Captain Dobbins’ Log of the frigate Nonsuch, 1693

Transcribed by Jan Bevan 2016 

 

July
Satterd 8   SSW

Sund 9   S^o

Winds from W B S to y^e S B W Moderate Some foggs we reced Information

of a Ship and Brigantine Seen off Gay head we weighed at ½ past 12 the Wind

SSW The Wind from the S^o: to SSW foggie at ½ past 9 we Espied a Ship –

and Brigantine in Block Island Rhoad we made up towards them but y^e

Shipp came to saile and Stood Cloose upon a Wind for the Sound we Chased with

all the Advantages of Saile we could make with the wind at S^o: I sent the

Lieu^t: with Pinnace to y^e Ve∫sell which Rod fast ~

  

July

Munday 10  SE

This 24 houers the Wind from the S^o: to y^e SE Moderate Gale we Chased the

Shipp into Buzards Bay on the North Side of Eliz: Island in Depth 10 [?] Leag

and 7 Miles over Lying in ENE good Sounding from 5: to 13 Fatham Woosie

Sand for most part at Eight last night it growing Darke we lost Sight of

our Chase wee Parkt and Stood out till 12/ and then Anchored in 13 Fatham Sandy

ground at 4^ck: this Morning we weighed and Stood up the Bay Seekeing for y^e Ship ~

 

Teusd 11  D^o

Winds between the S^o: and E Moderate Weather we Spyed the Ship Close --

Under the Shoare She gott Under Sayle and Turned up into a Coe we Turned

after her within Gunshott and Came to an Anchor and fired at each Other but

growing very Darke we Left off and in the Morning the French Captaine

Sent on board with a Truce Offering to Surrender which I Accepted and –

Sent my boate and took po∫sesion of their Shipp She was of 148 Men and –

16 Gunns belonging to Pettiguavoes  ~

 

Wensd 12  NE

This 24 houers the Winds from the ENE to SW wee Stood off  y^e Bay with

our Prize the wind N &E ~

 

Thursd 13

Small Winds at 3 Yesterday we Anchored in Rhoad Island Harb^r:  w^th: our Prize

 

Frid 14  NW

The Wind from the N to y^e NW faire Weather this Morning one of our French

Prizoners Dyed on board ~

 

Satterd 15  NNW

Faire Weather the winds from the WSW to NNW  this forenoon we Halled our Ship and Cleaned her ~

 

Sund 16  Wely

The Winds from the Sth to Wt: faire Weather ~

 

Mund 17 WNW

Winds between the W and WNW faire Weather ~

 

 

July

Teusday 18

The Wind between y^e S^o: and W Moderate Gailes w^th Some fogs ~

 

Wensday 19

Wind between the S^o: and W^t: Moderate  Gales with fogs this Day I Delivered

the Prize by Order of the Governor ~

Thursd 20 Wtly
Winds Westly Small Gales with foggs

Friday 21 NNE
This 24 houers Yesterday in the Afternoon we had a Thunder Shower this Morning we weighed with the Wind at ... Moderate Gale about noon the wind Came Southerly a Small Breeze ~

Satterd 22 SE B S
This 24 houers from 12 Yesterday till 4 this Morning Winds from SE B S to SW B W then to S B E and SE B So: at 7 this Morning we Anchored in Blocke Island Rhoade in 14½ Fatham Cleare Ground ~

Sunday 23 NNW
This 24 houers the former part the Wind SW and this Morning at 4 we weighed Spying a Ve∫sell and Stood to her being Sabarde [?] bound for New London ~

Mund 24 WNW
This 24 houers Moderate Gailes Cloudie Weather for most part – Yesterday Afternoone about 4 wee weighed from Block Island Wind NNW Shapeing our Course for Gay head the Forenoon the Wind being Come Southerly we Came Under Gay head into 9½ fatham Water ~

Teusd 25 E B E Winds E B S & SE B E
faire Weather last night at 8 Gay head bore ENE Dist 8 Leagues wee Steered W B S for Block Island this Morning we bore round the Westernmost End ~

Wensd 26 E B S
Faire Weather Small Gales Winds Variable from the SSE to ye NE and Soe back to the E B S wee stood too and froe between Long Island & Block Island

Thursd 27 SW
This 24 houers the Winds have been SSE and Sthr Moderate Gales we Shapt our Courses for Rhoad Island and this Morning wether faire of the Haven ~

Frid 28 SW B W Winds Variable at SW and SW B W
Moderate Cloudie Weather at 7 last night we Anchored in ½ houre After we weighed and Stood off till 4 this Morning then Tacked and Stood to the WNW Block Island bearing ½ point more Notherly Dist: by Estimation 12 Leagues and at 10 we Anchored in the Rhoade haveing 14 Fatham Cleare ground the So End of ye Island – bore S B W 2 Miles this Morning we Surveyed our best bower and Cast 50 fatham being Un fitt for service ~

Satterd 29 SW B W
This 24 Houers the Wind at SW and SW B W Close Weather with Raine at 5 in the Morning we weighed from Block Island and Steered to E and NE B N for Rhoad Island and about 10 we Anchored – before the Haven Mouth in 17 Fatham Water and About 3 in the Afternoon we Veized [?] a Cable and one Third of our best bower out and Layd on a New Service ~ ~

Sund 30, Noly Winds NNE & No: faire Weather –

Mund 31 SE Small Winds at SSE & WSW
this forenoon it breezed at SE wee Weighed and at 12 Anchored in the Harbour in 19 Fatham and – Moored our Ship ~ ~

August

Teusd 1  [Wind] SE
Faire Weather the winds from the S^o: to y^e SoE  Yesterday I Sent 16 men to y^e Prize to Carry them About by the Governors order ~

Wensd 2   SE
Small breeze between the SSE and SE:  Cleare Weather ~ 

Thursd 3 SW
Winds between y^e  S^o: & West  Small breeze  Cleare Weather  Capt: Cary in the Trumpeos Sayled into the Rhoade ~

Frid 4   WSW
This 24 houers the Winds between y^e SW & WSW  a fresh Gale with fogs this day the Trumpeose Sailed for Boston ~

 

[Note, J. Bevan : A letter from Governor Sir William Phips, dated 26 September 1693, to William Blathwayt of the War Office in England, gives further information about the brigantine, and about the disposition of the captured men from the French privateer. ...their Majties. Ship Nonesuch comanded by Captain Thomas Dobbins... after two dayes Chase tooke their Ship with the Rest of the men and retooke a Brigantine wch was by them taken from the English. I caused the men to bee brought to Boston and put on board the [English] Fleet because of their want of men.]