HMS Charon and Virginia Navy Galley Norfolk Revenge

Happy new year from the officers and crew of HMS Charon and Virginia State Navy Galley Norfolk Revenge! Roast a goose and have a toast to the Navy! May God bless you all with love and life in the coming year! God bless King George and God bless the Old Dominion! Huzza!

Merry Christmas to all from our officers, ships wives, and crew! May peace, love, and joy be with you all! A double grog ration for all! Godspeed and good cheer! Huzza!!!

THOMAS LUDWELL LEE TO RICHARD HENRY LEE, DECEMBER 9, 1775.
“Williamsburg, Virginia. Dear Sir...The naval force of the enemy in this country consists of two sloops of war, the Otter, & Kingfisher, of sixteen six & four pounders, with their compliment of men indeed, one hundred & ten, but these much dispersed in tenders, & all except ten in the Kingfisher, & a few in the Otter, pressed men, disaffected to the cause, & unwilling to fight. Six deserters from the Kingfisher, examined last night, confirm these circumstances, which we were informed of before from other hands.

A frigate of thirty guns, with metal proportionable, by coming into Norfolk [Elizabeth] river would not only become master of these, but of Dunmore’s ship William. & a vast many other vessels loaded with the floating property of Tories, & seized cargoes, to the amount, as is said upon good grounds, of £14000. These gentry would, by such a stroke as this, be all taken up in a nett. Ld. Dunmore's preparations be all torn up by the roots, & the plan of hostility for this country to be begun anew. Ld. Dunmore has issued his first Virginia Gazette printed I think on board the William. It contains his proclamation, the oath tendered to the people of Princess Anne & Norfolk, his conquest over the militia, & the letters of the Delegates intercepted by Capt. Wallace.

PINKNEY’S VIRGINIA GAZETTE, DECEMBER 13, 1775.
“Williamsburg, Virginia. A few days ago 6 of lord Dunmore's men deserted from the Otter. They met some of our men, on their way to this city, by whom they were treated with the utmost hospitality; in return, they assisted us, with the highest pleasure, in stowing away our baggage, and in expediting our troops to their destined place. When they were asked what induced them to leave [Lord] Dunmore, they answered, "Hungry bellies, naked backs, and no fuel; besides, in other respects, the most cruel and inhuman treatment.”

COLONEL ROBERT HOWE TO THE VIRGINIA CONVENTION, DECEMBER 13, 1775.
“Norfolk, Virginia. We have scouting parties down the Bay, to give intelligence of the arrival of any vessels, or any other event, either to our advantage or otherwise. From the officers commanding those parties, we have received certain intelligence that a man of war, either of thirty-six or forty guns, is within the [Chesapeake] Bay, and on her way to this place, with a large brig, supposed to be a store ship, both full of men...”

LETTER FROM A MIDSHIPMAN ABOARD HMS OTTER, DECEMBER 15, 1775.
“Off Norfolk, Elizabeth River, Virginia. The Rebels having now nothing to obstruct their passage, arrived and took possession of Norfolk, and in the evening saluted us with a volley of small arms; on which, the next morning, I was sent on shore to their Commander, to inform him, that if another shot was fired at the Otter, they must expect the town to be knocked about their ears [ie. bombarded].”

Editor’s Note: Lord Dunmore’s Virginia Gazette was printed using a press seized by Royal Navy sailors and marines in October 1775 from the print shop of John Hunter Holt.

Thomas Lee (1730-1778) was a planter, and politician who served in the House of Burgesses and later the Virginia Senate. He was born at Stratford Hall in Westmoreland County but later lived in Stafford where he owned hundreds of acres and many slaves. Lee married Mary Aylett in the 1750s and she bore six children. After the Virginia General Assembly became bicameral, Lee was elected to the Virginia Senate to represent the Northern Neck of Virginia. On October 14, 1776, he was appointed to a committee to revise, amend, or repeal any Virginia law, subject to the approval of the Virginia House of Delegates. Unlike his brothers, Lee refused to enter into national politics. George Wythe, once said that Lee was “the delight of the eyes of every Virginian, but would not engage in public life.”

Robert Howe (1732-1786) was a Continental Army general from North Carolina during the Revolutionary War. He also played a role in the government of North Carolina, serving in the legislature. Howe, as the senior officer, engaged in negotiations over access to supplies with the captains of British ships anchored off Norfolk. The situation deteriorated, and Norfolk was burned on January 1, 1776, in an action started by the Royal Navy and completed by Patriot forces. Howe ordered most of the buildings that remained razed before he withdrew, to render the location useless to the British. During Howe's time in command, Woodford described him as a "brave, prudent & spirited commander." On December 22, 1775, Howe was thanked by the Virginia Convention.

The poor treatment of the sailors aboard HMS Otter and other Royal Navy vessels was not uncommon in the 18th century. However, the Otter’s boatswain, Tobias Verdin was an especially brutish character. He was questioned about the theft of an anchor in Portsmouth, England in 1773. After “behaving in a tyrannical manner to the Ship’s Company,” and often being “Insolent to the Officers, as well as neglecting his duty,” Verdin was suspended from duty. However, after good behavior, he was restored to duty in February 1776 by Captain Matthew Squire. However, it could be that Squire simply needed all hands on deck as desertions and deaths from disease continued unabated. At least nine seamen aboard the Otter are known to have died from 1775 to 1776. In addition to desertions and captures, this would have left the Otter undermanned. Indeed, Thomas Lee wrote in his letter above that the Otter was partially composed of “…pressed men, disaffected to the cause, & unwilling to fight.”

The midshipman who wrote these letters for publication was possibly John Buchanan who later served as a prize master of the schooner Sandwich from Norfolk, Virginia.

Images: B. Henry Latrobe, “View of Norfolk from Smith’s Point, Virginia,” 1797. Benson J. Lossing, “General Robert Howe,” 1852. Daniel Tandy, “British Man of War and Small Craft Off a Coast,” circa1800. Unknown Artist, “Midshipman,” circa 1800. Pierre Eugene Du Simitiere, “Map of the Maritime Parts of Virginia exhibiting the Sea of War and of Lord Dunmore’s Depredations in that Colony,” 1776. Norfolk, Elizabeth River, and Williamsburg are marked in red.

Happy Thanksgiving from the officers and crew of HMS Charon and Virginia Galley Norfolk Revenge! Eat, drink, and be merry with friends and family! May God bless Virginia's dominions on land and sea! Huzza!!!

Image: Bowles and Carver, " Fortune's Favourites: or Happiness in every Situation," 1786.

JOURNAL OF THE VIRGINIA NAVY BOARD, NOVEMBER 20, 1776.
“Williamsburg. An Agreement was this day made by the Board with Robert Donald & Co. for nine Acres of Land called Brookes Point in Chesterfield County for the Sum of four hundred and twenty nine pounds which said Land is to be appropriated to the use of a Ropery for the Public, the said Robert Donald appeared and executed a Deed for the said Land in the Presence of sundry Witnesses which said Deed was delivered to Mr Benjamin Watkins to be Recorded in the Court of Chesterfield County and transmitted to this Board. Ordered that a Warrant Issue to the said Donald for Four hundred and twenty nine pounds the Consideration Money for the Land above mentioned.
Ordered that Benjamin Powell deliver unto Capt George Elliott, Ten Yards of [wool] Bunting for the use of the Safeguard Galley.
Ordered that Mr William Holt deliver unto Capt George Elliott sixty Gallons of Whiskey for use of the Safeguard Galley.”

Editor’s Note: Safeguard was built in Gloucester County, Virginia and mounted one 18–pounder with a crew of eighty men. George Elliott, Jr., was a merchant mariner prior to the Revolution but retired to Augusta County, Virginia with his family in the 1760s. He owned a saw mill and grist mill but when these burned down in 1775, Elliott sought a commission in the newly formed Virginia Navy. He was commissioned as captain of the Safeguard in July 1776. Elliott was ordered to convey troops from Portsmouth, Virginia to the head of the Chesapeake Bay in October 1776. In June 1777, the Safeguard was assigned to guard the Eastern Shore and deliver arms to the militia. From there Captain Elliot was ordered to the York River and then back to the Eastern Shore to rescue civilians “from their exposed situations.” Captain Elliott enlisted many seaman from the Northern Neck where several Scots Irish communities existed. He placed an advertisement in the Virginia Gazette for two deserters in August 1777, which read, “DESERTED from the Safeguard galley...Charles Elder, a Scotchman, which may easily be discovered from his dialect, about 5 feet 8 inches high, and wears his own hair; had on a blue jacket and black breeches.” In April 1778, the Safeguard transported clothing and supplies to Head of Elk, Maryland, for use by Virginia troops in the Northern Theater. In September 1778, Elliott was transferred to command the brig Northampton near the Capes. The Safeguard was declared unseaworthy and was advertised for sale in August 1780. Captain Elliott served in the Virginia Navy for the entire war and received 4,000 acres of land in Kentucky for his service.

Images: John Varley, "Boat Building," 1806. A ropewalk would have looked similar to this boatyard. "Continental Galley Washington," 1776. The lateen rigged, two masted galley
Washington was launched in 1776 at Skenesboro, New York. Denis Diderot, “Ropemaking," 1751. Rope making consisted of laying or twisting three strands of h**p yarn to form a rope. Three strands were fastened to hooks on a wheel. The strands were placed in grooves on the piece of wood called a 'top' resting on wheeled carriage and this prevented tangling. The top man ensured an even, firm twist, and as the rope progressed he gradually pushed the top and carriage towards the wheel. John Hodges Benwell, “Jemmy’s Return, 1780s. This depicts a Scottish seaman wearing a kilt over breeches returning home. Joshua Fry and Peter Jefferson, “A map of the most inhabited part of Virginia containing the whole province of Maryland with part of Pensilvania, New Jersey, and North Carolina,” 1775. The Ropewalk laid out by the Navy Board was located near Proctor's Creek south of the James River and is circled in red. Williamsburg, the capital, is also marked in red.

Happy Veterans Day! Thank you to all who have served our great country! God bless these United States! Huzza!!!

Image: The Mutual Embrace, John Collet, 1774.

JOURNAL OF THE VIRGINIA NAVY BOARD, OCTOBER 26, 1776.
“Capt. John Calvert of the Norfolk Revenge Galley received Orders to go immediately with his Vessel to Hampton, [from Jamestown] there apply to Mr George Hope for a new fore Yard which he is to have fitted as soon as Possible and then Proceed on a Cruize in the Bay using his utmost Endeavours to Annoy the Enemy and protect any Friendly Vessels that may be coming in by Convoying them to some place of Safety within the Capes, observing to take proper care of his own Vessel, and when his Vessel may get fowl or any other Occurrence renders it Necessary for his returning It is Ordered that he return to his former Station at Hampton and give the Board Notice thereof together with an Account of his Proceedings during the Cruize…Thomas Whiting 1st Comsr.”

VIRGINIA NAVY BOARD TO LT. BENJAMIN POLLARD, OCTOBER 25, 1776.
“Williamsburg. Sir, Your Letter of the 23d Inst. we have receiv'd and in consequence of your information have wrote to Lieut. Henry Stratton and order'd him down to answer for his Conduct, we shall provide the Clothing for the Marines and Seamen as early as possible and shall be oblig'd to you to purchase such Liquor as you may want upon the best terms you can. I am by order of the Naval Board. Your hble Servant, Thomas Whiting 1st Comr.”

Editor’s Note: In January 1776 John Calvert was appointed a captain in the Virginia State Navy. He served for the entire war, commanding the galley, Norfolk’s Revenge (ie. Revenge, a reference to the burning of Norfolk on January 1, 1776). In February, Calvert was appointed to “employ proper persons to furnish necessary materials and superintend the building of a sea galley...to be employed on James river of which when finished he is to have the command and is to engage the officers and seamen...” In October 1776, with the vessel almost completed, Calvert took on supplies including nails, canvas, shoes, gunpowder, and 23 “Sailors Jacketts.” Calvert later enlisted a male slave from Eleanor Bowrey of Hampton. The man named Cuffee joined the Virginia Navy in September 1777 at 3 shillings per day for 3 years.

In 1776, Lt. Benjamin Pollard was appointed in place of Captain Samuel Hanway, who commanded a company of marines at Sandy Point. Henry Stratton, of Chesterfield County, was a member of Lt. Pollard's company. He had not returned from an eight day leave, and did not "intend to return until four or five Weeks time." He appeared before the Navy Board on October 31 and claimed that sickness had prevented him from reporting for duty aboard the Hero. However, he did return after conferring with the Board. That same month, the Navy Board paid Sally Spottswood one pound twelve shillings for “Nursing two sick Men belonging to the Hero Galley.” Stratton was later promoted to captain and commanded the schooner Alliance. According to sailor Thomas Dance, the Alliance “embarked...partly fitted out for a cruise from thence set sale for Richmond &...from thence set sale for sea, after geting to sea, she was Captured after a contest of 4 or 5 hours by Capt. Pickett...of the privateer sloop, whale bone” in July 1779.

Images: John Durand, “Samuel Carr,” 1774. Samuel Carr (1746-1777) owned "Dunlora" and "Bear Castle" plantations in Albemarle and Louisa counties, Virginia. He was a captain in the marines at the time of his death. R. C. Anderson, “Venetian Galley at Sea,” 1780. Francis Jukes, “A View of Ramsgate Pier from the Cliff with part of Inner Harbour,” 1796. Unknown Maker, "Punch Bowl," 1750. Shallow bowl with a scene of a gentleman pointing toward a ship under full sail and the inscription "SUCCESS TO ROGER HARRISON 1750." Roger Harrison could have been the ship's owner. Most ship bowls were generally made in Liverpool. Major Michel Capitaine du Chesnoy, Detail from “Campagne en Virginie/ du Major Général M.isr de La Fayette,/ ou Se trouvent les Camps et Marches, ainsy que ceux/ du Lieutenant Général L.d Cornwallis./ par le Major Capitaine, aide de Camp du Gl. La Fayette,” 1781. Sandy Point and Hampton are marked in red.

ANONYMOUS TO THE VIRGINIA GAZETTE, NOVEMBER 1, 1775.
“Hampton. Mr. Printer, For the satisfaction of the public, I shall endeavour to give you as true an account of the late matters at this place as I am able.

Last Wednesday night [October 25] a party of men from the tenders went on shore, and robbed several houses on Mill Creek, nigh Hampton. We heard of this the next morning, and observed the tenders at anchor, no great distance from the place where several vessels had been sunk in the channel of Hampton river, to prevent their surprizing us. The channel was not completely stopped, and we imagined, from their situation they intended to prevent our compleating the work, or perhaps might intend to land, to be at their old trade. However, to observe their motions particularly, captain [George] Lyne, in the minute service, rode round nigh where the tenders lay, and left orders for his lieutenant (Mr. Smith) with 30 men, to come over to him, by crossing one of the branches of Hampton river. In a short time aft captain Lyne had fixed himself on the point, lieutenant Smith was over with the men, and then two vollies of musquetry were discharged from the tenders, and answered by captain Lyne from his post by a rifle, which was answered by a four pounder from one of the tenders; then began a pretty warm fire from all the tenders. Captain [George] Nicholas, observing this, soon joined about 25 of his men. The fire of our musquetry caused the tender nighest to us to sheer off some distance. The fire consisted of 4 pounders, grape shot &c. for about one hour. Not a man of our's was hurt. Whether our men did any damage is uncertain. They could not get nigher than 300 yards. Some say they saw men fall in one of the tenders. After waiting under cover nigh the shore, and finding they would not land, the men were ordered to retreat to the woods, to try whether that would not induce them to land; but all in vain as long as we stayed. The men were then marched into Hampton, and about 5 o'clock in the afternoon some of them landed, and burnt Mr. Edward Cooper's house. In the night they cut a passage through the vessels that were sunk, and the next morning, about 8 o'clock (which was about half an hour after colonel Woodford and captain Buford arrived with a rifle company) 5 tenders, to wit, a large schooner, 2 sloops, and 2 pilot boats, passed the passage they had cleared, and drew up a-breast of the town; they then gave 3 chears, and began a heavy fire. Colonel Woodford immediately posted captain Nicholas with his company on one side of the main street, and captain Buford with his riflemen on the other, who were joined by the town company of militia; captain Lyne with his company was ordered to march to the cross roads just out of town to sustain any attack that might come from James or Back river. The colonel had been informed that men were landed from both these rivers. The musquet and rifle balls soon began to fly so thick that few men were seen upon the decks. The engagement continued very warm for some time. At length they began to cut and slip their cables, and all cleared themselves, except one, which was boarded and taken by some of our men. They took in her the gunner and 7 men, 3 of whom were wounded, 2 mortally (both since dead), 1 white woman, and 2 negro men; lieutenant Wright, who commanded the prize, after receiving a ball, jumped overboard, and it is thought he was not able to reach the tenders. Several more jumped overboard; but it is not known what is become of them, or what damage is done on board of the other tenders. In those 2 different actions, Mr. Printer, officers and soldiers of the regular, minute, and militia, acted with a spirit becoming freemen and Americans, and must evince that Americans will die, or be free!”

Editor’s Note: During the fray the Royal Navy suffered several casualties, but the Virginia Militia suffered none. Despite the fact that the The Virginia Gazette followed up the Battle of Hampton with another editorial, stating “The rifle-men and soldiers of Hampton desire their compliments to capt. Squire and his squadron, and wish to know how they approve the reception they met with last friday. Should he incline to renew his visit, they will be glad to see him; otherwise, in point of complaisance, they will be under the necessity of returning the visit. If he cannot find the ear that was cut of[f], they hope he will wear a wig to hide the mark."

Lt. John Wright served aboard HMS Otter from 1775 to 1778, and even acted as captain when Captain Matthew Squire was ill. Wright was given a squadron in North Carolina which included the infamous privateer from Portsmouth John Goodrich. According to a letter from the North Carolina government, Goodrich “Commanded a certain Tender called the Lilly under the Superior Conduct of a certain Lieut John Wright of the British Navy who commanded an Armed Sloop called the Fincastle...he seized as prizes of War, divers Vessels outward Bound from this Colony.”

Images: Bernard Romans, “An Exact View of the Late Battle at Charlestown,” 1775. By the following winter this print was available in Williamsburg. On January 6, 1776, the Virginia Gazette advertised for sale in Williamsburg, "A large and exact VIEW of the late BATTLE at CHARLESTOWN, elegantly coloured, Price one Dollar." Daniel Tandy, “British man of war and small craft off a coast,” circa 1800. Unknown Maker, “3rd Virginia Regimental Flag,” 1780. The silk gold-yellow field well-painted on both sides with the device of a beaver felling a palmetto over the motto “PERSEVERANDO” and inset on the upper hoist and with a blue silk canton containing thirteen silver five-pointed stars. The flag is composed of yellow silk seamed together, with a piece of blue silk into which have been inserted thirteen silver tin-glazed five-pointed stars, arranged as a triangle of three stars within a circle of eight stars, with two further stars at the upper left and right corners of the canton. The stand of colors of the 3rd Virginia under Colonel Abraham Buford, was captured by Colonel Banastre Tarleton at the Battle of Waxhaws, South Carolina, in 1780. John Henry, “A New and Accurate Map of Virginia…,” 1770. Shortly after the publication of the accurate map of Virginia by Fry and Jefferson, John Henry, father of Patrick Henry and surveyor of Hanover County, announced that he intended to make a better map of Virginia. When the map was published in 1770, its inferiority to Fry and Jefferson's map was quickly noted. Hampton is marked in red. Unknown Artist, “Liberty Triumphant; or the Downfall of Oppression,” 1774. The action takes place on a map, with the coast of North America to the right, and England to the left. In the upper left, a crestfallen Britannia tells the genius of Britain, a winged figure with a spear, that she is distressed by the conduct of her degenerate sons, the colonies. Just below her are two groups, the one to the right representing the chained ministers led by the all-powerful Lord North, dominated by the Devil. To the left are East India company merchants who complain that the American treatment of their goods, particularly the destruction of the tea at Boston and the refusal of their goods by other colonies, is ruinous to them. On the other shore, Indian Princess America, armed with bow and arrow and supported by her braves, protects the country. Below her a group of Tories lament the loss of their income and influence as a result of the boycott of English goods. Top right, the Goddess of Liberty, holding her pole and liberty cap, and the winged figure of Fame discuss the ardor of Liberty's brave sons, the colonies.

The surrender at Yorktown. Huzza!

On October 19, 1781, the surrender at Yorktown, Virginia, marked an important moment in securing American independence. Outnumbered and outfought during a three-week siege in which they sustained great losses, British troops surrendered to the Continental Army and their French allies. This last major land battle of the American Revolution led to negotiations for peace with the British and the signing of the Treaty of Paris in 1783. Learn more: https://www.battlefields.org/learn/revolutionary-war/battles/yorktown

Happy 250th birthday to the U.S. Navy! Huzza!

Images: Louis Dodd, "The Continental Navy Frigate Hancock outward bound from Boston 1777," 20th century. Carington Bowles, "Paul Jones Shooting a Sailor...," 1779. Unknown Artist, "Portrait of a Black Sailor," possibly Paul Cuffe, circa 1800. P. Stampa, "An Emblem of America," 1800.

THE BURNING OF HMS CHARON.
October 9, 1781. Artillery batteries are completed and the French open fire at 3:00 p.m. from the Trench opposite the Fusilier's Redoubt. General Washington fires the first American gun at around 5:00 p.m. Soon, more batteries open fire. French hot shot ignites HMS Charon, which quickly burns and sinks, as it drifts towards Gloucester.

Image: John Hills, Detail from "Plan of York Town and Gloucester in Virginia, shewing the works constructed for the defence of those posts by the Rt. Honble: Lieut. General Earl Cornwallis, with the attacks of the combined army of French and rebels under the command of the Generals Count de Rochambaud and Washington which capitulated October 1781," 1781. Note the Charon ablaze in the upper right corner. On the left, the map reads "This battery drove the Guadaloupe from her station of flanking the beach & set the Charon on fire the 10th of October."

PURDIE’S VIRGINIA GAZETTE, SEPTEMBER 29, 1775.
“Last week the Richmond packet was seized in Norfolk harbour, just after the passengers got on shore, by some banditti [(ie. seamen)] from the Kingfisher sloop, capt. [James] Montague. After rifling the passengers trunks, they went off, taking with them a middling of bacon, one pig, two hunting shirts, a tomahawk, two fowling pieces, and a silver hilted sword. A few days before, mr. Joseph Middleton, of Annapolis, in Maryland, with his wife and family, being on a visit to some relations in Norfolk, they were brought to by capt. Montague, who, after much insulting language, ordered them ashore in his boat, and made prize of their vessel, worth 150£ a valuable negro man in her belonging to mr. Middleton's brother, four mattrasses, one bed and furniture, a blue shirt, a case of cherry rum, seven swivel guns, and one musket. Some time after, mr. Middleton went on board the man of war, to demand his vessel, &c. when the valiant captain, with the usual insolence of the small gentry in the navy, damn'd him for a rebel, and said, had it not been for his wife and children, he would have sent him to Boston in irons, pointing to some that were lying upon deck.”

DIXON'S & HUNTER’S VIRGINIA GAZETTE, OCTOBER 7, 1775.
“Abstract of a Letter from a Gentleman in Norfolk, October 1, 1775. Yesterday came ashore about 15 of the King’s soldiers, and marched up to the printing-office, out of which they took all the types and part of the press, and carried them on board the new ship Eilbeck, in presence, I suppose, of between two and three hundred spectators, without meeting with the least molestation; and upon the drums beating up and down the town, there were only about 35 men to arms. They say they want to print a few papers themselves; that they looked upon the press not to be free, and had a mind to publish something in vindication of their own characters. But as they have only part of the press, and no ink as yet, it is out of their power to do any thing in the printing business. They have got neither of the compositors, but I understand there is a printer on board the [sloop] Otter. Mr. Cu***ng, the bookbinder, was pressed on board, but is admitted ashore at times; He says Capt. Squire was very angry they did not get Mr. Holt, who happened to be in the house the whole time they were searching, but luckily made his escape, notwithstanding the office was guarded all round. Mr. Cu***ng also informs, that the Captain says he will return every thing in safe order to the office, after he answers his ends, which, he says, will be in about three weeks. It was extremely melancholy to hear the cries of the women and children in the streets; most of the families are moving out of town, with the greatest expedition, the carts have been going all this day.”

Editor’s Note: HMS Kingsfisher was the second ship in the 14-gun Swan class of ship sloops, to which design 25 vessels were built in the 1760s and 1770s. She was launched in 1770 at Chatham Dockyard, and was dispatched to the Chesapeake Bay where she served as part of Lord Dunmore’s squadron from September 1775 to June 1776. Kingsfisher also helped enforce the blockade of the Delaware Bay, and fought in the Battle of Turtle Gut Inlet, New Jersey. She was burnt by her crew to avoid capture in August 1778 during the Battle of Rhode Island.

In early October Lord Dunmore sent a shore party into Norfolk to seize the printing press of the Norfolk Intelligencer and arrest the printer, John Hunter Holt. This resulted from an event earlier that month where Hampton’s citizens seized and burned the Otter’s tender after a hurricane cast it ashore during a nightly raid for slaves and livestock. Captain Squire’s resulting demands and threats led to a flood of anti-British rhetoric in Hampton Roads, particularly in Holt’s newspaper. The bedeviled governor was further embarrassed when a story circulated that he had fallen overboard during the hurricane. In Pinkney’s Virginia Gazette, an article stated, “Lord Dunmore, it seems, fared but poorly in this hurricane, as, by some accident…by the confusion in which the sailors were, his lordship fell overboard and was severely ducked. But according to the old saying, those who are born to be hanged will never be drowned.”

The beleaguered governor soon snared the press and two loyalist printers, Alexander Cameron and Donald McDonald. For the next six months, they worked aboard a ship in Dunmore's squadron, producing the Virginia Gazette. The borough council wrote angrily to Lord Dunmore stating, "...a Party of Men under the command of Captain [Matthew] Squire of the Otter Sloop of War lying in this harbour, landed in the most public part of this Borough in the most daring manner, and in open violation of the peace and good order, Seized on the Printing-Utensils belonging to an Inhabitant [(ie. John Holt)] of this Town as also the Persons of two of his Family."

John Holt, and his son John Hunter Holt, were both printers. The elder Holt was the mayor of Williamsburg, where he learned the printing business from his brother-in-law, William Hunter, printer of the Virginia Gazette from 1751-1761 and 1775-1778. Relocating to New England in 1754 due to financial difficulties, John Holt purchased the New York Gazette in 1762. John Hunter Holt (1748-1787) remained in Virginia and followed in his father’s footsteps. The younger Holt purchased the Virginia Gazette in Norfolk in April 1775 as an act of rebellion against Virginia’s royal governor, Lord Dunmore. He eventually took a captain’s commission in the 1st Virginia Regiment, and served for the duration of the Revolutionary War. Holt continued to work as a printer after the war. He died in Richmond, Virginia leaving behind a wife and children.

Images: Charles Gore, “Drawing,” late 18th century. An armed cutter in a storm and another boat in the distance. Thomas Stothard, “The Wreck of the ‘Halswell,’ Indiaman,” 1786. Thomas Bewick, “Printer,” 1780. B. Henry Latrobe, “View on the Elizabeth River, Norfolk, Virginia,” 1796. This scene features marshes, woodlands, and four schooners on the Elizabeth River near Norfolk, Virginia. James Stratton, Detail from “A plan of Portsmouth Harbour in the province of Virginia shewing the works erected by the British forces for its defence,” 1781. Norfolk, Portsmouth, and the Elizabeth River are marked in red.