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April 7th the Defence had Five Men Broke out With the Small Pox.
9th they Lost a Man wththe Small Pox.
10th ExersisdCannon & Musquetry.
11th Saw a Sail the Defence Spoke with her She was a Frenchman from Bourdeaux Bound to the West Indies.
13th Crosdthe Tropick Shavd& Duck About 60 Men.
14th at four Oclock Afternoon Saw a Sail Bearing E S E. We Gave Chase to her & Came Up With her at 8 Oclock She was a Large French Ship we Sent the Boat on Board of her She Informed us of two English Ships which She Left Sight of at the time we Saw her.
15th at Day Break We saw two Sail Bareing SEbS Distance 2 Leagues We Gave Chase Under a Moderate Sail at 9 oClock P. M. Came Up with them they at First Shew French Colours to Decoy us when we Came in About half a Mile of us the Ups with English ColoursWe had Continental Colours Flying We Engaged the Ship Admiral Kepple as Follows When We Came in About 20 Rods of her We Gave her a Bow Gun She Soon Returned us a Stern Chaise & then a Broad Side of Grape & Round Shot CaptOrders Not to fire till we Can See the white of their Eyes We Got Close Under their Larbard Quarter they Began Another Broad Side & then We Began & heldTuff & Tuff for About 2 Glasses & Then she Struck to Us at the Same time the Defence Engaged the Cyrus who as the Kepple Struck Wore Round Under our Stern We Wore Ship & Gave her a Stern Chase at which She Immediately Struck. The Loss on our Side was One Killd& Six Wounded one Mortally Who Soon Died Our Ship was hulld9 Times with Six Pound Shott Three of which Went through Our Birth one of which wounded the Boatswains yoeman the Loss on their Side was two Killd& Six wounded their Larbourd quarter was well filldwith Shott one Nine Pounder went through her Main Mast. Imploydin the After-noon Takeing out the Men & Maning the Prise The Kepple Mounted 20 Guns 18 Six Pounders & two Wooden Dowith about 45 Men, the Cyrus Mounted 16 Six Pounders with 35 Men Letters of Marque Bound from Bristol to Jamaica Laden with Dry Goods Paints & C.
18th CaptDay Died.
19th CaptBrown of The Ship AdmlKepple & CaptDike of the Cyrus with Three Ladies & 8 Men Sett off in a Long Boat for StKitts OrCaptnsParker & Smedleys Permition.
20th Imploydin taking things out of the Prise Viz. One Chist of Holland a Quantity of Hatts & Shoes Cheeses Porter & Some Crockery Ware Small Arms Pistols Hangers two Brass Barrel Blunderbusses a Quantity of Riggen & C.
21stAt Three oClock Afternoon we wore Ship to the Southward The Prises Made Sail to the Northward we Lost Sight of them at Six.
May 2ndSprung Our Foretopmast Struck it & ShipdAnother in its Room.
8thSaw a Sail over Our Starboard bow We Gave Chase to her She was a French Guineaman Bound to the Mole With 612 Slaves on Board Our CaptPut 6 Prisoners on Board of Her Left her Just at Dark.
11thAt 5 o’Clock in the Morning Saw a Sail at the Windward two Leagues Distance Bearing Down Upon Us we Lay too for her till She Came in half Gun Shott of us the Man at Mast head Crydout 4 Sail to the Leeward Our Officers Concluded to Make Sail from her Supposing her to be a Frigate of 36 Guns after we Made Sail We Left as Fast as we wanted She Gave Over Chase at two oClock Afternoon She was the Seaford of 28 Guns.
22ndSprung our Maintop sail Yard.
28thMade the Land at Port Royal.
29ththe Ship Struck Bottom Thrice.
30thCame over the Bar this Morning & Arrivdin this Harbour In Company with the Ship Defence Comedby SamllSmedly. Charlestown, Sth. Cna. May ye30th1778.
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An Account of the Months, Days And Knots Run, by the Ship Oliver Cromwell in her Second Cruise.
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Charlestown, July 6th, 1778.
Conversation Between CaptParker & My Self this Day.
Pr. What are you Doing a Shore.
My Sf. I wanted to See You Sir.
Pr. Verry well.
My Sf. The Term of my Inlistment is up & I would be glad of a Discharge Sir.
Pr. I cannot Give you One, the Ship is in Distress Plumb has been trying to Get You away.
My Sf. No Sir, I can have Good Wages here & I think it Better than Privatiering I cantThink of Going for a Single Share I had a hard task Last Cruise & they all Left me.
Pr. You have had a hard task of it & I will Consider you. & You Shall have as Much again as You Expect. Ranny & those that Leave me without a Discharge will Never Get anything you Better go aboard Boardman. I will Consider you & you,llLose Nothing by it.
My Sf. I am Obligdto you Sir. & So went on Board.
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July 24 WeighdAnchor at 5 Fathom hole & Came Over the Bar In Compywith the Notredame a 16 Gun Brig & two Sloops. Mett a French Ship of 28 Guns on the Bar Bound in.
25thA Smooth Sea.
29thSaw A Sail Gave Chace.
30thSaw A Sail Gave Chace.
31stSaw two Sail Gave Chace. Light winds.
August 6th at half after Six Afternoon Saw a Sail & Gave Chace, at 11 Gave her a Bow Gun which Brought her too She was a Big from New Orleans in Missippi Bound to Cape Francois a Spainard Went on Board Kept her All Night & Lett her Go at 10oClock the Next Day her Cargo was Furr & Lumber She had Some Englismen on Board the Occasion of our Detaining her So Long.
7thAt 5 OClock Afternoon Made the Land the Island of Abaco.
8that 10oClock Harbour Island Bore East Dist2 Leagues.
9thHard Gales of wind.
10thFresh Gales of wind & Heavy Squals.
11thFresh Breeses & a Rough Sea.
12 at Six Afternoon Caught a Great Turtle which was Kookdthe Next Day for the Entertainment of the Gentlemen of the Fleet No Less than 13 Came on Board to Dine.
14 At 2 oClock P M Harbour Island Bore SbW 1 League DistSent the Yoll on Shore The Brig Sent her Boat a Shore too.
15thThe two Boats Returned with a two Mast Boat & 4 Men Belonging to New Providence Squally Night & Smart Thunder & Lightning.
16thCrosdthe Bahama Banks from 8 Fathom of water to 3¾ Came to Anchor at Night on the Bank.
17thArrivdat the Abimenes Filldour Water Cask & HoggdShip & Boot Toptthe Ship.
18thAt Day Break WeighdAnchor together with the Rice Thumper Fleet at Noon Parted with Them & Fired 13 Guns the Other fir,d their Guns Which was a 16 Gun Brigg the Notredame Command by CaptHall A 10 Gun Sloop Comdby CaptRobberts A 12 Gun Sloop Comdby John Crappo or Petweet & Stood to the westward a crossdthe Gulf.
19that Day the Cape of Floriday bore west we stood for it aCrossdthe Gulf we Came out of the Gulf in five fathom of Water & Within 30 Rods of a Rieff in the Space of 15 Minutes in About a League of the Shore Which Surprisdthe Capt. & Other Officers we have the Ship in Stays & beat off the wind being moderate.
20thSaw a Sail & Gave her Chace & Came Up She was a Saniard a Palacca from Havanna Bound to Spain She Informdus of the Jamaica Fleet that they Passdthe Havanna ten Days Back Which made us Give over the Hopes of Seeing them.
22 Saw this Spaniard about a League to the Windward.
23 a Sunday, Saw a Ships Mast in Forenoon & Just at Night A Large Jamaica Puncheon Floating we hoisted out our Boate& went in Persuit of it but Could not Get it we Supposdit was full of Rum this Afternoon a Large Swell brok & Soon after A fine Breese Which Increasdharder in the Morng.
24thSun about two hours high we Saw white water in About a Mile Under our Lee Bow we Saw the Breakers which was on the Bahama Banks which Surprisdour Officers & Men Greatly we Put our Ship About & had the Good Fortune to Clear them the wind Blew harder we Struck Top Gallant Yards & LanchdTop Gallant Masts Lay too Under one Leach of the Four Sail Got 6 Nine Pounders Down in the Lower hold & Cleard the Decks of unecessary Lumber The Wind Continued verry hard The air was Verry Thick Just before Night the Sea Came in Over our Larboard Nettens on the Gangway. All the officers Advisdto Cut away the Main Mast which we Did, Justat Dusk, All the hope we had was that it would not Blow harder, but it Continued harder till After Midnight About one oClock it Seemd to Blow in whirlwinds which obligdus to Cut away our Four Mast & Missen Mast. Soon after the Wind Changdto the Eastward which Greatly Encouragdus Being Much Affraid of the Bahama Banks the fore Mast fell to the windward & Knockdour Anchor off the Bow So that we Cut it away for fear it would Make a hole in the Bow of the Ship our Fore Mast Lay along Side for two hours After it fell, it Being Impossible to Get Clear of it We Bent our Cables for fear of the Banks that we Might try to Ride it out if we Got on.
25 Moderated Some But Verry Rough So that we Could Do no work.
26 Got a Jury Mast Up on the Main Mast.
27 Got up Jury Masts on the Fore & Mison Masts.
30 at 8 oClock in the Morning Saw a Brigg over our weather Bow 2 Leagues DistWe Kept our Course She Stood the Same way Just at Night we gave her two Guns but She kept on at Night we Lost Sight of her.
31stat 5 in the Morning Saw the Brigg a Head Gave her Chace Came up with her about Noon we hoisted our Colours She hoisted English Colours, we Gave her one gun which made them come Tumbling Down.
Septr1stWe Saw a Sail a Head Giving us Chace She hoisted Englis Colours & we & the Brigg hoisted English Colours She Came Down towards us we Put the Ship about & She Came Close too us we up Parts & OurColours She put about & we Gave her about 12 Guns Bow Chaces & She Got Clear She was a Small Sloop of 6 or 8 Guns.
Sept2ndGot Soundings of Cape May 45 Fathm.
Sept3rdat Night Lost Sight of The Prise.
Sept4thSaw a Sail A Privatier Schoner She kept Round us all Day & hoisted English Colours we hoisted English Colours but She thought Best Not to Speak with.
Sept5thMade the Land at 9 oClock in the Morning the South Side of Long Island against South Hampton & Came to Anchor Under Fishes Island at 12 oClock at Night Saw five Sail at 2 Afternoon Standing to the Westward two of them Ships.
Sept6th1778 New London. Arrivdin this Harbour.
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An Account of the Months, Days, & Knots the Ship OlvrCromwell Run the Third Cruise.
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Charlestown is Pleasantly Situated on Ashley River on verry low Land it was Extreamly well Built but the Fire which happendin January last has Spoiled the Beauty of the Place, it may if times alter be as pleasant & Beautifull with Regard to yeBuildings as ever. But I Cannot Behold such a Number of my fellow beings (altho Differing in Complexion) Dragged from the Place of their Nativity, brought into a Country not to be taught the Principles of Religion & the Rights of Freeman, but to Be Slaves to Masters, who having Nothing but Interest in View without ever Weting their own Shoes, Drive these fellows to the Most Severe Services, I say I cannot behold these things without Pain. And Expressing my Sorrow that are EnlightendPeople, a People Professing Christianity Should treat any of God’s creatures in Such a Manner as I have Seen them treated Since my arrival at this Place. & I thank God who Gave me a Disposition to Prefer Freedom to Slavery.
I have Just mentioned a People Professing Christianity. I believe there is a few who now & then go to Church but by all the Observation I have been able tomake I find that Horse Racing, Frolicking Rioting Gaming of all Kinds Open Markets, and Traffick, to be the Chief Business of their Sabbaths. I am far from Supposing there is not a few Righteous there But was it to have the chance which Soddom had, that if there was five Righteous men it Should Save the City. I believe there would be only a Lot & Family, & his wife I should be afraid would Look Back.
Another remark that I shall make is this, Marriage in Most Countrys is Deemed Sacred, and here there are many honourable and I believe happy Matches, But to see among the Commonalty a Man take a Woman without so much Ceremony as Jumping over a Broom Stick at the time of their Agreement, to see her Content herself to be his Slave to work hard to maintain him & his Babs & then to Content herself with a flogging if she only says a word out of Doors at the End of it, and then take his other Doxy who Perhaps has Served him well—and so one Lover to another, Succeeds another and another after that the last fool is as welcome as the former, till having liv,d hour out he Gives Place & Mingles with the herd who went Before him. These things may to some People who are unacquainted with such Transactions appear Strange and Odd, but how shall I express myself—what Feelings have I had within myself to behold one of these Slaves or Rather whole Tribes of them belonging to one Master who Perhaps has the happiness of an Ofspring of beautifull Virgins whose Eyes must be continually assaulted with a Spectacle which Modesty forbids me to Mention. Ihave Seen at a Tea table a Number of the fair Sex, which a Man of Sentiments would have almost Ador,d and a man of Modesty would not have been so Indecent as to have Unbuttondhis knee to adjust his Garter—Yet have I Seen a Servant of both Sexes Enter in Such Dishabitable as to be obligdto Display those Parts which ought to be Concealed. To see Men Approach the Room where those Angelick Creatures meet & View those Beautifull Countenances & Sparkling Eyes, which would almost tell You that they abhor,d the Cruel imposition of their Parents, who Perhaps Loaded with a Plentifull fortune, would not afford a decent Dress to their Servants to hide their Shame from such Sight I have turndmy Eyes. I would not mean to be two Severe nor have it thought but there are great numbers who have a Sence of the Necessity of a Due decorum keep their Servants in a Verry Genteel manner and do honor to their keepers but those who have Viewed such scenes as well as myself will testify to this Truth & Say with me that Droll appearances would Present themselves to view that in Spite of all that I could Do would Oblige me to give a total grin, the Particular above mentioned altho they appear a Little forecast are absolutely matters of fact & not Indeed to Convey any IllIdea to yemind.
In a Commertial way by what little opportunity I have had to make any Remarks on them. I find that in Casting up their accounts that there are a Number which Deservs to be Put on yeCrSide. But money getting being Mankinds Universal harvest I find asmany Reapers as one would wish to see in Such an Open Field for every one to have a fare Sweep with the Sickle which as frequently cuts your purse Strings as anything Else, their Rakes are Most Excellent nothing is lost for want of geathering & you may depend on it their Bins are so Close that But a trifle of what they Put in ever Comes out of the Cracks. Sometimes you will see a small Trifle peep its Nose out on a Billiard Table, now & then the four knaves will tempt a Small Parcell to walk on the Table, & I believe Black Gammon, Shuffle Board, horse Racing, & that Noble Game of Roleing two Bullets on the Sandy Ground Where if there Should be yeLeast Breath air it would Blind you all those would help a little of it to Move & if I added Whoreing and Drinking they would Not Deny the Charge. If the things Mentioned above are to be Deemed Vices. I think no Person that Comes to Carolina will find any Scarcity, Provided they have such articles as Suits such a Market. I cannot from my hart Approve of their Method of Living—not but that their Provision is Wholesome but In Genral they Dont Coock it well. Rice bares the Sway, in Room of Bread, with any kind of victuals and Ever in Families of Fashion you will see a Rice Pudding (If it Deserves the Name) to be Eat as we do our Bread, I am affraid of Being too cencorious or I would Remark Numberless things which to a Person unacquainted with Place would even Look Childish to mention but as I only make this Obsnfor my own amusement never Intending they Shall be ever seen but by Particular friends. I shall omit any niceities of Expressions andShall write a few more Simple facts I have seen Gamblers, Men Pretended Friends to you that would hug you in their Bosoms till they were Certain they had Gotten what they could from you, & then for a Shilling would Cut Your Throat. I would not Mean by this to Convey the Idea of their being a Savage people in General. There are Gentlemen of Charracter & who Ritchly Deserve the Name—but as there are Near Seven Blacks to one White Man, the Austerities used to the Slaves in their Possessions, is the Reason as I immagion of their looking on & Behaving to a White Man who Differs from them in their Manners and not bred in their Country in a Way Not much Different from which they treats their Blacks. I Have been told that the Place is Much alterd from what it was Before the Present Dispute & that a Number of the Best Part of People are Moved out of Charlestown for the honour of Charlestown. I will believe it and wish it may be Restordto its Primitive Lusture. However let me not look all on the Dark Side there are Many things well worth Praise, there Publick Buildings are well finishd& Calculated for the Convenience of Publick & Private Affairs, their Churches make a verry fine Appearance and are finishdAgreeable to the Rules of Architecture. I do not Mean that they are the Most elegant I ever Saw, but so well Performdas would Declare those who Reared them Good Artissts, the Streets are well Laid out & a verry good Brick Walk on Each Side for foot Passengers, their Streets are not Pavdbut Verry Sandy, and the heat of the Climate is Such that the Sand is Generally verry Disagreeable& Occasions a number of Insects Commonly CalldSand flies, the Lowness of the Land and the Dead water in Different Places in the Town & out of it Occasions another Breed of Insects well Known by the Name of Musketoes. These Creatures are well disciplined for they do Not Scout in private Places nor in Small Companies as tho Affraid to attack but Joining in as many Different Colloums as there are Openings to Your Dwellings they make a Desperate push and Seldom fail to Annoy their Enemy in Such a Manner that they leave their Adversary in a Scratching humor the Next Morning throoVexation. It would be endless to mention the advantages & Disadvantages of the Place but this I am fully Assurdof. If the White People would be so Industrous as to till the Land themselves and see every thing Done so as to have less of those Miserable Slaves in the Country the Place to me would have a verry Different Appearance. I have heard it Allegdas a Pretext for keeping so many Slaves that white People cannot Endure the heat of the Climate & that there can be but verry little done without these Slaves, that there could be but a verry little done is to me a Matter of Doubt, but that there would be but Verry little If the People Retain their Luxury & Love of all kinds of Sport is to me Beyond all doubt. I have Seen more Persons than a few worry themselves at Gaming In an Excessive hot Day in Such a Manner that a Moderate Days work would be a Pleasure to it. These things have convincdme of the Foolish wicked and Absurd Notions which People seem to have Adopted in General that Because these Issacars arelike Issacars of Old. Strong Asser Couching Down between two Burthens and have not Got the means of Preserving their Liberty were they Ever So Desirous of it and are kept in Such a miserable manner as never to know the Blessings of it. I say these things have Convincdme of the Notorious Violation of the Rights of Mankind and which I think no Rational Man will Ever try to Justify. America my Earnest Prayer is that thou mayst preserve thy Own Freedom from any Insolvent Invaders who may attempt to Rob the of the Same—but be Sure to let Slavery of all kinds ever be Banishdfrom thy habbittations.
Fins Camsiocelo.
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1Come all you Joval Seaman, with Courage Stout & boldthat Value more your Honour, than Mysers do their GoldWhen we Receive Our Orders, we are Obligdto goO’er the Main to Proud Spain, Let the Winds Blow high or Low.2It was the fifteenth of September, from Spithead we Sat Sailwe had Rumbla in our Company, Blest with a Pleasant Galewe Sailed away together, for the Bay of Biscay, oGoing along Storms Come on, and the winds Began to Blow.3The winds and Storms increasdthe Bumbla Bore awayand left the Cantaborough, for No Longer Could She Stay& when they Came to Gibralter, they told the People Sothat they thought we were Lost, in the Bay of Biscay, O.4But as Providence would have it, it was not quite so BadBut first we lost our Missen Mast, and then went off our Flagthe Next we Lost our Main Mast, one of our Guns alsoWith five Men, Drowned then, in the Bay of Biscay, O.5The Next we Lost our foremast, which was a Dreadfull Strokeand in our Larboar Quarter, a Great hole there was Brokeand then the Seas come Roleing in, our Gun Room it Did flowThus we Rold and we told, in the Bay of Biscay, O.6It was Dark and Stormy Weather, Sad and Gloomy NightOur Captain on the Quarter Deck, that Day was killdOutritethe Rings that on his fingers were, in Pieces burst AlsoThus we were in Dispare, in the Bay of Biscay, O.7But when we Came to Gibralter, and lay in our New Holdthe People they Came flocking Down, our Ship for to Beholdthey Said it was the Dismalest Sight, that Ever they Did knowWe never Pind, But Drunk Wine, till we Drowned all our Woe.
1
Come all you Joval Seaman, with Courage Stout & boldthat Value more your Honour, than Mysers do their GoldWhen we Receive Our Orders, we are Obligdto goO’er the Main to Proud Spain, Let the Winds Blow high or Low.
2
It was the fifteenth of September, from Spithead we Sat Sailwe had Rumbla in our Company, Blest with a Pleasant Galewe Sailed away together, for the Bay of Biscay, oGoing along Storms Come on, and the winds Began to Blow.
3
The winds and Storms increasdthe Bumbla Bore awayand left the Cantaborough, for No Longer Could She Stay& when they Came to Gibralter, they told the People Sothat they thought we were Lost, in the Bay of Biscay, O.
4
But as Providence would have it, it was not quite so BadBut first we lost our Missen Mast, and then went off our Flagthe Next we Lost our Main Mast, one of our Guns alsoWith five Men, Drowned then, in the Bay of Biscay, O.
5
The Next we Lost our foremast, which was a Dreadfull Strokeand in our Larboar Quarter, a Great hole there was Brokeand then the Seas come Roleing in, our Gun Room it Did flowThus we Rold and we told, in the Bay of Biscay, O.
6
It was Dark and Stormy Weather, Sad and Gloomy NightOur Captain on the Quarter Deck, that Day was killdOutritethe Rings that on his fingers were, in Pieces burst AlsoThus we were in Dispare, in the Bay of Biscay, O.
7
But when we Came to Gibralter, and lay in our New Holdthe People they Came flocking Down, our Ship for to Beholdthey Said it was the Dismalest Sight, that Ever they Did knowWe never Pind, But Drunk Wine, till we Drowned all our Woe.
1On the Sweet Month of May we’ll Repair to the MountainAnd Set we Down there by a Clear Crystial fountainWhere the Cows sweetly Lowing In a Dewy MorningWhere Phebus oer the Hills and Meddow are Adorning.2A Sweet Country Life is Delightfull and CharmingWalking abroad in a Clear Summer’s MorningO your Towns and Your Cities Your Lofty high TowersAre not to be Compar,d with Shades & Green Bowers.3O Little I regard your Robes and fine DressesYour Velvets & Scarlets and Other ExcessesMy own Country Fashions to me is More EndearingThan your Pretty Prisemantle or your Bantle Cloth Wearing.
1
On the Sweet Month of May we’ll Repair to the MountainAnd Set we Down there by a Clear Crystial fountainWhere the Cows sweetly Lowing In a Dewy MorningWhere Phebus oer the Hills and Meddow are Adorning.
2
A Sweet Country Life is Delightfull and CharmingWalking abroad in a Clear Summer’s MorningO your Towns and Your Cities Your Lofty high TowersAre not to be Compar,d with Shades & Green Bowers.
3
O Little I regard your Robes and fine DressesYour Velvets & Scarlets and Other ExcessesMy own Country Fashions to me is More EndearingThan your Pretty Prisemantle or your Bantle Cloth Wearing.