Journal

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A Journall and Narrative of a Journey made by me Cuthbert Potter from Middx¹ County in Virginia to Boston in New England. 

July 6. In the Evening I departed from the honble Ralph Wormley Esqre his house in a Shallop but having very rainy, Stormey weather, It was Sunday morning following before I could get to Casparas Harmans in Bohemia² and there tarried all day.

July 14. I took horses and guide and went to New Castle, that night, 'tis accounted 30 miles, I met with Mr. Williams the Collector deliver'd him his Letter, and discours'd him about the trade Betwixt the head of the Bey and that Town for tobacco, he told me there had been formerly much tobacco brought over to that Town, but now not so much, he had lately seised some tobacco that had been brought, but by others I perceived It is frequently carried over to that Town.³

July 15. I went from New Castle to Chester alias Up lands accounted 20 miles by water.

July 16. I went from Chester to Philadelphia by water accounted 20 miles more. I met President Loyd⁴ and Mr. Plowman, and deliver'd their Letters also Mr. Markham,⁵ 

Mr. Delaval⁶ Mr. Barbery and Mr. Ducay with whom I discourst some time, the two last forced to fly from York.⁷

July 18. I went from thence by water 30 miles up to the falls⁸ and stopt about half an hour at Mr. Penns and lodged that night at Mr. Wheelers.

July 19. I took horses and guid[e] for Eliza⁹ Town being 72 miles, but reached no farther than Onions.¹⁰

July 20. I went from Onions to Eliza Town, there having been very much rain, in sight of Collonel Townlies¹¹ my horse fell with me, and by Gods mercy I escaped drowning having been twice under water wet all my linnen and papers.

July 21. I tarried all day with Mr. Townley, dried my linnen and papers, and left two or three letters with him for some New York gentlemen that were then escaped into East Jersey which he promised to deliver with his own hand.

July 22. I went to New York by water, 16 miles, pre-understanding the severity they used in that Town towards strangers by securing and searching them, with the assistance of the watermen I put my portmanteaus on board a ship in the harbour and went privately ashore to Mr. Thompsons, and so soon as it was night that I could get my Portmanteaus on shore, I deliver'd all the letters I had for the Gentlemen in those parts. 

July 23 and 24. I was brought acquainted with most of the honest Gent: of that Town who very much deplored the present state of affairs there,¹² but generally exceeding Joyfull for the welfare of this our honorable Governor,¹³ every one speaking highly in his commendacion, and earnestly wishing for the arrival of Governor Slaughter there, which might put a period to their present distraccions. I was inform'd the Indians had cut of a small village,¹⁴ near Fort Albany which caused the Inhabitants to keep a very strict watch and guard, the alarm of the French Pyrates being then upon the Coast, caused them to prepare a force for their defence, and all the masters of ships then in harbour and all the Gentlemen of the Town were by the Governor¹⁵ sent for to consult the present safety, who most willingly assented for the common good to use their utmost endeavours to oppose and resist the common enemy, by which means Lashler¹⁶ could find no time to send for me as was inform'd he intended and I expected.

July 25. I took horses and guide for New England, and that night went to Horsneck¹⁷ being 40 miles. 

July 26. I went to Fairfeilds¹⁸ being 25 miles, and very bad way and tarried there the next day being Sunday. 

July 28. Major Gold¹⁹ provided me horses to Guilford being 42 miles.

July 29. I went to Sebrook²⁰ being 20 miles: It rained very fast all day.

July 30. I went from Sebrook to New London being 20 miles where I understood Major Winthrop was gone for Albany,²¹ I delivered his letter to his brother Major Palmes,²² and took his receipt, was told that the French Pyrates had come to an anchor before the town, but finding too great an appearance to oppose them, they departed without doing any dammage, the Inhabitants there seeming no way in dread of the French Indians, In respect Major Winthrop with a convenient force was then gone for Albany. 

July 31. I went from thence to Bulls in the Narragansit Government being 45 miles.

August 1. I hired a shallop, and went for Newport in Rode Island being 10 miles, where I met Mr. Brinley,²³ Mr. Newbery and Mr. Clark, and deliver'd them their Letters and left Mr. Smith s letter with Mr. Brinley. 

August 4. I took horses and guide and went for Boston being 50 miles, about midnight I got to the Townsend there lay, in the morning I went into the Town to Md Usher and Mr. Jeffreys, and deliver'd them their letters.

August 6. I waited on the Governor Bradstreet,²⁴ and deliver'd him the Letter for that Government, who did not then open it, I told him it came from the Present Governor of Virginia, and requested an answer to which he replyed he was going to the Councill and then I should be sent for and have an answer. I rested there two or three dayes and in the mean time deliver'd what Letters I had for other Gentlemen in the Town, I went to Salem and waited on Major Brown, and deliver'd the Letters I had for that place then return'd to Boston, and waited on Bradstreet the Governor who told me he would write back to our Governor and shortly after I received his Letter, there I caused 700 copies of his Majesties Letter to the Bishop of London to be printed and disperst them all along according to order: In which time they were very busy in setting forth their Fleet for Canada, which consisted of 32 ships and vessels of all sorts, and 2200 men which set sail about the 9th. 

August 9. The people [are] generally much dissatisfied with their present Government, and blame it very much for all their sufferings, which have happen'd onely through their ill management of affairs and sending away Sir Edmond Andrews,²⁵ that caused all those great losses to the Eastward. I went over to Cambridge and Charles Town, where I deliver'd all the Letters I had for those places, and having spent some time in discoursing severall Gentlemen and others, I generally observ'd that many who had been for, were now inveterate enemies to the present Government. 

August 13. I prepared to return for Virginia, but hearing a rumour or whispering that the Governor had order'd officers to seize, and search me for Letters and papers I went and informed Collonel Shrimpton and Collonel Dongan what I had heard, who said they did not think that they would be so unworthy, yet they stopt Mr. Peacock and severall) others. I went to Governor Broadstreet, and acquainted him what I had heard touching my self, he replyed he had heard nothing of it, he was going to the Councill and if any such thing was intended he would acquaint me with it, and in the time the Governor was at the Councill, Officers were sent out to seize, search me and my papers.

August 14. The officers found my Portmanteaus at Mr. Seawards where I intended to take horse, and brought them away, but as it happened by chance I met them in the street, and demanded by what power they seised my goods, they shewed an order of Councill, but would not let me read it. We went into Monks at the Anchor, I there demanded a copey of their order, but they refused and two of them took me into a private room, search'd my pockets and breeches, found severall letters and papers which they took, but gave me leave to lock them up in my portmanteau, they then sent to the Councill, who order'd me to be brought in the afternoon so I was dismist for the Present, and went home to dinner, then took out those letters and papers I had saved about my breast and back, in the afternoon I attended at the coffee house till near four of the clock then I was sent for by an Officer, when I came the Governor told me, there were a great many seditious people, about the Town, dispersing scandalous papers tending to the subversion of the present Government, and that they had reason to fear some of them kept correspondence with the enemy. They were at great charge in fitting out their fleet, which would cost them near 50 or 60,000 pounds so it behooved them to be carefull, they had made an order to stop and examine all Strangers, and see what papers and pamphlets they had against the Government. I desired to see the order, and have a copey of it that I might give an account to those that send me, they replyed I was before them which was sufficient, and bid me open my Portmanteau. I refused and began to argue the affront offered to our honorable Governor, whose pass I shewed, was chid and called sawcy, and a smith was sent for to break my locks, which done the Officers turn'd out all my papers, and linnen, the papers lying all before them on the table, they then bid me to with draw with the rest of my things. I replyed I could not carry them my self, they ordered an officer to carry them to the coffee house where I waited untill they broke open and perused what they pleased, then sent for me and told me they found cause to stop some letters, they sent for Mr. Jeffreys and ordered him to give security to answer next Court, turned the publick Notary out of Office, kept about five or six letters directed to the Right Honble Governor of this Colony, besides other papers, examined my being at Cambrige and Charles Town, shewed me Bradstreet s letter broke open, and told me they would write next day to the Governor, bid me take the remainder of my papers, and so dismist me.

August 15. I waited on the Governor Bradstreet, and importuned him for his pass, that I might be no more molested, which having received from him with a Letter to this honorable Governor, I took my leave and came to Mr. Billings at night. 

August 16. I came to New Bristoll where I staid with Mr. Jno Smith, Captain Andrews and some others. 

August 17. I came to Newport where I stayed wind bound till 23d.

August 23. I took a sloop for Long Island, and was seven dayes in getting within three miles of Flushing. 

August 30. I took horses and guide for New York, I tarried there all day and received answers of those letters I had deliver'd, but was advised that Milburn²⁶ the present deputy Governor would seize all my papers as I was ready to depart, I forthwith got a boat and hands and came in haste away.

Sept. 1. In the morning I got to Collonel Townlies in Eliza Town, with whom I tarried two dayes expecting some Friend from York, with letters but they came not.

Sept. 3. I came from Collonel Townlys to Mr. Onions.

Sept. 4. I came to the falls and thence to Burlington.

Sept. 5. I came to Philadelphia was with Mr. Loyd, Mr. Markham, Mr. Delaval, and Mr. Test.

Sept. 6. I came to Chester thence to Newcastle, and there tarried the next day.

Sept. 8. I came to Casparas Harmans at Bohemia where I tarried three dayes before I could hire a boat. 

Sept. 12. I hired a boat and came from Casparas Harmans, down the Bey²⁷ but by contrary wind and weather, I could not attain into Rappa²⁸ River till the 24th day of the moneth,

Sept. 24. On which I by the blessing of God safely arrived, at the house of the honorable Ralph Wormley Esqre.

Memorandum: 

When I was in Boston I understood there was great plenty of Canary wine, and discoursing with several Gentlemen there they told me they had four ships with Canary wine, two of which belonged to Bristoll. I was asked twenty four pounds a pipe but told by others I might have my choice of good wine for Eighteen, and in the time I was at Salem, waiting on Major Brown I met with a master of a small vessell, that was lately arrived from Spain, belonging to Salem, who treated me with a Glass of good wine, and anchovies, and told me he had made twenty pounds a hogshead of that little tobacco he had with him and that he came directly from Gales. 

[Endorsed]
Source: Travels in the American Colonies