To Thomas Jefferson from George Weedon, 29 March 1781
From George Weedon
Williamsburg 29 Mar. 1781
Dear Sir
I send you the Prisoners mentioned in Major McLane’s Letter, who I conceive are guilty of Piracy, with them is also sent a Mr. Glansmiltz who I understand was in partnership with that noted Rascal Shoemaker. Your Excellency will please give your directions respecting them. On the Night of the 27th a Sloop with 1500 Bushells of Salt was drove on Shore between Newport News and Hampton and was boarded by Capt. Davenport. The Captain who commanded her gives the following intelligence. That the reinforcement lately arrived is commanded by Genl. Phillips. That he has 23 Transports with Men and supposes each to have on board from 150 to 200. He has also Eight Square Rigged Vessels with Horse on Board. They were convoyed by the Chatham of 50 Guns, The Rainbow 44, The Roebuck 44, The Hancock 32, and four other Frigates. That Arbuthnot still lays in Lynhaven Bay. Capt. Ross appears to be an Honest Scotchman And says he sail’d with them from New York. The Object of this reinforcement is supposed to succour the Southern Army. They will at any rate keep a strong post at Portsmouth, and will have it effectually in their power to commit depredations unless a force sufficient is called into the Field to oppose. The want of Arms will greatly distress and [I] would recommend it to your Excellency to appoint a careful diligent Man in each County and give him powers to impress all that are fit for Service and Store them under his own Care that when the Men from the Counties are call’d on They may be ready to put into their Hands. I am very certain a considerable number of good Arms may be recover’d in this way that belong to the Publick besides those of private property which may be useful. Had the Officers so appointed orders to employ all the Gunsmiths in their County and sett them immediately to Work they would no doubt much facilitate our Operations. Enclosed you have a Letter from Major Callis requesting the liberty of landing a Son of a Friend of his by which he will become a Citizen to this State. I would therefore wish your Excellency would suffer him to Land agreable to the Major’s request.
I have the Honor to be &c., &c.,
G Weedon
RC (Vi); endorsed. Enclosures not located.
A letter from Major Callis: See Gerlach to TJ, 27 Mch., note, where Callis’ letter is quoted in part. Callis also, in this same letter, reported the capture of Captain Ross, who commanded the salt-laden sloop that was driven ashore, but he did not give the details set forth in Weedon’s letter. Mr. Glansmiltz: This was undoubtedly the person referred to in the following action taken by the Council on 6 Apr.: “The Board advise that Charles Clinchsmith (Klansmett) a prisoner, be confined in Hanover Jail until further orders” (, ii, 329). That noted rascal shoemaker: For a note on Joseph Shoemaker, see T. S. Lee to TJ, 5 Jan. 1781 and TJ to Lee, 1 Feb. 1781. The prisoners: On 1 Apr. 1781 Weedon wrote to Steuben: “The Marquis’s Barge made prise of a Vessell as they went down, that had been stole by some Rascals and fitted out on a piratical plan. They had done much Mischief to both shores of Maryland and Virginia. McLane sent them to me, and have forwarded them to the Govr. to meet their just rewards” (NHi).