Another source of information of a most detailed character is the large collection of log-books of the various war vessels. These were, in those days, kept not only by the Captains, and by the Lieutenants in command, but separate books were also kept by the sailing masters. Of the two former, those of the Lieutenants being practically duplicates of the Commanders’, have been destroyed, but the Captains’ and Masters’ books are preserved.
These books are in the original bindings and are of a most interesting character, carefully noting the time and nature of every occurrence in which the ship took part, as well as the surrounding circumstances of weather, sea and course.
From them may thus be obtained not only much new information of the details of actions, but confirmative and corrective matters of time and place.
In the course of a study of the operations of the British marine in the waters of New York, I found myself confronted by contradictions of a very annoying nature in the published accounts of the events of 1776, but upon reference to these log books many of these points were fully cleared up. Of some of these I hope at a future date to be able to give details, but the purpose of this article being to afford to others the knowledge of the existence and accessibility of the source of this information, I shall here give only the index numbers of the log-books of the most important vessels, which bore a prominent part in the Revolution.
The well-known names of the redoubtable men-of-war, frigates, armed brigs and schooners will recall to my readers events in which these took part, and the significant gaps in the logs of some point to the disasters or captures of which they became the victims.
CAPTAINS’ LOG BOOKS
[Preserved in the Public Record Office, London]
| Name of Vessel | Armament | Captain | Period Covered by Log | Index No. |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Asia | 64 Guns | George Vandeput | 177- to 1783, April 3 | 67 |
| Phœnix | 44 Guns | Capt. Hyde Parker Jr. | 1764, Oct. 1, to 1776, July 7 | 693 |
| Phœnix | 44 Guns | Capt. Hyde Parker Jr. | 1776, July 8, to 1780, April 8 | 694 |
| Roebuck | 32 Guns | A. S. Hamond | 1775, July 14, to 1783, April 8 | 796 |
| (No entries between 13 July, 1776, and 7 Jan., 1769) | ||||
| Rose | 20 Guns | Sir Richard Wallace | 1768, April 27, to 1776, Feb. 29 | 804 |
| Rose | 20 Guns | Sir Richard Wallace | 1776, March 1, to 1785, June 8 | 805 |
| Tartar | Frigate | Edward Medows | 1763 to 1778, Nov. 23 | 972 |
| Tartar | Frigate | Edward Medows | 1779, July 27, to 1783, Oct. 25 | 973 |
| Thunderer | Bomb-ketch | 1764 to 1780, March 27 | 987 | |
| Thunder | Bomb-ketch | 1775 to 1780, May 18 | 987 | |
| Vulture | Frigate | 1776, June 10, to 1783, Nov 19 | 1044 | |
| Vulture | Frigate | 1780, Nov. 8, to Dec. 22 | 4386 | |
| Pearl | 30 Guns | Jas. O’Hara to 1775 | 1764 to 1777, May 21 | 674 |
| Pearl | 30 Guns | Thos. Wilkinson | 1777, June 14, to 1782, July 18 | 675 |
| (Missing to 1786) | ||||
| Orpheus | Chas. Hudson | 1773 to 1784, March 31 | 650 | |
| Orpheus | Chas. Hudson | 1775, July 25, to 1776, Aug. 31 } | 4279 | |
| Orpheus | Chas. Hudson | 1781, Jan. 1, to Dec. 31 } | ||
| Orpheus | Chas. Hudson | 1784, April 1, to 1787, Feb. 26 | 659 |
MASTERS’ LOG BOOKS
[Preserved in the Public Record Office, London]