A Guide to the Records of the Virginia State Navy Board, 1776-1782., #44215, 44303, 44310, 44729, 54306

Library of Virginia

The Library of Virginia
800 East Broad Street
Richmond, Virginia 23219-8000
USA
Email: archdesk@lva.virginia.gov(Archives)
URL: http://www.lva.virginia.gov/

Processed by: LVA Staff.

Administrative Information

Access Restrictions

Use microfilm when available.

Preferred Citation

Records of the Virginia State Navy Board [cite specific date and accession used]. State government records collection, The Library of Virginia, Richmond, Virginia.

Acquisition Information

Acquired prior to 1905.

Revolutionary naval operations were initially under the control of the Committee of Safety. The May 1776 Convention, however, passed an ordinance "establishing a Board of Commissioners to Superintend and Direct the Naval Affairs of the Colony." The Board, given very broad powers, was "generally to superintend and direct all matters and things to the navy relating," including construction, labor, and supply. The ordinance named Thomas Whiting, John Hutchings, Champion Travis, Thomas Newton and George Webb as Commissioners (Chap. XV, May 1776). The members selected Whiting as chairman, a position he held throughout the Board's existence.

In May 1779 the General Assembly passed acts creating a Board of War, with authority "to appoint a commissioner of the Navy," and discontinuing the Navy Board, as its duties and offices were to be performed by the newly established boards of war and trade. (Chapters III and L)

On June 30, 1779, James Maxwell was appointed to the position of Commissioner of the Navy. Maxwell retained this position even after the Board of War was abolished in May 1780, being appointed thereto by the governor and council. The office was, however, abolished by the November 1781 legislative session in "An act for regulating the military and naval arrangements of this state." (Chap VIII)

Scope and Content

Navy Board records include Accounts, 1776-1782; Excerpt of the journal of the Navy Board, 1779 Apr 24; Journal, 1780; Ledger, 1776-1779; Letterbook, 1776-1777; List of captains and lieutenants, 1776-1779; List of Officers and Seamen of the State Navy and Marines, 1776-1779; Minute books, 1777-1778; Order books, 1776-1779; Payrolls and account of clothing of the Brig Jefferson, 1780-1781; and Proceedings, 1784.

For additional records see the Governor's Executive Papers for this time period; General Correspondence of the Virginia Navy Board (Acc. 51711).

Contents List

Accounts, 1776 Feb-1782 Mar.

Extent: 1 v.

This account book includes general entry of debits and credits, some to specific ships per order of their captains, some to individuals, and some to public operations, such as the Public Store and Ropewalk. (Accession 54306)

Also available on Miscellaneous Reel 302.

Exerpt of the Journal of the Navy Board, 1779 Apr 24.

Extent: 1 p.

Contains an excerpt of the journal of the Navy Board recommending to the governor and Council that Pascho Herbert be appointed a lieutenant in the State Navy. The excerpt of the journal is signed by Thomas Whiting. (Accession 44729)

Journal of the Commissioner of the Navy, 1780 July 21-Dec 19

Extent: 1 v.

This journal is a record of business of the Navy Board kept by Commissioner James Maxwell, regarding the administration of the Navy. Includes orders for clothing and supplies to the Commissary of Stores; orders for warrants of payment; notes on letters written to the Governor (and his reply) and officers; leaves of absence granted; and notes on discharges, among others. Also included is a photostat copy of an Index to the Journal.(Accession 54306)

Also available on Miscellaneous Reel 302.

Ledger, 1776 July 10-1779 July 10.

Extent: 1 v.

This ledger provides a listing of debits and credits for naval expenses for supplying ships. (Accession 54306)

Also available on Miscellaneous Reel 302.

Ledger, 1776 July 15-1779 Jan .

Letterbook, 1776 July 15-1777 Oct 9

Extent: 1 v.

Letterbook includes copies of outgoing correspondence from the Navy Board, signed mainly by Thomas Whiting as the commissioner. These letters were written from Williamsburg regarding ships' supplies, requests for reports from ships' captains and delivery orders to suppliers. Also includes a separate 5 p. index. (Accession 54306)

Also available on Miscellaneous Reel 302.

List of captains and lieutenants in the Virginia Navy, 1776-1779

Extent: 2 p.

This list is divided by rank and there are only two captains listed. The lieutenants are listed by date commissioned between 25 Nov 1776 and 4 Aug 1779. The list of lieutenants indicates whether they were recommended as first lieutenant and whether or not they resigned. (Accession 44310)

Officers and Seamen of the State Navy and Marines, 1776-1779.

Extent: 1 v.

This volume includes three lists of naval and marine personnel appointed by the Committee of Safety and the Council.

The first list includes a list officers of the navy and marines, 1776-1777, arranged alphbetically by surname initial. Entries include date commissioned, rank, and name of vessel to which they were assigned, if applicable.

The second list includes an unorganized list of officers from which the first section was created.

The third list includes a list of Navy vessels, 1776-1779. Entries identify the names and rank of their officers and crew, and in some instances dates of entry and discharge from service are given..

These lists are in the hand of John H. Smith and were prepared from pay rolls, vouchers, miscellaneous papers and entries in journals of the Committee of Safety and Council of State. Index is only applicable to the third list. (Accession 54306)

Also available on Miscellaneous Reel 302.

Minute books, 1777 Mar 26-1777 Sept 10.

Extent: 2 v.

These Minute Books contain minutes of the meetings of the Navy Board, in which they address supply needs and issue orders for the delivery of supplies and building of vessels. These proceedings of the business conducted by the Navy Board are signed by the senior commissioner present. Period covered in v.1: March 26 - October 7, 1777 and February 14 - September 10, 1778; v.2: October 8, 1777 - February 13, 1778.(Accession 54306)

Also available on Miscellaneous Reel 302.

Minute book, 1777 Mar 26-Oct 7; 1778 Feb 14-Sept 10. .
Minute book, 1777 Oct 8-1778 Feb 13. .

Order books, 1776 July 23-1779 June 23.

Extent: 2 v.

Order books contain orders issued by the Navy Board in their administration of the Navy and the business of supplying vessels with goods and labor. Names of the members of the Navy Board precede. Period covered: v.1: July 23, 1776 - February 27, 1779; v.2: March 6 - June 23, 1779.(Accession 54306)

Also available on Miscellaneous Reel 301.

Order book, 1776 July 23-1779 Feb 27 .
Order book, 1779 Mar 6-June 23. .

Payrolls and account of clothing of the Brig Jefferson, 1780-1781.

Extent: 28 p.

Contains payrolls of the officers belonging to the Brig Jefferson from 16 July to 16 Oct. 1780 and 16 Oct. 1780 to 31 Mar. 1781. The payrolls provide a name, station (rank), when entered, days on pay, pay per day, and amount. The payrolls were settled by John Webb, Paymaster, on 11 April 1781, and sworn by Andrew Monroe and George Nicholson before Bowler Cocke, Henrico County. In addition, there are three payrolls for both officers and seamen from 20 June to 17 July 1780, 17 July to 2 Oct. 1780, and 3 Oct. to 31 Dec. 1780. These payrolls provide a name, station, when entered, discharge date, deserted, pay per day, number of days, and amount. These payrolls were also settled by John Webb, Paymaster, and sworn by Capt. James Markham.

The accounts of clothing document the purchase of clothing by officers of the Brig Jefferson from 10 March to 19 April 1781. The accounts provide a name, rank, amount and type of clothing purchased, and amount. (Accession 44215)

Proceedings of the Navy Board, 1784.

Extent: 1 p.

Proceedings of a board of officers, late of the State Line and Navy, regarding the examination of a list of officers of the Navy. The proceedings include the list of officers of the State Navy which provides the name of the officer, their rank, and date commissioned. The list is signed by James Baron, President, and Governor Benjamin Harrison. (Accession 44303)