1To Thomas Jefferson from Richard O’Bryen, 24 August 1785 (Jefferson Papers)
We the Subjects of the United States of America Having the Misfortune of Being Captured off The Coast of Portugal the 24th. and 30th. of July By the Algerines, and Brought into this port Where we have Become Slaves, and Sent To the workhouses, Oure Sufferings is Beyond Oure Expressing or your Conception. Hoping youre Honoure will be pleased to represent Oure Grievances to Congress. Hoping They...
2[To Thomas Jefferson from Richard O’Bryen, 3 November 1785] (Jefferson Papers)
[ Algiers, 3 Nov. 1785 . Recorded in SJL as received 16 Dec. 1785. Not found.]
3[To Thomas Jefferson from Richard O’Bryen, 9 December 1785] (Jefferson Papers)
[ Algiers, 9 Dec. 1785 . Recorded in SJL as received 13 Feb. 1786. Letter not found.]
4To Thomas Jefferson from Richard O’Bryen and Others, 8 June 1786 (Jefferson Papers)
I take the Liberty of addressing these letters to you hoping you will excuse the freedom of an American &c. and unfortunate captive at present. No doubt but Mr. Lamb has given you and Mr. Adams every particular information respecting the state of affairs in Algiers. I am much surprized when I look at the date of your letter to us being the 4th. of November and with orders to Mr. Lamb to redeem...
5To Thomas Jefferson from Richard O’Bryen, 12 July 1786 (Jefferson Papers)
Since the arrival of Mr. Lamb at Algiers I wrote you several letters informing you of some particulars which came within my observation. Mr. Lamb has actually agreed with the Dey of Algiers for the redemption of us unfortunate captives. It is near three months since Mr. Lamb left Algiers and was to get the money in four months. I hope for our sakes, and the honor of his country, that he will...
6To Thomas Jefferson from Richard O’Bryen, 28 April 1787 (Jefferson Papers)
Algiers, 28 Apr. 1787 . Is afraid that, unless some speedy measures for redemption are adopted, his crew will be carried off by the plague which “rages so much,” because they are “employed on the most laborious work and so much exhausted”; 215 people died in Algiers on the 22nd of April and 200 Christian slaves have died in the last three months. The Spaniards and Neapolitans having redeemed...
7To Thomas Jefferson from Richard O’Bryen, 25 September 1787 (Jefferson Papers)
Algiers 25 Sep. 1787 . Has had no reply to his many letters since Lamb was in Algiers; reviews the circumstances of his capture; wrote previously about the plague; in this “melancholy situation,” all “surrounded by the messengers of death and the piercing shrieks or cries of our brother slaves,” three of their countrymen died, eighteen survived. Concerning a treaty with Algiers: before...
8[To Thomas Jefferson from Richard O’Bryen, 25 October 1787] (Jefferson Papers)
[[ Algiers ] 25 Oct. 1787 . Recorded in SJL Index but not in SJL and, therefore, probably received sometime in 1788 (see Rutledge to TJ, 23 Oct. 1787 , note). Not found.]
9To Thomas Jefferson from Richard O’Bryen, 2 June 1788 (Jefferson Papers)
Algiers, 2 June 1788 . “If any one is redeemed it is at a very exorbitant price. A few days ago an old Savoy Captain of a Merchant vessel was redeemed for the sum of 2150 Algerine Chequins, which is equal to £967.10 Sterling, and even with that price it was with much time the Dey was prevailed on to let him be redeemed; and I think that Sailors will be as high as £400. Sterling as they are...
10[To Thomas Jefferson from Richard O’Bryen, 5 June 1788] (Jefferson Papers)
[Algiers, 5 June 1788. Recorded in SJL Index. Not found.]