back to Family Stories, Fall 2021
by Colin Beazley
Throughout this Family Story Project, I’ve been most interested by two members of my family, Captains William Bartlett (1741-1794) and John Shackleton (1712-1778). Both lived in the 1700s, but Shackleton’s service finished during the French and Indian War, while Bartlett did fight during the American Revolution. Easily the most interesting part of my research revolved around Bartlett and his military experiences, which included letters he sent directly to Commander-in-Chief of the Continental Army George Washington. My original hope for this Public Piece was to translate their full exchange, but letters in Washington’s possession were saved for the future, while Bartlett’s letters (Washington’s responses) were lost to time. Therefore, I will put Bartlett’s original correspondence to Washington into Modern English.
November 4, 1775
Since I have had the Honour of a Commission Under your Excellencey I have Never had an Oppertunity before to Return you my Hearty Thanks—The Honour Confer’d on me I Gratefully Acknolidge and hope I shall be able so farr to doo my Duty as to meet with the Approbation of Your Excellencey if so I am Sure of Doing Honour to my Country which is my Sincere desire.
I have the Pleasure of informing your Excellencey that this Morning at Day Light there Appear’d Two Sloops too Anchor Under one of Our Island Called by the Name of the Misery one of them came to Sail and whent in a Direct Course for Boston the Other being Very much Torn to peaces in the Gail of Wind was Unfitt to Proceed on her Intended Voiage—Two Resolute People in a Small boat whent off and tuck Possession of Her before we knew of it in this part of Town However Some of Capn Browns Company of Station’d men togeather with a Number of Inhabitants Arme’d whent Down & Brought her up Safe in this Herbour.1 I have Taken the Liberty of taking of her Under my Care My Instructions are Short with regard to Such Prizes as I hope Many Such may be Taken which Providence may force into Our Herbours in Gails of wind before Next Spring Beg your Excellencey will Give me Perticular Instructions with regard too them I find by Examination that Capt. Ritchee hes ben a Long while out of Boston hes ben Blown off the Coast as farr as the Latt. 38 but the being no Log Book on Board must Refer to the Bills of Percels for the Confirmation of the matter with regard to the time he hes Ben from Boston.
I have Procured all the papers on Board of her and Send them to your Excellencey by Capt. Brown Capt. Ritchees Crew Consists of his Father one White Man one Melatto Fellow one Negro and Two Weoman passengers which I shall keep Secure Untill further Orders from your Excellencey as Capt. Ritchee had the Original Bills of Percels I Thought it would be most satisfactory to Send them up to you which I Believe Contains the Chiefest part of her Cargo Except 1 BLL Pork 1 BLL flour 1 BLL & 1 hhd of Rum part of a Hhd of Tobacco 1 Trunk of Inglish Goods Your Excellencey will find by Some of the papers Inclosed that Capt. Ritchee hes ben One Voiage if no more to Annapolis and Carry’d up Provisions to the Ministerial Army and make no Doubt but his Intentions were the same Now if Providence had not frown’d upon him.
I would inform Your Excellencey that Capt. Adams Commander of the Privateer Warren hes Carry’d a Sloop Loaded with Wood as I am informed Bound to Boston into Portsmouth I have heard Nothing Concerning the rest of the Privateers Since their Sailing.
I shall wait your Excellenceys Orders with Regard to the Above5 And Beg Leave to Subscribe my Self Your Excellenceys Most Obedt Huml. Sert
William Bartlett
Modern English:
Since I’ve had the honor of a military commission, I’ve never had the opportunity to thank you — I’m honored by the position, and I hope to be able to meet your expectations in doing my Duty. It is my sincere desire to do honor to my country.
This morning at dawn, two sloops (sailing ships) appeared to anchor at the Misery Islands (two islands off of Massachusetts, northwest of Boston). One of them set sail towards Boston, while the other was battered by a recent storm and could not continue. Two people in a small boat took possession of the second ship, and several men under Captain Brown went and took the ship into our harbor. I’ve taken the ship under my care, but I don’t know what to do, I hope to rebuild the ship and set sail with it in the Spring, but I will do whatever you tell me to do with it. I also discovered that Captain Richee had been gone from Boston for a long time; he’d been blown off the coast as far as Latitude 38, but given that there’s no logbook on board, I must use other sources to find out where he’s been while away from Boston.
I’ve compiled all the paper from the ship and sent them to you via Captain Brown. Captain Richee’s crew consisted of him, his father, a white man, a person of mixed ancestry, a black man and two women. I will keep the crew secure until you give instructions. Captain Richee had the original documents, I thought it would be best to send them to you which I believe contains the most important parts of the cargo, except some pork, flour, rum, tobacco and a trunk of English goods. You will find in the documents that Captain Richee went on at least one voyage to Annapolis and gave provisions to the army. I believe he was planning on doing the same this time if not for the storm.
I’d also like to inform you that Captain Adams, commander of the privateer (ship) Warren is commanding a ship loaded with wood from Boston to Portsmouth (New Hampshire). I’ve heard nothing else regarding other ships.
I’ll look forward to following your orders, and I present myself as your most obedient humble servant.
William Bartlett
Although it was by no means a major part of the war or war effort, knowing that my relative corresponded with such a famous figure in our nation’s history has brought me pride. It’s exciting to see more and more of my own family’s history, and I’ve loved learning more about myself and my family throughout this project. I’m looking forward to continuing my genealogical research after this class, and I’m excited to see who else I discover.