1Richard Grinnell to the Commissioners, 9 July 1778 (Adams Papers)
I would Inform you that on the 28th of August Last I a Rived heare from London I had att that time Just obtained my Discharge, from the Belile Belle Isle man of war of Seventy four Guns. I was Impressed on board of her at Sea and without asking my Leave they made mee a mid Shipman on board. A few days after faling in with I Reland I Tok o the oportunity by a fishing boat to write to London to...
2Richard Grinnell to the Commissioners, 15 September 1778 (Adams Papers)
I would Inform the Honnourabel Board of Commisioners that I Took Passage with Capt. Barns as did Capt. Peter Collis and Sailed from Penbufe Paimbeauf on the 29th august and on the First of September Being in the Lattitude 46°:00′ and Longitude 9°:00′ we ware Taken by the Speedwell Cutter Belonging heare mounting twelve Guns and Commanded by Capt. Abraham Bushall who Treated me and Capt. Collis...
3Richard Grinnell to the American Commissioners, 9 July 1778: résumé (Franklin Papers)
ALS : American Philosophical Society <Dunkirk, July 9, 1778: I arrived here last August after serving on the Belle Isle , 74, as a midshipman impressed at sea; a London merchant got me my discharge. I went to Nieuwpoort, and told Mr. Nesbitt that I wanted to be commissioned in Paris and then sail for Brazil to destroy the London fleet there. He put me in touch with Mr. Coffyn, who took my...
4Richard Grinnell to the American Commissioners, 15 September 1778: résumé (Franklin Papers)
ALS : American Philosophical Society <Guernsey, September 15, 1778: Captain Peter Collas and I sailed with Captain [Corbin] Barnes from Paimboeuf August 29. We were captured September 1 by Captain Abraham Bushall who treated us like brothers. We fell in with Captain Niles whose schooner Spy had been taken by a Jersey privateer. Niles and Barnes succeeded in throwing all papers overboard....
5To Benjamin Franklin from Richard Grinnell: Memorandum, [7 October 1778] (Franklin Papers)
ADS : American Philosophical Society I Richard Grinnell of Newport Rhodeisland do heareby Sertify that on the Twenty third of Sept. 1775 I Sailed from Warren in Rhodeisland in the Ship George Aaron Sheffield master and that we went to the Coast of Braizels and obtained a bout Six hundread Barrells of oil and was bound for holland but was Taken and Carried Into Dover. There ware on the Coast...
6Richard Grinnell to the American Commissioners, 23 October 1778 (Franklin Papers)
ALS : American Philosophical Society It is with Pleasure that I Can Inform your honnours that this Day a Rived heare the Brigg Interprise Capt. Paul Peas from London Bound to the Braizels. She was Taken by Belpoole french frigate of thirty two Guns. I have the pleasure of Informeing your honnours that Capt. Francis Macy in the Ship Pitt from London was Taken the Same time by the Venger french...