Dunlap's Pennsylvania packet , The general advertiser — Philadelphia, Pa., 1774-01-31 00:00:00, page 4

N E W-Y 0 R K, fa. 13.
ABOUT the 20th of lift month, arrived here
[ the Nancy, a small brig, George Smith, mas
ter, William Narrifon, mate, from the Highlands
cf Scotland, with near 200 passengers on board;
V ho being reported to be sickly, were ordered to be
InJed on Andrew's Ida: d, where they were fup
pied with provisions and necessaries (it is said by
Dr. M'Adam) from the town. After remaining
about ten days on the iflmd, where four of them
<ied in consequence of sickness contracted on the
passage, the rest, in the lall week of December and
firit in this month, procured passages to town,
where many of them landed on the dock late in the
night, and being weak and emaciated, thinly clad,
some of them sickly, most of them without money,
and none knowing where to go, or how to obtain
necessaries, or shelter themselves from the incle
mency of the weather, which was freezing cold, and
the ground covered with snow, their condition ap
pealed to be truly deplorable. Their distress, which
was ahnoft entirely unknown in the ciy, was height
ened by their general ignorance of the English lan
guage, which few of them could speak or un
derhand. However their appearance excited the
companion of those few people who happened to fee
them, who with difficulty, at such late hours,
procured houses to flielter them, and good fires and
necessaries to warm and comfort them, but some,
who rambled into the town from the rest, and weie
in danger of perishing in the streets, were taken io
pto the watch house and flieltercd till the morning.
As soon as the tituation of these poor people came
to be known, many of the inhabitants contributed
to their prelent relief, and gave information to the
Magistrates, who we hear have since taken them
under their care and prot^lion, till other means
can be found for their support. On the 2d instant,
notice being given that a collection would be made
for them that evening, at the Old Prelbyterian
Church, many people of various denominations at
tended on purpose to contribute, when near 801.
was collected ; and on Sunday last, proper notice
being given, collections were made in all the Enghlh
Churches in this citv, for t!f fame laudable pur
pose ; whereby it is hoped tnefe people will be re
lieved in their present necessities, and by kind
treatment and proper affirtance now, will be ena
bled hereafter, to support themselves comfortably,
by their own induttry, and abundantly repay their
obligations to that country, which they new find
an asylum from oppression and distress.
It having been publicly reported that these people
have been ill used on the passage, the following ac
count was taken from the mouth of some of the
passengers, viz.
That as they were informed, the vessel, which
belonged to England, was hired by Mr. Gray, of
the fliire of Southerland in the north of Scotland,
and was to be addressed to his brother, in or near
New-Yoik, in America: That the agreement on
which the passengers embarked was, that each of
them should pay for the passage to New-York, 31. 6s.
Herring; except about thirty-five persons, who for
their passage were to be fold as indented servants,
for three years : That, for children under ten years
of age, the passage of two was to be reckoned as
one: That the allowance to each passenger was to
have been as follows, viz. porridge and butter for
breakfalt, and two pounds of meal, each day ; bis
cuit and cheese twice a week, half a pound of pea fe
and half a pound of meat, each week ; that for all
others matters they made no particular agreement,
truft:ng to the Captain : That on this agreement,
on the 17th of September, about 300 men, vomen
and children, reckoned as about 188 passengers,
embarked at the harbour of Muckle Ferry, near the
town of Dornoch, in Southerland, and found them
selves greatly incommoded for want of room and
proper conveniences: That theie were only two
pots on board, one of about eight gallons for com
mon u;e, the other of about three gallons for the
Captain's use : That theie were infufficient for so
many passengers, and that a month or fix weeks
before their arrival at New York, the largelt pot
was, by a form, rendered useless, and that they
were not permitted the use of the other, till after
12, or i o'clock, till 6, so that most of them were
obliged to eat their meal raw, with linking water:
That they were Hinted in most of the ai tides of
their allowance : That they had no butter, except
about half a firkin; and instead of two pounds of
meal each day, they had only one pound, and one
third of that of Peafe Meal : That they had bifeuit
and clee fe only fix times on the passage, and then
only one bifeuit and a small bit of cheese each, and
on these days were allowed nothing else the whole
day ; —inftead of half a pound of peafe and cf beef
each, per week, they had peafe only once, and
then not more than half a pound to three people;
and instead of half a pound of meat per week, they
had only about two and a half pounds each, during
the voyage : That on the passage near all fell tick,
occasioned, as they suppose, by the stench and un
wholcfornenefs of the place, and the badness and
Icantinefs of their provisions : That the sick had
seldom any nouriihment but raw meal and stinking
water: That the Captain had plenty of gin and tea
pn board, which some of them would have been
glad to purchase, but were generally unable to af
ford it, as he fold the gin at 2/6 and the tea at 6d.
a quart, sterling money: That they were used with
gieat unkindness both by the Captain and Mate,
who often gave them abusive language, pushed and
beat them when they caue in their way ; and that
of the sickness, want cv necessaries, and harth treat
ment, 104 persons in the whole, as near as they
could calculate, died on the passage, betides 7 chil
dren, who were born and died on board.
[A more particular account of this affair has been
pubbjbed in the Ne^-York Journal, jince the fore
g ing, and is as Jolloms.]
That the brig belonged to Sunderland in York
shire ; that the owners, or freighters concerned in
the vogage, were William Parker, of London, mer
chant, and his brother, J. Parker, ofßicout Island,
in Scotland ; and the undertaker or agent for fit
ting out the vehel, Flipping and accommodating
the passengers, &c. was Robert Gray of Souther
land : That by agreement the vessel was to have
been ready to set out early in the fuinmer, and tho'
it was expected, that the owners, and contraster
would, of their own accord, provide every necessa
ry of provision, and accommodation for the passen
gers, and that the Captain would fee such provifmn
made, yet Mr. M'Coy (one ofthe principal passen
gers, who embarked, with his wife and children)
prudently took care, that a written contrast, men
tioning the principal articles of provifon, and al
lowance, for the people on the p?flage, &c. Ihould
be ligned by the unrirtaker, and Captain, before
embarkation ; and to the premeditated breach of
contract, in the time of fitting out (which was not
till the lyt. ... September, when the ground was
covered with frov) in want of provisions, and ne
cessaries, - 1 unmanly and cruel usage on the
P HILADELP HIA: Printed by J OHN DUNLAP, at the Newest Printing-Office in Market-Street, where
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voyage, was, apparently, owing the distress that
succeeded, the loss of more than a third of the lives
on board, and manifeft danger of all the rest.
After embarking, the firft incon veniency that
preferittditfelf, was, the want of room; the vessel
(burden about 1 50 tons) being too small for the ac
commodation of 300 passengers; nor was the pro-
P ei 'y i tte( ' with conveniencies for stowage, cleanli
ness, 'cooking &c. The passengers soon experienced
a numerous train of wants, and inconveniencies,
arising fiom mere negligence, or design, in the un
dertakers. There were indeed in the hold, conve
niencies made for the support and division of the
beds ; but between decks, the whole space was left
entirely open, so that the people could only lodge
on the floor of the deck, and when the (hip rolled,
were thrown all together, and tumbled from fide
to fide. Soon after they put to sea, the weather
proving stormy, and the people as usual, being all
sea sick, had little inclination to eat; but the wind
being contrary, they put into the harbour of Strom
nefs, in the Orkneys, where finding the vessel had
no pot or kettle, fufficient for the number of passen
gers, they proposed to buy one there, at their own
expence ; but the Captain would net agree to it,
telling them, that if they had such a one on board,
he had no conveniency in the vessel, for using it.
Thus unprovided, they set out again, when the
wind continued contrary, and exceedingly stormy
for about 6 weeks together, during which time they
were beating off the Lewes and Shetland Illes, and
the coast of Ireland, generally in fight of land, and
could, at any time, have put into those places, as
they carntftly entreated the Captain to do, but he
refuted, faying he was unacquainted with the coast.
They assured him, if he would put in, they would
pay all the expence of a pilot; but he absolutely re
fufed, and still kept off at sea. During this time,
the people were in a most uncomfortable, melan
choly, and distressed filiation, through sickness,
want of conveniencies, and necessaries, and the
unwholesomeness and itench of the place, together
with the brutal and cruel behaviour ofthe Captain,
Mate, and most .of the Crew. After the sea-sick
ness began to abate, and the people to want nourish
ment, as there was no appearance of cooking, or
any provision for them, the Captain was spoke to
about it, and desired to order their provision to be
dressed. He said he had no cook ; and when they
exprefled their furprize, that he Ihould undertake
to bring out such a number of passengers, without
having a cook on board; he said he had been told
a cook was unnecessary, for that they could cook
for themselves. However, he ordered them pretty
near their proper allowance, and as they had been
feme weeks without meat, two and a halfpounds
each full palLnger, which was due to them, was
delivered, and this was all the meat they had during
the whole passage.—They made the best fh : ft they
could, to cook this meat ; but it was so ill done,
and so salt, that it afforded but little fatisfaCiion,
and so increased their third, that they drank an un
usual quantity of water ; on which *he Captain took
occasion to advise with some of the principal passen
gers, whether (as the wind continued still unfavor
able, and threatened a long passage) it would not
be expedient, to withold 'rem the passengers (till
they should have made some progress on their voy
age) meat, which while they continued unwell, did
them little service, and by increafmg their thirst,
might occafi>n the water, as well as the meat, to
fall fliort. The persons consulted, readily concur
red with the Captain in opinion, that, for the pre
fect, meat might be withheld. The Captain and
seamen, appropriated the c^bbin to themselves,
where they lived plentifully, on good provisions,
while the passengers w-re confined to black raw
musty meal, and stinking water — The ' door of the
bulk head between the companion, and the deck
waere the passengers were, was Wrongly fattened
with nails, so that the passengers had no air but
what came in at the hatches, which occasioned them
to be left open, in all weathers ; and as no contri
vance was made to secure them from the fess, that
beat into the vessel, whole torrents would frequent
ly pour down, whereby the passengers, sick, scarce
able to crawl, and some of them dying, were some
times almost drowned, while their cries and distress,
were made matter of laughter and derision, to the
inhuman Captain, and hri crew, who while the
helm was lathed, and the vessel lying to, for a week
or ten days successively, very unconcernedly took
their rest, without affording the Icaft affittance to
the distressed fufferers on board, who in the dark
ness of the niglit, could not obtain a spark oflight,
to fee how to shelter themselves, or procure dry
clothes.
When the wind at lift came fair, and they were
proceeding on the voyage, the people, who had
been so long confined to the Carving miserable diet
of raw meal and water, became extremely solicitous
for meat, for which they were almost in a longing
condition, and as there was a considerable quantity
of their Itipulated allowance due to them ; they de
sired it might then be deliver'd. The Captain said
he had but a bare fufficiency for himfcif and Seamen,
and could spare none, —the passengers were amazed,
and reminded him ofthe agreement signed with his
own hand, —but told him if he was really scant, they
would be content with a small part of their due, if
it was only a pound or less to each. But no en
treaties could prevail on him to let them have a
morlel. When he was reminded of his contract, and
that on his arrival he would be called to account for
his conduct, he discovered some uneasy apprehensi
on; and swore he had a great mind to put into the
firft land he could make, and with the seamen quit
the vessel altogether, leaving the passengers to Ihift
for themselves.
His behaviour gave them reason to think he had
really such a design in contemplation, and that on
their approach to any land, he would have hoisted
out the long-boat and left them, pretending they
were mutnous; and his conduct seemed calculated
to make them so; for he, his Mate, and molt of
the crew, used the women and children, and indeed
all the passengers, witli the utmost brutality, con
tempt and inftilt.
When the husband of a poor sick woman begged
for a little meat for his wife, who almost longed .for
it, he was not only refufed but intuited ; after they
had regaled themselves with meat, they would offer
the bare bones to the people, and to this man in
particular, asking, If thy ivould buy fomefat bes?
and would order the bones and leavings of their
meals to be thrown down, into the hold, " for the
Scotch Negroes ;" and while these injured people
were fuffering variety of distress, wounded in their
most tender connections, as well as by personal
wrongs and insults, it was hard toreftrain them
selves from making the unmanly Captain and his
crew feel the immediate elfe&s of their resentment _
But it was prudently represented to them, that bad
as the Captain and his crew were, in their lafety
that of all the passengers was involved ; that the
least violence offered to them, would be conffrued
into a mutiny, and would give him an excuse for
his conduct, and an opportunity to throw all the
blame upon them.
These reasons had due weight, and prevented the
'lead offer of violence to the Captain or his men,
whose brutality and cruelty feemtd to increase, and
was continued during the whole voyage, as if intend
ed to provoke the people to mutiny, that he might
thereby be furnilhed with an excuse for iris conduct.
Meap while the sickness, mortality and distress of
the people was continued and augmented by the ill
usage that occasioned it.
On some damage being done by the sea to the
caboufe or ftind where the largelt pot was fixed, it
was laid to be rendered useless, and was stowed
away in the hold, the other pot, which was small,
and which the passengers were allowed to use only
4 or g hours in the day, afforded very few of them
an opportunity of boiling their meal and water, or
even warming their water. When they crawled up
to the deck, to get a little air, or near the fire to
warm themselves, or their food, they were abused
with the grollelt language, and pushed, kicked,
cuffed, or beaten away: One poor womnn, who
with a little Ikillet, was warming some of her meal
and water at the fire, by the tolling of the ship, or
some other accident, happening to spill some of it
on deck, was seized by the shoulders, and dragged
over it to wipe it up with her clothes, and the rest
of her mess thrown over-board. Another woman
was struck on the breast by one of the men, and so
much hurt, that her life is still in danger. A poor
sick child, who could not drink the water afforded
them, which flunk intolerably, earnestly begged
for a little good warm water, and not being able to
obtain it, continued to call for it till he died. Ano
ther poor child hiving got to the fire, the Mate took
him up, and dallied him againit the deck, whereby
be was much hurt, and confined to his bed till he
died, about a fortnight after. A young man who
uled sometimes to alibi the seamen in working the
vell'el, being wanted for that purpose when he was
below, eating his unfavoury meal, the Captain ran
to him, seized the hair of his head, and by it drag
ged him up four Iteps to the deck, throwing to the
wind a handful of thehair which was left in his hand.
It would be tedious to recount all the injuries
those poor people fullered from this barbarous Cap
tain, his Mate, second Mate, and molt of his men.
Some of them indeed, for a high price fold some of
their provinon to inch passengers as were able to
purchae it, and one man who teemed to compassio
nate their case, and when he had opportunity gave
some of them relief and assistance, for this was se
verely used and beaten by the Captain and the rest
ofhis crew, who would not even affitt them in draw
ing up and committing their dead to a watery grave
without a fee of 6 pence for each.
Of above 50 children at the breast, and not more
than 4. years of age, all died but one, and many of
the mothers; 7 women who were delivered on board,
all died bu,t one, with all the children. When some
of them, in the Captain's hearing, lamented the
loss of so many lives, he said with great earnestness,
he ewifoed to God they ^vere all dead, and that then he
could go to Carolina without calling at New-York.
Many of the people believed that he not only wish
ed their deaths, but would contribute towardsit all
in his power, and even that he set out with such a
disposition from the firft—for the vessel was entirely
unprovided with many necessaries for the preferva*-
tion of the p ffengers, and the necessaries he had,
he withheld from them. He had no lantern, nor
spy g la ' s , no s candles, even for himfelf, except a
small parcel infufficient for the passage, and if he
had not been supplied by one of the passengers, who
happened to bring a box with him, there would
have been none to direst the failing of the vessel.
Notwithstanding the agreement cf half a pound
of beef per week for each passenger, it appeared
there were but 6 barrels Shipped in all. There
were indeed on board 6 large Hhds. of good meal,
but these it seemed he intended to convert to his
own use, for he gave the passengers none of it ; he
had also for himfelf and crew, good water in plenty,
but gave the passengers only corrupted stinking
water, that was of itfelf fufficient, in human proba
bility, to have destroyed their lives, with coarse,
black mutty meal, hardly fit for swine to eat, and
this to be eaten raw ! In ihort, it feeins wonderful
that any of them escaped with life, and contrary to
his inclination that they did so ; for he not only de
clared it by his anions, but more than once plainly
by his words.
On the vessel's arrival at New-York, the distress
of the passengers, and the Captain's behaviour to
them, was unaccountably, for about ten days, al
mod entirely unknown in the city. And when at
last it came by degrees in part to be known, and
the Captain was questioned on some parts of his
conduct, and made to restore to the surviving fuf
ferers, the deficiency in their allowance of beef and
meal, yet by some means or other, that perhaps
ought to be enquired into, some material witnesses
were, by design or accident, out of the way, and
did not appear against him ; so that he was permit
ted to go at large, till Friday evening last, when he
in a private and clandestine manner, got on board
and went off with his vessel in the night. It is said
he is gone to North-Carolina; and as it is hoped
there is hardly such another master of a vessel, and
crew, in his Majesty's dominions, this account is
publiflied, that he may be kno^n in all parts of
them.
SH§OI§-#^&§§^§sH
January 18, 1774.
To ALL WHOM IT MAY CONCERN.
WHEREAS ARENT SCHUYLER,
owner of the land on the east fide of Af
feffiunk Creek, hath lignified his willingness for
the erecting a bridge over said creek, from Broad
ftreet, near the Barracks, in the city of Burlington :
And as the erecting said bridge will be of public
utility, These are therefore to give notice, that
application will be made to the Legislature of the
province of New-Jersey for that puipofe, at their
fitting in February next.
TO BE sol'd,
A LIKELY NEGRO GIRL, seventeen
years old, has had the small-pox and mealles,
is remarkably healthy, strong and lively, and would
suit the country or town ; fne can do all forts of
house work, and might soon be made a good cook.
For further particulars enquire of the printer.
—T O B E L E T,
AN EAT three story brick DWELLING
HOUSE, hath two parlours, four chambers,
a kitchen and yard belonging to the fame, situate
in Moravian - alley, thiee doors from Arch-street.
Allo a good commodious STORE, in Water
ftreet, midway between Market and Arch-streets,
with Ihelves, and a compting-houfe, writable for
the dry goods business, and a large dry celler under
the fame. Enquire of the printer.
BY Virtue of a Writ to me dire&e%will he fold
)by public vendue, on Monday the 24th day < f
January inst. at five o'clock in the afternoon, at the
London Coffee-houfe; a certain three story brick
mefluage or tenement, with the appurtenances, and
lot or piece of ground thereunto belonging,lituate on
I the east fide of Second-llreet, in the difrift of South
! wark, containing in front on Second-street aforefaid,
I 17 feet 6 inches, and in length 200 feet, bounded
I southward by a meffuage and lot of John Kaign,
eattward by a lot late of Francis Hardin, northward
by ground now or late of Joseph James, and west
ward with Second-street aforefaid, fubjeft to a
ground rent of twenty drillings sterling per annum,
late the estate of John Morton, seized and taken in
execution by
WILLIAM DEWEES, Sheriff.
BY VIRTUE of a WRIT to me di
refted, will be fold by public vendue, on
I HURSDA Y the 27th day of January inst. at
three o'clock in the afternoon, at the house of James
Riddle, on Paffyunk Road, near the new playhouse,
in the diftri& of Southwark, two certain frame mef
uages or tenements and lots or pieces ofground there
unto belonging, lituate on the welt fide of Paffyunk
Road aforelaid, and nearly.oppofite the said Rid
dle's ; one of them containing in front on Paffyunk
Road aforefaid, 20 feet, and in depth on the south
fide, 172 feet, and on the north lide, 179 feet,
bounded by ground of Richard Famar, and the lot
herein after mentioned and described ; fubje& to a
ground rent of £3 Pennsylvania currency. The
other of them confining in front on Pass, unk Road
aforefaid, 20 feet, and in length or depth about
170 feet, bounded by ground of John Philip Mertz
and the above described lot; fubjeft to a ground
rent of £3 Pennsylvania currency; late the estate
of John Campbell, deceased ; seized and taken
in execution by
WILLIAM DEWEES, Sheriff.
BY VIRTU Eof a WRIT to me direft
ed, will be fold by Public Vendue, on Thurs
day the third day of February next, at the house of
George Sellers in Third-street, at four o'clock in
the evening ; a certain two ftor) brick meffuage or
tenement, and lot or piece of Ground thereunto
belonging, situate on the north fide of Cherry-street,
between Arch and Race-streets, in the city of Phila
delphia; containing in breadth on said Cherry-street
18 feet, and in length or depth 142 feet, bounded
by ground of Thomas Pearl and others—fubje& to a
ground rent of sterling per annum; late
the estate of Samuel Johnson, deceased; seized and
taken in execution by
WILLIAM DEWEES, Sheriff.
nYVIRTUE of a WRIT to me diveded,
" will be fold by Public Vendue, on Saturday
the fifth day of February next, at the houle of
Thomas Oliver, in the dirtrift of Southwark, at
three o'clock in the afternoon, a certain frame
meffuage and carpenters (hop, and lot of ground,
situate on Crab and Shippen-ftreets, in the dillrift
ofSouthwark aforefaid, containing in front on Crab
llrcet aforefaid about 40 feet, and in length on
Shippen-ftreet aforefaid about 70 feet, bounded by
ground of Richard Newton and others, subject to a
ground rent of 51. currency per annum ; late the
estate of John Darby ; seized and taken in execu
tion by WILLIAM DEWEES, Sheriff.
pYVIRTUE of a WRIT to me directed,
' will be fold by Public Vendue, on Tuesday the
eighth day of February next, at the house of the
Widow Gilbert, in the Northern Liberties, near
Vine-street, at three o'clock in the afternoon, two
three story brick meffuages or tenements and lots
of ground, situate on the east fide of Front-street,
between Race and Vine-streets, in the city of Phila
delphia, containing in front on Front-street afore
faid in the whole about 34 feet, and extending in
depth as far as the weft fide of Water-street, bound
ed by ground of Israel Pemberton and others, fub
je& to a ground-rent of 71. 10s. Pennsylvania cur
rency per annum; late the estate of Jesse Wil
liamson ; seized and taken in execution by
WILLIAM DEWEES, Sheriff.
DYVIRTUE of a WRIT to me dirked,
" will be fold by Public Vendue, on Wednesday
the ninth day of February next, at the house of
Edward Barrett, in the diffria of Southwark, at
four o'clock in the afternoon, a certain two story
frame meffuage or tenement, and two lots or pieces
of ground, lituate on the north fide of Catharine
ftreet, in the diftria of Southwark aforefaid, con
taining in front on Christian-street aforefaid in the
whole 36 feet, snd in depth about 65 feet, bounded
by ground of Joseph Wharton and others, fubjeft
to a ground-rent of 51. 10s. Pennsylvania currency
per annum ; late the estate of John Hadley ;
seized and taken in execution by
WILLIAMDEWEES, Sheriff.
Lately imported in the flrip Montague, Captain
Pickles, from London,
DOCTOR HILL'S new improved ftomachic
TINCTUI\E: It is an excellent medi
cine for all weak domachs ; it gives a very good
healthy appetite and found digestion, and prevents
many diseases. Also a frefh quantity of Dr. Hill's
American B ALSAM, of which the virtue
and goodness are now so well known in America,
that it is an infallible and the most innocent,
sure and effectual medicine ever yet known, for
all coughs, colds, swimming in the head, and is 2
very admirable remedy, for children in the hooping
cough, and in most all their disorders: By the pro
per use of this balsam for a reasonable tirae, many
have also received great benefit and relief, and some
have been effeaually cured of the meft painful
rheumatism, gravel, cholic, &c. &c. Dr. Hill's
own directions, printed in London, is wrapped
about each bottle ; and to prevent counterfeiting of
thele medicines, they are only to be fold, in Phila
delphia, by William Sitgreaves, merchant, at his
house on the north fide of Market-ftrtet, near the
Court-house ; at Lancaster, by Ludwig Lauman,
merchant; at Gei mantown, by Chriftopber Sour,
printer; at New York, by Michael Huffman, (hop
keeper ; and by the fubferiber, at his place in King
fefs, near the lower ferry on Schuylkill, and ne
where else for the present time.
WILLIAM YOUNG, Senior.
Burlington, zgtb oj 12th Mo. 1773.
NO TICE is hereby given, to all
whom it mayconcern, that vie the fubferibers
intend to prefer a petition to the House of Affemblv,
at their next meeting, which is by theii adjourn
ment to be held the 3d of the 2d month next, at
Burlington, in order to obtain an act of Assembly
to build a grid mill at or near the fulling mill of
Josiah White, in Mount-Holly, and to draw water
tor that purpose, in a legal manner, from the dam
&c. JOHN WHITE,'
THOMAS PRYOR, Jun.