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Descriptive Summary

Repository: Houghton Library, Harvard College Library, Harvard University
Location: f
Call No.: MS Am 812
Creator: Tucker, Samuel, 1747-1833.
Title: Papers,
Date(s): 1774-1847.
Quantity: 6 v. (.7 linear ft.)
Abstract: Letters, accounts, ship papers, and military pensions of American navy commodore Samuel Tucker.

Acquisition Information:

Historical Note

Tucker was a commodore in the American navy during the Revolutionary War.

Arrangement

Organized into the following series:

• Volume I: 1774-1779
• Volume II: 1779-1797
• Volume III: 1806-1847
• Volume IV: Log-books
• Volume V: Fragment of a letter book
• Volume VI: Journal on board U. S. frigate "Boston"

Scope and Content

Letters, accounts, instructions, logbooks, and ship's papers relating to Tucker's naval service during the Revolutionary War and to his merchant marine service after leaving the navy in 1781. Includes papers relating to Revolutionary War pensions.

Container List

• Series: Volume I: 1774-1779
  Accounts, bills of lading, etc. of voyages to Spain, to Charleston, S. C., London, etc. 1774, 1775, in brig "Young Phoenix," owned by Jeremiah Lee of Marblehead, Mass.
  • Feb. 1776. Letter of Jonathan Glover to Tucker respecting his cruise for prizes in the armed schooner "Franklin," with other papers concerning these marine captures in 1776.
  • Printed orders of Congress, Oct. 29, 1776, respecting the naval service.
  • Nov. 13, 1776. Statement of Nicholas Martindale, commander, and George McCree, owner of cargo, respecting the capture of the "Lively" by Tucker in the "Hancock."
  • Copy of Tucker's commission, Mar. 19, 1777, to command the frigate "Boston," from John Hancock, President of Congress; with instructions, Dec. 27, 1777, from Wm. Vernon, J. Warren, and John Deshon, members of the Navy Board of the Eastern Department. Various papers relating to his cruises in the "Boston." Further instructions, Feb. 10, 1778, to convey John Adams on the "Boston" to France.
  • Instructions (Mar. 1778) to Hezekiah Welch, prize-master of the "Martha."
  • Mar. 11, 1778. Tucker to the Navy Board in Boston; another letter, Apr. 1.
  • Apr. 13, 15, 19, 1778. Passy. Letters to Tucker from Franklin, Lee, and Adams.
  • Apr. 29, 1778. John Adams to Tucker.
  • Papers at Bordeaux, Apr. and May, 1778.
  • Signals determined upon at sea (with Capt. Murray).
  • July 5, 10, 15, Aug. 5, 1778. Letters of J. D. Schweighauser, Continental Agent in Nantes.
  • Tucker at Port Louis.
  • Nantes, July 7, 13, 1778. Abraham Whipple to Tucker, about cruising in company.
  • Letters of M. Livingston, Paris, 1778.
  • Letter of John Robert Selby, Bellisle, July 10, 1778.
  • Mark Pringle, July 13, 1778, requests passage to America.
  • July 22, 1778. Passy. Letter of Franklin, Lee, and Adams.
  • Sundry accounts against the "Boston," 1778.
  • On board Continental frigate "Providence," Aug. 24, 1778, orders signed by A. Whipple, Sam. Tucker, and Thomas Simpson to prize-master Joseph Proctor, of captured brig "Sally"; and Sept. 15, orders similarly signed to prize-master William Atkins of captured snow "Adventure."
  • Sept. 27, 1778. Agreement of Whipple, Tucker, and Simpson to cruise on the banks of Newfoundland.
  • Port charges (bills) Liverpool and London.
  • Code of Continental navy signals.
  • Muster-rolls of frigate "Boston."
  • Parole of John Ashley, prisoner.
  • Whipple to Tucker.
  • Accounts of Tucker with the United States.
  • Warren and Vernon, Navy Board, orders, Boston, Apr. 6, 1779, to Tucker, to cruise with the "Boston" and "Providence."
  • British Commission to the "Patsy" as a letter-of-marque, dated New York, May 4, 1779.
  • Permit to go to sea of brig "Boyd," May, 1779, by the commander of the "Daphne" in New York, & c.
  • Wm. Whipple, Marine Committee, New York, June 25, 1779, to Tucker.
  • John Wharton and James Read, Navy Board, Philadelphia, June 16, 25, 1779, to Tucker.
  • Joseph Reed, President of Pennsylvania, June 2, 1779, to James Montgomery, putting him and his vessel under the orders of Tucker.
  • Samuel Nicholson, on the "Deane," Old Kiln Road, June 28, 1779, to Tucker, asking for a conference.
  • 1779. July 23. John Carter, agent of Virginia.
  • The "Deane" at Hampton Roads.
  • Commission of letter-of-marque for armed brigantine "Dolphin," issued by Robert Cutherwood, British Admiralty Judge at St. Augustine, Florida.
  • Return of gunner's stores, ship "Boston."
  • Book of orders for ship "Boston," Samuel Tucker, Esq., 1779-[1780].
  • Ship "Boston's" order book, 1780.

• Series: Volume II: 1779-1797
  • 1779. Remarkable observations on board the "Boston." [Log-book.]
  • List of officers and seamen of the "Boston."
  • Nov. 9. Wm. Vernon and J. Warren's orders to Tucker to proceed to Newbury and convoy the State ship, under Capt. Williams, to Boston.
  • Nov. 20. Same to Abraham Whipple, orders to command the fleet,--"Providence," "Boston," "Queen of France," and "Ranger"; and others to Tucker of even date.
  • Nov. Articles for the brig "Dolphin."
  • Nov. Whipple's instructions to Tucker.
  • Copies of signals done on board ship "Boston," 1779.
  • Signals to be observed.
  • 1780. At Charleston, S. C. Letters of Tucker. Whipple, Gen. Lincoln, Gov. Rutledge (blowing up lighthouse), Gen. Moultrie.
  • Return of provisions in the "Boston."
  • Tucker's parole as prisoner, May 28, 1780.
  • Letters of Duncan Macpherson and others, July-Nov. 1780, on the exchange of prisoners.
  • 1781. Jan. Tucker's leave for six months to cruise against the enemy in private service, when he takes charge of ship "Thorn" for W. R. Lee & Co. Letter of Elbridge Gerry, as owner of a thirty-second of the vessel. Accounts with Lee & Co. Invoices of goods captured by the "Thorn." Capture of the British ship "Hind." Certificate, July 26, 1781, of Sir Wm. Young, Captain of the "Hind," as to Tucker's humane character. Tucker's letter to Sir Andrew S. Hammond (Halifax) about his treatment as prisoner, and the reply of H. Turnbull. Commissary for naval officers.
  • Bill of sale of one half of the vessel, a "Shaving Mill," called the "Hero," to Tucker from Peter Geyer, Dec. 1781.
  • Register granted to Wm. R. Lee for ship "Cato," Dec. 29, 1781. Countersigned by John Hancock.
  • Bills of outfit, etc. of the "Hero."
  • Tucker's account with the agent of the captors in the "Thorn," May, 1782; and of those of the "Hero," Sept. 1782.
  • John Foster, Admiralty Court, Providence, Oct. 1782, judgment for the division of the captures of the "Scammel" and "Hero." Letters appertaining.
  • 1783. Tucker's account with ship "Sanana."
  • Perez Morton and the "Hero."
  • Tucker to John Meader, London, Nov. 17.
  • 1784. Nathaniel Tracy, Boston, Jan. 30, and ship "Cato."
  • Pay-roll of the "Cato"; and papers relating to her voyage.
  • Letter to E. Gerry relating to the settlement of Tucker's accounts; and Gerry's reply, Annapolis, June 5.
  • Letters of Benj. Bourne, Nath. Tracy.
  • Letters of Tucker to Nath. Tracy.
  • Printed circular of Benj. Tetard and John Lee, Boston.
  • Bill of lading, ship "Betsy," with letter of Francis Bradbury.
  • Clearance of the "Cato" at Portsmouth, July 26, 1784.
  • Tucker, St. Domingo, to Capt. David Coats.
  • 1785. Samuel Eliot and the "Hind."
  • Transactions on board the ship "Henrietta," Jan. and Feb.
  • Tucker's letters and papers while in command of the "Cato."
  • Log of brig "Active" from Lisbon to Beverly.
  • 1787. Tucker to Gen. Knox, and Knox's reply.
  • 1790. Tucker to John Adams and to Gen. Knox, asking to be appointed to the command of a federal cutter.
  • Letters to Thomas Jefferson and Alex. Hamilton on the same subject, and Hamilton's reply; and other letters respecting the failure of Tucker's application.
  • 1791. John Adams to Tucker on the same topic.
  • 1796. Tucker on the death of his only son, Elias.
  • 1797. Tucker to his children on the death of his son.

• Series: Volume III: 1806-1847
  • Tucker,Jan. 1806, to the President on his services; and his petition to Congress, Dec. 1806, for the settlement of his accounts, and letters respecting his claims.
  • 1810. Petition of inhabitants of Bristol (Maine) to Congress, and to Gov. Gerry; and the call of the committee appointed to inquire into the disturbances in the County of Lincoln.
  • 1812. Papers of Tucker's renewed petition to Congress for a consideration for his services in the Revolutionary War, with papers appertaining.
  • Printed "Additional instructions to the public and private armed vessels of the United States," signed by Jas. Monroe, Secretary of State.
  • Agreement of men to serve under Tucker in the sloop "Increase."
  • 1813. Tucker to John Binney.
  • 1814. Tucker on the liability of Bristol to an attack.
  • 1816. Tucker's further petition to Congress for relief, with a letter of John Adams on the subject, and other papers, including a letter from B. W. Crowninshield, Secretary of the Navy.
  • 1817. Albion K. Parris to Tucker on the pension bill passing the House of Representatives; and letters of Tucker on his claims.
  • 1818-1819. Gamaliel Bradford to Tucker about lands in Bristol.
  • Voters in Bristol.
  • 1819. James Gardner on his son, Dr. John F. Gardner.
  • Tucker on service in the frigate "Boston." Mentions that all her papers were burned in Washington. About one Oliver Jillson.
  • Letters to Tucker asking information to establish claims for revolutionary service of those who served under him.
  • 1820-1821. Benj. Homans on Tucker's pension, and the failure of his petition to Congress. His new petition, with other letters appertaining.
  • 1822. Tucker's efforts for his grandson, with letter of John Chandler, Mark L. Hill, and others.
  • 1823. Lighthouse on Monhegan.
  • Genealogy of Capt. Joseph Tucker.
  • 1824. Information about Lieut. James Knowles.
  • Pension for John Vickery of Marblehead,
  • 1825. John Paine on Tucker's recollections of the Revolutionary War.
  • 1829. Benj. Rice to Tucker, asking a certificate of his service in the Revolutionary War.
  • 1830. M. Shaw on a biography of Tucker.
  • Various applications to Tucker for certificates of the services of different applicants for pensions.
  • 1832. A published letter by Tucker on the presidential election, opposing Jackson.
  • Newspaper scraps about Tucker.

• Series: Volume IV: Log-books
  • 1. Account of stores in U. S. frigate "Boston,"1779.
  • 2. Log of ship "Sanana," Portsmouth to London, 1783.
  • 3. Log of ship "Caroline," London to Baltimore, 1783.
  • 4. Log of ship "Cato," Portsmouth to the West Indies, 1784; Martinico to Hispanola, then bound for Virginia, being wrecked on the passage, Jan. 1785.

• Series: Volume V: Fragment of a letter book
  • Fragment of a letter book, 1778.

• Series: Volume VI: Journal on board U. S. frigate "Boston"
  • Journal on board U. S. frigate "Boston, " Feb. 11 to Oct. 9, 1778.
    John Adams was a passenger, bound to Europe on diplomatic service.