| Notes |
- William Henry Nott Commander of the sloop GUILFORD in the Revolutionary
War. Lived in Wethersfield, Conn. Father of John, Oliver, and William
Henry.
Maritime Connecticut During the Revolution, Louis F. Middlebrook
From the CONNECTICUT COURANT of March 2, 1779, No. 736
New Haven, February 24. A privateer sloop of 8 carriage guns and 22 men,
belonging to the enemy, bound from Newport to New York, was last Sunday
night driven ashore at Guilford by the wind. The crew are secured and the
vessel is like to be got off.
Proceedings of the Council of Safety - VOTED, "That Captain William Nott
is appointed to the command of the sloop that was cast on shore at
Guilford, to cruise in the Sound; she be taken by this State, and is now
called the GUILFORD." And on April 15, 9, at the meeting of the Council
in Hartford, General was voted 500 pds. to purchase from the claimants
this sloop, including the two cannons and anchors taken by Soloman Leet,
all of which indicates that any soveriegn rights the State may have had at
time were submissive to the jury verdict and judgement of the New Haven
Maritime Court in this premises. Having purchased the MARS and renamed her
GUILFORD, the General Assembly at teh May session of 1779, made provision
for the enlistment and pay of the crew, and the Council voted Capt. Nott
300 pds. for wages and expenses, and ordered him to proceed the GUILFORD
to Stamford for provisions, and then to New London to fit out for a cruise
in the Sound against the enemy, for which purposes 600 pds. was voted by
the Council, May 25, and on May 27th 7,100 pds. was awarded to the owners
of teh MARS (GUILFORD), payable through General Ward, with discretion.
And at teh June 1st meeting of the Council, Nathanial Shaw, the State
Marine Agent at New London, was ordered to supply all things needed to
properly fit the vessel for action and to exchange her gu Having been
completely fitted out, Captain Nott proceeded on a cruise to the westward,
but had tendered his resignation to Governor Trumbull before sailing.
This, however, had not been accepted as a successor had not yet been
determined upon, and was July 2, 1779, before Captain Nott was released
and Capt. David Hawley of Stratford took command, as evedenced by the
following letter to Governor Trumbull from Captain Nott:
Milford, July 2, 1779
Honoured & Worthy Sir:
I take this time to aquaint your Excellency of my Proceedings since I left
your Honour. I immediately repaired on board the Sloop GUILFORD and then
Proceeded on a Cruise to the Westward as far as Black Rock and there I
Received a Letter from Col. Avenport that acquainted me that you Honour
and Counsell had accepted my Resignation and had appointed Capt. DAvid
Hawley in my Room and upon that I Returned immediately to New Haven where
Capt. Hawley desired me to Deliver her and on Wednesday the 3 day of June
I gave him the Command according to Col. Davenport's Letter and have taken
his Rectt for the Sloop, Stored &c. I now would beg an answer to this
Letter from yhou Honour to Inform me whether I must Settle with my men
that Served under me During the tiem I had the Command or whether they
must look to Capt. Hawley for their wages. I would inform your Excellency
that on Sunday last in my Return from Black Rock I saw a fleet off Milford
consisting of 49 Ships Brihs! and other small bessels the wind being Right
ahead could not get so Nigh them as to Discover what force they were of.
They were standing to the Westward. I have nothing farther to offer at
Present but Remain Your Excellency's Most Obt Huble Servt
William Nott, Capt.
Capt. William Nott had been a successfull privateersman earlier in the
war, in command of the Letter of Marque BROOM, which see. Later in the
war he was in command of whale-boats in the Sound preventing and harassing
the enemy in their persistent effort at illicet trade form Long Island.
Nott, William Captain of SLP. Two Brothers, 1795 she belonged to John
Nott, Roger Riley, Benjamin Butler.
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- 1811
