The Pennsylvania evening post — Philadelphia, Pa., 1776-06-20 00:00:00, page 1

Newcastle County on Delaware, ff.
fr-n —\H E deposition of Mr. William Barry, mariner, aged
§ about 27 years, taken before me the subscriber,
one of the Justices in and for Newcastle county
aforefaid, who depofeth and faith, That on or
about the thirteenth day of March iaft, he left Cape Henlo
pen as mate on board the ship Grace, belonging to Philadel
phia, and then bound for York river in Virginia, Captain
Erwin commander. ...
That on or about the seventeenth of said month, about
twelve o'clock at noon, they espied a sloop towards the land,
bearing for them, having a jack in her ihrouds, which the
Captain supposed to be some American vessel with powder,
inward bound, in diftreis, yet they still kept on their course.
When the sloop came nigh, she hailed them, And ordered
them to lower their topsails and come on board their vessel ;
but they made all the fail they could in hopes to get off. The
sloop then fired several shot at them, as they apprehended,
with an intent to kill them ; upon which the Captain of the
ship hauled down the fails, and went on board them. That
this deponent thenupwith the fails again to try to get off,
but they fired so he got wunded in his leg, and was forced
to come too.? And as they had no boat belonging to the
sloop, there came a number of men back in their boat which
the Captain had taken, and took them all prisoners on board
the sloop, which was called the Lord Howe, commanded by
a certain Ord, a second Lieutenant belonging to the
Roebuck man of war, whose tender the sloop was. They
took the ship, and.called her thtir prize. The crew were all
(except the Captain) put in irons, though this deponent's leg
was very foie; after which they were all carried and put
on board the said Roebuck man of war of forty-two guns,
commanded by Captain Hammond, who was then lying in
Hampton road, and who itrongly urged them to enter freely,
which this deponent would not do, nor the Captain and some
of the men, though others of our men did rather than be
kept in irons and ill used. However, after some time, they
were taken out of irons and made to do fhip's duty, which
all prisoners must do, with many insults and very bad usage.
About three days after he went on board said Roebuck, she
came to cape Henlopen aforefaid, and, cruizing out and in
there, took several vessels said to belong to the rebels in
America, which they said was, by their orders, to be lawful
prizes, though when their sailors asked when they would get
their shares, they were abused by the officers, and told they
must go to England firft. About three weeks after they
came to cape Henlopen, there came three men one night, in
a small boat from Lewiftown shore, on board said vessel, and
staid on board till about ten o'clock at night. The next
night, when they came along-fide, they reached up a small
bag, which one of the men belonging to the ship told the
deponent were letters, &c. Said three men „ere kindly re
ceived and entertained by the Captain and officers, but no
prisoners permitted to speak to them. Said three men in
formed the people on board that they had, or that there
were cattle, ftgsk, &c. for them at Indian river, which the
tenders endeavoured to get, but were prevented by ' Barry's
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THURSDAY, JUNE 20, 1776.
307
brig, as they call her, and a small schooner, but he was not
in the tenders. When the three men went off in their boat,
they rowed as far as the back of the light-house, as he coul.r
fee, and were convoyed by one of the men of war's tenders.
One of the people that came on board, as aforefaid, had a
mark like a half moon on, he thinks, his left cheek, and
looked like a cat, a well coloured man ; and had on, he
thinks, a brown coat, and buckskin or other leather breeches,
which man he would know again. Another of said me#
was pale looking, and wore blue clothes, he thinks, but is
not certain.
About the firft week in May the Roebuck, and Liverpool
frigate, tenders, &c. came up Delaware river apiece, and
sent some boats on the Jersey shore to try to get frefh provisions,
of which there was great want on board, viz. of flefli, fowl:,
&c. and where they brought on board several cattle, which
were very poor, but were greedily eat —after which they pro
posed to go up the river for frefh water (of which,they were ia
great want) and then afterwards, as he understood from th#
lower officers, they designed to go to Philadelphia and t^e it,
if they could get past the chevaux de frifes, but if they could
not pass them, then to return and lay at Chester awhile—•
As they came up the river, they fired several shots at vessels
that were before them, and opposite Newcastle they fired two
or three shot out of the bow guns at a small fail boat ; that
knowing the cruel disposition and threats of the men of war,
he was in great pain for some acquaintances he had in New
castle, but with the spy-glass perceived the doors and win
dows shut, and no smoke in the chimnics, and feeing many
carts carrying off goods was in hopes they had fled- + On or
about the eighth of said month (May) the row-gallies attack
ed the men of war, which the officers looked on with disdain,
as apprehending they could do little damage to them ; how
ever the Roebuck had a deal of her rigging damaged, and
some shot in her sides, and as she was endeavouring to get
nigh the row-gallies, to fink and destroy them, she got into
fnallow water, that she could not steer, and ran on the ground,
on the Jersey shore, above or near Christiana creek's mouth.
At night they expected the sire-ships and gallies down upon
them, and as she lay and took such a heel they could not
bring her guns to bear, and could not make any refinance in
the Roebuck, but with small arms, there were therefore an
anchor and two stream cables carried out to endeavor to get
her off, and three boats were kept all night rowing round her,
and often going nigh the gallies to watch their motions, as
they were expected every minute to come down on them ; and
as far as he could learn if they came and hulled them, they
had orders to fly on board the Liverpool frigate, to save their
lives, for which purpose boats were ready, and then the Liver
pool was to retreat —But about four o'clock in the morning
they got the ship off, after which about forty men were em
ployed in filling and flowing away frefh water of which they
were scarce, though they had stove many of their water casks,
and also did not exped the gallies would attack them again,
as they thought they were much damaged ; but as they at
tacked the men of war the second day with more courage and
conduct, the Roebuck received many shots betwixt wind and
[Num. 221.