Benjamin Cowell A.L.S., Providence, Jany 7, 1834 : to Elisha Pehlps, Hartford, Conn.

Benjamin Cowell A.L.S., Providence, Jany 7, 1834 : to Elisha Pehlps, Hartford, Conn.

Providence 1834

[4] p. on 2 conjugate leaves ; 25 cm.

MSS L1990.1.31

"Will you be so good as to inform me whether ... a vessel called the "Oliver Cromwell" William Coit, commander, which was fitted out ... in the latter part of the year 1776 at New London was a public or private armed vessel. If there is any record ... shewing she was a public armed vessel, will thank you for a certificate of the fact."|The Oliver Cromwell was a vessel in the Connecticut State Navy, authorized by Governor Jonathan Trumbull. For it history, see Louis F. Middlebrook. History of maritime Connecticut during the American Revolution, vol. 1, pp.80-125.|Heitman identifies the William Coit who commanded the Oliver Cromwell as the captain who died 16 Nov. 1821 but lists another who died 16 Feb. 1802. Another source, an article in the Norwich Bulletin entitled "Historically speaking: New London privateer captain captured British ships" writes: The Cromwell was a 360-ton warship to be constructed in Saybrook and Capt. Coit was to be in charge. On Aug. 18, 1776, the Cromwell sailed out of the Connecticut River and reached New London on Aug. 20. However, a number of complications caused delays in the plans for the ship. In one of his other assignments, Coit commanded the America and one or two other privateers. Coit left New London in 1797 and lived in North Carolina, where he died in 1802.

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