she made her mark to it in the presence of my mother, and I afterward took it to Mr. Jones's office, and the clerk paid me the money. The same clerk then told me to call at the office again at 3 o'clock, and I did call at that time, when he requested me to be at the Havre boat on the following Monday morning, at 8 o'clock, as he wanted me to join the ship again, and he would then pay my passage to Cherbourg. I went to the Havre boat, as directed, on Monday morning, the 23d of November, instant, and saw there Frank Barron, the yeoman of the Georgia, or Japan, who introduced me to a strange clerk from Jones's office; he was a young man, about 5 feet 7 or 8 inches high, without any whiskers, and whose name I have been informed and believe is John Welding. The clerk said to me that he did not think I was going to come, as it was late; I then asked him if I was to go back to the Georgia, and he said yes; I then asked him to whom was I to report myself, when Barron answered that I was, of course, to report myself to one of the deck-officers when I reached Cherbourg. The clerk then asked me to sign two papers, which I thought were receipts for the £3, which he then gave me to pay my passage round to Havre; I signed the papers on a bale of goods on the dock quay; the clerk then asked me to go on board the Havre steamer, but I made an excuse that I wanted to get a glass of grog before leaving; the clerk objected to my going away, but as I insisted upon going, he at last consented. In the schedule I have given a list of the officers and crew of the Georgia. The schedule referred to is as follows: L. Maury, captain, and Chapman, first lieutenant, left us at Cape Town; Mr. Evans, second lieutenant; Mr. Smith, third lieutenant; Mr. Ingram, fourth lieutenant, or sailing-master; Mr. Walker, passed midshipman; Mr. Morgan, midshipman; Mr. Curtis, paymaster; William May, master-at-arms; George Stevenson, sergeant; Henry J. Jones, doctor's assistant; Mr. Pearson, chief engineer; Mr. Butler, second engineer; Smith, third engineer, left us at Cape Town; Mr. Hannon, fourth engineer; Mr. Naylor, gunner; Mr. Morton, boatswain; Thomas Williams, chief boatswain's mate; Thomas Williams, second boatswain's mate; Thomas Monk, fourth boatswain's mate; Thomas Call and Frank Mills, captains of forecastle; John Benson, captain of foretop Robert Rodway, captain of maintop; Felix Morgan and William Williams, captains of afterguard; Thomas Hiley, James Hendry, and William Jackson, quartermasters; William Dunn, acting gunner; John Williams, gunner's mate; William Price, cook; Freeman, ship's steward; Fleming, ward-room steward; W. Bassell, armorer; John Stanley, cooper; Joseph Seymour, lives at 33 Bedford street, Liverpool, seaman; Matthews, painter; R. Neil, carpenter, and Mr. Ewen, joiner; Jerome Ebrio, sail-master; Alex. Crozier, Alex. McDonald, Thompson, Robinson, W. Hayes, Neilson, Smith, Y. James, Fitzgerald, Peterson, John Lyons, William Lloyd, Hinds, and Murray, seamen; W. Cox, Ford, MeThien, and J. Clayton, boys; Joseph Hobbs, captain of the hold; Frank Barron, ship's yeoman; James Wilson, William Cullen, John Allstone, and Smith, seamen; John Brown, No. 1, and John Brown, No. 2, seamen; Bernard Allen, John Dollan, Thomas Jonas, seamen; T. McChee, A. Ellis, A. Pantee, John McCarthey, [434] *Michael Droomy, William Davitt, Benjamin Conolly, 17 Temple Building, Liver pool; Gordon, Curtis, Thurston, Michael Connor, Walter Owen, James Wilson, John Williams, tiremen; Thompson, ward-room cook; Antonio Bass, captain's cook; Mr. Hunt, master's mate; J. Williams, gunner's mate. (Signed) FRANCIS GLASSBROOK. Sworn at Liverpool, in the county of Lancaster, this 24th day of November, 1863, before me. (Signed) JUSTLEY PEARSON, [Inclosure 5 in No. 31.1 Deposition of Benjamin Conolly. Benjamin Conolly, of No. 17 Temple Buildings, Liverpool, in the county of Lancaster, fireman, makes oath and says as follows: On the 27th day of March last I was at the Sailors' Home, Liverpool, when I met Mr. Barnett, a shipping-agent, who informed me that I had a chance of going in a steamer to Singapore. Mr. Barnett then introduced me to Captain Hitchcock, who told me that he would take me. I then signed articles, and a gentleman with a black mustache and an imperial, whose name I have been informed and believe is Robert Hyatt, came up to me and told me to take my clothes down to Mr. Jones's office, 28 Chapel street, Liverpool, which I did, and there saw the same gentleman. On the following morning, Saturday, I called at Mr. Jones's office, as requested, and received my advance note. I then received orders to be at the Greenock boat on the following Monday, at 5 o'clock. I went to the Greenock steamer, as ordered, and there saw Cap tain Hitchcock and Mr. Jones, who was superintending the shipping of our clothes. We sailed for Greenock that night, and arrived there on the 31st. We were taken on board of a tug-boat, which took us to the Japan, or Georgia. On the 3d of April we left Greenock as reported, upon a trial-trip; and while we were on the supposed trial-trip,we fell in with a steamer which brought us several more hands, provisions, and clothing. We afterward fell in with another small steamer, which we towed to Brest; and she there discharged a great many cases, containing arms and amunition, into the Japan, under the superintendence of Mr. Jones, who came on board of the Japan from the small steamer while we were lying at anchor at Brest. I know the cases contained arms and ammunition, because I assisted in opening several of them. Both the arms and ammunition cases were marked Alderney, and the muskets were marked Blakeley. After we got the cases on board, the captain of the Japan came aft, dressed in uniform, (a gray uniform,) with the letters C. S. N. on the buttons, and called all hands to him, and told us that we were going to sail under the confederate flag; that we should have £10 bounty and £4 108. per month wages, if we joined. He also said we should have prize-money if the Alabama's crew received it. While the captain of the Japan was addressing us, Mr. Jones was standing close to him, and he afterward came among us, endeavoring to induce us to join. Mr. Jones came to me and asked if I would join, but I refused; and Mr. Jones told me that I was throwing a good chance away; that it was an excellent chance for me to make my fortune; that I should have plenty of money; and he at last induced me to join. Those who agreed to join them went into the cabin of the Japan. Mr. Jones was in the cabin, and taking down the addresses of the men's wives who received half-pay. I was paid £10 bounty upon signing articles. We joined for three years, or during the war with the North. We left Brest on the night of the 9th of April, and about the 25th we fell in with the Dictator, from Liverpool, and boarded her, and then brought the crew on board the Japan, and burned her. We then went to the Western Islands, where we found an American man-of-war lying at anchor, the name of which, I think, was the Mohican. We then went to Bahia, and landed the crew of the Dictator there, except a few who had agreed to join us. We met the bark Castor at Bahia, and took in coals from her. While we were taking in coals we were stopped by the authorities, and got the remainder of our coals from shore. Several men, who had been prisoners on board the Alabama, joined us at Bahia, and we then went on our cruise. We soon afterward fell in with the George Griswold, which was ransomed, her captain having given a bond. We also fell in with the bark Good Hope, from Boston, which we burned. On the same day we boarded the J. W. Sever, from Boston, which was ransomed. We put the crew of the Good Hope on board of her. We then [435] *proceeded to the island of Trinadi, where we had arranged to meet the Castor to coal. After lying there about a week, waiting for the Castor, we sighted the Constitution, from New York, laden with coals, which we boarded, and after filling our vessel with coals from her, we burned her. During the time we were taking in coals, we fell in with the City of Bath, which was also ransomed. We placed the Constitution's crew on board of the City of Bath, except about six, who agreed to join us. In about a week afterward we fell in with the Prince of Wales, which was ransomed. We then went to Simon's Bay, where got the decks calked. After leaving Simon's Bay, we fell in with the John Watt, which was also ransomed. We then steered northward, and about the 9th of October we fell in with the Bold Hunter, which we burned the following day. We put her crew ashore at Teneriffe, where we coaled. We then started for Cherbourg, in France, where we arrived about the 28th of October last. I left the Japan in Cherbourg (government dock-yard) and arrived in Liverpool on the 30th. I got a week's leave of absence, and received £20 liberty-money. On the Sunday previous to my leaving Cherbourg for Liverpool, the captain of the Japan, Mr. Maury, called all hands aft, and said, “Well, my men, I hear that a great many of you are dissatisfied with the vessel, and I am sorry to hear that some of you want to leave her. I do not wish to part with any of you, being such a good crew. I have stuck to my bargain with you, and I hope you will stick to yours." One of the men then said to the captain, We did not wish to leave the service; we were all dissatisfied with the ship, and wanted to go on board of a ship more able to fight." The captain then said, "That we should have two fighting-ships before very long, and we should have as much fighting as we could do with." Several of the men then spoke about leaving for Liverpool, when the captain said, "He had no orders yet to grant leave to any of us, but that he was going to Paris that night to see his superior, and on his return he would give us further information." On his return from Paris he again called us aft, and said, "That he had got very good news for us from Paris; that he could give us leave for a short time, but that he could not part with any of us; but that if any of us could not agree among ourselves, we might join either of the two vessels which he had coming." On Monday last, the 16th of November, I called at Mr. Jones's office, in Chapel street, Liverpool, and asked him how I was to get back to the Japan, when he told me to call again in a day or two, and he would pay my passage to France. Upon signing articles, I received an advance note for two pounds, which was signed Jones & Co., 28 Chapel street, Liverpool. I got the note cashed at Jacob's, Paradise street. None of the crew of the Japan received any half-pay notes, the captain having given instructions for the half pay to be paid by his agents in England to the men's wives, whose addresses the captain took at the time we signed articles. On the 21st of November, instant, I again called at Mr. Jones's office, in company with Mr. Francis Glassbrook, and again saw the same gentleman, who asked us if we belonged to the Florida. We told him "No; we belonged to the Georgia." He then said he had news for us, and wanted us to go back to the ship. I asked him if he could allow me half-pay, when he asked me if I was married. I told him I was not married, and he then said he could not give me half-pay. He then told me to call again at three o'clock, and I did attend at that time, when he gave me orders to be at the Havre boat on the following Monday morning, at 8 o'clock, to join the ship again, and he would pay my passage-money to Cherbourg. I went to the Havre boat, as directed, Monday morning, the 23d of November, instant, and saw Frank Barron, the yeoman of the Georgia, who introduced me to a strange clerk from Mr. Jones's office. He was a young man, about the middle height, without a beard, and whose name I have been informed and believe is John Welding. The clerk then said to me that he did not think I was coming, as I was so late. I then asked him if I was to go back to the Georgia, and he said, "Yes." I then asked him to whom was I to report myself; when Barron answered that I was, of course, to report myself to one of the deck-officers when I reached Cherbourg. The clerk then asked me to sign two papers, which we thought were receipts for £3, which he gave us to pay our passage round to Havre. I signed the receipt on a bale of goods on the dock quay. The clerk then asked me to go on board the steamer, when I made an excuse that I wanted to get a glass of grog with Glassbrook before I left. The clerk objected to our leaving, but he at last consented. (Signed) BENJAMIN CONOLLY. Sworn at Liverpool, in the county of Lancaster, the 24th day of November, 1863, before me, J. PEARSON, A Commissioner to administer Oaths in Chancery in England. (Signed) [436] *[Inclosure 6 in No. 31.] Deposition of Catherine Stanley. I, Catherine Stanley, of No. 26 Court, Ovid street, Vauxhall road, Liverpool, in the county of Lancaster, wife of John Stanley, of the same place, cooper, make oath and say as follows: I called at Mr. Jones's office about the 12th of April last, as directed by my husband, for the balance of his advance note, when I saw a gentleman with a moustache, who paid me the money. My husband had previously taken me to Jones's office and informed this gentleman I was his wife. About the 9th of April last I received a letter from my husband, then cooper of the steamer Georgia, which letter is hereunto annexed, marked A, informing me that he had shipped in that vessel for three years, and that he had sent £10 for me by Mr. Jones, and desiring me to call upon him and receive it, and make arrangements about the half-pay. I went to Mr. Jones's office the day I received the letter, and saw an elderly gentleman, with a reddish face, whom I have since been informed was Mr. Jones. He asked me what I was going to do with all that money; that it was quite unexpected for me to get it, and told me that if my husband stopped with the ship until the end of three years I should be independent. He then said that he had not sufficient money in the office to pay me then, and told me to call the next day. Mr. Jones also told me that I should get half-pay. I called the next day, and saw a tall gentleman with a moustache, who paid me the £10, and I signed a receipt for it. The gentleman then told me to call on the 13th of June for half-pay. I did call on the 13th of June, and saw the same gentleman, who paid me the money himself. I have called at Jones's office regularly every month up to the 13th of October last, and have been paid the half-pay; the same gentleman sometimes paid it to me, and sometimes the boy paid it. I called on the 14th November, instant, as usual for the half-pay, when I saw the same gentleman, who told me he had no orders yet to pay me. He said that he had sent a telegraphic message about the matter, and he had no reply yet. He told me to call next day, which I did, but did not get any money, and I called daily up to the 18th November, instant, on which day the boy paid me the money. (Signed) CATHERINE STANLEY. Sworn at Liverpool, in the county of Lancaster, this 26th day of November, 1863, before me, (Signed) J. PEARSON, [Inclosure 7 in No. 31.] APRIL 7, 1863. DEAR WIFE: I write this from a by-port in France, where we are taking in stores, and I am going in the ship, and I am sending you £10 to Jones's office, and I want you to go and receive it when you get this, and half-pay, £2 10s. I have shipped for three years, and you must not think the time long. God bless you and the little children, and give them a kiss for me. Good night, and God bless you. Give my love to my sister and all inquiring friends. No more at present; from your affectionate husband, (Signed) JOHN STANLEY. This is the letter marked A, referred to in the annexed affidavit of Catherine Stanley. Sworn before me this 26th November, 1863. (Signed) J. PEARSON, A Commissioner to administer Oaths in Chancery in England. I, Cecilia Glassbrook, of 53 Upper Hill street, Liverpool, in the county of Lancaster, wife of Francis Glassbrook, of the same place, able scaman, make oath and say as follows: About the 10th April last I received a note from my husband, Francis Glassbrook, then a seaman on board the steamer Georgia, which letter is hereunto annexed, marked A, desiring me to call at Mr. Jones's office, 28 Chapel street, Liverpool, and receive from him £10, and to make arrangement for receiving my husband's half-pay. On the 13th April the wife of a seaman on board the Georgia, who had been to Mr. Jones's office for her money, called upon me and told me to call at Mr. Jones's office, which I did the same day, and received the £10 from a tall gentleman with a black moustache and an imperial. The same gentleman then told me to call in two months from that day to receive my husband's half-pay. I asked the gentleman whether he could not give me a half-pay note, when he replied, “No; you won't want a note when you receive the money here." I called at Mr. Jones's office on the 13th day of the first month after my husband sailed, for my husband's half-pay, having heard that the wife of another seaman on board the Georgia was receiving her half-pay that day, when I saw the same gentleman, who informed me that he did not think I could get it then, as they had received no news from the ship, and requested me to call on the 13th of the next month. I did accordingly call on the 13th day of the second month after my husband sailed, and again saw the same gentleman, and he directed the boy to pay me my halfpay, which he did. I then asked the same gentleman whether I could see Mr. Jones, as I had a letter to send to my husband, but he said he could send it without troubling Mr. Jones. There was an elderly gentleman with grey hair and whiskers standing close to him at this time, which I have always been led to believe was Mr. Jones. I have called regularly every month at Mr. Jones's office, and have received my husband's half-pay, the gentleman whom I saw on the first occasion having each time directed the boy to pay it to me. On the 13th day of November, instant, I called as usual at Mr. Jones's office for my husband's half-pay, when the boy informed me I could not get it that day, and must call on the following Monday. I did attend on the following Monday, between 12 and 1 o'clock, and the boy informed me that he could not pay me until he had received a reply to a telegraphic message which had been sent to London. I waited at the office until nearly 5 that evening, when the boy informed me that they closed the office at 6, and that I had better call early next day. On the following day I was taken ill and unable to go. On Saturday last my husband brought a receipt for the last half-pay, and told me that Mr. Jones would not pay it to him unless I signed the receipt, and I made my mark to such a receipt in the presence of my mother-inlaw. The letter marked B, hereto annexed, I received from my husband while he was in Greenock, and the letter marked C, also hereunto annexed, I received from him while he was on board the Georgia. (Signed) her Sworn at Liverpool, in the county of Lancaster, this 24th day of November, 1863, this affidavit having in my presence been previously read over to the deponent, who appeared perfectly to understand the same, and made her mark thereto in my presence. (Signed) J. BUSHELL, A Commissioner to administer Oaths in Chancery in England. [Inclosure 9 in No. 31.] APRIL 7, 1863. DEAR WIFE: I could not get a chance to write to you before. I did write one letter to you. I hope you got it. Dear Celia, I have shipped in this ship and got £10 bounty, and £4 108. per month, and I have left you half-pay. When you receive this go to Jones's office and you will receive £10, and he will give you half-pay, and ask him how you are going to write to me. Dear Celia, when you get this money start in some kind of business. Give my love to father and mother, Stephen and uncle, and tell [438] them I hope I will be soon *home again. I have shipped for the war in my own name. I have not got time to say more; but good night, and God bless you. I remain your ever-loving, (Signed) FRANCIS GLASSBROOK. This is the letter marked A referred to in the annexed affidavit of Cecilia Glassbrook. Sworn before me this 24th day of November, 1863. (Signed) J. BUSHELL. [Inclosure 10 in No. 31.] GREENOCK, April 1, 1863. DEAR WIFE: I have arrived safe on yesterday about 3 o'clock, after a good passage. We have not heard where we are going to yet, but we think we are going to Nassau, or else to meet the Alabama. I never got ashore yet, so I did not get the money, nor did I see Lizzie. I can't tell when we are going to sail. Give my love to father, mother, Stephen, and uncle. I remain your loving husband, F. GLASSBROOK. This is the letter marked Breferred to in the annexed affidavit of Cecilia Glassbrook. Sworn before me this 24th day of November, 1863. (Signed) J. BUSHELL. [Inclosure 11 in No. 31.] SHIP GEORGIA, May 14, 1863. DEAREST CELIA: You must be very anxious to get a few lines from me, to know how I am getting on; but you can make yourself at ease, for I am very well, and could be very happy if I could hear from you, or even to know you are well and comfortable. Dearest Celia, I hope you had no trouble to get the money from Jones. You know that you was to receive £3 108. in the name of Frank Rivers, and £10 in that of Francis Glassbrook, and likewise £2 58. a month half-pay. Dearest Celia, I am afraid we will not do so well as the Alabama, but we must be content. I should like to hear how the war is getting on, or when it is likely to be over. We shall be discharged as soon as it is done. You need not fret about me being taken by the Yankees, for your half-pay goes on still. Dearest Celia, I wish you to go to Jones and ask him how you are to write to me, and he will put you in the way of writing to me. I hope my father and mother, Stephen and uncle are well. I dare say my poor mother is fretting about me. Remember me to your sister Anne and her chil dren, and I hope she has heard good news from her husband. I hope Stephen is a good boy and keeping steady. If anything should happen to him, I hope you will look to my mother as long as you have a shilling, for if you love me you are sure to be kind to my mother. I don't see as I have any more to say at present, only that we are all well, and ready to take the first Yankee ship that comes in our way. I dare say there is a great talk in England about us, but the newspapers can tell you more than I can. I shall conclude by remaining still your ever-loving husband, (Signed) FRANCIS GLASSBROOK. This is the letter marked C referred to in the annexed affidavit of Cecilia Glassbrook. Sworn before me this 24th day of November, 1863. (Signed) JOHN BUSHELL. |