February 18, 2010

Slaves Defend British Slave Ship Against Spanish Privateer, 1740

“Williamsburg, in Virginia, July 10 [1740]. This Week arrived in York River, the Snow Seaflower, Capt. Edwards, (the former Capt. being dead) from Guinea, with 159 Slaves, consigned to Col. Braxton & Son. They met with a Spanish Snow, about 90 Tons, in Lat. 27, 17, No. Long. 67, 7, W. who hoisted a French Jack, and fired several Shot at them, and threatened if they did not immediately strike, they would give them no Quarter;

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Posted in War of Jenkin's Ear, privateer, slave trade, slavery |
February 15, 2010

Prostitutes Punished in New York City, 1753

“New York, July 23.  Last Thursday [July 19, 1753] 22 Ladies of Pleasure, who were taken out of several Houses of ill Repute in this City, were committed to the Workhouse; and next Day, five of them, who could give but a poor Account of themselves, were condemn’d to receive 15 Lashes each, at the Whipping Post, which was performed accordingly, before  vast Number of Spectators, with Orders to depart the Town in 48 Hours after, under Pain of Imprisonment; nothing appearing against the Rest, they were dismissed.”

New-York Mercury, 23 July 1753.

Posted in New York City, law enforcement, prostitution |
February 11, 2010

Sailors of the Royal Navy Freed from Slavery, 1760

“Ireland. Galway, June 12 [1760]. Monday last arrived in this harbour, the Europe of Guernsey, James Stearn, Master, from London, with Porter, Sugars, Iron and Junk, to Mr. Pierce Joyce of this town. On Friday last, said vessel fell in and spoke with the Briton, Hutchinson, Commander, last from Gibraltar for Plymouth, in lat. 51. 30. and longitude 7. 30. on board of which, were Capt. Barton, Commander of his Majesty’s Ship the Litchfield, and all his Officers lately redeemed from Slavery; into which they had the misfortune to fall, on the 29th of November 1758, when said ship in convoying troops to Senegal was cast away and wrecked to pieces on the Barbary coast.”

Cork Evening Post, 19 June 1760.

Posted in Royal Navy, Seven Years' War, shipwreck, slavery |
February 8, 2010

New York City in the Winter of 1747

“New-York, February 9.  Our kind Readers must now naturally expect a great Dearth of News, and we are therefore quite at a Loss what to give that may be agreeable; we must then beg their Patience when we tell them what can be no News here, and what too many of them know experimentally better than we can express; but as it may be news in distant Parts, we apprehend it can’t be altogether unseasonable, since we have nothing else better to say:  The deplorable Circumstances this City is under, from a long Series of cold and freezing Weather is Matter of Concern to all.

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Posted in New York City, War of the Austrian Succession, economy, prices, severe weather |
February 1, 2010

Earthquake at Port-au-Prince, June 3, 1770

“Account of the Late Terrible Earthquake at Hispaniola. Newport [Rhode Island], July 2 [1770]. Last Thursday arrived the Brig Revenge, Capt. Evan Malbone, in 19 Days, from Nichola Mole, on Hispaniola, and Yesterday arrived the Brig Polly, Capt. Giles Stanton from the same Place, by whom we are inform’d, that on Sunday, the 3d of June, there was a terrible Earthquake in that Island, which had entirely thrown every House in Port au Prince except one, burying a great Number of the Inhabitants in the Ruins, 500 of whom had been dug out.

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Posted in Port-au-Prince, Saint-Domingue, disasters, earthquake |
January 25, 2010

Surviving the Hurricane of August 1751

“[Boston].  Last Friday came to Town from New-London, Capt. Samuel Gallop, late Master of the Brigantine Polly of this Place, who sail’d from hence the 19th of August last bound for Antigua, and informs us, That in his Passage on the 6th of September last, in Lat. 29 and 31, he met with a violent Gale of Wind at E. S. E. which oblig’d him to scud before it; But the Wind shifting to the Southward in a Moment they shipped in a Sea which stove in the Dead-Lights, clear’d the Deck, and washed every Soul over-board, and thereupon she immediately fill’d and overset.

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Posted in Connecticut, hurricane, shipwreck |
January 18, 2010

Firemen at Work in New York Harbor (1759)

“New-York, January 29 [1759]. . . . On Tuesday last, about 10 o’Clock in the Morning, a Fire broke out on the Ship Nancy, Capt. Hamilton, then lying at Cruger’s Wharff, deep loaded with Flaxseed, and almost ready to sail for Ireland.  She was immediately haul’d off in the Stream, and all possible Endeavours were used to extinguish the Fire; but (as appeared afterwards) it being chiefly under the Cabin Floor, it seemed to get Head very fast; when they cut her Cable, and towed her a-cross the Harbour, to Nutten-Island, one of the Town Engines being put in a Boat, playing into her Cabin Windows the whole Time, ’til by the ever memorable and nimble Dexterity and close Application of the Firemen and Inhabitants (who went in Scows and Boats) on such Occasions, it was at length got under, and upon the flowing Tide she was again towed over again to the Ship Yards, where she is refitting.  It is not known how the Fire happened.”

Pennsylvania Gazette, 8 February 1759.

Posted in Ireland, New York City |
January 11, 2010

Officers and Men of HMS Greenwich at Cape François (1757)

Cape Francois, 1759

“Kingston [Jamaica], June 4.  Tuesday Evening arrived at Port-Royal, Mr. Perin Trott, late Surgeon’s Mate of the Greenwich, from Cape-Francois.  He escaped by breaking the Goal there, on the 18 ult. in Company with two other Gentlemen; they seized a Fishing Canoe on the Beach, in which they immediately embarked.

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Posted in French West Indies, Royal Navy, Seven Years' War, dueling |
January 4, 2010

Transatlantic Postal Service (1756)

“Philadelphia, February 12, 1756. GENERAL POST OFFICE.  PUBLICK NOTICE is hereby given, That the first of the Pacquet Boats provided and established, at Falmouth, In England, for carrying on a regular monthly Correspondence between Great-Britain and his Majesty’s several Colonies on the Continent of North-America, arrived at New York, on the third Instant, and will stay no longer than twenty Days, from that Time, unless his Majesty’s Service should absolutely require it.

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Posted in New York City, Seven Years' War, communications |
December 28, 2009

Wreck of HMS Mermaid (1759)

“The following is an account of the misfortune that befell his Majesty’s ship Mermaid on the 5th [December 1759], and of her situation, on the 10th, as given by Captain Hackman himself.  ‘His Majesty’s ship Mermaid, under my command, sailed from Charles Town the 1st instant, with a pilot for Providence, having Governor Shirley on board, and orders to land him at Providence; but unfortunately on the fourth day, at five o’clock in the morning,

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Posted in Bahama Islands, Royal Navy, shipwreck |

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