Lewis, James A. Neptune's Militia: The Frigate South Carolina during the American Revolution, (Kent, OH: The Kent State University Press, 1999.)
South Carolina Audited Accounts relating to John Brickford (Bickford) SC557
The previous two posts have also dealt with John Brickford and are cited as follows in this overall blog:
"'...To Make Them a Bit More Real...': John Brickford (Bickford, Beckford), Carpenter's Mate on board the Frigate South Carolina - From the South Carolina Audited Accounts -" and posted on 05/26/2021.
"...To Make Them a Bit More Real...": John Brickford (Bickford, Beckford), Carpenter's Mate on board the Frigate South Carolina, Pt. II - From the South Carolina Audited Accounts -" and posted on 06/22/2021.
Referring back to the information shared the previous two posts concerning John Brickford and referenced above, the narrative of John Brickford's participation in the American Revolution can be summed up quickly from this point. He seems to have reached home successfully and settled back into civilian life because roughly five years later on May 31, 1787, he he received from the State of South Carolina the sum of seventy-nine pounds and three pence sterling. This was issued to him for "...Balance of Wages due him as Carpenter's Mate on Board the Frigate South Carolina per Certificate from the Auditor General.".
Yet, the real tragedy is contained within the last brief sentence of this indent. This amount was received by John Brickford from the Auditor General of the State of South Carolina. This document, like so many others in this overall blog, has written into it an indication of debt owed by the individual former mariner or marine of the frigate South Carolina to another individual or institution functioning in the new American society at that point in time. In John Brickford's case, this was an individual named Theophilus Elsworth. His name turns up at least three times in the indent issued to John Brickford, each time as a recipient of funds due John Brickford. The first reception of these funds was for "...two Years Interest on the within Indent..." in June 1785 and the second on September 16, 1785 for the total of "...Eight Pounds 2/6 [two shillings and six pences] in full for the within indent...". But, the following phrase contained in the text of the document states that "...I John Brickford Do Assign all my Right of the within for the Purposes therein. Mentioned to Theophilus Elsworth and signed John Brickford.". There is no further indication as to why John Brickford, a Carpenter's Mate on board the frigate South Carolina, signed over his entire stub indent to someone else who did not serve on board that same patriot man-of-war. But, for whatever reason, money owed is money owed and those debts were keen to be settled by the individual to whom those debts were owed.
A Carpenter's Mate is a skilled position as is reflected in the amount of John Brickford's stub indent. The training and skills acquired while occupying this position on board the patriot frigate must have fashioned John Brickford's future in maritime Massachusetts at the very least and possibly in regular civilian society at large. Yet, the document is as clear as it is saddening - John Brickford signed all of his hard won earnings over to an individual who remains only a name on a stub indent and nothing else. Nothing else is known of John Brickford, Carpenter's Mate on board the frigate South Carolina, for her maiden voyage across the Atlantic Ocean to America.