Revolutionary War Pension and Bounty Land Warrant Application File R. 671, for James Mitchell, Virginia

SERVICE
NUMBER
Navy (Va) and
Mitchell, James.
PR 671
1802,
CONTENTS

Mitchel James. Alsea Oct 15 1802. rec? Oct. 6.
referred to the Secretary of the Navy J.H.S.

The Humble Petition of James Mitchell Mariner lately discharged from the U.S. Frigate United States.
Your Petitioner humbly sheweth that he was bred to the sea from the age of fifteen years, born in Yorktown Virginia. When he was bound Apprentice to his father James Mitchell then master of the Ship Baltimore, and served four and a half years to the same.
He then entered on board the Trumbull Frigate Cap t James Nicholson Com d - on board of which Ship he got wounded in an Engagement with the Brigs, Mentor, & Virginia. English Cruisers off New York. in 1779 taken prisoner, and carried into N. York. and remained nine weeks under cure, and then re- moved into the Prison Ship Jersey Cap t Wright lying at Paulus Hook and there confined four months. in which time one hundred and fifty of his fellow prisoners died. He was then with others exchanged, and sent to Boston, where he entered on board the Dean Frigate Cap t Samuel Nicholson in quality of Master Mate. and remained in that capacity two years.
From this time he went into the Merchants service out of Balt o . first as mate on board the Lois for three years; and was then made master of the Grace Sun, Schooner, of same port. in which he sailed three years and a half - when she was taken by the Brig Alert Cap t O'Call. and carried into Point Petre Guadalupe and condemned.
Released in six weeks he got to Martinique - and from thence returned to Baltimore.
From thence he went mate in the Ship Betsy in the employ of Mess rs Oliver & Thompson to Cadiz which was there sold. No conveyance to be got at Cadiz he shipped for Gibraltar and agreed with Cap t Gardner of the Brig Henry for his passage back to Balt o . After being on board about a week he went ashore with some Mates of Vessels to view the Rock. when a Cap t Charles Cunningham in company with other British Officers required to know who they were &c &c. which having answered, he ordered the Cockswain of his boat then lying at the Mole Head to take us aboard his Brig - to which in consideration of being wholly in their power they made no resistance.

The next day the Masters of the Vessels to which they belong'd came on board the Brig Speedy to demand their release. — On Capt. Gardner's application to Capt. Cunningham for the release of his mate and himself he consented to his taking his Mate, but refused your petitioner, who on their departure was ordered to do duty as Masters Mate. which he refusing as an American to serve on board a British Ship, was ordered into irons, and next day ordered to the gangway — where the Captain demanded if he would do the duty appointed him, or not. — To which your Petitioner replied as before, and persisted notwithstanding the threats of that Officer, who directed him to confinement irons on both legs. in which state he remained nineteen days, when the fleet under Lord Hood arrived — to whose Ship the Victory he was removed for trial —
Being ordered into the Round House before L d Hood, Capt. Cunningham, and other Officers — Lord Hood inquired his reasons for refusing to serve on board the Speedy. To which he your Petitioner answered as before. — But at length overcome by his helpless situation, the uncontroled authority of his judges, and the personal assurances of Lord Hood of good treatment, and certain discharge on their arrival in England — he consented to remain on board the Admirals Ship, as Masters Mate, in which he continued fourteen months. — And on taking the L'Imperi- =seuse French frigate, was promoted to the rank of sailing master to said Ship. which lasted one year: when arriving in England, he was discharged according to promise at Portsmouth. — from whence he went to Liverpool, and worked his passage to New York on board the Tartar of that place. From thence he took passage to Baltimore, where from that time 1796 to 1800. — he became a Branch Pilot.
He then accepted an offer to take charge of the Brig Weaford of North Carolina to Liverpool, and on his way was taken by a Spanish Ship, the Don Carlos, and retaken by a Jersey Privateer, and carried into Jersey, on the coast of Normandy: where on paying one eighth salvage

She was liberated, and he brought her home. — But from some poisonous drug administered to him, in some wine and water, while on board the Spanish Ship, given him as he supposes in consequence of an imprudent reply to their offers for his evidencing the false property of the Cargo — he your petitioner remain'd, five days likely to die, and has never since recovered.
On his return to Baltimore from Washington N. Carolina (where he was denied his wages for the Voyage, by reason of having no legal power as master to sue for it. none of the crew being present to recover their due, having all dispersed before his release from Jersey, where he had been detained before his release from Jersey.) — being out of employ — he applied for the Gunners birth on board the United States Frigate. The Gunner whom he understood was to be discharged, was however not dismissed, till two months afterwards. In the interim he did duty as a seaman on board, and employed in removing the water casks to the Ware House, in December last, in falling weather, he got frostbit, and lost the use of hands & feet for three months, and at the end of two mo: was dismissed as Invalid by Lieut. Speaker. — and has been since consigned to the poor house exposed to the vagabonds whom the Laws send for punishment, in the Work House Apartments. Your Petitioner humbly offers to add that Capt. Prustow and Barry & Nicholson know him personally, and will give him a respectable character. — And from the above considerations prays That his reduced state, and services, may recommend him to the bounty of his country on the half pay establishment.
Alexandria District of Columbia 5 th October 1802.
His Excellency
James Mitchell
Thomas Jefferson Esq. Re Re Re Re.

No. 671.
ACT OF MARCH 3, 1855.
Received _____, 187____
Navy. James Mitchell Gunner U. S. F. United States.

James Mitchell. from the 20 November to the 25 Dec 1801. at 17 st - 19. 72

Charles Goldsborough Esq. Navy Department Washington

D r Sir Wash ng Jan y 26 th 1805
I Presume you will recollect my having mentioned to you the case of James Mitchell who was last year at Alexandria & drew some money there from the Collector on account of being disabled in the Naval Service - He has since been sent to Norfolk where I believe the now is & when I last heard from him he stated that the war disturbed & that the war in a great of being placed on the Pension list I applied to Capt n Speke on the subject & have received from him a letter & Certificate which you will find enclosed - I shall be much gratified if it should be sufficient for the purpose & if it should not I will thank you to inform me what further proof may be necessary I am Respectfully Yr r ob st Serv t W m Kilby

James Mitchell's app n for a pension.
Mitchell
The Hon. J. M.

Mitchell
The Honorable Judge Killy Alexandria

Alexandria 28 Nov r 1804
To The Honorable
Judge Kelly
Sir
Agreeable to your Request I now avail myself of this opportunity to state to you in writing the manner in which James Mitchell seaman got injured while in the service of the United States and under my command, was one day some time in January 1802- some about Express, while moving and sailing with some others belonging to the Frigate United States in securing some of the ship materials, and water Casks, which he informed me some time after that he had been frost bitten and got his hand Lamed and injured that he could do no work - In consequence he was Discharged from service Josiah M. Sprague

The probability is that the frost bite and lameness was the cause of the said Samuel Mitchell losing the use of his hands and in some measure his power of speech. Josiah M. Peabody Aug. 25 th 1804
Case of James Mitchell Seaman with the Service. He was
[Faint, mirrored bleed-through text from the reverse side of the page]

James Mitchell Seaman, serving last on board the U.S. Ship, the United States Cap t Speake, was admitted on the list of sick and disabled Seamen the 27 th May 1802. for a frost bite of the feet, suffer'd in con- =sequence/as he said/of being employed exposed in a snow storm, with others, in the same service, and then laboring under a disease of the lungs, was reduced to so low a state, as to give little hopes of his recov- =ery.
The frost bite got well shortly - but the disease of his lungs affording no prospect of a cure, he was sent to the Marine Hospital at Norfolk.
After
Ch. Douglas
got in on 27 th Nov r 1804.

Alexandria 28 th Decem r 1802
Sir
I am requested by James Mitchell Seaman to represent to you, that having attempted to wait on you, in the City as appointed (in order to profit by your generous intentions towards him, in regard to his Petition for half pay to the Navy Board, which was to meet on the day after he saw you) that the severity of the weather obliged him to take shelter on the road, near the ferry, disabled with fatigue and almost perishing with cold - from whence he - being unable to proceed, he found means to return, by the kindness of a stage driver, and since that time, has been confined to his bed. Under these miserable circumstances, I have undertaken to relate his case, and the confidence he reposes in your good disposition towards him, gives him hope - that by your kindness, the Petition (which he has hitherto been prevented from presenting, by sickness, and want of money to defray his expenses) will be presented, and his case attended to. In which hope, he prays you by my means, to do him the service of causing his Petition to be laid before the Board, and that you

will excuse his having it inclosed for that purpose, which he will gratefully acknowledge.
I am Sir Yours Obedt Servt.
Ch. Douglas
Upon a representation of his case to Col o Simms your Navy Agent and Coll o here - An allowance of the common rate for disabled, or diseased Seamen is granted to pay his lodging & board till his Petition is considered, but he has been too ill to remove as yet from the poor House.
Cap t J. Singey Esq re

Sam Mitchell app d for Perfion

James Mitchell
Gunner
"U.S.F. United States"
"U.S.N."

The Humble Petition of James Mitchell Mariner late of the United States Ship of war, Lien t Speaker .
Your Petitioner humbly shews - that he was bred to the sea, from the age of 15 years - Born in York Town Virginia, when he was bound Apprentice to his Father James Mitchell Master of the Ship Baltimore , and served four years and a half to the same. He then entered on board the Sumatula Frigate Captain Nicholson Com d - On board of which Ship he got wounded in an engagement with the Isis , Mentor , and Virginia , English Cruisers from New York in 1779. - Taken Prisoner, and carried into N. York, and remain'd nine weeks under care - and then removed into the Prison Ship Jersey Cap t  Wright , - then lying at Paulus Hook : - where he was confined four months, in which time 150 died. He was then amongst others exchanged, and sent to Boston - where he entered on board the Deane Frigate Cap t  Sam l Nicholson , in quality of Master's Mate, and remain'd in that capacity two years. - from which time he entered into, and remain'd in the Merchant service altogether out of Baltimore, first as Mate in the Isis for three years - And was then promoted to be Master of the Govert Schooner , out of same port, for 3\frac{1}{2} years - when she was taken by the Alert Cap t  O'Neel , and carried into Point Petre Guadalupe and condemned. - Released in six weeks, he got to Martinique , and from thence to Baltimore. - Thence he went Mate in the Ship Betsy , in the employ of Mess rs  Oliver & Thompson to Cadiz , which was there sold. No conveyance home being then to be got at Cadiz , he went to Gibraltar , and took shipping in the Brig Henry Cap t  Gardner bound to Baltimore - Previous to sailing, he went ashore, with some Mate of other American Vessels to view the Rock. - when they were required by a Cap t  Cunningham , with some other British Officers, to inform them, who they were, and whither - which having answered, he order'd the Cockswain of his Ship's boat (then lying at the mole head) to take them along - to which they made no resistance, considering it of no use. - The next day the Masters of the Vessels to which they belonged, came on board the Brig Speedy , to demand our release? - On Cap t  Gardner's application to Cap t  Cunningham

for the release of his Mate, and your Petitioner, he consented to his taking his Mate, but considering your Pet n only as a passeng r he objected. — And on the departure of the Captain, ordered him to do duty as Masters Mate, which he refusing, was ordered into irons — Next day being brought to the gangway — it was demanded — if he would do the duty assigned him, or not? — On his refusal he was not punished as threatened — but ironed both legs — and in that state confined nineteen days — when L d Hood arrived — — to whom this first history was was removed for trial — His reason being demanded why he refused to do duty? he answered as before — At length seeing no probability of release, and be- -ing assured by L d Hood that he should be well treated, and have his discharge at the end of the cruise, he consented; and remained on board 14 months as Master Mate — And on taking L d Empereuse French frigate, he was promoted to sailing master to said French ship, and continued on board the same 12 months, when arriving in England with the fleet, he was discharged, as promised. — From England he took his passage to New York, on board the Tartar of that place, and from thence to Baltimore, where from that time 1796 to 1800. he became a branch Pilot — He then accepted the offer to take charge of the Brig Loesford of N h Carolina to Liverpool — On the passage she was taken by the Spanish Ship, the Don Carlos and retaken by a Jersey Privateer, and carried into Jersey, on the coast of Normandy; where on paying one eighth salvage, she was liberated, and he brought her home: — But from some poisonous drug administered to him on board the Spanish Ship, in wine and water, in consequence (as he supposes) of some imprudent reply to their offers, for his evidencing the false property of the cargo; he your Petitioner remained five days likely to die, and has never since recovered. On his return to Baltimore in 1800 hearing that Officers were wanted, on board the United States, he offered his services for Gunners which station, would be vacant in two months.

In the interim he did duty as a seaman on board; But em- =ployed in getting the water casks to the Ware house in December last - in very bad weather, and in his sickly state, he got foot bit, and lost the use of hands & feet for three months - He however remained on board two months, when he was discharged by the Commanding Officer - and has ever since been confined to the Poor House in Alexandria, exposed to the vagabonds, whom the Law, send there for punishment; his bed there being allotted in that part of it, where offenders are confined, & punished - Your Petitioner humbly hopes this narrative will incline your honorable Board, to consider his reduced state & services, and deem him a proper object of the Bounty of his Country, on the half pay Establishment. And Your Petitioner shall ever pray. &c. &c. James Mitchell Alexandria 14 December 1802.
This is to certify that James Mitchell discharged from on board the United States Ship of War in a diseased and crippled state has been under my care from the 21 st May last to this date.
Ch: Douglas