American Revolution
1783 Revolutionary War Evacuation of New York Period British Troop Ship “HMS Providence” Related Document
January 9th, 1783-Dated Revolutionary War Evacuation of New York Period, Manuscript Document Signed, “Charles Fred(erick) Lindahl,” for Wages on the 26 days wages aboard the “HMS Providence,” at New York, Choice Very Fine.
This original Revolutionary War Document, measuring 4” x 6” at New York, where Charles Frederick Lindahl has received pay for 26 days wages aboard the ship HMS Providence, traveling from Charlestown (South Carolina) to New York being Signed at lower right by Lindahl. It is well written in deep brown upon clean laid period paper and very easy to read being so attractive. This Document was written during the period of the British evacuation of Tory “Loyalists” to the British Crown from New York. Most left for Halifax, Nova Scotia prior to continuing back to England.

Captain John Ritchie was the Master of the ship “Providence‚” a British ship under contract with the Navy Board to transport troops to America. The Providence was owned by English merchant Nathaniel Bayles, by the 1780s the Providence had been hired by the navy and become a Transport taking troops over to fight in the war in North America. The Providence transported Hessian and Scottish regiments as well as supplies needed in New York.

New York was under embargo by the surrounding colonies and the only way to get fresh supplies was from the local sympathizers or from England and her colonies. As a side note, the National Archives has a grouping of letters from the Ship Providence showing that the Providence was also a slave ship. Title of the archive in the National Archives is as follows: “John Ritchie, Captain of Ship Providence: corresp to Nathaniel Bayles of Newcastle while sailing between New York and Jamaica, voyage accounts, crew wages lists, Slave cargoes and the Providence's involvement in the American War of Independence 1780-1782.”