Capt. Robert Niles

He served in the campaign against the French and Indians in 1757, in Capt. Gallup's company. Col. Lyman's reg't (French and Indian War Rolls, 1:190). During the Revolutionary War, he was a famous privateer, captain and commander of the sloops, "Spy" and "Dolphin." In 1778, as captain of the "Spy," he skillfully avoided the British vessels that were watching for him and made the passage of the Atlantic in the shortest time then known. He bore the news that the American congress had ratified the treaty with France, the only treaty of alliance ever made by the United States. On the minutes of the Connecticut council of safety for July 20, 1779, it is recorded:

"Capt. Niles came in, having arrived home last Saturday after having been twice captured, gave an account of his voyage; arrived at Paris in 27 days after he sailed, which was beginning June, 1778, and delivered his mail to Dr. Franklin, containing the ratification by Congress of the Treaty with France, being the first account he had received of that event, which was greatly satisfactory to him and the French ministry and nation in general. (See Conn. Men in the Rev'n, 593 & State Records of Conn., vols. 1 and 2). His wife d. Feb. 18, 1790. He was twice married after the death of his wife, Abigail. He and his three wives are buried at Norwich. His tombstone reads as follows :

Capt. Robert Niles A patriot who commanded the Spy during the Revolutionary war He carried the treaty to France and delivered it to Benjamin Franklin. Capt. Niles served his Country faithfully & died a Christian in the year 1818, aged 83 years.

THE GROTON AVERY CLAN, Vol. I, by Elroy McKendree Avery and Catherine Hitchcock (Tilden) Avery, Cleveland, 1912. p. 257

NLHS: Capt. Robert Niles, a Groton native, commanded the armed schooner Spy, which was owned by the state of Connecticut.

Nutmegger: "Early Norwich Settlers," article by Philip A. Johnson, says

(page 22): "Captain Robert Niles. In June 1778 he carried to France an official copy of the ratified Treaty with that kingdom. In his ship, the Spy, he got through a considerable British fleet cruising off the coast of France. Six copies of the Treaty were dispatched by different vessels, but this is supposed to be the only one to reach its destination."