In the first part of this presentation of evidence relating to the life (or lives) of Captain William Day, of Massachusetts, we learned of his parentage and birth in Springfield, of his father's acquisition of land rights in the new settlement of Sheffield, of his first marriage and of his possible and probable early activities in and out of the port of Boston, including a trans-Atlantic voyage in which he (or possibly another sea captain of the same name and home port) brought to America the news of peace in the War of the Austrian Succession, in 1748. In America, that conflict, which spanned at least three continents, was just one in a series known as the French and Indian Wars- and not the last or the largest. Although we start this second instalment in peaceful 1750, we shall soon see Captain Day's skill in naval conflict.
Colour key | Family | Household / Community | Sea trade | War | Background | Possibly our William | Probably not |
1750 | NO DAYS IN ANNAPOLIS SHIPPING NEWS 1750 | |
15 Jan 1750 |
[also in Boston Gazette, OR Weekly JOURNAL] | |
13 Feb 1750 |
[Estora, or Stora was the port of what is now Skikda in Algeria] | |
13 Mar 1750 |
6 Britannia, Day arrived from Boston | |
13 Mar 1750 |
Town meeting, 13 Mar 1749/50: Capt. James Day among firewards chosen for the ensuing year | |
18 May 1750 |
12 Britannia, Day sailed for Boston | |
3 Aug 1750 |
1 Charm. Teresa, Day came in for Seville] [Cadiz ... 20 Jul NS [New Style] Friendship, Day arrived from Dublin] | |
20 Aug 1750 |
[also in Boston Gazette, OR Weekly JOURNAL, 21 Aug 1750, p1: no newspapers from Nova Scotia are known before 1752] | |
23 Aug 1750 |
| |
27 Aug 1750 |
... ... a few Days ago Capt. Day arrived here from Ireland. He brought out 186 People, not one of whom died on the Passage. He put into Halifax, where he disposed of Twenty odd Servants, the Rest, being Passengers, intend to settle in this Province, to whom we wish all possible Success and Encouragement. | |
18 Oct 1750 |
| |
22 Oct 1750 |
| |
26 Nov 1750 |
| |
11 Jan 1751 |
1 Britannia, Day arrived from Boston Britannia, Day sailed for Leverpool | |
7 May 1751 |
6 Friendship, Day arrived from Carthagena] | |
25 May 1751 |
| |
9 Jul 1751 |
30 May Britannia, Day arrived from Leverpool | |
30 Jul 1751 |
26 Britannia, Day arrived from Barbadoes | |
28 Oct 1751 |
| |
28 Oct 1751 |
[also in Boston Gazette, OR Weekly JOURNAL] | |
9 Mar 1752 |
Town meeting, 9 Mar 1752 [NS]: Capt. James Day among firewards chosen for the ensuing year | |
16 Apr 1752 |
| |
20 Apr 1752 |
| |
20 Apr 1752 |
| |
3 Jul 1752 |
Susanna, Day arrived from Leverpool | |
21 Jul 1752 |
17 Susannah, Day arrived from Barbadoes | |
9 Jan 1753 |
12 Nov. Susannah, Day arrived from Leverpool | |
9 Jan 1753 |
Codicil, 26 Oct 1752, deals with legacy to son John, who has died 30 Mar 1751, leaving heirs. Major John died 20 Nov 1752 ["October" corrected to "Nover." on his tombstone in the Old Meadow cemetery, West Springfield]; will proved at Northampton, Hampshire, 9 Jan 1753. William's portion: "Item. I give and bequeath to my loving Son William Day his Heirs and Assigns forever all my right & Title of & in all & any lands that was given to me by my Will by my Hon'd father Thomas Day Dec's in Springfield afores'd at the place called & known by the name of World's end on the East side of the Great River also one half part both for Quantity and Quality of my right of land at Sheffield afores'd, also I give to my said son William the sum of Twenty Shillings according to old Tenor bills of Publick Credit accounted after the rate of Silver at Thirty Shillings p. ounce to be paid to him out of my Personal estate by my Executor within one year after my Decease, also I give to him my Son William the Sum of Sixty pounds according to old Tenor bills as afores'd at the rate of Silver at Thirty Shillings p. ounce as afores'd to be paid to him by my Executors within one year after my decease." ["Old Tenor bills" of Massachusetts, originally issued in 1690, were the first paper money created by the government of any European or American nation; originally valued at 6 shilling bills to 1 Spanish silver dollar (just under 7 shilling bills to 1 troy ounce of silver), so many were eventually printed that they suffered massive inflation, and gained their "Old Tenor" designation when they were replaced by "New Tenor" bills in 1737] | |
16 Mar 1753 |
13 Lovely Betty, Day arrived from Barbadoes | |
20 Mar 1753 |
At Liverpool. ... Charming Betty, Day, from Barbadoes, with 13000 Hogshead Staves, and 5500 Pieces of Heading. | |
27 Mar 1753 |
Charm. Theresa, Day arrived from S. Carolina | |
17 Jul 1753 |
Charm. Theresa, Day arrived from Stockton | |
20 Jul 1753 |
Charm. Teresa, Day sailed for Seville] | |
14 Aug 1753 |
26 [Jun] Betty, Day arrived from Leverpoole | |
9 Nov 1753 |
6 Charm. Betty, Day arrived from Carolina | |
13 Nov 1753 |
At Liverpool. ... Charming Betty, Day, from North Carolina, with 453 Barrels of Tar, 132 Barrels of Pitch, 60 Barrels of Turpentine, 8 Bundles 1 Cask of Deer Skins, and 49c. Barrel Staves. | |
1754 |
| |
30 Jul 1754 |
At Liverpool. ... Charming Betty, Day, from South Carolina, with 308 Barrels 15 half Barrels of Rice, 75 Mahogany Planks, 72c. Staves and Heading. | |
26 Nov 1754 |
At Liverpool. ... Carolina, Day, from Hamburgh, with 3 Bales 1 Chest 40 Rolls of Linen, 600 Bundles of Scale-board, and 10c. Pipe Staves. | |
9 Dec 1754 |
[also in Boston Gazette, OR, WEEKLY ADVERTISER] | |
16 Dec 1754 |
[also in Boston Gazette, OR, WEEKLY ADVERTISER] | |
16 Jan 1755 |
... Schooner Gull, Samuel Day, from Boston ... | |
25 Mar 1755 |
14 Duke of Argyle, Day arrived from Leverpool | |
4 Apr 1755 |
Duke of Argyle, Day sailed for Jamaica | |
28 Apr 1755 |
[also in Boston GAZETTE, OR COUNTRY JOURNAL] | |
30 Jun 1755 |
[there was a Sun Tavern at Dock Square, Boston] | |
26 Aug 1755 |
D. of Cumberland, Day arrived from Leverpool ["Cumberland" may be a mistake for "Argyle" but there was a ship of that name trading to Jamaica in the 1750s.] | |
26 Dec 1755 |
14 Thomas, Day arrived from Barbadoes | |
1755-6 |
| |
1756 |
| |
13 May 1756 |
| |
20 Jul 1756 |
July 9. D. of Argyle, William Day, owner G. Cambel & Co., from Jamaica. | |
3 Aug 1756 |
FULL Two and Fifty Days brave BLAKENEY stood, 'Midst dying BRITONS, sprinkled with their Blood! Hard Service this ! - and, not to be reliev'd ! By what foul Fiend was this old Man* deceiv'd ? MINORCA lost ! - thro' Cowardice, or Gold; And BRITAIN must - if Honour can be sold. *[William Blakeney, for nearly a decade Minorca's lieutenant-governor to a governor who never arrived, was in his mid-80s when the French invaded in 1756] | |
17 Aug 1756 |
Commander: William Day. Ship: Blakeney Privateer. Burden: 90 tons. Crew: 70. Owners: George Campbell and Company of Liverpool, merchants. Lieutenant: Gresham Speers. Gunner: Henry Chip. Boatswain: William Jones. Carpenter: Roger Fowler. Surgeon: William Slicer. Cook: John Fring. Armament: 10 carriage and 20 swivel guns. Folio: 130 Date: 1756 August 17 | |
20 Oct 1756 |
... the Liverpool merchants took a leaf out of the enemy's book, and forthwith began to fit out their ships as privateers ... The Revenge, Mandarin and Anson privateers sailed from the port on the first of July, 1756, and the Brave Blakeney followed in August. These vessels were very successful on their first cruise, particularly the Anson, which returned in a few weeks with a French West Indiaman worth £20,000; and the Brave Blakeney, which brought in two other prizes of great value, named La Gloire and Le Juste. ... the Anson ... belonging to Mr. George Campbell, a member of the Common Council ... The Brave Blakeney privateer, Captain William Day, a brigantine of 14 carriage-guns and 20 swivels, also belonging to Mr. George Campbell, sailed from the Mersey in August, 1756, and falling in with the Hawke privateer, of Exeter, agreed to cruise in company. On the 6th of October, Cape Finisterre bearing W.S.W. about 25 leagues, they chased and came up with two ships and two snows from St. Domingo, which drew up in a line to engage the privateers. The two ships were the Robuste, a French Guineaman of 14 guns and about 40 men, and the Le Juste, 450 tons, 22 guns (10 of which proved to be wooden ones), 4 swivels and 27 men. The Blakeney being the foremost of the two privateers, shot ahead of the Robuste, and attacked the Le Juste, who returned his fire very briskly, aided by one of the snows that lay ahead of the privateer, and the other upon his weather quarter. They all fought the Blakeney two hours, the Hawke's metal not being heavy enough to enable her to assist her consort, and then the Le Juste struck. In the meantime the Hawke came up and bravely boarded the Robuste, which was astern, the Frenchmen running from their quarters immediately upon the apearance of the boarders. Their captain was shot in his thigh. When Captain Day had secured Le Juste, he gave chase to the snow, La Gloire, which had crowded away while he lay by fishing his wounded masts, which caused a delay of nearly an hour. In endeavouring to escape, the snow threw overboard four guns, a sheet anchor and best bower cable; but the Blakeney got alongside of her, fought her, and took her. In the engagement, a crossbar shot broke the shank of one of the Blakeney's anchors, and a piece of the bar passing between the thighs of one poor fellow, took most part of the flesh away on each side. Two other men were also wounded. The Hawke received considerable damage, and had one man killed, while another man had his arm shot off, and another a leg broken. As soon as Captain Hewston, of the Hawke, had secured his prize, he gave chase to the second snow, the Victoire, of 10 guns, which escaped under cover of night. When the Blakeney engaged the four vessels, she had only 13 guns (viz., 2 nine-pounders, 1 six-pounder, 2 four-pounders, 8 three-pounders), 20 swivels and 67 men and boys aboard. All the ships were much damaged in the action, and lay some time to refit. After manning both his prizes, Captain Day had only 45 men left on board his own ship, besides Frenchmen, who were superior in number. The united cargoes of the two prizes, which arrived safe in Liverpool, consisted of the folowing:- 232 hogsheads 3 tierces 195 barrels White Sugar. 547 do. 28 do. 27 do. Muscovada Sugar. 288 do. - do. 218 do. Coffee. 15 do. - do. 4 do. Indigo. And some hundreds of hides. | |
26 Oct 1756 |
... This Day arrived the Le Gloria, a French St. Domingo Man, laden with 350 Hogsheads of Sugar, Coffee and Indigo, taken by the BLAKENEY Privateer of this Port, and the Hawke Privateer of Exeter, with two other St. Domingo Men not yet arrived, which were taken the _____ _____ but parted the eleventh in a Gale of Wind. _____ ___ with the Privateers, are daily expected into this Port ____ ___ Winds prove more favourable, they have ____ _____ most of the Week. They are said to be worth 90,000 ____. There was a fourth in Company, which _____ ____ taken, owing to the Privateers wanting more Hands. | |
26 Oct 1756 |
The Glory, and the Just, both from St. Domingo are the two taken by the Blakeney Privateer of Liverpool. | |
29 Oct 1756 |
| |
30 Oct 1756 |
| |
1 Nov 1756 |
... By Privateers, &c. ... By the Blakeney of Liverpool, Day, and the Hawke of Exeter, Hewson: La Gloire, of 330 tons, with sugar, coffee, indico, and hides; La Juste, of 450 tons, 22 guns, 10 of which wood, 4 swivels and 20 men; and the Robuste, a French Guineyman, of 14 guns and 40 old men, all from St. Domingo for France. The two former are carried into Liverpool by the Blakeney, and the Robuste into Topsham by the Hawke. | |
2 Nov 1756 |
Oct ... ... 26. Blakeney Privateer, Capt. Day, from off his Cruize. | |
2 Nov 1756 |
On Sunday last [L.I. / M.M. Saturday] arrived here the La Glorie, a Snow of 330 Tons, Guillaume Sybille [L.I. Syhillo; M.M. Sybillo], Master, of Bourdeaux (late belonging to M. Reymond Balae [L.I. / M.M. Belae], Merchant there) from St. Domingo, with 136 Hogsheads, 104 Barrels of white Sugar, 159 Hogsheads [L.I. / M.M. 259], 13 Tierces, 6 Barrels of Muscovado Sugar, 108 Hogsheads, 114 Barrels of Coffee, 12 Hogsheads, 2 Barrels of Indigo, and a Parcel of Hides, taken by the Blakeney Privateer of this Port, commanded by the brave Capt. William Day. Capt. Day fell in Company with the Hawke Privateer, of Exeter, Capt. Hewston, a Snow of 13 [M.M. 15] Carriage Guns, 2 and 3 [L.I. Guns, and 2] Pounders, 8 Swivels, and 62 Men and Boys; with whom he made an Agreement to cruize in Company. On the 6th Instant (Cape Finisterre bearing W.S.W. about 26 [L.I. 15; M.M. 25] Leagues) in the Morning they descried 4 Sails to whom they gave Chace, and between 10 and 11 o'Clock came up with them; they proved to be two Ships and two Snows [L.I. and Snows] from St. Domingo, and drew up in a Line to engage the Privateers; the Blakeney being the Foremost shot a-head of the Ship Robuste, a French Guineyman, of 14 Guns, and 40 odd Men, and engaged the Ship Le Juste, Capt. Connel, a Ship of 450 Tons, 22 Guns (10 of which proved to be Wooden ones) [L.I. omits whole clause in parentheses] 4 Swivels, and 27 Men, who returned his Fire very briskly, aided by one of the Snows that lay a-head of the Privateer, and the other upon his Weather Quarter; they all fought the Blakeney 4 Glasses, and then the Le Juste struck [L.I. report ends here]. In the mean Time the Hawke came up and bravely boarded the Robuste that was a-Stern (it having been agreed on by the two Captains, as the Hawke's Metal was not heavy enough for the Ships) the Frenchmen ran from their Quarters immediately on the Hawke's People boarding her: When Capt. Day had secured the Le Juste, he gave Chace to the La Gloire, who crowded away whilst he lay by fishing his Main-mast and Fore-mast, the former of which had been wounded with a 4 Pound Shot, [M.M. adds: and the latter with a Bolt and two Swivel Shot,] which took him three Quarters of an Hour: As soon as he got along Side of her he engaged her and took her; she having thrown overboard 4 Carriage Guns, 6 Pounders, a Sheet Anchor, and her best Bower Cable, in the Chace; when she struck she had 4 Guns, 2 Swivels, and 35 Men left on board. In the Engagement a Cross-bar Shot broke the Shank of one of the Blakeney's Anchors, a Piece of the Bar pass'd between William Kelly Mariner's Thighs, and took most Part of the Flesh away on each Side. (It is well it did not hit higher up.) [M.M. omits whole clause in parentheses]. [M.M. adds the following paragraph: John Harper was wounded in the Neck with a Splinter, and Ben. Powett in the Wrist by a small shot, all at the same Instant. The Hawke had 1 Man killed, 1 Man's Arm Shot off, another's Leg broke, and received two Shot in his Hull under Water, carried away his Flying-Gib-Boom, and sprung his Bowsprit and Fore-Yard at the Time of Boarding. As soon as he had secured his Prize, he gave Chace to the other Snow who was running off, called the Victorie, mounting 10 six pounders, but Night coming on she escaped, and the Hawke returned to her Consorts: When the Blakeney engaged, she had only 13 Guns, viz. Two 9 Pounders, one 6 Pounder, two 4 Pouders, eight 3 Pounders, 20 Swivels, and 67 Men and Boys on board; Capt. Day parted with the Le Juste 30 Leagues to the Westward of Ushant on Friday the 15th Instant in hard a Gale of Wind at N.E. having put on board 12 Englishmen and 11 Frenchmen; for as he was obliged to Mann both his Prizes, he had only 45 Men left on board his own Ship, besides Frenchmen which were Superior in Number. The Capt. of the Robuste received a Shot in his Thigh, and one Man on board the Juste was wounded in the Shoulder with a Musket-Ball. All the Ships were ill damaged in the Engagement, and lay bye some Time to refit.- The Juste's Cargo consists of 96 Hogsheads 3 Tierces 1 Barrel of White, 288 Hogsheads 15 Tierces and 21 Barrels of Muscovada Sugar, 180 Hogsheads and 104 Barrels of Coffee, 3 Hogsheads 2 Barrels of Indigo, and 350 Hides. She is daily expected here: 'Tis presumed her Non-arrival is owing to the Easterly Winds which we have had of late. ] | |
10 Nov 1756 |
| |
11 Nov 1756 | [NOT TO BE CONFUSED WITH: reports early Nov 1756 about the privateers Anson and Blakeney, which were based at Cork. DITTO: reports mid-Nov about the privateer Blakeney, based at Bristol] | |
6 Jan 1757 |
This Day arrived the Blakeney Privateer, Capt. Day, from her Cruise, without any Success. ... [not in Manchester Mercury; Jan 2 was last date recorded in 4 Jan issue, not mentioned in 11 Jan issue] | |
early 1757? |
"He was in the service during the French War, holding his commission under the King of England. His vessel was captured at one time and he was carried a prisoner to France and was in prison there for two years. When released he begged the privilege of taking his old boots with him, which was granted; the boot heels were filled with guineas. For meritorious service during the war in capturing four French frigates, and bringing them into Plymouth harbor, he was in honor of his bravery and achievment, presented by the admiralty of England, with a large painting by Copley*, commemorative of the event of his bringing them into port. He is represented standing on the deck of his ship, spy glass in hand, calmly viewing the scene with the conscious pride of the victorious hero swelling in his breast, and lighting up his features." [*John Singleton Copley, probably born in Boston in 1738, was an extremely talented portrait painter- but as we shall see, he may not have painted Capt. Day.] [The reproductions of the painting of William Day published in this and other books are absurdly crude imitations of the original, which seems only to be available in a monochrome reproduction (detail at right)] | |
early 1757? |
Thomas Davis Day (b 27 Jun 1820, Black River, Lorain County, Ohio) | |
early 1757? |
| |
early 1757? |
Discusses three paintings, 1852-1856, commissioned by Day from Huntington to commemorate the military prowess of his forebears. These include a copy of an 18th c. portrait of William Day before a naval battle, and Elisha Hinman's Naval Action (both, private collections), and a portrait of Day's grandmother Abigail Dolbeare Hinman attempting to shoot Benedict Arnold during the burning of New London, Connecticut (New London, Lyman Allyn Art Museum). Outlines the Day family legends that led to the choice of these subjects, and examines Day's interactions with Huntington. QUOTES: The paintings that Day commissioned from Huntington between 1852 and 1856 focused on family history as it related to national events. First Huntington was asked to copy an eighteenth-century English portrait of Day's paternal grandfather that showed one of the latter's naval victories. Then Huntington painted a maritime battle scene in which Day's maternal grandfather was chief protagonist. ... In September Huntington, then in London, was asked to restore the portrait of Captain William Day by an unidentified British artist and then to copy it. After being kept by the family for some years, the portrait had been lent in 1843 to the Connecticut Historical Society, where it had not been well cared for, and Day subsequently withdrew it. Although the artist was unknown, he boasted to Huntington that the painting "was presented by the King so says the tradition, meaning by order of the Admiralty." ... ... In 1852, the same year that he designed the Hinman monument, Day contemplated commissioning another for his Day relatives buried in Springfield, Massachusetts. This monument, not erected until 1857, also displayed a lengthy inscription that celebrated his grandfather William Day's naval action ... | |
11 Mar 1757 |
| |
18 Mar 1757 |
4 William & Ann, Day sailed for Jamaica | |
30 Mar 1757 |
At Swale's Coffee-house in the City of Exeter, about the Latter End of April next, the following Goods, being THE intire Cargo of the Robust, Anthony Damien late Master, fromn St. Domingo, taken by the Hawke Privateer of Exeter, John Hewetson Commander. About 300 Hogsheads, 100 Tierces and Barrels, Sugar; 90 Hhds. and Barrels Coffee; 800 Hides tann'd; 12 Hogsheads and Barrels Indigo; a small Quantity of Gold Dust, &c. At the same Time will be sold, the Good Ship Robust, a prime Sailer, Burden about 300 Tons, with 11 Carriage Guns, 6 and 4 Pounders. Catalogues will be timely delivered, and Samples shewn in London by THO. GREENE, Broker, Mark-lane. | |
25 Apr 1757 |
| |
25 Apr 1757 |
At Garraway's Coffee-house in Exchange Alley, On Friday May 6, at Five o'Clock in the Afternoon precisely, THE following Goods, now lying at Topsham and there to be delivered, viz. 329 Hogsheads, 1 Tierce, 2 Barrels, Sugar; 72 Hogsheads, 60 Barrels, Coffee; 1 Pipe, 7 Hogsheads, 14 Barrels, Indigo; 1058 Half Hides tann'd; 1 small Cask Tortoiseshell; 5 Casks, 1 Chest, containing 598 Pieces Grass Cloth: Being the intire Cargo of the Robust from St. Domingo, taken by the Hawke Privateer of Exon. Samples of the Cargo will be shewn, and Catalogues timely delivered by THOMAS GREENE, Broker, Mark-lane. N.B. On the same Day will be sold, at Swale's Coffee-house in Exon, the good Ship Robust, a prime Sailer, Burden about 300 Tons with 11 Carriage Guns 6 and 4 Pounders. | |
26 Apr 1757 |
22 Eleanor, Day came in for Leverpool | |
14 May 1757 |
| |
18 May 1757 |
in Liverpool, in about three Weeks, THE following Goods, being the entire Cargoes of two French Ships from St. Domingo, taken by the Blakeney Privateer of Liverpool. Per LE JUSTE, 383 Hogsheads, 14 Tierces, 26 Barrels, Sugar; 5 Hhds. 119 Tierces, 168 Barrels, Coffee; 8 whole, 321 half Hides tann'd; 7 Barrels Indigo; 3 Barrels Broken Glass. Per LA GLORIE, 394 Hogsheads, 14 Tierces, 11 Barrels, Sugar; 5 Hhds. 37 Tierces, 180 Barrels, Coffee; 6 Tierces, 10 Barrels, Indigo. Catalogues will be timely delivered, and Samples shewn by THO. GREENE, Broker, in Mark-lane. | |
30 May 1757 |
| |
3 Jun 1757 |
Polly, Day arrived from Yarmouth | |
6 Jun 1757 |
| |
11 Jun 1757 |
At Edward Forbes's, Jun. and Company's Sale Room, opposite the Exchange in Liverpool, on Monday June 20, at Eleven o'Clock in the Forenoon, ... Per La GLORIE, 396 Hogsheads, 14 Tierces, 9 Barrels, Sugar; 5 Hhds. 48 Tierces, 169 Barrels, Coffee; 6 Tierces, 10 Barrels, Indigo. ... Samples shewn from Monday next to Thursday, at the House of THO. G... | |
11 Aug 1757 |
Commander: William Day. Ship: Prussian Hero. Burden: 400 tons. Crew: 80. Owners: George Nelson and Abraham Hoskins of Manchester, merchants. Lieutenant: James Ennson. Gunner: James Nicholas. Boatswain: Anthony Start. Carpenter: William Griffiths. Surgeon: John Hoyes. Cook: John Davis. Armament: 20 carriage guns. Folio: 25 Date: 1757 August 11 | |
11 Aug 1757 | NB: Blakeney & Prussian Hero are the only letters of marque in National Archives (Kew) records associated with commanders or owners called William Day. Also, I have not so far found any records of colonial privateer vessels commanded by a William Day in this war. | |
30 Aug 1757 |
SHIPS Entered OUTWARDS. ... Prussian Hero, Day, New-York ... | |
25 Oct 1757 |
Morice, Day arrived from Boston] | |
28 Nov 1757 |
... Prussian-Hero, William Day, from Liverpool | |
28 Nov 1757 |
... ship Prussian-Hero, William Day, from Liverpool. | |
28 Nov 1757 |
Theophilact Bache, At his Store, in the House of the late Paul Richard, esq; A Great Assortment of EUROPEAN Goods, proper for the season, also a Parcel of Salt, and Coals. [also in issues of 12 Dec 1757, 19 Dec 1757, 2 Jan 1758] | |
12 Dec 1757 |
| |
19 Dec 1757 |
... Outward Entries ... Ship Prussian-Hero, William Day for Jamaica. ... | |
21 Dec 1757 |
On the 20th. Inst. Sent to Capt. Day at the Sun Tavern one private of the 40th. Regimt. to Quarter and Billet. | |
19 Jan 1758 |
[latest news from New York was 28 Nov] | |
30 Jan 1758 |
... Cleared for Departure ... Ship Prussian Hero, William Day, to Jamaica. [also in New-York Gazette, same day] | |
31 Mar 1758 |
| |
1 May 1758 |
... March 18. ... Tuesday arrived the ship Prussian-Hero, William Day, Commander, mounting two 12, eight 9, and ten 6-pounders, belonging to the Port of Liverpool, but last from New-York, which Place she left the 10th of February; the Particulars of whose Passage hither, from the ship's Log-Book, are as follows, viz. “March 1, A sloop of 12 Guns, about 18 or 20 Leagues to the Eastward of Antigua, run cross our Bow, and gave us a Broadside, which was immediately returned; she then made sail before the Wind, on which we gave Chase for 8 Hours, but finding she outsailed us, left her, and stood for Jamaica. ”March 2, at 8 in the Morning, saw a Sloop and a Schooner in chase of us; at 10 began firing, which was continued till 12, then saw another a-head, which joined Company with them about Two o'clock; they spoke to each other, on which the large sloop of 12 Guns, attacked us on our Larboard Quarter; and the Schooner, of 10 Guns, on our starboard Quarter; and the small sloop, of 8 Guns, run upon our starboard Bow; upon which we wore ship, and gave the sloop our Larboard Broadside; she immediately hauled her Wind, and lay to windward to refit, being in the utmost Confusion: We then wore ship again, continued firing on the Schooner and small sloop till past 6 the same Evening, when they both hauled to the Southward, and we saw no more of them. "March 11, Off Beata, on the Coast of Hispaniola, about Daylight in the Morning, saw a sloop from the Southward, of 14 Carriage Guns, besides Swivels, and full of Men, standing a-thwart our Bow; she came so near as to give us a Broadside, which we immediately returned: she then made sail and stood to the Westward: We gave her Chase till 6 in the Evening, but not coming up with her, kept our Course for Jamaica; on which the sloop hauled her Wind, and followed us all Night; in the Morning was about a League a-stern, but Monsieur did not yet care to engage; on which we made more sail, still continuing our proper Course: At 10 the sloop made all the sail she could, to run us along-side, and at 12 she run us aboard, with her Bowsprit between our Mizon-Mast and Mizon-shrouds, and lay under our Stern for about two Hours; on which a hot Engagement ensued with their Small-Arms, Powder-Flasks, Hand-Granadoes, besides a Stink-Pot, which they droped into the foot of our Mizon, and burnt it to pieces, but did no other Damage; nor did we lose a Man, except one Daniel Frazier, who was killed by a Cross-Bar shot, as he was at his station in the Cabin; and two other Seamen wounded: But as for the Privateer, she was a mere Slaughter-House ! not having less than 60 Men killed outright, besides many wounded, in so much that their very Scuppers run with Blood ! But the Breeze springing up, she fell a little a-stern, which disengaged her Bowsprit; and her Main-sail then filling, she cleared herself; but on her Departure, having our Broadside ready, on firing our second Gun a-baft, loaded with a Cross-Bar-shot, and Partridge, struch and dismounted her third Gun forward, killed the Man that was loading it, went through the Boat, and carried away part of the Gunwale on the other side; on which the Privateer made al the sail she possibly could, and got clear off. | |
4 May 1758 |
- THE first Instant 12 Leagues to the Windward of Antigua, at 8 in the Morning a French Privateer, of 12 Guns, came across our Bow; our Guns being all hous'd: She ran up within 200 Yards of us, and bore away: We immediately run out our Guns, and gave her a Broad-Side; upon which she made all the Sail she could before the Wind, and got out of the reach of our Guns, and then haul'd her Wind and dog'd us all Night. In the Morning we fell in with a Scooner of 10 Guns: They both engag'd us from 8 to 10; and at 12 another Sloop of 8 Guns came to their Assistance: And at 4 in the Afternoon they tho't to make a grand Attack upon us, and all ran boldly on as tho' they intended to board us.- We let them come within reach of our Guns; when, upon the first Broad-Side we gave them, one of the Sloops was obliged to haul his Wind and ly by: The Scooner and the other Sloop still came on; but we ply'd them so warmly that a little after 6 in the Evening they haul'd their Wind, and as Night was coming on and they to Wind of us, could not get either of them,.- They were full of Men; and I believe we kill'd a considerable Number of them.- We saw many of the Shot strike them; which put them in the utmost Confusion.- They would not come to Leeward of us; if they had, we should have taken the Three. Mrs Day, (the Captain's Wife) behav'd all the Time of Action, in the Gun-Room handing Powder, more like an old Veteran than a Woman, and declar'd all the Time, she would not quit her Post, while there was a Man able to fire a Gun.- We had 3 Men slightly wounded by a Powder-Horn blowing up.- We have 63 Men and Boys, and two Women.- [also in New-Hampshire Gazette, 12 May] | |
4 May 1758 |
… In those days there were two ways of getting to Boston : one was by a clumsy stage that travelled about forty miles a day, with the same horses the whole day; so that by rising at three or four o'clock, and prolonging the day's ride into the night, one made out to reach Boston in six days; the other route was by packet-sloops up the Sound to Providence, and thence by land to Boston. This was full of uncertainty, sometimes being travelled in three, and sometimes in nine days. | |
5 Jun 1758 |
Prussian Hero, Day, from N. York, at Jamaica. | |
6 Jun 1758 |
Prussian Hero, Day arrived from New-York | |
22 Jun 1758 |
Kingston in Jamaica, March 16. TUESDAY last arrived here Capt. Day, in a Ship from Liverpool, but last from New York; in his Passage off Martinico, he fell in with five French Privateers, three of whom engaged him at once, but after a smart Fire he got clear of them; off the East End of this Island, he was attacked by a Privateer Sloop of 16 Guns, full of Men, who run his Jib-boom into Capt. Day's Mizen Shrowds, where it was immediately lashed, and as fast as the Frenchmen boarded the Ship, they were as vigorously repulsed, the Captain animating the Crew in a surprising Manner, having killed ten of the Enemy with his own Hand, and the Slaughter was so great, that the Deck run with Blood: However, Capt. Day, finding there was no Likelihood of overpowering them, on Account of the Superiority of their Numbers, cut the Lashings, and his Mainsail filling, he soon got clear of them. The Engagement lasted near two Hours, and Capt. Day had only one Man killed. | |
summer 1758? | Day's first wife Polly was said to have died in Jamaica “about 1755”, but his wife is mentioned in reports of the above action, and he did not remarry until 1760, so perhaps she died in the month or two spent in Jamaica this summer waiting for a convoy back to England. | |
23 Sep 1758 |
| |
26 Sep 1758 |
Prussian Hero, Day | |
26 Sep 1758 |
19 Prussian Hero, Day arrived from Jamaica | |
1 Oct 1758 |
| |
3 Oct 1758 |
... 24 Ecendracht, Amery, with Sugar, Indigo and Coffee, from Port au Prince, a Dutch Ship sent in by the General Blakeney, Capt. Samuel Lea, a Letter of Marque bound for Jamaica ... | |
6 Dec 1758 |
at LLOYD's Coffee-house in Lombard-street, Wednesday December 20, precisely at Twelve at Noon THE good Ship Prussian Hero, an exceeding fine Sailer, square Stern, Foreign built and sheathed, Burden 330 Tons more or less, with exceeding good Dimensions for the West-India or Virginia Trades, well found, now lying at Limehouse Hole,- Day, Commander. Inventories to be had on board, at the Place of Sale, and of JOHN HUTCHINSON, Broker. | |
9 Dec 1758 |
| |
1759 |
| |
1 Oct 1759 |
| |
25 Oct 1759 |
Springfield Marriages William Day and Lucinda Sacket, int. Oct. 4, 1759 [int= declaration of intention to marry] William Day and Lucretia Sackett, Oct. 25, 1759 [correct names here ; this is a younger William, but too old to be Capt. William's son, although one genealogist invented such a person, with a birth-date of c1730] | |
Coming in Part 3- a non-too-tranquil peace, and Massachusetts becomes a State. Or: return to start.