To George Washington from the Gloucester Committee of Safety, 29 December 1775
From the Gloucester Committee of Safety
Glocester [Mass.]
December 29 1775
May it Please your Excellency
At the request of Mesr Jacob Green & Co. owners of the Sloop Speedwell [ ] Cory Master lately taken by Capt. Broughton and sent into this Harbour we have, maturely considered the within Inclo. Accot so farr as its carried out and are of opinion that the Charges are reasonable and that the Losses were sustained1 And are further of opinion that the Captors in Justice should pay it with the remainder of the account when the same can be assertained—And we do recommend to your Excelly the Same hopeing you’l order that Justice may be done to the sufferers and beg leave to subscribe ourselves Your Excy Most Obedet Hume sert
Winthrop Sargent
Chearman of the Commitey of Safty
LS, DLC:GW.
1. Gen. Nathanael Greene and his brother Jacob Greene (1740–1809) owned the sloop Speedwell, James Corey, master, which Nicholson Broughton and John Selman seized in the Gut of Canso on 13 November. “I am commanded by his Excellency,” Robert Hanson Harrison wrote to William Bartlett on 4 Dec., “to Inform you that he does not consider the sloop [Speedwell] at Cape Ann sent in by Captn Broughton, to be a prize & that he does not wish, to have any thing to do with her. There should always be great care taken, that cargoes brought in, should not be injured or Embezzled. It appears that the Vessel belongs to Genl Green & he will dispose of her, as he shall think proper” (DLC:GW). See Nathanael Greene to Jacob Greene, 30 Nov. 1775, in , 1:158–59. The undated enclosure, “Account of the Loss of the Sloop Speedwells Cargo with the Damage of the Vessels & Stores,” is in DLC:GW.