USA > New York > Colonial records of the New York Chamber of Commerce, 1768-1784 : with historical and biographical sketches > Part 28
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NOTE 199, PAGE 271. SAILING OF TROOP SHIPS .- The coast was so covered with privateers, that no public notice was given of the date at which this expedition sailed. It appears that it was in July, from the fol- lowing notice.
" The Quebec and Halifax fleets, which left this port in July last, under command of his Majesty's ships Warwick, Hon. K. Elphinstone, Com- mander, and the Garland, Captain Chamberlain, arrived at Halifax on the 6th day after they left Sandy Hook. - Gaine's New York Gazette and Weekly Mercury, September 24th, 1781.
NOTE 200, PAGE 271. TWO BRIGS ESCAPE THE CONVOY .- These were probably the two vessels referred to in a Boston letter of the 16th August as having been sent in. "Also two brigs from New York bound to 4 Quebec were captured by a privateer from Portsmouth."-The New Jersey Gazette, September 5th, 1781.
Their companions were more fortunate, if the British account can be relied upon. " We are informed that a great number of rebel privateers having concocted a design of intercepting the fleet of British merchantmen bound for Quebec, and taken their stations in and about the Gulf of St. Law- rence, they were presently made prizes of by the British cruisers. It is said Admiral Edwards had taken the trade under his protection, apprised of the formidable number of rebel privateers in the Gulf, twenty-six sail of which have been secured ; their names we have in vain endeavoured to procure for insertion in this paper ; besides the Congress of 26 guns, the following ships are named, the Alexander, the Marquis, and the Neptune. The whole, large and small, carry from twelve to twenty-six guns each."-Rivington's Royal Gazette, September 22d, 1781.
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NOTE 201, PAGE 271. HIS MAJESTY'S SHIP GARLAND .- This ship, built in 1748, according to Beatson, carried 24 guns, and was under the command of Captain Chamberlain. She was on the American station until 1783. In the next year her name disappears from the Registers .- Exshaw's Registers.
This ship had been long known on the American station. On the voy- age from Cork, as part of the convoy of the Provision Fleet for America, she had the fortune to take a celebrated privateer, which was the cause of much rejoicing and boasting among her officers.
" Extract of a letter from an officer on board the Garland : 'On Wed- nesday last (June 2), we took the Fair American, privateer, so remarkable for depredations she has committed on the British trade for the two years past, and always escaping our cruisers by her swiftness of sailing. This, I think, will incontrovertibly, ascertain a fact which some people affect not to value, but which is nevertheless true, 'that the Garland sails superior to all the cruisers on the coast.' "-Rivington's Royal Gazette, January 9, 1782.
NOTE 202, PAGE 271. THE INSURER .- Underwriting was not, as now, the business of companies. One or more individuals would take the risks on such terms as could be agreed upon. The insurance offices were only places of meeting for those whose habit it was to do this business.
NOTE 203, PAGE 27I. "THIS MOST UNNATURAL REBEL- LION."-This phrase, so much used during the late Rebellion (1861-65), and in the text appearing in a letter of ISAAC Low, President of the Cham- ber (October 3, 1781), is to be found in a Proclamation of Sir William Howe of the 21st April, 1777, commencing, " Whereas for the more speedy and effectual suppression of the unnatural Rebellion subsisting in North Amer- ica," etc .- Gaine's New York Gazette, April 28th, 1777.
NOTE 204, PAGE 272. THE BRITISH FLEET .- Sir Henry Clinton, in a letter to Lord George Germaine, dated on board the London, off Chesa- peake, 29th October, 1781, says, " Rear Admiral Graves sailed from Sandy Hook on the 19th inst., and arrived off Cape Charles on the 24th, when we had the mortification to hear that Lord Cornwallis had prepared terms of capitulation to the enemy on the 17th. . .. We are, unfortunately, too late to relieve him, which, being the only object of the expedition, the Admiral has determined upon returning with his fleet to Sandy Hook."-Political Magazine, 1781, page 670.
NOTE 205, PAGE 272. BOUNTY OF CHAMBER TO SEAMEN .--- A curious Proclamation of Mr. Isaac Low, as President, has been preserved in the Pennsylvania Packet. It was probably issued as a handbill in New York, and for that reason did not find its way into the newspapers :
"TO ALL HONEST HEARTS AND SOUND BOTTOMS.
" Not to step forth when all's at stake were a reflection too indignant and insupportable for the breast of an English seaman.
" It is on such grand occasions that those useful men have always shone in their true light, and astonished the world by their intrepidity and feats of valour.
" Perhaps there never was a period when an exertion of all their powers was more seriously called for.
" Without their most strenuous assistance, not only the great exertions of
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the noble peer and the gallant army he commands, who have already per- formed wonders, may be rendered of no effect, but also the endeavours of their brave sympathetic fellow soldiers, who would so eagerly fly to their assistance, be defeated.
" All seamen and able-bodied landsmen are therefore called upon by the Admiral to offer their services and fight under his banners. Nor will they be called upon in vain, or it would be the first invitation of the kind that honest British tars ever refused, or were backward in accepting.
" Yard arm and yard arm never yet failed evincing their prowess over their old implacable foe.
" Greater encouragement was never held out in any country ; not from the degrading supposition that their zeal and ardour require any other stim- ulation than what flows from a love of their country ; but only by way of vieing with them, who, in their different stations, should be foremost on this truly grand and important occasion.
" With this view the Admiral and Governor authorize the publication of what cannot but be called great allurements, and the Chamber of Commerce and the other loyal inhabitants will add a bounty of Three Guineas to each volunteer who goes upon this important service, besides plenty of honest grog to cheer their hearts and drink the king's health and success to his arms.
"' Hearts of oak are our ships ; Hearts of oak are our men. We always are ready, steady, boys, steady. We'll fight and we'll conquer again and again.'
"This noble chorus again echoed with propriety, will make the heart of the young Prince * leap for joy and glory in the profession of a sailor.
" By order of the Chamber of Commerce and a number of respectable in- habitants there assembled. ISAAC Low, President."-News from Chatham, published in the Pennsylvania Packet, Tuesday, October 30, 1781.
NOTE 206, PAGE 275. ARRIVAL OF PROVISION FLEETS .- " Last Saturday( January 5) arrived here from Cork a fleet of twenty-five vic- tuallers, convoyed by his Majesty's Ship Quebec, of 38 guns, commanded by Christopher Mason, Esq., and the Grana, of 28, by Captain Fortescue. They left Cork the 29th of October. On the 27th of December that part of the convoy destined for Carolina, was sent up to Charlestown. On the 28th they sailed from the bar of that port, and eight days after, viz. on the 5th of January, with the remaining convoy for this garrison, anchored in New York Harbour."-Rivington's Royal Gazette, January 9, 1782.
NOTE 207, PAGE 276. ARRIVAL OF PRIZES .- In the twenty days preceding the date of the Letter of the Superintendent, the British privateers had met with more than usual success. On the 19th December the priva- teer sloop Prince William Henry brought in the Brig Experiment, bound from Philadelphia to North Carolina. On the 2d January the Orpheus brought in two vessels laden with flour. On the 23d January his Majesty's Ship Adamant sent in the schooner Delaware, laden with three hundred and fifty barrels of flour. The same day the King's Ship Garland sent in the " Fair
* Prince William Henry, afterwards William the Fourth, third son of George the Third, arrived at Sandy Hook September 25, 1781 .- Rivington's Royal Gazette, September 26, 1781.
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American, rebel privateer, so remarkable for the depredations she has so long committed on the British trade. The Fair American had on board upward of 550 barrels of flour, which she was to unload at the Havana." On the 3d his Majesty's Ship the Chatham sent in the Sally, bound from Philadel- phia to St. Croix, with a cargo of flour, bread, etc.
These arrivals, together with that of the Cork fleet on the 9th, were a. . great relief to the city.
NOTE 208, PAGE 276. PRICE OF BREAD, JANUARY, 1782 .- On the IIth January, 1782, on the advice of the Chamber given in their letter of the 8th idem (page 276), the Magistrates of Police ordered that Loaves of Two Pounds and a Quarter weight each should be sold for Fourteen Cop- pers each .- Rivington's Royal Gazette, January 12, 1782. For Bread Reg- ulations during the British occupation, see Note 142.
NOTE 209, PAGE 277. WHARVES .- The recommendation of the Chamber (page 279) was followed by the authorities. On the 12th April, 1782, SAMUEL BIRCH, Commandant of New York, issued a Proclamation : " Whereas the proprietors of wharves on the East River, by their petition, have prayed an encrease of Wharfage, on condition of putting and keeping the said wharfs in repair, and the prayer of the said petitioners appearing to be just and equitable, I have thought fit hereby to declare and order that such owners of wharfs on the East River as shall produce certificates from the Wardens of the Port, that their wharfs are in proper repair and good condition, shall hereafter be entitled to receive from all masters of vessels that shall lay fastened thereto as follows, viz." (here follow the rates pro- posed by the Chamber of Commerce ; see page 279.)-Gaine's New York Gazette, April 22, 1782.
" The wharfs, till the first January, 1779, had been occupied by his Ma- jesty's Ships and transports in government service, without paying any wharfage ; but as many of them belonged to Loyalists, it was determined, that on the proprietors making oath as to the property, and that no persons without the British lines (with an exception in regard to any copartner in such wharf), were interested or concerned therein, the Commandant gave his permission to such proprietor to occupy his wharf or part of a wharf, and receive the usual and customary wharfage on condition that such proprietor kept the said wharf in good and sufficient repair. Captain Kennedy and Mr. Lefferts owned one of the wharfs in the Commissary General's depart- ment ; Captain Kennedy was allowed and paid by the Commissary General one dollar per day for his half; but as Mr. Lefferts was without the British lines, nothing was allowed him. This wharf, as well as all others in the Commissary General's department and the stores, were kept in constant repair at the expense of government. Wages and material being very high, had the Owners been in full possession of their property and rented the same for any moderate sum, many of them would have been losers, had they been obliged to have kept the premises in repair."-Butler's Case ; New York City in the American Revolution ; N. Y. Mercantile Library, p. 156.
NOTE 210, PAGE 277. RATES OF WHARFAGE (1782) .- "WHEREAS the Proprietors of Wharves on the East River, by their petition, have prayed an encrease of Wharfage on condition of putting and keeping the said Wharves in repair, and the prayer of the said petitioners appearing to be just and equitable, I have thought fit hereby to declare and order that such owners of wharfs on the East River as shall produce certificates from the Wardens of the Port that their wharfs are in proper repair and good con-
-
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dition, shall hereafter be entitled to receive from all masters of vessels that shall lay fastened thereto, as follows, viz. :
"For every vessel not exceeding one hundred tons carpenter's measure- ment, at the rate of Three Shillings per day. For all vessels above one hun- dred tons, and not exceeding three hundred tons, at the rate of Four Shil- lings and Six Pence per day. For all vessels above three hundred tons, at the rate of Six Shillings per day. That all vessels laying on the out-side berths be subject to one-half wharfage, according to their measurement.
" Given under my Hand, this 12th day of April, 1782 .- SAMUEL BIRCH. By order of the Commandant : John St. Clair, Secretary."
NOTE 211, PAGE 279. SECRETARY OF THE COMMANDANT. -"New York, September 23d. The Commandant of New York has ap- pointed Mr. JOHN ST. CLAIR to be his Secretary."-Gaine's New York Gazette, September 25th, 1780.
NOTE 212, PAGE 281. TWO FRIGATES DETAINED .- Another instance of the difficulty which the British Commanders had in manning their vessels in America, and of the aversion with which the service was regarded (see Note 188).
NOTE 213, PAGE 281. KING AND KEMBLE .- The name of King and Kemble is not met with as a firm ; their connection was probably only that of joint ownership in the privateer brig Perseverance.
NOTE 214, PAGE 281. CAPTAIN ROSS OF THE PERSEVE- RANCE .- Two captains of this name appear on the "List of Vessels com- missioned as Letters of Marque from the Port of New York, since the 8th September, 1778," published 1779-James Ross of the Privateer Roebuck, 20 guns, and Stewart Ross of the Pollux, 18 guns. The Captain who treated the Admiral with so little respect was probably one of those old hands who were not respecters of persons.
NOTE 215, PAGE 282. GENIUS OF AMERICANS FOR PRIVA- TEERING .- The journals of the last century bear ample witness to the truth of this remark. One is struck with surprise at the unending roll of captured ships on both sides. During the Spanish and French Wars the American rovers reaped rich harvests of plunder from the unfortunate mer- chantmen who fell in their way. The same success followed in the War of 1812 with Great Britain. The colonists were a hardy, adventurous race, ready for every enterprise of individual hazard.
Many of the British statesmen were fully alive to the results which would follow to their commerce from the adventurous spirit of the hardy sea- men of the American coast. In 1776 they had warned the Ministry that " the prohibition of commerce with the Colonies would compel them of neces- sity to convert their merchant ships into privateers, whereby our West India islands would be totally ruined, and our foreign commerce in general suffer greater injury than in any war in which we have ever been involved."-An- nual Register for 1776, page 109.
The fears of these observers were fully justified when no English vessel could safely sail without a convoy, and John Paul Jones had struck terror into the residents of the English coast. In the debate of 1777 it was stated that the home trade had been destroyed by the "swarms of American privateers which had during the war infested and insulted our
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coasts," and allusion was made "to the terror into which the metropolis of Ireland had been thrown, and the need of fortifying for the first time in all our wars of its harbour," &c .- Annual Register for 1778.
NOTE 216, PAGE 283. VESSELS MANNED FOR PUBLIC SER- VICE .- The proclamation of Governor Tryon (see Note 123), issued in 1779, gives a statement of the number of private ships of war which were sent out from New York. Their number was constantly increasing ; to this must be added the transports fitted out for the numerous expeditions along the coast.
NOTE 217, PAGE 285. PRIVATEERS AND WHALE-BOATS IN- FEST THE NARROWS .- Every day the Privateers became more bold. Towards the close of the War the fishing, on which the inhabitants greatly depended for food, was almost suspended. Captain HYLER with his boats was active and vigilant in his efforts to annoy the British.
" Friday last a number of Fishing Boats were just on the eve of being captured on the Banks by Hyler's Boats ; but luckily the Lark Privateer, in- ward bound, saved them from being convoyed to Middletown, &c."-Gaine's New York Gazette, June 17th, 1782.
On the very day of the meeting of the Chamber a daring feat of this nature was performed, which was probably the immediate cause of the mo- tion on the subject.
"On the 2d instant, in New York Bay, Captains Hyler and Story, with two whale-boats, boarded and took the schooner Skip Jack mounting 6 car- riage guns besides swivels, but soon after burnt her, finding they could not get her off, it being at noon, in sight of the Guard Ship, and several other ships of War lying at Sandy Hook. This schooner was tender to the Admi- ral's ship. Hyler brought off the captain and 9 or 10 hands, the others having escaped in their boats on the approach of the whale-boats. Captain Hyler, about the same time, took three other small vessels which were on the trading scheme, one of them being loaded with calves, sheep, &c., bound from New Jersey to New York."-The Pennsylvania Packet, July 16th, 1782.
" About 12 o'clock (Tuesday 2d July), five boats under the command of Mr. Hyler, took a Tender of 8 guns near Sandy Hook; the Guard Ship got under way immediately, but there being little Wind she could not recover the Prize, which was carried off, and afterwards burnt in the Shrewsbury River."-Gaine's New York Gazette and Weekly Mercury, July 8th, 1782.
Captain Adam Hyler, of New Brunswick, the hero of these exploits, was famous for his daring adventures. A notice of his death on the 6th Septem- ber, 1782, pays a tribute to his courage : " his many heroick and enterpris- ing acts in annoying and distressing the enemy endeared him to the patri- otick part of all his acquaintance."-The New Jersey Gazette, September 25th, 1782.
NOTE 218, PAGE 287. JOHN PORTEOUS .- A curious advertisement of this person appears in 1780. "Best Hats. In the military and most fash- ionable cock, with gold and silver buttons and loops ; and a variety of feath- ers, &c., and a few, well-sorted small packages just imported in the last ships from London, and to be sold cheap for cash by JOHN PORTEOUS, next door to the Admiral's in Hanover Square.
" Also carriage-guns, three and four pounders, compleat ; swivels and a variety of shot. An elegant pair of looking-glasses, some bales of coarse
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woollens, cloths and other articles in the dry good way, and a very fine night glass."-Gaine's New York Gazette, September 11th, 1780.
There is in the St. Memin Collection (No. 662) a portrait of John Por- teous (1809), who is described as a planter of Beaufort, S. C.
NOTE 219, PAGE 287. THE KITTY AND POLLY .- This vessel was probably one of the schooners, the capture of which was reported in the newspapers. "Yesterday arrived a small sloop from St. Augustine, after being chased by two rebel gallies of four nine-pounders each, which have taken three schooners bound to this port ; their station is off the Light-house, and it is said they cruise in concert, the better to check arrivals and injure our commerce. The sloop was charged with dispatches, but in the chase they were thrown overboard."-Letter from New York, 3d July, published in the Pennsylvania Packet, July 21, 1782.
The fate of this vessel is an example of the hazard which attended all trade during the war. The Kitty and Polly had been formerly the Shark Priva- teer .- Rivington's Royal Gazette, February 16, 1782.
NOTE 220, PAGE 288. GEORGETOWN .- The reference in the arbi- tration is to Georgetown, South Carolina, situated at the mouth of the Santee River. At this time it was in possession of the patriot forces under General Marion, who was a native of the Georgetown District. Its fine harbor made it a valuable refuge for the American cruisers.
The New Jersey Gazette of the 4th September gives a notice of "a ship said to have been brought into George-Town, South Carolina, by a pri- vateer of that place, with 250 slaves on board, taken on their way to Jamaica from Savanna."
NOTE 221, PAGE 293. COLONEL CRUGER .- John Harris Cruger was one of the earliest members of the Chamber, elected at its first meeting for business, 3d May, 1768 (page 8). He was last in his seat Feb., 1775 (page 201). On the breaking out of the war he was appointed Lieutenant Colonel Commandant of the First Battalion of Oliver De Lancey's Loyal Brigade. He greatly distinguished himself by his services to the Crown in the South- ern campaign, especially by his gallant defence of Post Ninety-six, besieged by General Greene in 1780.
NOTE 222, PAGE 296. JERSEY MONEY .- This would indicate that the old trouble concerning the rate at which Jersey Money should pass in New York was at last settled, but the subject was again to come before the Chamber. On the 3d April, 1787, a committee was raised to consider whe- ther "countenance should be given to this circulation," who reported, May of same year, "that the Chamber ought not for the present to interfere."- MSS. Minutes of the Chamber, i. pp. 344, 345.
NOTE 223, PAGE 296. RESTORATION OF MEMBERS WITH- OUT BALLOT .- Of these persons, ISAAC SEARS resigned 4th August, 1772 (p. 64), the rest named on the 6th Oct., 1772 (p. 168).
None of them had availed of the privilege of re-admission without en- ti ance-fee granted by resolution of the Chamber, 4th Jan. 1774 (p. 187).
NOTE 224, PAGE 297. ADMITTANCE FEE TO CHAMBER .- On the organization of the Chamber, April 5, 1768, the entrance-fee was fixed at FIVE SPANISH DOLLARS (page 4). On the 6th March, 1770, a sliding scale of increase was adopted, from Ten Spanish Dollars upwards, to take
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effect when the Chamber should reach Eighty members (page 79). The propo- sition to reduce this fee to Eight Dollars, made 20th January, 1784 (page 297), was never voted upon. On the re-organization of the Chamber, 20th April, 1784 (see Note, page 298), the old fee of Five Spanish Dollars was restored. On the 15th April, 1817, shortly after the second revival of the Institution, the sum was raised to Ten Dollars, at which it has remained until the pres- ent day, except that the Chamber has waived the payment of dues of new members for the calendar year of admission.
NOTE 225, PAGE 297. NEW MEMBERS PROPOSED .- Of the mem- bers proposed at this, the only meeting of the Old Corporation between the close of the war and the re-organization of the Chamber under the Act of the Legislature, Cornelius Ray, Viner Van Zandt, Samuel Broome, Jacob Morris, Comfort Sands, Robert Bowne, William Malcom, and Joshua Sands, were petitioners to the Legislature for the confirmation of the Charter, and are named in the Act of Re-Incorporation.
There were elected 4th May, 1784, James Stewart ; June 8, 1784, Samuel Franklin, William Denning, Archibald Gamble, and John Shaw ; May I, 1787, Moses Rogers.
The others, named Eleazer Miller, John Woodward, and Joseph Hallet, do not appear on the books of the Chamber .- MSS. Minutes of the Cham- ber of Commerce, vol. i.
* NOTE ON THE OLD CHARTER.
About the year 1821 or 1822, Mr. Andrew Warner, now of the Bank for the Savings of Merchants' Clerks, then a clerk in the Mutual Insurance Company, of which Mr. John Pintard, the Secretary of the Chamber, was at the time also the Secretary, at his instance called on Admiral Walton, at the Walton House. Mr. Daniel Crommelin Verplanck, the husband of Ann, sister of the Admiral, had been charged by him to inform the officers of the Chamber that, on taking possession of the old house, on his return to Amer- ica, he had found there the original Charter of the Chamber. Mr. Warner was received at the old mansion, then in fine order and condition, by the Admiral and his wife, and there took possession of the valuable estray. It was then in a mahogany box, oblong, with a circle at one end to allow of the entry of the old Colonial Seal.
NOTES TO REGISTER OF PROCEEDINGS OF
NEW YORK CHAMBER OF COMMERCE.
BIOGRAPHICAL.
NOTE a, PAGE 36. JOHN SCHUYLER, Colonel .- A grandson of Philip Pietersen Schuyler, of Amsterdam, the first of the name in America, and son of Arent Schuyler, who settled in New Jersey. Col. John Schuyler lived at Bellville, New Jersey, where the family owned valuable copper- mines. A curious account of his house and family is to be met with in the Journal of Isaac Bangs, a private in a Massachusetts regiment stationed near Bellville in 1775, communicated to the New Jersey Historical Society : "Mr. Schuyler's Mansion House is a large, grand and magnificent building, built partly of stone and the rest brick, most beautifully situated upon an eminence on the East Bank of what is called the Hackensack." His farm was several miles in extent, and included fine deer-parks. The copper-mines had greatly enriched the family .- Letter from S. Alofsen, Esq., of Jersey City ; Proceedings N. J. Hist. Soc. xii. 120.
NOTE b, PAGE 36. ARCHIBALD KENNEDY .- This name was first borne in America by a Scotch gentleman who came to New York in 1714, and soon after was appointed to the office of Receiver General and Collector of the Port. In 1727 he was, on the recommendation of Governor Burnet, appointed one of the King's Council. He married Catharine Schuyler, who was of one of the old colonial families. He died in New York.
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