To the President of the Provincial Congress, now Sitting at Watertown

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Falmouth, May 14, 1775.

HOUNOURED SIR: The Committee of Correspondence in this Town beg leave to inform you, that some time past we received advice from Georgetown, that Colonel Thompson was fitting two vessels there with design to attempt the taking the King' s ship Canceaux, stationed in this harbour, commanded by Captain Mowat, a gentleman whose conduct since he has been here has given no grounds of suspicion he had any design to distress or injure us; but on the other hand has afforded his assistance to sundry vessels in distress. As we thought such an attempt had the appearance of laying the foundation for the destruction of this Town, the Committee of Correspondence met, and wrote to the Committee of Correspondence at Georgetown, desiring they would prevent their coming; we also wrote to Colonel Thompson desiring him to desist from such an attempt, as it would throw this Town into the greatest confusion imaginable; we sent an express, and received his answer that he had dropped the design of coming. But on Monday night he landed upwards of sixty men on the back side of a neck of land joining this Town, who came there in a number of boats, and lay undiscovered till about the middle of the next day; at which time Captain Mowat, the Doctor of the ship, and Parson Wiswal, were taking a walk on said neck, when a detachment from Colonel Thompson' s party rushed from their concealment, surrounded the gentlemen, and made them prisoners, and conducted them to the Colonel, who was with the main body on the back side of the neck. Captain Hogg, who now commanded the ship, immediately clapped springs on his cabels, she laying within musket shot of the Town, and swore if the gentlemen were not released by six o' clock, he would fire on the Town. He fired two cannon, and although there were no shot in them, it frightened the women and children to such a degree, that some crawled under wharves, some ran down cellar, and some out of Town. Such a shocking scene was never presented to view here. The gentlemen who were in custody were conducted to a publick house, where Captain Mowat declared if he was not released it would be the destruction of the Town. Every gentleman present used his utmost endeavours to accommodate the matter. Colonel Thompson consented that a Committee should be chosen, consisting of officers from his party, and gentlemen from the Town, to consult in what manner the affair could be accommodated; but as it was late, the Committee chose to defer the consideration of it till next morning. Captain Mowat then requested he might go on board his ship that night; and he would pawn his word and honour he would return next morning at what time, and at what place should be appointed. Colonel Thompson consented, provided Colonel Freeman, and Brigadier Preble, would pass their words, and that the

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several gentlemen should return according to their promise, and also pawn their word and honour if the gentlemen failed coming, that they would deliver themselves up and stand by the consequences; which was consented to Captain Mowat not coming according to promise, which was to have been at nine o' clock next morning, the sponsors appeared according to promise, and were confined. Captain Mowat wrote to them, and let them know he had fully determined to have complied with his promise, but he had sent his man on shore to carry some dirty linen to his washing-woman, and to bring off some clean; that said man made oath, that two of the body, under arms, one of which swore, by all that was sacred, the moment he came on shore he should have what was in his piece, and the other that he should never return on board again with his life: and that two more of his men made oath, they heard, several of the men under arms say, the moment he came on shore they would have his life; this was what he wrote to plead an excuse for not complying with his promise. Colonel Thompson told the two gentlemen under confinement, that he must have some provision and refreshment for his men, which they procured to the amount of thirteen or fourteen Pounds, lawful money, on which they were dismissed. About ten o' clock, he sent an account to them for time and expense, amounting to one hundred and fifty-eight Pounds and eighteen Shillings, lawful money, and gave them till next morning nine o' clock to return an answer, which they did in the negative. He said he would have satisfaction before he left the Town. He then seized all the goods he could find belonging to Captain Coulson and William Tyng, Esquires. They also carried off one boat belonging to Coulson, and one other to Captain Mowat. They also obliged Captain Pote to furnish them with some provisions, and a small matter of cash. They also brought one man on his knees for speaking disrespectfully of the Colonel and his men. Colonel Thompson, we doubt not, is a true friend to his Country, and a man of courage and resolution; but as our Town lays so much exposed to the Navy, that had he succeeded in his attempt, (which there was not the least probability of,) it must have proved the destruction of this Town and the country back, which is now in the greatest distress for want of provisions. We have only related plain facts, that the honourable members of the Provincial Congress may not be imposed on with false accounts, to whom please to communicate this letter. We are, with great esteem, gentlemen, your most obedient servant,

JEDEDIAH PREBLE, Chairman.

Letter from Jedediah Preble to the Massachusetts Congress. Proceedings of Colonel Thompson, at Falmouth, his capture and detention of Captain Mowart, who is released on his promise to return on shore the next morning: he does not return, and his securities are arrested. [1775-05-14] Massachusetts, Falmouth Committee of Correspondence; Preble, Jedediah. [S4-V2-p0585] [Document Details][Complete Volume]