| Title: | The Privateer, Marblehead to Boston |
|---|---|
| ID | 3881 |
| Collection | Irish Emigration Database |
| File | 1771-80/37 |
| Year | 1780 |
| Sender | unknown |
| Sender Gender | unknown |
| Sender Occupation | unknown |
| Sender Religion | unknown |
| Origin | USA |
| Destination | unknown |
| Recipient | unknown |
| Recipient Gender | unknown |
| Relationship | unknown |
| Source | The Belfast Newsletter, 6-10 October 1780 |
| Archive | The Central Library, Belfast |
| Doc. No. | 212050 |
| Date | 06/10/1780 |
| Partial Date | |
| Doc. Type | EMG |
| Log | Document added by LT, 25:11:02. |
| Word Count | 338 |
| Genre | |
| Note | |
| Transcript | From a gentleman who came in the Virginia, and who was taken in on the 17th of May, off Newfoundland, kept on board the privateer eleven weeks, then landed at Marblehead, and sent to Boston, where he staid for three weeks and afterwards embarked on board cartel ship for Halifax; but meeting with the Virginia, went on board, and landed at Plymouth, we have the following particulars: - Before the gentleman left Boston, the rebel papers announced the taking of 25 Spanish transports by Admiral Rodney, three of they said, were carried into St. Kitt's with 600 troops, and 22 Barbadoes. These accounts confirmed by a cartel ship they met with from Halifax going to Boston, and also by one of the King's ships - The gentlemen further assures us, that nine rebel privateers were carried into New York in one week, and in that time 20 taken in all. That the Arbuthnot and Graves were at Martha's Vineyard blocking up the French fleet in Rhode Island, and that the people in Boston were in great distress for every necessary of lite, 70 of their dollars passing for one hard dollar. That no trade whatever was stirring, except privateering, and that carried on by men who were formerly filtermen, and desperate adventures of all nations. The same gentleman declares, that all our ships taken are laid up to rot in rebel ports, the rigging excepted, which they use for privateers, which they were building at sea-kites, with a view to run fast only. By the same channel, the accounts that great sickness prevailed on board the fleet under the command of Monsieur Guichen, and that the dissentions and animosities between the French and Spanish officers rather increased than subsided are confirmed. The accounts also say, that Sir Rodney sailed on the 19th of August from St. Kitt's, with 17 sail of the line, and was supposed to be gone to Jamaica, in consequence of intelligence which he had received of the enemy's meditating an attack upon that island. Transcribed by Maxine Green |
