court as aforesaid, to be examined upon oath, and
make answer to the interrogatories which may be propounded, touching the
interest or property of the ship or vessel and her lading; and, at the
same time, you shall deliver, or cause to be delivered to the judge or
judges, all passes, sea-briefs, charter-parties, bills of lading, cockets,
letters and other documents and writings found on board, proving the said
papers by the affidavit of yourself or of some other person present at the
capture, to be produced as they were received, without fraud, addition,
subduction or embezzlement.
V. You shall keep and preserve every ship or vessel and cargo by you
taken, until they shall, by a sentence of a court properly authorized, be
adjudged lawful prizes; not selling, spoiling, wasting, or diminishing the
same, or breaking the bulk thereof, nor suffering any such thing to be
done.
VI. If you, or any of your officers or crew, shall, in cold blood, kill or
maim, or by torture or otherwise, cruelly, inhumanly, and contrary to
common usage and the practice of civilized nations in war, treat any
person or persons surprized. in the ship or vessel you shall take, the
offender shall be severely punished.
VIII. You shall, by all convenient opportunities, send to Congress written
accounts of the captures you shall make, with the number and names of the
captives, copies of your journal from time to time, and intelligence of
what may occur or be discovered concerning the designs of the enemy and
the destination, motions and operations of their fleets and armies.
VIII. One-third, at least, of your whole company shall be landsmen.
IX. You shall not ransom any prisoners or captives, but shall dispose of
them in such manner as the Congress, or, if that be not sitting, in the
colony whither they shall be brought, as the general assembly, convention,
or council, or committee of safety, of such colony shall direct.
X. You shall observe all such further instructions as Congress shall
hereafter give in the premises, when you shall have notice thereof.
XI. If you shall do anything contrary to these instructions, or to others
hereafter to be given, or willingly suffer such thing to be done, you
shall not only forfeit your commission and be liable to an action for
breach of the condition of your bond, but be responsible to the party
grieved for damages sustained by such malversation.
Additional articles, April 7, 1781:
1. You are to pay a sacred regard to the rights of neutral powers and the
usage and customs of civilized nations; and on no pretence whatever,
presume to take or seize any ships or vessels belonging to the subjects of
princes or powers in alliance with these United States [with certain
exceptions] . . . under the pains and penalties expressed in a
proclamation [See Appendix IV] issued by the Congress of the United
States, the ninth day of May, in the year of our Lord one thousand seven
hundred and seventy-eight.
2. You shall permit all neutral vessels freely to navigate on the high
seas or coasts of America except such as are employed in carrying
contraband goods or soldiers to the enemies of these United States.
3. You shall not seize or capture any effects belonging to the subjects of
the belligerent powers on board neutral vessels, excepting contraband
goods; and you are carefully to observe, that the term contraband is
confined to those articles which are expressly declared to be such in the
treaty of amity and commerce, of the sixth day of February, 1778, between
these United States and his most Christian majesty, namely: arms, great
guns, bombs, with their fusees and other things belonging to them, cannon-
balls, gun-powder, matches, pikes, swords, lances, spears, halberts,
mortars, petards, grenadoes, salt-petre, muskets, musket-ball, bucklers,
helmets, breast-plates, coats of mail, and the like kind of arms proper
for arming soldiers, musket-rests, belts, horses with their furniture, and
all other warlike instruments whatever.
IV. A PROCLAMATION
Whereas Congress have received information and complaints, 'that violences
have been done by American armed vessels to neutral nations, in seizing
ships belonging to their subjects and under their colours, and in making
captures of those of the enemy whilst under the protection of neutral
coasts, contrary to the usage and custom of nations": to the end that such
unjustifiable and piratical acts, which reflect dishonour upon the
national character of these states, may be in future effectually
prevented, the said Congress hath thought proper to direct, enjoin and
command, and they do hereby direct, enjoin and command, all captains,
commanders and other officers and seamen belonging to any American armed
vessels, to govern themselves strictly in all things agreeably to the
tenor of their commissions, and the instructions and resolutions of
Congress; particularly that they pay a sacred regard to the rights of
neutral powers and the usage and custom of civilized nations, and on no
pretence whatever presume to take or seize any ships or vessels belonging
to the subjects of princes or powers in alliance with these United States,
except they are employed in carrying contraband goods or soldiers to our
enemies, and in such case that they conform to the stipulations contained
in treaties subsisting between such princes or powers and these states;
and that they do not capture, seize or plunder any ships or vessels of our
enemies, being under the protection of neutral coasts, nations or princes,
under the penalty of being condignly punished therefor, and also of being
bound to make satisfaction for all matters of damage and the interest
thereof by reparation, under the pain and obligation of their persons and
goods. And further, the said Congress doth hereby resolve and declare,
that persons wilfully offending in any of the foregoing instances, if
taken by any foreign powers in consequence thereof, will not be considered
as having a right to claim protection from these states, but shall suffer
such punishment as by the usage and custom of nations may be inflicted
upon such offenders.
Given in Congress at York, in the state of Pennsylvania, this ninth day of
May, Anno Domini 1778.
V. VESSELS IN THE CONTINENTAL SERVICE
The dates indicate the period of active service, or, where no service was
performed during the war, the date of launching is given. The Serapis is
included for the reason that she served temporarily as Commodore Jones's
flagship, replacing the Bonhomme Richard.
Continental Navy
Alfred, 24, ship, 1775-1778
Columbus, 20, ship,1775-1778
Andrew Doria, 14, brig, 1775-1777
Cabot, 14, brig, 1775-1777
Providence, 12, sloop, 1775-1779
Hornet, 10, sloop, 1775-1777
Wasp, 8, schooner, 1775-1777
Fly, 8, schooner, 1775-1777
Lexington, 16, brig, 1776-1777
Reprisal, 16 brig, 1776-1777
Hampden, 14, brig, 1776-1777
Independence,10, sloop, 1776-1778
Sachem, 10 sloop, 1776-1777
Mosquito, 4 sloop, 1776-1777
Raleigh, 32 frigate, 1777-1778
Hancock, 32 frigate,1777
Warren, 32, frigate,1777-1779
Washington, 32, frigate, 1777
Randolph, 32, frigate, 1777-1778
Providence, 28, frigate, 1777-1780
Trumbull, 28 frigate, 1777-1781
Congress, 28, frigate, 1777
Virginia, 28, frigate, 1777-1778
Effingham, 28, frigate, 1777
Boston, 24, frigate, 1777-1780
Montgomery, 24, frigate, 1777
Delaware, 24, frigate, 1777
Ranger, 18, ship, 1777-1780
Resistance, 10, brigantine, 1777-1778
Surprise, sloop, 1777
Racehorse, 10, sloop, 1777
Repulse, 8, xebec, 1777
Champion, 8, xebec, 1777
Indien, 40, ship, 1777
Deane (later Hague), 32, frigate, 1777-1783
Queen of France, 28, frigate, 1777-1780
Dolphin, 10, cutter, 1777
Surprise, 10, lugger, 1777
Revenge, 14, cutter, 1777-1779
Alliance, 32, frigate, 1778-1785
General Gates, 18, ship, 1778-1779
Retaliation, brigantine, 1778
Pigot, 8, schooner, 1778
Confederacy, 32, frigate, 1779-1781
Argo, 12, Sloop, 1779
Diligent, 12, brig, 1779
Bonhomme Richard, 42, ship, 1779
Pallas, 32, frigate, 1779
Cerf, 18, cutter, 1779
Vengeance, 12, brig, 1779
Serapis, 44, ship, 1779
Axiel, 20, ship, 1780-1781
Saratoga, 18, ship, 1780-1781
America, 74, ship of the line, 1782
General Washington, 20, ship, 1782-1784
Due de Lauzun, 20, ship, 1782-1783
Bourbon, 36, frigate, 1783
Packets:
Active
Baltimore
Despatch
Enterprise
Fame
Georgia Packet
Horn Snake
Mercury
Phoenix
Washington's Fleet, 1775-1776
Hannah, schooner
Lynch, schooner
Franklin, schooner
Lee, schooner
Harrison, schooner
Warren, schooner
Washington, brigantine
Hancock, schooner
General Schuyler, sloop
General Mifflin, sloop
Lady Washington, galley
Lake Champlain, 1776
Enterprise, 12, sloop
Royal Savage, 12, schooner
Revenge,8, schooner
Liberty, 8, schooner
New Haven, 3, gondola
Providence, 3, gondola
Boston, 3, gondola
Spitfire, 3, gondola
Philadelphia, 3, gondola
Connecticut, 3, gondola
Jersey, 3, gondola
New York, 3, gondola
Lee,6, galley
Trumbull,8, galley
Congress, 8, galley
Washington, 8, galley
Gates, 8, galley
Mississippi River, 1778-1779
Morris, ship
West Florida , sloop
Morris, schooner
VI. OFFICERS IN THE CONTINENTAL NAVY AND MARINE CORPS
A list of Revolutionary officers was compiled in 1794. It is "formed from
the Minutes of the Marine Committee and Navy Boards, and from the Rolls of
the several Vessels; many of the Officers served only for a Cruize"
(Miscellaneous Naval Papers, March 18, 1794, in the Library of Congress).
A previous list had been given out by the Board of Admiralty in September
1781 (Papers of the Continental Congress, 37, 473), which is an incomplete
register of the officers of that date. The following list has been made up
from these two (see also Paullin's Navy of the Revolution, Appendix B). A
very few unimportant attempts at emendation in spelling, etc., that seemed
warranted by other authority, have been made. The names of captains which
are numbered comprise those appointed October 10, 1776, in the order of
rank; the numbered lieutenants were commissioned October 12, 1776. The
same officers generally had earlier commissions, which are also indicated
when known; these commissions were superseded in October, 1776. A number
of other dates of commission, taken from the 1781 list and other sources,
are also given. Annexed to the main list will be found a number of names,
not included in either of the old lists, comprising officers commissioned
in France and others (see Journals of the Continental Congress, April 17,
June 6, 1776, June 14, 1777, September 8, 1779; Calendars of Naval Records
and of Jones Papers - indices; Goldsborough's Naval Chronicle, p. 8;
Field's Life of Hopkins, p. 186); some of them were doubtless never
regularly commissioned. To make a wholly complete and accurate list would
be impossible.
CONTINENTAL NAVY
Captains and Commanders
Esek Hopkins, commander-in-chief, December 22, 1775.
1. James Nicholson, June 6, 1776.
2. John Manley, April 17, 1776.
3. Hector McNeill, June 15, 1776.
4. Dudley Saltonstall, December 22, 1775.
5. Nicholas Biddle, December 22, 1775.
6. Thomas Thompson, June 6, 1776.
7. John Barry, June 6, 1776.
8. Thomas Read, June 6, 1776.
9. Thomas Grinnell, June 15, 1776.
10. Charles Alexander, June 6, 1776.
11. Lambert Wickes.
12. Abraham Whipple, December 22,1775.
13. John Burrows Hopkins, December 22, 1775.
14. John Hodge, August 22, 1776.
15. William Hallock.
16. Hoysted Hacker.
17. Isaiah Robinson.
18. John Paul Jones.
19. James Josiah.
20. Elisha, Hinman, August 13, 1776.
21. Joseph Olney.
22. James Robinson.
23. John Young.
24. Elisha Warner.
John Nicholson, November 19, 1776.
Samuel Nicholson, December 10, 1776.
Henry Johnson, February 5, 1777.
John Peck Rathburne, February 15, 1777.
Gustavus Conyngham, March 1, 1777.
Samuel Tucker, March 15, 1777.
Daniel Waters, March 17, 1777.
John Green, February 11, 1778.
William Burke, May 1, 1778.
Pierre Landais, June 18, 1778.
Seth Harding, September 23, 1778.
Silas Talbot, September 17, 1779.
John Ayres.
Peter Brewster.
Samuel Chew.
Benjamin Dann.
John Hazard.
William Pickles.
Thomas Simpson.
John Skimmer.
William Stone.
Lieutenants
1. Peter Shores, July 22,1776.
2. Robert Harris.
3. Jonathan Maltbie, August 22, 1776.
4. John Brown, June 15, 1776.
5. Ezekiel Burroughs, December 22, 1775.
6. Luke Matthewman.
7. George House.
8. Thomas Albertson.
9. John Baldwin.
10. Simon Gross.
11. David Phipps, August 22, 1776.
12. John Sleymaker.
13. Joshua Barney.
14. Jonathan Pritchard.
15. Adam W. Thaxter.
16. Benjamin Handy.
17. Joseph Greenway.
18. Benjamin Page.
19. Hopley Yeaton.
Rhodes Arnold, December 22, 1775.
Jonathan Pitcher, December 22, 1775.
Benjamin Seabury, December 22, 1775.
Thomas Weaver, December 22, 1775.
John McDougal, December 22, 1775.
Daniel Vaughan, December 22, 1775.
Joseph Doble, June 6, 1776.
John Wheelwright, July 22, 1776.
Josiah Shackford, July 22, 1776.
William Barnes, August 17, 1776.
Thomas Vaughan, August 17, 1776.
Hezekiah Welch, October 19, 1776.
Patrick Fletcher, November 20, 1776.
Blaney Allison, December 20, 1776.
Elijah Bowen, February 5, 1777.
Robert French, March 25, 1777.
Robert Martin, April 22, 1777.
Elijah Hall, June 14, 1777.
Matthew Tibbs, June 17, 1777.
John Rodez, August 6, 1777.
John Fanning, August 10, 1777.
William Mollison, August 12,1777.
Arthur Dillaway, September 19, 1777.
Joseph Vesey, November 13, 1777.
Silas Devol, January 28, 1778.
Muscoe Livingston, July 27, 1778.
Stephen Gregory, August 4, 1778.
Michael Knies, August 7, 1778.
Samuel Cardal, August 15, 1778.
Peter Deville, August 25, 1778.
Benjamin Bates, December 4, 1778.
Richard Dale, August, 1779.
Alexander Murray, July 20, 1781.
Joseph Adams.
Robert Adamson.
John Angus.
James Armitage.
Josiah Audibert.
Benjamin Barron.
William Barron.
Goerge Batson.
Daniel Beam
John Bellenger.
Christopher Bradley.
Jacob Brooks.
Philip Brown.
Isaac Buck.
Charles Bulkley.
Edward Burke.
George Champlin.
John Channing.
Seth Clarke.
David Cullam.
James Degge.
William Dennis.
Marie Sevel Doris.
William Dunlap.
William Dupar.
Joshua Fanning.
Wilford Fisher.
William Gamble.
Nicholas E. Gardner.
William Grinnell.
James Grinwell.
William Ham.
James Handy.
Abraham Hawkins.
John Hennessey.
Stephen Hill.
Christopher Hopkins.
Esek Hopkins, Jr.
William Hopkins.
Robert Hume.
Aquilla Johns.
John Kemp.
John Kerr.
Benjamin Knight.
William Leeds.
Edward Leger.
John Lewis.
George Lovie.
Cutting Lunt.
Henry Lunt.
John McIvers.
John Margisson.
Richard Marvin.
John Moran.
William Moran.
William Morrison.
Isaac Olney.
James Pine.
Robert Pomeroy.
David Porter.
William Potts.
Benjamin Reed.
Peter Richards.
James Robertson.
John Robinson.
Peter Rosseau.
Robert Saunders.
John Scott.
Robert Scott.
John Scranton.
Nicholas Scull.
James Sellers.
Daniel Starr.
James Stephens.
John Stevens.
David Welch.
Jacob White.
Richard Wickes.
James Wilson.
Robert Wilson.
Samuel York.
MARINE CORPS
Major
Samuel Nicholas, June 25, 1776.
Captains
Matthew Parke, May 26, 1776.
Andrew Porter, June 25, 1776.
Samuel Shaw, June 25, 1776.
Benjamin Deane, June 25, 1776.
Robert Mullen, June 25, 1776.
John Stewart, June 25, 1776.
Gilbert Saltonstall, June, 1776.
Richard Palmer, July 7, 1776.
George Jerry Osborne, July 22, 1776.
Seth Baxter, October 10, 1776.
James Disney, October 22, 1776.
Joseph Hardy, October, 1776.
Dennis Leary, June 21,1777.
William Morris, June, 1777.
William Jones, March 4, 1778.
Edward Arrowsmith, October 20, 1778.
William Nicholson, September 6, 1781.
Abraham Boyce.
Isaac Craig.
John Elliott.
Robert Elliott.
John Hazard.
William Holton.
William Matthewman.
Miles Pennington.
- Rice.
Joseph Shoemaker.
- Spence.
John Trevett.
Elihu Trowbridge.
John Welch.
Lieutenants
Daniel Henderson, June 25, 1776.
David Love, June 25, 1776.
Franklin Reed, June 25, 1776.
Peregrine Brown, June 25, 1776.
James McClure, June 25,1776.
William Gilmore, June 25,1776.
Abel Morgan, June 25, 1776.
Hugh Montgomery, June 25, 1776.
Thomas Pownal, June 25,1776.
Richard Harrison, June 25, 1776.
Stephen Meade, July 22, 1776.
Nathaniel Thwing, July 22, 1776.
Benjamin Thompson, July 22,1776.
Alpheus Rice, August 24,1776.
Jacob White, October 16, 1776.
Thomas Plunkett, December 9, 1776.
William Jennison, February, 1777.
William Waterman, March 4,1778.
Thomas Elwood, August 24,1778.
Peter Green, September 25, 1778.
Abraham Vandyke, July 24, 1779.
William Barney.
Henry Becker.
Peter Bedford.
David Bill.
Gurdon Bill.
Benjamin Catlin.
Seth Chapin.
John Chilton.
James Clarke.
James Cokely.
James Connolly.
William Cooper.
David Cullam.
Robert Cummings.
Robert Davis.
Henry Dayton.
John Dimsdell.
Stephen Earle,
Thomas Elting.
Panatier de la Falconier.
Zebadiah Farnham.
William Fielding.
Thomas Fitzgerald.
John Fitzpatrick.
Samuel Gamage.
John Guignace.
Roger Haddock.
James Hamilton.
Jonas Hamilton.
William Hamilton.
John Harris.
Samuel Hempstead.
Samuel Holt.
Benjamin Huddle.
William Huddle.
Robert Hunter.
Hugh Kirkpatrick.
Daniel Longstreet.
Eugene McCarthy.
Richard McClure.
Charles McHarron.
Robert McNeal.
Peter Manifold.
Jonathan Mix.
William Morris.
Alexander Neilson.
James Gerald O'Kelly.
Avery Parker.
Samuel Powars.
Samuel Pritchard.
William Radford.
Jerry Reed.
Nathaniel Richards.
Jabez Smith.
Walter Spooner.
Edmund Stack.
Daniel Starr.
I. M. Strobach.
George Trumbull.
Thomas Turner.
Louis de la Valette.
Zebulon Varnam.
- Wadsworth.
Samuel Wallingford.
James Warren.
James H. Wilson.
Jonathan Woodworth.
SUPPLEMENTARY LIST
Captains
Isaac Cazneau, April 17, 1776.
Samuel Tomkins, June 6, 1776.
Christopher Miller, June 6, 1776.
Henry Skinner.
John Roach.
Ralph Moor.
Denis Nicolas Cottineau.
Joseph Varage.
Philippe Nicolas Ricot.
Lieutenants
Eli Stansbury, December 22, 1775.
Israel Turner, June 6, 1776.
Mark Dennet, June 6, 1776.
-Plunkett, July 20, 1781.
Peter Amiel.
Robert Robinson.
John Buckley.
James Linda.
Henri le Meignen.
Pierre Magonet.
Beninge Mischateau.
Armand la Coudrais.
Pierre de Nantes.
Nicolas de St.Valery.
Captains of Marines
John Grannis.
Maurice O'Connell.
Antoine Felix Wybert.
Paul de Chamillard.
Lieutenants of Marines
George Stillman.
Barnabas Lothrop.
VII. CONTINENTAL PRIVATEERS
A list of the private armed vessels to which letters of marque were issued
by the Continental Congress has been printed by the Library of Congress in
the Calendar of Naval Records of the American Revolution, published in
1906. With the name of each vessel are given the state where owned, the
rig, the number of guns and of men, the amount of the bond furnished, and
the names of the commander, the bonders, and the owners. The bonds are
contained in sixteen volumes of the papers of the Continental Congress
(No. 196). The most important of the statistics compiled from them are
given below. The numbers of guns and of men in these tables are smaller
than they should be, for the reason that in several cases (thirty of the
former - eighteen of the latter) the numbers are not stated.
By type:
Ships 301
Brigs and brigantines 541
Schooners, sloops, etc. 751
Boats and galleys 104
Total 1697
By State:
New Hampshire 43
Massachusetts 626
Rhode Island 15
Connecticut 218
New York 1,
New Jersey 4
Pennsylvania 500
Maryland 225
Virginia 64
South Carolina 1
Total 1697
By year:
1776 34
1777 69
1778 129
1779 209
1780 301
1781 550
1782 383
1783 22
Total 1697
Number of guns, 14,872.
Number of men, 58,400
VIII. CONCORDAT
Agreement between Messieurs John Paul Jones, captain of the Bonhomme
Richard; Pierre Landais, captain of the Alliance; Denis Nicolas Cottineau,
captain of the Pallas; Joseph Varage, captain of the Stag; and Philippe
Nicolas Ricot, captain of the Vengeance; composing a squadron that shall
be commanded by the oldest officer of the highest grade and so on in
succession in case of death or retreat. None of the said commanders,
whilst they are not separated from the said squadron by order of the
minister, shall act but by virtue of the brevet which they shall have
obtained from the United States of America, and it is agreed that the flag
of the United States shall be displayed.
The division of the prizes to the superior officers and crews of the said
squadron shall be made agreeable to the American laws, but it is agreed
that the proportion of the whole coming to each vessel in the squadron
shall be regulated by the Minister of the Marine Department of France and
the Minister Plenipotentiary of the United States of America.
A copy of the American laws shall be annexed to the present agreement,
after having been certified by the commander of the Bonhomme Richard, but
as the said laws cannot foresee nor determine as to what may concern the
vessels and subjects of other nations, it is expressly agreed that
whatever may be contrary to them should be regulated by the Minister of
the French Marine and the Minister Plenipotentiary of the United States of
America.
It is likewise agreed that the orders given by the Minister of the French
Marine and the Minister Plenipotentiary of the United States shall be
executed.
Considering the necessity there is of preserving the interests of each
individual, the prizes that shall be taken shall be remitted to the orders
of Monsieur le Ray de Chaumont, honorary intendant of the Royal Hotel of
Invalids, who has furnished the expenses of the armament of the said
squadron.
It has been agreed that M. le Ray de Chaumont be requested not to give up
the part of the prizes coming to all the crews, and to each individual of
the said squadron, but to their order, and to be responsible for the same
in his own and proper name.
Whereas the said squadron has been formed for the purpose of injuring the
common enemies of France and America, it has been agreed that such armed
vessels, whether French or American, may be associated therewith by common
consent, as shall be found suitable for the purpose, and that they shall
have such proportion of the prizes which shall be taken as the laws of
their respective countries allow them.
In case of the death of any of the before mentioned commanders of vessels,
he shall be replaced agreeably to the order of the tariff, with liberty
however for the successor to choose whether he will remain on board his
own vessel and give up to the next in order the command of the vacant ship.
It has moreover been agreed that the commander of the Stag shall be
excepted from the last article of this present agreement, because in case
of a disaster to M. de Varage, it shall be replaced by his second in
command and so on by the other officers of his cutter the Stag.
J. P. JONES.
P. LANDAIS.
DE COTTINEAU.
DE VARAGE.
P. RICOT.
Le RAY DE CHAUMONT.
Naval History of the American Revolution - End of Appendix
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