THE CONTINENTAL NAVY
MANUSCRIPT SOURCES
Adams, John. Letters for 1775 and 1776, deposited for the present by Charles Francis Adams with the Massachusetts Historical Society, Boston.
A few letters are valuable for the early history of the Continental Navy.
Continental Congress. Manuscript Journals.
Supplements and corrects the printed journals.
Continental Congress. Records and Papers, formerly found in the Bureau of Rolls and Library, Department of State, Washington; but now in most part in the Library of Congress, Division of Manuscripts. There are many volumes of these documents. Most of the material relating to the navy is found in the following volumes:
No. 28, 1 vol., Reports of committees of Congress on naval affairs, 1776-1786.
No. 37, 1 vol., Reports of Marine Committee and Board of Admiralty, 1776-1780.
No. 50, 1 vol., Letters of Oliver Pollock, Commercial Agent at New Orleans, to President and to committees of Congress, 1776-1782.
No. 58, 1 vol., Letters and Papers of John Hancock.
No. 78, 24 vols., Letters to President of Congress.
No. 90, 1 vol., Letters of the commercial agents at Martinique to President of Congress.
No. 137, 3 vols., Letters and Reports of Robert Morris, Agent of Marine.
No. 138, 3 vols., Reports of the Board of Treasury, 1784-1789.
Nos. 82-96, 132, 168, and 193.
The Records and Papers of the Continental Congress are especially valuable for the years from 1780 to 1783. They contain many important letters of John Paul Jones. The letters of Pollock give a full account of his services at New Orleans.
Deane, Silas. Papers in the library of the Connecticut Historical Society, Hartford.
A few of these papers relate to the navy.
Force Transcripts. These are copies of many of the Records and Papers of the Continental Congress, made by Peter Force, and now in the possession of the Library of Congress, Division of Manuscripts.
The copying is accurately done. The pagination often differs from that of the originals.
Hopkins, Esek. Letters and papers, in the library of the Rhode Island Historical Society, Providence.
Quite valuable for 1775, 1776, and 1777. The best of them have been printed in Edward Field’s Esek Hopkins.
Jones, John Paul. Manuscripts, in the Division of Manuscripts, Library of Congress. Have been excellently catalogued by C. H. Lincoln in Calendar of John Paul Jones Manuscripts.
An important original source for the naval history of the Revolution. A number of the most important manuscripts, however, have been published, notably in Sands’s Life and Correspondence of John Paul Jones.
Marine Committee Letter Book. Letters of the Marine Committee and the Board of Admiralty, in the Division of Manuscripts, Library of Congress.
Quite the most important manuscript source for the history of the Continental navy from 1776 to 1780. Contains 217 pages, folio, and 505 letters. They are copies of the originals. Of these letters, 371 were written by the Marine Committee between August 22, 1776, and November 20, 1779; and 134 by the Board of Admiralty between December 10, 1779, and September 19, 1780. Eighty-six letters are addressed to the Navy Board at Boston. Hitherto the Marine Committee Letter Book has been little used.
Tucker, Samuel. Papers, in the Harvard Library, Cambridge. Valuable for the career of Samuel Tucker, a captain in the Continental navy. The best of the papers have been published by J. H. Sheppard in his Life of Samuel Tucker, 1868. (See entry under Sheppard.)
Miscellaneous Manuscripts, Division of Manuscripts, Library of Congress
Of noteworthy importance is a list of commissioned officers in the Continental navy, far more complete than any yet published.
PRINTED SOURCES
Adams, John. Works, 10 vols. Boston, 1856.
Almost the only source for the debates in Congress on naval affairs in the fall of 1775. His Notes on Debates are more reliable than his Autobiography.
Appleton. Cyclopedia of American Biography. 7 vols. New York, 1898-1900.
Contains a little information of interest to students of naval history.
Annual Register for 1775-1783. London.
Of slight value for naval history.
Bancroft, George. History of the United States. 6 vols. New York, 1884-85.
A few references to naval history.
Barney, Mary. Memoirs of Commodore Joshua Barney. Boston, 1832.
Not satisfactory.
Beatson, Robert. Naval and Military Memoirs of Great Britain, 1727-1783. London, 1804.
Contains accounts of some of the important naval engagements of the Revolution.
Bigelow, John. Works of Benjamin Franklin. 10 vols. New York, 1887-88.
Contains valuable original material for Franklin’s naval services in Paris.
Bolton, C. K. Private Soldier under Washington, New York, 1902.
A few references to the navy.
Boston Gazette for 1775-1783. Boston.
Of great value for a history of the movements of the Continental vessels. In its advertisements of libeled prizes, one of the very best sources for the work of the Massachusetts privateers.
British Marine Encyclopedia, in Hogg’s Naval Magazine for 1801. London.
Excellent for definitions of naval terms used in the British navy.
Buell, A. C. Paul Jones, Founder of the American Navy. 2 vols. New York, 1900.
Very interesting; attractive style. Contains many inaccuracies. Chapter II, Volume I, entitled, Founding of the American Navy, is in no small part fiction.
Canadian Archives, report on, for 1895. Ottawa.
Under the subject Prince Edward Island, will be found references to Broughton and Selman’s expedition in 1775.
Carson, H. L. Supreme Court of the United States. Philadelphia, 1902.
Contains a brief account of the prize courts of the Revolution.
Caulkins, Frances M. History of New London, Connecticut. New London, 1852.
A few valuable references to the Continental navy.
Clark, Thomas. Naval History of the United States. Philadelphia, 1814.
The earliest history of the United States navy. Has considerable merit. Gives sources of his information. His interviews with naval officers constitute original material.
Clowes, W. L. Royal Navy. 7 vols. Boston and London, 1897-1903.
Chapter XXXI, Volume III, and Chapter I, Volume IV, are important sources for the engagements of Continental vessels with vessels of the Royal Navy. Scientific treatment. Some sources have been used which are not accessible in America. The most important contribution to the history of the Continental navy since Cooper’s naval history, written in 1839.
Connecticut Colonial Records for 1775-1776; Connecticut State Records for 1776-1780. Hartford, 1890, 1894-95.
Contains references to the Continental vessels built in Connecticut.
Connecticut Gazette for 1775-1783. New London.
Contains important bits of information relating to the movements of the Continental vessels.
Connecticut Historical Society Collections, vol. VIII. Hartford, 1901.
Contains rolls of the Connecticut companies who served in the navy on Lake Champlain.
Continental Congress, Journals of, for 1775-1788. 13 vols. Philadelphia, 1777-88.
The most valuable and extensive source for the history of naval legislation and administration during the Revolution. The edition of W. C. Ford, now being published by the Library of Congress, supersedes previous editions.
Continental Congress, Secret Journals, for 1775-1788. 4 vols. Boston, 1821.
Contributes some information on the work of naval agents abroad.
Continental Journal and Weekly Advertiser for 1776-1783. Boston.
Supplements the information found in the Boston Gazette.
Cooper, James Fenimore. History of the Navy of the United States of America. London, 1839.
Several editions of this work have been issued. The first part treats of the Continental navy. This varies little in the different editions. Clear and interesting style. The most satisfactory account of the engagements of the Continental navy. Treats of its fights with merchantmen and privateers, as well as with the vessels of the Royal Navy. More complete than Clowes, but not so scientific.
Deane Papers. Collections of the New York Historical Society. 5 vols. New York, 1886-90.
Valuable for the naval services of Silas Deane in France.
Emmons, Lieutenant G. F. Navy of the United States. Washington, 1853.
Names of the Continental vessels and their prizes arranged in tables. Treatment statistical. Valuable, but far from complete. Privateers of the Revolution similarly treated.
Field, Edward. Esek Hopkins. Providence, 1898.
Valuable. Prints many important Hopkins papers.
Field, Edward. State of Rhode Island and Providence Plantations. 3 vols. Boston and Syracuse.
Contains some additional information relating to the early life of Esek Hopkins.
Force, Peter. American Archives. 9 vols. Folio. Washington, 1837-53.
A source of very great very great value for naval history during 1775 and 1776. Prints the chief public records for these years, together with important letters and miscellaneous papers.
Ford, W. C. Writings of George Washington. 14 vols. New York and London, 1889-93.
One of the chief sources for the history of Washington’s fleets.
Ford, W. C. Letters of William Lee. 3 vols. Brooklyn, 1891.
Valuable for the work of the commercial agents in France.
Goldsborough’s Naval Chronicle. Washington, 1824.
Griffin, M. I. J. Commodore John Barry. Philadelphia, 1903.
Especially valuable for the numerous documents which are printed.
Hale, Edward Everett and Edward Everett, jr. Franklin in France. 2 vols. Boston, 1887.
Prints many documents. Chapter XI, American Prisoners, Chapter XVI, Privateers from Dunkirk, and Chapter XVII, Captain Landais, Volume I, are of special interest to students of naval history.
Hamersly, L. R. Naval Encyclopedia. Philadelphia, 1881.
Suggestive.
Hamilton, J. C. Works of Alexander Hamilton. 7 vols. New York, 1850-51.
Contains Hamilton’s views on single-headed executives.
Hatch, L. C. Administration of the American Revolutionary Army, Harvard Historical Studies, X. New York and London, 1904.
Suggestive for the Continental navy.
Independent Chronicle and Universal Advertiser for 1775-1783, Boston.
Supplements the Boston Gazette.
Ingraham, E. D. Papers relating to Silas Deane. Philadelphia, 1855-57.
Relate to his controversy with Congress.
Jameson, J. F. Essays in the Constitutional History of the United States. Baltimore, 1886.
Chapter I gives a good account of the Continental prize courts. Chapter II treats of the administrative organs of the Continental Congress. Scientific.
Johnston’s Correspondence and Public Papers of John Jay. 4 vols. New York, 1890-93.
Volume I contains a valuable letter of Jay’s relating to naval administration.
Jones, C. H. Gustavus Conyngham. Philadelphia, 1903.
A brief, but good account.
King’s Regulations and Admiralty Instructions for 1772. London.
Gives the rules and regulations of the Royal Navy at the opening of the Revolution.
Lincoln, C. H. Calendar, John Paul Jones Manuscripts. Washington, 1903.
Excellent catalogue and digest of the Jones manuscripts in the Library of Congress. Dr. Lincoln’s purpose is to enlarge his calendar so as to include the additional Jones material which is found in the Records and Papers of the Continental Congress.
Lossing, B. J. Field-Book of the American Revolution. 2 vols. New York, 1851-52.
Slight naval information.
Maclay, E. S. History of the United States Navy. 2 vols. New York, 1894.
Narrative of the Continental navy somewhat popular.
Massachusetts Historical Society Collections. Boston, 1806-.
Brief references to the Continental navy.
New England Historical and Genealogical Register for 1865. Boston.
Contains a list of prisoners confined at Mill prison, Plymouth, during the Revolution.
New Hampshire Gazette for 1775-1783. Portsmouth.
Contains information concerning the Continental vessels which were built in New Hampshire, or which arrived at Portsmouth.
New London County Historical Society, Records and Papers. Volume I. New London, 1890-94.
Gives a most excellent account of the fight between the Continental frigate “Trumbull” and the Liverpool privateer “Watt.”
Outlook, January 3, 1903. Tragedy of the Lost Commission by James Barnes.
A brief, but excellent, account of the exploits of Captain Gustavus Conyngham.
Pennsylvania Archives, 1st Ser. 12 vols. Philadelphia, 1852-56.
Of special value for the movements of the Continental vessels in the Delaware river and bay.
Pennsylvania Packet for 1775-1783. Philadelphia.
Valuable for the movements of the Continental vessels and the Pennsylvania privateers. The prizes which were sent into Philadelphia are advertised in its columns.
Providence Gazette for 1775-1783. Providence.
Valuable for Continental vessels in 1775 and 1776. Contains names of prizes.
Rhode Island Historical Society Publications, VIII. Providence, 1900. Papers of William Vernon and the Navy Board.
A valuable source of information for the work of the Navy Board at Boston. A number of important letters and documents are printed.
Root, M. P. Chapter Sketches of Connecticut Daughters of the American Revolution. New Haven, 1901.
Contains the best account of the life of Nathaniel Shaw, jr., naval agent at New London.
Royal Navy, List of. New York, 1782.
Sands, R. Life and Correspondence of John Paul Jones. New York, 1830.
Valuable reprints.
Scribner’s Magazine for 1898. New York. John Paul Jones in the American Revolution, by Captain A. T. Mahan.
Contains a technical account of the fight between the “Bon Homme Richard” and the “Serapis.”
Sheppard, J. H. Commodore Samuel Tucker. Boston, 1868.
A good account of Tucker’s life. Reprints the best of the Tucker papers found in the Harvard Library.
Sherburne, J. H. Life of John Paul Jones. New York, 1825, 1851.
A fair account.
Sparks, Jared. American Biography, 2nd Ser. Vol. IX. Gammell’s Life of Samuel Ward. Boston, 1846.
Contains a bit of important information with reference to the founding of the navy.
Sparks, Jared. Gouverneur Morris. 3 vols. Boston, 1832.
Volume I contains Morris’s description of an ideal secretary of the navy.
Spears, J. R. History of Our Navy. 5 vols. New York, 1897-99.
The account of the Continental navy is somewhat popular.
Staples, W. R. Annals of Providence. Providence, 1843.
Of some value for 1775 and 1776.
Stevens’s Facsimiles. 24 portfolios. London, 1889-95.
Valuable for the diplomatic relations between England and France for 1776 and 1777, and for the movements of American vessels in European waters during these years.
Sumner, W. G. Financier and Finances of the American Revolution. 2 vols. New York, 1891.
Gives a few facts about Morris’s career as Agent of Marine.
Town, Ithiel. Some Details of the American Revolution. New York, 1835.
Of slight value for naval history.
Waite, H. E. Origin of the American Navy. Boston, 1890.
Contains letters written by John Adams, Elbridge Gerry, and John Langton in 1813. These relate chiefly to the services of Washington’s fleet at Boston.
Wells, W. V. Life and Public Services of Samuel Adams. 3 vols. Boston, 1865.
Adds to our knowledge of Samuel Adams as member of the Marine Committee.
Wharton, Francis. Revolutionary Diplomatic Correspondence, 1775-1783. 6 vols. Washington, 1889.
Of primary importance for the history of the naval services of American representatives in foreign countries.
Williams, Gomer. Liverpool Privateers. Liverpool, 1897.
Valuable for the sea fights of the Liverpool privateers.
Winsor, Justin. Narrative and Critical History of the United States. 8 vols. Boston and New York, 1884-89.
Volume VI contains a history of the Revolutionary navy by E. E. Hale.
Brief and suggestive.