Rare Archive of Correspondence of Revolutionary War Officers, Merchants and Privateers, addressed to Col. Francis Gurney, Merchant of Philadelphia 1775-1789, discussing Business, Smuggling and Privateering

16 items, including correspondence and manuscript documents, most dating from 1775-1783. Manuscript archive consisting of correspondence and documents written by Continental Army officers, privateers and merchants during the Revolutionary War, all addressed to Francis Gurney of Philadelphia. The principle correspondents in this collection were well to do merchants before the war who carried on a variety of business ventures, including privateering. The correspondence centers upon Gurney with whom several of the main correspondents had dealings before and during the war. The contents of this archive are both highly interesting and by their very nature extremely scarce and should be of considerable interest to scholars studying the role of Revolutionary War Privateers in winning American Independence which is gaining the increased interest and attention of scholars and historians. Upon the commencement of hostilities with England in 1775, most of the colonies, notably Massachusetts and Rhode Island, issued letters of marque and reprisal; and the Continental Congress three months before the Declaration of Independence sanctioned privateering "against the enemies of the United Colonies." The 1151 privateers of the Revolution captured about 600 British vessels, of which 16 were men-of war, the privateers carried the brunt of sea operations. By 1781 there were in commission only three public cruisers, but 449 private-armed cruisers mounting 6735 guns were in service. Although the operations of the privateers had been not only highly profitable financially and an invaluable aid to the navy, the Government after the war soon joined the sentimental movement in Europe for the abolition of privateering, but abandoned it in 1798 in the face of the armed depredations of French vessels. The main correspondents in this collection are: Colonel Francis Gurney was a noted Philadelphia merchant, Gurney served as Lieutenant Colonel of the 11th Pennsylvania as of August 21, 1776, and was wounded at the Battle of Iron Hill on September 3, 1777, he resigned from the Army on October 22, 1777. His wounds did not interfere with his business affairs or his privateering ventures. Captain John Steele, was captain of the "Independent Pa. Company" as of January 13, 1777. On December 16, 1778, probably through Gurney's influence with his former regiment, Steele was transferred to the 11th Pennsylvania, remaining with the unit until his resignation on January 17, 1781. George North (of Massachusetts), Lieutenant Colonel and Deputy Commissary General of Musters, from April 11, 1777, to April 1, 1779, North had a position of considerable importance to the Continental Army. Robert Patton, was a second lieutenant in the 11th Pennsylvania as of September 30, 1776, and promoted 1st Lieutenant on November 13, 1776. He later transferred to the 10th Pennsylvania, then the 6th Pennsylvania. He served in the ranks to the end of the war eventually attaining the rank of Captain Chronological description of the archive: 1. Steele, John, Autograph Letter Signed, St. Kitts, May 26, 1775 to Francis Gurney, Philadelphia Folio, 1 page, old folds, tissue repairs, few short tears and nicks to edges, paper a trifle browned, else very good. "I miss no opportunity of writing you as it is all the satisfaction I at present can give you – I wrote you a few days ago from Dominica by a Schooner bound to Norfolk in Virginia as I did not expect to call any where else – I have shipp'd 23 Hhds Rum on Board the Schooner Bonny Jane Stephen Newman master Bound for Cape Fear or Wilmington N. Carolina I go passenger w him … We should on our Passage this Evening as soon as I arrive in Carolina (provided you have sent me no directions) I shall Bring our Business there to a final settlement on the best footing I [write for full description]