Connecticut Gazette, 21 June 1755.

Upon the first Notice of it to the Governor, he sounded the Trumpet, and proclaimed Martial Law; upon which all Business ceased, and every Man was a Soldier. The Regulars marched from Spanish Town, and the Troop of Militia, and those with the Force they had got together at St. Mary’s, obliged the Rebels to act upon the Defensive, and after two skirmishes, they had an Engagement with the wild Negroes, who brought in 17 pair of Rebels Ears, for which they received 17 Doubloons directly: That broke their Strength, some came in, many cut their Throats, and now they reckon about 60, who are all hemmed up in a Cave, from whence they cannot escape. Their chief Man is not yet taken. I believe

“there are about 25 of them made Prisoners, who are severally carried to Spanish Town, Kingston, and the places where they committed their Barbaries. I was last Saturday at Spanish Town, before which time, one who had not been in the Rebellion, actually was burnt alive for having sworn to cut his Master’s and Mistress’s Heads off, and to make Punch Bowls of them. On Saturday I heard the Trials of four more, who were found guilty of being concerned in the Murder of the white People: Two were burnt alive the same Afternoon; two were hanged, their bodies burnt, and their Heads stuck on poles. On Monday last, two were tried at Kingston for the same Offence, and found guilty. Their Sentence was to be gibbetted alive 20 Feet high. The rest will be punished according to their demerits.

Another Account from the same Person, dated May 21, 1760, says, ‘The Sentence against the Rebel Negroes, was put in Execution. One of them lived nine days, wanting six hours, without a drop of Water, hanging in an excessive hot place, though they complained of the cold in the night. The first of the Rebels, named Tackey, is since shot in the Wood, and his head stuck upon a pole; and within this half hour, we have an account of the Negroes having left three Estates at Manchioneal, and gone to the Woods; but hope it will not be so bad as is reported.’”

Cork Evening Post, 11 August 1760.

The Order in which they proceeded, was as follows. First walked the Sword Bearer, carrying a drawn Sword; then four Stewards, with white Maces; followed by the Treasurer and Secretary, who bore each a crimson Damask Cushion, on which lay a gilt Bible, and the Book of Constitutions; after these the Grand Warden, and Wardens: Then came the Grand Master himself, bearing a Trunchion, and other Badges of Office, followed by the Rest of the Brother hood, according to their respective Ranks, Masters, Fellow-Crafts, and Prentices, to about the Number of Fifty; all cloathed with their Jewels, Aprons, white Gloves, and Stockings.

The whole Ceremony was concluded with the utmost Decorum, under a Discharge of Guns from some Vessels in the Harbour, and made a genteel Appearance. We hear, they afterwards confer’d a generous Donation of Fifteen Pounds from the Public Stock of the Society, to be expended in Cloathing the poor Children, belonging to our Charity School; and made a handsome private Contribution for the Relief of indigent Prisoners.

In the Evening, by the particular Request of the Brethern, a Comedy called, The Conscious Lovers, was presented at the Theatre in Nassau Street, to a very crouded Audience. Several Pieces of vocal Musick, in Praise of the Fraternity, was performed, between the Acts. An Epilogue, suitable to the Occasion, was pronounced by Mrs. Hallam, with all the Graces of Gesture, and Propriety of Elocution; and met with a universal and loud Applause.

Quare. Whether the Performance of publick and private Acts of Beneficence, such as feeding the Hungry, and cloathing the Naked, be most correspondent to the Genius of Christianity; or to the Institutions of the Prince of Darkness?”

New York Mercury, 31 December 1753.

The Fire soon increased, burnt that Store house, and next seized the Dwelling house of Mr. Samuel Nusam adjoining thereto; from thence the Flames caught the opposite and adjacent Houses of Messers. Haggatt, Lampy, Walker, and Codrington Carrington, Esq; and afterwards took its Course Westward to James Fort; which being consumed, the Fire still increasing, burnt the Houses down in Crown Alley up to Cheapside, its progress was then Eastward, burning and Raging in a most dreadful Manner on the South of Broad-street, toward the high House, called the Coffee-House; which being seized, the Flames communicated their destructive Influence to the House of Mr. Blackman, that of Richard Husbands, Esq; the Secretary, where the publick Records were kept (but those were happily preserved) the House and Stores of General Barwick, Messers. Lary, Black, and some other adjoining Houses, which put the whole Town in Danger of being consumed to Ashes.

The Fire abated about Five o’Clock next Morning. It is computed, that about 160 Houses have been burnt, and ‘its said it was in the richest Part of the Town.”

Manchester Mercury, 20 April 1756.

The London Evening-Post, January 14, 1755.

*The town of Annan is situated on the River Annan, nearly 2 miles from its mouth, 15 miles from Dumfries, in the region of Dumfries and Galloway on the Solway Firth in the south of Scotland.

The London Evening-Post, March 8, 1755.

The London Evening-Post, February 15, 1755.

*Sandy Hook, New Jersey, the entry point to New York Bay.

The London Evening-Post, March 8, 1755.

‘The 20th of November his majesty’s ship Assistance chaced a French privateer of 18 guns, and a schooner privateer with a prize, into Tiberon bay, on the west end of Hispaniola, where the French had a battery of five guns. The vessels hauled close to the shore, under cover of the battery; but it falling calm, capt. Weller, was obliged to tow in with his boats. The 21st he burnt the snow and schooner, sunk the prize, and dismounted all the guns on the shore. He had two men killed in the action, and his masts and rigging much damaged. The privateer snow was late the Duke Pacquet, taken in January last, commanded by one Palanqui, who has done great prejudice to our trade in this and the late war.

The 24th of November the Princess Mary returned from cruizing off Monte Christi, and brought in a Dutch ship loaded with sugar, coffee, and indigo, one of the fleet that sailed from Cape François under convoy of the French ships on the 13th of November. It appears by the confession of her men, that she carried out from Holland to Cape François, cannon, powder, shot, and other military stores, and was returning freighted with their produce. I have ordered her to be tried in the Admiralty court.

I sailed from Port-Royal, the 6th of December, with his majesty’s ships the Augusta and Princess Mary. The 13th I made the Augusta’s signal to chace off Cape Tiberon, who took a small French sloop loaded with sugar; and the French set fire to a large ship in the bay, to prevent her falling into our hands. She blew up before the Augusta’s boat could get on board. I have since been informed she mounted 16 guns, and had 65 men on board.

The 14th we took two French privateers with our boats, one of eight carriage and 12 swivel guns, the other of four carriage and eight swivels: Most of their men swam ashore.

By the prisoners I was informed, that a rich fleet was ready to sail from Port au Prince, under convoy of two armed merchant ships of 24 guns each. I directly sent a good sailing small sloop, that I have hired for a tender, to look into that port, who returned with an account, that eight loaded ships were come out of the harbour into the road, and lay, with their mizen top-sails loose, unmoored.

I immediately ordered the Augusta to stretch to the southward to guard the passage between the island of Guanava and Petit Guava, and I kept to the northward with the Princess Mary between the Guanava and Cape Nicolau. The 24th, in the night, the Augusta fell in with the French fleet, consisting of eight ships, a snow, and a brigantine, and by noon, next day, had taken the eight ships and the brigantine; the snow only escaped. I have sent capt. Forrest, with the prizes, to Jamaica, with orders to return to me directly, as I hope to meet the fleet that is expected at Cape François from Europe. The prisoners say the ships we have taken are the richest that ever sailed from Port au Prince.

The Hornet sloop has drove ashore and destroyed a French snow of 12 carriage guns, and taken a small schooner privateer off Cape Rose.’”

The London Magazine: Or, Gentleman’s Monthly Intelligencer, February 1758.

The Fire having got so great a Head before the Family were apprized of it, that Mr. Duncan himself was obliged to escape thro’ the Front Window of the second Story, and his eldest Daughter, Miss Fanny Duncan, forced to jump out of a back third Story Window, but, thro’ Divine Providence, saved from Death by a Gentleman in the Yard assisting at the Fire, who, as she fell, reclining caught her in his Arms, and thereby broke the Fall.

The House-Keeper, who jumped out of the same Story Window, was so terribly bruised, that she expired before Relief could be brought: And the Negro Wench, who slept below, making for the Front-Door, was so scorched before she got out, that it is thought she’ll lose some of her Limbs.

It is remarkable in this Case, that the House was burning better than an Hour, before the Citizens had proper Notice of it, altho’ almost our whole Hemisphere appeared Light by the Blaze, notwithstanding it was a foggy dull Morning: And when the Inhabitants were assembled, the Fire had got to such a Height, that nothing under God, but their Vigilance, added to the Snow which was then lying on the Tops of the Houses, preserved that Part of the Town from Destruction.

Mrs. DUNCAN, as a Wife, was all a Man should wish for, all a good Man could desire: Her Character in every Relation of Life was an exemplary Pattern; and if we may judge of the Fruit by the Blossoms, Her Daughter, so providentially rescued from the devouring Flames, will exhibit in her maturer life, all the Matron Virtues of her deceased Mother. The worthy Husband, and amiable Daughter, behave under this severe Calamity, with Christian Magnamanity: And it may truly be said of them—Viruit dum patitur vincit.

The most Judicious in New-York, have long since remarked, that, were out Nightly-Watch under proper Regulations, and composed of Persons who have Estates to take care of, the many Burglaries, Street-Robberies &c. happening in this City, would, in a great Measure, be thereby prevented:—Nay, some have gone so far as to doubt, whether even the late unhappy Fire had got to the Head it did, if such Men had been perambulating the Streets on their Duty, instead of lurking behind Stoops for a sordid Acquisition, or lounging in a Watch-House, regardless of the Properties they are paid for, to protect.

‘The City Watch (says a late Writer who distinguishes himself by a crooked Signature) is a Grievance of the first Magnitude. The Citizens are summoned, at least four times a Year to watch, or pay their Two and Six pence to a Parcel of idle, drunken, vigilant snorers, who never quelled any nocturnal Tumult in their Lives (nor, as we can learn, were ever the first Discoverers of a Fire breaking out) but would, perhaps, be as ready to join in a Burglary, as any Thief in Christendom. A hopeful Set, indeed, to defend this rich and populous City, against the Terrors of the Night.’”

In Philadelphia, the Legislature has passed an ACT, for regulating and continuing the Nightly-Watch, and enlightening the Streets, Lanes, and Alleys of that City; and for raising of Money on the Inhabitants, and Estates of the City, for defraying the necessary Expence thereof.—There, scarce a Robbery is heard of now-a-Days; nor a Fire never known to have been accompanied with the late shocking Circumstances:—Every House-keeper is obliged to attend the Watch himself, under severe Penalties; or to send his next Mail in the House; and hardly that is put up with, if the Master of the Family be in Health. Thus, what is one Man’s business, is made every Man’s Business; and the City regularly protected:—But, the Watch in this City, having Nothing to lose, have ALL to hope for.

Our worthy Magistrates, it is therefore hoped, will take the above into Consideration: And, order the ringing the Fire-Bell in such a Manner for the future, as that it may not exceed, if possible, the first Cry of FIRE, above a quarter of an Hour.

New-York Gazette, February 21, 1757.

THE STORY ALSO APPEARED IN THE NEW-YORK MERCURY.

“NEW-YORK, February 21. On Wednesday Morning last, between four and five of the Clock, a dreadful Fire was discovered in the House of Mr. Thomas Duncan, of this City, Merchant, which was attended with a melancholy and most fatal Catastrophe, for before the unhappy Family, lulled in profound Sleep and Security, could be alarmed, the Flame within the House became universal.

Mr. Duncan himself escaped out of a Window, by the Assistance of a Ladder, as he fortunately lodged in the Front Part of the House, and his eldest Daughter, a young Lady of about Eighteen, being with her Mother, and four Children who were sick of the Small-pox, in the Nursery, in the back Part of the House, and not having that Conveniency, had no other Chance of avoiding the devouring Fire, than by throwing herself out of a Window three Stories high, and was most miraculously received into the Arms of a Gentleman, who had encouraged her to this dangerous, tho’ only Expedient, and who was thus the generous Instrument of preserving her Life at the Risque of his own. The Nurse made the like Attempt, but did not survive three Minutes after she reached the Ground.

Mrs. Duncan, tho’ earnestly entreated, and assured of receiving the same kind Assistance which had saved her Daughter, was so overcome by maternal Affection, and Tenderness for her Children, whom she could not bear to leave in that dreadful Situation, that she rejected all Importunities, and in a few Moments, with them, expired in the Flames.

The House, with many valuable Effects, were entirely destroyed; but by the Industry of the Inhabitants, who are deservedly celebrated for their Zeal and Dexterity, in extinguishing Fires, assisted by the Gentlemen of the Army, and the Soldiers now quartered here, it was prevented from extending farther.

Mrs. Duncan was a Lady as distinguished for her agreeable Person, as the Charms and Embellishments of her Mind: Besides an exemplary Piety and boundless Charity, she was eminently blessed with every Grace and Accomplishment requisite to form the best of WIVES, the best of MOTHERS, and the best of FRIENDS. No wonder then, that so many united Perfections rendered her as generally beloved and admired, as she was known; and justly adds to the heavy Affliction with which such an amazing and most effecting Scene must naturally inspire every Breast induced with the smallest Spark of Humanity or Compassion; but more peculiarly those who by their Relation and Friendship with her, were daily Witnesses of her unparallel Merit and Excellence; and who by this deplorable Event, are deprived of Blessings as great as they are irretrievable.

The only Consolation left the Friends of this truly valuable Lady, is certain Assurance, that like ELIJAH, she is triumphantly translated, with her innocent Babes, from a World of perpetual Inquietudes and Dangers, from which this sad Calamity convinces us, that even the best and most deserving can plead no Exemption, to the transcendant Joys of Heaven, the only adequate Residence for such shining VIRTUE and such spotless INNOCENCE. One Mr. Flanagan, for being too Industrious at the above Fire, was committed to Goal.”

New York Mercury, February 21, 1757.