Home

New York Masons Celebrate New Provincial Grand Master, 1753

“At a Grand Lodge of the Ancient and Worshipful Fraternity of Free and Accepted Masons, a Commission from the Honourable John Proby, Baron of Carysfort, in the Kingdom of Ireland, Grand Master of England, appointing George Harrison, Esq.; to be Provincial Grand Master, was solemnly published, we hear, to the universal Satisfaction of all the Brethern present. After which, it being the Festival of St. John the Evangelist, the Brethern went in Procession, to attend Devine Service at Trinity Church.

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.

Center of Bridgetown, Barbados, Devastated by Fire, 1756

“Extract of a Letter from Barbadoes, Feb. 14 [1756]. On Sunday the 8th instant, between Seven and Eight in the Evening, a Fire broke out from a Store house belonging to Joseph Blackman, Esq; near the Middle of Bridge Town, wherein was a large Quantity of Cotton, landed by proper Orders from a French Ship, brought hither and put under that Gentleman’s Care, till further Orders should be had concerning the Ship and Cargo.

More »

Tragedy at a Scottish Public House, 1755

“London. The following melancholy Affair happened lately at Annan* in Scotland. A Party of Soldiers having gone to assist the Custom-house Officers in making a Seizure of some prohibited Goods that they had been informed were in that Neighbourhood, on their Return, halted at a Publick House, with one of the Smugglers whom they had taken Prisoner, in order to refresh themselves.

More »

Dublin Authorities Prevent the Corruption of Youth, 1755

“IRELAND. Dublin, March 1. The Right Hon. the Lord Mayor and Sheriffs, went to several of the Billiard Tables of this City, broke them down, and then burnt them before the Doors. The Attention of our Magistrates in destroying those destructive Allurements to Gaming, must give the highest Satisfaction to the Inhabitants of this City, as they are generally the original Causes of most of the Evils which befall the Youth thereof, they being frequently being obliged to rob their Masters and Parents to make up the Losses they meet with at those Places.”

The London Evening-Post, March 8, 1755.

Desperate Attempt to Flee from Slavery, 1755

“PLANTATION NEWS. New-York, Nov. 18. Yesterday arrived here Capt. Leacraft, in eight Days from Bermudas, and says, that, just before he sailed, the Schooner Ruby, John Seymour, late Master, arrived there from this Port; the People whereof reported, that soon after they left the Hook,* bound to that Island, on the 8th Instant, a Spanish Negro they had on board, and shipp’d from this Place, suddenly took the Advantage of and murdered Capt. Seymour, his Mate, and a Negro Man; and almost dispatched a Passenger on board; that the Spaniard thereby became Master of the Vessel, and kept her in Possession for three Days, when being overcome with Sleep, and appearing drowsy, a Negro Man on board knock’d him on the Head with a Handspike, and retook the Schooner.”

The London Evening-Post, February 15, 1755.

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

For the Press Gang, All’s Fair in Love and War, 1755

“LONDON. Thursday Night [March 6, 1755] a Press-Gang [of the Royal Navy] went through the Alleys near Moorfields, and having Musick with them, drew out a great Number of People from the Houses, by which Means they picked up about thirty able Fellows, whom they carried off.”

The London Evening-Post, March 8, 1755.

Admiral Cotes and British Naval Operations in the Caribbean, 1757

LONDON. “Extracts of two Letters from Vice-Admiral [Thomas] Cotes, Commander in Chief of his Majesty’s Ships at Jamaica, to Mr. [John] Cleveland, dated the 5th and 31st of December, 1757.

‘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.

More »

New York Fire Takes the Life of Mother and Four Children, 1757

“NEW-YORK, February 21 [1757]. On Wednesday Morning last [February 16], about 4 o’Clock, a dreadful Fire broke out in Dock-Street, in this City, in the Dwelling-House of Mr. Thomas Duncan, Merchant, which in a little Time entirely consumed the same, with great Part of the Furniture, and other Movables; and occasioned the deplorable Loss of his Wife, Mrs. Mary Duncan, and four of her Children, Elizabeth, Thomas, George and Mary, in the Flames.

More »

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;

More »

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.