April 1, 1780-Dated Revolutionary War Period, Partially-Printed Document Signed, “G. Saltonstall, as Naval Officer” Brigadier General Gurdon Saltonstall Jr. (1708-1785), Connecticut Privateer Sloop “York” Port of New London (Connecticut), Choice Very Fine.
April 1, 1780-Dated extremely rare STATE OF CONNECTICUT, Port of New London Naval related Revolutionary War Document measures 8.25" x 6.5" concerning Brigadier General Gurdon Saltonstall Jr. (1708-1785) and the American Armed Privateer Sloop “York,” dated , on fine quality watermarked laid period paper. It contains the owner Jabez Perkins, as Master, and Signed off by the Naval officer in charge “G Saltonstall, Naval Officer.” (Father of Dudley Saltonstall). There is a deep red wax Crest Seal of the Saltonstall family at upper left and signed below at left. It is in excellent, lightly folded condition. The deep rich red wax seal imprint can be seen from where it was folded, overall in excellent solid condition. The ship owner, Jabez Perkins and the Naval Officer Gurdon Saltonstall, were residents of New London, Connecticut. Gurdon was appointed Naval Officer for the Port of New London on December 19th, 1777, succeeding Jeremiah Miller. This was probably a “Customs Bond” Form. This rare Partially-Printed Document reads, in full:

"Port of New- London -- State of Connecticut -- This may certify to whom it doth concern, That Jabez Perkins, Master of Sloop York, Burthen 45 Tons, or thereabout, mounted with 6 Guns, navigated with 10 Men, and bound for High... beef, pork, bread, and oysters having on board... Hath here given bond according to Law. --- Given under my Hand, and Seal of Office at New-London aforesaid, this first Day of April in the Year of our Lord 1780. --- (Signed in the left margin) G. Saltonstall, Naval Officer."

Connecticut Privateer Sloop York was commissioned on 4 October 1779 under Commander Jabez Perkins III, of Norwich. She was reported as being armed with six guns and as having a crew of ten men. York was bonded for $5,000 by the third Perkins, and by Jabez Perkins and Joshua Huntington, both of Norwich. She was owned by Jabez Perkins & Co. of Norwich and was an armed trading vessel.

York was in the West Indies in November 1779. She sailed from Cap FranPROBLEM: çois, Saint Domingue, in the French West Indies about 14th November and arrived at New London, Connecticut on 3rd December 1779, after a passage of nineteen days. A second trip to the West Indies took place in 1780. York sailed from Cap FranPROBLEM: çois on 25th May 1780, in company with the masters Sergeant, bound for Boston, Massachusetts, and Sage, bound for Philadelphia, Pennsylvania. The latter vessel was possibly the Connecticut Privateer Sloop Gates (Commander Timothy Sage). York arrived at New London on 5th June 1780, in fourteen days from sailing.

Sloop “York” General Information: Commander listed as Jabez Perkins III, being an Armed Sloop First Commissioned: October 4th, 1779 - Connecticut Privateer Sloop; Owners: Jabez Perkins & Co. of Norwich, Connecticut. She was reported as being armed with six guns and as having a crew of ten men. The Sloop “York” was bonded for $5,000 by the third Perkins, and by Jabez Perkins and Joshua Huntington, both of Norwich. This Ship was owned by Jabez Perkins & Co. of Norwich and was an Armed Trading Vessel and Privateer. Tonnage: Battery Total: 6 Cannon: 3 Broadside: 3 Cannon Swivels; Crew of 11 on October 4th, 1779.
Connecticut Privateer Sloop York was commissioned on 4 October 1779 under Commander Jabez Perkins III, of Norwich. She was reported as being armed with six guns and as having a crew of ten men.

York was bonded for $5,000 by the third Perkins, and by Jabez Perkins and Joshua Huntington, both of Norwich. She was owned by Jabez Perkins & Co. of Norwich and was an armed trading vessel.

York was in the West Indies in November 1779. She sailed from Cap FranPROBLEM: çois, Saint Domingue, in the French West Indies about 14 November and arrived at New London, Connecticut on 3 December 1779, after a passage of nineteen days.

A second trip to the West Indies took place in 1780. York sailed from Cap FranPROBLEM: çois on 25 May 1780, in company with the masters Sergeant, bound for Boston, Massachusetts and Sage, bound for Philadelphia, Pennsylvania. The latter vessel was possibly the Connecticut Privateer Sloop Gates (Commander Timothy Sage). York arrived at New London on 5 June 1780, in fourteen days from sailing.

Cruises:

(1) New London, Connecticut to the West Indies, [October] 1779

(2) Cap FranPROBLEM: çois, Saint Domingue to New London, Connecticut, 14 November 1779-3 December 1779

(3) New London, Connecticut to the West Indies

(4) Cap FranPROBLEM: çois, Saint Domingue to New London, Connecticut, 25 May 1780-5 June 1780.

Brigadier General Gurdon Saltonstall Jr. (1708-1785), Graduated from Yale in 1725 and became a prominent figure in New London, Connecticut civic and military life. In 1740, when England declared war against Spain, he was promoted to Colonel of the Militia, and in 1744-45 he oversaw raising troops for the Cape Breton expedition.

At the outbreak of the Revolutionary War, he commanded Connecticut state troops, first appointed a colonel in 1775 in command of the 3rd Connecticut militia regiment of New London and Lyme. He was 68 years old during the Revolution and took a prominent part in its measures. When Benedict Arnold burned New London, the homesteads of both Gurdon Saltonstall Jr. and his father's estate were destroyed. He appears in George Washington's correspondence, and in Henry P. Johnston's Connecticut Men in the War of the Revolution, 1775-1783.

Two other Revolutionary-era Saltonstalls worth flagging:

Dudley Saltonstall (1738-1796), a Continental Navy captain who commanded the frigate Alfred and famously employed John Paul Jones as his first lieutenant.



Nathaniel Saltonstall (1727-1807)C captaal privateer ships during the Revolution

His son, Winthrop Saltonstall (1737-1811), served as his brigade major, and later represented New London in the Connecticut general assembly and served as a city alderman.