Documents Relating to the American Revolution : 1775 - 1783.

            The National Maritime Museum at Greenwich, England, was established by an Act of Parliament in 1934 and opened in 1937. The Museum collects artifacts and documents relating to the sea, including admiralty records, records of shipping companies and institutions, single volumes of documents, and personal papers of naval and merchant officers. From the latter group, 25 documents or sets of documents have been selected for reproduction on microfilm.  They represent only a portion of the total number of documents that relate to the American Revolution, but have been chosen for their bearing on the war at sea in the North American and West Indian theatre of operations.             

            The documents include correspondence, journals, logs, memorials, orders, signals and instructions, lists, and letters of British  officers and seamen with the Royal Navy who served on the North American and West Indian stations during the American Revolution. Most of the documents are official in nature, but not all. Topics cover maritime history pertaining to the experiences of members of the British Navy during war time, covering personal accounts of sieges, battles, actions, and everyday occurrences, routines, and observations, such as sickness; correspondence and orders from commanders; and captains' ship logs.

Organisation: The documents which were selected for inclusion in the microfilm collection are divided into two sections.

Section 1:  Documents Relative to the Naval War in North America

Reel 1

1. Journal of the Most remarkable occurrences in the Province of Quebec, from the appearance of the Rebels in September 1775 until their retreat on the sixth of May, 1777

A detailed, day- by- day account of the siege of Quebec by an anonymous defender under Carleton, containing some sharp political comment and a detailed report on each day’s weather. The importance of shipping in this siege is emphasized with many details of the part played until the relief by the Surprise.

2. Memorial of Lieutenant John Starke:  The Case of Lieutenant John Starke of His Majesty's Navy, together with a short sketch of the operations of the War in Canada, in which he was employed, during the years of 1775, 1776, and 1777

Starke was second lieutenant of the Lizard and was appointed to the armed schooner Maria in May 1776. He was commander of the armed schooner Maria at the second siege of Quebec and at the operations on Lake Champlain. The vessel was taken to pieces and transported to Lake Champlain. He died in 1790.

3. Captain Benjamin Caldwell:  Log of the Emerald, 6 December 1775 to 28 February 1777

In the early part of 1776 the Emerald escorted a convoy from England to New York, arriving in June in time for the capture from American forces. After future action in the North River (southern Hudson River), the Emerald left for the Chesapeake in February 1777. He served mostly in North America and West Indies during American War except in 1780 when he escorted the East India convoy home.

4. Captain Benjamin Caldwell:  Orders, Signals and Instructions to Emerald, 12 July 1776 to 12 April 1778

Routine orders, instructions, general signals, etc. and convoy duties issued from Lord Howe to Capt. Caldwell, commander of the Emerald on the North American Station, including order of battle, order of retreat, signals, distinguishing pennants, order of sailing, rendezvous, etc.

5. A Journal of War in America by Sir Vice-Admiral George Collier

A short personal journal in Collier’s own hand of the operations off New England and Nova Scotia in 1776. He had sailed to America in 1776 as commander of the 44-gun fourth-rate ship HMS Rainbow and supported the British landing at Long Island, New York in August.

He carried out a number of operations against settlements and colonial shipping and was particularly successful in frustrating an attack from New England against the loyalists on the Penobscot River. Was captain of the Hancock  in 1777. Between the recall of the Rear- Admiral Gambier (February 1779) and the arrival of Mariot Arbuthnot (July 1779), he was Commander – in – Chief in North America. Returned to England, November 1779. Served afterwards in the Channel and at Gibraltar. 

6. A detail of some particular services performed in America during the years 1776, 1777, 1778 and 1779, by Commodore Sir George Collier, Commander-in-Chief on the American Station

The volume, presumably written by [Royal Navy officer Peter?] Rainier, has corrections in Collier’s hand.

Reel 2

7. Captain the Hon. William Cornwallis:  Orders and letters receive in Isis, 12 January to 8 December 1777

HMS Isis, a 50-gun ship, was on the North American Station for the early part of the war. Official correspondence from Howe and other commanders to Cornwallis while captain in command of the Isis; also some instructions and orders included, such as standing orders and sailing instructions. He served almost continuously in North American and West Indies waters 1777 to 1783.

8. Lieutenant Thomas Lewis:  Notes and journals relating to the Carlisle Peace Commission of 1778

Letters, drafts of letters, fragments of a journal and notes made when Secretary to Lord Carlisle (on Peace Commission 1778).

9. Rear-Admiral Thomas Graves:  Letters and Orders, 1777 to 1782

A selection of orders received and issued by Graves while flying the flag in HMS London. Included here is a long letter from Rodney of 1 July 1782. 

In American war in North America and West Indies until 1778. He returned home in 1779, promoted to Rear – Admiral, served as Second – in – Command of English Channel Fleet. 1780 went to America as second in command to Admiral Arbuthnot. Commander – in – Chief 1781. Commanded British Fleet in the action off Chesapeake 1781. Returned home 1782.

10. Rear-Admiral Thomas Graves:  Journal, 7 September 1779 - 16 December 1781

This personal journal covers the time when the ship was being fitted out at Spithead and then her voyage to Long Island [New York], down to the West Indies and back to Sandy Hook [New Jersey]. It contains an account of the Battle of Chesapeake Bay [Virginia] which is fuller than official Admiralty log printed in the Graves Papers

11. Prince William Henry (midshipman):  Log of the Prince George and Warwick, 25 September 1781 to 6 December 1782

Prince William Henry joined the Prince George at Spithead and arrived off Sandy Hook [New Jersey] on 25 September 1781. It includes a map of the bar of Sandy Hook drawn by Samuel Hemmans, master attendant at New York. The Prince later transferred to the Warwick, under Captain George Elphinstone (later Admiral). Prince William Henry was later William IV. He had entered the Navy in May 1779, went to Gibraltar and then to North America.

12. Captain the Hon. George Elphinstone:  Orders and letters received, and drafts of letters sent when in command of the Perseus, 1776 to July 1780

This collection consists of loose papers containing orders and intelligence concerning the operations from Florida to New York. In November 1777 the Perseus was at Charlestown [Charleston, South Carolina], when he had correspondence with Robert Fanshawe in Carysfort. By April of the next year he was at New York, from where are several letters and drafts of letters sent to Governor Tryon. By July 1778 the Perseus was off East Florida. In February 1779 the ship was ordered to New York and there are many letters from Mariot Arbuthnot in early 1780, from Sir Henry Clinton (February), and Tryon (April) concerning the siege of Charlestown [Charleston]. Elphinstone was put in charge of co – operating with the army. 

Reel 2 and 3

12 continued. Captain the Hon. George Elphinstone:  Orders and letters, received and drafts of letters sent when in command of the Perseus, 1776 to July 1780

Reel 3

13. Lower deck journal by Daniel Woodhouse (fl. 1780-1812), seaman, kept on board His Majesty's ship America, 1781 to 1783, including an account of the battle of the Chesapeake [Virginia]. Includes important actions while in the North American Station, illustrated with sketches of ships and lines of battle.

Section 2:  Documents Relating to the Naval War in the West Indies

14. Captain John Houlton:  Nineteen letters to James Frampton, of Moreton, near Blandford, Dorest, February 1780 to November 1781

These nineteen letters, although personal, were primarily written to convey news. Houlton was captain of the Montagu and there are letters from many places including from Madeira, Portugal (Houlton had been at the Battle of Cape St. Vincent, also know as the Moonlight Battle, led by Admiral Rodney off the coast of Portugal) . Also contains letters from St Lucia, Martinique and Dominica on the subjects of the 1780 hurricane and constantly of his own and his mens’ sickness. After the capture of St Eustatius he had to give up his command because of scurvy. He Came back to England in the Triumph, arriving at Cork in September 1781. He also had prize money difficulties. He was at the relief of Gibraltar 1779 and in the West Indies from 1780.

15. Captain Benjamin Caldwell:  List of the ships in a convoy under command of Caldwell from Jamaica to England, March to June 1779, under the escort of the Emerald and the Hornet

There are full details of the ships in the convoy, with size, cargoes and a remarks column, with comments on station keeping.

16. Rear-Admiral Sir Samuel Hood:  Letters to Henry Shales, 12 February 1781 to 12 April 1782

Written from the Barfleur, contains a small series of letters to Mr. Henry Shales after successes in the West Indies, beginning with a letter after the capture of St Eustatius. There is an account of his action with the Comte de Grasse and a copy of a letter from Admiral Rodney to Admiral Samuel Hood congratulating him for his part in the Battle of the Saints. . He was resident Commissioner at Portsmouth Dockyard 1778 – 80. Went to West Indies 1780 and North America 1781. Took part in Chesapeake, commanded at St Kitts and was second – in – command at the Battle of the Saints.

17. Captain Peter Rainier:  Log of the Ostrich, England to the West Indies, 24 January 1778 to 24 June 1778

This personal log begins with the ship in the Downs, from which it goes to Spithead to join the Active and the Boreas to escort a convoy to Jamaica. Details of the organization of the convoy are included. They arrive at Port Royal in April, after which the Ostrich sloop is ordered to cruise off Jamaica. He was appointed to command the Ostrich in the West Indies 1778 – 9. Finished service in American war in the East Indies. 

18. Captain Benjamin Caldwell:  Log of the Agamemnon, 12 January 1782 to 8 September 1782

HMS Agamemnon went to the West Indies late in the war, escorting a convoy and arriving just in time to reinforce Admiral Rodney at the Battle of the Saints, 12 April 1782. She then went up the North American coast, arriving in Staten Island in September.


Reel 4

19. Captain Benjamin Caldwell: Log of the Agamemnon, 9 September 1782 to 10 June 1783

Caldwell sailed from Sandy Hook under Admiral Pigot with a convoy back to the West Indies. Having arrived at Carlisle Bay, Barbados, he was ordered to cruise off Dominica and St Lucia. He was finally ordered home, arriving at St Helens in June 1783.

20. Captain Benjamin Caldwell:  Out-letter book, 4 May 1776 to 17 June 1783,  and Agamemnon

This volume, kept by a secretary, contains the copies of letters sent by Caldwell during service in North American waters while in the Emerald until 1779, and the Agamemnon starting in July 1781. It covers the period of the Battle of the Saints and the closing months of the war in the West Indies before his return home in June 1783.

21. Midshipman William Spry:  Three letters written while serving on the Formidable and Locorne, 14 April 1782 to 4 February 1783

These letters were written to his parents and convey news in a vigorous style. Letter dated 14 April 1782 is dated from the Formidable at sea, with a description of the Battle of the Saints. Letter dated 4 Feb. 1783 is dated from the Locorne, Port Royal, Jamaica.

22. Admiral Thomas Graves:  Journal, 17 December 1781 to 3 October 1782

Until May 1782 Graves stayed at Jamaica in HMS London. On 8 May he set out from Port Royal in HMS Ramillies, working up the North American coast and thence home to England. In mid – September the squadron, with its convoy, met a storm which wrecked the convoy and caused Graves to abandon his ship on 22 September and transfer to the Bell merchantman. The journal continued in the Bell until 3 October. Graves reached Cork safely on 10 October. This journal was one of the few papers that Graves was able to save in the wreck.

22. Captain William Cornwallis:  Description of the Battle of the Saints/Saintes [9 April 1782 – 12 April 1782; also known as the Battle of Dominica

Detailed account by Cornwallis while in command of HMS Canada during the battle.

24. Captain Charles Saxton:  Journal of the several interviews with the French fleet at Tobago, Chesapeake [Virginia] and St. Kitts, 30 May 1781 to 15 January 1782

Remark book of HMS Invincible in the presence of the French off Tobago, Chesapeake and St. Christopher. He was commissioned to the Invincible in the Channel 1779. Went out to West Indies under Hood 1780.

25. Prince William Henry:  Log of the Barfleur, 10 December 1782 to 27 June 1783

The Barfleur cruised in the West Indies before starting home with a convoy early in 1783. The log contains particular details on sailing positions and signals.            

            The accompanying guide to the collection, with an Introduction to the topic by Roger Knight of the National Maritime Museum, is available in The Loyalist Collection red binders and as a PDF in the electronic finding aid section. The section of the introduction on provenance is followed by a concise overview of the naval war in North America and the West Indies, and it provides a useful background to the documents themselves.