Alexandria daily gazette, commercial & political. [volume] (Alexandria [Va.]) 1808-1812, 1812-03-26

The commodore ard commanders Of the other
armed vessels were on board OF the Thames,
and behaved with the greatest politcness--
The commodore was asked by this deponent
the reason OF his burning the American yes
sells. He replied that he had orders from bis
government to burn all American vessels SAIL
ing to or from an enemy's port. The officers
also informed that the frigates were quite
new, and were never at sea before their pre-
sent cruise, and that they were launched at
Nantz in the month of June last. Alter parti
ing from the frigates we went'with the Thames
into the first port which we could make, VIZ.
ST. Bartholomews, in the West Indies, where
we arrived on the 9th of February last, and
landed the captains and crews Of the said ship
Asia and the brig Gershom, except five, who
returned with us to New York, where we ar
rived the 9TH of March inst. When the Thames
was first taken possession of by the commo-
dore, the officer who came on board informed
me, that he should burn her the next morn
ing. In the morning however the commo-
dore said it was desirable that he should get
rid of the crews of the vessels which he had
already burnt, as they were consuming his
provisions, and concluded to put them all On
board the Thames, which was done accord
ingly.
SAMUEL CHEW.
Sworn and subscribed at the city of New
Haven, this 18th day of March, 1912, before
me,
CHAS. DENISON, alderman.
], Elihu Hitchcock, of New Haven, master
of the brig Thames, on oath declare and say,
that l have perused the foregoing statement
and affidavit of Samuel Chew, late supercargo
of said brig, and agree with him in the facts
herein stated, and know them to be true.
ELIHU HITCHCOCK.
Sworn and subscribed at the city of New
Haven, this l4th day Of March 1912, before
me,
CHAS. DENISON, .1lderman.
The following is a faithful translation of the
documents referred to III the foregoing affi-
davits.
List of the names of the men composing
the crew of the ship Asia, from Philadelphia,
and of the brig Gcrshom, from Boston, bound
TO Lisbon, loaded with grain and -four, cap
tured by the division under the command Of
Mons. Feretier member of the Legion Of
Honor, in pursuance Of the instructions Of his
Ercelency iaonseigneur the minister Of the
Alar1ae Of TIE Coionies. The said crew are
embarked this day on board the American
brig the Thames, captain Elihu Hitchcock,
from St. Ubes, and bound to New Haven.
Crew Of the shit .fsia, CAPT. Thomas Heacen.
Thomas Hewett, John Baker, Andrew
Hanson, Robert MsCorde, John Peters, Fran
els Shepherd, David Calm, Christian Grcll
John Nelcocks, Henry Johnston. John Smith,
Michael Blith, Jacob Harding, Francis SIMS
ter, Peter Johnson, Joseph Crisse, Nathaniel
Tanton, Laurent Peters, David Barclay, Ria
nard Xahmede, Thomas Alling, VIM. Flauler,
P. Kaylander, John 1'resnells, William West,
John l.. Thompson, Thomas Hawthorn, John
Ganor, Lote Refine.
Crezu ofthe brig Gershom.
Jacob Smith, Nathaniel Simmonc, John
Smith, Hetton Chandler, Joshua Brown, Abb
sha Loveland, Thomas Richardson.
These presents are certified to be correct,
and conformable to the roll of equipage re-
naming in my hands.
Commander of the division,
FERETIER.
February 5, 1912.