Price Three Coppers. Published every Day, Sunday excepted.
Containing the Freshest Accounts, however long upon the Road.
Boston, September 25
The following deposition, sworn this day at Boston before a justice of the peace, was printed in the Pennsylvania Journal of this city of the 9th instant.
I Elisha Cole, master of the schooner Triton, bound from Kennebec to Cape Francois, testify and declare, that on the twentieth day of July last, I was taken by the Milford man of war, John Burr commander, who took from me my bed, bedding, sea cloaths, and every thing else, except what I had in my chest; when I got on board Capt. Burr he asked me, after taking my papers, where my money was, I answered that I had not any, then he ordered his Clerk to search me, and I was searched accordingly: He then took away my watch but returned it. Next morning the Captain called for me and demanded the key of my chest, and when opened, took every thing out of it to search for money, finding none, they gave me the chest, and ordered me to carry it to my birth. — On the twenty fifth of July we discovered a ship, which he took near Newbury-Barr. — Capt. Burr then ordered me to the fourth gun, and the opposite forward, and compelled me to go, which I was obliged to do after a long dispute, and my mate and all my men were put on the ship's books and compelled to do duty, and obliged to fight against their American brethren, as are all the prisoners they take, which I often heard the officers of the Milford declare. I left Halifax the eleventh day of August, leaving my mate and men all on board the Milford. — I told Capt. Burr our people gave the masters, mates, &c. their adventures, and it was very hard to have my all taken from me. He replied he could not do it, his people would not allow it, and swore by God he would not give me any thing. — The Yankey Hero's men, by the information of the steward and others belonging to the Milford, had but three quarters of the common allowance of provisions to seamen for their support, and no allowance of cloathing.
Elisha Cole
Suffolk, ss. Elisha Cole made oath to the truth of the above deposition, by him subscribed before me.
Boston, Sept. 25, 1776
Joseph Greenleaf, J. P.
Massachusetts-Bay, Council Chamber, October 9.
The orders given at Boston on the 5th instant, by which Captains Souther, Samson and Williams, commanders of State vessels of war, were to proceed towards Nantucket, as printed in this paper of the 12th, were this day laid before the Council of that State, who approve of the same. The Council at the same time ordered Mr. Timothy Parsons, Agent for the Eastern District, who had taken possession of the prize lately taken by Captain Souther, of the brigantine Massachusetts, and sent into Townsend, and had removed her from thence to Wiscasset, and there detained her, "which the captors apprehend may be very detrimental to their interest", to deliver the said prize to Captain Souther, or to his order, to be conveyed to such port in that State as he may think most conducive to the interest of all concerned.
Philadelphia, October 14
The Council of Safety, having this day received from Congress a copy of a letter from General Lee, wrote to the Commodore, directing him to get the Fleet in a proper state of defence; and to Samuel Morris, jun. Esq., requesting him to send up the ammunition sloop, and supply himself with a shallop in her stead, to assist in sinking the chevaux-de-frise at Billingsport; and an express was despatched with the intelligence to Mr. Henry Fisher, at Lewistown, directing him to send two fast-sailing boats as far as Egg-Harbour, to give intelligence of the movements of the enemy, to forward to the Council any discoveries that are made, and to direct the signals to be attended to.
In the evening the Council resolved, that a bounty of ten dollars be given to every able-bodied man who shall enter to serve during the war on board the Fleet belonging to this State, and that Commodore Seymour be directed to take the most effectual measures for manning the Fleet to its full complement.
A complaint being made by Captain Sharp Delany, that one John Brigs, of Chester County, had insulted his company of militia returning into town from exercise, the said Brigs appeared before the Council, and being charged with making use of "disrespectful words against the liberties of America," and "not denying the same," was committed to the State Prison.
The Council the same day resolved, "That the several Colonels of the Associators in this State, do, as soon as possible, make return to the Council of Safety of the number of Arms and Accoutrements in their respective Battalions, that this Board may take proper measures to supply their deficiencies." A number of the public arms are to be delivered to the commanding officers of the battalions of the City and Liberties on their application, the captains entering in a book the name of each Associator who receives one, with the number or mark of his musket; John Brady and John Harris were appointed captains in the Twelfth Battalion of Foot to be raised in this State for the Continental service; and fifty pounds of copper were ordered for the use of the Salt Works.
Mount Washington, September 26
Extract of a letter from Mount Washington, dated September 26.
In a skirmish on Montresor's Island, on the morning of the 23d of September, was killed, Major Thomas Henly, Aid-de-Camp to Major-General Heath. This young hero was a native of Charlestown, near Boston, of an ancient and reputable family. He was in England when the news of the battle of Lexington arrived there. He instantly flew to the assistance of his country, and immediately entered into the Continental service, in the regiment commanded by Colonel Varnum, from which he was transferred to the corps of Artillery, commanded by Colonel Knox, as Lieutenant and Adjutant. In this active situation he was beloved and respected by the officers, of not only his own corps, but the whole army, and his reputation as a good officer was such, that, a few days before his death, he was promoted to be first Aid-de-Camp to Major-General Heath. It was proposed to surprise a guard of the enemy's, on Montresor's Island, and as he was impatient for enterprise, he solicited to be of the party, and was in the first and only boat that landed. The other boats appointed to support the party, failed in their duty, by which those who had first landed, after having first obliged the enemy to retreat, were in their turn under the necessity to retire; at this moment, Major Henly received the fatal ball through the heart. Lieutenant-Colonel Jackson was wounded, and Captain Hubbart, Paymaster of Colonel Sargent's regiment, killed. The genius of America starts as from a trance, at her neglect to guard the lives of a Knowlton and a Henly; and then absorbed in melancholy, sighs, "it was a mistake, they were not to have fallen, only upon the decision of the fate of an empire."
Philadelphia, October 14
Congress this day resolved, that the sum of 500,000 dollars be immediately sent to the pay master general, that he may be enabled to pay the bounty to such of the troops as shall re-inlist to serve during the war; and that the Board of War be directed to give orders to the Virginia troops, on their march to New-York, to halt at Trenton, till farther orders.
The committee appointed to hear and determine the appeal of Joshua Wentworth, Esq., for the United States and for the captors in the armed vessels Hancock, Lee and Lynch, against the decree of the court maritime of New-Hampshire restoring the brigantine Elizabeth to the claimants, brought in their report, and Congress agreed to the same. Crean Brush, Esq., under commissions from General Gage and General Howe, had put the claimants' goods, amongst others, into the Elizabeth, which sailed for Halifax under convoy of the Niger, and having parted from her convoy was retaken, and carried into Piscataqua river. The sentence is reversed, and the brigantine, and such of her cargo as was claimed, are to be restored to the claimants upon their paying one twelfth part of the value to the United States and the re-captors; and Congress further resolved, that such part of the twelfth as belongs to the United States be released, and given up to the owners of the goods.
On the report of the Board of War, Congress approved of General Washington's appointing Monsr. P. Penet his aid de camp by brevet, and desired the several states in which prisoners have been lodged to furnish an account of the expences they have incurred on their account. Upon queries proposed by the Board of Treasury, it was resolved, "That no allowance be made to officers for any arms lost or taken from them by the enemy"; and that the allowance to officers of a bounty for enlisting soldiers be not extended to the re-inlistment of the soldiers in camp. The colonels of the New-Jersey militia are to make out pay rolls of such of their troops as were called into the continental service and have not been paid by the convention, one penny a mile being allowed, in lieu of rations, to such men as paid their own expences on their march to and from the camp.
A committee of three, Mr. R. H. Lee, Mr. Wilson and Mr. Hall, was appointed to devise ways and means for supplying the treasury with a farther sum of money; and another, Mr. Wilson, Mr. R. H. Lee and Mr. Huntington, "to consider what is to be done with negroes taken by vessels of war, in the service of the United States". The committee on the state of the prisoners brought in a report, which was read, and ordered to lie on the table.
Letters were read from General Lee, General Gates, General Mercer, Joseph Trumbull and General Washington.
Perth-Amboy, October 8
Head-Quarters, Perth-Amboy, October 8, 1776.
Colonel Slough's Battalion of Pennsylvania Associators having done their duty as good soldiers, are hereby dismissed the service of the States, and are permitted to return home from Elizabethtown on Monday next.
SAMUEL GRIFFIN, Dep. Ad. Gen.
Perth-Amboy, October 12
Head-Quarters, Perth-Amboy, October 12, 1776.
Colonel Allison's battalion of Pennsylvania Associators having done their duty while in camp as good and orderly soldiers, and furnished their full complement for the Flying-Camp, are hereby dismissed the service of the States, and permitted to return home.
SAMUEL GRIFFIN, Deputy Adjutant-General.
Newark, October 12
Last Thursday se'nnight, Captain Coffin and Grennell, with a boy, made their escape from Staten-Island in a canoe, and got safe to Bergen Point, and from thence came to this place Saturday. The former was taken going from New-York to Nantucket, some months since; and the latter, on the 28th of August, in latitude 33° 30', longitude 66° 20', in a brig from the Western Islands for Nantucket, by a new English twenty-gun ship, called the Galatea, John Jones, Esq., commander, sheathed with copper, and a most extraordinary sailer, being part of a convoy for some ships from London bound to New-York, some of which are arrived at Sandy-Hook.
Fish-Kill, October 12
The Committee of Safety of that State this day, on motion of Mr. William Duer, "Resolved, That the Members of Convention furnish themselves with Arms and Ammunition, to prevent a surprise."
The Committee further resolved, that the levies of one hundred men ordered to be raised in the northern part of Orange County, "for the defence of the fortifications at Peekskill and in Westchester County," march immediately and put themselves "under the command of Colonel Hay, at Haverstraw, on the west side of Hudson's River," and that five hundred dollars be sent to Colonel Hay on account of supplies for the troops under his command. Mr. Cortlandt, Mr. Contine and Mr. Duane were appointed to secure certain powder and remove it to a place of safety.
A member informing the Committee, that Is. Ketcham, "lately ordered by the Convention of this State to be sent to this place under guard," is now in the guard-house, it was ordered that he be left to the disposition of the Committee for detecting Conspiracies. Three letters, from William Paulding, John Gavino and Rynier Van Houten, relating to Captain Underhill, of Westchester County, were read and referred to the Committee for detecting and defeating Conspiracies.
Annapolis, October 10
In the Convention of Maryland this day, on motion of Mr. John Mackall, the question was put on the following: "As the people have a right and ought to know the conduct and behaviour of their Representatives, Resolved, That on all questions to be determined in this Convention by a Committee of the Whole House, the yeas and nays shall be taken when called for by any member of the House, and seconded, any custom or usage of Parliament, Assemblies, or former Conventions to the contrary notwithstanding," and carried in the negative.
The Convention afterwards resolved itself into a Committee of the Whole, both morning and afternoon, Mr. Worthington in the chair, to take into consideration the Declaration of Rights and form of Government for that State; and the Committee, not having gone through the same, asked leave to sit again.
Entered in. No entries are come from the office this day.
Cleared out. None entered this day.
No notice is come from the office this day.
No price current is come to hand.
Haddonfield, Ninth-Month 10, 1776.
ALL persons who are indebted to the estate of WILLIAM HAMPTON, late of the township and county of Gloucester, deceased, or to the subscriber, for goods purchased at the vendue made of the goods and chattels of said deceased, are earnestly requested to make speedy payment: Such who have just demands on said estate are desired to bring them in, that a settlement may be made, by
THOMAS REDMAN, Executor.
Just published, and to be sold by FRANCIS BAILEY, Printer, in King-street,
THE LANCASTER ALMANACK, for the year 1777; containing, besides the usual astronomical calculations, and tables, a number of useful and instructive essays, selected from good authors, viz. A new method of making hogs grow quickly fat.---Sir Thomas Brown's curious prophecy, concerning Asia, Africa, Europe and America; published in the year 1684.---The party-coloured shield.---A curious and exact account of the national debt of Great-Britain.---Hints on good manners, by Dean Swift.---Reflections on titles.---Excellent remedies for the following disorders incident to the human body, viz. To stop a bleeding wound; To remove corns; For a pearl in the eye; A method of recovering persons over-fatigued; For a bad flux, &c. Poetry; Verses on the entrance of the new-year; Admonition against swearing; The voice of the conjuror; On happiness; The May-morning salutation; Verses on the evening, &c. &c.
German CALENDARS, for the year 1777, may be had of said printer.
Philadelphia, October 5, 1776.
FIVE POUNDS REWARD.
WENT away yesterday evening, a young Negroe woman, named BET, of middling stature, fat and likely; she had on a blue shaloon jacket and petticoat, white linen handkerchief and apron, black leather high-heeled shoes, silver buckles; and blue worsted stockings, with clocks; she took with her a new check black and yellow stuff jacket and petticoat, a white jacket and petticoat, a blue and white stamped cotton ditto, with sundry other clothes, and has had her ears bored for ear-rings. The said Negroe belongs to a gentleman of Maryland, and it is supposed she is concealed in this city. Whoever brings her to me, at the sign of the Blue-ball, in Chestnut-street, shall have the above reward.
MICHAEL CLARK.
EIGHT DOLLARS Reward.
RUN away from the subscriber, living in Worcester township, Philadelphia county, on Sunday, the 25th of August last, Sarah Craig, an English servant maid; she is about 5 feet high, a dark complexion, has very protuberant eyes, thin and pale visage, speaks very quick, and sometimes pretty mannerly; she had on, when she went away, a long cotton gown, striped with yellow, red, and white; also a half-worn black silk bonnet, a large round-eared cap, a blue check silk handkerchief, a small striped lincey petticoat, and a large check apron. She stole from her master sundry articles; among them were the following; a new pair of black in the grain pumps, a new, large homespun handkerchief, two short gowns, one of them is white linen, the other calicoe, petticoats, homespun shifts, handkerchiefs, caps, &c. She is very artful and subtil; in order to get a pass the more easily, she told that she had a husband in the camp, at New-York, whom she wanted very much to see; but it is well known that her scheme was to go over to the English army, which she is very fond of. Whoever will take up the said servant, and secure her in any goal, and give information thereof to her master, so that he gets her again, or else to PETER DE-HAVEN, in Arch street, between Fourth and Fifth-streets, shall have the above reward, and all reasonable charges, paid by
ABRAHAM WENTZ.
RUN from the subscriber, living in Lower Alloway's Creek township, Salem county, New-Jersey, on the first of September inst. a servant lad, named Charles Hollingsworth, about 15 years of age, of low size, but middling thick; had on, and took with him, a blue duffil jacket, without sleeves, a tow shirt and trowsers, the shirt patched on the shoulders with brown tow cloth; had an old wool hat on, light brown hair, pale complexion, with freckled skin. Whoever takes up and secures said servant, so that his master may get him again, shall have SIX DOLLARS reward, and reasonable charges, paid by
WILLIAM DRAKE.
TWELVE POUNDS Reward.
DESERTED from Captain Benjamin Wallace's company of the flying camp, belonging to Col. William Montgomery's battalion, six men, viz. William Clouds, about 5 feet 6 or 7 inches high, a well countenanced fellow; had on, when he deserted, a pair of buckskin breeches, and a coarse white shirt, with a red under jacket; deserted in Amboy, where he had a woman or wife who it is supposed concealed him until we marched; he deserted about the 29th of August last. Edward Mealy, about 5 feet 4 or 5 inches high, a down ill-looking villain, very apt to get drunk, and very abusive when so; deserted at Fort Constitution the 19th of Sept. last; he wore a long white coloured coat, with black plush breeches, tore between the legs; has but few clothes with him; he is a native of Ireland by the brogue on his tongue. James Hamilton, about 5 feet 7 or 8 inches high, born in Ireland, a chunky fellow, wears his hair tied behind; deserted from Fort Constitution about the 20th of Sept. last; had on a brown regimental coat, with green velvet facings, which formerly belonged to his master's son, and is something too large for him; he served his time with Robert Kelly, in West-Caln township, Chester county, where he enlisted; he was charged with being light fingered, which made him disappear before brought to justice. Daniel Grant, about 5 feet 7 or 8 inches high, a down looking fellow, and a cast in one of his eyes, about 17 or 18 years of age; served his time in West-Caln township, Chester county, with Charles Campbell; he wore a black hunting shirt and trowsers; it is supposed he has made towards home; he is this country born, and has an uncle in Philadelphia. William Marshall, about 5 feet 6 or 8 inches high, born in Ireland; served his time with John Jack, in West-Caln township, Chester county, and went in company with the above Grant; he had a blue body coat, under jacket, and white tow trowsers, and half-worn shoes; has red hair, and a great impediment in his speech; enlisted in West-Caln township, and deserted at Fort Constitution; he took a musket belonging to his master with him, and some ammunition which he stole. James Fitze, about 5 feet 7 or 8 inches high; this country born, by trade a blacksmith; enlisted in Amboy, and deserted at Fort Constitution; is a wicked surly fellow, and very artful, and will make his escape if taken, without particular care being taken of him; it is supposed he is gone towards Doe-Run, in Chester county, as he came from thence; had on, and took with him, a green hunting shirt and trowsers, new shoes, with brass buckles; it is supposed he will get his clothes altered, as he had some money with him. Whoever secures the said deserters, and lodges them in Philadelphia goal, or delivers them to their said Captain, shall have the above reward, or Two Pounds for each, paid by
BENJAMIN WALLACE, Captain.
PHILADELPHIA: Printed by Davidson Signal, near the Sign of the Wolf and Bear, at the head of the Valley road.
Written by AI, to rules its publisher set. The events are real and drawn from whatever source records them — not only from what a printer happened to set in type.
† marks an advertisement composed for this paper — the advertiser, the goods and the terms are ours. Everything else in the advertising columns is reproduced word for word. Nothing concerning an enslaved person or a bound servant is ever composed.
Davidson Signal is a pen name.
This day's places, on the map →
All dates of The New America Times →