"From Alexander Hamilton to Pierce Butler, February 19, 1794," Founders Online, National Archives, https://founders.archives.gov/documents/Hamilton/01-16-02-0034.
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 Asa Cole and numerous others as sailors and officers on the Frigate South Carolina SC1926
As stated in an earlier post, this document from the Committee of Claims is lengthy and detailed, as can easily be seen from the last three posts. But, at this point in the document, the tone of the Committee of Claims begins to change to a more shrill and accusatory tone with the exposure of fraudulent and illegal activity and implications of possible legal action against Asa Delozair, "Attorney for Sundry persons".
The document continues as such:
"Of the powers that carry satisfactory evidence, on their face, of forgery are:
Amos Anderson
Robert Barrell
Samuel Boyland
Joseph Brown
John Buckly
John Bulger
John Byne
John Chandler
Joseph Coaken
John Evins
Nicholas Fountain
Henry Larrance
John Moyett
George Shampayne
Rubin Tucker
Job Wetherall
Thomas Williams
Yet, again, at this point the writer of this blog feels the need to cite all pertinent information regarding these men who supposedly served on board the frigate South Carolina. By doing so, the writer hopes to bring to light a more true, exact account of what is going on here in this document - A.A.1880A. The information presented here is taken from the following sources:
Lewis, James A. Neptune's Militia: The Frigate South Carolina during the American Revolution, (Kent, OH: The Kent State University Press, 1999.)
Moss, Bobby Gilmer. Roster of South Carolina Patriots in the American Revolution, (Baltimore, MD: Genealogical Publishing Co., Inc., 1983.)
Revill, Janie, copier. Copy of the Original Index Book: Showing the Revolutionary Claims Filed in South Carolina Between August 20, 1783 and August 31, 1786, (Baltimore, MD: Genealogical Publishing Co., Inc., 1969.)
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Amos Anderson - In Lewis's work, page 135, he is cited as "no position given". In Moss's work, page 17, Amos Anderson is cited as "...he served aboard the frigate South Carolina. A.A. 1880A". Amos Anderson is not cited in Revill's work.
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Robert Barrell - In Lewis's work, there is no Robert Barrell, but, there is a John Barrell. In Lewis's work, page 136, John Barrell is cited with the alternate last name of Barell. He is cited as "no position given". In Moss's work, page 49, John Barrell is cited as "...he served aboard the frigate South Carolina. A.A. 1880A". John Barrell is not cited in Revill's work.
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Samuel Boyland - In Lewis's work, page 139, he is cited with the alternate first name of John. He is cited as "no position given". In Moss's work, page 92, Samuel Boyland is cited as "...he served aboard the frigate South Carolina. A.A. 1880A". Samuel Boyland is not cited in Revill's work.
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Joseph Brown - In Lewis's work, page 139, he is cited as "no position given". Joseph Brown appears in neither Moss's work nor Revill's work.
(Note: In Lewis's work, page 139, six Browns appear as having served among the crew of the frigate South Carolina. Only William Brown appears in Moss's work, is cited as being a "Mariner", and having received a stub indent from the State of South Carolina. None of the six Browns are cited in Revill's work.)
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John Buckly - In Lewis's work, page 140, he is cited with the alternate last names of Burkley, Buckley, Buckle, and Bulkey. He is cited as "no position given". In Moss's work, page 120, He appears as John Buerly and is cited as "...he served aboard the frigate South Carolina. A.A. 1880A". John Buerly/Buckly is not cited in Revill's work.
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John Bulger - In Lewis's work, page 140, he is cited as "no position given". In Moss's work, page 120, John Bulger is cited as "...he served aboard the frigate South Carolina. A.A. 1880A". John Bulger is not cited in Revill's work.
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John Byne - In Lewis's work, page 140, he is cited with the alternate first name of Joseph and the alternate last names of Byrn and Byrne. John Byne is cited as "no position given". In Moss's work, page 132, he appears as John Byrn and is cited as "...he served aboard the frigate South Carolina. A.A. 1880A". John Byne/Byrn is not cited in Revill's work.
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John Chandler - In Lewis's work, page 141, he is cited as "no position given". In Moss's work, page 162, he is cited as "...he served aboard the frigate South Carolina. A.A. 1880A". John Chandler is not cited in Revill's work.
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Joseph Coaken - In Lewis's work, page 142, he is cited with the alternate last name of Coaker. He is cited as "no position given". Joseph Coaken/Coaker is cited in neither Moss's work nor Revill's work.
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John Evins - In Lewis's work, page 146, he is cited with the alternate last names of Evans and Evens. He is cited as "no position given". In Moss's work, pages 298 and 300, both John Evans and John Evins appear and are cited in both instances as "...he served aboard the frigate South Carolina. A.A. 1880A". Neither John Evans nor John Evins are cited in Revill's work.
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Nicholas Fountain - In Lewis's work, page 147, he is cited with the alternate last names of Fontaine, Toulaine and Foulaine. He is cited as "no position given". In Moss's work, page 321, he is cited as Nicholas Fontaine and that "...he served aboard the frigate South Carolina. A.A. 1880A". In Reviil's work, page 386, Nicholas Fontaine is referred to as appearing in Entry Book No. 3, page 156.
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Henry Larrance - In Lewis's work, page 154, he is cited with alternate last names of Laurence and Lawrence. He is cited as a "Master's mate". In Moss's work, page 555, he is cited as Henry Laurence and is cited as "...he served as a master's mate aboard the frigate South Carolina and was also the auditor general of the state. A.A. 4454A; C401." In Revill's work, page 385, Henry Laurence is cited as receiving a stub indent from the State of South Carolina on July 1, 1784 for 116p/9s/10.5d.
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John Moyett - In Lewis's work, page 159, he is cited as "no position given". John Moyett is cited in neither Moss's work nor Revill's work.
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George Shampayne - In Lewis's work, page 141, he is cited with the alternate last names of Champaigne and Champayne. He is cited as a "French sailor, Matelot Voluntaires du Luxembourg". In Moss's work, page 161, he is cited as George Champaigne and is cited as "...he served aboard the frigate South Carolina. A.A. 1880A". George Shampayne/Champaigne is not cited in Revill's work.
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Rubin Tucker - In Lewis's work, page 168, he is cited with the alternate first name of Reuben. He is cited as a "Carpenter's mate". In Moss's work, page 941, he is cited as Reuben Tucker and is cited as "...he served as a carpenter's mate aboard the frigate South Carolina. A.A. 1880A; A.A. 7927; C671." In Revill's work, page 385, Reuben Tucker is cited as receiving a stub indent from the State of South Carolina on May 31, 1785 for 75p/8s/0d.
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Job Wetherall - In Lewis's work, page 169, he is cited with the alternate first name of Jacob and the alternate last names of Weathrell, Weatherall, and Witherale. He is cited as a Master's mate". In Moss's work, page 981, he is cited as Job (Jacob) Wetherall and is cited as"...he served aboard the frigate South Carolina as a master's mate. From January 5, 1778 to November 4, 1780, he was aboard the brigantine Polly under Capt. Hezekiah Anthony. A.A. 8387; C441; K173." For the stub indent C441, Jacob (Job) Wetherall received from the State of South Carolina the sum of 53p/7s/0d on July 28, 1784.
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Thomas Williams - In Lewis's work, page 170, he is cited as a "Soldier". In Moss's work, page 998, he is cited as "...he served aboard the frigate South Carolina as a legionnaire. A.A. 1880A; A.A. 8577." Thomas Williams is not cited in Revill's work.
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Again, the vast majority of these individual men - twelve to be exact - have "no position given" as their cited positions on board the frigate South Carolina. Robert Barrell does not even appear in Lewis's work, page 136, though there is a John Barrell but he again has a "no position given" cited for him. Of the individuals who do have positions cited for them Lewis's work, the cited positions are questionable in most of the cases. These are as follows:
Henry Larrance - there are two alternate spellings of his last name in Lewis's work, page 154. These are Laurence and Lawrence. His position is cited as "Master's mate".
George Shampayne - there are two alternate spellings of his last name in Lewis's work, page 141. These are Champaigne and Champayne. His position is given as "French sailor, Matelot Voluntaires du Luxembourg".
Rubin Tucker - has an alternate spelling of his first name in Lewis's work, page 168. This is Reuben. His position is cited as "Carpenter's mate".
Job Wetherall - there are three alternate spellings of his last name in Lewis's work, page 169. These are Weathrell, Witherale, and Weatherall. His first name is alternately given as Jacob. His position is cited as "Master's mate".
Thomas Williams - there are no alternate spellings of his first or last name that appear in Lewis's work, pages 135-170. His position is given as "Soldier".
All of these positions could easily have been created by an individual intent on dissembling and creating deception as a means of appearing to represent men who actually served on board the frigate in legitimate positions of naval responsibility. The positions of "Master's mate" and especially "Soldier" are both sufficiently vague as to create a situation of questionability of validity. Of course, the "no position given" is even more easily open to falsehood and forgery and calls into question the individual having even served on board the frigate South Carolina at all.
Yet, with the citation of George Shampayne, the individual in question drew upon the members of the Voluntaires du Luxembourg who formed the first marine contingent to serve on board the frigate South Carolina and were all almost certainly back in their native country of France by the time of the creation of this document. Also, the claims of these former marines and "matelots" (sailors) had been taken up between the two countries of France and the United States and had been under consideration by higher authorities and powers.