[1] Massachusetts Historical Society, in a collection of papers, to which several of the subsequent documents belong, presented to the society by the late Professor Charles Eliot Norton, great-grandson of Captain Benjamin Norton. This commission, or letter of marque, may be compared with one of 1782 (New York, loyalist), in Anthony Stokes, View of the Constitution of the British Colonies, pp. 340-347, and with the Portuguese letter of marque in [doc. no. 14]. This Benjamin Norton may have been a son of the one who figures in [doc. no. 118].
[2] See [doc. no. 126].
[3] Governor 1740-1743.
145. Journal of the Sloop Revenge. June 5-October 5, 1741.[1]
A Journal of all the Transactions on Board the Sloop Revenge Benja. Norton Com'r by God's Grace and Under his Protection Bound on a Cruising Voyage against the Spaniards Begun June the 5th, 1741.
Friday 5th. This day att 4 AM. the Capt. went from Taylors Wharfe on Board his Sloop, which lay off of Connanicut.[2] at 6 oClock, Capt. John Freebody[3] Came off in the pinnace with Severall hands. We directly Weighed Anchor with 40 hands, Officers Included, Bound to New York to Gett more hands and a Doctor and some more provisions and other Stores we stood in need off. att 8 Hastings came off in his Boat and brought a hand with [him] John Swan by name to proceed the Voyage, all so Mr. Saml. Freebody went ashore in the Ferry boat. att 12 hailed the Sloop from Castle Hill.[4] Capt. Freebody went in the pinnace to him. he delivered him the Register of all his Officers Names which he had forgott. The Wind being Contrary was Obliged to put back again Came to an Anchor under Connanicut att 8 PM.
Saturday 6th. Weighd from Under Connanicutt att 4 AM. with a Small Breeze of wind. Mett severall Vessells bound to Newport and Boston. att 7 PM. Anchored Under Block Island over against the £10000 Pear.[5] Bought 10s. worth of Codfish for the people.
Sunday 7th. About 4 AM. Weighd from Block Island mett a Conneticutt Sloop bound to York. kept Compa. with him all that day and Night and Munday the 8th Instant att 9 PM. Anchord in Huntington Bay.[6]
Munday 9th [8th]. Weigh'd from Huntington Bay att 3 PM.[7] Saw the Same Sloop who had Sail'd all the Night. att 11 Came to the white Stone[8] fired a Gun and beat the Drum to lett them know what we was. the Ferry boat Came off and told Us that we Cou'd not Gett hands att York for the Sloops fitted by the Country[9] had Gott them all. att 12 Came to anchor att the 2 brothers.[10] att 4 took an Acct. of all the provisions on Board with the Cost together with a List of all the people on Board, as on the [other Side].[10a]
Price a hand that Came with Us from Rhode Island askt Leave to Go to York to See his Wife. Sett a —— Crazy fellow a shoar not thinking him fitt to proceed that Voyage, his name Unknown to me.