38 SOME DORSET PRIVATEERS. 



On 29th December, 1778, it was declared that 



J. R. Wood's ship is called the Friend of the port of Poole, is of the burthen 

 of 250 tons, is square sternod, has no figure head, has three masts ; that the 

 said J. R. Wood goeth commander of her, that she is mounted with twelve 

 carriage guns carrying shot of 6, 4, and 3 pounds weight, and no swivel guns ; 

 navigated witli twenty men, has twenty stands of small arms, twelve cutlasses, 

 three barrels of powder, twenty rounds of great shot and about two cwt. of 

 small shot ; that the said ship is victualled for six months, has two suits of 

 sails, five anchors, three cables, and about one ton weight of spare cordage ; 

 that Richard Wood goes mate or lieutenant, Robert Ash gunner, Thomas 

 Glover boatswain, John Clarke carpenter, James Hibbs cook, and Henry 

 Bailey Green surgeon of the said ship, and that Peter Jolliffe* junr., of Poole, 

 merchant, is the sole owner and setter out. This commission was against 

 the King of France. 



Another Poole ship, the Resolution, commanded by Chris- 

 topher Fry and owned by John Bundock and Company, 

 received in 1778 Letters of Marque directed against " the 

 American colonies now in rebellion and all vessels of our 

 subjects trading to or with the said colonies," words which call 

 to mind England's great mistake. 



Wey mouth, also, watched the departure of many ships 

 flying the privateer's flag during the reign of George III., 

 and occasionally a newspaper advertisement provides a wel- 

 come addition to the dry official records. The Western Flying 

 Post of 21st December, 1778, announces that the Trimmer, 

 of Weymouth, was about to proceed on a three months' cruise 

 against the enemies of Britain, that all gentlemen, seamen, 

 and able-bodied landmen willing to serve on board would 

 receive advance money before proceeding to sea viz., four 

 guineas to a seaman, two to a landman, one to a boy ; if 

 the landmen had served in the militia, and were expert in their 

 exercise, then three guineas. This vessel of 120 tons was 



* An instance of heredity in tastes may be inferred from the fact that an 

 earlier Peter Jolliffe, of Poole, had distinguished himself in 1694 by annexing 

 two foreign privateers on the adjoining coast, for which feat ho was awarded 

 a gold medal by Royalty, and his praises were sung in a ballad quoted in 

 S. & D. N. & Q. III. 173. 



