Thursday 1st Octor. Calm Weather with thunder and Rain. Spoke with the Sloop. Brave Living with Our people. Punch Everyday, which makes them dream strange things which foretells Great Success in Our Cruize. they dream of nothing but mad Bulls, Spaniards and bagg of Gold. Examined the papers. found Severall Spanish and french among which the Condemnation of Capt. Stockings Sloop. died on board the prize a Negro boy.
Friday 2d. Att 6 AM. Saw a Ship Under the Land. stretchin[g] for her we Saw aShore a french Pennant and English Ensign. Hoisted Our Spanish Jack att Mast head and Sent Our pinnace aboard to discover what it was. She proved to be a Ship that had been taken by Don Fransoiso[87] Loranzo our prisoner, that had taken her off the Capes of Virginia and had put a Lieut. and 10 more hands with 5 Englishmen to Carry her to the Havanah, but the Spaniards Run her ashoare apurpose. We bro't off the five Englishmen. the Spaniards having Run for it we Caught one and bro't him on board. Sent Our prize alongside of her to Gett what Goods we Cou'd Save. the Ship was Bilged.[88]
Saturday 3d. The people busy in Getting Goods out of the Ship, we Laying off and on.
Sunday 4th. Opened a bb. of beef. put the following hands on board the prize With Orders to the Master which are as underneath written. the people on board Are John Webb Masr., John Evergin Mate, Timothy Northwood, James Hayes, Wm. Jackson, Joseph Marshall, John Elderidge, James Jennings and a Bermudian Negro which was taken prisoner in a fishing boat off of Bermudas by the Spanish Capt. (as Mariners) and one Mollatto prisoner belonging to the Spaniards. Gave them a bb. of beef and a bb. of pork.
Latitude 22.50 No. Octo'r 4th, 1741
Mr. John Webb
You being Appointed Master of the Sloop Invinsible, Late a Spanish privateer Commanded by Capt. Don Fransoiso Loranzo and taken by me and Comp'y, We Order You to keep Comp'y with Us till further Orders, But if by some Unforeseen Accident, Bad Weather Or Giving Chase We shou'd Chance to part Then We Order that You proceed directly with said Sloop and Cargo to Rhode Island in New England And if by the providence of God You Safe Arrive there You must apply to Mr. John Freebody, Merch't there, and deliver Your Sloop and Cargo to him Or his Assigns.
You are also Ordered to take Care that You Speak to no Vessell nor Suffer any to Speak with You during Your passage nor Suffer any disorders on board but to take a Special Care of the Cargo that none be Embezled. And if Weather permitts You must be dilligent in drying of the Goods on board to hinder them from Spoiling etc. Wishing You a Good Voyage We Remain Your Friends
BN
DM
Coppy of the Letter Sent to Capt. Freebody per John Webb in the Sloop.