Adams Papers Digital Edition

Papers of John Adams, volume 7

Tristram Barnard to the Commissioners, 9 October 1778 Barnard, Tristram Franklin, Benjamin Lee, Arthur JA First Joint Commission at Paris Tristram Barnard to the Commissioners, 9 October 1778 Barnard, Tristram Franklin, Benjamin Lee, Arthur Adams, John First Joint Commission at Paris
Tristram Barnard to the Commissioners
Gentlemen Friday the 9th Octor. 1778

Your humble petionner hath ben from America this four years in the English Services though not in Goverment Services of any kind nither have I any kind of pretentions or clames to any honour in Supporting the just cause of America any further then Releveing many prisoners with Money and means to make thare Escape from England.

Therefore wishing to be of more Services then I have ben I have a Desire to Encounter with all the troubles let them be what thay may in America and humble beg your Asistences So far as to give me your pass that I may go from London to Spain and take in Such Goods that may be of Services to the Riseing States of America and not be Subject to be captor'd by any of the States Vesslls. This coply'd with I hope will be Sum Services to America and give me an Opportunity of Exerting my Self in the preasent Cause.

Wich is the real Desire of your Humble Petisionner

Tristram Barnard1

NB Gntlemen if you think proper to grant my request there is two Gntlemen in London that hath ben takend and brought to England who have sum property there and we three intend to bye a vessll and go to Spain with the English convoy and from thence to America.2 Your Answer as Soon as convenant is the request of yours to Serve

 TB 125

RC (PPAmP: Franklin Papers); addressed: “The Honble Commitionners of The United States of America”; docketed, not by JA: “Tristram Bernards Papers.”

1.

Barnard was probably at Passy when he wrote this letter. This is indicated by letters to Franklin from John Channing and G. Williams of 24 Aug. and 2 Oct. respectively, which introduced Barnard and recommended him for his services to American prisoners. The Commissioners acted very quickly on his case, and on 13 Oct. Barnard took oaths of allegiance and of his intention to settle for life in America ( Cal. Franklin Papers, A.P.S. , 1:482, 506; 4:274). On his return to America, Barnard apparently turned to privateering. Between 23 Nov. 1779 and 11 Feb. 1782 he commanded or had an interest in at least four vessels: the brigantines Charming Nancy, Queen of Spain, and Massachusetts, and the brig Venus (Allen, Mass. Privateers , p. 96, 247; PCC, No. 196, X and XV).

 2.

No further information regarding Barnard's friends or their plans has been found.

 Tristram Barnard to the Commissioners, 9 October 1778 Barnard, Tristram Franklin, Benjamin Lee, Arthur JA First Joint Commission at Paris Tristram Barnard to the Commissioners, 9 October 1778 Barnard, Tristram Franklin, Benjamin Lee, Arthur Adams, John First Joint Commission at Paris
Tristram Barnard to the Commissioners
Gntlemen post 9 October 17781

As thier hath ben a moust Valueable Whale fishry discoverd by the people of England Since the preasent contest with America and a thing of the utmoust Consequence to the above poeple—if it is your minds to destroy it I Should be glad to give you all the information that is in my Power to affect the Same. I have ben in the busaness my self and was very Senceable I was doing Rong, therefore quited the busaness and Ackowledge, wich I trust your honours think more commendable then to proceed.

There is 15 Sail in the Employ, 5 Ships and 10 Brigg. Thay have all Saild by this time but 2, thay are moustly Americans and would be glad to git home if thay knowd any way.2 Thay Saild in company this Season 3d of October and allways stop at the Cape De Varda Islands3 outward bound and cruse betwen the Lattds of 26 Degrees South and 38 Do, in the Longd. from 46 to 62 West. As the Shore Extends NE by N and SW by S the bank lays as the Shore doath 40–50 and 70 Leagues from the Land and these Vessells are to be met with within about 6–8 or 10 Leagues of the bank.

The fishry is comonly over in all April and I am informd thay are Ordered to the Island Santeslena4 to com home with the Eastindia Men.

Any further information required on the Occation that is in my power to give I shall moust Willingly Comply With from your moust Obedent Servent

Tristram Barnard

NB thay have no Guns, thay brought to England Last Season upon an average about 55 tuns5 of Oil moust of it Worth £70 per ton. At 126this preasent time it is worth in America £100 per ton as I am informed.

RC (PPAmP: Franklin Papers); addressed: “The Honble Commitionnes of the United States of America”; docketed: “C. Tristram Bernards Letter.”

1.

Although listed in the Cal. Franklin Papers, A.P.S. (1:511) as being part of the letter from Barnard of 9 Oct. (above), the docketing and address indicate that it was a separate letter, probably written soon after the 9th. The Commissioners had just received detailed information on the British whaling fleet from Richard Grinnell (JA to Daniel McNeill, 9 Oct., and note 1, above) and it would have been natural for them to ask another person, experienced in the whale fishery, for comments.

 2.

For the names of the American whaling captains, most of them from Nantucket, see the Commissioners to Sartine, 30 Oct. (below).

 3.

Cape Verde Islands.

 4.

The island of St. Helena, run by the British East India Company.

 5.

A reference to the casks or tuns in which the oil was placed. Fifty-five tuns of whale oil would equal 13,860 old wine gallons ( OED ). An old wine gallon contains slightly less than the U.S. gallon.