33201To George Washington from Nicholas Cooke, 21 January 1776 (Washington Papers)
Your Favour of the 6th instant I received & laid before the General Assembly. It had great Weight: And I believe that no Supplies to the Enemy’s Ships would have been permitted had it not appeared to us that the Members of the Continental Congress were of Opinion that they should be continued. The following is an Extract of a Letter from our Delegates on that Subject “A Memorial from the Town...
33202To George Washington from Nicholas Cooke, 14 September 1775 (Washington Papers)
I am favoured with a Letter from Govr Trumbull in Answer to mine proposing a Voyage to Bayonne, in which he informs me that the Council of the Colony of Connecticut are summoned to meet this Day to take the Scheme into Consideration. This Sir is the Time to exert ourselves in sending to Europe for Powder, as the Vessels may perform their Voyages and return upon this Coast in the Winter, when...
33203To George Washington from Nicholas Cooke, 15 September 1775 (Washington Papers)
I observe that in the Cambridge Paper of Yesterday there is an Extract of a Letter from Bermuda to New York giving an Account that upwards of 100 Barrels of Powder had been taken out of the Magazine, supposed to have been done by a Vessel from Philadelphia and another from South-Carolina. This Intelligence appears to me to be true; and I beg to know your Excellency’s Opinion of it as soon as...
33204To George Washington from Nicholas Cooke, 20 July 1776 (Washington Papers)
I am favoured with your Excellency’s Letter of the 15th instant; which I have communicated to the General Assembly now sitting here. Agreeable to your Request the Captains of the Row-Gallies are ordered to proceed immediately to New York there to receive your Orders and to govern themselves accordingly. I have the Honor to be with great Respect Sir Your Excellency’s Most obedt and Most humble...
33205To George Washington from Nicholas Cooke, 30 November 1775 (Washington Papers)
I take the Liberty of addressing your Excellency in Behalf of Mr James Aborn who waits upon you with this Letter. I can assure your Excellency that he is a worthy honest Man, and hath upon all Occasions approved himself a sincere Friend to the Liberties of his Country. He sent a Vessel last Spring to the Eastward to trade and Fish, and to cover his Interest from the Enemy made Use of a Friend...
33206To George Washington from Nicholas Cooke, 2 September 1775 (Washington Papers)
I am favoured with your Excellency’s Letter of the 31st of last Month by Captain Baylor; who hath purchased the warlike Stores imported by Messrs Clarke and Nightingale. The Prices appear to be very high; but considering the Cost, Expences, & Risque, I believe they are as low as can be reasonably expected. In the Letter I did myself the Honor to write you by Mr Brown I mentioned the extreme...
33207To George Washington from Nicholas Cooke, 18 February 1777 (Washington Papers)
Since my last I have been favor’d with yours of the 31st Ultimo, and the 2d & 6th Instant. The Letter respecting Deserters shall be laid before the General Assembly at the next Session on the First Monday in March who I doubt not will take the most proper Measure to discourage Desertion. My last to you will explain the Motives by which the General Assembly were governed in ordering the Brigade...
33208To George Washington from Nicholas Cooke, 29 September 1775 (Washington Papers)
I am to inform you that there are Part of Two Companies, of the Rhode Island Brigade, consisting of about 74 Men, now upon Block Island, who were sent there, to secure the Stock until it could be removed. If you think proper that these Men should be ordered to the Camp please to let me know it, and I shall immediately give Directions for their marching. The Packet sent out to countermand Capt....
33209To George Washington from Nicholas Cooke, 14 April 1777 (Washington Papers)
Your Excellency’s Favors of the 14th ult. and of the 3d instant are now before me. In Pursuance of your Recommendation Mr Hutchinson, and Governor Shirley’s Son are permitted to go to Rhode Island. I have made Enquiry after the Mulatto Lad, Thomas Rogerson, but can as yet gain no Account that is perfectly satisfactory. I believe he was brought into this Place, and very soon after sailed for...
33210To George Washington from Nicholas Cooke, 5 November 1777 (Washington Papers)
I do myself the Honor, by Lieut. Colonel Barton, who will deliver you this, to transmit you the inclosed Resolution of the General Assembly of this State; and, agreeable to it, do recommend to your Excellency that brave Officer, who hath heretofore distinguished himself by his Activity, and enterprizing Spirit, and the several Commissioned Officers who served under him in that successful...
33211To George Washington from Nicholas Cooke, 9 September 1775 (Washington Papers)
I am to acknowledge the Receipt of your Excellency’s Letter of the 6th instant, and to inform you that, Zealous to do every Thing in our Power to serve the common Cause of America, the Committee have determined, instead of the small armed Sloop, to send the large Vessel with Fifty Men upon the Bermuda Enterprize; with Orders to Capt. Whipple to cruize Ten Days off Sandy-Hook for the Packet...
33212To George Washington from Nicholas Cooke, 16 February 1776 (Washington Papers)
I Received the Night before last an order from Governr Trumbull to Send immedietly to you all the powder in my possesion that belonged to their colony which he Supposed was about 6000 wt when it was brought here the whole was weighed to Settle with the carter it weighed Cask and all 4217 lb. So that it falls much Short of the Governers Expectation it So unfortinately happened that all the...
33213To George Washington from Nicholas Cooke, 6 May 1776 (Washington Papers)
Your Excellency’s Favor in which you assure me that you will recommend this unhappy Colony to the Continental Congress hath been laid before the General Assembly, to whom it gave great Satisfaction. I inclose you a Copy of Colo. Babcock’s Dismission. The Office of Brigadier General is still kept vacant, in Hopes that the Brigade will be put upon the Continental Establishment, and that a...
33214To George Washington from Nicholas Cooke, 18 March 1777 (Washington Papers)
Your Excellency’s Favours of the 1st and 3d instant have been duly received, and will be laid before the General Assembly, at their Meeting next Week. This State from it’s early and continued Exertions hath been greatly exhausted of Arms. Of all those furnished to the Continental Troops raised by us, and to the Numbers of Seamen raised for the Fleet, none have been returned, excepting from...
33215To George Washington from Nicholas Cooke, 31 March 1778 (Washington Papers)
Your Excellency wrote me on the 14th of March, 1777. that General Howe had applied to you for the Discharge of Mr Hutchinson who was One of the Council and Secretary of Dominica and of Govr Shirley’s Son who were then Prisoners here; and requested me to discharge them accordingly. you were pleased to tell me at the same Time that you did not doubt but General Howe would on Application release...
33216To George Washington from Nicholas Cooke, 25 October 1775 (Washington Papers)
Captain Whipple returned here from his Voyage to Bermuda on Friday last. He had received authentick Intelligence of the Arrival of the Packet at New-York before the First Time limited for his Cruise was expired, and immediately sailed for Bermuda. He had light flattering Winds for several Days, and, when near the Island, met with a violent Gale, which drove him Three or Four Degrees to the...
33217To George Washington from Nicholas Cooke, 31 July 1775 (Washington Papers)
I am favoured with your Excellency’s Letter of the 26th instant; having just before the Receipt of it had Accounts by a private Hand of the Sailing of a Number of Men of War and Transports from Boston; which I conjectured were designed to supply the Enemy with fresh Provisions. I immediately sent the Intelligence to Block-Island together with a Quantity of Powder Ball and Flints to enable them...
33218To George Washington from Nicholas Cooke, 12 July 1775 (Washington Papers)
I beg Leave to congratulate your Excellency upon your being appointed General of the Armies of the United Colonies; which hath given sincere Pleasure to every Friend of America, and will I hope prove glorious to yourself, and be attended with essential Advantages to your Country. The General Assembly of this Colony have the deepest Sense of the Necessity of a strict Union, and the most...
33219To George Washington from Nicholas Cooke, 25 January 1776 (Washington Papers)
I have consulted the General Committee upon the Subject of your Letter of the 16th instant. For many Years past the Inhabitants of this Colony, surrounded on the Land-Side by Connecticut and the Massachusetts-Bay, thinking themselves in a perfect State of Security, entirely neglected military Discipline, and disposed of their Arms so generally that, at the breaking out of the present War, the...
33220To George Washington from Nicholas Cooke, 26 September 1775 (Washington Papers)
In Consequence of your Letter of the 18th instant we have sent out our small armed Vessel with Orders to Capt. Whipple to relinquish the Voyage to Bermuda, and to prolong his Cruize for the Packet to the Sixth Day of October. Agreeable to your Advice I have communicated the proposed Adventure to Bayonne to the Congress, and most heartily wish it may be pursued, as the Ability and Integrity of...
33221To George Washington from Nicholas Cooke, 5 October 1776 (Washington Papers)
Your Excellency’s Letter of the 17th instant by the Committee of this State hath been received. Deputy-Governor Bradford informed you that it had been recommended to Colo. Richmond to march with his Battalion to join your Army; since which Mr Hopkins a Member from this State of the Continental Congress arrived here; by whose advice it was concluded to stop their March and to permit such of the...
33222To George Washington from Nicholas Cooke, 8 August 1775 (Washington Papers)
Last Evening Col. Porter delivered me your Letter of the 4th instant, to which I have paid all the Attention the Importance of it demands. This Colony the last Fall, not confiding entirely in the precarious Supply of Powder that might be expected from the Merchants, imported a considerable Quantity, though not so large as was ordered. The supplying the Inhabitants, who were in a Manner utterly...
33223To George Washington from Nicholas Cooke, 20 June 1776 (Washington Papers)
It is with great Pleasure that I do myself the Honor to transmit to your Excellency the inclosed Vote of the General Assembly. The putting the Colony Brigade upon the Continental Establishment for which we esteem ourselves so much indebted to your Excellency gave the highest Satisfaction. Mr Hopkins sent me the Commissions with Power to fill up those for the Captains and Subalterns as should...
33224To George Washington from Nicholas Cooke, 28 October 1775 (Washington Papers)
When we removed Part of the Live Stock from Block Island in July last a Number of Cattle were left, so poor (owing to the severe Drought) that they were totally unfit for the Knife. The plentiful Rains that have since fallen have increased the Feed so much that there are now upwards of 300 fit for Market. The Island is situated so far from the Continent that any Attempt to remove them will be...
33225To George Washington from Nicholas Cooke, 6 November 1776 (Washington Papers)
The General Assembly of this State have ordered Two Battalions to be immediately raised agreeable to the Requisition of the Hon’ble Continental Congress signified to them in a Letter from the President of that August Body. Congress recommended that a Committee should be appointed to repair to the Army, and there appoint the Officers, but as your Excellency was pleased to inclose in your Favour...
33226To George Washington from Nicholas Cooke, 16 July 1776 (Washington Papers)
I am favoured with your Excellency’s Letter of the 9th instant in Consequence of which Mr Greene hath delivered to Col. Tillinghast to be immediately forwarded to New-York 14,500 Flints, 20 Muskets and 30 Back-Swords, being the whole of those Articles that were imported by Capt. Chace. All the Duck is heavy coarse and stubborn, being what is called Holland and Russia Duck. Capt. Chace hath...
33227To George Washington from Nicholas Cooke, 31 March 1776 (Washington Papers)
I am to inform your Excellency that I have this Moment an Express from Newport informing me that a Ship of War hath arrived in the Harbor of Newport, and that Twenty seven Ships undoubtedly having the ministerial Troops on Board are within Seconet Point. Upon this most alarming Occasion when we have not more than 400 Soldiers upon Rhode Island, and not above 700 or 800 more in the whole Colony...
33228To George Washington from Nicholas Cooke, 8 December 1776 (Washington Papers)
It is with great Concern that I give you the disagreeable Intelligence that the Enemy with a Fleet consisting of 78 Ships of War and Transports entered the Harbor of Newport Yesterday. We had about Six hundred Men upon Rhode-Island who were Obliged to evacuate it with the Loss of about 15 or 20 heavy Cannon, having taken off the Amunition and Stores & the greatest part of the Stock. The Enemy...
33229To George Washington from Nicholas Cooke, 1 January 1776 (Washington Papers)
Upon Receipt of your Excellency’s Letter of the 23d ulto I employed Two Persons to apply to the Housekeepers in this Town individually for Blankets for the Army. They have collected about 180 which will be sent forward this Day. It is full as large a Number as I expected to procure considering how we have been exhausted by Supplies to various Parts of the Service. I shall immediately take...
33230To George Washington from Nicholas Cooke, 9 February 1777 (Washington Papers)
I have been favoured with your Excellency’s Letters of the 20th and 24th ultimo and have laid them before the General Assembly. The Enemy having landed not less than 7,000 Troops upon Rhode Island, and being possess’d of the Bay with a large Fleet laid us under the Necessity of establishing a Body of Forces with all possible Expedition. In this Situation, when it was impracticable to fill the...
33231To George Washington from Nicholas Cooke, 11 December 1775 (Washington Papers)
I do myself the Honor to address this Letter to you by Mr Penet, and another French Gentleman who arrived here last Night in Capt. Rhodes from Cape Francois, who was dispatched some Time since from this Place for Powder. Mr Penet comes extremely well recommended to our Committee for providing Powder from a Merchant of Character at the Cape. He hath Proposals to make for supplying the United...
33232To Benjamin Franklin from Nicholas Cooke, 15 August 1775 (Franklin Papers)
ALS : American Philosophical Society I think it my Duty inform you that on Friday Morning last as Benjamin Mumford who rides Post from Newport to New London was crossing the Ferry to Newport he was taken by Capt. Wallace of the Ship Rose who broke open the Mails sent some of the Letters ashore and kept the Remainder in Order to send them to Boston. He detained Mumford until Yesterday. As the...
33233To George Washington from Nicholas Cooke, 23 April 1776 (Washington Papers)
I did myself the Honor in my Letter of Jany 21st to inclose to your Excellency a Copy of a Memorial from the General Assembly to the Hon’ble Continental Congress, to which I beg Leave to refer you; and when I had the Pleasure of seeing you here I laid before you very fully the distressed Situation of the Colony, and the enormous Expences we were necessarily put to in defending such an...
33234To George Washington from Nicholas Cooke, 19 September 1775 (Washington Papers)
Yours of the 18th came safe to Hand, I made enquiry immediately after the Mail, was informed by the Post-Master that the Post took the Papers and he thought had carried them with him, after he was gone the Post-Master found he had left a Bundle which he supposed contained the News-Papers and followed him to the Tavern but he was gone from thence and the Post-Master sent the Package forward by...
33235To George Washington from Nicholas Cooke, 11 August 1775 (Washington Papers)
Since my last to you Mr Ward One of the Delegates hath returned from the Congress. He informs me that some of the Bermudians had been at Philadelphia soliciting for Liberty to import Provisions for the Use of the Island. They gave Information of the Powder mentioned in your Letter to me, and were of Opinion it might be easily obtained. They were told by the Delegates that every Vessel they...
33236To George Washington from Nicholas Cooke, 25 November 1775 (Washington Papers)
Your Excellency’s Letter of the 15th instant I duly received. The General Assembly, at their late Session, had a Motion under Consideration for apprehending those Persons whose going at large might be injurious to the common Cause; but the defenceless precarious Situation of the Town of Newport induced the Assembly to postpone the Measure, until the Inhabitants of that Town are more generally...
33237To George Washington from Nicholas Cooke, 4 April 1776 (Washington Papers)
General Greene having informed me that your Excellency proposed to set out for Providence this Day I do myself the Honor to acquaint that a House is prepared for you and your Lady for Mr Custis and his Lady for General Gates and your whole Suite, Were it possible to have made it so agreeable to your Excellency it would have given me the highest Pleasure to have entertained you at my House. The...
33238To George Washington from Nicholas Cooke, 29 July 1776 (Washington Papers)
I have the Honor to acquaint your Excellency that last Evening Capt. Bucklin in a Privateer from this Place returned from a successful Cruize in which he took Five valuable Prizes bound from the British Islands in the West-Indies to Great-Britain: He informs me that on the 25th instant in Lat. 40° 20′ S.S.E. from Nantucket Shoals, upon the clearing up of a Fog, he found himself in the midst of...
33239To George Washington from Nicholas Cooke, 19 December 1775 (Washington Papers)
I have your Excellency’s Letter of the 17th which I have laid before the General Committee. Should the Force sailed from Boston be destined for Rhode Island I tremble for the Consequences, as the Colony in its present exhausted State cannot without Assistance defend the Island. At their unaminous Request I apply to your Excellency for a Detachment from the Continental Army of One Regiment to...
33240To George Washington from Nicholas Cooke, 22 March 1776 (Washington Papers)
At the Request of the General Assembly now sitting here I make Application to your Excellency for Six Seamen taken from the Enemy and now your Prisoners to be exchanged for Six Inhabitants of this Colony who were taken & are detained by Capt. Wallace. Four of these Men have Families who are greatly distressed. I send this by Express by Reason of the Danger of Capt. Wallace’s being removed from...
33241To George Washington from Nicholas Cooke, 28 March 1776 (Washington Papers)
This waits upon you by Col. Mathewson a Member of the General Assembly and a Gentleman of Merit, whom I beg Leave to recommend to your Notice. The Assembly have appointed him to make Application to your Excellency for 40 Cannon from 9 to 24 Pounders to be made Use of for the Defence of the Colony. He hath it particularly in Charge to request your Excellency that the 18 and 24 Pounders which...
33242To George Washington from Nicholas Cooke, 30 August 1775 (Washington Papers)
Your Excellency’s Letter of the 14th instant is now before me; the Contents of which I have duly considered. When it came to Hand our small Sloop of War was out upon the Cruize which I mentioned to your Excellency in a former Letter. She hath since returned. The sending her on the Enterprize you propose could not be done without some new & further Powers from the General Assembly which sat...
33243To George Washington from Nicholas Cooke, 1 April 1776 (Washington Papers)
I Yesterday wrote your Excellency that I had Information by Express from Newport that a large Part of the ministerial Fleet and Army were near that Harbor. Since which by the Intelligence I have further received I am inclined to believe that the Fleet was not seen as was reported. The Alarm was given upon the following Occasion. Three of the Soldiers being upon a Rising Ground near the Town...
33244To George Washington from Nicholas Cooke, 4 December 1775 (Washington Papers)
Three Men having deserted from One of the armed Schooners in the Harbor of Newport on Wednesday Evening last, the Captain with a Midshipman, came ashore after them, and were both taken Prisoners. They were brought here Yesterday. The Captain whose Name is Stanhope was a Lieutenant on board the Glasgow. It was reported that he was a Son of Earl Stanhope. Upon Examination he denied it, but...
33245To George Washington from Nicholas Cooke, 6 September 1776 (Washington Papers)
The Necessity which caused the unexpected Evacuation of Long-Island hath alarmed the General Assembly of this State, as it seems that Communications cannot be kept open with an Island where the Enemy’s Ships can approach. This hath filled us with Apprehensions for the Town of Newport and the Island of Rhode-Island, which are of so great Importance to this and the other United States. Upon...
33246To George Washington from Nicholas Cooke, 23 February 1778 (Washington Papers)
I have been favoured with your Excellency’s Letter of the 3d instant inclosing a Proposal made to you by General Varnum for recruiting the two Continental Battalions raised by this State. I laid the Letter before the General Assembly at their Sessions on the Second Monday in this Month, who considering the pressing Necessity of filling up the Continental Army, and the peculiarly difficult...
33247To George Washington from Nicholas Cooke, 13 November 1775 (Washington Papers)
I some Time since informed your Excellency that Part of Two Companies of Men, consisting of about Seventy, raised by the Colony in order to join the Continental Army near Boston, had, upon the Arrival of some Transports at Newport, been sent upon Block-Island for the Preservation of the Stock there. Agreeable to your Directions they still continue upon the Island. I am now, at the Request of...
33248To Benjamin Franklin from Richard Donaldson Cooke, 24 February 1780 (Franklin Papers)
ALS : American Philosophical Society The inclos’d is a letter I recd. from Mr. Bache of Philadelphia in June 1778, and have never had it in my Power to convey it to you sooner— I have come over to Europe in order to receive a Legacy left my father by his sister Anna Cooke of this Place, which I’m apprehensive will cause me trouble before I gett it, as it lies in the Bank of England— Mr Bache...
33249[Samuel Cooke’s Bills for Board.] (Adams Papers)
The Honble. John Adams Esqr. to Saml. Cook Dr. 1775 Augst. 24th. To Boarding your Lady & Self 3 days £0: 12: To 3 days Keeping yr. Horse 3: £0: 15: The Honble. John Adams to Samll. Cooke junr. Dr. To boardg: 6 days @ 2/ £0: 12. 0 To breakfasting & dining 4 persons @ 9/ 3. To keeping your horse 4 nights @ 1/
33250To James Madison from William Cooke, 2 November 1802 (Abstract) (Madison Papers)
2 November 1802, Havana. In conformity with JM’s advice in his letter of 3 Feb., Cooke postponed going to Madrid and came to Havana to appeal his case, “in case it had been decided on, by the Tribunal … and to obtain Authentic transcripts of the whole process.” Was surprised to learn upon his arrival on 23 Oct. that the tribunal had done nothing and was never likely to do so as “it appears...