Amory’s James Sullivan. 2 vols. Boston, 1859.
Throws some light upon Massachusetts’s prize courts.
Austin’s Elbridge Gerry. 2 vols. Boston, 1828-29.
Contains information in respect to prize courts.
Boston Gazette for 1775-1783. Boston.
Of the highest value for the cruises, engagements, and prizes of the Massachusetts navy.
Clowes. W. L. Royal Navy. 7 vols. Boston and London, 1897-1903.
Volume IV contains an account of the naval battle at the mouth of the Penobscot.
Continental Journal and Weekly Advertiser for 1775-1783. Boston.
Supplements the Boston Gazette.
Goodell, Acts and Resolves of Massachusetts. 5 vols. 1869-86.
Volume V contains the legislation of Massachusetts with reference to prize courts. The notes to the laws are a valuable guide to the sources of the events which led to the passage of the laws.
Maclay, E. S. History of American Privateering. New York, 1899.
Of value for the Revolutionary privateers of Massachusetts.
Massachusetts Historical Society Collections. 67 vols. Boston, 1792-1894.
Contains references to the Penobscot expedition.
Massachusetts Historical Society Proceedings. 30 vols. Boston, 1859-94.
Contains information upon the Penobscot expedition.
Massachusetts, Journals of the House of Representatives for 1775-1783.
Contemporaneous print. Incomplete. The journals found in the state library may be supplemented by those found in the library of the Boston Athenaeum.
Massachusetts, Records of the Council for 1775-1776.
Are printed in part in Force’s American Archives.
Massachusetts, Journals of the Third Provincial Convention, 1775.
Are printed in Force’s American Archives. The chief sources for the early civil history of the Massachusetts navy are the Journals of the Third Provincial Convention, Journals of the House, Records of the Council, and the Resolves of the General Court.
Massachusetts, Records of the General Court for 1775-1783. MSS.
Supplements the Journals and the Resolves.
Massachusetts Resolves, for 1775-1783.
Contemporaneous print. A most valuable source. Most of the naval legislation of Massachusetts was passed in the form of Resolves, and not Laws.
Massachusetts Revolutionary Archives, MSS.
A very extensive and valuable source. Many volumes contain material relating to the navy. Volumes XXXIX, XL, and XLIV have the greatest value. They contain the rolls of naval vessels, letters of officers, and miscellaneous papers. Volume CXLV has many documents relating to the Penobscot expedition. The Archives are rich in material relating to privateers. The Board of War Letters, Board of War Minutes, and Board of War Orders contain much naval material. An Index compiled by Justin Winsor affords a valuable key to the Archives.
Pickering and Upham’s Timothy Pickering. 4 vols. Boston, 1867, 1874.
Of value for the work of the Massachusetts prize courts.
Virginia Gazette for 1779. Williamsburg.
Prints a valuable letter about Massachusetts privateers.
Weymouth Historical Society Publications. 2 vols. Boston, 1881-85.
Volume I gives the best account of the Penobscot expedition, and prints the original Journal of General Solomon Lovell kept on the expedition.
Winsor, Justin. Narrative and Critical History of the United States. 8 vols. Boston and New York, 1884-89.
Article on the Revolutionary navy by E. E. Hale, in Volume VI, contains information on the Massachusetts navy. Valuable bibliography.
Works of John Adams. 10 vols. Boston, 1856.
Gives John Adams’s opinion of the Massachusetts statute establishing privateering.
Caulkins, Frances M. History of Norwich. Norwich, 1845.
Contains information relative to the naval part which Norwich and Norwich men played in the Revolution.
Connecticut Revolutionary Archives. MSS.
Contains much miscellaneous information relating to the Connecticut navy. Volumes VIII and IX contain valuable material concerning the prizes captured by Connecticut vessels.
Connecticut Colonial Records for 1775-1776. Hartford, 1890.
Valuable for the beginnings of the Connecticut navy.
Connecticut Gazette for 1775-1779. New London.
The best newspaper for naval news in the state. Captured prizes are advertised in its columns.
Connecticut Historical Society Collections. 8 vols. Hartford, 1860-1901.
Volume II contains a description of Bushnell’s submarine boat.
Connecticut in the Revolution. Hartford, 1889.
Of slight naval value.
Connecticut Journal for 1775-1779. New Haven.
Supplements the Connecticut Gazette in a few particulars, but contains much less news.
Connecticut State Records, 1776-1779. 2 vols. Hartford, 1894-95.
Of great value for the years covered.
Force, Peter. American Archives. 9 vols. Folio. Washington, 1837-53.
Contains miscellaneous information relating to the Connecticut navy.
Ford, W. C. Writings of George Washington. 14 vols. New York and London, 1889-93.
Volume X contains Washington’s account of Bushnell’s submarine boat.
Hartford Courant for 1775-1779. Hartford.
For naval news, the newspaper in the state next in importance to the Connecticut Gazette.
New London County Historical Society. Records and Papers. Volume I. New London, 1890-94.
Valuable. Contains a fair account of the Connecticut navy, and a list of Connecticut privateers.
Wharton, Francis. Revolutionary Diplomatic Correspondence. 6 vols. Washington, 1889.
Volume II has a reference to the voyage of the “Spy” to France in 1778.
Almon’s Remembrancer for 1778. London.
Valuable for an account of the British raid to the north of Philadelphia in May, 1778.
Bioren, Laws of Pennsylvania. 4 vols. Philadelphia, 1810.
Contains statutes relating to the establishment of prize courts.
Barney, Mary. Memoirs of Commodore Barney. Boston, 1832.
Of value for a history of the “Hyder Ally.”
Jameson, J. F. Essays in the Constitutional History of the United States. Baltimore, 1886.
Chapter I, Predecessor of the Supreme Court, gives an excellent account of the capture of the sloop “Active” by the brig “Convention.”
Pennsylvania Archives. 1st and 2nd Ser. 31 vols. Philadelphia and Harrisburg, 1852-90.
The most important source after the Colonial records. Volume I of the second series contains the minutes of the Pennsylvania Navy Board, a brief historical account of the navy, and a list of Pennsylvania privateers.
Pennsylvania Colonial Records. 16 vols. Philadelphia, 1852-53.
A source of great value for the history of the Pennsylvania navy.
Pennsylvania Journal and Weekly Advertiser for 1775-1783. Philadelphia.
Supplements the Pennsylvania Packet.
Pennsylvania Packet for 1775-1783. Philadelphia.
Valuable for the prizes captured by Pennsylvania naval vessels and by privateers. Not printed while the British occupied Philadelphia.
Scharf and Westcott. History of Pennsylvania. 3 vols. Philadelphia, 1884.
Contains bits of naval information.
Wallace, J. W. Colonel William Bradford. Philadelphia, 1884.
Valuable for the naval campaigns around Philadelphia.
Almon’s Remembrancer for 1779 and 1781. London.
Contains original material for the raids into Virginia of Matthews and Collier, and of Arnold and Phillips.
Calendar of Virginia State Papers. 10 vols. Richmond, 1875-92.
Volumes I-III throw light upon the years 1780-1783. Volume VIII, pages 75-240, prints the Journals of the Committee of Safety of Virginia, February 7 to July 5, 1776.
Force, Peter. American Archives. 9 vols. Folio. Washington, 1837-53.
Prints important state records.
Ford, W. C. Writings of Jefferson. 10 vols. New York and London, 1892-99.
Of value for Jefferson’s naval services while governor of Virginia.
Hening’s Statutes of Virginia. 13 vols. Philadelphia and New York, 1823.
A most important source for naval legislation and administration in Virginia.
Lull, E. P. History of the United States Navy yard at Gosport, Virginia. Washington, 1874.
Gives the early history of the navy yard at Norfolk.
Maryland Archives, 21 vols. Baltimore, 1883-1901.
Contains information about Commodore Boucher of the Virginia navy.
North Carolina Records. 18 vols. Raleigh, 1886-1900.
Contains information upon the raid of Matthews and Collier.
Rowland, K. M. George Mason. 2 vols. New York, 1892.
Volume I is valuable for Virginia’s “Potomac river fleet.”
Southern Literary Messenger for 1857. Richmond.
Contains a series of valuable articles entitled the “Virginia Navy of the Revolution.” A good account of the Virginia navy. Somewhat extravagant in tone. Popular rather than scientific.
Virginia Archives, Richmond. Letter Book of Governor Thomas Jefferson; Letter Book of Governor Benjamin Harrison. MSS.
Contain bits of naval information.
Virginia Archives, Richmond. Journals of the Virginia Navy Board. MSS.
A valuable source for both the civil and military history of the navy.
Virginia Archives, Richmond. Virginia State Navy Papers. 2 vols. MSS.
An important original source. Contains much information relative to the different vessels of the navy.
Virginia Gazette for 1775-1779. Williamsburg.
Not complete files. Those in the Library of the Virginia Historical Society may be supplemented by those in the Virginia State Library. Of some value for the cruises of the Virginia fleet.
Virginia Historical Register. 6 vols. Richmond, 1848-53.
Contains some important bits of naval information.
Almon’s Remembrancer for 1780. London.
Valuable for the naval defence of Charleston, 1779-1780.
Clowes, W. L. Royal Navy. 7 vols. Boston and London, 1897-1903.
Gives good accounts of the cruise of the “Randolph” in 1778, and the capture of the “South Carolina” in 1782.
Connecticut Gazette for 1782, New London.
Reports the capture of the Bahamas by the Spaniards and Commodore Gillon.
Cooper’s Statutes of South Carolina. 10 vols. Columbia, 1836-41.
Valuable for naval legislation.
Deane Papers. Collections of the New York Historical Society. 5 vols. New York, 1886-90.
Serviceable for Gillon’s movements in Europe.
Drayton, W. H. Memoirs of the American Revolution. 2 vols. Charleston, 1821.
Throws light on the naval history of 1775.
Force, Peter. American Archives. 9 vols. Folio. Washington, 1837-53.
Prints important South Carolina official records, notably the early journals of the South Carolina Navy Board. The manuscript journals of the South Carolina Navy-Board are in the New York State Library at Albany.
Gazette of State of South Carolina for 1776-1779. Charleston.
Files for part of the period at Charleston. Valuable for the cruises of the naval vessels.
Gibbes, R. W. Documentary History of the American Revolution. 3 vols. New York, 1853-57.
Contains some naval information.
McCrady, Edward, History of South Carolina in the Revolution. 2 vols. New York and London, 1901-02.
Of value for 1775 and for a history of the “South Carolina.”
Moultrie, William. Memoirs of the American Revolution. 2 vols. New York, 1802.
Of little value for naval history.
Poore’s Constitutions. Washington, 1877.
Contains the constitution of South Carolina of 1776.
Pennsylvania Packet for 1782. Philadelphia.
Contains valuable material for the movements of the “South Carolina” during 1782.
Ramsay, David. Revolution of South Carolina, Trenton, 1785.
Of slight value for naval history.
South Carolina and American General Gazette for 1776-1779. Charleston.
Files for part of the period at Charleston. Valuable for the cruises of the naval vessels.
South Carolina Archives, Columbia. Journals of General Assembly for 1776. MSS.
Of value for the civil history of the navy.
South Carolina Archives, Columbia. Journals of the House of Representatives for 1779-1780. MSS.
Throws light upon the naval history for 1779-1780.
South Carolina Archives, Columbia. Journals of the House of Representatives for 1783. MSS.
Valuable for the naval services of Commodore Gillon.
South Carolina Archives, Columbia. Miscellaneous Records A. MSS.
Contains some important naval records.
South Carolina Historical Society Collections. 3 vols. Charleston, 1857-59.
Reprints a part of the Journals of the South Carolina Committee of Safety.
South Carolina Historical and Genealogical Magazine. 2 vols. Charleston, 1900-01.
Prints two important letters of Commodore Gillon.
Wharton, Francis. Revolutionary Diplomatic Correspondence. 6 vols. Washington, 1889.
Contains a note upon Commodore Gillon.
Force, Peter. American Archives. 9 vols. Folio. Washington, 1837-53.
Prints official records. Of considerable value for the navies of Maryland, North Carolina, and Georgia.
Georgia Historical Society Collections. 5 vols. Savannah, 1840-1902.
Prints a part of the proceedings of the Georgia Council of Safety. Contains a few naval items of importance.
Jones, C. C., jr. History of Georgia. 2 vols. Boston, 1883.
Contains a few references to the work of the Georgia galleys.
Maryland Archives. 21 vols. Baltimore, 1883-1901.
Contains much information concerning the Maryland navy. This may be found by consulting the index for the names of the vessels.
Maryland Statutes. Kilty, 2 vols. Annapolis, 1799-1800.
Kilty is best. Hanson supplements Kilty.
McCall, Hugh. History of Georgia. 2 vols. Savannah, 1811-16.
Volume II gives some information in respect to the Georgia galleys.
North Carolina Records. 18 vols. Raleigh, 1886-1900.
The most valuable source for the history of the North Carolina navy.
Ridgely, David. Annals of Annapolis. Baltimore, 1841.
Narrates an important event or two in the history of the Maryland navy.
Scharf, J. T. History of Maryland. 3 vols. Baltimore, 1879.
Volume II contains naval information of considerable value.
Southern Literary Messenger for 1857. Richmond.
Contains an excellent account of the Battle of the Barges.
Arnold, Samuel G. History of Rhode Island, 2 vols. New York, 1859.
Volume II contains a few items of naval information.
Carson, H. L. Supreme Court of the United States. Philadelphia, 1902.
Contains references to the admiralty legislation of New York.
Connecticut Gazette for 1779. New London.
Gives a good account of the achievements of Captain Talbot.
Fernow’s New York in the Revolution. Albany, 1887.
Contains the rolls of several New York vessels.
Force, Peter. American Archives. 9 vols. Folio. Washington, 1837-53.
Prints important records for Rhode Island, New Hampshire, and New York.
New Hampshire Archives. MSS. Concord.
References to the “Hampden.”
New Jersey, Minutes of the Provincial Congress and Council of Safety, 1775-1776. Trenton, 1879.
Of some value for the prize legislation in New Jersey.
New York, Journals of New York Provincial Convention, etc. 2 vols. Albany, 1842.
Valuable for the history of the New York navy.
Providence Gazette for 1775-1779. Providence.
Valuable for the movements and prizes of Rhode Island vessels.
Pennsylvania Packet for 1779. Philadelphia.
Contains original material for the cruises of Captain Talbot.
Poore’s Constitutions. Washington, 1877.
Contains the constitution of New York for 1777.
Rhode Island, Acts and Resolves for 1775-1783.
Contemporaneous prints. A valuable source for the history of the Rhode Island navy.
Rhode Island Colonial Records. 10 vols. Providence, 1856-65.
Supplements the information contained in the Acts and Resolves.
Rhode Island Historical Collections. 8 vols. Providence, 1827-92.
Contains letters which are valuable for the naval history of 1775.
Rhode Island Historical Society Publications VIII. Providence, 1900.
Important for the naval history of Rhode Island for 1778.
Rhode Island. Journals of the Council of War. MSS. Providence.
Of some value for the years 1779-1781.
Staples, W. R. Annals of Providence. Providence, 1843.
Contains a brief account of the Rhode Island navy.
Sheffield, W. P. Rhode Island Privateers and Privateersmen. Newport, 1883.
A fairly good account.