The following information was put together from documents of the Department of Foreign Relations, Vol. 3., 1807-15, pages 15-17.
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I Benjamin Davis, of Westport, in the county of Bristol and commonwealth of Massachusetts, yeoman, being legally qualified to give evidence, do depose and say, that, about fourteen or fifteen years ago, William Howland, late of said Westport, mariner, decesed brought to Westport with him a colored boy, then about six years of age; that the name of said boy was Daniel Martin; that he was bound to said William, as an apprentice or servant, under the authority of laws of this commonwealth, by the selectmen and overseers of the poor of said town of Westport, and the indentures were executed at the house of the deponent, that the said Daniel was afterwards, on his arrival at the age of fourteen years, an apprentice or servant of Nancy Howland widow and relict of, said William Howland, and it is now about seven years since I have seen the said Daniel, he was then of common stature, straight built, and without any prominent marks by which to describe his person. It was always understood by me that the said Daniel was from some Spanish settlement in America.
Benjamin Davis.
On this day July 13, 1807, I Nancy Howland, of New Bedford in the county of Bristol and commonweath of Massachusetts, widow and relict of William Howland, late of Westport in said county, mariner, do depose and say, that, in the month of August, in the year of our lord 1792, according to the best of my recollection, my said husband brought with him on a voyage from Buenes Ayres, Daniel Martin, a colored boy, then in the seventhyear of age, was bound to him, as an apprentice or servant by his mother; that after the death of my said husband and at the arrival of said Daniel at the age of fourteen years, he bound himself to me, the desponent and after living with me about a year, left me, and since that time, I have never seen or heard from the said Daniel. At the time the said Daniel left me, he was common stature and no peculiar marks,he was very straight at the time.
Nancy Howland.
The following is extracted from the portage bill of the ship Caledonia.
Francis Mahaly master, who sailed, about the 25th., January, 1802, for Canton and returned about 13th., March, 1803. "Daniel Martin seaman, shipped January 24, 1802; Discharged March 14, 1803; time on board, thirteen months, seventeen day's $12, a month; total wages, $162.75."
British consul's office, Norfolk Virginia, March 6, 1806.
Sir: The men named deserted some time since from His Majerty's ship Melampus in Hampton Roads, by running away with a gig, and the three first are stated to have entered at the rendezvous, now open and should they have entered for your service they are to be returned to their duty on board His Majesty's ship before mentioned. Names William Ware, Daniel Martin and John Little.
Daniel Martin was pressed from on board the Brig Neptune, by the British Frigate Melampus, in the bay of Biscay has served fifteen months. He is a native of Westport in Massachusetts, about thirdy miles to the Eastward of Newport Rhode Island; seved his time out of New York, with Captain Marrowby in the Caledonis.
Daniel Martin, states that some time in February last, there was an entertainment on board the Melampus, lying then in Hamption Road; that while officers were in engaged and all ships boat's except the captain gig; being hoisted in, themselve , and the two men before stated availed themselvees of a moment to seize the gig and row off; that as soon as they had got into the boat, they were hailed to know what they were going to do; they replied they were going ashore; a brisk fire of musketry instantly commenced from the ship; that, in defiance of balls, and the hazard of their lives, they continued to pull, and finally effected their escape to land, namely Lowell's Point; that they then carefully hauled up the boat on the beach, rolled up the coat, and placed that and the oars in the boat, give three cheers, and moved up the country.
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