To George Washington from Captain Ephraim Bowen, Jr., 6 November 1775
From Captain Ephraim Bowen, Jr.
Plymouth [Mass.]
Novr 6. 1775
May it Please Your Excellency
With great Pleasure do I inform you of the Return of Capt. Coit into this Harbour, with two Prizes, a Sloop & Schooner, from Nova Scotia Bound to Boston Laden chiefly with Wood & Hay, with Some Cattle, Sheep, Potatoes &c.1 The People that were on Board with the Papers will be Sent to Head Qrs Immediately.
Mr Watson has taken charge of the Prises, & Will Inform you of the Particulars of the Cargoes,2 which to our Enemies would have been very Valuable, but to us are not of much consequence, youl Please to give Instructions in this affair, as Soon as convenient. Capt. Coits mainmast Proves too rotten for the Service, have got another making so dont expect he will Sail again till tomorrow night.3
It is thought by the People here that the Schooner will make a very convenient Vessell for a Cruiser, as She Sails Very Well & has two Topsails & might be fitted at very little Expence, Capt. Martindales men are not yet arrivd & the Weather Proving bad I fear will detain him some time. I am Yr Excellencys, Obt Servt
Ephm Bowen Jr
ALS, DLC:GW.
1. The prizes were the sloop Polly, Sibeline White, master, and the schooner Industry, Charles Coffin, master, both taken on 5 November.
2. See William Watson to GW, this date.
3. “I Hope Captain Coit will not be detained long by the badness of his Masts,” Stephen Moylan wrote to Bowen on 8 November. “The Time is very short for Expecting more prizes—The season being so far advanced, this is one reason for his Excellencys determination not to fit out more Cruizers for the present” (DLC:GW). A new mast was put on the Harrison on 12 Nov., and Coit sailed the next day, only to return two days later when his crew refused to continue the voyage.