Author Archives: Joe

Alphabetical List of First Officers and Men of the Frigate Trumbull (1777)

The Alphabetical List of First Officers and Men of the Frigate Trumbull (1777) is derived from the list that appears on pages 598-599 of the publication “Record of Service of Connecticut Men, Part I, Naval Record of Connecticut, 1775-1783” edited … Continue reading

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Benjamin Rickard, Marine Private

Benjamin Rickard. Benjamin Rickard, son of John Rickard (1723-1766) and Bathsheba Morton (1727-1798), was born on 12 July 1756 in Plymouth, MA. His parents were married on 14 July 1748. The fourth of five children, Benjamin’s siblings were Bathsheba born … Continue reading

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Richard Pearse, Jr., Marine Private

Richard Pearse, Jr. According to his widow Candace Pearse’s pension application #W-4308, Richard Pearse was born in 1761. According to genealogical sources, Richard Pearse, Jr. was born in Bristol, RI on 27 October 1762 to Captain Richard Pearse (1737-1809) and … Continue reading

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Peter Masuere, Quartermaster

Peter Masuere (Massuere, Massure or Meserve) was born on 13 June 1742 in Kittery, York County, ME to Peter Massure and Sarah Loud who were married five years earlier on 3 March 1737. He married Hannah Card prior to the … Continue reading

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Confederacy Account Book (1780-1781)

The Account Book and Roll of the Continental Ship Confederacy, June 1780-March 1781, Item 629 located in Record Group 45 of the National Archives was transcribed by Joseph Ross in 2009. A note inside the ledger indicates it was discovered at Princeton University in 1930 and presented to the Navy Department. The accounts are given in pounds/shillings/pence amounts, ie. 460.5.4 represents four hundred sixty pounds, five shillings and four pence. You will note that the totals are adjusted in the Account Book and reduced to one fortieth of their face value when paid in specie. This is an illustrative of the high rate of deflation in pay experienced by all sailors late in the war. Where Page “a” is noted, such as Page 1a, it represents a second unnumbered leaf associated with the noted page in the Account Book. Continue reading

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