April 11. 1777

This morning more items were found to be missing. Our young thief was accused again and again he denied it. Captain Johnston decided that his earlier punishment was not so severe as to dissuade him from thieving again so his new punishment was increased to that of a grown man. His back was laid bare and he was tied to the mast while the boatswain applied two dozen lashes with the cat. He was in a very poor condition after this treatment. I am not so sure the lad is responsible for these most recent thefts and I am suspicious that someone else is taking advantage of the boy’s poor reputation, but I cannot prove it.

April 10. 1777
Today Joseph Shillaber was returned from the Royal Hospital in company with 2 of our other men. He is weak but is on the mend. He speaks of good treatment at the hospital. I am glad to have my friend back. Three more of our men were sent on shore to the hospital today with the small pox. It seems this plague will run through all of us before it is finished.

We hear word the ship Nancy of Newburyport was taken and recently brought in to Plymouth. Her crew is held prisoner on the Ocean, the Admiral’s flag.

April 9. 1777
This morning more items were discovered missing and immediately our thief was accused of the crime although no one caught him stealing this time. A trial of sorts was conducted by Captain Johnston at which the youth strongly denied his participation but he was judged guilty by a near unanimous vote among the crew by virtue of his previous actions. He was again forced to run bareback through the gauntlet. More small pox appears to run through our people.

April 6. 1777
Today is Sunday and we heard a sermon preached on board this ship. There were also prayers said and many will be needed as another of our crew has broken out in the small pox.

April 5. 1777
The plan to move us on shore as told to us yesterday did not come to pass today and proved to lack credibility as so many other things that we are told. However, we learn from a newspaper secreted on board to us today by a friend, of heartening news from home. The account in the paper related the heroic efforts of General Washington and his Continental Army in taking nine hundred of Hessian troops in New Jersey on Christmas Eve last. Washington was able achieve this great feat by crossing the Delaware River in the dead of night while the Hessian mercenaries slumbered after considerable merriment and took them utterly by surprise. Despite our present condition this was very welcome news and raises our spirits considerably.

All who can read desire to view this account themselves but we must be careful as we are not allowed newspapers or news from the outside and must hide it from our sentries.

April 4. 1777
Yesterday the Admiral of the fleet and his wife in the company of several other ladies visited this ship perhaps with news for the ship's captain for today the Burford bends her sails and will be soon sailing upon a cruise. As a consequence, this evening the Master at Arms told us that we would be sent on shore tomorrow morning. We are also told that three of our American privateers visited the Irish coast to provide themselves with provisions and water. We find this to be cheering news. However, two days past another of our company was sent on shore to the hospital with smallpox. Who can tell whether this plague will take us all.

April 1. 1777
Several of us including Captain Johnston tried to reason with our young thief and change his ways. Captain Johnston also explained the necessity of maintaining harsh discipline within a ship’s crew. The youth would not speak to us excepting to tell us to leave him alone. Any friends or acquaintances he once had in the crew now shun him and he skulks by himself all day long at the aft end of the lower gun deck.