Description:

JOURNAL OF THE BRITISH PRIVATEER 'BETSEY'
Historical British privateer's journal, 34pp. of text, legal folio, commencing August 17, 1805 and ending on November 6, 1805. The front flyleaf read: 'Edward Matthews Journall Books / Of the Betsey Cutter Privateer / Captain William Prowse Commander'. The vessel sailed from 'St. Martin's Point', likely somewhere in Massachusetts as mention is made of Plymouth a few days later. Daily entries include information of the weather, sea conditions, work done aboard the vessel, sails set, and so on. Every ship encountered and boarded is described, including cargo vessels from Norway, France, etc. and their cargoes including wine and spirits, timber, salt, and so on described. Much interesting content, in small part: '...Capt. Prowse sent me with 6 men to take Charge of the said Vessell and Conduct her into Port./..the Product[?] Came on Board Liberated from Quarantine...Inform'd Capt. Prowse of the Distressf'l Situation the Liberty had left the 3 Vessells in, By Impressing those 7 Men that [were] on Board the Ship Dispatch and Cutter Betsey Our people were in a State of Mutiny...I went with him [Prowse] on board H.M.B. Liberty he demanded his people thet had Impress'd...no satisfaction...noted a Protest against the Commander of H.M.B. Liberty and sent it to London...Boarded a Swede from Stockholm to Ireland...5 boarded the Betsey of Boston from Amsterdam with Gin bound to Boston...Boarded the American Brig Anna ...Capt. Prowse gave me the order to take charge of her & conduct her into Plymouth...' At one point, the Betsey encounters a reluctant Swedish vessel which is boarded and battle breaks out between the crewmen, 'Capt. Prowse & myself Fully Engaged & forcing the Captain into his Cabbin...' He continues: '...at 8 a Boat come on board from H.M.S. Niobe[?] and Impress'd 6 of Our Men...Much more fine content as the captain again protests the impressment, Betsey encounters and often boards vessels, almost on a daily basis, ships are boarded to safely take them to American ports, etc. In marbled papers, fine condition and fitted in a custom slipcase.

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May 4, 2025 10:00 AM EDT
Elkton, MD, US

Alexander Historical Auctions LLC

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