To George Washington from Nathaniel Shaw, Jr., 1 August 1776
From Nathaniel Shaw, Jr.
New London [Conn.] Augst 1st 1776
Sir
The bearer Doctor Wolcott will deliver you a Turtle wich was taken in a Ship bound from Jamaica to London by Capt. Biddle in the Brigg Andrew Doria, & was Sent into this Port but Unfortunately was Lost on the Rocks of Fishe[r]s Island, being Chas’d by a Man of Warr, we Sav’d About Ninety Puncheons of Rum, the Sugar 250 hhds all Lost & the Ship—and as the Turtle was Intended for the Support of our Enemys, we thought best to Send him to head Quarters, to be Dealt with1—I am Sir Your very hum. Servt
Nathl Shaw Junr
ALS, DLC:GW.
1. For the capture and subsequent wreck of the ship Nathaniel and Elizabeth, see GW to Hancock, 29 July, and note 7. Simeon Wolcott (1747–1809) served as surgeon of Col. Samuel Holden Parsons’s 6th Connecticut Regiment from May to December 1775 and as a captain in Col. Fisher Gay’s regiment of Connecticut levies from June to December 1776. During the spring of 1776 Wolcott treated sick sailors from the Continental fleet at New London.