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Domestic News
April 8, 1775
The Virginia Gazette
Richmond, Williamsburg, Richmond County, Virginia
What is this article about?
New York Committee investigates Robert and John Murray for landing goods from ship Beulah in violation of Continental Congress association. Murrays confess, agree to reship goods, and donate 200 pounds to repair fire-damaged hospital. Report approved for publication on March 16, 1775.
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NEW YORK, March 20.
Committee Chamber, March 16, 1775.
The Committee met by adjournment this evening at the Exchange.
Mr Lewis, from the sub committee appointed to state the case of Messrs. Robert Murray and John Murray, respecting their having landed goods from on board the ship Beulah, reported two letters from the committee of Elizabeth town to this committee, dated the 10th and 11th instant.
The said sub committee, also reported a letter voluntarily produced to this committee, at their meeting on the 15th instant, by Messrs. Murrays, in the following words:
To the General Committee for the city and county of New York.
GENTLEMEN,
Having been disappointed in our design of reshipping the cargo of the ship Beulah (from London) in another bottom, by which we were great sufferers, and though we then conceived that such our design, if executed, would have been a compliance with the resolution of the Congress, we acknowledge that to alleviate, in some measure, the great loss we sustained, we have been induced to land a small part of her cargo; and notwithstanding we was persuaded that it would be exceedingly difficult, if not impossible, to obtain full and sufficient evidence of the fact; and that the goods are secured in a place of safety, where they cannot be discovered; yet, upon mature reflection, and with a view to satisfy the public, and this committee, as well as to prevent the trouble of any further inquiries upon this subject; we are led to make this declaration, and to acknowledge, that we are sorry for the imprudent step we have taken, and that we do condemn the same as an unjustifiable measure; and as a further proof of our willingness to conform to the resolution of the Congress, as far as is now in our power, we do hereby engage to reship all the said goods, according to the tenor of the association, and to give the committee full and satisfactory proof thereof within seven days from this time, dated 11th of March 1775,
ROBERT MURRAY,
JOHN MURRAY.
And that they did then offer to make a full and ample confession of every fact relative to the unloading goods from the Beulah, and to deliver to the committee, at their next meeting, a full state of the case, under their oath and affirmation.
The said sub committee further report, that Messrs. John and Robert Murray did accordingly deliver a state of that transaction, which is in the words following, viz.
Inventory of goods taken out of the ship Beulah, at Sandy Hook.
84 bolts of Russia duck, 20 pieces of Raven ditto, 240 packages of pins, 5 bales of pepper, two of which are in a hogshead, 6 bolts of Oznaburgs, 10 pieces of blue shrouds, 14 pieces of Irish linen, 6 pieces of white linen, 11 pieces of linen sheeting, 1 paper bundle directed to Henry Van Vleeck, 1 bundle raw, supposed a cast-maker's cutter, 1 small box of books, papers, &c. directed to Samuel Kemble; some loose books and paper, wrappers for the shrouds, with wrappers for said goods.
(Then follow the depositions of Robert Murray and John Murray, purporting, that the above is a just, full, and true inventory of all the goods which were lately taken out of the ship Beulah, at Sandy Hook, &c.)
The sub committee further report, that the said Messrs. Robert and John Murray did write a letter to this committee, accompanying the said state of the case; which letter is in the following words:
To the General Committee for the city and county of New York.
GENTLEMEN,
The annexed depositions contain as full and candid an account of the transaction relative to the landing the goods from the ship Beulah, as we are able to give; in the doing of which, we have studied to give the committee, and our fellow citizens, the utmost satisfaction we are capable of. John Murray being obliged to go to Elizabeth town to take an inventory of the goods, found the committee sitting; he conceived it to be his duty, as the goods were within their jurisdiction, to give them notice thereof, and to make a full acknowledgment to them; upon doing which, they took, with his consent, possession of the goods as mentioned in the affidavit. We still declare our readiness to re-ship the said goods as nearly as is now in our power, agreeable to the tenor of the association, or to do otherwise with them, as the committee of Elizabeth town shall think proper to intimate or direct, and that we are also ready to give this committee any further satisfaction respecting the said goods; that they may recommend. Being desirous further to testify the uneasiness we have of the imprudent measures we have taken, as well as our concern for the trouble and uneasiness it has given our fellow citizens, we would wish to make such further satisfaction to the public, as might be most agreeable to them; and therefore do hereby cheerfully engage to give the sum of two hundred pounds towards repairing the hospital in this city, lately destroyed by fire.
We are, Gentlemen,
Very respectfully,
Your assured Friends,
New York, 15th March, 1775
ROBERT MURRAY.
JOHN MURRAY.
Which report being read, Resolved, that this committee do approve thereof; and Ordered, that the same be published, agreeable to the directions of the 11th article of the association.
By Order of the Committee,
ISAAC LOW, Chairman
Committee Chamber, March 16, 1775.
The Committee met by adjournment this evening at the Exchange.
Mr Lewis, from the sub committee appointed to state the case of Messrs. Robert Murray and John Murray, respecting their having landed goods from on board the ship Beulah, reported two letters from the committee of Elizabeth town to this committee, dated the 10th and 11th instant.
The said sub committee, also reported a letter voluntarily produced to this committee, at their meeting on the 15th instant, by Messrs. Murrays, in the following words:
To the General Committee for the city and county of New York.
GENTLEMEN,
Having been disappointed in our design of reshipping the cargo of the ship Beulah (from London) in another bottom, by which we were great sufferers, and though we then conceived that such our design, if executed, would have been a compliance with the resolution of the Congress, we acknowledge that to alleviate, in some measure, the great loss we sustained, we have been induced to land a small part of her cargo; and notwithstanding we was persuaded that it would be exceedingly difficult, if not impossible, to obtain full and sufficient evidence of the fact; and that the goods are secured in a place of safety, where they cannot be discovered; yet, upon mature reflection, and with a view to satisfy the public, and this committee, as well as to prevent the trouble of any further inquiries upon this subject; we are led to make this declaration, and to acknowledge, that we are sorry for the imprudent step we have taken, and that we do condemn the same as an unjustifiable measure; and as a further proof of our willingness to conform to the resolution of the Congress, as far as is now in our power, we do hereby engage to reship all the said goods, according to the tenor of the association, and to give the committee full and satisfactory proof thereof within seven days from this time, dated 11th of March 1775,
ROBERT MURRAY,
JOHN MURRAY.
And that they did then offer to make a full and ample confession of every fact relative to the unloading goods from the Beulah, and to deliver to the committee, at their next meeting, a full state of the case, under their oath and affirmation.
The said sub committee further report, that Messrs. John and Robert Murray did accordingly deliver a state of that transaction, which is in the words following, viz.
Inventory of goods taken out of the ship Beulah, at Sandy Hook.
84 bolts of Russia duck, 20 pieces of Raven ditto, 240 packages of pins, 5 bales of pepper, two of which are in a hogshead, 6 bolts of Oznaburgs, 10 pieces of blue shrouds, 14 pieces of Irish linen, 6 pieces of white linen, 11 pieces of linen sheeting, 1 paper bundle directed to Henry Van Vleeck, 1 bundle raw, supposed a cast-maker's cutter, 1 small box of books, papers, &c. directed to Samuel Kemble; some loose books and paper, wrappers for the shrouds, with wrappers for said goods.
(Then follow the depositions of Robert Murray and John Murray, purporting, that the above is a just, full, and true inventory of all the goods which were lately taken out of the ship Beulah, at Sandy Hook, &c.)
The sub committee further report, that the said Messrs. Robert and John Murray did write a letter to this committee, accompanying the said state of the case; which letter is in the following words:
To the General Committee for the city and county of New York.
GENTLEMEN,
The annexed depositions contain as full and candid an account of the transaction relative to the landing the goods from the ship Beulah, as we are able to give; in the doing of which, we have studied to give the committee, and our fellow citizens, the utmost satisfaction we are capable of. John Murray being obliged to go to Elizabeth town to take an inventory of the goods, found the committee sitting; he conceived it to be his duty, as the goods were within their jurisdiction, to give them notice thereof, and to make a full acknowledgment to them; upon doing which, they took, with his consent, possession of the goods as mentioned in the affidavit. We still declare our readiness to re-ship the said goods as nearly as is now in our power, agreeable to the tenor of the association, or to do otherwise with them, as the committee of Elizabeth town shall think proper to intimate or direct, and that we are also ready to give this committee any further satisfaction respecting the said goods; that they may recommend. Being desirous further to testify the uneasiness we have of the imprudent measures we have taken, as well as our concern for the trouble and uneasiness it has given our fellow citizens, we would wish to make such further satisfaction to the public, as might be most agreeable to them; and therefore do hereby cheerfully engage to give the sum of two hundred pounds towards repairing the hospital in this city, lately destroyed by fire.
We are, Gentlemen,
Very respectfully,
Your assured Friends,
New York, 15th March, 1775
ROBERT MURRAY.
JOHN MURRAY.
Which report being read, Resolved, that this committee do approve thereof; and Ordered, that the same be published, agreeable to the directions of the 11th article of the association.
By Order of the Committee,
ISAAC LOW, Chairman
What sub-type of article is it?
Politics
Legal Or Court
What keywords are associated?
New York Committee
Ship Beulah
Cargo Landing
Continental Association
Murray Confession
Hospital Donation
What entities or persons were involved?
Robert Murray
John Murray
Isaac Low
Mr Lewis
Where did it happen?
New York
Domestic News Details
Primary Location
New York
Event Date
March 11 16, 1775
Key Persons
Robert Murray
John Murray
Isaac Low
Mr Lewis
Outcome
murrays confess to landing goods, agree to reship them per association, provide proof within seven days, and donate 200 pounds to repair fire-damaged hospital. committee approves report and orders publication.
Event Details
Subcommittee reports letters and confession from Robert and John Murray regarding landing cargo from ship Beulah at Sandy Hook to avoid losses, violating Congress resolution. They provide inventory of goods, depositions, and offer to rectify by reshipping and additional public satisfaction via donation.