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 SIR GEORGE COLLIER. 
 
 C&PTMS OF THE RaISUOW. 
 
THE 
 
 NARRATIVE 
 
 John'Blatchford, 
 
 DETAILING 
 
 His sufferings in the Revolutionary War, while a Prisoner 
 with the British. 
 
 AS RELATED BY HIMSELF. 
 
 AN INTRODUCTION AND NOTES, 
 
 CHARLES I. BUSHXELL. 
 
 4 
 
 
 ' Of •//; 
 
 NEW YORK: 
 
 PRIVATELY PRINTED. 
 1 8 G 5 . 
 \ 
 

 Entered, according to Act of Congress, in the year 1865, by 
 
 CHARLES I. BUSHNELL, 
 
 In the Clerk's Office of the District Court of the United States for the 
 Southern District of New York. 
 
TO 
 
 CAPT. JOHN BLATCHFORD, 
 
 OF ROCKPOKT, MASS., 
 
 ELDEST SURVIVING SON OF THE 
 
 HERO OF THIS NARRATIVE, 
 
 THIS TRACT 
 
 IS RESPECTFULLY 
 
 DEDICATED. 
 
INTRODUCTION. 
 
 OHN BLATCHFORD, the hero of this 
 narrative, was the son of John Blatchford, 
 of Sandy Bay, now Rockport, on Cape Ann, 
 in the commonwealth of Massachusetts, and 
 was born about the year 1*162. 
 
 ' After receiving a very limited education, he was brought 
 up to the occupation of a fisherman, which employment he 
 pursued until the month of June, 1177, when, being about 
 fifteen years of age, he enlisted as a cabin-boy on board the 
 Hancock, a continental ship, commanded by Capt. John 
 Manly. 
 
 On the 8th day of July following, the Hancock was cap- 
 tured by the British ship Rainbow, Sir George Collier, and 
 her crew taken to Halifax and imprisoned. After being 
 immured there awhile, and treated with great severity, our 
 
IV INTRODUCTION. 
 
 hero was sent to England, and soon after his arrival there 
 was put on board an Indiaman, and transported with eighty- 
 two other Americans to the East Indies, where he was 
 compelled first to do duty as a soldier, and then to work in 
 the pepper gardens belonging to the East India Company. 
 He eventually, with great risk and after great suffering, 
 effected his escape, and ultimately reached Guadaloupe, 
 one of the West India Islands, where he took passage 
 for Philadelphia ; but misfortune again befell him, for 
 while on his way thither, he was captured by the enemy, 
 taken to New York, and put on board the prison ship 
 " Jersey." After remaining in this wretched hulk about 
 a week, he was sent in a cartel to France, whence in 
 course of time he returned home, after an absence of 
 almost six years, having, during his long imprisonment, 
 endured the severest hardships and privations, experi- 
 enced the most barbarous treatment from the hands of 
 the British, and made several narrow escapes from 
 death, not only from the bayonet, but from hunger 
 and disease, and likewise from the attack of savage 
 beasts of prey. 
 
 Soon after his return, he married Anna, the daughter of 
 Nehemiah Grover, a farmer by occupation, and a respectable 
 landholder. Mr. Blatchford resumed the avocation of a 
 fisherman, which he followed for a short time, and then took 
 
INTRODUCTION. V 
 
 to the seas for a livelihood, making many voyages to foreign 
 countries. He died at Port au Prince, in the West Indies, 
 about the year 1794, and was buried in that town. He 
 left surviving him his widow, and also two sons and one 
 daughter, to mourn their untimely loss. 
 
 In his stature, our hero was about medium height. 
 He had broad shoulders, full chest, and well-proportioned 
 limbs. His complexion was sallow, his eyes dark, and 
 his hair black and curly. He was temperate in his 
 habits, dignified in his deportment, and though possessed 
 of great muscular power and most undaunted courage, 
 he was, nevertheless, peaceful in his disposition and slow 
 to anger. 
 
 The narrative of his adventures while a prisoner, was 
 undoubtedly prepared from dictation. It is an interesting, 
 romantic, and in many respects, an extraordinary docu- 
 ment. It is remarkable for the series of misfortunes 
 which befell its hero, and as a record of malignant spite 
 and savage brutality on the part of the British, is almost 
 unparalleled in the annals of history. 
 
 It was originally published in New London in 1188, and 
 was issued in pamphlet form. In the year 1797, a lengthy 
 abstract appeared in the columns of Freneau's "Time Piece," 
 a paper published in the city of ]S T ew York. In July, 1860, 
 the entire production was printed in the " Cape Ann 
 
VI 
 
 INTRODUCTION. 
 
 Gazette," and the demand for copies having far exceeded 
 the edition, it was reproduced in the same paper in the 
 month of October following. We will further state that 
 the present edition has been printed from a certified copy, 
 which through the courtesy of the Massachusetts Historical 
 Society, we were permitted to have made from one of the 
 original tracts now in its possession. 
 
Pill 
 
NARRATIVE 
 
 OF 
 
 Remarkable Occurrences, 
 
 In the Life of 
 
 John Blatchford, 
 
 Of Cape-Ann, Commonwealth of Massachusetts, 
 
 CONTAINING, 
 
 His treatment in Nova- Scotia — the West Indies — Great- 
 Britain — France, and the East-Indies, as a prisoner in 
 the late war. 
 
 Taken from his own mouth. 
 
 NEW LONDON: Printed by T. Green. 
 
 M,DCC,LXXX,VIII. 
 [With the privilege of Copy- Right] 
 
NARRATIVE. 
 
 ( N June, 1777, I shipped myself as 
 cabin-boy on board the Continental 
 ship Hancock, (i) John Manly, 
 Esq. (2) commander, being then in 
 the 15th year of my age, and a 
 few days after sailed on a cruize. 
 Being out some days we fell in with 
 and took the Fox, (1) a British frigate 
 of 28 guns, after an engagement of 
 four glasses. Our captain sent on board 
 the prize as many men as we could spare, 
 and both ships kept company several days, 
 till on the 8th of July we fell in with the British 
 ships Rainbow (*) of 40 guns, and Flora (5) of 32 guns 
 
10 NARRATIVE. 
 
 (who had in company the brig Cabot (o) of 16 guns 
 which had just before been taken by the Milford 
 British frigate) (7) by whom we were both taken (s) 
 and carried into Halifax. 
 
 I was kept prisoner among a number of my 
 countrymen, on board the Rainbow, until we arrived 
 at Halifax, (a) On our arrival there we were taken 
 on shore and confined in a prison which had for- 
 merly been a sugar house. (10) — The large number 
 of prisoners confined in this house (near 300) 
 together with a scanty allowance of provisions, 
 occasioned it to be very sickly. So irksome a situa- 
 tion put us upon meditating an escape — but we 
 could form no plan that was likely to be attended 
 with success, till George Barnard, who had been a 
 midshipman in the Hancock, and who was confined 
 in the same room with myself, concerted a plan to 
 release us, which was to be effected by diging a 
 small passage under ground, to extend to a garden 
 that was behind the prison and without the prison 
 wall, where we might make a breach in the night 
 with safety, and probably all obtain our liberty. — 
 This plan greatly elated our spirits, and we were all 
 anxious to proceed immediately in executing of it. 
 
NARRATIVE. 11 
 
 Our cabins were built one above another, from 
 the floor to the height of a man's head ; and mine 
 being one of those built on the floor, was pitched 
 upon to be taken up : — this being clone, six of us 
 agreed to do the work, whose names were, George 
 Barnard and William Atkins of Boston, (late mid- 
 shipmen in the Hancock), Lemuel Fowle of Cape- 
 Ann, Isaiah Churchill of Plimouth, Asa Cole of 
 Weathersfield, and myself. "We took up the cabin 
 and cut a hole in the plank underneath. 
 
 The sugar-house stood upon a foundation of stone 
 which raised the floor four feet above the ground, 
 and gave us sufficient room to work and to convey 
 away the dirt that we dug up. 
 
 The instruments which we had to work with were 
 one scraper, one long spike, and some sharp sticks ; 
 with these we proceeded in our difficult undertaking. 
 As the hole was too small to admit of more than one 
 person to work at a time, we dug by turns ten or 
 twelve days, and carried the dirt in our bosoms to 
 another end of the cellar ; by this time we supposed 
 we had dug far enough, and word was given out 
 among the prisoners to prepare themselves for flight. 
 But while we were in the midst of gaiety, congratu- 
 
12 NARRATIVE. 
 
 lating each other upon our happy prospects, we 
 were basely betrayed by one of our own country- 
 men whose name was Knowles : he had been a 
 midshipman on board the Boston frigate, (n) and 
 was put on board the Fox when she was taken by 
 the Hancock and Boston. — What could have induced 
 him to commit so vile an action cannot be con- 
 ceived, as no advantage could accrue to him from 
 our detection, and death was the certain conse- 
 quence to many of his miserable countrymen — that 
 it was so, is all I can say. A few hours before we 
 were to have attempted our escape, Knowles 
 informed the sergeant of the guard (Mr. Bible) of 
 our design ; and by his treachery lost his country 
 the lives of more than a hundred valuable citizens — 
 fathers and husbands — whose return would have 
 rejoiced the hearts of now weeping fatherless chil- 
 dren, and called forth tears of joy from wives, now 
 helpless and disconsolate widows — When we were 
 discovered, the whole guard was ordered into the 
 room ; and being informed by Knowles who it was 
 that performed the work, we were all six confined 
 in irons — the hole was filled up, and a centinel con- 
 stantly placed in the room, to prevent any further 
 
 
NARRATIVE. 13 
 
 attempt. — We were all kept in close confinement 
 till two of my fellow-sufferers Barnard and Cole, 
 died ; one of which was put into the ground with 
 his irons on his hands. (12) I was afterwards per- 
 mitted to walk the yard. But as my irons were too 
 small and caused my hands to swell, and made 
 them very sore, I asked the sergeant to take them 
 off and give me larger ones, — he being a person of 
 humanity, and compassionating my sufferings, 
 changed my irons for others that were larger, and 
 more easy to my hands. 
 
 Knowles, who was likewise permitted to walk the 
 yard, for his perfidy, would take every opportunity 
 to insult and mortify me, by asking me whether I 
 wanted to run away again ? and when I was going 
 home, &c? — His daily affronts, together with his 
 conduct in betraying of his countrymen, so exas- 
 perated me, that I wished for nothing more than for 
 an opportunity to convince him that I did not love 
 him. — One day as he was tantalizing over me as 
 usual, I suddenly drew one hand out of my irons, 
 flew at him and struck him in the face, knocked out 
 two or three of his teeth, and bruised his mouth 
 very much. He cried out, that the prisoner had 
 
14 NARRATIVE. 
 
 got loose, — but before any assistance came, I had 
 put my hand again into the hand-cuff, and was 
 walking about the yard as usual. "When the guard 
 came, they demanded of me in what manner I 
 struck him ? I told them with both my hands. 
 
 They then tried to pull my hands out, but could 
 not, and concluded it must be as I had said ; — some 
 laughed and some were angry — but in the end I 
 was ordered again into prison. The next day I was 
 sent on board the Greyhound frigate, («) capt. Dick- 
 son, (11) bound on a cruize in Boston-bay. After 
 being out a few days, we met with a severe gale of 
 wind, in which we sprung our main-mast and 
 received considerable other damage. We were 
 then obliged to bear away for the West-Indies, and 
 on our passage fell in with and took a brig from 
 Norwich, laden with stock, &c. The captain and 
 hands were put on board a Danish vessel the same 
 day. We carried the brig into Antigua,* where we 
 immediately repaired, and were ordered in company 
 with the Vulture sloop of war (is) to convoy a fleet 
 of merchantmen to New- York. We left the fleet 
 off Sandy-Hook, and sailed for Philadelphia, where 
 * One of the "West India islands, Leeward Group. 
 
NARRATIVE. 15 
 
 we lay till we were made a packet and ordered for 
 Halifax with dispatches. "We had a quick passage, 
 and arrived safe. "While we lay in the road, 
 admiral Byron (10) arrived* in the Princess Royal (n) 
 from England, who being short of men, and we hav- 
 ing a surplusage for a packet, many of our men 
 were ordered on board the Princess-Royal, and 
 among them most of our boat's crew. 
 
 Soon after, some of the officers going on shore, I 
 was ordered into the boat. — We landed at the 
 Governor's-slip — it being then near night. This 
 was the first' time since I had been on board the 
 Greyhound that I had had an opportunity to escape 
 from her, as they were before this particularly care- 
 ful of me ; therefore I was determined to get away 
 then if possible, and to effect it I waded round a 
 wharf and went up a by-way, (fearing I should 
 meet the officers) : I soon got into the street and 
 made the best of my way towards Irishtown,f where 
 I expected to be safe ; — but unfortunately while 
 running, I was met and stopped by an emissary, 
 
 * Admiral Byron arrived at Halifax, August 26, 1778. 
 t The southern suburbs of Halifax, chiefly inhabited by the 
 Trish population. 
 
16 NARRATIVE. 
 
 who demanded of me my business, and where I was 
 going ? I endeavoured to deceive him, that he 
 might let me pass ; but it was in vain — he ordered 
 me to follow him : — 
 
 I offered him what money I had (about £ sterl.) 
 to let me go — this too was ineffectual. I then told 
 him I was an American and making my escape 
 from a long confinement, and was determin'd to 
 pass, and took up a stone. He immediately drew 
 his bayonet* and ordered me to go back with 
 him. — 1 refused, and told him to keep his distance. — 
 He then run upon me, and pushing his 'bayonet into 
 my side, it came out near my navel ; but the wound 
 was not very deep ; — he then made a second pass, 
 and stabbed me through my arm : he was about to 
 stab me a third time, when I struck him with the 
 stone and knocked him down. I then run, but the 
 guard which had been alarmed, immediately took 
 me, and carried me before the governor (Hughes) (i*) 
 where I understood the man was dead. I was 
 
 * Bayonets were invented at Bayonne, in France, 1670, and 
 received their name from the town where they were invented. 
 They were first used hy the English, Sept. 24, 1093, and super- 
 seded the pike completely under William III. 
 
NARRATIVE. IT 
 
 threatened with every kind of death, and ordered 
 out of the governor's presence. 
 
 Whilst in confinement I was informed by a young 
 gentleman (who was to be sent to England and 
 tried for killing a man in a duel) that it was not in 
 the power of the Governor to try me ; but that I 
 should be sent to England ; which I found to be 
 true. The next day I was sent on board the Grey- 
 hound, the ship I had run from, and we sailed for 
 England. Our captain being a humane man, 
 ordered my irons off, a few days after we sailed, and 
 permitted me to do duty as formerly. Being out 
 thirteen days we spoke the Hazard (is) sloop of war, 
 who inform'd that the French fleet was then cruising 
 in the English channel : (20) — for this reason we put 
 into Cork, and the dispatches were forwarded to 
 England. — While we lay in the Cove of Cork,* I 
 jumped overboard, with intention of getting away ; 
 but unfortunately I was discovered and fired at by 
 the marines : the boat was immediately sent after 
 
 * A seaport town in Ireland, now called Queenstown — so 
 named by the sycophantic inhabitants of the place, in honor of 
 the Queen's visit there in 1849. The old classic name was 
 infinitely preferable. 
 
18 NARRATIVE. 
 
 me, took me up and carried me on board again. 
 At this time almost all the officers were on shore, 
 and the ship was left in charge of the sailing-master, 
 one Drummond, who beat me most cruelly ; — to get 
 out of his way I run forward — he followed me, and 
 as I was running back he came up with me and 
 threw me down the mainhold.* The fall, together 
 with the beating, was so severe that I was deprived 
 of my senses for a considerable time ; when I 
 recovered them I found myself in the carpenter's 
 birth, placed upon some old canvass, between two 
 chests, having my right thigh, leg and arm broken, 
 and several parts of my body severely bruised. 
 In this situation I lay eighteen days, till our 
 officers, (who had been on business to Dublin) 
 came on board. The captain enquired for the 
 prisoner, and being informed of my situation, came 
 down with the doctor to set my bones, but find- 
 ing them callussed they concluded not to meddle 
 with me. 
 
 The ship lay at Cork till the French fleet left the 
 
 * That part of a ship just before the main mast, and which 
 generally contained the fresh water and beer for the use of the 
 ship's company. 
 
NARRATIVE. • 19 
 
 channel, and then sailed for Spithead.* — On onr 
 arrival there I was sent in irons on board the Prin- 
 cess-Amelia, (21) and the next clay was carried on 
 board the Britannia (") in Portsmouth f harbour, to 
 be tried before Sir Thomas Pye, (23) lord high 
 admiral of England, and president of the court- 
 martial. 
 
 Before the officers had collected, I was put under 
 the care of a centinel ; and the seamen and women 
 who came on board compassionated my sufferings, 
 
 which rather heightened than diminished my dis- 
 tress. I was sitting under the awning, almost over- 
 powered by the reflection of my unhappy situation, 
 every moment expecting to be summoned for my 
 trial, when I heard somebody enquiring for the 
 prisoner — supposing it to be an officer, I rose up 
 and answered, that I was there. The gentleman 
 came to me, told me to be of good chear, and taking 
 out a bottle of cordial bid me drink, which I did : — 
 
 * A celebrated roadstead off the southern coast of England, 
 one of the principal rendezvous of the British navy, so secure 
 from all winds except the S. E., as to have been termed by 
 sailors " the king's bed-chamber." 
 
 t A fortified seaport town, and the principal naval station 
 of England. 
 
20 • NARRATIVE. 
 
 he then enquired where I belonged — 1 informed 
 him — he asked me if I had parents living, and if I 
 had any friends in England ? — I answered I had 
 neither : he then assured me he was my friend, and 
 would render me all the assistance in his power. — 
 He then enquired of me every circumstance relative 
 to my fray with the man at Halifax, for whose 
 death I was now to be tried ; — and instructed me 
 what to say on my trial, — told me if it was asked in 
 court " if I had any friend or attorney to speak for 
 me," to look at such a corner of the state-room, 
 where I should see him, and to answer the court 
 " Yes, Mr. Thomas," for that was the gentleman's 
 name. All this was spoken in so friendly a manner, 
 that I could not distrust him, although what he had 
 instructed me to say, appeared to me, would be 
 against myself. 
 
 The court having assembled, I was called in and 
 examined partly, and on being asked " If I had any 
 friend to speak in my behalf," I looked round, and 
 saw Mr. Thomas, and answered, "Yes, Mr. Thomas," 
 who then came forward. — The court asked him what 
 he had to say in behalf of the prisoner ? — On which 
 he desired them to question the prisoner, and if he 
 
NARRATIVE. 21 
 
 could not answer sufficiently, he would speak for 
 him. I was then asked if I meant to kill the man. 
 I answered as instructed (tho' loth) that I did. 
 The court seemed surpriz'd and asked me the 
 question again, and I again answered, Yes. I was 
 then asked if I should have hurt the man had he 
 not molested me ? I replied, No. — I was then 
 asked many other questions, and if I was not sorry 
 I had undertaken in the rebellion against my 
 king? — Mr. Thomas then spoke, and said it was 
 hardly fair to ask me such a question upon this 
 occasion ; and that considering my youth, I had 
 given as fair an account of myself as could be 
 expected. — He spoke a considerable time on the 
 subject, and concluded with comparing our combat 
 to a field battle between two armies — expatiated 
 largely and explained the subject so clearly that 
 no answer was made to his arguments. — I was 
 ordered to withdraw, and waited with painful 
 impatience to know my destiny. — This was re- 
 peated two or three times, till at last I was called 
 in and acquitted of the murder, and was informed 
 that I was to be sent back to Halifax, to be 
 exchanged as a prisoner of war. I cannot express 
 
22 NARRATIVE. 
 
 my feelings on this occasion, and no one can 
 know them, but by experiencing the same reverse 
 of fortune. 
 
 I immediately found my benefactor and returned 
 him thanks, with gratitude for his friendly and 
 benevolent assistance. Mr. Thomas then asked the 
 liberty of taking me on shore with him, engaging 
 to return me the next day — and liberty was granted 
 him. — He told a young lad, his son, to walk with 
 me about Portsmouth, and shew me the town, and 
 then to carry me home to his house ; which he did. 
 In the evening Mr. Thomas came into the kitchin 
 and asked me to walk into the parlour, to satisfy 
 the curiosity of some ladies, who had never seen a 
 Yankee, as they called me : I went in, and they 
 seemed greatly surprized to see me look like an 
 Englishman ; they said they were sure I was no 
 Yankee, but like themselves. The idea they had 
 formed of the Americans was nearly the same as we 
 have of the natives of this country. "When the 
 ladies had satisfied their curiosity, Mr. Thomas put 
 a guinea into his hat, and carrying it round asked 
 the ladies to contribute for the poor Yankee : he 
 then gave me the money, (about four guineas.) 
 
NARRATIVE. 23 
 
 The next morning I was sent on board the 
 Princess- Amelia, where I spent a joyful day ; 
 expecting soon to be sent on board the Greyhound, 
 which was bound to Halifax. 
 
 In the evening I heard a boat coming along-side, 
 and supposing it to belong to the Greyhound, (as 
 the people in the boat enquired for me) — I made 
 haste and jumped into the boat ; but to my extreme 
 disappointment and grief, I was carried on board 
 an Indiaman, and immediately put down into the 
 run,* where I was confined seven days. I begged 
 that I might send word on shore to my former 
 benefactor, and inform him of my situation, but 
 they would not grant it. On the seventh day, 
 I heard the boatswain pipe all hands, and about 
 noon I was called up on deck, when I found 
 myself on board the Princess-Eoyal (24) indiaman, 
 captain Robert Kerr ; — we were then off the 
 Isle of Wight, bound to the East-Indies, in com- 
 pany with six others, viz. the Ceres, Hawke, 
 Prince, Sandwich, Walpole and True-Briton, all 
 
 * The run of a sliip is that part of her hull under water 
 which conies narrower by degrees from the floor timbers 
 to the sternposts. 
 
24 NARRATIVE. 
 
 large ships, (as) belonging to the East-India com- 
 pany. («) 
 
 Our captain told me, if I behaved well and did 
 my duty, I should receive as good usage as any man 
 on board : — this gave me great encouragement. I 
 now found my destiny was fixed — that whatever I 
 could do, would not in the least alter my situation, 
 and therefore was determined to do the best I could, 
 and make myself as contented as my unfortunate 
 situation would admit. 
 
 After being on board several days, I found there 
 were in the Princess-Royal, eighty-two Americans, 
 all destined to the East-Indies, for being what they 
 called Rebels. (27) 
 
 We had a passage of seventeen weeks to St. 
 Helena, where we put in and landed part of our 
 cargo, (which consisted wholly of provisions), and 
 some of the soldiers who were brought out for that 
 island. The ship lay here about three weeks ; we 
 then sailed for Batavia* — and on the passage 
 touched at the Cape of Good-Iiope,f where we 
 
 * Capital and seaport town of the island of Java. 
 t The Cape of Good Hope was first discovered by Bartholo- 
 mew Diaz, 1486 — first doubled by Vasco de Gama, 1497 — 
 
NARRATIVE. 25 
 
 found the whole of the fleet that sailed with us from 
 England — we took in some provisions and neces- 
 saries and set sail for Batavia, where we arrived in 
 ten weeks. Here we purchased a large quantity of 
 arrack and remained a considerable time. 
 
 We then sailed for Bencoolen, * in the island of 
 Snmatria, and after a passage of about six weeks 
 arrived there, (this was in June 1780). At this 
 place the Americans were all carried on shore ; and 
 I found that I was no longer to remain on board the 
 ship, but condemned to serve as a soldier for five 
 years. — 1 offered to bind myself to the captain for 
 five years, or any longer term, if I might serve on 
 board the ship : — he told me it was impossible for 
 me to be released from acting as a soldier, unless I 
 could pay fifty pounds sterling. As I was unable 
 to do this, I was obliged to go through the manual 
 exercise with the other prisoners ; among whom 
 was William Randall of Boston, and Josiah Folgier 
 of Nantucket, both young men, and one of them an 
 
 planted by Holland, 1651— taken by the British, 1795— again 
 in 1806, and definitely ceded to Great Britain, 1814. 
 
 I Bencouloo, corruptly called Bencoolen, is on the S. W. 
 coast of the island of Sumatra. The chief trade is pepper. 
 
26 NARRATIVE. 
 
 old ship-mate of mine ; — these two and myself 
 agreed to behave as ignorant and aukward as pos- 
 sible ; and what motions we learned one day we 
 were to forget the next. — We pursued this conduct 
 near a fortnight, and were beaten every clay by the 
 drill-sergeant, who exercised us ; and when he found 
 we were determined in our obstinacy, and that it 
 was not possible for him to learn us anything, we 
 were all three sent .into the pepper gardens belong- 
 ing to the East-India company, and continued 
 picking peppers from morning till night, and 
 allowed but two scanty meals a day ; — this, together 
 with the amazing heat of the sun, (the island lying 
 under the equator) was too much for an American 
 constitution, unused to a hot climate, and we 
 expected that we should soon end our misery and 
 our lives ; — but Providence still preserved us for 
 greater hardships.* 
 
 * Sumatria is an island of the Indian ocean, situated between 
 93 and 104 degrees of East longitude, and between 5 degrees 
 and 30 minutes North and 5 degrees and 30 minutes South 
 latitude ; extending from N. W. to S. E. 900 miles long, and 
 from 100 to 150 broad, separated from the continent of the 
 Further India by the straits of Malacca on the N. E. and from 
 the island of Java by the straits of Sunda on the S. E. This 
 
NARRATIVE. 27 
 
 The Americans died daily with heat and hard fare, 
 which determined my two companions and myself 
 in an endeavour to make our escape. — We had been 
 in the pepper gardens four months when an oppor- 
 tunity offered, and we resolved upon trying our 
 fortune ; — Folgier, Randall and myself sat out with 
 an intention of reaching Croy, (a small harbour 
 where the Dutch often touch at to water) on the 
 opposite side of the island. — Folgier had by some 
 means got a bayonet, which lie fixed on the end of 
 a stick — Randall and myself had nothing but staves, 
 which were all the weapons we carried with us. 
 We provided ourselves with fire- works* for our 
 journey, which w T e pursued unmolested till the 
 fourth clay j list at night, when we heard a rustling 
 in the bushes and discovered nine seapoys, (country- 
 born soldiers in the British service) who suddenly 
 rushed out upon us. 
 
 Folgier being the most resolute of us, run at one 
 
 island lying under the equator, and the low grounds near the 
 sea-coast heing flooded one-half of the year, is very unhealth- 
 ful. The natives build most of their houses upon pillars, to 
 secure them against the annual inundations. 
 
 (This note was in the original edition. — Ed.) 
 
 * Tinder box and accompaniments for striking fire. 
 
28 NARRATIVE. 
 
 of them and pushed his bayonet through his body 
 into a tree ; Randall knocked down another ; — but 
 they overpowered us, bound us, and carried us back 
 to the fort, which we reached in one day and half, 
 though we had been four days travelling from it, 
 owing to the circle we made by going round the 
 shore ; and thej 7 came across the woods, being 
 acquainted with the way. Immediately on our 
 arrival at the fort the governor* called a court- 
 martial, to have us tried. — We were soon all con- 
 demned to be shot the next morning at seven 
 o'clock, and ordered to be sent into the dungeon 
 and confined in irons, where we were attended by 
 an adjutant who brought a priest with him to pray 
 and converse with us ; — but Folgier, who hated the 
 name and sight of an Englishman, desired that we 
 might be left alone, and not be troubled with any 
 company : — the clergyman reprimanded him, and 
 told him he made very light of his situation, on 
 supposition that he would be reprieved ; but if he 
 expected it he deceived himself: — Folgier still per- 
 sisted in the clergyman's leaving of us, if he would 
 
 * The governor of Fort Marlborough at this time was 
 William Broff, Esq. He held the position from 1772 to 1783. 
 
NARRATIVE. 29 
 
 have us make our peace with God ; for, said he, the 
 sight of Englishmen, from whom we have received 
 such treatment, is more disagreeable than the evil 
 spirits of whom you have spoken : — that if he could 
 have his choice, he would choose death in preference 
 to life, if he must have it on conditions of such bar- 
 barous usage as he had received from their hands ; 
 and that the thoughts of death did not seem so 
 hideous to him as his past sufferings. lie visited 
 us again about midnight, but finding his company 
 was not acceptable, he soon left us to our own 
 melancholy reflections. 
 
 Before sun-rise we heard the drums beat, and 
 soon after heard the direful noise of the door grating 
 on its iron hinges — we were all taken out, our irons 
 taken off, and we conducted by a strong guard of 
 soldiers to the parade, surrounded by a circle of 
 armed men, and led into the midst of them, where 
 three white coffins were placed by our side : — silence 
 was then commanded, and the adjutant taking a 
 paper out of his pocket read our sentence : — and 
 now I cannot describe my feelings upon this occa- 
 sion, nor can it be felt > by any one but those who 
 have experienced some remarkable deliverance from 
 
30 NARRATIVE. 
 
 the grim hand of death, when surrounded on all 
 sides, and nothing but death expected from every 
 quarter, and by Divine Providence there is some 
 way found out for escape — so it seemed to me when 
 the adjutant pulled out another paper from his 
 pocket and read, " that the governor and council, 
 in consideration of the youth of Randall and myself, 
 (supposing us to be led on by Folgier, who was the 
 eldest) thought fit to pardon us from death, and 
 that instead we were to receive eight hundred lashes 
 each ;" — although this last sentence appeared terrible 
 to me, yet in comparison with death, it seemed to 
 be light. — Poor Folgier was shot in our presence — 
 previous to which we were told we might go and 
 converse with him — Randall went and talked with 
 him first, and after him I went up to take my leave, 
 but my feelings were such at the time that I had 
 not power to utter a single word to my departing 
 friend, who seemed as undaunted and seemingly as 
 willing to die as I was willing to be released — and 
 told me not to forget the promises we had formerly 
 made each other, which was, to embrace the first 
 opportunity to escape : — we parted, and he was 
 immediately after shot dead. We were next taken 
 
NARRATIVE. 31 
 
 and tied ; and the adjutant brought a small whip 
 made of cotton, which consisted of a number of 
 strands and knotted at the ends ; but these knots 
 were all cut off by the adjutant before the drummer 
 took it, which made it not worse than to have been 
 whipt with cotton yarn. After being whipped 800 
 lashes we were sent to the company hospital, where 
 we had been about three weeks, when Randall told 
 me he intended very soon to make his escape : — 
 this somewhat surprized me, as I had lost all hopes of 
 regaining my liberty, and supposed he had : — I told 
 him I had hoped he would never mention it again ; 
 but however, if that was his design I would accom- 
 pany him. He advised me, (if I was fearful) to 
 tarry behind ; — but finding he was determined on 
 going, I resolved to run the risque once more ; and 
 as we were then in the hospital we were not 
 suspected of such a design. 
 
 Having provided ourselves with fire-works and 
 knives, about the first of December 1780, we sat 
 out, with intention of reaching the Dutch settlement 
 of Croy, which is but about two or three hundred 
 miles distance upon a direct line, but as we were 
 obliged to travel along the sea coast, (fearing to 
 
32 XAKKATIVE. 
 
 risque the nearest way) it was a journey of eight 
 hundred miles. We took each a stick and hung 
 round our neck, and every day cut a notch, which 
 was the method we took to keep time. — In this 
 manner we travelled, living on fruit, turtle-eggs 
 and some turtle, which we cooked every night with 
 the fire we built to sleep by to secure us from wild 
 beasts — they being here in great plenty, such as 
 buffaloes, tigers, jackanapes, leopards, lions, baboons 
 and monkies. On the 30th day of our travelling 
 we met with nothing we could eat, and found no 
 water — at night we found some fruit which appeared 
 to the eye to be very delicious, (different from any 
 we had seen in our travel) it resembled a fruit 
 which grows in the "West-Indies, called a Jack, (2*) 
 about the size of an orange : — we being very dry 
 and hungry immediately gathered some of this 
 fruit — but finding it of a sweet sickish taste I eat 
 but two--Eandall eat freely:— in the evening we 
 found we were poisoned : I was sick and puked 
 considerably: — Randall was sick and began to swell 
 all round his body ; he grew worse all night, but 
 continued to have his senses till the next day, when 
 he died, and left me to mourn my greater wretched- 
 
 
NARRATIVE. 33 
 
 ness. — more than 400 miles from any settlement — 
 no companion — the wide ocean on one side and a 
 prowling wilderness on the other — liable to many 
 hinds of deaths, more terrible than being shot. I 
 laid down by Randall's body, wishing if possible 
 that he might return and tell me what course to 
 take. — My thoughts almost distracted me, so that I 
 was unable to do anything til] the next day; during 
 all which time I continued by the side of Randall — 
 I then got up and made a hole in the sand and 
 buried him. 
 
 I now continued my jonrney as well as my weak 
 state of body would permit ; — the weather being at 
 this time extreme hot and rainy. — I frequently lay 
 down and would wish that I might never rise 
 again : — despair had almost wholly possessed me ; 
 and sometimes in a kind of delirium would fancy I 
 heard my mother's voice, and my friends calling 
 me, and I would answer them : — at other times my 
 wild imagination would paint to my view scenes 
 which I was well acquainted with, then supposing 
 myself near home I would run as fast as my 
 feeble legs could carry me : — frequently I fancied 
 that I heard dogs bark, men cutting wood, and 
 
34 NARRATIVE. 
 
 every noise which I have heard in my native 
 country. 
 
 One day as I was travelling, a small dog, as I 
 thought it to be, came fawning round me and 
 followed me, but I soon discovered it to be a young 
 lion ; — I supposed that its dam must be nigh, and 
 therefore run ; it followed me sometime and then 
 left me ; I proceeded on, but had not got far from 
 it before it began to cry ; I looked round and saw a 
 lioness making towards it — she yelled most fright- 
 fully, which greatly terrified me ; but she laid down 
 something from her mouth for her young one, and 
 then with another yell turned and went off from me. 
 
 Some days after, I was travelling by the edge of a 
 woods, (which from its appearance had felt severely 
 the effects of a tornado or hurricane, the trees being 
 all torn up by the roots) and I heard a cracking 
 noise in the bushes — looking about I saw a mon- 
 strous large tiger making slowly towards me, which 
 frightened me exceedingly ; when he had approached 
 within a few rods of me, in my surprize I suddenly 
 lifted up my hands and hollowed very loud : this 
 sudden noise frightened him, seemingly as much as 
 I had been, and he immediately turned and run 
 
NARRATIVE. 35 
 
 into the woods, and I saw him no more. After this 
 I continued travelling on without molestation, only 
 from the monkies, who were here so plenty that 
 oftentimes I saw them in large droves : sometimes I 
 run from them as if afraid of them ; they would then 
 follow, grin and chatter at me, and. when they got 
 near I would turn, and they would run back into the 
 woods, and climb the trees to get out of my way. 
 
 It was now fifteen weeks since I had left the hos- 
 pital — I had travelled most all the day without any 
 water, and began to be very thirsty, when I heard 
 the sound of running water, as it were down a fall 
 of rocks — I had heard it a considerable time, and at 
 last began to suspect it was nothing but imaginary, 
 as many other noises I had before thought to have 
 heard. I however went on as fast as I could, and 
 at length discovered a brook — on approaching of it 
 I was not a little surprized and rejoiced at the 
 sight of a Female Indian, who was fishing at the 
 brook : — she had no other dress on than that which 
 mother nature affords impartially to all her children, 
 except a small cloth which she wore round her 
 waist, — I knew not how to address myself to her : — 
 I was afraid if I spoke she would run— and there- 
 
36 NARRATIVE. 
 
 fore I made a small noise ; upon which she looked 
 round and, seeing me, run across the brook, seem- 
 ingly much frightened, leaving her fishing-line. I 
 went up to her basket which contained five or six 
 fish that looked much like our trout. I took up the 
 basket and attempted to wade across where she had 
 passed, but was too weak to wade across in that 
 place, and went further up the stream, where I 
 passed over — and then looking for the indian woman 
 I saw her at some distance behind a large cocoa-nut 
 tree : — I walked towards her, but dare not keep my 
 eyes steadily upon her lest she should run from me 
 as she did before. — I called to her in English ; and 
 she answered in her own tongue, which I could not 
 understand. I then called to her in the Malays, 
 which I understood a little of: — she answ r ered me 
 in a kind of surprize, and asked me in the name of 
 Oerum Footee (the name of their god) from whence 
 I came, and where I was going? — I answered her 
 as well as I could in the Melais, that I was from 
 Fort Marlborough,* and going to Croy — that I was 
 
 * A Factory which belonged to the British East India Co. on 
 the western coast of the Island of Sumatra, 3 miles east of 
 Benooolen. 
 
NARRATIVE. 37 
 
 making my escape from the English, by whom 1 
 had been taken in war. — She told me that she had 
 been taken by the Malays some years before — for 
 that the two nations were always at war ; and that 
 she had been kept as a slave among them three 
 years, and was then retaken by her countrymen. 
 Whilst we were talking together she appeared to be 
 very shy, and I durst not go nearer than a rod 
 to her, lest she should run from me. She said that 
 Croy, the place I was bound to, was about three 
 miles distance — that if I would follow her she 
 would conduct me to her countrymen who were but 
 a small distance off. — I begged her to plead with her 
 countrymen to spare my life, — she said she would, 
 and assured me that if I behaved well I should not 
 be hurt. She then conducted me to a small village, 
 consisting of huts or wigwams. When we arrived 
 at the village, the children that saw me were 
 frightened and run away from me — and the women 
 expressed a great deal of fear, and kept at a dis- 
 tance — but my guide called to them and told them 
 not to be afraid, for that I was not come to hurt 
 them, and then informed them from whence I came, 
 and that I was going to Croy. 
 
38 NAKKATIVE. 
 
 I told my guide that I was very hungry — and she 
 sent the children for something for me to eat ; — they 
 came and brought me little round balls of boiled 
 rice ; and they not daring to come nigh, threw them 
 to me — these I picked up and eat ; afterwards a 
 woman brought some rice and goats milk in a copper 
 bason, and setting it on the ground, made signs for 
 me to take it up and eat it, which I did, and then 
 put the bason down again ; they then poked away 
 the bason with a stick, battered it with stones, and 
 making a hole in the ground buried it. After that 
 they conducted me to a small hut, and told me to 
 tarry there till the morning, when they would con- 
 duct me to the harbour. I had but little sleep that 
 night, and was up several times to look out, and saw 
 two or three indians at a little distance from the 
 hut, who I suppose were placed there to watch me. 
 Early in the morning numbers came round the hut, 
 and the female who was my guide, asked me where 
 my country was % I could not make her under- 
 stand, only that it was at a great distance. She 
 then asked me if my countrymen eat men. I told 
 her no — and seeing some goats, pointed at them and 
 told her we eat such as them. — She then asked me 
 
NARRATIVE. 39 
 
 what made me white, and if it was not the white 
 rain that come upon us when we were small ? (How 
 they came by this notion I know not, but suppose 
 that while she was over with the Malays she had 
 heard something of snow from them, as they carry 
 on some trade with the English at Fort Marlboro' 
 and Bencoolen.) And as I wished to please and 
 satisfy them, I told them that I supposed it was — 
 for it was only in certain seasons of the year that it 
 fell, and in hot weather when it did not fall the 
 people grew darker till it returned and then the 
 people all grew white again — this seemed to please 
 them very much. 
 
 My protectress now brought a young man to me 
 who, she said, was her brother, and who would shew 
 me the way to the harbour ; — she then cut a stick 
 about eight feet long, and he took hold of one end 
 and gave me the other — she told me that she had 
 instructed her brother what to say at the harbour. 
 He then led off and I followed. During our walk I 
 put out my hand to him several times, and made 
 signs of friendship — but he seemed to be afraid 
 of me, and would look upwards and then fall flat on 
 the ground and kiss it — this he repeated as often as 
 
40 NARRATIVE. 
 
 I made any sign or token of friendship to him.— 
 When Ave had got near the harbour he made a sign 
 for me to sit down upon a rock, which I did ; he 
 then left me and went, as I supposed, to talk with 
 the people at the water concerning me ; but I had 
 not sit long before I saw a vessel coming round a 
 point into the harbour.— They soon came on shore 
 in the boat. — I went down to them and made my 
 case known, and when the boat returned on board 
 they took me with them. It was a Dutch snow* 
 bound from China to Batavia ; after they had 
 wooded and watered they set sail for Batavia : — 
 being out about three weeks we arrived there : — I 
 tarried on board her about three weeks longer, and ' 
 then got on board a Spanish ship which was from 
 Bio de la Plate bound to Spain, but by stress of 
 weather was forced to put into this port. After the 
 vessel had repaired we sailed for Spain. When we 
 made the Cape of Good-Hope we fell in with two 
 British cruizers of 2D guns each, who engaged us 
 and did the vessel considerable damage, but at 
 
 * A vessel with two masts resembling the main and fore- 
 masts of a ship, and a third small mast just abaft the mainmast, 
 carrying a sail similar to a ship's mizzen. 
 
NARRATIVE. 41 
 
 length we beat them off, and then run for the coast 
 of Brazils, where we arrived safe and began to work 
 at repairing our ship, but upon examination she was 
 found to be not fit to proceed on her voyage, she 
 was therefore condemned. I then left her and got 
 on board a Portuguese snow, bound up to St. Helena, 
 and we arrived safe at that place. I then went on 
 shore and quitted her, and engaged in the garrison 
 there to do duty as a soldier for my provisions, till 
 some ship should arrive there bound to England. 
 After serving here a month, I entered on board 
 a ship called the Stormont^s) — but orders were soon 
 after received that no indiaman should sail without 
 convoy ; and we lay here six months, during which 
 time our captain (Montgomery) died. 
 
 While I was at St. Helena, the vessel which I 
 came out from England in arrived here, homeward 
 bound ; she being on the return from her second 
 voyage since I came from England : — and now I 
 made known my case to Captain Kerr, who readily 
 took me on board the Princess-Royal, and used me 
 kindly — and those of my old shipmates on board 
 were glad to see me again. Captain Kerr at first 
 seeing me, asked me if I was not afraid to let him 
 
42 NAEKATIVE. 
 
 know who I was ? and endeavoured to frighten me ; 
 yet his conduct towards me was humane and kind. — 
 It had been very sickly on board the Princess- 
 Royal, and the greater part of the hands which came 
 out of England in her had died, and she was now 
 manned chiefly with lascars, (country born people) : 
 among those who had died was the boatswain and 
 the boatswain's mate, and Captain Kerr made me 
 boatswain of the ship — in which office I continued 
 until we arrived in London — and it protected me 
 from being impressed at our arrival in England. 
 
 We sailed from St. Helena about the first of 
 November, 1781, under convoy of the Experiment 
 of 50 guns,* commanded by Captain Henry, and 
 the Shark sloop of war of 18 guns (a — and we 
 arrived in London about the first of March, 1782, — 
 it having been about two years and a half from the 
 time I had left it. 
 
 In about a fortnight after our arrival in London, 
 
 * There is a mistake here. The Experiment of 50 guns was 
 taken hy the French, Sept. 24, 1779, when under the command 
 of Sir James Wallace. Her successor, a 44 gun-ship, was not 
 launched until 1784. The ship the writer alludes to was the 
 Eenown, of 50 guns, Oapt. John Henry. For account of her 
 see note (so). 
 
NARRATIVE. , 43 
 
 I entered on board the King-George, (32) store-ship 
 bound to Antigua, and after four weeks passage 
 arrived there — the second night after we came to 
 anchor in Antigua, I took the ship's boat and made 
 my escape in her to Montserrat,* which place had 
 but just before been taken by the French. — Here I 
 did not meet with the treatment which I expected ; 
 for on my arrival at Montserrat I was immediately 
 taken up and put in prison, where I continued 
 24 hours, and my boat taken from me ; — I was then 
 sent to Guadaloupe,f and examined by the gover- 
 nor. — I made known my case to him, by acquainting 
 him with the misfortunes I had gone through in my 
 captivity and in making my escape — he seemed to 
 commiserate me — gave me ten dollars for the boat 
 that I escaped in, and provided a passage for me on 
 board a French brigantine :{: that was bound from 
 
 * The Isle of Montserrat in the West Indies, was discovered 
 by Columbus in 1493, and was planted by England in 1632. 
 It was taken by the French, Feb. 18, 1782, and was restored 
 to England in 1783. 
 
 t One of the West India Islands, Leeward Group. The 
 Governor at this time was Capt. Gen. Thomas Shirley. 
 
 X This was a small, flat, open, light vessel, going both with 
 sails and oars, being intended either for lighting or giving 
 
44 NARRATIVE. 
 
 Guadaloupe to Philadelphia : — the vessel sailed in a 
 few days — and now my prospects were favourable — 
 but my misfortunes were not to end here ; for after 
 being out 21 days, we fell in with the Amphitrite (33) 
 and Amphene, (34) two British cruizers, off the Capes 
 of Delaware, by whom we were taken, carried into 
 New- York, and put on board the Jersey (35) prison- 
 ship — after being on board about a week, a cartel 
 was fitted out for France, and I was sent on board 
 as a French prisoner : — The cartel was ordered for 
 St. Malo's, * and after a passage of 32 days we 
 arrived safe at that place. 
 
 Finding no American vessel at St. Malo's, I went 
 to the commandant and procured a pass to go by 
 land to Port l'Orient ; f on my arrival there I found 
 three American privateers belonging to Beverley,;}: 
 in the Massachusetts. I was much elated at seeing 
 so many of my country, some of whom I was well 
 
 chase. These vessels were first used by pirates. The English 
 brigantine was quite different ; in fact, the term was variously 
 applied by the mariners of different European nations. 
 
 * A seaport town in France. 
 
 t A seaport town in France. 
 
 I Beverly, a post town in Essex Co., Mass. First settled, 
 1626. Population in 1860, 6,154. 
 
NAKRATIVK. 45 
 
 acquainted with. I immediately entered on board 
 the Bucaneer — Captain Phierson : — We sailed on a 
 cruize, and after being out 18 days, we returned to 
 L'Orient with six prizes. — Three days after our 
 arrival in port we heard the joyful news of peace; — 
 on which the privateer was dismantled, the people 
 discharged, and Capt. Phierson sailed on a merchant 
 voyage to Norway. 
 
 I then entered on board a brig bound to Lisbon, 
 (Capt. Ellen wood (s 6 ) of Beverly), and arrived at 
 Lisbon in eight days — we took in a cargo of salt, 
 and sailed for Beverly, where we arrived the 9th 
 of May, 1783, — being now only 15 miles from 
 home. — I immediately set for Cape- Ann, (37) went 
 to my father's (as) house, and had an agreeable 
 meeting with my friends, after an absence of almost 
 six years. 
 
 New-London May 10, 1788. 
 
 JOHN BLATCHFORD( 39 ). 
 
46 NARRATIVE. 
 
 [N\ B. Those who are acquainted with the narrator will 
 not scruple to give full credit to the foregoing account— 
 and others may satisfy themselves by conversing with him. 
 The scars he carries are proof of a part of his narrative — 
 and a gentleman belonging to New-London, who was several 
 months with him, was acquainted with part of his suffer- 
 ings, tho' it was out of his power to relieve him. — He is a 
 poor man, with a wife and two children — His employment 
 fishing and coasting.] 
 
 Boston, Dec. 6, 1864. 
 
 I have carefully compared the foregoing copy (40 pages) 
 with the printed tract in the Library of the Mass. Hist. Society, and 
 hereby certify that it is an accurate transcript of the same. 
 
 J. Appleton, 
 
 AssisVt. LiVn. 
 
NOTES. 
 
 (i) The Hancock was one of the thirteen vessels authorized 
 to he built by resolution of Congress of Dec. 13th, 1775, and 
 was one of the two frigates which, by that resolve, were 
 ordered to be constructed in Massachusetts. She mounted 
 32 twelve-pounder guns, and was built at, or near Boston, in 
 1776. As soon as she was equipped and ready for sea, she 
 was placed under the command of Captain John Manly, and 
 soon after sailed on a cruise. On the 27th day of June, 1777, 
 in company with the frigate Boston, of 24 guns, she took off 
 the coast of New Foundland, the British frigate Fox, of 28 
 guns, after an action of about two hours' duration. On the 8th 
 day of July following, after a chase of more than 30 hours, the 
 Hancock was captured by the Bainbow, of 44 guns, com- 
 manded by Sir George Collier, and taken to Halifax. Capt. 
 Manly is thought to have lost her in consequence of having 
 put her out of trim by starting the water in her fore hold. 
 She was subsequently purchased on behalf of the British gov- 
 ernment, and added to the navy under the name of the Iris. 
 
48 NOTKS. 
 
 On the 7th day of June, 1780, while under the command of 
 Oapt. James Hawker, she encountered off the coast of North 
 America, the French 36-gun frigate Hermoine, M. la Fouche 
 Treville, commander, and after a severe action of one hour 
 and twenty minutes, the latter was compelled to sheer off. On 
 the 16th day of March, 1781, being then under the orders of 
 Capt. George Dawson, the Iris formed one of the squadron 
 under Admiral Arbutlmot in the action off the Chesapeake, 
 with the squadron under M. de Ternay. On the 9th of August 
 following, while cruising off the capes of Delaware, she fell in 
 with the American ship Trumbull, of 28 guns, Capt. James 
 Nicholson. A sharp action commenced, and continued for 
 over an hour with no definite result, when another British 
 frigate came up, whereupon, the Trumbull struck her colors. 
 In this engagement the Trumbull had four men killed and five 
 wounded, and the Iris one killed and six wounded. Previous 
 to the contest the Trumbull had lost her fore-top mast in a 
 gale of wind. She was a valuable prize, having five hundred 
 barrels of fresh Philadelphia flour and bread on board. On 
 the 10th day of September following, the Iris was sent to cut 
 away the French buoys at the anchorage ground near the 
 Chesapeake Bay, when she was intercepted and captured by 
 the French squadron under M. de Barras. She was subse- 
 quently added to the French navy under the same name. 
 During the time she was held by the British, she proved her- 
 self one of the fastest ships on the American station, and cap- 
 tured so many rich prizes, that she is said to have made the 
 
NOTES. 49 
 
 fortunes of all who commanded her. Her place in the British 
 service was supplied hy another frigate, of the same name and 
 force, which was built on the river Thames in 1783. The Iris 
 remained in the possession of the French until the year 1793, 
 when she was blown up at Toulon, as a magazine, by the 
 Spaniards. 
 
 (2) Capt. John Manly was a native of Massachusetts, and 
 was born in the year 1733. After receiving the rudiments of 
 education, he embraced the maritime life, and soon became 
 noted for his energy and professional merit. In 1775 he com- 
 manded the schooner Lee, and in November of that year, took 
 the Nancy, a transport bound to Boston, and laden with 
 valuable munitions of war, of which the colonists were then in 
 great need. While in this command he made other valuable 
 prizes, one of which he captured in sight of the British fleet in 
 Boston harbor. His zeal and enterprise attracted the attention 
 of Congress, and that body, in the following year, appointed 
 him a captain in the navy, and gave him the command of the 
 Hancock, a beautiful frigate of 32 guns, then building in Mas- 
 sachusetts. In this vessel he captured the Fox, June 27th, 
 1777, and in July following this prize was retaken by the 
 Flora of 32 guns, Capt. Brisbane. About the same time, the 
 Hancock struck to the Rainbow, Sir George Collier, after a 
 long chase, and was taken with her crew to Halifax. In a few 
 days after, Capt. Manly was conveyed to New York, where he 
 remained a prisoner until the month of April of the year fol- 
 
50 NOTES. 
 
 lowing. He was then released and returned to Boston, when 
 his conduct was investigated, but the result of the inquiry left 
 him without reproach. Soon after this he was put in com- 
 mand of the Cumberland, a new privateer of 20 guns, and in 
 Jan., 1779, while cruising in her off the southern coast, was 
 taken by the Pomona frigate of 28 guns, Capt. Waldegrave, 
 and carried into Barbadoes, where he and his officers were 
 imprisoned. Finding that their applications for paroles were 
 rejected, they determined to attempt their escape. This they 
 effected by taking possession of a Bermudian sloop, and steer- 
 ing their course for Martinico, where they arrived in safety 
 and sold their vessel. On his return home, Capt. Manly was 
 appointed to the privateer Jason, of 20 guns, which vessel had 
 just before been taken from the British. On the 25th July, 
 1779, while on a cruise in her, he was attacked by two British 
 privateers, one of 18 and the other of 16 guns. Beserving his 
 fire, Capt. Manly ran between the privateers, and poured his 
 starboard broadside into one, and his larboard broadside into 
 the other with great effect, whereupon both his opponents 
 struck their colors. In the month of August following, while 
 cruising off the coast of Nova Scotia, he took a ship of 
 14 guns, and 20 men. In November, after an obstinate 
 engagement of four glasses, Capt. Manly was captured by the 
 Perseus frigate of 20 guns. In this contest the Jason lost 18 
 killed and 12 wounded, and the Perseus 7 killed and 10 
 wounded. Having been exchanged, Capt. Manly was on the 
 11th Sept., 1782, appointed to the frigate Hague, formerly the 
 
 
NOTES. 51 
 
 Dearie, of 32 guns, and sailed for the West Indies. A few days 
 after leaving Martinique, he was descried by a British 74, and 
 to avoid capture, he ran his ship on a sand bank near Guada- 
 loupe. While thus exposed, he is said to have sustained the 
 fire from the enemy's ships for three days with undaunted 
 firmness. On the 4th he got off, when, hoisting his colors at 
 the main-top-gallant-mast, and firing 13 guns in farewell 
 defiance, he made his escape and arrived safely in Boston, 
 where, this exploit having gained him much eclat, he was 
 received with marked attention. Capt. Manly continued in 
 command of the Hague, and his ship was one of the last 
 cruisers at sea in the war. She was frequently chased, and 
 made many narrow escapes. After the peace, Capt. Manly 
 returned to Boston, and retired to private life. He died in 
 that city, Feb. 12, 1793, in the 60th year of his age. 
 
 ( 3 ) The Fox was a British frigate mounting 28 guns, four of 
 which were four-pounders, and the remaining twenty-four long 
 nine-pounders. She was registered as a sixth-rate, and was 
 built on the river Thames in the year 1774. She was placed 
 under the command of Capt. P. Fotheringham, and in 1776 
 formed one of the squadron at New Foundland, under John 
 Montagu, vice-admiral of the white. On the 27th day of June, 
 1777, while on a cruise near the Banks of New Foundland, 
 she fell in with the American frigates Hancock, of 32 guns, 
 and Boston, of 24 guns. An action commenced and continued 
 for about two hours. During the engagement the Fox took 
 
52 NOTES. 
 
 fire in the main chains, where a number of wads had been 
 deposited. Upon this, the Americans ceased firing until the 
 flames were extinguished, when the contest was resumed. 
 The Fox being at length reduced to a wreck, and having sus- 
 tained a severe loss in killed and wounded, Capt. Fotheringham 
 ordered the colors to be hauled down. The Lieut, of Marines, 
 Hon. James J. Napier, was among the wounded. In July 
 following, while the prize was being conveyed by her captors 
 to Boston, the British ship Kainbow hove in sight and gave 
 chase to the Hancock, while the Boston effected her escape. 
 During the chase, the 32-gun frigate Flora came up and 
 recaptured the Fox, and carried her into Halifax. The Fox, 
 after undergoing repairs, was again taken into the British 
 service. She was placed under the orders of Hon. Thomas 
 Windsor, manned with a crew of 200 men, and in 1778, formed 
 one of the fleet of Admiral Keppel, which in July of that 
 year was cruising off Brest in search of the French fleet under 
 Oomte d' Orvilliers. On the 10th of September following, 
 while off the French coast, she was chased by the 34-gun 
 frigate Junon, commanded by Vicomte de Beaumont. The 
 weather being thick and hazy, the Junon was not perceived 
 until close aboard of the Fox, when the latter hove to and 
 awaited the approach of the Frenchman. An action com- 
 menced, and lasted for three hours, when the Fox, being 
 totally dismasted, having several guns disabled, 11 men killed, 
 and Capt. Windsor and 49 of his men wounded, many of them 
 mortally, hauled down her colors. The Junon had a crew of 
 
NOTES. 53 
 
 330 men, and carried six 6-pounders and 28 long twelves. 
 The Fox was succeeded in the British navy by a 32-gun 
 frigate of the same name, of 697 tons burden, built at Bursle- 
 don, in the year 1780. 
 
 Patrick Fotheringham was made lieut. on the 13th day of 
 Dec, 1760, promoted to commander April 1, 1765, and raised 
 to the rank of captain, Sept. 2, 1773. About the year 1772, 
 he was appointed to the sloop Merlin, of 18 guns, in which 
 vessel he seems to have served until 1775, when he was made 
 capt. of the Fox, of 28 guns, and soon after, ordered to North 
 America. Oapt. Fotheringham was tried by court-martial at 
 Portsmouth, March 3, 1778, for the loss of his ship, and he 
 and his officers were honorably acquitted. He was soon after 
 appointed to the Resource, of 28 guns, in which frigate he 
 remained for the usual period. He died in the West Indies in 
 the spring of 1781, while captain of the ship Ruby. 
 
 ( 4 ) The Rainbow was registered as a fifth-rate, carried 
 44 guns, and was built on the river Thames in 1761, to 
 succeed a 40-gun ship of the same name, then broken up. The 
 dimensions of our vessel were as follows : length of gun-deck, 
 131 feet 3 in. ; of keel, 108 ft. 3>£ in. ; breadth, 37 ft. 10% in. ; 
 depth in hold, 16 ft.; tons, 831. In the year 1762, she was 
 placed under the orders of Capt. Mark Robinson, and formed 
 one of the Havanna squadron under Commodore Elliot, at 
 which time she carried a crew of 380 men. In 1764 she was 
 commanded by Capt. Walter Sterling, and was on duty in 
 
54 NOTES. 
 
 North America. She remained on this station till 1766, when 
 she returned home and was put out of commission. A short 
 time after the prospect of a rupture with Spain had passed 
 away, Capt. Charles Fielding was appointed to the Rainbow, 
 then equipping for service at Chatham, a command which he 
 retained for nearly two years. Towards the conclusion of 
 1771, Thomas Collingwood was placed in command of her, 
 and he seems to have remained in her for the usual period of 
 three years, doing duty a part of the time on the coast of 
 Guinea. At the commencement of the dispute with the 
 North American colonies, she was placed under the orders 
 of Sir George Collier, and came to America with Commodore 
 Ilotham, and a large re-inforcement of troops for the army* 
 under Gen. Howe. In 1776 she co-operated with the army in 
 the reduction of New York, and in 1777 she was stationed at 
 Halifax, where she was one of a small squadron employed in 
 protecting the fisheries as well as the trade in that quarter. 
 In the month of July, being on a cruise, she fell in with, and 
 after a long chase, captured the Hancock frigate of 32 guns 
 and 290 men — a ship esteemed at that time the finest in 
 the American service, and one of the fastest sailing vessels 
 ever built. After this, the Rainbow proceeded to Machias, 
 and along the coast of New England, burning the vessels and 
 destroying the stores intended for the contemplated invasion 
 by the Americans of Nova Scotia. In the beginning of 1779 
 she was one of a squadron that sailed from New York in com- 
 pany with transports conveying troops under Gen. Matthew 
 
NOTES. 55 
 
 to Hampton Roads, and she co-operated with the array in the 
 reduction of Norfolk, Suffolk, Portsmouth, and Gosport. A 
 short time after this, John Kendall was appointed to her, and 
 shortly after, she returned home and went into dock at 
 Chatham. Having been thoroughly overhauled, she was 
 placed under the orders of Henry Trollope, and sailed on 
 the 2d day of Sept., 1782, for Plymouth, to join Commodore 
 Elliot in the Channel. When off the Isle of Bas, she fell in 
 with and captured the French frigate La Hebe, of 40 guns and 
 360 men, then on her way from St. Malo to Brest, with a con- 
 voy, which in the chase, being close in shore, got into Morlais 
 in safety. In the engagement, the Rainbow lost only one 
 man, while her opponent had her 2d capt. and four men 
 killed, besides several wounded. Among the latter was Mons. 
 de Vigny, the commander of the French vessel. The Hebe 
 being a fine ship, was purchased by government, and added to 
 the Royal navy under the same name. This action appears to 
 have been the last active service of the Rainbow, for we find 
 her in 1784 reported as a hulk. Shortly after this she was fitted 
 up as a receiving ship, and stationed at "Woolwich. She was 
 used in this capacity until about the year 1801, when she was 
 broken up. The " Rainbow " seems to have been a favorite 
 name in the British navy, as we read of one as early as 1594, 
 in a squadron under Sir Martin Frobisher, sent to aid the 
 French in their attack upon Brest, which was then in posses- 
 sion of the Spaniards. 
 
 Sir George Collier was born in 1738. He entered the 
 
56 NOTES. 
 
 navy when about thirteen years of age, and served part of his 
 time with Sir George Pocock. He was made commander, 
 Aug. 6, 1761, and attained the rank of captain, July 12, 1762. 
 About this time, he was appointed to the Bologne, of 32 guns, 
 in which vessel he served till the following year, when peace 
 having taken place, he was appointed to the Edgar, of 60 guns, 
 then a guard-ship at Plymouth. In 1770, he was commissioned 
 to the Tweed frigate, and sailed on a cruise in the Channel in 
 a small squadron under the Duke of Cumberland. He subse- 
 quently commanded the Levant, of 28 guns, and afterwards 
 the Flora, of 32, and in 1775, received the honor of knight- 
 hood. About this time he was appointed to the Rainbow, of 
 44 guns, and in 1776, proceeded in her to North America. 
 He assisted in the reduction of New York in that year, and in 
 1777, commanded the detachment of the fleet stationed at 
 Halifax, distinguishing himself greatly by his energy and 
 activity. In July he captured the American frigate Hancock, 
 of 32 guns, and soon after bringing her into port, he proceeded 
 to Machias, where he destroyed the magazines and store- 
 houses filled with flour, rice and other articles, which the 
 Americans had collected there for a contemplated invasion of 
 Nova Scotia, and subsequently burnt 30 sail of vessels along the 
 coast of New England. He continued on that station till 
 March, 1779, when he moved into the Raisonable of 64 guns, 
 on board of which he hoisted his broad pendant as commander- 
 in-chief, pro tempore, on the American station. In May fol- 
 lowing, he commanded the fleet in the expedition to Virginia, 
 
NOTES. 57 
 
 and in conjunction with a land force under Gen. Matthew, 
 took possession of Portsmouth, Norfolk, Gosport and Suffolk, 
 capturing a large quantity of stores, cannon and ammunition, 
 and destroying many vessels and much property of all kind. 
 After his return to New York, he assisted in the reduction of 
 Stony Point, Fort Lafayette and Verplanck's Point, subse- 
 quently co-operated with Gen. Tryon in the destruction of 
 Norwalk, Fairfield and Greenfield, and in July following went 
 to the relief of Penobscot, where he signally defeated the 
 American fleet under Saltonstall, capturing and destroying the 
 whole force, amounting to 37 large armed vessels. After this 
 he returned to New York, where he found Admiral Arbuth- 
 not, to whom he resigned the command of the squadron, and 
 then returned to England. In 1780 he was appointed to the 
 Canada, of 74 guns, one of the ships belonging to the Channel 
 fleet ; in the following year he accompanied Admiral Darby 
 to the relief of Gibraltar, and in 1784 was elected M. P. for 
 Honiton. In 1790, on the expectation of a rupture with Spain, 
 he was appointed to the St. George, of 98 guns ; but the 
 dispute being accommodated, the St. George was paid off. On 
 the 1st Feb., 1793, he was made rear-admiral of the white, on 
 the 12th April, 1794, rear-admiral of the red, and on the 
 12th July following, vice-admiral of the white, which was the 
 highest rank he lived to attain. In Jan., 1795, he was 
 appointed to the chief command at the Nore, but was com- 
 pelled to resign on account of ill health. He died on the 6th 
 day of April following. Sir George had blue eyes, light hair, 
 
58 NOTES. 
 
 and fair complexion. Though of medium height, he was well 
 proportioned and very active. As a private individual, he 
 was amiable and benevolent, sociable and pleasant ; as an 
 officer, brave, active and persevering, cool and determined in 
 battle, slow to punish, but a strict observer of discipline. 
 He was possessed of much literary taste, and was the trans- 
 lator of Selima and Azor, a dramatic romance, which was 
 successfully performed at Drury Lane Theatre in 1776. He 
 was twice married. His first wife was Miss Christiana Gwyn, 
 to whom he was united in 1773. By her he had one son. 
 His second wife was Miss Elizabeth Fryer, to whom he was 
 married in 1781. By her he had two daughters and four 
 sons. The latter all entered the service of their country — two 
 in the army and two in the navy. George, the eldest of the 
 four, became lieutenant-colonel of the Coldstream Guards, aud 
 was killed in his 31st year in the sortie from Bayonne, 
 March 10, 1814. 
 
 ( 5 ) The Floea was a fifth-rate British frigate, mounting 32 
 guns. She was formerly the Vestale French frigate of 32 guns, 
 and was captured off the French coast on the 8th January, 
 1761, by the Union frigate of 28 guns, Capt. Joseph Hunt, 
 after a severe action, in which Capt. Hunt was killed, and 
 M. Boisbertelot, the commander of the Vestale, had his leg 
 shot off, in consequence of which he died the next day. The 
 Vestale was repaired and added to the British navy, under 
 the name of the Flora. In 1762 she was stationed in the 
 
NOTES. 59 
 
 Downs, and was then commanded by Capt. Gamaliel Nightin- 
 gale. She remained on home duty but a short time, as peace 
 took place soon after, and she was then put out of commission. 
 Her next employment appears to have been in 1773, at which 
 time she was commanded by Capt. George Collier, and was on 
 the home station. Soon after the commencement of the 
 contest with the colonies, Capt. John Brisbane was appointed 
 to her, and in 1776 she was ordered to North America with a 
 convoy. She was employed here subsequently on a variety 
 of desultory service. In July, 1777, she re-captured the Fox, 
 a frigate of 28 guns, which had been taken on the Banks of 
 New Foundland, a short time before, by the American frigates 
 Hancock and Boston. In the summer of 1778, she was one 
 of the small squadron under Capt. Brisbane, that was stationed 
 off Rhode Island, to protect that post and distress the com- 
 merce of the neighboring coast. "While thus employed, the 
 French fleet, under Comte d'Estaing, comprising 12 ships of 
 the line and 4 frigates, made its appearance off Rhode Island 
 on the 28th of July, and after several previous indications of 
 attack in less force, entered the harbor of Newport on the 
 8th day of August following. In consequence of this, the 
 officers of Capt. Brisbane's squadron, then lying in the harbor, 
 were reduced to the necessity of burning or sinking their ships, 
 to prevent them from falling into the hands of the enemy, and 
 the Flora was one of those that were sunk. Her place in the 
 British navy was supplied by a 36-gun frigate, of the same 
 name, which was built at Deptford in the year 1780, and 
 
60 NOTES. 
 
 which, after serving with distinction, was lost on the 18th 
 January, 1808, by striking upon Schelling Reef. The 32-gun 
 frigate Flora, the subject of our sketch, after being submerged 
 for some time, was at length weighed by the Americans, and 
 sold by them to the French, who gave her the name of the 
 Flore. On the 7th September, 1798, she was captured off the 
 French coast, after a long chase, by the Phaeton frigate 
 of 38 guns, Hon. Robert Stopford, and the Anson frigate of 
 44 guns, Philip C. Durham. Her subsequent history we have 
 been unable to learn further than that she was sold soon after 
 she was brought into port. 
 
 John Brisbane was appointed lieutenant, Aug. 5, 1757, and 
 was raised to the rank of captain on the 24th Sept., 1760. 
 For a short time he commanded the Nightingale, a 20-gun 
 ship, on the American station. After this he was appointed 
 to the Echo, a 24-gun frigate, lately taken from the French, 
 and was ordered to the "West Indies. He continued there till 
 the end of the war, when he returned home, and his ship was 
 put out of commission. In 1769 he was appointed to the 
 Ceberus, of 28 guns, and after being in her a short time, he 
 returned to Chatham, when his ship was laid up. Soon after 
 the commencement of the American revolution, he was 
 appointed to the Flora, of 32 guns, and in 1776 sailed in her 
 to America, where he had been ordered with a convoy. In 
 July, 1777, he recaptured the Fox frigate of 28 guns, and in 
 the summer of the following year, was stationed off Rhode 
 
NOTES. 61 
 
 Island as senior or commanding officer of a small squadron. 
 Having lost his ship while in this command, he returned home 
 in the fall, when he was appointed to the Alcide, a new ship 
 of 74 guns. In December, 1779, he sailed with Sir George 
 Rodney to Gibraltar, but was not materially, if at all, engaged 
 in the action with the Spanish squadron. He subsequently 
 proceeded to the West Indies,' and thence to America, after 
 which he was sent home by Sir George Rodney, with the 
 information of that officer's arrival on the American station 
 with the West India detachment. He reached England in 
 December, and then quitted the command of the Alcide. In 
 the ensuing year he was appointed to the Hercules, of the 
 same force, but in consequence of impaired health, he was 
 under the necessity of resigning this command in December 
 following. On the 21st September, 1790, he was made rear- 
 admiral of the blue, and on the 12th April, 1794, was advanced 
 to vice-admiral of the blue. On the 4th July following, he 
 was raised to vice-admiral of the white, and on the 1st June, 
 1795, was advanced to vice-admiral of the red. He died on 
 the 10th December, 1807. He had by his wife, Mary, two 
 daughters and also six sons, three of whom died in the service 
 of their country. The widow of Admiral Brisbane died at 
 Brighton, April 29th, 1817. 
 
 ( 6 ) The Cabot was a brig of 189 tons burden, mounted 
 14 guns, believed to be six-pounders, and was purchased by 
 Congress in 1775. On the 22d December of that year, the 
 
62 NOTES. 
 
 command of her was given to Capt. John B. Hopkins, and in 
 February following, she formed one of the squadron under 
 Commodore Ezek Hopkins, in his attack upon New Provi- 
 dence. On her return she engaged the Glasgow frigate of 
 20 guns, Capt. Tyringham Howe ; but the latter being too 
 heavy a force for her, she was compelled to sheer off, having 
 her captain wounded, her master killed, and a number of her 
 crew injured. She was subsequently placed under the com- 
 mand of Capt. Elisha Hinman, and in the month of October 
 she took two ships from Jamaica bound to London, with 
 sugar, rum and indigo, five ships and a brig, all from Jamaica, 
 one of them a 3-decker, with upwards of 600 hhds. on board. 
 Her next commander was Capt. Joseph Olney. While under 
 his orders, in March, 1777, she was chased on shore on the 
 coast of Nova Scotia by the British frigate Milford, of 
 28 guns, Capt. John Burr, (see Allen's Battles Brit. Navy, 
 vol. i., p. 242,) who pressed her so hard that she had barely 
 time to get her people out. Capt. Olney and crew, after 
 abandoning their vessel, retreated to the woods, and subse- 
 quently seized a schooner, in which they got home in safety. 
 The enemy, after a long trial, got the Cabot off. She was 
 taken into the British service, under the same name, and 
 placed under the command of Edward Dodd. On the 13th 
 May, 1779, she was one of the squadron of Sir James Wallace 
 that drove a division of the French force in Cancale Bay, in 
 which service sfce had her purser killed and two of her men 
 wounded. In 1780 she was under the command of Henry 
 
NOTES. 63 
 
 Cromwell, and was one of the squadron of Vice-admiral 
 Parker, in the battle with the Dutch squadron under Rear- 
 admiral Zoutman, off the Dogger Bank, on the 5th day of 
 August of the following year. In 1782 she was at Sheerness, 
 and she appears to have been broken up or otherwise disposed 
 of shortly afterwards. 
 
 Capt. JosEpn Olney was, we believe, a native of Rhode 
 Island. In 1752 he was one of five citizens of Providence 
 who were appointed to have the care of the town school-house. 
 Previous to the Revolution, he kept for many years the princi- 
 pal public house in Providence. On the 22d December, 1775, 
 he was appointed by Congress a lieutenant, and on the 
 10th October, 1776, was promoted to the rank of captain. 
 He does not appear to have had any command after the 
 loss of the Cabot. He probably retired to Providence and 
 died there. 
 
 ( 7 ) The Milfoed was registered as a sixth-rate, carried 
 28 guns, and was built in 1759. In 1762 she was commanded 
 by Robert Mann, 2d, and on the 7th day of March, when on a 
 cruise in the bay, she fell in with and engaged the letter-of- 
 marque La Gloire, from Bordeaux, bound to St. Domingo, 
 pierced for 20 guns, but had only 16 six-pounders, and 10 
 swivels mounted, with a crew of 94 men. Capt. Mann receiv- 
 ing a mortal wound in the early part of the action, the 
 command devolved upon Lieut. Day, who fought his ship with 
 
64 NOTES. 
 
 great bravery, until he fell severely wounded. His place was 
 then supplied by Lieut. Nash, who continued the engagement 
 with spirit, and at length compelled his opponent to strike his 
 colors. The La Gloire lost her mainmast in the action, had 
 her rigging, sails and hull cut to pieces, and 6 of her crew 
 killed and 18 wounded. The Milford, beside her captain and 
 first-lieutenant, had 2 killed and 13 wounded. In 1763 the 
 Milford was commanded by Capt. J. Reynolds, and was in 
 service on the coast of Africa ; in 1766 Thomas Cornwell was 
 appointed to her, and in 1770 she was at "Woolwich, probably 
 undergoing repair. In the year 1775 Captain John Burr was 
 appointed to command her, and in 1776 she came to America. 
 In the month of June following, while cruising off Cape Ann, 
 she fell in with and captured the American privateer Yankee 
 Hero, commanded by Captain Tracy, of Newburyport, after a 
 severe engagement of nearly two glasses. In the contest the 
 Yankee Hero had four of her crew killed and fourteen 
 wounded. Capt. Tracy was wounded in the leg. Lieutenant 
 Main was badly injured, and Mr. Rowe, of Cape Ann, sus- 
 tained the loss of an arm. In the month of September, while 
 on a cruise off Cape Sable, the Milford fell in with the Provi- 
 dence, of 28 guns, commanded by Captain Paul Jones. An 
 engagement ensued, and continued for several hours, when 
 her opponent was compelled to sheer off. At the close of 
 the year she fell in with the Alfred, of 28 guns, to which 
 vessel Capt. Jones had recently been appointed. An action 
 took place and lasted for some time, when the Alfred, avail- 
 
NOTES. 65 
 
 ing herself of a hard gust of wind which arose, succeeded 
 in effecting her escape. In March, 1777, the Milford chased 
 the 14-gun brig Cabot, Capt. Joseph Olney, ashore on the 
 coast of Nova Scotia, and in June, 1778, being then under the 
 orders of Sir Wm. Burnaby, and attached to the fleet off 
 Brest under Admiral Keppel, she, in company with another 
 vessel, compelled the French frigate Licorne, of 32 guns, 
 to haul down her colors. In August, 1779, she was one 
 of the Channel fleet under Sir Charles Hardy, and was 
 attached to the centre division in line of battle. In 1780, 
 Capt. Philip Patton was appointed to her, and under him 
 she formed one of the Channel fleet in Torbay, under 
 command of Vice-admiral George Darby. Having become 
 leaky and in need of great repair, Capt. Patton quitted 
 her, and she was soon after broken up. Her place in the 
 navy was supplied by a 74-gun ship, which we find build- 
 ing in the year 1799. 
 
 John Bceb, who we believe commanded this frigate at the 
 time referred to in the narrative, was made lieutenant in 
 the year 1758; raised to commander, Sept. 13, 1769, and 
 promoted to the rank of captain on the 15th day of 
 October, 1773. In 1770 he commanded the sloop Hound, 
 of 14 guns, and in 1775 was appointed to the Milford 
 frigate, of 28 guns, which appears to have been his last 
 command. He died (says Schomberg, vol. v., p. 346) in 
 the year 1784. 
 
66 NOTES. 
 
 (s) The following particulars we take from the papers of the day : 
 " Halifax, July 12. 
 
 This Day arrived his Majesty's Ship Rainbow, Sir 
 George Collier, having brought into this Harbour, the Han- 
 cock Frigate, commanded by Mr. Manley ; the following are 
 some Particulars relative to the meeting the Eebel Squadron 
 under Manley, by his Majesty's Ship Hainbow, commanded by 
 Sir George Collier. 
 
 /"\ N Sunday the 6th July, at Half past 4 in the Afternoon 
 ^^^ (Cape Sambro' then bearing X. E. about 12 or 13 Leagues) 
 we discovered three Sail from the Mast-head, which we inime 
 diately gave chace to, but from the Distance could form no 
 Judgment of their Force, or what they were ; the Victor Brig 
 was at this Time in Company, three or four Miles astern, and 
 as her Kate of sailing was much inferior to that of the Rain- 
 bow, we made Signal for her to make more Sail, being appre- 
 hensive otherwise of separating from her ; at Sun-set we had 
 gained so much on the Chace, as to discover they were large 
 Ships, standing as we were close on a Wind, which was at 
 W. N. W., and seemed to us a conclusive Proof that they 
 were bound to some of the Ports in New-England ; we con- 
 tinued the Chace, and at Daun of Day in the Morning saw 
 them again about three Points on the Weather-Bow, with a 
 Sloop in Company : the prest Sail we had earned all Night, 
 had en creased the Distance from the Victor Brig so much, 
 that she was no longer discernable from the Mast-head : — The 
 
NOTES. 67 
 
 Ships we were in Chace of, were about five or six Miles 
 distant, and from many Circumstances we Lad no doubt were 
 part of the Eebel Fleet, who had sailed some Time before 
 from Boston under the command of Mr. Manley ; continuing 
 the Chace, and gaining upon them, they quitted their Prize 
 Sloop and set her on Fire, going off in a regular Line of 
 Battle-a-head, and setting Top-gallant Royals, and every Sail 
 that could be useful to them. 
 
 A little after six A. M. another Sail was discovered, stand- 
 ing towards the Eebel Ships ; she crossed us on the contrary 
 Tack, at about four Miles Distance ; and put about, when she 
 could fetch their Wakes ; from her not making the private 
 Signal, we had no doubt but that she was another of the 
 Rebel Frigates, and therefore, Sir George paid no Regard to 
 an English red Ensign she hoisted, and two Guns she fired to 
 the Leeward. 
 
 About Ten in the Morning, the Enemy's Ships went away 
 lasking ; and three Quarters of an Hour afterwards, we were 
 surprized to see several Shot exchanged between the Stern- 
 most of them, and the Stranger who had last joined, and 
 whom we had hitherto looked upon as another of their Fleet ; 
 we then hoisted our Colours, and soon afterwards the two 
 Sternmost of the Eebel Frigates hawled their Wind, whilst 
 the Headmost kept away about two Points from it ; this 
 brought the English Ship (which we afterwards found to be 
 the Flora) more a breast of them, and she passed them to the 
 Windward, exchanging a Broadside with each, and pursuing 
 
68 NOTES. 
 
 the Fugitive, who from the Alteration two or three Times of 
 her Course, seemed uncertain which to steer : The Flora 
 gained fast upon her, which she perceiving, hawled her Wind 
 again, and soon afterwards tacked and stood after her Com- 
 rades, exchanging a Broad-side with the Flora as they passed 
 each other. 
 
 "We were just putting about after the two Ships, when we 
 observed this, which made us stand on something longer, 
 before we tacked, hoping to get her within reach of our Guns 
 as she passed us : "We accordingly did so, but had not the 
 good Fortune to bring down either a Mast or Sail by our Fire. 
 
 "We .tacked immediately after her, and soon afterwards saw 
 the head-most Rebel Frigate put about, and pass us just out 
 of Gun-shot to Windward ; she appeared a very fine Ship of 
 34 Guns and had Rebel Colours flying ; one of the Gentlemen 
 on the Quarter Deck had been a Prisoner lately at Boston, 
 and knew her to be the Hancock, on board of whom Ifanley 
 commanded, who is the second in Rank in the Rebel Army.* 
 
 The Ship we had fired upon, out sail'd us fast ; and soon 
 after our tacking kept away lasking ; whilst the other Frigate 
 standing as we did, kept her Wind ; Ave then found that one 
 of the three must unavoidably escape, if they steered thus, 
 different Courses ; Sir George therefore judgM it best to put 
 about after the Hancock, who appeared the largest Ship, the 
 Rainbow, passed the Flora very near, who continued pursuing 
 the Ship we had fired upon. 
 
 * Intended for Navy. — En. 
 
KOTES. 69 
 
 It was about two o'Clock in the Afternoon (of Monday the 
 7th of July) that we tack'd after Mr. Manley, who seem'd at 
 first rather to out-sail the Eainbow, hut we understood after- 
 wards that to endeavour making her sail better, he started his 
 Water forward, and by that Means put her out of Trim : An 
 Hour before the close of Day, he altered his Course, and kept 
 away large, we however got so near to him before Dark, as 
 enabled us (by Means of a Night Glass) to keep Sight of him 
 all Night: — At DaAvn of Day she was not much more than a 
 Mile ahead of us, soon after which we saw a small Soil to Lee- 
 ward, which we found to be the Victor Brig, who as we 
 pass'd fired into the Kebel Frigate and killed one of the Men 
 at the Wheel, but was not able for bad sailing to keep up or 
 come near any more. About four in the Morning we began 
 firing the Bow Chace upon her, with occasioned Broadsides 
 loaded with round and Grape, as we could bring them to bear, 
 some of which struck her Masts and Sails. At half past eight 
 we were so near as to hail her, and acquaint them that if they 
 expected Quarters, they must strike immediately ; Manley 
 took a few Minutes to consider, and a fresher Breeze just then 
 springing up, he availed himself of it, by attempting to set 
 some of the steering sails on the other side, we therefore poured 
 a Number of Shot into him which brought him to the ex- 
 pected Determination, and he struck the Rebel Colours a little 
 before 9 o'Clock in the Morning, after a Chace of upwards of 
 30 Hours. 
 We immediately took Possession of her, and sent Part of the 
 
TO NOTES. 
 
 Prisoners on board the Rainbow ; she prov'd to be the Han- 
 cock of 34 Guns, 12 Pounders, and had upwards of 229 Men 
 on board ; she is a very capital and large Frigate, is quite new 
 of the Stocks, and tho' from her Foulness and their Mismanage- 
 ment we came up with her, yet we are informed that she is 
 one of the fastest sailing Ships ever built. 
 
 The Prisoners inform'd us that the Ship the Flora was in 
 Chase of, was his Majesty's Ship the Fox, of 28 Guns, which 
 Manley had lately taken on the Banks of New Foundland, 
 after a close and very warm Action of two Hours ; the other 
 Frigate was the Boston, of 30 Guns, commanded by McNeill. . . 
 Capt. Fotheringham of the Fox, and 40 of his People were on 
 board the Hancock, but his Officers and some other of the 
 Men were on board the Boston Frigate, and the Eemainder 
 ashore at New Foundland. 
 
 After exchanging the Prisoners we found it necessary from 
 their Number being almost as many as our own Ship's Com- 
 pany, to return to this Port. 
 
 Manley seem'd much chagrin'd at his not having engaged 
 the Eainbow, when he found she was but a 40 Gun Ship, as 
 he had all along mistaken her for the Eaisonable, whom he 
 knew was very lately at Louisbourg. 
 
 We hear the Prize Sloop which the Rebel Fleet set Fire to 
 when chac'd by the Eainbow, was call'd the Brittania, and 
 laden with coals from Louisbourg for Halifax, Hinxman, Master." 
 Gaine, Mon : Aug : 4, 1777. No. 1345. 
 
NOTES. 71 
 
 " New- York, August 4. 
 
 "Wednesday last the Syren Frigate arrived here from 
 Halifax, and has Drought Capt. Fotheringham of the Fox, and 
 about 40 of his Seamen, with Captain Manley and his first 
 Lieut, the latter commanded the Fox when taken by the 
 Flora. We hear Mr. Manley is on board the St. Albans. 
 
 A letter from Halifax, dated the 13th of July, says, 
 " The public Prints will inform you of the retaking of the 
 Fox Frigate, by the Flora, Capt. Brisbane, as also the taking 
 of the Hancock, Manley, by the Eainbow." 
 
 Gaine, Man : Aug : 4, 1777. No. 1345. 
 " Boston, April 23. 
 
 Last Tuesday arrived in town from New-York, where 
 
 he has long been held a prisoner, the brave John Manley Esq. 
 
 late Commander of the Continental Frigate Hancock." 
 
 Holt's N. Y. Journal, Mon. May 19, 1778. 
 See also 
 
 Compilation by G. S. Ranier from Official Papers, 
 
 Brit. Naval Chronicle, Vol : 32, pp. 266-400. 
 
 "Detail of Particular Services, fyc." pub: by 
 
 Ithiel Town, N. Y., 1835. 
 Allen's Battles British Navy, vol. i. pp : 242-244. 
 
 (») Halifax, the capital of Nova Scotia, was settled in 
 1748. It was originally called Chebucto, and received the 
 name of Halifax, in honor of Lord Halifax, a member of the 
 British ministry. The city is on the west side of Halifax 
 harbor, and on the declivity of a commanding hill. Its 
 appearance in 1760 is thus described by Alex. Grant, in a 
 
72 NOTES. 
 
 letter to Eev. Dr. Stiles, dated Halifax, May, 1760, (see Mass. 
 Hist. Collec, 1st series, vol. x., p. 79.) " This place is divided 
 into three towns — Halifax, Irishtown, and Dutchtown. The 
 whole may contain about 1,000 houses, great and small, many 
 of which are employed as barracks, hospitals for the army 
 and navy, and other publick uses. The inhabitants may be 
 about three thousand, one-third of which are Irish, and many 
 of them Eoman Catholicks ; and about one-fourth Germans 
 and Dutcb, the most industrious and useful settlers among us ; 
 and the rest English, Avith a very small number of Scotch. 
 "We have upwards of one hundred licenced houses, and perhaps 
 as many more which retail spirituous liquors without licence ; 
 so that the business of one-half of the town is to sell rum, and 
 of the other half to drink it." 
 
 The city, at the present day, is about two miles in length, is 
 well laid out in oblong squares, the streets parallel, and at 
 right angles. Many of the houses are of Avood, plastered and 
 stuccoed, but many also are handsomely built of stone. 
 The public buildings are substantial structures. The popu- 
 lation in 1852 was 26,000, and the total value of exports 
 $2,846,917. 
 
 Queen's Slip, formerly called Governor's Slip, is on the east 
 side of the city, near the centre of the original toAvn. Here 
 the Governors, on their arrival from Europe, usually landed. 
 They were here received by the Council, etc., and were thence 
 escorted to the Council Chamber, to be publicly sworn into 
 office. Hence arose its name ' : Governor 's Slip.' 1 '' 
 
NOTES. To 
 
 (10) Through the courtesy of M. M. Jackson, Esq., U. S. Consul at 
 Halifax, the following particulars, furnished by Beamish Murdock, Esq., 
 the Historian of Nova Scotia, have been placed at our command : 
 
 " On the west or upper side of Hollis street, not far from 
 the Halifax Hotel, there is an old wooden building, now in 
 ruins, which is known as the Old Jail" in which Ethan Allen, 
 Hon. Jas. Lovell and others are said to have been confined, 
 and which is thought to have been the building alluded to in 
 the text. " This building, as originally built, was a long, one- 
 story house, with a sharp pitched roof, running perhaps 
 50 to 60 feet in length from the street to the end of the lot. 
 It stood on a rough kind of stone wall which elevated it a few 
 feet, (perhaps sis feet) above the ground, and steps were 
 attached to the building outside, not on the street, but within 
 the enclosure. It was used as a prison not only during the 
 Revolution but also in 1780. About 150 yards from the Jail, 
 stood in the last century, a brick building built by Malachi 
 Salter, which was at one time used as a Sugar House. It was 
 situated at the corner of Salter and Pleasant streets. It is not 
 known to have been used as a prison." 
 
 The following notices of the " Old Jail," w^e take from 
 the papers of the day : 
 
 " Boston, September 1. 
 
 Our American Prisoners (to the Number of 31) are confined 
 in the Common Gaol of Halifax (a lousy, filthy, unwholesome Place) 
 and are treated in the most inhuman and barbarous Manner possible, 
 having nothing to live upon but salt Provisions (and that very scanty) 
 
74 NOTES. 
 
 thrown in among Negroes, Robbers, &c, and are told, they know no 
 
 distinction.'' 
 
 JV. Hampshire Gazette, Sat., Aug. 3, 177G. 
 
 " Salem, Jan. 10. 
 
 Since our last a cartel arrived from Halifax with upwards of 
 
 100 prisoners, many of them in a very emaciated, sickly condition. 
 
 Five of the number which came out, died on the passage." 
 
 Pennsylvania Packet, Thurs., Feb. 7, 1782. 
 
 (n) The Boston was one of the 13 vessels authorized to be 
 built by resolution of Congress of Dec. 13, 1775, and was one 
 of the two frigates which were ordered by that resolve to be 
 constructed in Massachusetts. She mounted 24 guns, and was 
 launched at or near Boston in 1776. She was placed under 
 the command of Capt. Hector McN/eil, and soon after sailed 
 on a cruise. She was in company with the Hancock in June, 
 1777, when the Fox frigate was taken, and also at the time 
 when the Rainbow was first discovered, but made her escape 
 without affording her comrade any assistance. After her 
 return to port, she was placed under the command of Capt. 
 Samuel Tucker, and continued under his orders as long as she 
 remained in the American service. In the early part of 1778 
 she carried John Adams to France, he having been appointed 
 a commissioner in place of Silas Deane, who had been recalled. 
 On her way she captured three very valuable prizes, one of 
 which, the Martha, was laden with bale goods to the amount, 
 as was supposed, of £80,000. As Mr. Adams was upon urgent 
 business, the Boston was not able to remain with her prize, 
 
NOTES. 75 
 
 and it was subsequently retaken by tbe Bainbow. The Boston 
 on her voyage made several narrow escapes from destruc- 
 tion. Among other dangers, she was struck by lightning, 
 which shattered her mast and came very nigh blowing her up, 
 the fire when extinguished having nearly reached the maga- 
 zine of powder. She reached Bordeaux, however, on the 1st 
 April, in safety, and in consequence of the treaties of commerce 
 and alliance having been signed before the arrival of Mr- 
 Adams, that gentleman soon returned in her to America. On 
 the 9th Aug., 1779, the Boston, in company with the ship 
 Deane, Capt. Samuel Nicholson, captured off the capes of 
 Virginia, the ship Glencairn, from Glasgow, of 20 guns and 
 30 men ; on the 12th took the Sandwich packet from New 
 York, bound to Falmouth, Eng., of 16 guns and 60 men ; on 
 the 23d made a prize of the brigantine Venture, from Madeira, 
 of 2 guns and 20 men ; and on the 24th captured the Thorn, 
 of 18 guns, but mounting only 14, and having a crew of 135 
 men. During the latter part of 1779 and the tore part of 1780, 
 the Boston formed one of the squadron of Commodore Abra- 
 ham Whipple, that cruised along the Southern coast, capturing 
 a number of merchant vessels. While thus employed, she, 
 with other American ships, on the appearance of the British 
 fleet, put into Charleston, S. C, for safety, and on the surren- 
 der of the city, May 12, 1780, she was one of the vessels that 
 were captured by the enemy. 
 
 Capt. IIectok McNeil was appointed by Congress to the 
 command of the Boston frigate, June 15, 1776. He was with 
 
76 NOTES. 
 
 Capt. Manly at the taking of the Fox, but when the Rainbow 
 and Flora hove in view, he sought his own safety in flight, 
 rendering his companion no assistance whatever. A court- 
 martial was shortly afterwards held upon his conduct, when 
 being found guilty of cowardice, he was dismissed the service 
 forthwith. 
 
 (12) This is not the only occasion when a deceased American 
 prisoner was so interred. We give another instance, occurring much 
 nearer home. 
 
 "On the 4th day of Feb., 1841, some workmen, while 
 engaged in digging away an embankment in Jackson street, 
 near the Navy Yard, accidentally discovered a quantity of 
 human bones, among which, horrible to relate, was a skeleton, 
 having a pair of iron manacles still upon the wrists." 
 
 Thompson's Hist, of Long Island, vol. i., p. 244. 
 
 (13) The Greyhound was registered as a sixth-rate, carried 
 24 guns, and was built about the year 1775, as successor to a 
 20-gun ship which was broken up about that time. In the 
 year 1776, our vessel was placed under the command of Capt. 
 Archibald Dickson, and ordered to North America. She pro- 
 ceeded to Halifax, Nova Scotia, where she took General Howe 
 on board as a passenger, and then sailed for New York, 
 arriving at Sandy Hook on the 25th day of June. In the 
 month of August following, she co-operated with the British 
 army in the reduction of New York, and was one of the 
 
NOTES. 71 
 
 frigates stationed in Gravesend Bay on the 22d of that month, 
 to cover the landing of the troops. In 1779 she was one of 
 the squadron of Sir George Collier, and in the month of August, 
 assisted in the signal destruction of the American squadron, 
 under Commodore Saltonstal, in Penohscot Bay, soon after 
 which she returned to England with despatches. In the latter 
 part of the year she composed one of the fleet of Sir George 
 B. Rodney, in the West Indies, at which time she was under 
 the orders of Capt. William Fookes, who was succeeded in 
 command of her by Capt. William Fox. Under the latter 
 officer the Greyhound was lost upon the South Sand Head in 
 the year 1781. Her crew were saved. She was succeeded in 
 the service by a 36-gun frigate of the same name, which Ave 
 find building at Betts' Yard, in Mistleythorne, in the year 1783. 
 
 (i 4 ) Archibald Dickson was made lieut., Sept. 19, 1759 ; 
 commander, Jan. 10, 1771 ; and raised to rank of capt. in 1773. 
 In 1776 he was appointed to the Greyhound frigate, and con- 
 tinued in her for the usual period. He carried home the 
 particulars of the destruction of the American fleet in Penob- 
 scot Bay, and was presented by the British Admiralty with 
 £500 for the intelligence he brought. In 1782 he commanded 
 the Dublin, of 74 guns ; in 1787 the Goliah, of the same force, 
 then employed as a guard-ship; and in 1793 the Egmont, also 
 of 74 guns. He was made rear-admiral of the white in 1794, 
 vice-admiral of the blue in 1795, admiral of the blue in 1801, 
 and April 13, 1802, was created a baronet. He died in the 
 
7S NOTES. 
 
 spring of 1805. Sir Archibald Dickson, Bt., was the brother 
 of William Dickson, admiral of tbe blue, who died in 1803. 
 
 (i 5 ) The Vulture was a British sloop-of-war, carrying 
 14 guns, and was built about the year 1776. She was placed 
 under the orders of James Feattus, and formed one of the 
 fleet of Vice-admiral Lord Howe. She continued under Feattus 
 until 1779, when Andrew Sutherland was appointed to com- 
 mand her. In the summer of this year she formed one of the 
 squadron of Sir George Collier that, in conjunction with a land 
 force under Gen. Vaughan, captured Stony Point and Ver- 
 planck's Point, on the Hudson. In the month of September 
 of the following year, she conveyed Major Andre up the North 
 River to hold the interview with Arnold, and was the vessel in 
 which that arch traitor made his escape to the British lines. 
 In 1782 she was at Jamaica, and was commanded by Walter 
 Griffith, and in the latter part of the year following she was 
 at Portsmouth. In 1793 she was reported as a hulk, and she 
 appears to have been broken up or otherwise disposed of 
 shortly afterwards. 
 
 James Feattus was made lieut., 1757, and promoted to 
 commander, July 7, 1701. In 1775 lie commanded the sloop 
 Speedwell, and in 1776 was appointed to the Vulture. He 
 died about the year 1785. 
 
 (ic) Jonx Byeox, second son of William, the fourth Lord 
 Byron by Frances, his third wife, 2d daughter of William Lord 
 
KOTES. TO 
 
 Berkeley, of Stratton, was born Nov. 8, 1723. He served as 
 a midshipman under Commodore Anson on his voyage round 
 the world, and had the misfortune to be cast away in the 
 Wager, on a desolate island, off the coast of Chili, where he 
 suffered great hardships, an affecting account of which will be 
 found in his "Narrative," to which we refer the reader. On 
 the 30th Dec, 1746, he was made post-captain, and appointed 
 to the Syren frigate. In 1753 he commanded the Augusta, of 
 GO guns, and in 1757 the America, of the same force. In the 
 spring of 1760 he commanded the Fame, of 74 guns, and was 
 employed in the squadron which co-operated with the army at 
 the conquest of Canada, where he rendered important service. 
 In 1764 he made a voyage to the South Sea, and on the 3d 
 June, 1769, was appointed Governor of Newfoundland. In 
 March, 1775, he was made Rear-ad. of the blue, and in May, 
 1777, Rear of the white. In Jan., 1778, he was made Vice-ad. 
 of the blue, and was soon after appointed to the command of 
 a large squadron, and ordered to North America. He sailed 
 on the 9th of June, and on the 3d of July, a violent gale of 
 wind arose, which dispersed his squadron, Admiral Byron, 
 with his flag on board the Princess Royal, arriving alone off 
 Sandy Hook on the 18th of August. He thence sailed for 
 Halifax, where he found one of his squadron that had arrived 
 before him. The remaining ships came in one by one, with 
 sickly crews and damaged rigging. He was thence ordered to 
 the West Indies, and his action there with D'Estaing, July G, 
 1779, though undecisive, was honorable to the British fleet. 
 
80 NOTES. 
 
 Soon after this event he returned to England and struck his 
 flag. lie was raised to Vice-ad. of the white, Sept. G, 1780, 
 and died in London, April 10, 1786, in his G3d year. Though 
 a gallant, zealous and accomplished officer, he was extremely 
 unfortunate, having always the elements to contend with 
 instead of the enemy. Admiral Byron had a family of 2 sons 
 and 7 daughters, hy Sarah, daughter of John Trevannion, Esq., 
 of Cartrays, Cornwall, whom he married in 1748. Capt. 
 Byron, one of his sons, was father to the celebrated poet. 
 
 (i 7 ) The Peincess Royal was registered as a 2d rate, car- 
 ried 98 guns, and was built at Portsmouth in 1773. Her 
 length of gun-deck was 177 ft. 6 in., of keel, 145 ft. 5 in., 
 breadth, 50 ft. 6 in., depth in hold, 21 ft., tons, 1,973. In 1777, 
 on the prospect of a rupture with France, Capt. Mark Milbank 
 Avas appointed to command her ; in May Vice-admiral Byron 
 hoisted his flag on board, and on the 5th of June of the follow- 
 ing year, she sailed in a strong squadron for America. In 
 1779 she was commanded by Capt. William Blair, and on the 
 Gth of July was in the action off Grenada with the French 
 fleet, under LVEstaing, when she had 3 of her crew killed and 
 G wounded. She returned home soon after. In Dec. she bore 
 the flag of Rear-ad. Hyde Parker, and in the following year 
 composed one of the fleet of Sir George Rodney, in the actions 
 with the French fleet, under Comte de Guichen. In 1781 she 
 was stationed at Jamaica, and she returned home in November. 
 In 1782 she was under the orders of Jonathan Faulkner, and 
 
NOTES. 81 
 
 in Sept. following, sailed in the fleet of Lord Howe to tlie 
 relief of Gibraltar. In the action with the French and Spanish 
 fleets off Cape Spartel, on the 20th Oct., she had a crew of 750 
 men, and occupied the 1st or starboard division in the centre 
 squadron in line of battle, which was under the immediate 
 orders of the commander-in-chief. In Jan., 1783, she was at 
 Portsmouth, composing one of the fleet on that station, under 
 Sir Thomas Pye, Admiral of the white. In 1790, on a rupture 
 with Spain being apprehended, Sir "William Hotham hoisted 
 his flag on hoard her as commander of the rear division of the 
 Channel fleet, but the dispute being accommodated, the fleet 
 was dismantled, and Admiral Hotham struck his flag. In 
 1793 she was one of the squadron of Vice-admiral Cosby; in 
 the following year was under the orders of John Child Purvis, 
 and formed one of the Mediterranean fleet, under Lord Hood. 
 In 1795 Eear-ad. Goodall had his flag on board her, and she 
 bore a part in the engagements with the French, March 14 
 and July 13th, occupying, in the first engagement, the star- 
 board division in the van squadron, and having a crew of 700 
 men, of which 3 were killed and 8 Avounded. In 1796, being 
 then still under Capt. Purvis, she bore the flag of Vice-ad. 
 Robert Linzee, who was commander of a squadron in the 
 Mediterranean, under Sir John Jervis, Admiral of the blue. In 
 the following year she was under the orders of Capt. John 
 Draper, and was the flag-ship of Sir John Orde, Rear-admiral 
 of the white. In 1799 Capt. J. "W. T. Dickson was in com- 
 mand of her, at which time she bore the flag of Rear-ad. 
 
82 NOTES. 
 
 Thomas L. Frederick, and in July she returned home and 
 went into repair. After coming out of dock, Thomas M. Eus- 
 sel was appointed to her, and in 1800 she was one of the fleet 
 of Admiral Lord Brjdport, employed on home service. In 
 1801 she was under the orders of Capt. D. Atkins, and was 
 the flag-ship of Sir Erasmus Gower, who held a command in 
 the Channel fleet ; in 1803 she was under Capt. James Vashon, 
 and in the year after was refitting at Chatham. In 180G she 
 was commanded by Capt. E. C. Eeynolds, and she appears to 
 have been broken up or otherwise disposed of about the 
 year 1810. 
 
 Mabk Milbank, said by some to have commanded this ship 
 at this time, was the 3d son of Ralph Milbank, Bt., of Ilalnaby, 
 York Co., and was born about 1721. He Avas made com- 
 mander Sept. 13, 1T46, and capt., May 21, 1748. He was 
 advanced to Rear-admiral of the white, March 19, 1779, to Vice 
 of the blue, Sept., 20, 1750, and in 1793 became a full admiral. 
 lie died on the 10th June, 1805, from a fall over the stair- 
 case of his house, in the 84th year of his age. 
 
 (i 8 ) Sib Eiciiabd IIucnES was the son of Sir Eichard 
 Hughes, for many years commissioner of the Dock-yard at 
 Eortsmouth, and was born in Deptford, Kent Co., Eng., in 
 1729. When yet a boy, he went to sea as a midshipman, with 
 his father, and in 1741 served in the Mediterranean, under 
 Admiral Matthews. So young was he at this time, that he 
 
NOTES. 
 
 83 
 
 was under the necessity of shaving his head and wearing a 
 whig to obtain a manly appearance. In 1745 he was made a 
 lieut., and was promoted to the rank of captain, Nov. 10, 175G. 
 He subsequently commanded the Fox and Thames frigates, 
 and in 1768 was appointed to the Firm, of 60 guns, then a 
 guard-ship at Plymouth. After quitting this ship, he was made 
 capt. of the Worcester, of 64 gims, and in 1777 moved into the 
 Centaur, a 74, then employed on the home station. He was 
 afterwards appointed Lieut. Governor of Nova Scotia and com- 
 missioner of the Dock-yard at Halifax. This station he filled 
 until his promotion to Rear-ad. of the blue, Sept. 26, 1780, 
 about which time he succeeded, on the death of his father, to 
 the title of baronet. During his stay at Halifax, he caused 
 the woods to be inspected and surveyed, obtained masts, spars 
 and other naval stores for the government dock-yards, on the 
 most advantageous terms, and his conduct otherwise was so 
 meritorious, that on his return home he was honored by the 
 king with a private audience, and received his Majesty's 
 thanks. He became Yice-ad. of the blue in 1790, and on the 
 14th Feb., 1799, was raised to Admiral of the white. He died 
 on the 5th day of January, 1812. Sir Richard was an active 
 and gallant officer, and in private life possessed all the qualities 
 of a well-bred gentleman. He had a taste for the belles lettres, 
 and possessed also considerable poetical talent. His wife, 
 to whom he was united about 1760, was the grand-niece of the 
 celebrated Sir Hans Sloane, and daughter of Hans Sloane, Esq., 
 M.P., a wealthy and respectable Commoner. 
 
84 NOTES. 
 
 (19) The Hazard was a British sloop-of-war, mounting. 8 
 guns, and appears to have been built about 1763. In 1767 
 she was under the orders of Denis Every, and was in the 
 fleet of Vice-admiral Holburne, on home service. In 1769 she 
 was commanded by Thos. Premble, and was at Sheerness, and 
 in 1770 was under the orders of James Orrock, who was suc- 
 ceeded in command of her by John Ford. In 1778 and the 
 year following, she was commanded by Alex. Agnew, in 1780 
 by G. A. Pulteney, and in the year following by I. Pellew. 
 She appears to have been removed from service soon after- 
 wards. 
 
 Alexander Agxew was made lieut., Aug. 7, 1761, and 
 raised to commander, Nov. 20, 1771. In 1779 he commanded 
 the Hazard sloop, and in 1781 Avas in command of the sloop 
 Fury of 16 guns. He appears to have died or retired from the 
 service about 1782. 
 
 (20) The French fleet, under M. D'Orvilliers, consisting of 
 28 sail of the line and several frigates, sailed from Brest, 
 June 4, 1779, for Cadiz, where it formed a junction with the 
 Spanish fleet. The combined fleet, consisting of 66 sail of the 
 line, on the 15th Aug. following, escaping the notice of the 
 English fleet, under Sir Charles Hardy, then cruising in the 
 soundings, sailed up the English Channel, and paraded for three 
 days before Plymouth, insulting the English coast, capturing 
 several coasting vessels, and bidding defiance to the whole 
 
NOTES. 85 
 
 navy: This circumstance greatly tarnished the naval charac- 
 ter of England. 
 
 (ji) The Peincess Amelia was registered as a 3d rate, 
 carried 80 guns, and was built in 1757. In the year following 
 she was commanded by Capt. John Bray, and composed one 
 of the fleet, under Admiral Boscawen, at the reduction of 
 Lewisbourg and Quebec. In Sept., 1759, she was under the 
 orders of Stephen Colby, was the flag- ship of Thomas Brode- 
 rick, Eear-ad. of the white, and formed one of the fleet of Sir 
 Edward Hawke that was fitted out against Eochfort, and the 
 following year she was under Capt. James Montague, in Admi- 
 ral Boscawen's fleet in Quiberon Bay. In the spring of 17G1 
 she was in the squadron of Capt. Matthew Buckle, stationed 
 off Brest, to prevent supplies being sent to Belle Isle, and the 
 year after she was under the orders of Capt. Viscount Howe, 
 was the flag-ship of the Duke of York, and composed one of 
 tbe fleet sent in quest of M. de Ternay, and subsequently one 
 of the fleet of Sir Charles Ilardy, that made a cruise in the 
 bay. In 1763 she was under Capt. E. A. Tyrrell, and in 1766 
 was at Portsmouth. We find her on that station until 1772, 
 when she was commanded by Capt. Samuel Marshall, was the 
 flag-ship of Vice-ad. Geo. B. Eodney, and stationed at Jamaica. 
 In the latter part of the year she returned home, and was laid 
 up at Portsmouth. On the approach of a rupture with 
 France, which took place in 1778, Capt. Digby Dent was 
 appointed to her, and she formed one of the fleet then fitting 
 
86 NOTES. 
 
 for sea at Portsmouth, at which time Sir Thomas Pye had his 
 flag on hoard. In 1780 she was commanded by Capt. John 
 McCartney, and was one of the fleet of Admiral Geary, then 
 cruising in the Soundings, and the year after, she was the flag- 
 ship of Sir Hyde Parker, and bore a part in the action with 
 the Dutch fleet, under Rear-ad. Zoutman, off the Dogger Bank, 
 Aug. 5. In this engagement, Capt. McCartney and a gunner 
 were killed and three lieuts. wounded. After the death of 
 McCartney, the command of the ship was given to John 
 McBride, and she returned home soon after the battle. In 
 June, 1782, being then under the orders of Billy Douglas, she 
 formed one of the squadron of Lord Howe, cruising in the 
 jSTorth Sea, and in July she was cruising with Howe in the 
 Soundings. In October she was commanded by Capt. John 
 Reynolds, was the flag-ship of Sir Richard Hughes, and was 
 one of the fleet of Admiral Lord Howe, that sailed to the 
 relief of Gibraltar, and had a partial action off Cape Spartel 
 with the French and Spanish fleets. On this occasion she was 
 in the 2d or starboard division in the rear squadron, and of a 
 crew of 715 men, had -1 killed and 5 wounded. She was sub- 
 sequently on duty in the "West Indies, under John "W. Payne, 
 and the year after returned to England. She came to anchor 
 at Chatham, where she was turned into a church ship. She 
 was used in that capacity until about 1788, shortly after which 
 she was broken up. Her place was supplied by a 74-gun slap 
 of the same name, which in 1800 was building in the king's 
 yard at Chatham. 
 
NOTES. 
 
 87 
 
 Digby Dent was the son of Capt. Cotton Dent, who died in 
 17G1, one of the captains of Greenwich Hospital. The subject 
 of our notice Avas made capt., July 7, 1758. In 1778, being 
 then capt. of the Princess Amelia, he received the honor of 
 knighthood at the time the king reviewed the fleet at Ports- 
 mouth. On the 24th Sept., 1787, he was advanced to the 
 rank of Kear-admiral, and placed upon the superannuated list. 
 He died, Nov. 15, 1798, leaving his widow and eight children 
 in very distressed circumstances. 
 
 (aa) The Britannia was a British ship of the line, registered 
 as a 1st rate, carrying 100 guns, and was built at Portsmouth, 
 Eng., in 1762, to take the place of another ship of the same 
 name and force, which was about that time abandoned. The 
 dimensions of our vessel were as follows : length of gun-deck, 
 178 feet ; keel, 145 feet 2 in. ; breadth, 52 ft. )i in. ; depth in 
 hold, 21 ft. 6 in. ; tons, 2,091. After being stationed at Ports- 
 mouth for several years, in the latter part of 1778, Capt. John 
 Moutray was appointed to her, she being intended as a flag- 
 ship. At the close of the following year, we find her under 
 the command of -Capt. Charles Morice Pole, and the flag-ship 
 of George Darby, Vice-ad. of the white, he being at that time 
 the second in command of the Channel fleet, under Sir Charles 
 Hardy. In 1780 she was under the orders of Capt. James 
 Bradby, and was the flag-ship of the fleet, under Vice-ad. 
 Darby, that sailed from Spithead on the 14th day of March, 
 1781, with a large convoy of victuallers, transports, etc., to the 
 
SS NOTES. 
 
 relief of Gibraltar. In December she was tbe flag-ship of 
 Kichard Kempenfelt, Eear-ad. of the white, and was one of his 
 squadron which on the 13th of that month intercepted the 
 French West India convoy that had sailed from Brest under 
 the command of M. de Guichen. In July, 1782, being then 
 under the orders of Capt. Benjamin Hill, she formed one of the 
 fleet of Admiral Lord Howe, cruising in the Soundings, at 
 which time Samuel Barrington, Vice-ad. of the white, had his 
 flag on board her. She subsequently accompanied Lord Howe 
 to intercept the Dutch squadron, and was afterwards at the 
 relief of Gibraltar. In the subsequent encounter which took 
 place with the combined fleets of France and Spain, off Cape 
 Spartel, Oct. 20th, she was in the 1st or starboard division in 
 line of battle, which division was commanded by Vice-ad. 
 Barrington, whose flag-ship she then was. In this engage- 
 ment, she had 20 of her crew killed and wounded. After this 
 she returned to England, and was put out of commission. On 
 the commencement of the war with France, in 1793, she was 
 again put in service, being then under the orders of Capt. John 
 Ilolloway, and the flag-ship of Vice-ad. Lord Hotham, who 
 was appointed the second in command of the Mediterranean 
 fleet, under Lord Hood. On the return of the latter to Eng- 
 land in Nov., 1794, tbe command of the squadron became 
 invested in Vice-ad. Hotham, who was employed during the 
 winter in watching the enemy's ports, scouring their coasts, 
 and affording protection to British commerce, and in the 
 month of November, of the following year, she returned home, 
 
NOTES. 89 
 
 and was again laid up. In January, 1796, Capt. Shnldham 
 Pearl was appointed to her, and in May following he was suc- 
 ceeded by Capt. Thomas Foley, with Vice-ad. Sir Hyde 
 Parker's flag. In April, 1797, she was the flag-ship of Charles 
 Thomson, Vice-ad. of the blue, and was doing duty in the 
 Mediterranean, being one of the fleet stationed there, under 
 the command of Sir John Jervis, Admiral of the blue. In the 
 month of June, Capt. Edward Marsh was appointed to com- 
 mand her, shortly after which she Avas fitted up as a hospital- 
 ship, at Portsmouth, and placed under the orders of Lieut. 
 Matthew Connolly. In this capacity we find her in the year 
 1798 and 1799, and perhaps for several years later. In the 
 year 1803, on the commencement of hostilities, having been 
 thoroughly overhauled, she was placed under the command 
 of Earl ISTorthesk, and proceeded to the Channel, where she 
 served in the fleet stationed there till the following year, when 
 her capt., being promoted Eear-ad. of the white, he soon after 
 hoisted his flag on board her, and continued on the same 
 service till August, 1805, when he was detached with a squad- 
 ron, under Sir Eobert Calder, to reinforce the fleet of Admiral 
 Collingwood, off Cadiz. The Britannia was subsequently in 
 the engagement off Trafalgar, where she was the 4th ship in 
 the lee line in action, and in a short space of time completely 
 dismantled a French ship of 80 guns. She afterwards, singly, 
 engaged and kept at bay three of the enemy's van ships, that 
 were attempting to double upon the Victory, at that time 
 warmly engaged with two of the enemy, and much disabled. 
 
90 NOTES. 
 
 On this occasion the loss of the Britannia was 52 killed and 
 wounded. Soon after the engagement, the Britannia returned 
 to England, and was not again put into commission. She 
 appears to have been broken up about 1813, at which time we 
 find building at Plymouth a 120-gun ship of the same name, 
 the successor to the subject of our notice. 
 
 Charles Morice Pole was the 2d son of Reginald Pole, Esq., 
 of Stroke Damarell, and was born Jan. 18, 1757. He was 
 made lieut. in 1773, and obtained post-rank, March 22, 1779. 
 He was made Pear-admiral of the blue, June 1, 1795, Vice- 
 admiral in 1801, and knighted about the same time. In 1805 
 he was raised to Admiral of the blue, and in 1818 received 
 the Grand Cross of the Bath. He died about the year 1830. 
 
 (23) Sir Thomas Pye was made Capt., April 13, 1741. In 
 1745 he was one of the members of the court martial convened 
 at Port Mahon for the trial of Capt. Richard Norris. In 1748 
 he was appointed to the Norwich, in the following year to the 
 Ilumber, and in the year after was one of the members of the 
 court martial held for the trial of the mutineers on board the 
 Chesterfield. In Feb., 1752, he was appointed to the Advice, 
 of 50 guns, and sent to the West Indies as Commodore on that 
 station. He continued there until_175G, when he was super- 
 seded by Commodore Frankland. Charges having been made 
 against him by Mr. Frankland, our officer, in 1758, was brought 
 to a court martial at Portsmouth, when he was reprimanded 
 
NOTES. 91 
 
 for misconduct. In July following he was made Rear-ad. of 
 the blue; in 1759, Rear of the white; in 1760, Rear of the 
 red; and in 1762, was advanced to Vice-ad. of the blue. In 
 1764 he was appointed Port-admiral at Plymouth, and after 
 serving some time in that position, was again sent to the 
 Leeward Island station, where he remained until 1770, when 
 he returned home. On the 28th of October following, he was 
 made Vice-ad. of the red, and early the succeeding year was 
 sent to the Mediterranean as commander of a small squadron. 
 On his return home he was appointed commander-in-chief at 
 Portsmouth. On the 25th of June, 1773, when the king 
 reviewed the fleet and dockyards at that station, our officer 
 received the honor of knighthood, and w r as raised to the rank 
 of Admiral of the blue. On the 28th of Jan., 1778, he was 
 advanced to Admiral of the white, and in the same year he 
 acted as President of the court martial held at Portsmouth for 
 the trial of Admiral Keppel. In 1779 he again commanded at 
 Portsmouth, and in 1780 was made Lieut. -general of marines. 
 He died at Marylebone, Feb. 23, 1785. Admiral Pye was one 
 of those men of ordinary capacity, on whom fortune, not 
 merit, often bestows the highest honors. With an awkward 
 figure, and an address by no means pleasing, he was fond of 
 show, and much addicted to intrigue ; and to a narrow under- 
 standing and shallow attainments, he united an inordinate 
 degree of personal vanity and supercilious consequence. It is 
 painful to see one, who was never signalized by any brilliant 
 achievement, rise by rapid strides to naval rank, and the 
 
92 NOTES. 
 
 really brave and -worthy tar pine away in anguish and despair, 
 and die unnoticed and forgotten. 
 
 (24) The Peixcess Eoyal Indiaraan was captured by the 
 French in the Straits of Sunda, in the year 1793. At the time 
 of her capture, she was under the command of J. Ilorncastle. 
 
 (23) We find the following notices of two of these ships : 
 
 " The Ceres, Hawke, and other East India ships, arrived at 
 Crookhaven, in Ireland, in December, 1781." 
 
 Gentlemen's Magazine, 1781. 
 
 "The Hawke sailed for Bengal on the 16th of November, 
 1783, and was to be returned from thence to Bombay with a 
 cargo of rice, and then to proceed to China." 
 
 Gentlemen's Magazine, 1783. 
 
 (as) The English East India Company was incorporated by 
 Queen Elizabeth in 1600, and was empowered to carry on an 
 exclusive trade with "all those new countries to the eastward 
 of the Cape of Good Hope." About the year 1698, application 
 being made to Parliament by private merchants for laying this 
 trade open, an act was passed empowering every subject of 
 England, upon raising a sum for the supply of government, to 
 trade to those parts. Upon this, a great many persons sub- 
 scribed, and the association thus formed, was called the New 
 East India Company. The old company, being masters of all 
 the forts on the coast of India, the New Company found it 
 
NOTES. 93 
 
 to their interest to unite with them, which they did, and the 
 trade was henceforth carried on with the joint stock, under 
 the style of the United East India Company. The company 
 was formed for purely commercial purposes, and during the 
 first hundred and fifty years of its existence, retained its com- 
 mercial character, only comhiuing with it so much of warlike 
 enterprise and precaution as was necessary to secure its richly 
 laden ships from heing plundered by the fleets of pirates that 
 infested the Indian Seas, and its factories from being burnt or 
 pillaged in the never-ending wars and rebellions among the 
 native chiefs. The company, however, gradually became a 
 corporation of conquerors, and then assumed all the functions 
 of the government of an immense empire, surrendering gradu- 
 ally the operations of traffic to individual merchants, who 
 traded under the shelter of its power. The discipline prac- 
 ticed on board the East India ships was extremely severe. 
 The charter of the company expired within a few years past. 
 
 (27) The following articles we take from the newspapers of the day : 
 "Loxdox, August 5. 
 
 " As every Kebel, who is taken prisoner has incurred the 
 pain of death by the law martial, it is said that government 
 will charter several transports, after their arrival at Boston, to 
 carry the culprits to the East Indies for the Company's service, 
 as it is the intention of government only to punish the ring- 
 leaders and commanders cajyitally, and to suffer the inferior 
 
94 NOTES. 
 
 Kebels to redeem their lives by entering into the East India 
 Company's service. This translation will only render them 
 more useful subjects than in their native country." 
 
 * * * * * * H= 
 
 Holts 7 N. Y. Journal, Thurs., Oct. 19, 1775. No. 1711. 
 
 "A Letter from Benjamin Franklin and Silas Deane, 
 
 Esquires, to Lord Stormont, TnE English: Ambassador 
 
 at Paris. 
 
 Paris, April 2, 1777. 
 My Lord, — 
 
 "We did ourselves the honor of writing some time 
 since to your Lordship on the subject of exchanging prisoners; 
 you did not condescend to give us any answer, and therefore 
 we expect none to this : we however take the liberty of send- 
 ing you copies of certain depositions which we shall transmit 
 to Congress, whereby it will be known to your Court, that the 
 United States are not unacquainted with the barbarous treat- 
 ment their people receive when they have the misfortune of 
 being your prisoners here in Europe ; and that if your conduct 
 towards us is not altered, it is not unlikely that severe repri- 
 sals may be thought justifiable, from the necessity of putting 
 some check to such abominable practice. 
 
 For the sake of humanity it is to be wished that men would 
 endeavour to alleviate as much as possible the unavoidable 
 miseries attending a state of war. It has been said, that 
 among the civilized nations of Europe the ancient horrors of 
 that state are much diminished ; but the compelling men by 
 chains, stripes and famine to fight against their friends and 
 
NOTES. 95 
 
 relations, is a new mode of barbarity which your nation alone 
 has the honor of inventing, and the sending American prisoners 
 of war to Africa and Asia, remote from all probability of 
 exchange, and where they can scarce hope ever to hear from 
 their families, even if the unwholesomeness of the climate 
 does not put a speedy end to their lives, is a manner of treating 
 captives, that you can justify by no other precedent or custom, 
 except that of the black savages of Guinea. 
 
 We are, your Lordship's most obedient humble Servants, 
 
 B. Fkanklijt, 
 Lord Viscount S. Deane. 
 
 Stormoxt." 
 
 " To the above letter the following insolent reply was made : 
 " 'The King's Ambassador receives no Letters from Rebels, 
 except when they come to ask mercy.' " 
 
 Copy of the Depositions above eefereed to. 
 
 " The Deposition of Eliphalet Downer, Surgeon, taken in 
 the Yankee privateer, is as follows : 
 
 That after he was made prisoner by Captains Ross & Hodge, 
 who took advantage of the generous conduct of Capt. Johnson 
 of the Yankee to them his prisoners, and of the confidence he 
 placed in them in consequence of that conduct and their 
 assurances, he and his countrymen were closely confined, yet 
 assured that on their arrival in port they should be set at 
 liberty, and these assurances were repeated in the most solemn 
 manner, instead of which, on their approach to land they were, 
 
96 NOTES. 
 
 in the hot weather of August, shut up in a small cabin, the 
 windows of which were spiked down and no air admitted in, 
 so much that they were all in danger of suffocation from the 
 excessive heat. Three or four days after their arrival in the 
 river Thames, they were relieved from this situation in the 
 middle of the night, hurried on board a tender and sent 
 down to Sheerness, where the deponent was put into the 
 Ardent, and there falling sick of a violent fever in consequence 
 of such treatment, and languishing in that situation for some 
 time, he was removed still sick to the Mars, and notwithstand- 
 ing repeated petitions to be suffered to be sent to prison on 
 shore, he was detained until having the appearance of a morti- 
 fication in his legs, he was sent to Haslar hospital, from Avhence 
 after recovering his health, he had the good fortune to make 
 his escape. "While on board those ships and in the hospital, 
 he was informed and believes that many of his countrymen, 
 after experiencing even worse treatment than he, were sent to 
 the East Indies, and many of those taken at Quebec were sent 
 to the coast of Africa as soldiers." 
 
 " The Deposition of Captain Seth Clark, of Newbury Port, in 
 the State of Massachusetts-Bay, in America, is as follows : 
 
 That on his return from Cape Nlchola Mole to Newbury 
 Port, he was taken on the 17th of September last by an armed 
 
 Schooner in his Britannic Majesty's service, Coats, Esq., 
 
 Commander, and carried down to Jamaica ; on his arrival at 
 which place, he was sent on board the Squirrel, another armed 
 
NOTES. 97 
 
 vessel, Douglass, Esq., Commander, where, although 
 
 master and half owner of the vessel in which he was taken, 
 he was turned as a common sailor before the mast, and in that 
 situation sailed for England in the month of November, on the 
 25th of which month they took a schooner from Port a Pe to 
 Oharlestown, South Carolina, to which place she belonged, 
 when the owner Mr. Burt, and the master Mr. Bean, were 
 brought on board ; on the latter's denying he had any ship 
 papers, Capt. Douglass ordered him to be stripped, tied up and 
 then whipped with a wire cat of nine tails that drew blood 
 every stroke, and then on his saying that he had thrown his 
 papers over board; he was untied and ordered to his duty as a 
 common sailor, with no place for himself or people to lay on 
 but the decks. On their arrival at Spithead, the deponent 
 was removed to the Monarch, and there ordered to do duty as 
 a fore-mast man, and on his refusing on account of inability to 
 do it, he was threatened by the Lieutenant, a Mr. Stoney, 
 that if he spoke one word to the contrary, he should be 
 brought to the gang-way and there severely flogged. 
 
 After this he was again removed and put on board the Bar- 
 fleur, where he remained till the 10th of February. On board 
 this ship the deponent saw several American prisoners, who 
 were closely confined and ironed, with only four men's allow- 
 ances to six. These prisoners and others informed this depo- 
 nent that a number of American prisoners had been taken out 
 of the ship and sent to the East Indies and the coast of Africa, 
 which he was told would have been his fate, had he arrived 
 
98 NOTES. 
 
 sooner. This deponent further saith, That in Haslar hospital, 
 
 to which place, on account of sickness, he was removed from 
 
 the Barfleur, he saw a Captain Chase, of Providence, New 
 
 England, who told him, that he had been taken in a sloop of 
 
 which he was half owner and master, on his passage from 
 
 Providence to South Carolina, by an English transport, and 
 
 turned over to a ship of war, where he was confined in irons 
 
 13 weeks, insulted, beat and abused by the petty officers and 
 
 common sailors, and on being released from irons was ordered 
 
 to do duty as a fore-mast man until his arrival in England, 
 
 when being dangerously ill, he was sent to said hospital. 
 
 Paeis, March 30, 1777." 
 
 Pennsylvania Journal, Aug. G, 1777. 
 
 (as) The Jack is the fruit grown on the Jack tree, Artocaipus 
 jaca, and is eatable, being of a pleasant flavor. The Jack 
 belongs to the Artocarpece family, which are confined entirely 
 to the tropics. The fruit which was eaten by our hero and 
 his companion, and which is also confined to the tropics, was 
 the Manchineal, Hippomane mancinella, of the family of 
 Ficarium Cochinchinense, some of the fruit of which is eatable. 
 The Manchineal is very beautiful and attractive in its appear- 
 ance, and very pleasant when first tasted, but soon becomes so 
 caustic as to corrode the mouth, and occasions severe vomit- 
 ing, resulting in death. It is exceedingly poisonous, and is 
 often mistaken for the jaca. 
 
NOTES. 
 
 09 
 
 (29) "We find the following notice of this ship in one of the papers 
 of the day : 
 
 "London, Oct. 31. 
 
 Capt. Eogers, of the Stormont, East Indiainan, on her pas- 
 sage to St. Helena, took a French snow under American colors, 
 of which he first learned of hostilities being commenced 
 between England and France. Capt. Eogers, thinking himself 
 in danger of being taken, if he continued with his prize, 
 released her, joined the other ships, and acquainted them with 
 the dangerous situation they were in, but fortunately saw no 
 
 privateers or French men-of-war." 
 
 Holt's N. Y. Journal, Mon., March 1, 1779. 
 
 (30) The Renown was a 4th rate, carried 50 guns, and was 
 built in 1774 as successor to a 40-gun ship which had been 
 broken up. In 1775 our vessel was placed under the orders 
 of Capt. Francis Banks, and ordered to North America, and in 
 the following year she formed one of the fleet of Vice-ad. Lord 
 Howe on that station. In September she was one of the 
 squadron under Sir Peter Parker that co-operated with the 
 army under Sir William Howe, in the reduction of New York. 
 On the 18th day of June, 1777, Capt. Banks died while in 
 command of his vessel, and was succeeded by John Bour- 
 master. In the following year she was under the orders of 
 George Dawson, and in the month of August, was one of Lord 
 Howe's fleet off Sandy Hook, in the presence of the French 
 fleet. Here she fell in with the Tonnant, of 84 guns, and gave 
 her several broadsides, but other French vessels coming up, 
 
100 NOTES. 
 
 the Eenown was ohliged to sheer off. Subsequently she 
 engaged the Languedoc, of 90 guns, D'Estaing's own ship, 
 which had lost all her masts, and in that condition was met 
 by Oapt. Dawson, who attacked her with resolution, pouring 
 several broadsides into her, carrying away her rudder, and 
 doing her other damage, but the darkness of night prevented 
 him from taking her. On the 5th day of July, 1779, the 
 Eenown was one of a squadron, under Sir George Collier, that 
 co-operated with a body of troops, under Major-General 
 Try on, in the destruction of Fairfield, Norwalk and Greenfield, 
 and in February, 1780, she was one of a squadron that sailed 
 from New York, under Vice-ad. Arbuthnot, to co-operate with 
 Sir Henry Clinton in the reduction of Charleston, South Caro- 
 lina. In 1781 she was under the command of John Henry, 
 and in December of that year, she formed one of a squadron, 
 under Eear-ad. Kempenfelt, that was sent to intercept the 
 French West India convoy, which had sailed from Brest, under 
 the command of M. de Guichen. In 1782 and the following 
 year she was one of the squadron in North America, under 
 command of Eobert Digby, Eear-admiral of the red. She 
 returned to England at the establishment of peace, and in 1784 
 was undergoing repairs at Chatham. She appears to have 
 been broken up about 1796, in which year we find her successor, 
 a 74-gun ship, building at Dudman's Yard in Deptford. 
 
 Jonx Henry was made lieut., April 27, 1757, promoted to 
 commander, April 16, 1777, and raised to the rank of captain 
 
NOTES. 101 
 
 on the 22d day of November following. In 1778 he com- 
 manded the 24-gun ship Fowey, and in the month of May of 
 that year, in conjunction with a land force, under Major 
 Maitland, destroyed the American magazines then erecting in 
 the Delaware, and captured the 32-gun frigate "Washington 
 and 28-gun frigate Effingham, besides a brig and a sloop. In 
 1780 he was promoted to the Providence, of 32 guns, an 
 American frigate captured at Charleston, and in the following 
 year was appointed to the Eenown, of 50 guns, in which he 
 continued to the end of the war. Capt. Henry died on the 
 6th day of August, 1829. 
 
 (31) The SnARK was a British sloop of 16 guns, and was 
 launched at Hull in 1780. Her predecessor had been pur- 
 chased by Sir George Eodney, and sailed with him to the 
 "West Indies, but foundered on the way. Howell Lloyd, her 
 captain, and part of her crew perished. The sloop which is 
 the subject of our notice was in 1781 under the command of 
 Isaac Yailliant, and in the year following formed one of the 
 squadron in the "West Indies, under Commodore Johnston, at 
 which time she was commanded by Robert McDouall. In 
 1783 she was under the orders of John Maitland, and was 
 cruising in the North Seas, and in the succeeding year she was 
 commanded by Valentine Edwards, and employed on home 
 service. She continued under the latter commander for the 
 usual period, and was then put out of commission. In 1701 
 she was under the orders of Hon. A. K. Legge, and was 
 
102 NOTES. 
 
 employed as a cruiser in the English and Irish Channels until 
 1793, when, being under command of Scory Barker, she 
 formed one of the squadron of Sir Richard King, at Newfound- 
 land. She was subsequently under J. O'Brien, and during the 
 three following years was attached to the squadron of Sir 
 James "Wallace, who had succeeded King as commander on 
 that station. After this, she was on duty in the North Sea, 
 under Francis Warren, and she appears to have been succeeded 
 in 1799 by another sloop of the same name and force. 
 
 Isaac Vailliaxt was the eldest son of Paul Vailliant, an 
 eminent bookseller, who held at one time the office of Sheriff 
 of London. The subject of our note was made lieut., Nov. 25, 
 1761; commander, Oct. 8, 1777; and capt., Nov. 23, 1780. 
 In 1777 he commanded the Nabob, an armed vessel, and in 
 1780 was appointed to the sloop Shark. He was made a 
 superannuated Bear-admiral in 1799, and died at Riacknell 
 Banks, Oct. 25, 1S04, aged 65 years. 
 
 (32) This vessel was lost in November, 1805, near the island 
 of Fernando de Norhonha, in the South Atlantic Ocean. She 
 was then used as an artillery transport ship. Her crew and 
 the artillery troops that had embarked in her, were all taken 
 off before she sunk. Brig.-Gen. York, of the artillery, was 
 drowned while endeavoring to reach the shore. 
 
 (33) The AixpniTEiTE was registered as a sixth-rate, carried 
 24 guns, and was built in 1778. In the month of May she was 
 
NOTES. 103 
 
 commanded by Thos. Gaborian. la October. 1779, sbe was 
 under the command of Capt. James Montague, and was cruis- 
 ing off the coast of Spain. In 1780 sbe was under the orders 
 of Capt. Eobert Biggs, and was one of the squadron, under 
 Rear-admiral Thomas Graves, that sailed on the 17th of May 
 for America. In the year following she sailed from Sandy 
 Hook in Admiral Graves' fleet for the Chesapeake. In March, 
 1782, she took the brig Peggy from Virginia, bound to the 
 West Indies, with a cargo of flour, and in April following she 
 took the privateer ship Franklin. In October, in company 
 with another vessel, she captured two brigs laden with lum- 
 ber, a ship with silks, from Bilboa, and a privateer schooner, 
 as well as retook two brigs from Virginia, laden with tobacco. 
 She returned to England at the restoration of peace, and went 
 into repair at "Woolwich. In 1793 we find her again in com- 
 mission, she being then under the orders of Capt. Anthony 
 Hunt, 2d, and being one of a squadron of ships that sailed from 
 Spithead for the Mediterranean on the 22d of May, under the 
 command of Vice-ad. Lord Howe. She was wrecked soon 
 after reaching her station, by striking upon a sunken rock. 
 Her captain and crew were all saved. She was succeeded in 
 the navy by a 28-gun frigate that was formerly the Pomona, 
 built at Southampton in 1778 and broken up in 1811. 
 
 PvObeet Biggs was made lieut., Aug. 7, 1701 ; commander, 
 Jan. 10, 1771 ; and raised to the rank of captain, March 18, 
 1778. In 1771 he commanded the Grace, an armed cutter, 
 
10-i NOTES. 
 
 and in 1774 the sloop Favorite, of 16 guns. In 1778 he com- 
 manded the Lively, of 20 guns, and on the 8th day of July of 
 that year, having been ordered to watch the motions of the 
 French fleet off Brest, under Compte D'Orvilliers, upon a fog 
 clearing up, he found himself in the midst of the enemy, 
 whereupon he was compelled to strike his colors. In 1780 he 
 was appointed to the Amphitrite, of 24 guns, and ordered to 
 North America, on which station he remained till the end of 
 the war, when he returned home. He was made Rear-ad. of 
 the white in 1795, Yice-ad. of the blue in 1799, and in the 
 year following was raised to Vice-ad. of the white. He died 
 at Catisfield, Hants, on the 11th day of July, 1803. 
 
 (34) The AMPniou was a fifth-rate British frigate, mounting 
 32 guns, and was launched at Chatham, Dec. 25th, 1780. Her 
 dimensions were as follows: Length of gun-deck, 126 ft. 1 in.; 
 of keel, 104 ft. 3 in.; breadth, 35 ft.; depth, 12 ft. 2 in.; 
 tons, 679. As soon as she was equipped and ready for service, 
 she was placed under the command of Capt. John Bazely ; and 
 in the spring of 1781, in company with the Ostridge sloop of 
 war, commanded by Sir Jacob Wheate, and the armed ship 
 Britannia, convoyed to America 23 sail of transports, with 
 about 3,000 German troops, arriving at New York in the 
 month of August, after a passage of 93 days. On the 10th 
 day of September, she formed one of a small squadron, under 
 Capt. Bazely, which in conjunction with a land force, under 
 Gen. Arnold, destroyed the town of New London, with several 
 
NOTES. 105 
 
 magazines of stores, and all the shipping in the harbor. In 
 October following she was one of the fleet, under Rear-ad. 
 Digby, that sailed from New York to the relief of Cornwallis 
 at Yorktown. In the line of battle she was one of the frigates 
 attached to the centre division, whicli was under the com- 
 mand of Thomas Graves, Rear-ad. of the red. In the month 
 of February, 1782, being on a cruise, in company with the 
 Cyclops frigate, of 28 guns, she captured the Lamblaset, a 
 large French ship, of 1G guns, from Guadaloupe, bound to 
 Virginia, and in the following month she took the French 
 ship La Favourite, of 16 guns, bound from Bayonne in France, 
 to Philadelphia. In May, following, the Amphion made a 
 prize of the schooner Governor Livingston, Captain Moses 
 Griffin, bound from St. Vincent to Philadelphia, and in Novem- 
 ber she took a sloop, bound from St. Croix to Rhode Island, 
 where she was owned, commanded by Capt. "Whipple, and 
 laden with a valuable cargo of rum. The Amphion remained 
 on the American station, under Capt. Bazely, until the end of 
 the war, when she returned home. After being overhauled at 
 Woolwich, Capt. John Brown was appointed to her, and he 
 was succeeded by Capt. Henry Nichols, who in his turn gave 
 up the command to Capt. Herbert Sawyer, under whom, in 
 1793, she formed one of the fleet of Rear-ad. Kingsmill, on the 
 Irish station. In the following year she appears as one of the 
 squadron at Newfoundland, under Rear-ad. Sir James Wallace. 
 In 1795 Capt. Israel Pellew was appointed to her, under whom 
 she continued a short time at Newfoundland, and returned 
 
106 NOTES. 
 
 home the following year. She subsequently cruised a short 
 time in the Xorth Sea, and was then ordered to join the 
 squadron of frigates, under Sir Edward Pellew, employed oft' 
 the coast of France. On her way thither, having sustained 
 some damage in a hard gust of wind, she put into Plymouth 
 for repair. She anchored in the Sound, Sept. 19, 1796, and 
 went into the harbor the following morning. On the 22d, at 
 about half-past 4 p.m., a violent shock, like that of an earth- 
 quake, was felt at Stonehouse, and extended as far off as the 
 Royal Hospital and the town of Plymouth. The sky towards 
 the dock appeared red like the effect of a fire, and for nearly 
 a quarter of an hour the streets were crowded with people 
 running to and fro in the utmost consternation. When the 
 alarm and confusion had somewhat subsided, it was ascertained 
 that the shock had been caused by the explosion of the 
 Amphion. The upper works in the fore part of the ship had 
 been blown to atoms, and she had almost immediately sunk in 
 ten fathoms of water. As the ship was expected to sail the 
 next day, there were nearly 300 persons on board at the time 
 of the calamity. About 100 of these were visitors, who had 
 come to take leave of their friends and relatives before their 
 departure. Of the large number on board, not more than 40 
 were saved, and the greater portion of these were more or 
 less injured. Capt. Pellew, her commander, was severely 
 wounded, but recovered. Capt. Swaffield, of the Overyssel, 
 who was at dinner with him, was killed, as were also most of 
 the officers who were on board at the time. Several bodies 
 
NOTES. 107 
 
 were picked up by the boats. Most of tbose wbo remained 
 alive were conveyed in a mangled state to the Royal Hospital. 
 Arms, legs, and lifeless trunks were collected and deposited at 
 the Hospital for identification. As the ship had been originally 
 manned from Plymouth, the number of people who were 
 afterwards seen there in deep mourning for their lost relatives, 
 was truly melancholy. The explosion is supposed to have 
 been caused by the carelessness of the gunner in going among 
 the gunpowder, without using the necessary precautions. The 
 Amphion was succeeded by a frigate of the same name and 
 force, which was built at Betts' yard, in Mistleythorne, in the 
 year 1798. 
 
 John Bazely was born in Dover, in the county of Kent, 
 Eng., about 1740. He entered the navy in 1755, and became 
 lieut., April 7, 1760. On the 22d Sept., 1777, while in com- 
 mand of the Alert cutter, of 10 guns and GO men, he captured 
 the brig Lexington, of 16 guns and 84 men, of whom 7 were 
 killed and 11 wounded. The Alert had 2 killed and 3 wounded. 
 For this achievement he was promoted to the rank of com- 
 mander. On the 15th April, 1778, he was advanced to post- 
 captain in the Formidable, of 90 guns, the flag-ship of Sir 
 Hugh Palliser, in the fleet under the command of Admiral 
 Keppel. In the action off Brest on the 27th July, he was, of 
 course, present, and his ship had a greater number of killed 
 and wounded than any other of the fleet. Capt. Bazely was 
 subsequently moved to the Pegasus, of 28 guns. On the 8th 
 
108 NOTES. 
 
 Jan., 1780, he participated in the capture of a valuable Spanish 
 convoy, and on the lGth of the same month was engaged in 
 the action with the Spanish fleet off Cadiz. He afterwards, 
 for a short time, commanded the frigate Apollo, and was then 
 appointed to the Amphion, of 32 guns, in which he continued 
 to the end of the American war. On the return of peace he 
 was appointed to the Alfred, of 74 guns, then a guard-ship at 
 Chatham, and was subsequently under Howe in the memorable 
 engagement of 1st June, 1794. He afterwards moved to the 
 Blenheim, of 98 guns, and served in her, under Admiral, Lord 
 Hotham, in the Mediterranean. On the 1st June, 1795, he 
 was made Rear-ad. of the white, and by subsequent promotions 
 attained the rank of Vice-ad. of the red. He died at Dover, 
 April 6, 1809, at the age of 09 years. 
 
 ( 36 ) The "Jersey " was originally a British ship of the line. 
 She was registered as a 4th-rate, carried 60 guns, and was 
 built in 1736, as successor to a 50-gun ship, which had been 
 condemned as unfit for further duty. The first service of our 
 ship was in 1737, when she was one of the Channel fleet, under 
 Sir John Norris. In 1739 she was commanded by Edmund 
 Williams, and composed one of the Mediterranean fleet, under 
 Rear-admirals Nicholas Haddock and Sir Chaloner Ogle, and 
 she was subsequently one of the squadron that was designed 
 against Ferrol. In 1741 she was commanded by Peter Law- 
 rence, and in March of that year, she bore the flag of Sir 
 Chaloner Ogle, at which time she composed one of the fleet of 
 
NOTES. 109 
 
 Admiral Vernon, in his unsuccessful expedition against Car- 
 thagena. In 1743 Harry Norris was appointed to her, who 
 in 1744 was succeeded in command of her by Charles Hardy, 
 subsequently Governor of New York. Under this officer she 
 formed, in the following year, one of the Mediterranean fleet, 
 under Vice-admiral Rowley. On the 26th of July, while on a 
 cruise off Gibraltar, she fell in with the St. Esprit, a French 
 ship of 74 guns. An engagement ensued, and lasted for 2 % 
 hours, when the St. Esprit, being much damaged, was com- 
 pelled to sheer off. The Jersey being also much crippled, was 
 unable to pursue her, and accordingly put into Lisbon for 
 repair. She subsequently served in the Mediterranean fleet, 
 under Admiral Medley, and then returned home. In Oct., 
 1748, the Jersey was reported as a hulk, and in 1755, after 
 being put into repair at Chatham, and manned with a crew of 
 420 men, she was placed under the orders of Sir William 
 Burnaby, in anticipation of a rupture with France. In 1757 
 John Barker was appointed to her, and under him she formed 
 one of the Mediterranean fleet, under Henry Osborne, Admiral 
 of the blue. In 1759 she composed one of the fleet of Admiral 
 Boscawen, in his maneuvers against the French squadron, 
 under M. de la Clue, and she was one of the three ships that 
 made the unsuccessful attempt to cut away two of the enemy's 
 vessels in the harbor of Toulon. About the latter part of the 
 year Andrew Wilkinson was appointed to her, under whom 
 she composed one of the Mediterranean fleet, under Vice- 
 admiral Saunders, until near the termination of the war. In 
 
110 NOTES. 
 
 1760 William Dickson was appointed to command her as cap- 
 tain to Sir Richard Spry, who hoisted his flag on hoard, and 
 continued in her as commander of a small squadron in the 
 Mediterranean till 1768. In the following year she sailed 
 from Plymouth for Newfoundland, taking the Hon. John 
 Byron, the newly appointed Governor of that colony, as a 
 passenger, and hearing his flag on hoard. She returned home 
 at the end of the year and put into Chatham, where she was 
 soon after fitted up as a hospital-ship. She was placed under 
 the orders of Commander W. A. Ualstead, and sailed for 
 America in the spring of 1776, as one of the squadron of Com- 
 modore Hotham, arriving at Sandy Hook in the month of 
 August. She subsequently was used for a short time as a 
 store-ship, then employed again as a hospital-ship, and finally 
 fitted up as a prison-ship, in which capacity she remained till 
 the termination of the war, when she was broken up and sunk 
 off the Long Island shore, near the site of the present navy 
 yard. She was succeeded in the navy by a cutter of the same 
 name, which was launched in 1860. 
 
 For further particulars respecting her, the sufferings of the prisoners 
 on board, etc., see " Adventures of Christopher Hawkins," etc., 
 edited by Charles I. Bushnell. 8vo. pp. 316. N. Y., 1864. See also 
 Appendix to the present volume. 
 
 ( 3 e) Capt. Benjamin Ellingwood was the great-grandson 
 of Ralph Ellingwood, one of the first settlers of Beverly, Mass., 
 and was the son of Ebenezer Ellingwood. His mother's 
 
KOTES. Ill 
 
 maiden name was Elizabeth Corning. The subject of our 
 sketch was born in Beverly, Aug. 16, 1753, and died in the 
 "West Indies in the summer of 1792. The following is his 
 genealogy, taken from the Town Eecords : 
 
 Ralph Ellingwood, married Aug. 21, 1691. Had one son, viz. : 
 Ebenezer Ellingwood, born Aug. 29, 1697. Married Sarah Tuck, 
 
 March 23, 1719. Had one son, viz. : 
 Ebenezer Ellingwood, born Oct. 30, 1719. Married Elizabeth Corning, 
 
 May 24, 1744. Had one son, viz. : 
 Benjamin Ellingwood, born Aug. 16, 1753. Married Ann Clark, 
 
 Nov. 17, 1774. No children. He married Love Hilton, 
 
 Aug. 8, 1779. No descendants living. 
 
 ( 37 ) Cape Ann, a promontory in Essex Co., Mass. It derives 
 its name from Prince Charles, who gave it the name out of 
 respect to his mother, Queen Ann, the consort of James 1st. 
 Sandy Bay, now called Eockport, is on the north-easterly side 
 of the Cape, about four miles from the South Harbor. 
 
 ( 38 ) John Blatciifokd, Senr., the father of our hero, was 
 born in the southern part of England, about the year 1702. In 
 1716, when the river Thames was frozen over, and when 
 beeves were roasted and eaten on the ice, he was present with 
 hundreds of men and boys. " After the gentlemen had finished 
 their feast," as he himself used to say, " the boys were all 
 bountifully supplied." At this time he called himself 14 years 
 old. Some years after this remarkably cold winter, Mr. 
 Blatchford came to Portsmouth, N. H., where he resided 
 
112 NOTES. 
 
 several years, and then moved to Salem, Mass. He came to 
 Gloucester, now Eockport, on Cape Ann, about 1754. Here, 
 Jan. 7, 1755, lie married Eachel, daughter of Samuel and 
 Elizabeth Clark, of that place. For many years preceding his 
 death, Mr. Blatchford was very infirm, and bis wife being 
 unable to take care of him, they went to live with their 
 daughter Eachel. There Mrs. Blatchford died in the year 
 1800. Mr. Blatchford continued residing with his daughter 
 until 1809, when he died at the age of about 107 years. The 
 following were the names of his children : 
 
 1. Molly Married 1st. Mr. Craven. 2d. Joseph Tucker. 
 
 2. Joiin " Anna, d. of Nehemiah and Betsey Grover. 
 
 3. William Died young. 
 
 4. Kaciiel " Nathaniel Foster, of Woolwich, Me. 
 
 5. Samuel " Lydia, d. of Henry Clark, of Itockport. 
 
 6. Nathaniel.. " Abigail Cleveland, of Gloucester. 
 
 7. Henry " Hannah, d. of John and Anna Gamage, of Rockport. 
 
 8. Jonathan. . . Died young. 
 
 (39) We have stated that the maiden name of Mr. Blatch- 
 ford's wife was Anna Grover. This lady was born in 17G6, 
 and was the daughter of Nehemiah Grover, a farmer of Sandy 
 Bay, now Eockport. Her mother, Betsey Grover, was the 
 daughter of Nathaniel Gamage, by his wife Mary, daughter 
 of Joshua Norwood. 
 
 Mr. Blatchford died about the year 1794, leaving his widow 
 surviving him. In the year 1800 she married Edward Big- 
 gins, Jr., and he dying in 1805, she was again left a widow. 
 
NOTES. 113 
 
 She supported herself and children by weaving, until the 
 factories so affected the wheel and loom, that that trade 
 became no longer remunerative. She then devoted a part of 
 her time to nursing the sick, in which occupation she was held 
 in great repute. She is represented as having been of an 
 amiable disposition, of industrious habits, and possessed of 
 many endearing qualities. She died on the fourth day of 
 March, 1841, at the age of 75 years. 
 
 Her children by Mr. Blatchford were as follows : 
 
 Nancy born 1764 Died young. 
 
 Rachel... " 178G married Francis Hilton, of Gloucester 
 
 She is still living. 
 
 William.. " 1788.... " 1st. Betsey Foster. 2d. Mrs. Mary 
 
 Tarr, of Rockport. He died, Jan. 20, 1864. 
 
 John " 1790 " Margaret Oakes Soper, of Rockport. 
 
 He is still living. 
 
 For the following additional particulars, we are indebted to the 
 kindness of Miss Betsie F. Andrews, of Rockport, Mass. 
 
 Eachel Blatchfokd, eldest child of John Blatchford and 
 Anna (Grover) Blatchford, that arrived at maturity, was 
 born in Rockport in 1786. Married Francis Ililton, of Glou- 
 cester, who died at Rockport, 1812. Mrs. Hilton has since 
 remained a widow, and is at this date (18G5) living with 
 her daughter, Sarah, in Cambridge, Mass. Her children are 
 as follows : 
 
 1. Francis born 180G. .married, 1st, Mary Pew. 2d, Sarah Tappau. 
 
 Still living in Gloucester. 
 
114 NOTES. 
 
 2. Sarah born 1803. .married, 1st, DavidMellen. 2d, James Hilton. 
 
 Still living in Cambridge. 
 
 3. William... " 1810. .unmarried Died. 
 
 4. IsaacTull. " 1810. .married, 1st, Ehoda Poole. He died and his 
 
 widow married Chas. Marchant, who died. 
 
 William Blatchfohd, brother of the preceding, was born 
 in Rockport, 1788; married (1814), 1st, Betsey Foster, 
 daughter of Nathaniel and Rachel Foster, of Rockport, who 
 died, Jan., 1831. 2d, (1833) Mary Tarr, widow of Robert 
 Tarr, and daughter of George and Sally Gott, all of Rockport. 
 "William Blatchford was a resident of Rockport, and was a 
 very enterprising seaman. In 1799, when only 11 years of 
 age, he served on board the " Congress." When past 70 
 years old, he received a land warrant for that service. He 
 died, Jan. 20, 1864. His children were — 
 
 By his first marriage. 
 
 1. Caroline Preble, .born June 20, 1815 Died young. 
 
 2. William " July 17, 1817. .married Ellen Eeid, of Pat- 
 
 erson, N. J. 
 
 3. Mary Pollard ... . " Feb. 22, 1819. . " Charles Nute, of 
 
 Dover, N. H. 
 
 4.John " Aug.13,1821.. " Lydia White, of 
 
 Casco, Me. 
 
 5. A Daughter " July 15, 1823. . Died an infant. 
 
 6. Nancy G " Sept. 5, 1825. . " John Pittee. 
 
 7. Elizabeth " Sept. 8, 1827. . " Daniel Merrill, of 
 
 Buxton, Me. 
 
 8. Dudley Choate ... " Dec. 12, 1829. . " Mary Ann Babson, 
 
 of Bockport. 
 
 9. Nathaniel Foster. " Nov. 29, 1831. . " Mary Findlay. 
 
NOTES. 115 
 
 By his second marriage. 
 
 1. Benjamin Franklin, .born Jan. 1835. .married Emily Snow. He 
 
 served in the War for the Union in 
 2d Mass. Artillery, and was promoted 
 1st lieut. for gallant conduct. 
 
 2. Lucy Sanborn " Sept. 8,1838 Died young. 
 
 3. Louisa Foster " Nov. 29, 1841. . .married Henry Martin 
 
 Lowe, of Rockport, who served in 
 the War for the Union. 
 
 Capt. Jonx Blatciiford, brother of the preceding, and the 
 youngest of the children of John Blatchford, and Anna his wife, 
 was horn in Rockport, 1790 ; married, 1809, Margaret Oakes, 
 daughter of Benjamin Soper. Mr. and Mrs. Blatchford are 
 still living in Rockport, in the State of Massachusetts. Their 
 children are as follows : 
 
 1. Charlotte Foster born Dec. 1, 1809. .married, 1st, Lemuel 
 
 Norwood, keeper of the 
 "Light" on Eastern Point, 
 Gloucester. 2d, Daniel Nor- 
 wood, of Gloucester. 
 
 2. Margaret Oakes born Dec. 16, 1811. .married William Thurs- 
 
 ton, of llockport. 
 
 3. John " Oct. 15,1812 Died young. 
 
 4. Sally Foster " Apl. 21, 1814. .married John Hoble, of 
 
 Eockport. 
 
 5. Caroline Treble " Apl. 2S, 1817. .married Benjamin Soper 
 
 Marshall, Jr., of llockport. 
 G. Mary Choate " Feb. 4, 1821.. married Albert Giddings 
 
 Hale. 
 7. Sophia Andrews " Oct. 5,1823 Died young. 
 
116 
 
 NOTES. 
 
 8. Nancy Tarr born July 2G, 1826. .married James Munroe 
 
 Montgomery, of Boothbay, Me. 
 O.John " Oct. 15, 1827 Died young. 
 
 10. Zelinda Goss " Aug. 26, 1828. .married Benjamin Reed 
 
 Montgomery, of Boothbay, Me. 
 
 11. Louisa Maria Mei.len. " Dec. 11, 1833. .married David Parsons 
 
 Boynton, Jr., of Rockport, who 
 served in Co. B, 50th Regt. 
 Mass. Vols., in War for the 
 Union, and died in Rockport, 
 Nov. 3, 1863. 
 
 12. Betsey Foster " Mar. 11, 1836. .married John Edmunds, 
 
 of Bockport. 
 
APPENDIX. 
 
 The DESTRUCTIVE OPERATION Of FOUL AlE, TAINTED PRO- 
 VISIONS, bad "Water, and personal Filthiness, upon human 
 Constitutions ; exemplified in the unparalleled Cmelty of the 
 British to the American Captives at New-York during the 
 Revolutionary War, on Board their Prison and Hospital 
 Ships. By Captain Alexander Coffin, Jun., one of the sur- 
 viving Sufferers: In a Communication to Dr. Mitciiill, 
 dated September 4, 1S07. 
 
 SHALL furnish you with au account of the 
 treatment that I, with other of my fellow 
 citizens received on board the Jersey and John 
 prison ships; those monuments of British 
 barbarity and infamy. I shall give you nothing but a plain 
 simple statement of facts that cannot be controverted. And 
 I begin my narrative from the time of my leaving the South- 
 Carolina frigate. 
 
 In June, 1782, I left the above mentioned frigate in the 
 Havanna, on board of which ship I had long served as a mid- 
 shipman, and made several trading voyages. I sailed early in 
 September from Baltimore for the Havanna, in a fleet of about 
 forty sail, most of which were captured, and we among the 
 rest, by the British frigate Ceres, Captain Hawkins, a man in 
 
118 APPENDIX. 
 
 every sense of the word a perfect brute. Although our com- 
 mander. Captain Hughes, was a very gentlemanly man, he was 
 treated in the most shameful and abusive manner by said 
 Hawkins, and ordered below to mess with the petty officers. 
 Our officers were put in the cable-tier with the crew, and a 
 guard placed at the hatchway to prevent more than two going 
 on deck at a time, and that only for the necessary calls of 
 nature. The provisions served out to us were of the very 
 worst kind, and very short allowance even of that. They fre- 
 quently gave us pea-soup, that is, pea-water, for the pease and 
 tbe soup, all but about a gallon or two, were taken out for 
 the ship's company, and the coppers filled up with water, and 
 just warmed and stirred together, and brought down to us in 
 a strap-tub. And, Sir, I might have defied any person on 
 earth, possessing the most acute olfactory powers, and the 
 most refined taste, to decide, either by one or the other, or 
 both of those senses, whether it was pease and water, slush 
 and water, or swill. After living and being treated in this 
 way, subject to every insult and abuse for ten or twelve days, 
 we fell in with the Champion British twenty-gun ship, which 
 was bound to New York to refit, and were all sent on board 
 of her. The Captain was a true seaman and a gentleman ; and 
 our treatment was so different from what we had experienced 
 on board the Ceres, that it was like being removed from pur- 
 gatory to paradise. His name, I think, was Edwards. We 
 arrived about the beginning of October at New-York, and were 
 immediately sent on board the prison-ship in a small schooner 
 
APPENDIX. 119 
 
 called, ironically enough, the Relief, commanded hy one 
 Gardner, an Irishman. This schooner Relief plied between 
 the prison-ship and New-York, and carried the water and 
 provisions from the city to the ship. In fact, the said 
 schooner might emphatically be termed the Relief for the 
 execrable water and provisions she carried relieved many of 
 my brave but unfortunate countrymen by death, from the 
 misery and savage treatment they daily endured. Before I go 
 on to relate the treatment we experienced on board the 
 Jersey, I will make one remark, and that is, that if you were 
 to rake the infernal regions, I doubt whether you could find 
 such another set of daemons as the officers and men who had 
 charge of the old Jersey prison-ship. And, Sir, I shall not be 
 surprised if you, possessing those finer feelings which I believe 
 are interwoven in the composition of man, and which are not 
 totally torn from the piece, till, by a long and obstinate per- 
 severance in the meanest, the basest, and cruelest of all human 
 arts, a man becomes lost to every sense of honour, of justice, 
 of humanity, and common honesty ; — I shall not be surprised, 
 I say, if you, possessing those finer feelings, should doubt 
 whether men could be so lost to their sacred obligations to 
 their God, and the moral ties which ought to bind them to 
 their duty toward their fellow men, as those men were, who 
 had the charge, and also those who had any agency in the 
 affairs of the Jersey prison-ship. On my arrival on board the 
 old Jersey, I found there about eleven hundred prisoners; 
 many of them had been therefrom three to six months, but few 
 
120 APPENDIX. 
 
 lived over that time if they did not get away by some means or 
 other. They were generally in the most deplorable situation, 
 mere walking skeletons, without money, and scarcely clothes to 
 cover their nakedness, and overrun with lice from head to foot. 
 The provisions, Sir, that were served out to us was not more 
 than four or five ounces of meat, and about as much bread, all 
 condemned provisions from their ships of war, which no doubt 
 were supplied with new in their stead, and the new in all pro- 
 bability charged by the commissaries to the Jersey. They, 
 however, knoic best about that ; and however secure they may 
 now feel, they will have to render an account of that business 
 to a Judge who cannot be deceived. This fact, however, I can 
 safely aver, that both the times that I was confined on board 
 the prison-ship, there never were provisions served out to the 
 prisoners that would have been eatable by men that were not 
 literally in a starving situation. The water that we were 
 forced to use was carried from this city ; and I positively 
 assert, that I never, after having followed the sea thirty years, 
 had on board of any ship), (and I have been three years on some 
 of my voyages) water so bad as that we were obliged to use on 
 board the old Jersey ; when there was, as it were to tantalize 
 us, as fine water, not more than three cables length from us, at 
 the mill in the Wallabout, as was perhaps ever drank. 
 
 There were hogs kept in pens on the gun-deck by the officers 
 of the prison-ship for their own use ; and I have seen the 
 prisoners watch an opportunity, and with a tin pot steal the 
 bran from the hogs' trough, and go into the galley, and when 
 
APPENDIX. 121 
 
 they could get an opportunity, boil it on the fire, and eat it as 
 you, Sir, would eat of good soup when hungry . This I have 
 seen more than once, and there are those noio living beside me 
 who can bear testimony to the same fact. There are many 
 other facts equally abominable that I could mention, but the 
 very thought of those things brings to my recollection scenes 
 the most distressing. "When I reflect how many hundreds of 
 my brave and intrepid brother- seamen and countrymen I have 
 seen in all the bloom of health, brought on board of that ship, 
 and in a few days numbered with the dead, in consequence of 
 the savage treatment they there received ; I can but adore my 
 Creator that he suffered me to escape ; but I did not escape, 
 Sir, without being brought to the very verge of the grave. 
 This was the second time I was on board, which I shall men- 
 tion more particularly hereafter. Those of us who had money 
 fared much better than those who had none. I had made out 
 to save, when taken, about twenty dollars, and with that I 
 could buy from the bumboats that were permitted to come 
 along side, bread, fruit, &c, but, Sir, those bumboatmen were 
 of the same kidney with the officers of the Jersey ; we got 
 nothing from them without paying through the nose for it, and 
 I soon found the bottom of my purse ; after which I fared no 
 better than the rest. I was, however, fortunate in another 
 respect ; for after having been there about six weeks, two of 
 my countrymen, (I am a Nantucket man) happened to come to 
 New- York to endeavour to recover a whaling sloop that had 
 been captured, with a whaling licence from Admiral Digby ; 
 
122 APPENDIX. 
 
 and they found means to procure my release, passing me for a 
 Quaker, to which I confess I had no pretensions further than 
 my mother being a member of that respectable society. Thus, 
 Sir, I returned to my friends fit for the newest fashion, after 
 an absence of three years. For my whole wardrobe I carried 
 on my back, which consisted of a jacket, shirt, and trousers, a 
 pair of old shoes, and a handkerchief served me for a hat, and 
 had more than two months, for I lost my hat the day we were 
 taken, from the main-top-gallant-yard, furling the top-gallant- 
 sail. My clothes, I forgot to mention, were completely laced 
 with locomotive tinsel, and moved, as if by instinct, in all 
 directions ; but as my mother was not fond of such company, 
 she furnished me with a suit of my father's, who was absent 
 at sea, and condemned my laced suit for the benefit of all 
 concerned. 
 
 Being then in the prime of youth, about eighteen years of 
 age, and naturally of a roving disposition, I could not bear the 
 idea of being idle at home. I therefore proceeded to Provi- 
 dence, Rhode Island, and shipping on board the brig Betsey 
 and Polly, Captain Kobert Folger, bound for Virginia and 
 Amsterdam, we sailed from Newport early in February, 1783 ; 
 and were taken five days after off the capes of Virginia, by the 
 Fair American privateer, of this port, mounting sixteen sixes, 
 and having eighty-five men, commanded by one Burton, a 
 refugee, most of whose officers were of the same stamp. We 
 were immediately handcuffed two and two, and ordered into 
 the hold in the cable-tier. Having been plundered of our 
 
APPENDIX. 123 
 
 beds and bedding, the softest bed we had was the soft side of 
 a water cask and the coils of a cable. The Fair American 
 haying been handsomely dressed by an United States vessel of 
 one half of her force, was obliged to put into New- York, then 
 in possession of the British enemy, to refit ; and we arrived 
 within the Hook about the beginning of March, and were put 
 on board a pilot boat and brought up to this city. The boat 
 hauled along side of the Crane-wharf, where we had our irons 
 knocked off, the marks of which I carry to this day ; and were 
 put on board the same schooner Belief mentioned in a former 
 part of this narrative, and sent up once more to the prison- 
 ship. It was just three months from my leaving the old Jersey, 
 to my being again a prisoner on board of her ; and on my 
 return I found but very few of those whom I had left three 
 months before ; some had made their escape ; some had been 
 exchanged; hut the greater part had taken up their abode 
 tender the surface of that hill which you can see from your 
 windows, where their bones are mouldering to dust, and 
 mingling with mother earth; a lesson to Americans, written in 
 capitals, on British cruelty and injustice. I found, on my 
 return on board the Jersey, more prisoners than when I left 
 her ; and she being so crowded, they were obliged to send about 
 two hundred of us on board the John, a transport ship of about 
 three hundred tons. There we were treated worse, if possible, 
 than on board the Jersey ; and our accommodations were infi- 
 nitely %oorse,for the Jersey being an old condemned sixty-four 
 gun ship, had two tier of ports fore and aft, airports and large 
 
124 APPENDIX. 
 
 hatchicays, which gave a pretty free circulation of air through 
 the ship ; whereas the John "being a merchant ship, and with 
 small hatchways, and no ports, and the hatches laid doion every 
 night, and no man allowed during the night to go on deck, all 
 exonerations were of course made below ; the effluvia arising 
 from these, together with the already contaminated air occa- 
 sioned by the breath of so many people so pent up together, 
 was enough to destroy men of the most healthy and robust 
 constitutions. All the time' I was on board this ship not 
 a prisoner eat his allowance, bad as it was, cooked, more than 
 three or four times ; but eat it raw as it came out of the barrel. 
 These, /Sir, are stubborn facts that cannot be controverted. 
 In the middle of this ship, between decks, was raised a plat- 
 form of boards about two and a half feet high, for those 
 prisoners to sleep on who had no hammocks. On this they 
 used frequently to sit and play at cards to pass the time. One 
 night in particular, several of us sat to see them play till about 
 ten o'clock, and then retired to our hammocks, and left them 
 playing ; about one A. M. we were called and told that one 
 Bird was dying ; we turned out and went to where he lay, 
 and found him just expiring. Thus, at ten P. M. this young 
 man was apparently as well as any of us, and at one A. M. had 
 paid the debt to nature. Many others went off in the same 
 way. It will perhaps be said that men may die suddenly any 
 where. True ; but do they die suddenly any where from the 
 same cause? After all these things, it is, I think, impossible 
 for the mind to form any other conclusion than that there was 
 
APPENDIX. 125 
 
 a premeditated design to destroy as many Americans as they 
 could on board of their prison-ships; the treatment of the 
 prisoners warrants the conclusion ; but it is mean, base and 
 cowardly, to endeavour to conquer an enemy by such infamous 
 means, and truly characteristic of base and cowardly wretches. 
 The truly brave will always treat their prisoners well. There 
 Avere two or three hospital ships near the prison ships ; and 
 so soon as any of the prisoners complained of being sick, they 
 were sent on board of one of them ; and I verily believe that 
 not one out of a hundred ever returned or recovered. I am 
 sure I never knew but one to recover. Almost (and in fact I 
 believe I may safely say) every morning a large boat from each 
 of the hospital ships went loaded with dead bodies, which were 
 all tumbled together into a hole dug for the purpose, on the hill 
 inhere the national navy-yard now is. A singular affair hap- 
 pened on board of one of those hospital-ships, and no less true 
 than singular. All the prisoners that died after the boat with 
 the load had gone ashore, were sewed up in hammocks, and 
 left on deck till the next morning. As usual, a great number 
 had thus been disposed of. In the morning, while employed 
 in loading the boat, one of the seamen perceived motion in one 
 of the hammocks, just as they were about launching it down 
 the board placed for that purpose from the gunwale of the 
 
 ship into the boat, and exclaimed, D n my eyes, that fellow 
 
 is not dead ; and, if I have been rightly informed, and I believe 
 I have, there was quite a dispute between this man and the 
 others about it. They swore he was dead enough, and should 
 
126 APPENDIX. 
 
 go into the boat; he swore he should not be launched, as they 
 termed it, and took his knife and ripped open the hammock, 
 and behold ! the man was really alive. There had been a 
 heavy rain during the night, and as the vital functions had 
 not totally ceased, but were merely suspended in consequence 
 of the main spring being out of order, this seasonable moisten- 
 ing must have given tone and elasticity to the great spring, 
 which must have communicated to the lesser ones, and put 
 the whole machinery again in motion. You know better 
 about these things than I do, and can better judge of the 
 cause of the re-animation of this man from the circumstances 
 mentioned. He was a native of Rhode-Island ; his name was 
 Gavot. He went to Rhode-Island in the same flag of truce 
 with me about a month afterwards. I felt extremely ill, but 
 made out to keep about till I got home (my parents then lived 
 on the island of Nantucket) ; was then taken down, and lay 
 in my bed sis weeks in the most deplorable situation ; my 
 body was swelled to a great degree, and my legs were as big 
 round as my body now is, and affected with the most excruci- 
 ating pains. "What my disorder was I will not pretend to say ; 
 but Dr. Tupper, quite an eminent physician, and a noted tory, 
 who attended me, declared to my mother that he knew of 
 nothing that would operate in the manner that my disorder 
 did but poison. For the truth of this I refer to my father and 
 brothers, and to Mr. Henry Coffin, father to Captain Peter 
 Coffin, of the Manchester Packet of this port. 
 Thus, Sir, in some haste, without much attention to order 
 
APPENDIX. 127 
 
 or diction, I have given you part of the history of my life and 
 sufferings ; but I endeavoured to bear them as became an 
 American. And I must mention, before I close, to the ever- 
 lasting honour of those unfortunate Americans who were on 
 board the Jersey prison-ship, that notwithstanding the savage 
 treatment they received, and death staring them in tbe face, 
 every attempt (which was very frequent) that the British 
 made to persuade them to enter on board their ships of war 
 or in their army, was treated with the utmost contempt ; and 
 I never knew, while I was on board, but one instance of 
 defection, and that person was hooted at and abused by the 
 prisoners till the boat was out of hearing. The patriotism in 
 preferring such treatment, and even death in its most frightful 
 shapes, to the serving the British, and fighting against their 
 own country, has seldom been equalled, certainly never 
 excelled. And if there be no monument raised with hands 
 to commemorate the virtue of those men, it is stamped 
 in capitals on the heart of every American acquainted with 
 their merit and sufferings, and will there remain so long as the 
 blood flows from its fountain. 
 
 Medical Repository, Vol. xi., or Vol. v. of2dHexadc,pp. 260-207. 
 
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