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This collection provides a unique insight into the building, outfitting, provisioning and sailing in 1781 of the letter of marque ship Robin Hood, which took part in the American Revolution. As Thomas E. Babson noted in his series of three articles on the “Robin Hood” papers that appeared in the Gloucester Daily Times September 13-21, 1955, although the terms “privateer” and “letter of marque vessel” are often used interchangeably, there is a distinction. A privateer could roam the seas freely in search of prey, whereas a letter of marque vessel was restricted in her prize-taking endeavors to such enemy vessels as she might encounter in the course of her regular trade between specified ports.

The collection contains some 30 documents consisting of Master’s Instructions, receipts, ship’s manifest and dimensions, correspondence, accounts and invoices, expenses, agreements and memorandum. The documents cover a time period of February and December, 1781.

Read the finding aid here.