Collection of 14 letters & documents relating to William Russell’s experiences as a prisoner-of-war during the revolutionary war, 1778-1783
1778
MSS L2011F212.1-14
Available at Main Library
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Title
Collection of 14 letters & documents relating to William Russell’s experiences as a prisoner-of-war during the revolutionary war, 1778-1783
Published
[Plymouth, Eng., et al.] 1778-1783
Description
[14] items ; 14-33 cm.
Call Number
MSS L2011F212.1-14
Note
Russell was an American privateer who was captured by the British and held prisoner first at Mill Prison in England, and after his release he was recaptured and incarcerated in the prison ship 'Jersey' at New York.
[No. 1-9]. William Russell, A.L.S. Mill Prison [Plymouth, Eng.], New York, New Haven & Halifax [Nova Scotia] Mar. 2, 1781-May 16, 1783 to his wife Mary, his mother-in-law Mary Richardson & the printer, Benjamin Edes -- [no. 10]. Probably part of a diary with brief entries, Boston, June 14, 1774-Mar. 19, 1776 -- [no. 11]. Thomas Crafts, Colonel of Artillery, A.L.S. [Boston, Dec., 1778] to Russell, giving orders relative to the sergeant major on the "Guard Ship" -- [no. 12]. William Gordon, Lieutenant of Artillery, A.L.S. "Castle Isle" [Boston], Dec.18, 1778 to Russell, referring an exchange of troops -- [no. 13]. James Young & Ralph Mitchell, British Justices of the Peace, ms. document, Devon [Eng.], Dec. 19, 1779, being a warrant "To the constables of the parish of Stock Demirale [i.e. Stoke Damerel] in the said County and to keepers of the place ... called Old Mill Prison ..." requiring them to confine Russell -- [no. 14]. Thomas D. Hewlings, British Deputy Commissary of naval prisoners at New York, D.S. partially printed, being a 'true copy' of 3 month parole for Russell & Samuel Thompson. Includes a ms. note that "Bachus, a Negro boy, their servant is allowd to go with them."
Documents show the contrasting conditions of his two period of confinement, his attitudes and hopes & the horrors of the Jersey. When he is finally released in March 1783, desperate to repay debts & provide for his family, he first joins a merchant ship to make some money before returning home to his family, and within a year he died of consumption.
Pamphlet "The Prison Ship Martyrs' Monument Association" ([3] p.) stored in case file.
For discussion on Russell's involvement with the Sons of Liberty and the Boston tea party, see case file.
Digitized images available online, see URL.
[No. 1-9]. William Russell, A.L.S. Mill Prison [Plymouth, Eng.], New York, New Haven & Halifax [Nova Scotia] Mar. 2, 1781-May 16, 1783 to his wife Mary, his mother-in-law Mary Richardson & the printer, Benjamin Edes -- [no. 10]. Probably part of a diary with brief entries, Boston, June 14, 1774-Mar. 19, 1776 -- [no. 11]. Thomas Crafts, Colonel of Artillery, A.L.S. [Boston, Dec., 1778] to Russell, giving orders relative to the sergeant major on the "Guard Ship" -- [no. 12]. William Gordon, Lieutenant of Artillery, A.L.S. "Castle Isle" [Boston], Dec.18, 1778 to Russell, referring an exchange of troops -- [no. 13]. James Young & Ralph Mitchell, British Justices of the Peace, ms. document, Devon [Eng.], Dec. 19, 1779, being a warrant "To the constables of the parish of Stock Demirale [i.e. Stoke Damerel] in the said County and to keepers of the place ... called Old Mill Prison ..." requiring them to confine Russell -- [no. 14]. Thomas D. Hewlings, British Deputy Commissary of naval prisoners at New York, D.S. partially printed, being a 'true copy' of 3 month parole for Russell & Samuel Thompson. Includes a ms. note that "Bachus, a Negro boy, their servant is allowd to go with them."
Documents show the contrasting conditions of his two period of confinement, his attitudes and hopes & the horrors of the Jersey. When he is finally released in March 1783, desperate to repay debts & provide for his family, he first joins a merchant ship to make some money before returning home to his family, and within a year he died of consumption.
Pamphlet "The Prison Ship Martyrs' Monument Association" ([3] p.) stored in case file.
For discussion on Russell's involvement with the Sons of Liberty and the Boston tea party, see case file.
Digitized images available online, see URL.
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