The Moses Stacey diary 1776 November 15 to 1779 January 4 recounts his time as a prisoner of war at Old Mill Prison in Plymouth, England. Moses Stacey (-1789) was an American privateer from Marblehead, Massachusetts who was captured by the British on the HMS Raisonnable in 1776 and held as a prisoner in Old Mill Prison. In 1775 Stacey served as a private in Capt. John Glover, Jr’s company, and later in Col. John Glover’s 21st Regiment. Stacey joined the crew of the brigantine Dolton, commanded by Eleazer Johnson, in 1776. Stacey has also been recorded as having served on the schooner Hawke instead. The three volumes describe the conditions and treatment of prisoners of war including their bedding, clothing, and medical care onboard ships and in Old Mill Prison, the escape attempts from prisoners, illness and disease, rations and allowances, relationships with other prisoners and guards, and news of the events of the war in America and the political climate in England as he learned it from newspapers, correspondence, and conversation. Punishment at Old Mill Prison included half rations and confinement in what is referred to by Stacey and other prisoners as “the Black Hole.” Stacey recorded personal correspondence, including learning of the death of his mother. Volume 1, 1776 November 15 to 1778 March 7: The diary starts “1776 Massachusetts State, Newbury Port, November 15th, at half past one p.m. got under way with light winds WSW in the Brigg Dolton, Elezer Johnston, Commander, bound for Portsmouth…” The entry for December 24, 1776 is a detailed account of the fighting and capture of the Dolton by the HMS Raisonnable, “at 10 Pm I was transported on board the Enimeys Ship which was his Majesty Ship the Reaisnobel.” The volume describes the conditions on the Raisonnable. Volume 2, 1778 March 8 to 1778 December 12: The diary describes landing in Plymouth, England, and conditions upon arrival at Old Mill Prison. The remainder of this volume details the daily events of life in prison, including an entry on July 3 and July 4, 1778 about the anniversary of the Declaration of Independence. Volume 3, 1778 December 12 to 1779 January 4: The diary details the daily events of life in prison. On December 24, 1778 news of Sir Henry Clinton’s October 3, 1778 proclamation, the last formal attempt by Britian at reconciliation, reached Stacey, “a certain Manifesto and Proclamation Dated the third Day of October 1778 and published in America under the hands…of the Earl of Carlisle Sir Henry Clinton…and William Eden Esq Commissioners for Restoring peace to the Colonies.” The last entry of the diary is dated January 4, 1776. According to Moses Stacey’s pension record he was released from prison on an unknown date and returned home to Massachusetts. The diary is attributed to Moses Stacey due to the inscription on the front cover, “Moses Stacey His Book July the 16 1778.” A question has been raised whether he is the author of the diary. The diary bears resemblance in some entries to the published diary A Relic of the Revolution by Charles Herbert (973.371 H536 1847; 1854), who was also on the Dolton and imprisoned at Old Mill Prison.