tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-28102666.post8640620574386471258..comments2024-03-14T13:25:20.613-05:00Comments on Boston 1775: Dr. Benjamin Church's Ciphered LetterUnknownnoreply@blogger.comBlogger7125tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-28102666.post-6962161037689356632009-09-21T23:34:49.601-05:002009-09-21T23:34:49.601-05:00Great, I look forward to your post.Great, I look forward to your post.Derek "A Staunch Whig" Beckhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/16966961365623936407noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-28102666.post-29248582978049675442009-09-21T20:58:37.324-05:002009-09-21T20:58:37.324-05:00Thanks for that confirmation. I’ve found a little ...Thanks for that confirmation. I’ve found a little more about Capt. Smithwick and his family. I also found a reference in the published Massachusetts House records saying that Church should be put on a different boat with a different master. Hoping to post all that info later this September.J. L. Bellhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/15405157000473731801noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-28102666.post-88739098231924627182009-09-21T18:29:30.449-05:002009-09-21T18:29:30.449-05:00I have now obtained a copy of the resolve from the...I have now obtained a copy of the resolve from the SC1/series 45X, Mass. Archives Coll. v 168 p 142, and in it they spell the name Smithwick, and so Walker transcribed it incorrectly. The captain is James Smithwick, just as you suspected.Derek "A Staunch Whig" Beckhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/16966961365623936407noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-28102666.post-46780580981114468892009-07-30T20:56:40.953-05:002009-07-30T20:56:40.953-05:00Walker transcribed the name of the Welcome captain...Walker transcribed the name of the <i>Welcome</i> captain as “Smitharick.” I see other sources use “Smithwick,” which seems more likely. I’m going to search for that many in period material.J. L. Bellhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/15405157000473731801noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-28102666.post-82024694159460328932009-07-30T19:19:01.439-05:002009-07-30T19:19:01.439-05:00Didn't know about "Devil Undone", th...Didn't know about "Devil Undone", thanks for pointing me to it, and better yet, the pertinent chapter is almost entirely visible in the Google Books limited view. I'm glad the claim has a reliable reference to source material too.Derek "A Staunch Whig" Beckhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/16966961365623936407noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-28102666.post-78626886594179774522009-07-30T12:19:16.041-05:002009-07-30T12:19:16.041-05:00You’re right! I relied on a U.S. military webpage ...You’re right! I relied on a <a href="http://history.amedd.army.mil/tsgs/Church.htm" rel="nofollow">U.S. military webpage</a> for that statement about Church’s departure in May 1776. And it’s wrong. <br /><br />Jeffrey B. Walker’s <i>Devil Undone</i> says that Church was put aboard the <i>Welcome</i>, bound for Martinique, in January 1778. It probably took a while for his family to accept that the ship was lost with no survivors. I’ll post a full article about this soon. Thanks.J. L. Bellhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/15405157000473731801noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-28102666.post-83501786630495255642009-07-30T01:28:21.610-05:002009-07-30T01:28:21.610-05:00J.L., please point me to any newer sources you may...J.L., please point me to any newer sources you may have if I am wrong, but French's "General Gage's Informers" p. 199-200 gives a story of how, in mid 1777, Gen. Howe tried to effect a prisoner exchange for Church, who was still in jail in Boston. The same source suggests on p. 201 that Church sailed away in 1780, as his old father only then updated his will based on Church's loss at sea. I was hoping to find a more accurate date of his departure, but couldn't find it, but my searching is what led me here. Thanks!Derek "A Staunch Whig" Beckhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/16966961365623936407noreply@blogger.com