"Petition of Peter Simon and Israel Ambrose to the Continental Congress"
Captain Peter Simon and Israel Ambrose submitted a petition the Second Contintental Congress which was read on May 3, 1776, requesting recompense for materials lost when the sloop Sally was captured by the British in the Caribbean on February 14, 1776. Simon and Ambrose enclosed inventories of personal items taken by the British prize master when the Sally was run aground during a storm. The petition was referred to a committee of of three, comprised of Thomas McKean (DE), George Wythe (VA), and John Adams (MA).[1]
Captain Simon's petition and his deposition are reported in Naval Documents of the American Revolution (1969).[2] An inventory of the Sally by the prize master, James McKnight, is also recorded.[3]
Document text, 1 May 1776
Page 1
To the Honourable Continental Congress
Now sitting. the Humble Petition of Peter Simon & Israel Ambrose sheweth ..... that on the 10th of January Last they Sailed from the Island of Saltatuda on board of the Sloop Sally Loaded with Salt, Molasses, Rum, Paper, Wine &c., Bound for North Carolina, on the 14th of February was taken near Cape Hatteras, by the Armd Sloop General Gage George Sibble Commander, who for want of a prize master putt James McKnight (the mate of Capt Raddan who was taken the Day before) on board the afore Sd Sloop Sally as prize master, as the Sd McKnight had agreed to Enter in their Service. the Sd Sloop General Gage took your Petitioners on board and orderd the Sd McKnight to Proceed to Cape Fear with the Sloop Sally but that night a hard gale came on which drove the Sloop Sally to the Northward, after which the Sd McKnight Ran the vessell on shore in order to convert her to his own use, to accomplish which he has misrepresented every circumstance to the Honourable Congress to obtain their order to dispose of the Sd Sloop & Cargo, Contrary to the orders & instructions given to the Sd McKnight & the Committee of Burlington, the Sd McKnight has broken open our Desks, Trunks and Secreted one hundred half Johannes wearing Apparel arms &c. also has not given any Acct of one half the goods that was savd out of the sd Sloop Sally to the Prejudice of your Petitioners three thousand Pounds therefore we pray you may take it in your great wisdom to restore our Sufferings and prevent our being Robd by Such imposters on our Country, and your Petitioners will ever pray.
Peter Simon
Philadelphia 1 May 1776
Page 2
Capt. Simon's Petition
Read May 3 1776
Referred to Mr. McKean
Mr. Wythe
Mr. J. Adams
Page 3
INVENTORY OF THE SLOOP Sally & CARGO JAMES MCKNIGHT Prize Master
Thirteen hundred Bushels SaltFourteen hds. Molasses
One hundred and twenty Gls Rum
Sixty five Reams Rightg Paper
One hd & twenty seven Demijohns Claret Wine
twenty seven dozen Bottles french Cordials
Five Cases oile ollives and Anchoves
Four Anchors Brandy
One hundred fifty thousand pins
twenty four pr of wool Cards
ten ps. linnen & Checks
Five hundred pounds Shot
One Cask powder
One hundred and fifty pounds Coffee
Four Ambrellas
One hundred yards of Osnaburgs
Four beaver hats
One Negro Man
One Sute Velvet
One Sute Black Cloath
One do. light Collard
One do. Purpel
two doz & half Shirts
two do. neck cloaths
three do. Handkerchiefs
Four do. Silk & thread stockings
three doz Linnen Wescots & Breches
two Chince Night Gownds
Several Short Coats
Grate Coat & Cloack
half ps Cambrick
Eight yards Crimson Silk
One doz ps Frech Laced Ruffels
Bedding table Linnen
Musquet Sword Pistols
two Blunder Buses
Quadrant & Other Instruments
Small Library Books
Page 4
Memorandum of Sundrs in my Chest when taken by the Sloop Genrl Gage Febry 14. 1776 viz—
1 chest88 Joanes & 27 Dollars which were found in the hands of MKnite
6 white Shirts & Some Chack one 2 or 3
3 Cravats
2 Coats one Never worn
4 wes cotes –
4 pr. Britches & 1 pr Droyer
12 do Stockins
1 do Shoe Buckls
1 do. Nee do.
1 do. Shoes not worn
3 1⁄2 piess. Linning 2 do. Checks 2 Beaver hats. 1 Str[aw] do 1 quadren
& all my Books
1 Pocket Book with sundry papers
6 plates Bed & Beding
3 pocket hanchfs.
1 parcel of Fine Thread.
See also
References
- ↑ Worthington C. Ford, ed., Journals of the Continental Congress, 1774-1789 vol. 4, January 1 - June 4, 1776 (Washington, D.C.: Government Printing Office, 1906), 324.
- ↑ William Bell Clarke, ed., Naval Documents of the American Revolution, vol. 4, (Washington, D.C.: Naval History Division, Dept. of the Navy, 1969), 274; 1364-1365.
- ↑ Peter Force, comp., American Archives: Consisting of a Collection of Authentick Records, State Papers, Debates, and Letters and Other Notices of Publick Affairs, vol. 5, (Washington, D.C.: M. St. Clair Clarke and Peter Force, 1844), 1163-1164.
External links
- Read this document in Google Books.