Part 5

I sail’d from Cadiz, the 5^{th.} day of July 1812 bound for Boston, & I never felt myself saffer, on account of enemies on the high seas,--I had just entered upon the eastern edge of the grand Bank--at day light, of the morn” of the 17^{th} I went on deck; we had a light breeze of wind from the north, with all sails sett, that would draw, in casting my Eye to windward, I saw a sail, to appearance, bearing down directly for us--not having spoken any thing, I told the mate, to back the maim yard & would speak her, we accordingly did; & at sunrise I ordered the Insign hoisted, at the Mizen peak; no sooner were our colours up, than his went up in the smoke of a gun, I saw that she was a Schooner, under English colours, & that she was armed; but did not alarm me, I continu^{d.} to lay by, she run down across^{t.} my stern, with the usual hail, of, where from, where bound, how long out, &c &c--& he concluded from my replys that I did not know that war existed; he said to me, very mildly, I will thank you to continue laying by, & I will send my boat on board--Seeing she was a cutter Schooner with 10 brass Guns, I, of course, acquiesed, & her boat came on board, with two petty officers, rowed by _only_ two men--One of the officers requested me to go on board the cutter with my papers; well” I asked the 2 officers below, while I shifted myself and got my papers; while I was in my statroom, one of them, says to me, Cap^{t}, ‘what cargo did you carry to Cadiz? Flour,’ you got a good price, I presume Yes,’ said I--got Cash on board I suppose? No, said I, I remitted my money, to England,’ well,” said he, You’ve a fine ship here! Yes, toloble--what,” said he do you think she’s worth--this question, roused my curiocity, I step’d to the door of the Stateroom, & looking the man in the face, said to him, have you an Idea of buying, or taking the ship, Oh, said he, Captain, you’l excuse our inquisitiveness, it was without meaning.--When I was ready, one of the officers went in the boat with me, & the other, remained on board the ship--I was received on board the cutter, & conducted into the cabin, to the Cap^{t.},--he received my papers, & looking them over, ask’d, if I had not a Clearance from Cadiz; I told him I had, but, I did not [know] it wou’d be required, & I had not bro^{t.} it, well,” said he, I must have it; if you’l send your boat Sir, I will go & look it up, I think its in my writing desk,--well,” said he, send for your desk, I told him I was unwilling to do that, as it contained papers of consequence to me, & by accident it might be droped overboad--oh said he, I’ll make good all damages, you _must_ send for it. well,” I wrote a line to the mate, to send my. W. Desk, it was brought into the cutters cabin, & having my keys in my pocket, I open’d it, & soon found the paper required,--my writing standing upon the Table open, & the officers standing round, they began looking at papers, among them, was a small bundle of letters directed to the Commissary Gen^{l.}on the _Quebec Station_, they open’d it, & broke the seal of one of the letters--; upon which I look’d at the Cap^{t.}, & observ’d, that this was treatment which I had not anticipated, from the British flagg; the Capt observ’d, you must submitt, we will explain ourselves bye. & bye about this time, the word came from the decks, _a Strange sail in sight_, & the Capt, drop’d the paper from hands, & run on deck.--I set still & look’d at the officers, overhawling, & deranging my papers in my writing desk.--after a while the Capt came down below; & said to me, Captain; you have expressed some surprise at our investigation, at which, I am not at all supprised, for I find, you are ignorant of a fact, which will justify, our proceedings with you, _We are at War with America_--now Sir, said I I beleive you are disposed to _tantalize_, for I do not beleive it.--Well,” Sir, said he, we will not alticate upon this subject; & he step’d to a desk took out a newspaper, & pointed me to the declaration of War, & danced on deck again, to look at the Strange sail.--the paper that he handed me, was an American paper, only 12 days old--after reading the declaration of war, I look’d it over for other news, untill the Capt came down.--He then said to me, well Sir, what think ye now--I told him, I was satisfied, as to _war_, but, I shou’d like to know now, whether _I_ was to be _hung_, or _drounded_.

[Sidenote: On Board the Cutter]

He smilling said, “well,” I beleive nither, _by me_.--I will now, said he, explain to you the reasons, for our conduct toward you; I am said he--from Halifax, bound to England with dispatches for Gov^{t.}, I cannot take you, not having men to man you, if I had found money on board I shou’d have taken it out, & have put one man on board, that might not be call’d piricy & have let you have taken your chance--but as it is you can take charge of your ship, & do the best you can--the sail coming down, is an American Frigate, & if I can keep out the reach of her guns, I do not fear her heals, & the sooner you go on board the better--as soon, as you please, said I--& I crow[d]ed some of my papers into my Desk, & tied some up in a hankerchief, & thus went into the boat & was set on board my own ship again.--When I got on my Ships deck, the Frigate was so near that she cou’d easyly have sent a shot over me, & coming down will all sail set, & an American Insign at her Mizin peak.--altho I was confidant, she was an English Frigate; still, being compleatly within the reach of her guns, & my ships sails all taken, I had only to lay still & take it.

[Sidenote: The Frigate]

The Frigate was down, in a few minuits & the boats was manned, & came on board, under the command of an officer, in an american uniform.--the usual questions, of, where from, where bound, how long out &c &c, were ask’d, & ansered; when he thus interogated me, are you not in fear of being taken, No Sir, said I, for I think I am _already_ taken, what’. said he, by one of your own Frigates; no,’ said I, that is not an american Frigate, nither Sir, are _you_ intitled to wear that Button. Well,” said he, you are about right.--that is His Britianic majistys Frigate, the Jason, & to her, you are a prize.--now, said he, what have you on board for Cargo; sand Ballast, said I, _what_, did [you] cary to Cadiz, Flour, did it sell yes, it Brought $20.00 p^{r} Barrel.--Oh, you’ve Cash on board said he, No, said I, I remitted the proceeds of my cargo to London, & I have my thirds of exchange, to satisfy you.--well,” said he, you have a fine ship here; what will you give for her, & we give you, a clear passport into Boston.--after a little reflection, I name’d $5000.00 well,” said he, _give us the money_; Oh, I thank you said I, if it was on board, you wou’d take it without asking me.--I will give you a draft on London.--no, said he, _the cash_, or we _burn_ the ship.--well said I, you’l not burn me, in her I hope,--oh, no, you may give orders for your men to pick up their duds, & we will carry them on board the Frigate.--You will remain on board & select yourself a servant, from your crew, the ship is too good to _Burn_.--I accordingly selected my Nephew, E. C. Crosby, to remain with me, my mates & crew, were all carraied on board the Frigate,--After a while, the pinnace was sent with special orders for me to come on board the Frigate.--well,” I went on Board, was received at the Ganway, by a Leut^{t.}, & conducted into the Cabin, to the captain, he, with his officers, were then sitting at the dinner table, I was place’d in a chair by his side, & offered a glass of wine; after which; he, the cap^{t.}, said to me! what D--d rascal put your papers in that situation, for they were sent to him, as I took them from the cutter, open letters &c,--why”, Sir said I; that D--d rascal, as you are pleas’d to call him, was Leutenant Jones, commanding his Majesties cutter the Alphea; why,” said he, he’s broke the Kings Seal, I’ll have the fellow hung,” well Sir, said I, you can do as you please, with your own subjects.--he then said [to] me,” I am satisfied, on examination of your papers, that you have not money on board, as a return cargo, but I shall now ask you a question, which it will be, for your Interest, to answer _candidly_, well Sir, I shall judge better, when I hear the question,! have you money on board, on your own private account; without hesitation, I answer’d Yes, how much said he, about $2000, … it is safe, We, as yet, respect private property, when it does not exceed $3000.; more than that; we think is smugled.--

[Sidenote:The King’s Seal]

finally, he observed; your officers & men, now on board here, shall fare, as we do, & we are 6 on 4. well, Sir, we have abundant provisions on board the prise, if you’l permit, I’l send some by the boat that returns with me; certainly said he, & it shall be kept for them exclusively, while they are on board this ship,--I have put a prise master & crew on board your ship, & ordered her for S^{t.} Johns; & I shall visit that coast, in 8 or 10 days, & will then, send up your officers & crew, I will now send you on board, I have charged the prise master, not to intefere with,” but, to conform to, your regulations, in your Cabin, &c &c.

[Sidenote: A Prisoner of War]

I return’d on board, & we made sail for S^{t.} Johns as ordered;--I found the prise Master a very pleasant man, & all things went on pleasantly; but by adverse winds, we were 6 days before we arrived at S^{t.} Johns.--it was evening when we arrived; the next morn” I was taken on shore, & conducted before the Port Admiral, Sir John Thomas Duckworth; after he had made enquiries, relative to my voyage, capture &c &c; he told me, that I had the liberty of the town, provided, I choose to take up my residence on shore, or, I had the liberty of remaining on board the ship--but could not have excess, to the ship, & shore both.--I finally told him, that I wou’d like to remain on board the ship, untill my officers & men were sent in, after which, I wou’d like to come on shore.--Accordingly, I returned to the ship, where, I was allowed the same use of my cabin, & provisions, as formally, in 4 days, my officers & crew, were sent in, & on board the ship, we were again altogether, & as we had remaining of our sea stock, a shoat, of about 60 lb, I ordered it dressed, & a good dinner provided for, all hands, of which I pertook; & the next day, took up my residence on shore, at, prisiners Hall, so called, where there were about 20, Masters & supecargoes, prisinners, like myself.--I found, that there were 27 American vessells, in port, as prises, the Port Admiral, had given liberty to the Supergaroes, & Gentlemen passengers to leave; & git home, at there own expence; and provided, they went away altogether, he would give them a protection, against capture by the English--as I had two Brothers, on board my ship, Josiah, & E. C. Crosby, the Idea struck me, that it was _posible_, that I might git liberty, to send the latter, a meer boy, home by the same chance, for they had already purchas’d a small vessell, & was then fitting her out.--I accordingly drafted a request, to Sir John, stating, in as feeling a manner, as I was capable, the inconsolibility of their Parents &c &c, and waited upon the old Gentleman with it, in person; He looked it over attentively; looked up at me, & said Yes, Yes, Mr Cobb, send him home to his parents, & I wish I cou’d say the same to you all I accordingly, made preparations for sending the boy home.--I wrote to my family by him, and also, stitched 20 peices of Spanish Gold, into a plaid, which he put into his neck hankerchief, & their wore it, night & day, untill he got home, took it from his neck, & gave it to his Aunt.--6 days, after this vessell had saild; we were greeted, at a very early hour in the morn”, with the sound, “an american, _cartile_[5] _Flagg_ flying in the harbour,--We were soon, into the Town, & learned, that a ship had arrived, during the previous night, under the command of an american officer, with a cartile flag; that the officer had then gone, to report himself, to the port Admiral,--we, fourthwith repaired to a noted Coffee house, where the American officer soon arrived.

[Sidenote: An Exchange of Prisoners]

Altho” we were all strangers, he cordially took us by the hand, as americans, and told us, that he was 2^{d} Leut,” of the American Frigage C--s[6] Cap^{t.} Porter that ship, in the harbour; was the British Sloop of War Elert, prize to the C--s, and that, through the impertunity of the British Cap^{t.}, she had been sent in, by Cap^{t.} Porter, with her officers & crew, all on board, to be exchanged, for the same number of Americans.--But, said the officer, I have cause to fear, that I may be a prisiner with you, for, said he, I left the old Admiral, in a violent rage, at Cap^{t.} Porters proceedings, of making a cartile, on the high seas. the officer told him, he had no terms to make, his orders, from Cap^{t.} Porter, was, to lay there 24 hours, & if the terms were not complied with, to proceed on to America, with the Prise & her Crew, or, be your _prisinner_, said he, as I’m in your power, however, in a few minuits, a note was received from the old Admiral, saying, that upon a re-perusual of Cap^{t.} Porters dispatches, he found that the _honor_, of the British officer was pledg’d, for the fulfilling of the contract, & as he knew his government, always redeem’d the pledges of their officers; he wou’d receive the officers & crew of Ellert, he wou’d give in exchange, every American prissiner in port (& there were 2 to 1) & that we must be off in 24 hours.

Now, commenced a Scene of confusion, and bussle; the Crew of the cartile was soon landed, and the Americans as speedily took possession, & the next morn”, at about the suns rising, we weighed the anchors of the _Ellert_, left the harbour of S^{t.} Johns, and made sail for New York, with 246 Americans on board.--We came on, without falling in, with any floating object, untill we were in the Longitude of the South shoal of Nantucket when saw a topsail Schooner, running off S. Easterly, upon which we fired, & brought her two; she hoisted Sweedish colours, & lay bye, untill we boarded her; We found she was from Boston, bound for the West Idies, and gave us the pleasing account of the American Frigate, the _Constitution_, having captured the, British Frigate the _Garreire_,

This intilligence was communicated to the _Ellert_, by the boarding officer, and in quick time, her yards were manned & three cheers were given, which might have been heard miles.--two days after, we arrived in New York, and dispersed to our several places of residence.--I took passage with my two mates, & Josiah Crosby, in a Schooner for _Bass River_, we reached the river about the suns setting, & being but about 6 miles from my family, I could not feel willing to sleep without seeing them--consequently myself, & my 1^{st.} mate, _M^{r.} Berry_ each hired a Saddle horse, & started for Brewster, and I reach^{d.} my dwelling, & gave a knock, at your G. Mothers, sleeping room window, _the same I now occopy_, about 12^{[o:]}Clock. x x x x it may perhaps amuse my dear G. Childen, if I turn back to the time of my arrival, a prisoner, at S^{t.} Johns, a circomstance then took place, connected with my knocking at the window, as above

[Sidenote: Petition to the Port Admiral]

I learned, on my arrival in S^{t.} Johns, that the Port Admiral, Sir J. T. Duckworth, had given liberty, to the American Supercargoes & passenger, to purchase a vessel, & git home at their own expence, & he wou’d give them a protection from British Cruseirs; & as I had on board, two Brothers, Josiah & E. C. Crosby, the _latter_, quite a lad; the Idea struck me, that _posibly_, by application, I might obtain liberty to send the boy home, by this conveyance; for they had already purchased a small vessell & were then fitting her for sea--I accordingly drafted a petition; applying pritty strongly to the old Gentlemans feelings, in behalf of the disconsolate Parents &c &c, and presented it myself--after perusing the petition; the old Gen” rested his head in his hand, for a few moments, and looked up very kindly in my face, saying Yes, Yes, M^{r.} Cobb, _send him home to his Parents_ & I wish I felt at liberty to send every American in port home.--This, wou’d give me an oppertunity of informing my Family of my capture, of sending some money, spared me by the captors; and grattifiing my relatives by sending home their beloved son.

I accordinly fixed him away; making a plaid for his neckhankercheif, with 24 Dubloons in Gold amounting to $384 dollars, which the _dear child_ put round his neck, in my room, in S^{t.} Johns & did not take it off, untill in my house, in the presencs of his Aunt; and after having delivered my letters &c--This happened, at about 8 ^{[o:]} Clock on the same evening I arrived at Bass revir--well’, at 12 ^{[o:]} Clock, as before stated I knowked at the Winder.

It appears she had been reperusing my Lengthy letter, Amegining & revolving in mind all the horrows of my situation in an English prisin, _after she had been in bed_, & had not been asleep, when I know’d at the Window.

Who is there! said she--it is I, said I--well’, what do you want; to come in; for what said she; before I cou’d answer, I heard my daughter D., who was in bed with her say, _why, Mar it is Par_, this was aneogh, the doors flew open, and the greetings of affection & consanguinity multiplied upon me rapidly.

[Sidenote: End of the Voyage]

Thus, in a moment was I transported to the greatest earthly bliss, man can injoy, viz to the injoyment of the happy family circil.

To fall of 1812--

The foregoing was written by Gen Elijah Cobb during the Year 1843, with the intention of completing, but the state of his health prevented.

He remained at home from 1812 to 1815 or 1816, when he made several voyages to Europe in the Ship ‘Paragon’ built for him, and considered at the time one of the finest ships of her day.

In 1818 & 1819 he made two voyages to Africa in the Ship “Ten Brothers,” taking with him on the first voyage, his son Freeman.

The second voyage, there was much sickness of a contagious character, and the ship on her return was sunk at the end of the wharf to prevent contagion in the city of Boston.[7]

He left the sea in 1820, and after that time remained in Brewster, Mass. filling the various civil offices of Town Clerk, Treasurer, Inspector General, Representative and Senator, and Justice of Peace & Quoram, also the military rank of Brigadier General.

He was a strong supporter of the Universalist church of the town, in whose doctrines he took much interest.

He was tall & straight of fine figure his face very pleasant to look upon. He loved children and was loved by them. Distinguished for his sterling integrity as well as talent loved and respected by all who knew him, he died at the age of eighty. “May our end be like his.”

His body & that of his wife lie in the new cemetery, Brewster.

E. W. C.[8] Brewster June 19, 1857

_LETTERS_

_From Messrs. Joshua Wall, John Baxter, Jacob Tidd and William Hayden_

Boston Nov 27^{th} 1801. Cap^{t} E Cobb,

_Sir_,

We expect that Peace in Europe, will make considerable difference both in the price, of the articles, with which you were to load, and also in the demand for them, in this Country; by the time you could return; from these considerations we think it best for you to sell the Ship Monsoon, if you can get from Eight to Ten Thousand dollars, clear of the Mates and People, and all other expences: if you cannot sell the Vessel and the prices of goods ordered have not considerably fallen you will please take a freight to any part of America or elsewhere if to be obtain’d on terms that you think will answer, in either of the above mentioned Cases you will place the proceeds of your outward Cargo, (and Ship if sold) in the hands of some safe House in London, say Tho^{s} Dickerson & C^{o} if they still remain good--in addition to the above we have only to say that feeling much confidence in your judgment, we leave it to you to do as you think will be most for our Interests.--If the Peace continues we think the following articles will not be worth more in Boston next spring than say,--

Iron--100$, to 110$. Hemp 200$ to 230$. Tumblers 40 Cents p^{r} Straw. Glass 8$, pr. Box, to 9$.-- Platillas[9] no Sale unless very low.--

we are with much regard Yours-- Joshua Wall John Baxter Jacob Tidd William Hayden

[Sidenote: Orders for the Voyage]

_From Bixby, Valentine & Company, and Humphrey & Clark_

Boston February 11^{th} 1811. Cap^{t} Elijah Cobb

Sir,

you being Master of the Ship William Tell, we wish you as soon as you get your cargo on board to proceed the first fair wind for Lisbon on your arrival at Lisbon you will apply to Mess^{rs} Gould, Brothers & Co and if you with them think it for our interest you will dispose of your cargo to the best advantage or proceed to Cadiz or Gibralter as you may think best. Should you proceed to Cadiz we should recommend the house of the Widow of Morace Roberts & Co to you to do your business if you should proceed to Gibralter we should recommend the Hous of George Allardyce & Co but in all cases should you think best you will value on any other houses you may think most for our interest, after discharging your cargo you will remit the proceeds of our goods and the amount of your freight to Samuel Williams Esq^{r} London payable to the order of Bixby Valentine & Co in favour of Humphrey & Clark except such amount as you may think proper to invest for a return cargo on our accounts after discharging your cargo you will in case it is at Lisbon or Cadiz ballast your ship with Salt and proceed to the Havana if at Gibralter you will ballast with Stone or Sand as you may be able to obtain, and, if any cheap Red Wine or Malaga Wine can be obtained or any freight you will take and proceed to the Havana with all possible dispatch, In case you get a part of a cargo at any place before mentioned you will have it shipped as the property of Mess^{rs} Drake & Murdock, merchants of Havana, in the name of some Spanish House, On your arrival at the Havana you will call on Mess^{rs} Drake & Murdock where you will find our instructions how to proceed, our object is to get a freight home from the Havana for the Ship with laying out what funds you may have for a return cargo in Molasses or Sugar on our Accts. as we may think most for our interest on your Arrival