Can anyone help amplify a reference I have found in affidavits relating to
the desertion of slaves to the British in the War of 1812? Several deponents
refer to the burning in late 1813 of a building called the Pleasure House,
apparently in Princess Anne County and on the beach of Lynhaven Bay:

[1] "some of the said negroes conducted a detachment from the said [British]
ships to the Pleasure House belonging to Mr Nimmo, which was burnt by the
enemy"

[2] "in the year 1813 . . . the said negros ranaway in the summer or Fall of
that year, a short time before the building called the pleasure house was
burnt. That house was on the Bay side. It was stated by some of our people
who were at the Pleasure house, that  . .  two of the said negros conducted
the British party along the Beach and marshes to the spot . . "

[3] "A short time after the said negroes went away a house called the
Pleasure House on the bay side and occupied by our Militia was taken by a
party from the British fleet and burnt. It was said by some of our men who
made their escape that the said British detachment was pilotted by two of
said negroes"

[RG76, International Claims, E-190, Case Files, case 282; NARA, College Park
Maryland,]

John Weiss
Independent Scholar, London
http://homepage.virgin.net/john.weiss/trinidad/trinidad.html

To subscribe, change options, or unsubscribe, please see the instructions
at http://listlva.lib.va.us/archives/va-hist.html