,•5^^ xo-n o a 4- ■» o .0^ BEVERLY PRIVATEERS IN THE AMERICAN REVOLUTION BY OCTAVIUS THORNDIKE HOWE, M.D. REPRINTED FROM THE PUBLICATIONS OF (B\)t Colonial ^ociet^ of Spas^acljugetCfif Vol. XXIV CAMBRIDGE JOHN WILSON AND SON ?ri)c Janibtrjsttg ^xtss 1922 '^ ^ °» ^ (, t 2 3 BEVERLY PRIVATEERS IN THE AMERICAN REVOLUTION BEVERLY PRIVATEERS IN THE AMERICAN REVOLUTION Intkoduction At the opening of the War of the Revolution Beverly numbered about 3000 inhabitants. Its sea coast extended for six miles along the north shore in alternate sections of rocky point and sandy beach. Back from the shore line, from jNIanchester on the east to Wenham on the north and Danvers on the west, the land, broken and rolling, was dotted with farms and partly covered with pine woods. The soil was fairly fertile for New England and watered by numerous brooks. The inhabitants were farmers tilling their own farms, 1922] BEVERLY PRIVATEERS IN THE REVOLUTION 319 fishermen, mariners, merchants, professional men, and the mechanics and middlemen necessary in every village. Manufactures were only such as commerce and fishing necessitated, rope making, sail making and probably some ship building. There were five small distilleries where molasses from the West Indies was converted into rum. The harbor was for vessels of the size used in those days, a safe, convenient and fairly deep one. In the harbor between the Point and the site of the bridge now connecting Beverly and Salem lay the wharves, the first, counting from the ocean side, Union wharf, now Guffey's, next Bartlett's and Glover's, later occupied by Colonel Israel Thorndike. At the head of this wharf on Water Street was a large storehouse with an archway entrance from the street. Next Lovett's and Standley's wharf, then Stephen Nourse's wharf, later occupied by Nourse & Stephens, next followed in order, Pickard and Woodbury's, J. & H. Morgan's, Foster and Lovett's, Picket's, Ober's now Preston's, Deacon John Safford's, and Distillery wharf. There were also a few wharves in Bass River, used during the war for captured prizes. At the head of the wharves and along Water Street were the warehouses of the Beverly merchants, and along the shore from the Point toward the Cove w^ere the fish flakes where the salted cod were dried in the sun. Most of the merchants and im- porters did a retail as well as wholesale business, selling to the fisher- men, salt, nets, lines and clothing, and exchanging dress goods, rum, sugar, linen and flour for fish, grain, lumber and country produce. Prior to the Revolutionary War Beverly was essentially a fishing village and all its commerce was based on this staple. In 1772 the fishing fleet consisted of 30 vessels of the following ownership, tonnage and value: NAMES OF OWNERS T^^xr^^^ TONNAGE VALUE OWNED IN POUNDS Benj. Davis 3 160 900 Josiah Batchelder 2 120 600 Thomas Woodberry 1 55 300 Jonathan Lovett 23^ 150 750 WiUiam Bartlett 2 120 600 Thomas Stephens 1% 90 450 Israel Thorndike 6% 150 900 J. & A. Cabot 2 120 600 P. Obear & Co 2)4 65 300 Carried forward 23J^ 1030 5400 320 THE COLONIAL SOCIETY OF MASSACHUSETTS [Jan. NAMES OF OWNERS nw^^n^ TONNAGE ^^^^^ O-WJvED IN POUNDS Brought forward 23>^ 1030 5400 H. Thorndike 1 65 300 Benj. Ober 1 65 300 Isaac Thorndike 1 55 300 Zebulan Ray 1 60 300 Benj. Dodge 1 60 300 Benj. Lovett 2_ 130 600 303^ 1465 7500 The whole value of the fishing industry is given as 17,825 pounds. Most of the fishing vessels were schooners and all small enough to trade, when not fishing, with the West Indies, a trade i-tstricted by both France and England to vessels of seventy tons or under. The best cod fish were sent to Spain, the inferior to the West Indies. The total value of the exports from Beverly in 1772 is not obtain- able, but besides fish the merchants of Beverly exported masts, spars, and manufactured lumber in its various forms. Vessels engaged in foreign trade were as follows: NAMES OF OWNERS I^J^^Jc TONNAGE VALUE \"ESSELS IN POUNDS Thomas Davis 1 100 300 Josiah Batchelder 1 60 300 Livermore Whittredge 1 90 300 Isaac Thorndike 1 80 300 J. & A. Cabot 2 300 940 S. Raymond 1 90 350 John Dyson 1 90 400 Israel Thorndike _2 100 600 10 910 3490 There was also a coasting trade to Maine for lumber, to Maryland and Virginia for flour, and to Carolina for rice, not to mention the West India trade, which was large, and both coasting and fishing vessels were used in this. The total tonnage of the town, probably underestimated, is given as 2406 tons.^ . In 1772 the value of the real estate in Beverly is given as 113,000 pounds, personal property 45,000 pounds, making the total valuation 158,000 pounds. In 1775 the fishing fleet consisted of 35 schooners manned by over 300 men. In 1775 Beverly was only surpassed in Essex County by Salem and Newbur;vT)ort in the wealth, and by Ipswich, INIarblehead, Salem, and Newburj'port, in the number of its inhabitants. It had many 1 Nathan Dane Papers (Massachusetts Historical Society). 1922] BEVERLY PRIVATEERS IN THE REVOLUTION 321 stores, seventy is the number given, and rivalled or surpassed Salem in the quantity and quality of the merchandise offered. This was chiefl}" due to the large importing house of J. & A. Cabot. The firm doing business under this name consisted of George Cabot,^ Joseph Lee,- John and Andrew Cabot, and they had gradually built up a large business making the Spanish trade a specialty. Their agents and correspondents in that country were the firm of Joseph Gardoqui & Sons and as early as 1770 their vessels, under command of George Cabot, Stephen Cleveland, and Benjamin Lovett, were shipping the catch of the Beverly fishermen to Bilbao and bringing back salt, iron, cordage, silks, linen, and liquors to the home port. Occasionally they sent vessels to Charleston for rice and to Virginia for tobacco and shipped thence to their correspondents in Bilbao. Next in importance to the Cabots w^as the firm of Brown & Thorndike. The senior partner, Moses Brown,^ moved to Beverly in 1772 and a few years after formed a partnership with his brother- in-law, Israel Thorndike.'* Mr. Brown was a public spirited man, enthusiastic in the cause of American independence, a sergeant in Larkin Thorndike's company at Lexington, and an officer in several of the battles of the Revolution. His partner, Israel Thorndike, was a young man of great virility and ambition and as an officer of the State navy and commander of several privateers did good service to the public cause. The firm dealt largely in broadcloths, velvets and dress goods, and also sold supplies to the fishermen. One of the oldest houses was that of John & Thomas Stephens. They were of old Beverly stock, descendants of John Stephens who came over in 1700. The firm owned several merchant and fishing vessels and did a general importing business. Other prominent business men were Josiah Batchelder, Jr,,^ mariner, captain, mer- ^ George Cabot (1751-1823), United States Senator, President of the Hart- ford Convention, etc. 2 Joseph Lee (1744-1831), born in Salem. 3 Moses Brown (1748-1820), born at Waltham; H. C. 1768; raised and com- manded a company which left Beverly August 9, 1777; present at the battles of Long Island, Trenton, and Harlem Heights. ^ Israel Thorndike (1755-1825), son of Andrew and Anna (Morgan) Thorn- dike. ^ Josiah Batchelder, Jr. (1737-1828), representative to the General Court; member of Congress; innholder; surveyor of the port of Beverly. 322 THE COLONIAL SOCIETY OF MASSACHUSETTS [Jait. chant, shipowner and politician; William Bartlett/ first Naval Agent in Massachusetts for the new republic; Larkin Thorndike, soldier, merchant and shipowner; John Dyson, William Homans,^ Thomas Davis,^ Jonathan Lovett, William Leach,^ Livermore Whittredge,^ Benjamin Lovett, Thomas Woodberry,^ and Ebenezer Ellingwood. Although the above names appear most often in the mercantile and privateering history of Beverly as owners of vessels and privateers, it must be remembered that they were by no means sole owners of the vessels credited to them. As a matter of policy and insurance a merchant preferred to own only a sufficient share of a vessel to give him control and the balance, often a half interest, was held by men whose names do not appear. IMost of the vessels sailing from Beverly in the first three years of the war were manned by Beverly crews and always included a strong contingent of Lovetts, Herricks, Gages, Thorndikes, Batchelders, Ellingwoods, Fosters, Obers, and Wood- berrys, and the two latter families could have officered and manned a large privateer with men of their own name. The citizens of Beverly had been zealous in resisting what seemed to them the t\Tanny of Great Britain, had, like all the other sea port towns, evaded the Navigation law, applauded the destruction of tea, sympathized with Boston over the Port Bill and contributed liberally to the poor of that city. Their Committee of Correspondence included such names as John Leach, Benjamin Jones, Henry Herrick, Samuel Goodridge, Josiah Batchelder, Joshua Cleves, Nicholas Thorndike, Andrew Cabot, Joseph Wood, Livermore Whittredge, Israel Thorndike, Edward Giles, William Dodge, William Taylor, John Lovett, 3rd, Thomas Stephens, and Josiah Batchelder, Jr. These men and many like them made Beverly a town whose naval history stands second to none in the records of the American Revolution. 1 William Bartlett (1745-1809), fourth in descent from William Bartlett of Frampton, Dorset, England. - William Homans (1749-1837), born at Marblehead, died in Beverly. 5 Thomas Davis, born September 25, 1755, son of Thomas and Abigail (Stephens) Davis of Salem. . 4 William Leach (1758-1838). ^ Livermore Whittredge, born February 24, 1740; descended from William Whittredge, who came over in 1635 and settled in Ipswich. ^ Thomas Woodberry, born May 10, 1743, son of Thomas and Lucy (Herrick) Woodberry. 1922] BEVERLY PRIVATEERS IN THE REVOLUTION 323 In writing a liistor}' of the privateers of Beverly, one encounters certain difRculties which lead to unavoidable omissions and occa- sional confusion. Salem and Beverly had one custom house and one naval officer, and vessels really belonging to Beverly were often credited to Salem. The Salem Gazette, the natural source of infor- mation about Beverly vessels, was not published from soon after the beginning of the war until 1781.^ The petitions for commissions for commanders of private armed vessels in the Massachusetts Archives were usually signed by agents and do not necessarily give information of the real owner, and in addition are themselves de- fective. A paucity of nomenclature, so that for example there were 24 Dolphins and 14 Fortujies sailing as privateers during the war, and the curious custom of giving a new vessel the name of one lost or taken by the enemy, add to the confusion. Changes of name, rig, and ownership occur with startling rapidity, and these, with a general looseness of statement and an astonishing inaccuracy of description, characteristic of the times, make the puzzle a hard one to unravel. For these and other reasons there were probably more privateer and letter of marque vessels sailing from Beverly during the war than are described in these pages. The spelling of family names follows as far as possible that found in the ^Massachusetts Archives, but as names are sometimes spelled in two ways in the same petition it hardly seems necessary to be particular. No vessels have been included unless sailing from or partly owned in Beverly. It is the opinion of some critics, including such an authority as Captain Mahan, that privateering as a means of injuring the enemy is inferior in its results to the use of state and national vessels. This is probably true, but it presupposes that the money spent in equip- ping private armed vessels would be expended on the navy and that the men manning the vessels would enlist in the national service. As a matter of fact in the Revolutionary war it would have been impossible to raise by taxation a tithe of the money spent on private armed vessels and had the State owned the vessels they could have been filled only by impressment. The red tape and rigid discipline 1 For the newspapers of Salem, see Proceedings American Antiquarian Society, XXV. 463-476. 324 THE COLONL\L SOCIETY OF AIASSACHUSETTS [Jan. of a public vessel did not appeal to men as did the freer life of a privateer; and state ownership was regarded by shipowners as less efficient than private control. George Washington took command of the army at Cambridge, July 3, 1775, but it w^as not until September that he found time to take up the question of warfare upon the sea. Already Rhode Island and Connecticut had ordered the equipment of armed vessels, South Carolina and Georgia had cruizers afloat, and a sloop from Phila- delphia had taken the magazine at New Providence. It is probable that privateers from Massachusetts without commissions were already cruizing, but it was not until September 2, 1775, that the first regular commission was issued. On that date, acting under general powers, General Washington writes to Nicholas Broughton of Marblehead: "You being appointed captain in the army of the United Provinces of North America are directed to take command of a detachment of said army and proceed on board the schooner Hannah at Beverly lately fitted out with arms, ammunition and provisions." The Hannah was an ordinary fishing schooner belonging to Colonel John Glover, who, although a resident of ]\Iarblehead, owned a wharf in Beverly and conducted his fishing business from that place. In accordance with these orders Captain Broughton, taking a de- tachment from Colonel Glover's regiment of Marblehead fishermen, men well fitted for the purpose, hoisted his flag on the Hannah and sailed on his first cruize. On September 7, 1775, he writes to Washington: "I beg leave to acquaint your Excellency that I sailed from Beverly last Tuesday with a fair wind and proceeded on my course. Took a ship off Cape Ann and sent her into Gloucester." This prize, the first taken by a regularly commissioned Massachusetts vessel, was the English ship Unity. Colonel Glover and Stephen Moylan, the latter acting secretary to Washington, had been appointed a committee to secure vessels by purchase or charter for the service of the United Provinces, and on October 9, 1775, Colonel ]\Ioylan writes Washington that the owners of the Hannah object to putting extra sails on the vessel, it being customary to provide only foresail, mainsail and jib. "Col. Glover," he continues, "has given the strongest proof of his good opinion of the schooner by putting his brother and favorite son on her. We have hired a schooner from Marblehead. She is noted for 1922] BEVERLY PRIVATEERS IN THE REVOLUTION 325 her good qualities and will be ready to take in the Hannah's company in 12 or 14 days if any misfortune should follow. She is taken on the same terms as the other two, four shillings per ton per month or five shillings, four pence, lawful money." At the time the Hannah sailed from Beverly, there were two vessels lying at the wharves of that town which had been hired for the same service, the Lynch and the Franklin. On the return of the Hannah, Captain Broughton was ordered to take command of the Lynch and Captain Selman, also of Colonel Glover's regiment, of the Franklin. The Lynch carried six guns and 75 men, the Franklin four guns and 60 men, the crews of both vessels being drawn from Colonel Glover's regiment. The two vessels were ordered when ready to cruize in the Gulf of St. Lawrence and intercept two English transports bound for Quebec and expected about this time. The provisioning and arming of these vessels proceeded slowly, but by October 19 they were ready and Stephen INIoylan writes to General Joseph Reed: "Capt. Broughton and Capt. Selman will be ready to sail tomorrow. The latter is in want of a surgeon and we believe it will be difficult to prevail on the captain and crew to sail without one. Please send one." General Reed writes in reply: "Dr. Spofford agrees to go. Please fix on colors for a flag. What do you think of a flag with a white ground, a tree in the middle, with 'Appeal to Heaven.'" Dr. Spofford came as agreed, but they did not sail until the 24th, and then without the new colors. Their signal was ensign at main-toppinglift. On November 2, 1775, Captain Broughton writes from the White Head, four degrees west of Canso: "Have taken a ship with a cargo of provisions belonging to Enoch Rust of Boston and sent the vessel to New England." Although some ten prizes were taken by Captain Broughton, nothing was seen of the two transports and the Lynch and the Franklin returned to Beverly. W^ashington had not been pleased with the leisurely way in which the Lynch and the Franklin had been fitted out at Beverly and in a letter to Colonel ]\Ioylan questions Colonel Glover's management of the affair. On October 24 Moylan writes in reply: I sincerely believe Col. Glover has the cause at heart and has done his best in fitting out these four vessels. There is a reason and I think it is a substantial one why a person born in the same town or 326 THE COLONL\L SOCIETY OF MASSACHUSETTS [Jan. neighborhood should not be employed in public affairs in that town. It is the spirit of equality which reigns throughout the country which makes him afraid of exerting his authority. He must shake every man by the hand and pray do, my brother, do, my friend, whereas a few hearty damns from a person who does not care a damn for them would have a much better effect. On the same day Colonel Moylan writes to Joseph Reed: Colonel Glover showed me a letter of yours which has mortified him much. I really and sincerely believe he has the cause much at heart and that he has done his best in fitting out these last four vessels for the public service. You cannot conceive the difficulty and delay there is in procuring the thousand things necessary for these vessels. I dare- say one of them might be fitted in Philadelphia or New York in three days, because you would know where to apply for the different articles but here you must search all over Salem, Marblehead, Danvers and Beverly for every thing that is wanted. I must add to these the jobbing carpenters who are the idlest scoundrels in nature. If I could have pro- cured others I should have dismissed the whole gang of them last Friday ; and such religious rascals are they that we could not prevail on them to work on the Sabbath. I have stuck very close to them crying shame and scolding them for their tory like disposition. Washington, an aristocrat by birth and a soldier by avocation, regarded with indignation the lawless acts of some of the early privateersmen and felt only contempt for their evident desire to imitate the showy externals rather than the discipline of the navy. On November 6, 1775, at his direction, Colonel Moylan writes a rather sarcastic letter in regard to Captain Martindale of the brig Washington, then fitting out at Plymouth: "The General is appre- hensive that Capt. ]\Iartindale will make the outfit of his brig too expensive. The intention of fitting out these cruisers is not to attack armed, but take unarmed, vessels. I don't see the use of a drum and fife but if it will give Capt. Martindale any pleasure he shall have them." Again in November he writes: "Our rascally privateersmen go on mutinously if they cannot do as they please. Those at Plymouth, Beverly and Portsmouth have done nothing w^orth mentioning in the way of prizes." Early in December he writes again: "The plague, trouble and vexation I have had with the crews of all the armed vessels are inexhaustible. The crews of the Washington and Harrison have actually deserted them." 1922] BEVERLY PRIVATEERS IN THE REVOLUTION 327 The schooner hired by Colonel Glover to take the place of the Hannah was named the Lee, and Captain John Manly of Marble- head was appointed her commander. Captain Manly was one of the few naval officers who seemed to suit Washington and he held during the whole war a deserved reputation for conduct and courage. Born at Torquay, England, in 1733, he settled in Marblehead when a 3'oung man and during the Revolutionary War commanded in rapid succession the schooners Lee and Hancock, the privateers Cumberland and Jason, and the frigate Hague. The good fortune of his early career did not continue and he was three times taken prisoner and confined in English prisons.^ On October 28, 1775, he sailed on his first cruize with a crew drawn from Colonel Glover's regiment. On November 30th Washington writes: "I hear good accounts of the schooner Lee, Capt. Manly, he has taken a large brigantine from London for Boston and sent her into Cape Ann. Capt. Adams in the Warren has taken a schooner laden with potatoes and turnips." The Franklin after her cruize under Captain Sellman had remained in Beverly harbor and Captain Samuel Tucker was appointed her commander. On February 9, 1776, he sailed from Beverly on a cruize in company with the Lee, Captain Waters, and in conjunction with the Defence and several other privateers was fortunate enough to take the transports George and Annahella. In his instructions to Captain Tucker, Washington had written: "Treat prisoners with kindness and humanity. Their private stock of money and clothes must be returned to them." It is to the credit of the officers of American privateers that these instructions, especially the first, have usually been observed; but privateering is rough business, and a disposition to make free with the property of prisoners has characterized the privateers of every nation. The officers and crews of the vessels commissioned by Washington received the same pay- as officers and privates in the army of the United Provinces and in addition one-third part of the value of every vessel and cargo taken, after condemnation in the Courts of 1 John Manly died February 12, 1793: cf. Publications of this Society, V. 274 note. 2 Captain's pay per month, £ 4; 1st lieutenant, £ 3; 2nd lieutenant, £ 2.10.0; surgeon, £ 2.10.0; master, £ 2.0.0; boatswain, £ 1.10.0; steward, £ 1.10.0. 328 THE COLONIAL SOCIETY OF MASSACHUSETTS [Jan. Admiralty. If the vessel was armed, one-half, instead of one-third, was given as prize money. As afterwards construed this meant sufficiently armed to attempt resistance and not a mere technical armament. Of this prize money the captain received six shares, the 1st lieutenant five shares, the 2nd lieutenant four shares, the master two shares, the master's mate one and a half shares, the gunner the same, and the mariners each one share. On December 20, 1775, Congress resolved that the seized vessels carried into Massachusetts should be proceeded against by the law of nations and libelled in the Courts of Admiralty of that state. Such courts had already been established, and on December 12, 1775, Colonel Timothy Pickering writes: To the Hon. the Council of the Colony of Massachusetts Bay. May it please your Honers, The Secretary has just informed me that your Honers have thought fit to appoint me Judge of a Court to try the justice of the captured vessels infesting the sea coast of America which shall be brought into the counties of Suffolk, Middlesex and Essex. Your Honers will please accept my thanks for the appointment. I am, may it please your Honers, Your most obedient servant, Tim. Pickering, Jr. The first sitting of the court was held March 16, 1776. About November 1, 1775, William Bartlett of Beverly was appointed first prize agent in Massachusetts for the United Colonies with instructions to libel all prizes in his jurisdiction and after legal condemnation sell them at auction and distribute the proceeds.^ ^ In some cases there seems to have been actual distribution of the cargo instead of a sale at auction and division of the proceeds. The following deposi- tion is from the Nathan Dane Papers : " I James Fuller Lakeman of Lawful age do Testify, in the Summer of the j'ear One thousand, Seven hundred and eighty I went a Voj'age from Gloucester to Bilbao in a Ship called the Gloucester Packet, William Coy, commander. I acted as IMariner on board and in the passage from Bilbao we took a Prize. She was a British brig of more than a hundred Tons, Loaded with salt and I was put on board of her with the Prize Master and four Men to Bring her and we arrived safe at Gloucester in the month of July Where the said Cargo was Divided and I Received thirty Bushels of it for my share. I exchanged my Share of said Salt at two Bushels of corn for one bushel of Salt and Corn was then one dollar a Bushel, hard money." 1922] BEVERLY PRIVATEERS IN THE REVOLUTION 329 Mr. Bartlett entered on his duties with a high respect for the dignity of his office and considerable doubt as to what his duties were. As some Massachusetts privateers were probably cruizing without commissions and as courts had not yet been erected to try prizes regularly taken, he was naturally at a loss what to do and disposed to seek General Washington's advice. His letters to the General, and Washington's terse, caustic and somew^hat impatient replies are rather amusing. Mr. Bartlett 's first letter to Washington bears the date of November 4, 1775: Sir. Since I have had the honour of a commission under Your Excellency I have never had an opportunity before to return you my hearty thanks. I have the pleasure of informing Your Excellency that this morning at daylight there appeared two sloops at anchor under one of our islands called Misery. One of them came to sail and went on in a direct course for Boston. The other being very much torn to pieces in a gale of wind was unfit to proceed on her course. Two resolute people in a small boat went off and took her before we knew of it at this portion of the town. However, some of Capt. Brown's stationed men went down and brought her up in this harbor. My instructions are short in regard to such cases and I beg Your Excellency will give me particular instructions. The crew of the vessel consisted of Capt. Ritchie, his father, one white man, one mulatto and a negro. He refuses to give up his papers. Your Excellency's most obedient, humble servant, William Bartlett. Four days later Mr. Bartlett writes again to know what he shall do with a schooner from Ireland brought in by five Beverly men who put out from shore and seized her. Colonel Moylan replies for Washington: Sir. Your favor of the 8th to his Excellency came this morning. As the people on board object to j'our taking charge of the schooner and as ha\'ing anything to do with vessels brought in as the North Briton was will give you and the General trouble, it is his advice that you have nothing to do with them. Suppose you give the vessel to the Committee of Public Safety. In short get rid of her as best you can and let us hear nothing further thereon. 330 THE COLONIAL SOCIETY OF MASSACHUSETTS [Jan. There were a number of illegal seizures, by boats irom the shore, one of them, probably the earliest, by Hugh Hill, afterwards com- mander of the Beverly privateers Pilgrim and Cicero. To the Hon. the Council and House of Representatives of the Mass. State. The petition of Hugh Hill of Marblehead, Humbly Showeth that your Petitioner with a Number of his Fellow Townsmen, (Actuated and Inspired with the hope of Doing Good to the American Cause and In- juring their Enemies) did some time in the month of Oct. 1775 by force of arms attack, Subdue and Take a Small Schooner called the Industry, commanded by Francis Butler, Laden with Turtles, limes and from New Providence bound to Boston, (there being no Court of Admiralty Established) Communicated to the Committee of this town with the papers found in said vessel, Who forwarded them to the Hon. Council and in Consequence Received Directions to dispose of the cargo at Vendue and to dehver the Vessel to the order of Gen. Washington, which they complied with. As soon as the Courts of Admiralty were Opened, some of the Persons Concerned in the Capture of Said Vessel, Libelled her and Trial was then held. When the Jury for Want of Proper Evidence from some Mistaken Circumstance Cleared Vessel and Cargo and of Consequence Made Your Petitioners Liable to Costs. Your Petitioner therefor prays Your Honors will Take into consid- eration and Grant him an Indemnification from such costs and from such Damages as the Owners of the Vessel may attempt or recover against him and Your Petitioner as in duty bound will ever pray. Hugh Hill.^ A month later Colonel IMoylan writes ]\Ir. Bartlett in regard to the brigantine Hannah,'^ a vessel sent into Be^'erly by Captain Manly: "There are oranges, lemons and limes aboard which you had better sell imJnediateh^ The General will want some of these as well as the sweetmeats and pickles aboard as his lady will be here ^ Massachusetts Archives, clxxx. 974. - The following advertisement appeared in a Boston paper of May 17, 1776: "To be sold by William Bartlett, Agent for the United Provinces, at public auction, the seventh day of May to be held in Beverly and to be continued from day to day until the whole is sold, the following vessels and cargo. Ship Concord, 150 tons, Jinny, 350 tons, Polly, 80 tons, Brigan tines, Nancy, 250 tons, Hannah, 250 tons; Sloops, Sally, 60 tons, Betty, 60 tons." These vessels were condemned at a court held at Ipswich by Judge Pickering March 18, 1776. 1922] BEVERLY PRIVATEERS IN THE REVOLUTION 331 tomorrow. You will please pick up such things aboard as you think will be acceptable to her and send as soon as possible, but he wishes to pay for everything." Mr. Bartlett sent the General the fruit and other dainties he had asked for from the cargo of the Hannah, but they were not satisfactory, and on investigation it was found that the crew of the Lee, Captain Manly's schooner, had looted the best in the vessel. Colonel Moylan notified them that the value of what they had stolen would be deducted from then- prize money. Mr. Bartlett had been requested to bid in the Hannah, if she went low enough, and on INIay 27, 1776, General Artemas Ward writes to Washington: "I beg to inform you that your Agent at Beverly has purchased the brig Hannah at four hundred and twenty pounds. This day Capt. Bradford of Boston, having represented to me that he had an order from Robert Morris, Esq., one of the INIaritime Committee, to procure a good sailing vessel for the Continental service and that the brig would answer his service. Mr. Morris writes that the brig is wanted to go on a particulpvr service imme- diately." The particular service was to convey dispatches to our Commissioners in France, and the Hannah was taken into the Continental service, given letters of marque papers, loaded with a cargo of fish, renamed Despatch and placed under command of Stephen Cleveland of Salem. Captain Cleveland's instructions were to avoid all vessels at sea, make his way to Nantz or Bordeaux, sell his cargo, deliver his dispatches and bring back arms and ammu- nition. He was also to arm his vessel abroad and fit her for a privateer. Captain Cleveland, with William Herrick of Beverly as lieutenant or mate, sailed soon after. The sale of the Hannah was one of the last official acts of Mr. Bartlett, and on June 14, 1776, he was succeeded by Captain Bradford as Agent for the United Provinces. Besides the so-called privateers already mentioned the State of Massachusetts was building an armed fleet of its own and three of these vessels, the Tyrannicide building at Salisbury, and the Freedom and the Republic at Swansea, were constructed under the super- vision of a committee consisting of Josiah Batchelder, Jr., of Beverly and Richard Derby of Salem. Captain Batchelder from his practical knowledge of navigation was a very influential member of the 332 THE COLONIAL SOCIETY OF MASSACHUSETTS [Jan. Massachusetts Legislature and much of the direction of naval affairs was put in his hands. Through his influence, on May 7, 1776, two 18-pound cannon, left by the British when they evacuated Boston, were turned over to the town of Beverly to mount on their defences, and a month later, sixty 18- and twenty 9-pound cannon balls were sent them. The defences of Beverly harbor in 1776, besides the fort at Salem, consisted of a sand bag battery armed with two field pieces and other works on which were mounted two 18- and two 12-pound cannon. A committee of the General Court sent to view the sea- coast with reference to defensive works, recommended a seven gun battery at Thorndick's Point, a five gun battery at Barret's Point, and a three gun battery at West Beach. This elaborate system of fortification was too costly to be carried out, but batteries were erected at several of the places. These works were manned at first by a local coast guard and later by Continental and State troops. On June 28, 1776, a resolve was reported in the Provincial Congress to provide forces for the defence of the sea coast, each company to consist of 50 men under direction of the Committee of Correspondence of the town in which they were stationed.^ One company was stationed in Beverly. Besides the coast guard, Colonel Glover's regiment was ordered to Beverly and remained there until July 22, 1776. When the news reached Beverly that the regiment was ordered to New York, the selectmen petitioned : To the Hon. Council of the Colony of Mass. Bay in New England. Your petitioners have six miles of sea-coast offering good landing places and fair road-stead for vessels to lie, and on the most advan- tageous places have thrown up and erected breastworks and procured a number of cannon, and have had by benevolence of his Excellency, Gen. Washington the 14th regiment stationed in this town for some months, who have received orders to march soon, that is to say to- morrow. We petition therefore for 100 men to guard the seacoast. In response to this petition. Colonel Henry Herrick^ and his regi- ment were ordered to man the lines at Beverly. Why it should have been thought necessary to keep so many troops at the small town 1 Journals of the Provincial Congress (1838), pp. 412-413. 2 Henry Herrick, son of Henry and Joanna (Woodberry) Herrick, was born October 25, 1716, and died December 16, 1780. 1922] BEVERLY PRIVATEERS IN THE REVOLUTION 333 of Beverly does not appear, and the Council evidently thought it uncalled for and on October 25, 1776, ordered Colonel Herrick to discharge officers and private soldiers of his regiment that by order of July 20th had been ordered into the lines at Beverly and dis- charged the selectmen of the town from furnishing them provisions. The town remained unguarded until November 14th, when the Council ordered that a company of 25 men, including one lieutenant, two sergeants and two corporals, be raised and stationed in the town until further notice. On November 21, 1776, the House re- quested the Council to give orders to Lieutenant Joseph Wood to take command of 25 men and ordered the selectmen to provide rations as had been done for ofhcers and men stationed there before, not exceeding five shillings a man per week. November 27th the Council ordered Lieutenant Joseph Wood^ to enlist 25 men, sergeants to receive forty-four, corporals forty, and privates thirty-six shillings a month. Lieutenant Wood was to receive three pounds twelve shillings a month. On December 12, 1777, the Council voted that hereafter at Beverly be stationed one lieutenant, one sergeant, one gunner, and eleven matrosses, the lieutenant to receive five pounds, the sergeant and gunner two pounds and the privates one pound and ten shillings, monthly. In the autumn of 1779 the Council commandeered one of the 18- pound guns in the batteries at Beverly, and in February, 1780, took two of the 9 pounders for their new State vessel, the Protector. On October 4, 1780, the coast guard at Beverly was reduced to one corporal and three matrosses, and this force was continued until the close of the war. So far as the writer can ascertain, there were but four cases in the Revolutionary War where British armed vessels came within range of the sea-port towns included in the Bay from Marblehead to Cape Ann. The first, August 9, 1775, when the boats of the Falcon were so roughly handled at Gloucester; the second, August 29th of the same year, when the prize ship Isaac was chased into Marblehead harbor and the fort opened fire on her pursuer, the Milford frigate; ' Joseph Wood, son of Joseph and Ruth (Haskell) Wood, was town clerk of Beverly for thirty-seven years, selectman, assessor, representative, and member of the Committee of Public Safety and Correspondence. He died January 21, 1808. 334 THE COLONIAL SOCIETY OF MASSACHUSETTS [Jan. the third, the affair of the Nautilus in Beverly harbor; and the fourth, when the privateer Starks was chased into Salem harbor by two frigates. II As early as November 1, 1775, an act was passed by the Massa- chusetts Legislature empowering the Council to commission with letters of marque and reprisal any person or persons within the colony, to fit out and equip at their own expense, for the defence of America, any vessel, and general authority to take all vessels of the enemy. The master of the private armed vessel was required to give bonds as principal with two good names as securities in order to satisfy any claim that might be made for illegal capture. The bond was $5,000 for vessels under 100 tons and S10,000 for vessels of 100 tons and over. Later it was found that deserters from the Continental army often enlisted on private armed vessels, and such vessels were put under bond not to take on board any soldier from the Continental army or any man not a citizen of Massachusetts. Bonds were also required that the crews of any vessel captured should be brought as prisoners into the State and not, as was often done, set free on some worthless prize to avoid expense. This was really in the interest of the privateersmen themselves and if faith- fully carried out would have saved many of them long confinement in English prisons, but prisoners were a dangerous freight to carry and the bond was often evaded, although English prisoners were needed in Massachusetts as material for exchange. It is from these bonds, necessarily signed by some of the owners, that much of our information about the vessels is obtained. The first private armed vessels commissioned under the authority of the State were privateers as distinguished from letters of marque. That is, they were empowered and used to cruize against the enemies of America, and not merely merchant vessels armed to resist aggres- sion and authorized to take prizes. A privateer was in most respects, except ownership, a close imitation of our state and national vessels, and its officers received the same titles as in the regular service. A letter of marque was a merchant vessel cleared for some port with a cargo, though she might sail in ballast, but armed to resist aggres- sion and authorized to take any of the enemy's vessels that came in 1922] BEVERLY PRIVATEERS IN THE REVOLUTION 335 her way. The officers received the same titles as were used in the merchant service. With the letter of marque the capture of prizes was incidental, with the privateer it was the business of the cruize. The letter of marque was usually lighter armed and carried a much smaller crew than a privateer of the same tonnage. The first private armed vessels sailing from Massachusetts in 1776 were small craft taken from the merchant service and not especially adapted to the w^ork in which they w^ere engaged. Many were sloops, some were schooners, but the favorite rig was the brigantine. These carried a large spanker with a square, instead of a gaff, topsail on the main mast. They were armed with light cannon, old fashioned swivel guns, blunderbusses, and a few muskets and pikes. The cannon used were long guns, as distinguished from carronades, and so far as the writer can ascertain, with one exception, no carronades^ were used on American private armed vessels during the war. The uniform of the officers and men on IMassachusetts privateers was white and green, and the flag first carried was a green pine on a white ground. The rations allowed a privateer's crew were what the owner pleased, but as private armed vessels were obliged to compete for seamen with the State vessels, it is probable that the fare on the two did not materially differ. The allow^ance of provisions for each ofiicer and mariner as prescribed by the State October 12, 1776, was as follows : one pound of bread, one pound of beef or pork, one gill of rice and one gill of rum daily. Peas or beans to the amount of half a pint or a pound of potatoes or turnips might be substituted for the rice. Three-quarters of a pound of butter and one-half a pint of vinegar was allowed weekly. Division of prize money was usually made in the proportion of two parts to the owners and one to the officers and crew of the vessel, but there was no arbitrary rule. It is a disputed question whether the officers and crew of a privateer received wages in addition to their share of the prize money; they undoubtedly did receive wages on a letter of marque. 1 In the New York Gazette of April 22, 17S0, is an advertisement offering 12 and 13 pound carronades, imported direct from the Carron foundry, for use in privateers. "They can be discharged," says the advertisement, " every three minutes, which doubles the strength against an enemy of equal force. The car- ronade weighs one third as much as a long gun of the same cahbre and the powder charge is only one twelfth the weight of the ball." The long gun could be discharged once in six minutes. 336 THE COLONIAL SOCIETY OF MASSACHUSETTS [Jan. No privateer sailing from Beverly received a commission from the Massachusetts Council prior to September 4, 1776, but several were so commissioned in which Beverly capital was interested. The earliest of these was the Revenge, owned by Joseph Lee of Beverly and Miles Greenwood of Salem and commissioned May 14, 1776. The Revenge was a sloop of 90 tons burden, armed with twelve four- and six-pounders, and carrying a crew of 60 men. She was commanded in rapid succession by Joseph White, Benjamin Warren, Edward Gibaut, and Benjamin Dean, all of Salem. Her first two prizes, the ships Anna Maria and Polly, were among the first cases tried in our prize courts. On April 29, 1776, at the same term of court, Bartholemew Putnam and Andrew Cabot libelled the ship Lord Dartmore of 300 tons, seized and taken in Danvers between high and low water mark. A little later, August 9th, John Gardiner of Salem commissioned two schooners, the Gen. Gates and the Harlequin in which Andrew Cabot of Beverly was interested. One of them, the Harlequin, under the name Sally, had been employed by Mr. Cabot in the Spanish trade. The first privateer owned in and sailing from Beverly was the brigantine Retaliation owned by Josiah Batchelder, Jr., and others of Beverly. She was of 70 tons burden, carried ten two- and four- pound guns, nine swivels, and 70 men. Her commander, Eleazer Giles of Beverly,-^ was commissioned September 4, 1776. The petition for the commission, dated September 2, 1776, states that the Retaliation has on board 50 barrels of beef and pork, 4000 pounds of bread, 500 pounds of powder, 25 muskets, 30 cutlasses, and 10 lances. While the Retaliation was fitting out in Beverly, Josiah Batchelder, Jr., had petitioned the General Court for an order on Samuel Phillips at his mill in Andover for 500 pounds of powder at five shillings a pound. A lack of powder was one of the perplexities of the new Republic and on January 6, 1776, the Massachusetts Council, in order to encourage its manufacture in the Colony, agreed to furnish Samuel Phillips at his m.ill in Andover sulphur and salt- ^ Eleazar Giles was born in Danvers, but renaoved to Beverly; commanded several privateers during the war and lost his leg in action on board the (Sara- toga; died in Liverpool, England. As a rule the names of only the commanders or captains of vessels are mentioned in the text. For the names of other officers, see section viii, pp. 405-424, below. 1922] BEVERLY PRIVATEERS IN THE REVOLUTION 337 petre at cost and give him a bonus of eight pence a pound on all powder manufactured. In order to obtain powder it was necessary to petition the General Court, which fixed the price and did not always allow the quantity asked for. Captain Giles on his first cruize headed for the West Indies and was lucky enough to fall in with the Jamaica fleet and take four rich prizes, the brigantine Hiram and the ships Success, St. Lucie, and Alfred} The largest ship, the St. Lucie of 350 tons, carried 500 hogsheads of sugar and 20 puncheons of rum, and the wharves of the Beverly merchants once more presented a busy spectacle. Other privateers were equally successful, and so much sugar was brought into the State that on January 3, 1777, the General Court granted permission for vessels to export sugar to the amount of twelve hogsheads for every 100 tons the vessel registered. The people began to feel need of food rather than sugar and rum. The Retaliation, as a letter of marque, sailed for Charleston with a full cargo of sugar, bringing back rice and naval stores. Some time in the autumn of 1777 the Retaliation was taken by an English vessel and carried into Halifax. Eleazer Giles was the first Beverly captain taken prisoner, but he did not remain long in confinement, and in April or May of the following year returned to Beverly in the cartel Industry. We shall hear of him again in connection with other vessels. In the history of Beverly privateers no name occurs so frequently as that of Andrew Cabot, but in 1776 he seemed to confine his investments to vessels sailing from other ports. Besides those already mentioned he was part owner in the Sturdy Beggar, Rover and Rep-isal. The Sturdy Beggar was a schooner of 90 tons, carrying 6 guns and 20 men, owned by Mr. Cabot's friend, Elias H. Derby of Salem. Her first captain was Peter Landen of Salem, followed in a few weeks by the celebrated Allen Hallet, later by Edward Rowland. On February 24, 1777, the Sturdy Beggar, Captain Rowland, is reported taken by an English vessel, and in June the crew were committed to Mill Prison. A few years later another Sturdy Beggar, this time a brigantine, under Philip Lefavour of Marblehead, was sailing from Salem in which there is reason to suppose Mr, Cabot ^ George Child, an Englishman, on the St. Lucie, from Jamaica for Bristol, had a private adventure on board which Capt. Giles generously restored to him. 338 THE COLONIAL SOCIETY OF MASSACHUSETTS [Jan. was also interested. The second Sturdy Beggar was reported wrecked on the coast of France. The Rover, owned by John Derby, Andrew Cabot and others, was a sloop of 60 tons, armed with eight carriage and ten swivel guns and two cohorns. Her first captain was Simon Forrester, also a part owner, and her early cruizes were very successful. The New York Mercury of October 22, 1776, reports that the sloop Rover, Captain Forrester, during a calm, by the aid of sweeps overtook and captured the English ship Mary and James from Falmouth, England. She was a rich prize and her captain on his arrival at New York complained bitterly of the treatment he had received on board the Rover. "Worse than pirates" he calls his captors. The Mary and James, 129 tons, the brigantine Good Intent, 100 tons, and the Sarah Ann, 100 tons, prizes to the Rover, were all libelled October 24, 1776.i On September 20, 1776, Job Prince and Samuel White of Boston, agents for themselves and Jacob Fowler, Andrew Cabot, John Coffin Jones and Benjamin Hichbourne, owners of the brigantine Reprisal of 70 tons and 8 guns, petition that John Wheelwright be appointed commander of said vessel. How large an interest Mr. Cabot had in the Reprisal is not stated. The second privateer owned in and sailing from Beverly was the brigantine Washington of 90 tons, carrying 12 six and four-pound cannon and a crew of 80 men.^ She was owned by John Dyson,^ Thomas Davis and others of Beverly, and commanded by Elias Smith. Elias Smith, though a resident of Beverly, was a native of Virginia, possessing all that courtesy of manner, carelessness of dress and fiery pugnacity which characterized the men of the Old Dominion. "Are you the Captain of this vessel?" was the rather contemptuous inquiry of the commander of a conquered ship, come aboard to sur- render his sword. "In default of a better," replied Captain Smith, drawing himself up to his full height — he was only five feet tall — 1 The Rover, Capt. Adam Wellman of Beverly, was captured in 1780. 2 The Beverly Historical Society owns a printed handbill reading: "Now fitting for a Privateer, In the harbor of Beverly, the Brigantine Washington. A strong, good vessel for that purpose and a prime sailer. Any Seaman or Landsman that has an inclination to make their Fortunes in a few months may have an opportunity by applying to John Dyson. Beverly, Sept. 7, 1776." » John Dyson (1742-1828) was born in England. 1922] BEVERLY PRIVATEERS IN THE REVOLUTION 339 and bowing low. The story is told that after the war a relation of his who felt himself insulted asked his advice as to fighting a duel. "Fight him!" said the old veteran, "Fight him! Fight him!" Captain Smith sailed from Beverly soon after he was commissioned, to join the fleet under Captain Manly. These cruizes with Captain INIanly were quite a feature during the first two years of the war, and were not very popular with the owners and officers of private armed vessels. The idea was that five or six vessels could cover a large extent of water and still be within supporting distance of each other and take more prizes proportionally than when cruizing singly. Under the articles of agreement, however, the privateer became a sort of contract vessel and for a specified time passed out of the control of her owner. The officers, too, of these privateers by no means relished being under the orders of a man whom they refused to consider as their superior, and much complaint and bickering ensued. The articles of agreement between the State and the owners of the WasJiington are a t}^e of all these contracts: Articles of Agreement between the Council of the Great and General Court and Thomas Davis and John Dyson of Beverly, Merchants, owners of the Washiiigton brigantine, a privateer vessel of war bound for cruise of 25 days in company with a fleet of Continental vessels and other ships under Capt. Manly's command. That in case of accident the State agrees to insure the vessel to the full amount of her cost against all dangers of sea and English ships while under Capt. Manly's command. All ammunition expended to be made good by the State. Any prize taken by the fleet to be divided equally among the whole fleet even if one by accident be absent. O^vaiers of the Washington to give bonds to the amount of 6000 pounds that they will keep this agreement and obey Capt. Manly's orders.^ After his cruize with Captain Manly, Captain Smith returned to Beverly and then cruized on his own account, sending in eight prizes. The Washington was reported taken by the Levant in 1777. The only other privateer sailing from Beverly in 1776 was the schooner Warren. She was owned by Josiah Batchelder, Eleazer Giles and others of Beverly and commanded by Israel Thorndike, who remained in command until the next spring, when he was ^ Massachusetts Archives, ccxv. 442. 340 THE COLONIAL SOCIETY OF MASSACHUSETTS [Jan. succeeded by Nicholas Ogleeby. Captain Ogleeby made two cruizes in the Warren, and was succeeded by John Ravell of Salem. Soon after sailing, December 27, 1777, Captain Ravell fell in with the English letter of marque Tom, Captain John Lee, mounting 26 six-pounders, and after a spirited defence of three hours was obliged to surrender. As the Warren carried only five guns and ten swivels she was, of course, no match for her powerful adversary. The Tom received little damage, but the Warren had lost her mainmast and was so much cut up that Captain Lee did not consider her worth taking in but threw her guns and ammunition overboard and left her to her own crew. The Warren lost one man killed and two wounded. For nine days Captain Ravell and his men worked hard to repair damages and had made some progress, but on February 6th were again captured by the English ship Fanny, from New York for Liverpool, and were carried to that city and confined in ]\Iill Prison. Some time in the spring of 1776 Robert Haskell^ of Beverly obtained permission from the Council to sail from Nova Scotia in his fishing schooner, the Dove, wdth a crew of four men, taking with him as cargo one barrel of pork, 200 pounds of bread, sixteen gallons of molasses, tw^o bushels of salt, and a half bushel of beans. The trade wdth Nova Scotia which went on throughout the war will be con- sidered at length in another section, but this permission, like others, was really a blind to cover a secret expedition in search of infor- mation. Haskell had removed with his family to Nova Scotia in 1762, but returned to Beverly in 1774 to resume his fishing bus- iness. He easily obtained information without exciting suspicion and returned home having fully accomplished his purpose. On July 2, 1776 the Council requested Josiah Batchelder, Jr., of Beverly to obtain for them a small vessel to be used as a spy vessel and a suitable man to command it. Captain Batchelder once more sought out Robert Haskell, and on July 13th sent him with the following letter to the Council: To the Hon. Council of the Colony of Mass. Bay. These to acquaint you that I have hired and fitted out a small vessel for the purpose of obtaining information of the motions of the fleet and armies of our enemies. ^ Robert Haskell, son of William and Mary (Lovett) Haskell, was born April 2, 1736, and died June 17, 1789. 1922] BEVERLY PRIVATEERS IN THE REVOLUTION 341 Capt. Haskell who will remit you this letter is to be intrusted with the business. It is needless to recommend him as he has made one voyage already in your employ and he now awaits your orders. N.B. I have found it very difficult to find a suitable vessel. Captain Batchelder finally found two vessels in Beverly, one of them the Dove, which answered his purpose, and for some months Captain Haskell remained in the secret service of the State. On October 15, 1776, the General Court resolved that a Naval Officer be appointed for each port, to take manifests under oath of all cargoes imported and exported, give bills of health, and sign permissions to go to sea. On November 21, 1776, Warwick Palfrey of Salem was appointed Naval Officer of the port of Salem, which of course included Beverly. in The year 1777 opened gloomily for the young Republic. "Food is getting scarce and money scarcer/' writes George Williams to Colonel Pickering. The fishing industry, the basis of all exports from New England, was ruined and the sole hope of the seaport towns lay in privateering. The first vessel, owned in Beverly, commissioned in 1777, was the True American of 90 tons, carrying 10 four-pound guns and a crew of 70 men. She was owned by Andrew Cabot and on April 29, 1777, John Buffinton of Salem was commissioned commander. It may seem strange that a Beverly merchant should go outside his own town to officer his vessel, but Captain Buffinton and Andrew Cabot had long been associated in the Spanish trade and the captain of a privateer was usually allow^ed to pick his own officers. IMoreover this was not the True Americanos first cruize. She had sailed from Salem the previous year under Captain Daniel Hathorne, later under Captain William Carleton, on petition of Benjamin Goodhue and others, though it is probable that Andrew Cabot held an interest in her from the first. On her first cruize under Captain Hathorne, the True American sent in two prizes, the brigantine Anny and the Unity, but in an attack on an English packet was roughh" handled and beaten off with the loss of three men killed and ten wounded. Captain Hathorne was wounded and gave up the vessel to Captain Carleton. 342 THE COLONIAL SOCIETY OF MASSACHUSETTS [Jan. Under Captain BufEnton, the True American made her first cruize with Captain Manly, and on her return, with a crew of 25 men sailed as a letter of marque for Bilbao. This port was the Mecca at which, sooner or later, all American privateers cruizing in European waters finally arrived. Captain Lee of the Hawk, on his arrival at Salem in the autumn of 1776, reported 18 American privateers in that port when he left. Business relations between the merchants of Massachusetts and Bilbao had been close before the war, and now it was the most convenient port in which to sell their prizes and refit. It was also a place where most owners had an agent from whom money could be obtained on account, and a visit to Bilbao meant a chance for a spree. The Spaniards did not look with approval on the wild privateers- men as they marched singing thi'ough the narrow streets or caroused in the wine shops, but if they did not love the Americans, they liked their money and contented themselves with silent cursing. The True American was consigned to Joseph Gardoqui & Sons, Bilbao, and Captain Ruffinton was directed to cruize awhile in the Bay of Biscay and take a prize or two if possible. While in Bilbao the rig of the True American was changed from that of a schooner to a brig. The next year the True American, still under Captain Buffinton, made another voyage to Bilbao, and on her return passed into other hands. On April 26, 1777, some of the merchants of Boston, knowing the condition of the State treasury, started a fund to be lent to the State to build and fit out two cruizers to protect the coast, and to this fund Andrew Cabot of Beverly subscribed £1000. One of the most successful privateers sailing from Beverly during the war was the Oliver Cromwell As first commissioned, she was a brigantine of 162 tons, carrying 16 guns and 120 men. Her owners were George, John and Andrew Cabot, Joseph Lee and others. On her first cruize she was commanded by Captain William Cole and was very successful, sending in eleven prizes. The following extracts from her log show how some of them were taken: July 30th 1777, Fah, raw, cold, wind rough and sea. Sent our boat aboard the prize. Took out Mr. Dyer and one of the band and sent Mr. French to take command and carry her into Bilbao . -/ WES T V/K /r .'/ V/v' 1 () > / PiriTOf" 4/f Satifuiffo 5?/j"',Y,' Ji^o/T/i ^.£a A:»r,in/,r<-/,'n . 2 . tf^ tf ylni" Almd.. 6 J" FrjjiaJca 10. /,a i-rini J. dt- X"'/^ua7i, 7 ■ "^ '4/'i/'"'- II S'f ,^H,rniea 4 tie. J" CA'lcola^. /I. La Covip" /if Jej/j.' n.La f..if^.-r,zji'7^a _i/^/ii/lli/l,/ ,ji-cor-t{in,T (•' i7rf o/l^^ar/,a,iiviU i: ^'^Me^(w/^>/ ij i i. if .1 <^4f?vivu^ V I y. (• AVA T ^" J'Ui.yt ,M.ii/i>r le.JiMj.^/.t'r^]/.' _ t;»,.uyn:i.ni. isr.ij.i t't'/K-i'.trM/.i/ %i.'/>.w Ji'. .M ricrrj 'I 'ir ,/,; i4/natdo uf J^irfa/ iff 7,,jiiUtdit' I/itn/,J/4i/ Hi' /:/7'ra,fo « ;v y/.- (•■„'..»„ f . 1922] BEVERLY PRIVATEERS IN THE REVOLUTION 385 should be transported to Yarmouth, Cape Pursue, on the Scammell and the Lively, that Captain Tuck and his men should be free to go to Beverly and Captain Thornbrough and his crew to Halifax, and that each party should supply the other with a safe conduct against cruizers and privateers of their own nation. On his arrival at Yarmouth Captain Thornbrough hired a shallop and sailed for Halifax. News of his disaster had already reached that city and Lieutenant Crymes, Commander of the brig Observer, formerly the American privateer Amsterdam, Captain James Magee, now in the royal navy, was ordered to cruize towards Cape Sable, and if possible pick up Captain Thornbrough and his men. This the Observer did on the 28th of IVIay and while returning to Halifax was sighted by the privateer JacTc. It was six o'clock in the afternoon when the Jack sighted the Observer standing into the land and by nine o'clock the two vessels were along side. Under ordinary conditions the two vessels were very closely matched, the Observer carrying 16 six-pound guns and a crew of 73 men and the Jack 6 nine- and 9 six-pound guns and a crew of 63 men. The quality of the two crews, however, was very different. The Jack, like all our privateers in 1782, was largely manned by foreigners, men apt to be insubordinate and without the spur of patriotism, while the Observer had a crew trained in gunnery and schooled in the rigid discipline of a man of war. The original 60 men, which constituted the crew of the Observer when she left Halifax, had just been reinforced by a portion of the crew of the Blonde, and the sight of Captain Thornbrough, stripped to his shirt, serving as a volunteer at one of the guns added to their enthusiasm. At the first broadside Captain Ropes fell, mortally wounded, and Lieutenant Grey, who assumed command, was slightly wounded in the hand and head. A close and severe action ensued and for two hours the Jack and Observer exchanged broadsides and plied each other with musketry until Lieutenant Grey, having lost heavily in killed and wounded and seeing his men flinch from the guns, attempted to make sail on the Jack and escape. "Our rigging was so destroyed," says Lieu- tenant Grey in his account of the action, "that not having command of our yards the Jack fell off with her larboard bow foul of the brig's starboard quarter. We were engaged thus a quarter of an hour in 386 THE COLONIAL SOCIETY OF MASSACHUSETTS [Jan. which time I received a wound bj^ a bayonet fixed in a musket, and u^hich was hurled with such force as entering the fore part of my thigh and passing close to the bone entered the carriage of a bow gun and it was out of my power to remove it." The two vessels lay side by side for some fifteen minutes, so close that boarding pikes were freely used, and then the Jack getting free from her opponent once more tried to escape. After a short running fight, the Observer got along side and at half-past one in the morning the Jack surrendered. The loss of the Jack in killed and wounded is reported by Lieutenant Crymes as 25 or nearly half the crew. Lieutenant Grey reports 7 killed and 12 wounded. Among the killed were two Beverly men, Nathaniel Trask and Thomas Davis. Captain Ropes died as the two vessels entered the harbor. The loss of the Observer by the English account was 3 killed and 5 wounded, by the American account 10 killed and many wounded. The immediate cause of the loss of the Jack may be ascribed to the foreign element in the crew abandoning their guns and going below. " I had but ten men on deck and two of them wounded when I surrendered," writes Lieutenant Grey. The indirect cause was the reinforcement of the Observer s crew by Captain Thornbrough and his men, made possible by the unfortunate kindness and chivalry of the captains of the Lively and ScammeU. July 18, 1782, Captain William Grey and five of the crew of the Jack arrived at Salem in a cartel, having been treated with great kindness while at Halifax. The Jack was tried and condemned in the prize court at Halifax and identified as the vessel taken the previous year by the Astree and Eerviione} There is still a sequel to the story. A few months 1 "Lucas Johnson, midshipman on board His Majesty's Ship Charlestown, being sworne declares that in the latter end of July last on their passages from Halifax to Spanish River in company with the Allegiance, Vulture and Jack and some transports under their convoy, being off of Spanish River, Seeing two French frigates, L'Astrca & Herniiorme to Leward, Captain Evans . . . order 'd the Deponent on board the Jack with orders to Capt. Tonge, . . . that the Jack was obhged to strike to the French frigates, and Deponent and the whole crew belonging to the Jack, were made prisoners and carried into Boston, that the Jack at that time carried ten nine pounders and four sixes, and was manned with sixty seven men, Richard Peter Tonge Commander, that the Deponent had seen the ship called the Jack (taken by Captain Cr\'mes) ... & knows her to be the same ship taken by L'Astrea & Hermioime" (Essex Institute Histor- ical Collections, xlv. 182-183). 1922] BEVERLY PRIVATEERS IN THE REVOLUTION 387 later, the Lively, Captain Adams, was taken by the EngHsh frigate Pandora and carried into New York. In recognition of his services to Captain Thornbrough, Captain Adams was treated with great kindness by Captain Ingalls of the Pandora and sent back to Boston. The last letter of marque commissioned in 1782 was the ship Fox of 100 tons, 8 guns and 20 men, owned by Benjamin Lovett and commanded by Israel Johnson. July 14, 1780, a brigantine Fox of 8 guns and 15 men, owned by Benjamin Lovett and commanded by Israel Johnson, is also reported. Wliether the brigantine was re- rigged as a ship or whether there were two vessels named Fox belonging to the same owner, it is hard to tell. VII The treatment of American prisoners by the English during the War of the Revolution has been stigmatized by most American historians as cruel and contrary to the law of nations, but a close examination of the facts shows that the treatment was cruel or lenient according to the personal character of those in charge of the prisons and the peculiar conditions of the prisons themselves. The first disposition of the English was to treat the Americans as rebels and regard prisoners as subject to all the penalties of treason, but the magnitude of the revolt and still more the possession by the Americans of many English prisoners materially changed their views. After the retreat from Concord General Gage consented to an exchange of prisoners and General Carleton generously parolled those taken in the Quebec campaign. On August 13, 1775, General Gage, how- ever, having heard from England on the subject, wrote to Washing- ton refusing to allow to Americans the rights of prisoners of war. On December 18th Washington wrote to General Howe on the sub- ject of exchange and treatment of American prisoners, particularly in regard to the case of Ethan Allen who had been sent in irons to England. The case was referred by General Howe to the home au- thorities and on February 1, 1776, Lord George Germaine wrote to Howe that, while not advising a regular cartel, he hoped some plan would be devised for an exchange of prisoners including those taken in privateers. On Jul}" 22, 1776, Congress voted to allow Washington to exchange soldier for soldier, sailor for sailor, and officer for officer of equal rank, and on August 1st General Howe in a letter to Washing- 388 THE COLONIAL SOCIETY OF MASSACHUSETTS [Jan. ton agrees to this offer of exchange. From this time exchanges, despite an occasional friction, were conducted as in any foreign war. The great bulk of American prisoners were confined at Halifax (Nova Scotia), New York, and jMill Prison (Plymouth, England). At Halifax the prisoners seemed to have been fairly treated and loosely guarded. Mill Prison was a military prison under stern discipline, with all the discomforts and petty tjTannies which are apt to ac- company the herding together of large numbers of prisoners of war, but in the prison ships of New York the treatment of American prisoners was at times brutal and attended with a disgraceful and unnecessary mortality. Several books have been published giving personal experiences on the prison ships at New York. One of the most interesting is Captain Thomas Dring's Recollections of the Jersey Prison-Ship.^ The Jersey was originally a British ship of the line, but had been dismantled in 1780 and converted into a prison hulk. She was at first anchored in the East River, but later was taken to Long Island and moored in Waliabout Bay. Captain Dring apparently gives a very fair account of life aboard the Jersey. At the time of his capture he was master's mate aboard the privateer Chance, Captain Daniel Freeborn of Providence, Rhode Island, which was taken by the English ship Belisarius in 1782. On his arrival at New York he was sent aboard the Jersey. There was no distinction made on account of rank, officers and men occupied the same quarters and received the same food. Each prisoner received two-thirds of the regular allowance given the English sailors in the navy, one pound of beef or pork, one pound of bread and half a pint of peas, with butter, oatmeal, and suet occasionally. The rations were sufficient in quan- tity but apt to be of poor quality. The prisoners were allowed to drink all the water they wished at the casks on deck but were allowed to take only one pint below, and their meat was boiled in sea water. Their sufferings were aggravated by the cruelty of Jacob Strout, 1 Recollections of the Jersej' Prison-Ship ; Taken and prepared for publication from the original manuscript of the late Captain Thomas Dring, of Providence, R. I., one of the prisoners. By Albert G. Greene, 1829. This was reprinted by Sidney S. Rider & Bro. in 1865. It was also reprinted, with notes by Henry B. Dawson, in 1865. 1922] BEVERLY PRIVATEERS IN THE REVOLUTION 389 the Commissary of Prisoners, who was universally detested. Small- pox and Jersey fever were raging most of the time, as was natural where a thousand men dirty and low spirited were cooped up in a dark and ill ventilated hold. According to Captain Dring 10,000 prisoners died on the Jersey and the hospital ships Scorpion, Strom- hol, and Hunter, during the war. Another account of life on the Jersey can be found in a book called Martyrs to the Revolution in the British Prison-Ships in the Wall- about Bay. The stories told in this book, written in-1855 by George Ta}'lor, are evidently greatly exaggerated. One statement is that when the American prisoners gathered at the open hatchway of the Jersey to get fresh air, the sentries would bayonet them from pure malice and often as many as twenty-five prisoners would be killed in one night. An interesting account of Mill Prison is given in Charles Herbert's Relic of the Revolution.^ Herbert was nineteen years of age when he sailed on the Dolfon, November 15, 1776. The Bolton soon after leaving port was taken by the English ship Reasonable and her crew transferred to the English vessel. While a prisoner aboard the Reasonable Herbert drew the rations of a British sailor, one pound of salt beef, one pound of bread, one pound of potatoes, and three pints of beer. On his arrival at Plymouth he was sent to Mill Prison where he received as rations one pound of bread, one-quarter pound of beef, one pound of greens, one quart of beer, and the water the beef was boiled in. According to Herbert the quantity was sufficient, though at times the beef was bad. The treatment given the prisoners was fair except in case of attempt to escape or other breach of discip- line. WhUe in prison he was visited September 25, 1778, by Captain Benjamin Ellingwood of Beverly, who had been taken prisoner the previous year on the schooner Friendship but who had been exchanged 1 A Relic of the Revolution, ... By Charles Herbert, of Newburyport, Mass. Who was taken prisoner in the Brigantine Dolton, Dec, 1776, and served in the U. S. Frigate AlUance, 1779-80. 1847. This was compiled by R. Livesey, though his name is not on the title-page. In a later impression, dated 1854, the title was changed to "The Prisoners of 1776; A Rehc of the Revolution. Com- piled by the Rev. Richard Livesey from the Journal of Charles Herbert, of New- buryport, Mass., who was taken prisoner in the brigantine Dolton, Dec. 1776, and confined in Old Mill Prison, Plymouth, England." The text of the two impressions appears to be identical, though the pagination is different. 390 THE COLONIAL SOCIETY OF MASSACHUSETTS [Jan. and was now on his way home. He gives a list of those confined in Mill Prison in 1778 and only one Beverly man is mentioned, Benjamin Chipman. On his escape or release, Herbert made his way to France and shipped on board the Alliance, making two cruizes in the squadron commanded by John Paul Jones. His commander on the Alliance was Captain Peter Landais, whose dubious conduct in the battle between the Serapis and the Bon Homme Richard is a matter of history.^ Another interesting account of prison lite Is given in John Blatch- ford's Narrative.^ Blatchford, then fifteen years of age, was cabin boy on the Continental frigate Hancock, Captain Manly, which was taken by the English frigate Rainbow in 1777 and carried into Halifax. On his arrival at Halifax Blatchford was sent to the prison, formerly a sugar house, where he found the building crowded and the food insufficient and of poor quality. Soon after his arrival he planned with others to escape, but was betrayed by one of the prisoners and put in irons. Some weeks later he was allowed to walk around with his wrists manacled, and meeting the informer he withdrew one hand from the irons and struck the man to the ground. For this breach of discipline he was impressed on board the frigate Grey- hound and a few months later, in company with other Americans, attempted to desert. They were discovered and a struggle ensued in which an English sentry was killed. On the Greyhound's return to port, Blatchford was tried for murder and acquitted, but it was ^ The following extract from the Nathan Dane Papers, dated Beverly, Decem- ber 2, 1781, shows that one man at least from Beverly served on the Bon Homme Richard and Alliance: I, John Carrisco of Beverly, in the County of Essex, State of Mass., Mariner, constitute and appoint Nathan Dane my Attorney and hereby empower him to receive my wages and prize money due to me as a mariner on board the Good Z.Ian Richard, J. J. Jones, Commander, and also on board the Alliance, Peter Landais, Esq., Commander." his Larkin Thorndikej^.^^^gggg John Cakisco John Thorndike j mark ^ Narrative of Remarkable Occurrences, In the Life of John Blatchford, Of Cape-Ann, Commonwealth of Massachusetts, . . . Taken from his own mouth. M, DCC, LXXX, VIII. In 186.5 Charles I. Bushnell published an edition, with notes, entitled "The Narrative of John Blatchford, retailing His sufferings in the Revolutionary War, while a Prisoner with the British. As related by himself." 1922] BEVERLY PRIVATEERS IN THE REVOLUTION 391 thought best to get rid of him and he was shipped on board the East Indiaman Princess Royal, where he found thirty- two Americans all bound to the East Indies as a punishment for rebellion.^ On their arrival at Sumatra he and the other Americans disembarked and found themselves forced to serve in the British army. Again he attempted with others to escape and again a sentry was killed and he and his friends retaken. For this he was sentenced to receive eight hundred lashes on his bare back, "but," he writes, "the whip was made of cotton with the knots cut off, so it was no worse than being whipped with cotton yarn." After numerous other adventures he escaped to France and made his way to L'Orient where he found three i^i'ivateers from Beverly in port, the Cicero, Buccanier, and Revolution. "1 entered," he continues, "on board the Buccanier, Capt. Phearson, and sailed on a cruize. We were out 18 days and re- turned with six prizes. Thi'ee days after we received news of peace, the privateer was dismantled and Capt. Phearson sailed on a merchant voyage to Norw^ay. I then entered on a brig bound to Lisbon, Capt. Ellingwood of Beverly, and arrived in eight days. We took on a cargo of salt and arrived back at Beverly, May 9th 1783." Another book, too vituperative to be of much authority, is entitled "The Destructive Operation of Foul Air, Tainted Provisions, Bad Water and Personal Filthiness upon the human Constitutions; exemplified in the unparalleled Cruelty of the British to the American Captives at New York during the Revolutionary War, on board their Prison and Hospital Ships in a communication to Dr. Mit- chill, dated September 4, 1807."^ The tenor of Captain Alexander Coffin's book may be inferred from one sentence: "If you were to rake the infernal regions I doubt whether you will find another set of demons such as the officers and men who had charge of tlie Jersey prison ship in the Summer of 1782."^ * On April 2, 1777, Benjamin Franklin and Silas Deane wrote to the English ambassador at Paris calling attention to the fact that American prisoners were being employed in English ships to fight against their own people and also sent to distant ports where they stood httle chance of being exchanged. 2 Edited by Charles I. Bushnell in 1865. ' Some other accounts may be mentioned. An Account of the Interment of the Remains of 11,500 American Seamen, Soldiers and Citizens, who fell victims to the cruelties of the British, on board their prison ships at the Wallabout, During the American Revolution. 1808. 392 THE COLONIAL SOCIETY OF MASSACHUSETTS [Jan. The above extracts show more or less truthfull}' what our American prisoners had to suffer in the jails and prison ships of the enemy, and some evidence will now be given which partly exonerates the English from these serious charges. Both Captain Coffin and Cap- tain Dring were confined on the Jersey in the year 1782. June 3rd of the same j^ear a number of American captains, many of them well known in Beverly and Salem, before leaving New York on pa- role, issued this statement : We whose names are hereunto subscribed, masters of American vessels which have been captured by English cruisers and brought into this port, having obtained the enlargement of parole from his Excellency Rear Admhal Digby to return to our respective homes, being anxious before our departure to know the real state of the prisoners confined on This was reprinted with notes by Dr. Henry R. Stiles in 1865 in The Wallabout Prison Ship Series, No. 2. Memoirs of Andrew Sherburne (2d ed., 1831), pp. 81-98, 109-119. The Old Jersej' Captive: or a Narrative of the Captivity of Thomas Andrea (now pastor of the church in Berkley,) on board the Old Jersey Prison Ship at New York, 1781. 1833. Review. The Tomb of the Martyrs, who died in dungeons and pestilential prison-ships, in and about the City of New-York, during the seven years of our Revolutionary War. By Benjamin Romaine, . . . 4th July, 1839. The Adventures of Christopher Hawkins, . . . ^^'ith ao Introduction and Notes by Charles I. Bushnell. 1864. (Written in 1834.) Letters from the Prisons and Prison-Ships of the Revolution. With Notes by Henry R. Stiles, M. D. (The Wallabout Prison-Ship Series, No. 1.) A Memoir of EU Biclcford, a Patriot of the Revolution. 1865. (Containa "The Prison-Ship Jersej'. By Charles I. Bushnell," pp. 13-15.) 1888. A Christmas Reminder. Being the names of above eight thousand persons, a small portion of the number confined on board the British prison ships during the War of the Revolution. With the Compliments of the Society of Old Brookljmites. 1888. Horrors of the Prison Ships. Dr. [Charles E.] West's Description of the Wal- labout Floating Dungeons. How Captive Patriots Fared. 1895. 1776 Prison Ship Martyr Captain Jabez Fitch His Diary in Facsimile (1897 or 1903?) Historical Society, Eliot, Maine, January, 1900. Old Mill Prison. Henry W. Fernald, Boston, Mass. American Prisoners of the Revolution. By Danske Dandridge, . . . Charlottesville, Va., 1911. This is a book of ix, 504, pages, a bibliography being printed on pp. 503-504. See also the New England Historical and Genealogical Register, xix. 74-75, 136-141, 209-213 (List of Americans committed to Old Mill Prison during the War), xxxii. 42-44, 184-188, 305-308, 395-398 (Journal of Samuel Cutler). 1922] BEVERLY PRIVATEERS IN THE REVOLUTION 393 board the prison ships and hospitals, appointed sLx of our number to go on board the prison ships for that purpose, and said Committee have gone on board five of them and do report, that they have found them as comfortable as is possible at this season of the year and much more so than they had any idea of. That they inspected the beef, pork, flour, bread, vegetables and hquors which is found aboard his IMajesty's vessels and found them good of their kind, and the prisoners acknowledge that they had no complaint to make but the want of clothes and a speedy exchange. Robert Harris Charles Collins Philemon Haskell Jonathan Carnes Christopher Smith John Chase Daniel Aborn Richard Mugford Robert Clifton John M'Ewer Dr. Joseph Bowen The signers further state that the American prisoners in the hospital ships have good beds and not cots, with clean sheets of Russia linen and plenty of fresh provisions and wine. While this is the e^'idence of men who had inspected and not lived on the Jersey, still the signers were men of too much intelligence and character to be entirely deceived or wilfully mistaken. Two of their number, Daniel Aborn and Dr. Joseph Bowen, at Admiral Digby's request took a letter from Commissary General Strout to Washington explaining that owing to the heat and overcrowding of the prison ships, due to a large influx of prisoners, all his efforts to keep the prisoners healthy were baflSed, though five more ships had been taken for the purpose, and many set free on parole. On this account he asked an immediate and general exchange. At this time the Americans owed the English 1300 naval prisoners, whom they had set free on parole and the English owed the Americans 450 soldiers. Admiral Digby suggested an exchange of sailors for soldiers, but Washington refused on the ground that he was empowered only to exchange soldier for soldier and directed David Skinner, Commissary General on the American side, to 'WTite Admiral Digby to that effect. Thus on a technicality a number of American naval prisoners remained shut up in New York prison ships though the Brit- ish were anxious to exchange. It is probable that the balance of naval prisoners was against the 394 THE COLONIAL SOCIETY OF MASSACHUSETTS [Jan. Americans during the whole war. An American privateer was under bonds to bring back its prisoners to this country/ but the danger of capture was always greatest on the coast line, the chance of being detained in the home port by embargo was great, and it was much safer and more economical to put the prisoners on some worthless prize and let them go free than to bring them back to America. Many prisoners were taken into France by American privateers cruizing on the Irish coast or in the English channel, but these prisoners were then counted to the French. Most of the prizes taken by the English, on the other hand, were by frigates or other large vessels of war where the question of economy or safety did not enter and their prisoners were carried into port. November 15, 1777, Congress had ordered a bounty of $20 to be paid to officers and men for every cannon captured on any vessel and S8 for every prisoner. Had the bounty offered by the government to privateers and letter of marque vessels for prisoners delivered in America been sufficient to make this an object, many of our sailors suffering in English prisons might have been released. There seems no reason to accuse the English of unwillingness to exchange prisoners after August, 1776. Occasionally there were disputes and accusations of ill treat- ment or bad faith on either side, but as a rule relations were pleasant. As to the treatment of American prisoners by the English there is no doubt that there were cases of cruelty and overcrowding, and the conditions on the New York prison ships were at times disgrace- ful, but any one who has had charge of hospitals or other large institu- tions knows how readily false stories are started and petty wrongs magnified. Prisoners certainly cannot be blamed for trying to escape, nor can jailors be blamed for punishing such attempts, and most of the stories of cruelty followed some breach of discipline. As to the food furnished it seems to have been of about the same quality, though less in quantity, as that furnished to English sailors on English ships, where weevily biscuit and tainted meat were a matter of frequent occurrence. The impressment of American ^ It is doubtful whether these bonds were often enforced, and, even if col- lected, they were too small for the purpose. The bond of the schooner Hammond, for example, was for £ 300 signed by Jacob Oliver as principal and Robert Shilla- ber as surety, that all prisoners taken at sea would be brought back into port for exchange. (Revolutionary Rolls, ^nii. 4.) 1922] BEVERLY PRIVATEERS IN THE REVOLUTION 395 seamen on English men of war was a just cause of complaint and many Americans were undoubtedly compelled to fight against their own country and her allies, but for every American thus impressed probably ten English sailors were persuaded to serve on American privateers. True, impressment and voluntary service are different, but there was no way by which an English officer could tell what means were used to enlist English men on American vessels. Not only were our privateers largely manned by prisoners and deserters, but our Continental and State vessels sought recruits from the same source. In 1778 the Navy Board of Massachusetts in a letter to the Council wrote: "Beg leave to represent that seamen are much needed for manning the Continental vessels. We are informed there are among the prisoners now here, a number of Swedes, Dutch and some English prisoners who would readily enter the service. That we conceive it would help the public service to permit all the for- eigners and a few of the English to enter on board the Continental ships." It must be remembered too that many American prisoners, weary of prison life, voluntarily enlisted on British ships and their home explanation of their service on a hostile vessel would naturally be impressment. The treatment of English prisoners by the Americans was better than that of American prisoners by the English because with us there was no such necessity as existed in New York for the concentra- tion of large numbers of prisoners in one prison or ship. Many of the English officers were parolled or allowed to go to New York to arrange their own exchanges. Some were boarded out in country villages and allowed the freedom of the town. Occasionally, on complaints of sufferers in English prisons, retaliation was practised and officers and men were ironed and treated with considerable severity. On January 2, 1781, the Massachusetts Council passed the following order: Whereas there are a number of American prisoners in the Prison Ships at New York treated with more than Savage Barbarity and that in consequence of Such Treatment Numbers of said Prisoners have died and are Dying. . . . Therefore, ordered that the Hon. Navy Board be and hereby are requested immediately to order the Commissary of Prisoners to remove the prisoners from Noodle's Island on board the prison ship in the harbour of Boston, and all marine prisoners that are 396 THE COLONIAL SOCIETY OF MASSACHUSETTS [Jan. at large in the town of Boston, and confine them m the hold of Said Ship and treat them in a similar manner as the American prisoners are treated in the Prison Ships of N. York until a different conduct is observed by the Enemy. ^ Many of the English prisoners were bound out for service. This was particularly so in the case of the Hessians captured at Benning- ton, some being employed in the salt works at Sandwich and others bound out to private parties as servants, blacksmiths, cordwainers, and farm hands. Complaints of cruelty and ill usage were common. The New York Mercury of May 22, 1782, has this item: "A number of prisoners, mostly seamen, arrived from Philadelphia yesterday. All complain loudly of their treatment in captivity. A great part of the time they were fed on dried clams. Fifteen clams and ten ounces of bread being a day's allowance." Cartels were continually passing betvreen English and American ports and as these vessels were necessarily unarmed and weakly manned, occasionally the prisoners on board would make the voyage an unpleasant one for their nominal jailors. Under date of January 23, 1782, several Beverly gentlemen make the following deposition: We, Edward Allen, Isaac Haskell, Benj. Woodberry and Thomas Ginn, all of lawful age, testify that we were ofiicers on board the sloop, Tryall, a flag of truce lately arrived St. Lucie, said Allen being Commander. We sailed from Boston October 21, with 31 English prisoners aboard. About the third day they became very insolent and took all our small stores out of the cabin and were very abusi^-e. "\Mien a barrel of beef was opened they would take the best part of it and they wasted the bread and threw part of it into the sea. The trade carried on between Nova Scotia and Massachusetts under the pretext of the removal of families has already been referred to, but the return of escaped and parolled prisoners, greatly facil- itated by this trade, w^as a matter of more importance. American prisoners at Halifax were loosely guarded and often escaped or were parolled. In either case they often made their way to Yarmouth or Barrington and w^ere there treated with kindness and furnished transportation to their homes. A small vessel conveyed them to some Massachusetts port and the cargo of dried fish or salt, which ^ Massachusetts Archives, clxxvii. 301. 1922] BEVERLY PRIVATEERS IN THE REVOLUTION 397 always accompanied these expeditions, was sold after petition to the Council. These petitions were always accompanied by letters of recommendation from escaped prisoners they had aided. One of the letters used by Benjamin Brown of Yarmouth, a frequent visitor to Beverly, was as follows : That about the fifth of November last I had the misfortune to fall into the hands of the enemy and having my liberty to walk about at Halifax, Mr. Benj. Brown carried me with Mr. Dugan and Ephriam Lacky to Yarmouth and there entertained us at his own expense about one week and then procurred us a passage to the States. I have been credibly informed that said Brown has treated all the prisoners he could find in the same hospitable way. I saw a certificate of this kind in said Brown's possession, signed by Capt. Stevens, his oflEicers and men. I am confident Brown is a friend to the liberties of America and entitled to any favor the Hon. Court sees fit to bestow on him. Signed at Beverly, John Ashton, late Commander of schooner Hampden. Another certificate, signed by well known Beverly men, was used by Thomas Flint, also a frequent visitor to Beverly : Capersaw, Oct. 24th 1778, the Subscribers have been taken prisoners and carried to Halifax and was Issisted away to this place by Thomas Flint and Supported while in this place and we Suscribers would be glad if the Gentlemen of the Court take the Same in Consideration and Grant same Thomas Flint Such Favor as will help him. Joseph Stewert, Eleazer Giles, John Herrick, Benj. Very, James Herrick, Nathaniel Batchelder. The year 1781 had been very disastrous to the owners of private armed vessels and in the latter part of the year George Williams of Salem and sixty-one other merchants petitioned the General Court, stating that it was the opinion of the seaport towns of Massa- chusetts that the trading Nova Scotians coming to this country caused information of the force, number and destination of their armed vessels and proposed voyages of merchant vessels to be con- veyed to the enemy and through such information they have lost the greater part of their most valuable privateers. " Your petitioners therefor ask, if you think it expedient, to put a stop to all such per- 398 THE COLONL^L SOCIETY OF MASSACHUSETTS [Jan. missions and direct the Naval Officer and Selectmen to make search in each town of the State and apprehend as prisoners of war all Nova Scotians that may be among us, that they may be exchanged for our townsmen and others suffering on board of Brittish Guard Ships." The General Court assented and for a time and to some extent carried out the spirit of the petition. There is no doubt that the Nova Scotians did carry information to the enemy, nor can we blame them. They also gave information to the Americans and helped their seamen to escape, and in the unfortunate position in which they were placed they were obliged to help both parties. That the profit was greater than the injury was the opinion of many, and a petition headed by William Tuck of Beverly, late commander of Mr. Cabot's ship Lyon, and signed by Francis Cabot, and 161 others, asking that trade with Yarmouth and Barrington be renewed, was sent to the General Court. This petition of William Tuck — Humbly Showeth that the ship Lyon lately fell into the hands of the enemy. The Blonde frigate which captured her was wrecked upon the Seal Islands from which Company, Consisting of about Sixty Men in all, made their escape to Yarmouth, Cape Forsen, in Nova Scotia, where the Inhabitants Received and entertained us very kindly for four days during Which they fitted out three Small Vessels with provisions neces- sary for the purpose and Brout Said Tuck & Co. and a number of other prisoners, to the Amount of about 100 in all, Safe to this Commonwealth. This friendly act was a Great favor to us and particularly so when we consider the Extreme Sufferings of a Great Number of our Brothers on Board the English Prison Ships. The petition then goes on to state the condition of the people of Yarmouth, unable to sell their fish in the States or obtain things necessary for their comfort, and calls attention to the fact that they will be unable in the future to help American prisoners unless they can dispose of their fish in Massachusetts. This petition was accompanied by one from Thomas Flint, Ben- jamin Brown, and James Kelly who — Humbly show that in the beginning of May last, the British frigate Blonde was wrecked on Seal Island. At which time Said Ship had a large number of American prisoners on board who Got permission to return home but destitute of every kind of support. Your petitioners, 1922] BEVERLY PRIVATEERS IN THE REVOLUTION 399 Inhabitants of Cape persue, being Owners of three Small Shallops, fitted them out and brought Said Americans to the States to the number of 65 and supported tliem all for twelve days at their Own expense. And as Your Petitioners have not been able to obtain even a Replace- ment of the provisions expended in the service of returning 65 seamen to this State, they Humbly pray the Hon. Court to take Premises into their wise Consideration and direct that such Allowances be made as to Right and Justice shall appertain. The Council granted them twelve days ration for 65 men and permission to retm'n to Nova Scotia. It is to be hoped that the merchants of Beverly made them some acknowledgement for their services as the allowance by the State seems rather small. From this time trade was resumed, but not with the good will of former years, and in 1782 David Corning, so often mentioned, while bring- ing fourteen American prisoners to the States was taken by the privateer Fly of Salem and sent in as a prize. The General Court, however, ordered her release and gave Corning permission to return to Nova Scotia. The number of Beverly seamen made prisoners during the war must have been large, but the record is very deficient. A few in- complete reports of English prisons, local tradition, and scattered mentions in the newspapers of the day and the Massachusetts Ar- chives, are all we have to rely on. The following incomplete and unsatisfactory list includes only marine prisoners claiming residence in Beverly. Probably the first Beverly man made prisoner in the w^ar was Andrew Gage. He was taken on some unknown Beverly vessel in 1775 and confined in or impressed on some unknown English ship. On June 22, 1778, the Selectmen of Beverly and Elizabeth Gage petitioned for permission to sell land belonging to Andrew Gage as he was still detained. In the Nathan Dane Papers is a deposition so curious that we transcribe it, although the deponent was not a marine prisoner though a mariner, I, James Gray of Beverly in the County of Essex, in the State of Mass. Do Say and Declare that I Inlisted in the Continental Service in 1775, a Years Service under Capt. Nathan Brown of this County, Israel Hutchinson Esq. Colonel — Jepson Clough, Ensign. I was marched from Winter Hill to New London and thence to Fort Washington wheir 400 THE COLONIAL SOCIETY OF MASSACHUSETTS [JAN. we was made Captives and Carried to N.York and there Suffered Severity more than flesh could Bare. 1st Day after we was marched to N.York, I, amongst a Great Number, was taken Sick and a Very Mortifying sickness it Proved to many. I was carried to the Quaker Meeting house, the Improvised Hospittle, where the most died that was taken with that Distemper. I was unable to be exchanged on account of my Being in two Shocking Condition. But I am left to remember the Seen Underwent as well as my Brother Soldiers. I was four years in a PitteyfuU Condition. At last I got away and Feb. 7, 1780 aRived at Salem. From Whence, The 16th day of the month following, I went to Uncle William Gray, who I was his apprentice. The Appearance of me, to him and they and the town was as One Rose from the Dead. Tarred with him about a fortnite, then went to see with Capt. Samuel Foster, Returned in three months and Set up my trade in Beverly as painter and glazer. One of the first privateers commissioned by the State was the Yankee Hero, Captain Tracy, of Newburj^port. She was taken by an English frigate May 30, 1776, and one at least of her crew, James Mecomb, was from Beverly. The crew of the Yankee Hero returned on a cartel November 8, 1776.^ In 1776 the ship Thomas, belonging to Thomas Stephens of Beverly, on a voyage from Beverly for Baltimore, laden with a cargo of rum and sugar, was taken by a British cruizer and her captain, Robert Standly, made prisoner .^ The same year, 1776, precise date unknown, Osmond Thorndike was taken on the Peggy by the letter of marque ship Dunmore. He was exchanged in December, 1776.^ Captain Benjamin Leach of Manchester, at one time a resident of Beverly, was taken on a prize of the privateer Hawk in 1777 and soon after exchanged.'* Richard Dyson and Jonathan Parsons, mariners on some privateer, were sent home from New York on the cartel brig Rising Empire in 1777, no exact date given. ^ Daniels Adams, 1st lieutenant on the brigantine Freedom, Captain 1 Massachusetts Archives, cxxvi. 226. 2 Force, 5 American Archives, iii. 602. 3 Revolutionary Rolls, ix. 74. * Genealogical and Personal Memoirs of Families of Boston. ^ Revolutionary Rolls, ix. 68. 1922] BEVERLY PRIVATEERS IN THE REVOLUTION 401 Clouston, was taken by the frigate Apollo and confined on the prison ship Good Content in New York harbor in 1777. He remained there one year before he was exchanged. In 1782 when in command of the schooner Lively he was taken by the frigate Pandora, Captain Ingles, and sent into New York. He was detained only a short time.^ Benjamin Ellingwood, captain of the schooner Friendship, was taken by the letter of marque Tom, December 26, 1777, and carried into England, but was released on exchange the next year.^ John Ashton was prize master on the privateer brigantine Washing- ton and while in command of one of her prizes, the snow Friendship, was taken by a British cruizer and carried into Halifax. He was exchanged June 28, 1777. In 1778 while in command of the schooner Hampden of Salem he was again taken prisoner and taken into Hali- fax, parolled, and returned to Beverly by the kind offices of Benjamin Brown of Yarmouth. He is reported as taken again while in com- mand of the brigantine Neptune in 1779.^ The privateer Retaliation of Beverly was taken in the autumn of 1777 and on April 16, 1778, the cartel Industry was directed to bring back from Halifax Captain Eleazer Giles, Lieutenant Benjamin Joy, Dr. Elisha Wliitney, Thomas Darly, and William INIoses. Elislia Whitney was surgeon on the Retaliation, and though at this time was not a resident of Beverly became so later.* September 30, 1778, a cartel from Halifax brought Andrew Pea- body, Joseph Foster, Thomas Giles, Elisha Ellinwood, and Andrew Peabody. The last name appears twice. An Andrew Peabody of Beverly was taken on the ship Essex in 1781, presumably one of the two mentioned.^ A testimonial dated October 24, 1778, signed by Joseph Stewert, John Herrick, James Herrick, Nathaniel Batchelder, Eleazer Giles, and Benjamin Very, shows that they were prisoners in Halifax in the early autumn of 1778. They were all probably part of the crew of the Retaliation.^ 1 Massachusetts Archives, cliii. 67. 2 New York Gazette and Mercury, February 2, 1778. ' Massachusetts Archives, cxxv. 149. < Revolutionary Rolls, ix. 49. 6 New England Historical and Genealogical Register, xix. 74. * Massachusetts Archives, clxxxiv. 34. 402 THE COLONIAL SOCIETY OF MASSACHUSETTS [Jan. One of the testimonials used by Mr. Brown of Yarmouth was signed by Benjamin Ives, Thomas Stephens, and William Groves all Beverly men, prisoners in Halifax in 1777-1778. Thomas Stephens was 1st lieutenant of the privateer Retaliation and later commander of the schooner Hammond. Benjamin Ives was captain of the privateer schooner Scorpion and the letter of marque brigantine Fortune. William Groves was probably taken prisoner while in command of the privateer schooner Blackbird. Later he commanded the brigantine Success, the sloop Fish Haivk, and the brig Eagle.'^ The privateer Warren of Beverl}' was taken by the English ship Fanny, January 6, 1778, and Benjamin Chipman, the only Beverly man recorded among the prisoners, was committed to Mill Prison June 4, 1778. He afterwards escaped. The brigantine Rambler was captured by the English frigate Sibyl, October 21, 1779, and one of her crew, Michael Downs, a Beverly man, was committed to Mill Prison, February 16, 1780. The brig Eagle was taken June 21, 1780, and William Haskell, Alexander Carrico, and George Groce, of the crew, were committed to Mill Prison. William Haskell was committed July 5, 1781, Alex- ander Carrico and George Groce February 6, 1782. The commander of the Eagle, William Groves, with Curtis Woodberry, William Morgan, Henry Tuck, Joseph Woodberry and probably other Beverly men, must also have been taken on the same vessel. From the ship Esse.x, taken June 10, 1781, Joseph Perkins, Levi Woodberry, Robert Raymond, Matthew Chambers, and Andrew Peabody were all committed to jMill Prison July 21, 1781. James Lovett and Benjamin Sprague of the same vessel, August 5, 1781. John Tuck, Thomas Hadden, Josiah Foster, Hezkiah Thissel, Nathaniel Woodberry, and Zebulon Ober, of the snow Diana taken June 15, 1781, were committed to Mill Prison January 23, 1782. William Haskell of Beverly is reported as having been taken on the brig English and carried to Quebec. He was committed to INIill Prison July 23, 1781. The ship Resource, Captain Richard Ober, was taken by a British cruizer in the autumn of 1780. There is a list of the officers and crew dated September 11, 1780, and it is probable that all those Massachusetts Archives, cxxv. 419. 1922] BEVERLY PRIVATEERS IN THE REVOLUTION 403 mentioned were on the vessel at the time of her capture and made prisoners: Richard Ober captain, Andrew Thorndike 1st mate, Samuel Cressy ^ 2nd mate, John Waters, Andrew Ober, John Woodby, Jacob Woodby, Andrew Woodby, Thomas Woodby, Ebenezer Woodby, John Lovett, Nathan Thorn, Jacob Thompson, John Savage, Thomas Harris, Thomas Ober, David Allen, Richard Ober, Riciiard Thorn, Nicholas Thorndike, John Rea, Joseph Ray, and Andrew Woodman, all of Beverly. The Resource was bound for the West Indies and her crew was carried into Jamaica. Ebenezer Ray was impressed on board the frigate Pelican, com- manded by Captain Collingwood, afterwards second in command at the battle of Trafalgar. In August, 1781, the Pelican was wrecked and her crew escaped to a small uninhabited island where they remained ten days until rescued by the Diamond frigate and carried back to Jamaica. Ray was confined on another man-of-war from which he managed to escape and for twenty-five days wandered, half starved, about the island. Finally he got aboard a Spanish cartel about to sail for Havana, and on her arrival at that port took passage on a brig to Boston. On the voyage the vessel was taken by an English cruizer and Ray was carried into New York and con- fined on the New Jersey, In May, 1782, he was exchanged and re- turned to Beverly. Stephen Roundy was taken on the ship Haivk, Captain Smith, in 1780. He was taken to New York and impressed on board the Conqueror, where he continued to serve until peace was declared. The story is told of him that after some battle in which the Americans were worsted, a British ofl5cer sneeringly asked him, "What do you think of King Washington now?" "I think he is a gentleman" was the answer. The brig Black Princess was a Dunkirk privateer, commissioned by Franklin and the other commissioners of Paris. Some papers in the Essex Institute indicate that she was originally a Salem vessel, but in 1781 she sailed from Dunkirk with a crew consisting largely of English deserters. She was very successful and before her capture, October 11, 1781, had taken 36 prizes. There were several Salem and Marblehead men aboard, and one man, John Baker, from Bev- erly, who on October 20, 1781, was committed to Mill Prison. 1 Samuel Cressy (1751-1782), son of Benjamin and Mehitable (Brown) Cressy. 404 THE COLONIAL SOCIETY OF MASSACHUSETTS [Jan. The brigantine Gen. Wayne, Captain John Leach of Beverly, on a voyage to the West Indies, was taken by a British cruizer in 1780 and carried to Bermuda. Captain Leach either escaped or was parolled, as he arrived back at Boston September 5, 1780.^ The Gen. Gates was taken by the British cruizer Ho'pe, no date given. Benjamin Bickford and Nathaniel Wallace are reported captured. John Bickford, steward of the Gen. Gates, was also taken. The latter was returned to Marblehead on the cartel Pacific. Jonathan Larcom is said to have been captured on the brigantine Neptune, Captain John Ashton, in 1779. The brigantine Defence of Beverly was taken October 2, 1781, by the English ship Chatham, and the following Beverly men were taken prisoners : John Edmands captain, Captain Jonathan Carwick 1st mate, John Pickett carpenter, John Wilkins gunner, Stephen Costello, John Bray, James Babson, John Gage, Daniel Batchellor, William Allen. There were a number of vessels commanded by Beverly captains taken by British cruizers during the war, where no particulars were given as to oflBcers and crew, though doubtless manned to some extent by Beverly men. The list is as follows: Brig Spit Fire Capt. John Patten Taken in 1780 Brigantine Active U It l( 1781 Brigantine Fanmj Capt. Herbert Woodberry 1781 Ship Commerce Capt. Stephen Webb 1781 Sloop Fish ifawk Capt. Samuel Foster 1781 Ship Sebastian Capt. Ichabod Groves 1780 Ship Mohock Capt. John Carnes 1782 Ship Lyon Capt. William Tuck 1782 Brigantine Swift Capt. Israel Johnson 1782 Unknown brig Capt. Andrew Thorndike 1782 Benjamin and Isaac Chapman, Thomas Giles, Benjamin Giles, Thomas Davis, and Nathaniel Trask were taken prisoners with Capt. Thorndike. The number of Beverly mariners taken prisoners during the war, as chronicled above, was 108. Some of them were taken prisoner two or three times, and the number of those actually taken prisoners is no doubt much greater than the number of those known to have been taken prisoners. The writer believes from careful computa- 1 Massachusetts Archives, clxxvii. 63. 1922] BEVERLY PRIVATEERS IN THE REVOLUTION 405 tion that two-thirds of the male population of Beverly between the ages of eighteen and sixty were at one time or another prisoners to the English. VIII In the foregoing sections the private armed vessels of Beverly have been treated collectively and some passed over lightly. At the risk of repetition, they have in this section been arranged alphabetically with some particulars added not considered necessary when telling their story. Active Brigantine Active, 120 tons, 10 guns and 25 men. Letter of marque. On petition of Job Prince and others of Boston, Benjamin Ellingwood commissioned master May 5, 1780. Bond signed by Job Prince and William Creed as owners. (Massachusetts Archives, clxxi. 148.) Brigantine Active, same tonnage and force. Officers and men on board the brig Active as taken by the captain the day of his sailing from Beverly for Gotten- burg July 10, 1780, Samuel Cabot, agent: Benjamin Ellingwood captain Born in Beverly and remains there in Marblehead and remains in Beverly in Beverly and remains in Beverly in Beverly and remains in Beverly in Liverpool and remains in Beverly in Beverly and remains in Beverl}^ in Glasgow and remains in Beverly in Beverly and remains in Beverly in Bristol and remains in Salem John Hammond 1st mate Thomas Butman 2nd mate Daniel Trask steward William Gard gunner Israel Trask cook James Murray boatswain Joseph Weeks John Bously Others from Milton, Mistick, and Boothbay. (Revolutionary Rolls, xviii.) Brigantine Active, 150 tons, 12 guns and 60 men. Privateer. On petition of Job Prince in behalf of Andrew and Samuel Cabot, Nathanial Swasey com- missioned commander December 16, 1780. (Massachusetts Archives, clxxi. 314.) Brigantine Active 100 tons, 14 four-pounders and 60 men. Privateer. On petition of Andrew Cabot and others of Beverly, John Patten commissioned commander April 9, 1781. (Massachusetts Archives, clxxi. 364.) Brigantine Active taken and carried into Halifax. September 22, 1781, Captain John Patten and crew of the Active arrived at Boston in a cartel. (New York Mercury, September 28, 1781.) Adventure Schooner Adventure, 48 tons, 6 carriage and 8 swivel guns and 35 men. On petition of Larkin Thorndike and others, Robert Newman commissioned com- mander September 8, 1777. Privateer. (Massachusetts Archives, clxx. 379.) Schooner Adventure, same tonnage and force, on petition of John Dyson, William James of Beverly commissioned commander, May 11, 1780. John Dyson and Benjamin Goldthwaithe sureties. (Revolutionary Rolls, v. 5; Mas- sachusetts Archives, cbcx. 279.) 406 THE COLONIAL SOCIETY OF MASSACHUSETTS [Jan. Black Prince Ship Black Prince, 220 tons, 18 guus, 120 men. Privateer. On petition of William Pickman, William Orne, Larkin Thorndike and others of Salem and Beverly, Elias Smith commissioned commander, June 17, 1778. (Massachusetts Archives, clxviii. 351.) Ship Black Prince, same tonnage, force and owners. Privateer. On petition of George Williams and others of Salem, Nathaniel West commissioned commander, Samuel Carleton 1st lieutenant, Benjamin Crowngshield 2nd Lieutenant, October 17, 1778. The Black Prince was burned by the crew at the time of the Penobscot expedition. (Massachusetts Archives, clxix. 236.) BXJCCANIER Ship Buccanier, 350 tons, 18 nine-pounders, 150 men. Privateer. On petition of J. & A. Cabot, Hoystead Hacker commissioned commander, Abraham Hawkins 1st Lieutenant, August 3, 1781. On petition of Job Prince for same owners, March 27, 1782, Jesse Fearson was commissioned commander. (Massachusetts Archives, clxxii. 126.) Cato Snow Cato, 10 four-pound guns and 30 men. Letter of marque. Petition of Job Prince in behalf of A. & J. Cabot, Eleazer Giles of Beverly commissioned commander, September 18, 1779. (Massachusetts Archives, clxx. 403.) Centipede ^ Schooner Cent. Peid, 45 tons, 16 swivel guns, 35 men. Privateer. Petition of Elias H. Derby, Joseph White, and Miles Greenwood of Salem, WilUam Langdon or Langdell commissioned commander. (Massachusetts Archives, clxviii. 103.) On bond given December 5, 1777, with William Langdon as principal and E. H. Derbj' as security, she is called Santape. In libel against schooner Betty, May 14, 1778, she is called Centi Pea. Schooner Cent Pede, 40 tons, 16 swivel guns and 40 men. Privateer. May 23, 1778, petition of E. H. Derby, Samuel Ingersoll commissioned commander. In libel of Captain Ingersoll against schooner Bickford she is called Saint te Pea. On bond by Captain Ingersoll, she is called Cent Pea. Schooner Cent a Pede, Privateer. Petition of Miles Greenwood and others, Joseph Pratt commissioned commander, with John Gavet as 1st lieutenant and John Peters sailing master, September 29, 1778. Some time in 1778 Livermore Whittredge was agent and Josiah Batchelder, Jr., of Beverly, owner of the Santipe. Eben Rogers, William Wyatt, John Galls, and Willis Standly, all of Beverly, were members of the crew. Schooner Sentipe, 4 carriage and 10 swivel guns, 50 men. Privateer. Petition of Nathaniel Silsbee, Gideon Henfield commissioned commander, August 3, 1779. Chance Brig Chance, 85 tons, Captain Zachariah Gage, belonging to A. & J. Cabot. Letter of marque. Sold at Cape FranQois in 1782. 1 For the various forms of this name, see p. 347 note 1, above. 1922] BEVERLY PRIVATEERS IN THE REVOLUTION 407 Cicero Ship Cicero, 300 tons, 10 nine- and 6 four-pound guns, 60 men. Letter of marque. Petition of A. Cabot and others of Beverly, January 16, 1781, Hugh Hill commissioned master. (Massachusetts Archives, clxxi. 332.) Commerce Ship Commerce, 200 tons, 6 nine- and S four-pound guns, 50 men. Letter of marque. Petition of Andrew Cabot, January 16, 1781, Stephen Webb com- missioned master. (Massachusetts Archives, clxxi. 332.) Content Ship Content. Owned by Nathan Leach of Beverly. February 21, 1777, Nathan Leach sells ship Content to the State for £1900. Cornwall Ship Cornwall, 200 tons, 10 four-pound guns, 25 men. Letter of marque. On petition of Mark Lafitte, John Edmonds commissioned master, January 15, 1778, John Bickford 1st heutenant. Count D'Estaing Ship Count D'Estaing, 150 tons, 10 four-pounders, 25 men. Letter of marque. On petition of John Dyson and others of Beverly, Elias Smith commissioned commander, August 22, 1780, with Daniel Payne 1st mate, Theodore Williams 2nd mate, Hugh Hathorne boatswain, James Ferrinson steward, Zachariah Stone gunner. Of the crew only seven were born in New England and seventeen were foreigners. The only Beverly men in the crew were Henry Oliver, Jacob Oliver, and Thomas Smith. Defence Brigantine Defence, 170 tons, 16 six-pound cannon, 100 men. Privateer. On petition of Andrew Cabot and Moses Brown, July 6, 1779, John Edmonds com- missioned commander with Nathaniel Swazey 1st lieutenant, John Boardman 2nd lieutenant. June 30, 1779, the Defence was at anchor in Beverly harbor. She was a new vessel just fitted out for a cruize against the Quebec fleet. She joined the Penobscot expedition and was burned to escape capture. (Massa- chusetts Archives, clxx. 209.) Brigantine Defence, 150 tons, 16 four-pound guns, 50 men. Letter of marque. Petition of J. & A. Cabot, John Edmands commissioned master. March 22, 1780. List of officers and crew July 21, 1781 : John Edmands captain, Jonathan Carwick 1st mate, John Dutch 2nd mate, John Picket carpenter, John Wilkins gunner, William Brown boatswain, Stephen Costell'o, John Bray, James Babson, John Gage, Daniel Batchelor and WiUiam Allen, all mariners from Beverly. William Lakeman, from Ipswich, was prize master and there were 14 mariners from Ipswich, balance of the crew from Gloucester. October 2, 1781, on a voyage from Bilbao to Beverly with a cargo of steel, silks, linen and blankets, she was taken in Boston Bay, by H. B. M. Ship Chatham. (Revolutionary Rolls, xxiv. 53.) Diana Schooner Diana, 40 tons, 4 guns, 20 men. Privateer. Petition of Joseph Swasey and others of Beverly, Richard Lakeman commander, August 20, 1781. (Massachusetts Archives, clxxi. 64.) 408 THE COLONIAL SOCIETY OF MASSACHUSETTS [Jan. Diana Snow Diana, 140 tons, 8 guns, 25 men. Letter of marque. Petition of Larkin Thorndike September 19, 1780, William Herrick commissioned commander, with Benjamin Bickford 1st mate, William Gage 2nd mate, Robert Stone, John Eveleth, Zebulon Ober, Joseph Kittrege, John Kilam and WiUiam Roberts mariners from Beverly. Other members of the crew were Elijah Whitreg of Danvers, John Tuck of Manchester, George Hall, JMoses Lufkin, John Tropater, Benjamin Swain, Nehemiah Dean, Alfred Dodge, Israel Dodge, Benjamin Lamson, John Balch, and Joseph Lufkin, all from Hamblet. The Diana was taken by an English cruizer June 15, 1781, and John Tuck, Thomas Hadden, Joseph Foster, Hezekiah Thissel, Nathan Woodman, and Zebulon Ober, all Beverly men, were taken prisoners on her. (Massachusetts Archives, cbcx. 132.) Dolphin Schooner Dolphin, 40 tons, 6 guns, 35 men. Privateer. Petition of William Homans and others of Beverly, Joseph Knolton commissioned commander, July 14, 1781. August 12, 1782, she was reported wrecked on Cape Sable. Dove Sloop Dove, unknown tonnage, commanded and owned by Robert Haskell of Beverly. Spy vessel emploj-ed by the State. (Massachusetts] Archives, cxcv. 110.) Driver Sloop Driver, 70 tons, 8 guns, 20 men. Letter of marque. Petition of Josiah Batchelder, Jr., Daniel Adams commissioned master, September 1, 1777. Robert Haskell of Beverly commanded the Driver in 1779. The Driver was owned by Josiah Batchelder, Jr., and Livermore Whittredge. Eagle Return of officers and petty officers of privateer brig Eagle June 17, 1780: Wilham Groves commander, John Pearson 1st lieutenant, John Harris 2nd lieutenant, Jacob Oliver of Beverly master, Philip Richerson of Beverly mate, Joseph Knight, Aaron Lee, Paul Foster prize masters, Thomas Pousland gunner, John Leach boatswain, and Moses Prince steward. The Beverly names in the crew, residence not given, were Joseph Ober, Thomas Stevens, Robert Leach, WiUiam Morgan, Henry Tuck, George Gross, Joseph Baker, and Curtis Wood- berry. Some of these might have been equally well residents of Salem. The Eagle, owned by James Lovett and Moses Brown, was taken by an English cruizer July 21, 1780. Essex Ship Essex, 200 tons, 20 guns, 150 men. Privateer. Petition of Jonathan Jackson, Joseph Lee and J. & A. Cabot, April 14, 1781, John Cathcart com- missioned commander. Job Prince agent. May 6, 1780, John Cathcart was commander, Eben T. Thayer of Boston 1st lieutenant, James Lovett of Salem 2nd lieutenant, H. Pearson of Boston master, John Tajdor of Providence, R. I., captain of marines, George Odell of Boston mate. There were no names signed as from Beverly. The Essex was taken by H. B. M. Ship Queen Charlotte June 10, 1781. The following Beverly men were taken on her: Joseph Perkins, Robert Raimond, Levi Woodberry, Andrew Peabody, Matthew Chambers, James Lovett, and Benj. Sprague. (Massachusetts Archives,"clxxi. 369.) 1922] BEVERLY PRIVATEERS IN THE REVOLUTION 409 Experiment Brigantine Experiment, 130 tons, 6 six-pound guns, 2 swivels, 20 muskets, and 25 men. Letter of marque to West Indies. Petition of George Cabot, Joseph Lee and others, March 30, 1779, John Porter commissioned master. The petition asks that the Experiment may be commissioned "To trade with the Allies of U. S. in the W. I., and whereas in the course of the voyage there may be oppor- tunity of annoying and capturing the vessels and property of the enemies of the U. S. Your petitioners pray Your Honors to grant said John Porter proper warrant therefore." Fanny Brigantine Fanny, 6 guns, 15 men. Letter of marque. Petition of Livermore Whittredge, William Bartlett and others, June 14, 1780, Herbert Woodberry commissioned master. Taken May 28, 1781, by H. B. M. brig Providence, The list of officers and crew August 23, 1780, was as follows: Herbert Woodberry captain, Samuel Stone 1st mate, Edward Foster 2nd mate, William Hally, Luke Woodberry, Nathaniel Trask, Jeremiah Thorndike, Martin Dayall, Josiah Foster, Blackenberry Prince, Josiah Ober, Jacob Woodberrj^, Thomas Dodge mariners. Thomas Dodge was from Wenham, all the rest from Beverly. Fish Hawk Sloop Fish Hawk, 50 tons, 8 guns, 40 men. Privateer. Petition of John Dyson in behalf of Josiah Batchelder, Jr., and others, September 1, 1779, Wilham Groves commissioned commander. (Massachusetts Archives, clxx. 378.) Sloop Fish Hawk, 50 tons, 8 guns, 16 men. Letter of marque. Petition of Josiah Batchelder, Jr., November 30, 1779, Samuel Foster commissioned master. (Massachusetts Archives, clxxi. 35.) Sloop Fish Hawk, Letter of marque. Petition of Josiah Batchelder, Jr., Sept. 1st 1780 Israel Ober commissioned master. (Massachusetts Archives, cbcxvii. 45.) Sloop Fish Hawk, 60 tons, 6 guns, 40 men. Privateer. Petition of Josiah Batchelder, Jr., Samuel Foster commissioned commander, May 2, 1781. The Fish Hawk was taken Sept. 21st 1781. (Massachusetts Archives, clxxi. 381.) The Hst of the oflBcers and crew who signed as Beverly men June 6, 1780, was as follows: Samuel Foster, captain 32: rears 5 ft. 5 in. Dark Nathaniel Ober, 1st mate 21 5 " 8 " Light Robert Stone, mariner 25 5 " 5 " (( Isaiah Foster, " 21 5 " 4 " Dark Thomas Fitzgerald, " 22 5 " 6 " Light Benj. Sprague, " 20 5 " 4 " Dark Zebulon Ober, " 19 5 " 4 " Light George Groce, " 28 5 " Dark Eben Ray, 19 5 " 5 " Light Osman Thorndike, " 19 5 " 5 " Light James Pearce, cabin boy 17 5 " 4 " Light 410 THE COLONIAL SOCIETY OF MASSACHUSETTS [Jan. Fly Sloop Fly, 50 tons, 4 carriage and 8 swivel guns, 40 men. Privateer. On petition of Andrew Cabot and -Benjamin Lovett, John Marsh commissioned commander, August 29, 1778, with Ezra Ober as 1st lieutenant. (Massachusetts Arcliives, clxix. 117.) Fortune Brigantine Fortune, 100 tons, 8 guns and 18 men. Letter of marque. Petition of Miles Greenwood and John Dyson, June 29, 1779, Francis Bowman com- missioned master. (Massachusetts Archives, clxx. 190.) Brigantine Fortune, 140 tons, 12 guns and 36 men. Privateer. Petition of Miles Greenwood, April 27, 1780, Jesse Fearson commissioned commander (Massachusetts Archives, clxxi. 136.) Brigantine Fortune, 14 guns and 60 men. Privateer. Petition of John Dyson July 3, 1781, Benjamin Ives commissioned commander. (Massachusetts Archives, cbcxi. 421.) Brigantine Fortune, 7 guns, 15 men. Letter of marque. Petition of John Dyson and others of Beverly, November 7, 1781, Richard Ober of Beverly commissioned commander. Fox Brigantine Fox, 150 tons, 8 guns, 15 men. Letter of marque. On petition of Stephen Higginson of Boston, Israel Johnson commissioned master, July 15, 1780. (Massachusetts Archives, clxxi. 196.) Ship Fox, 100 tons, 8 guns and 20 men. Letter of marque. On petition of Benjamin Lovett, Israel Johnson commissioned master. May 9, 1782. (Massa- chusetts Archives, clxxii. 152.) The bond of Brigantine Fox, July 14, 1780, signed by Benjamin Lovett, Salem, is given in Revolutionary Rolls, v. 228. Whether the brigantine was rerigged as a ship or there were two vessels seems uncertain. Fbanklin Brigantine Franklin, 200 tons, 18 six-pounders, 100 men. Privateer. On petition of J. & A. Cabot and Bartholemew Putnam of Salem, April 20th 1778, Thomas Connoly commissioned commander, I. Leach 1st lieutenant, J. Selman 2nd lieutenant, and Jonathan Stevenson master. Brigantine Franklin, 200 tons, 18 guns and 120 men. Privateer. On petition of E. H. Derby, Jacob Ashton, and Bart. Putnam, Oct. 16, 1778, John Leach commissioned commander, Jacob Oliver 1st lieutenant. (Massachusetts Archives, clxix. 229.) Brigantine Franklin, 160 tons, 18 guns, 100 men. Privateer. On petition of E. H. Derby, Joseph Robinson commissioned commander. (Massachusetts Archives, clxx. 43.) Ship Franklin, 200 tons, 15 guns, 120 men. Privateer. Petition of Joseph Robinson on behalf of the owners, September 4, 1779, Joseph Robinson commis- sioned commander. (Massachusetts Archives, clxx. 391.) Ship Franklin, 220 tons, 18 guns and 100 men. Letter of marque. On petition of Nathan Goodale, March 24, 1780, John Turner commissioned captain, John Bray Ist mate, William Bacon surgeon. Under Captain Turner there were many 1922] BEVERLY PRIVATEERS IN THE REVOLUTION 411 Marblehead, but no Beverly, men in the crew. (Massachusetts Archives, clxxi. 105.) Ship Franklin, 200 tons, 18 guns, 100 men. Privateer. Petition of J. & A. Cabot, June 22, 1781, John Allen Hallet commissioned commander, Silas Devoll 1st lieutenant. On the back of the petition is endorsed "John Allen Hallet, Master of the within ship, is 37 years of age, 6 ft. 6 in. in stature, and of dark complexion. Silas Devoll, 1st Lieut, is 6 ft. tall, 40 years of age and dark." (Massachusetts Archives, clxxi. 415.) Ship Franklin, 200 tons, 18 guns, 100 men. Privateer. On petition of Bart. Putnam of Salem, December 14, 1781, Silas Devoll commissioned commander. (Massachusetts Archives, clxxii. 81.) The Salem Gazette of April 26, 1782, reports that privateer Franklin, Captain Devoll, has been taken by H. B. M. frigates Assurance and Amphitrite. Freedom Brigantine Freedom, 90 tons, 7 guns, 15 men. Letter of marque. Petition of John Lovett of Beverly, September 7, 1780, Benjamin Ober commissioned master, Jonathan Foster 1st mate, William Dike Cooper, Jonathan Clary and Cornelius Woodberry mariners, all from Beverly. (IMassachusetts Archives, clxxi. 268.) Friendship Schooner Friendship, Captain Benjamin EUingwood, belonging to Ebenezer Ellingwood and others, on a voyage from Salem for Surinam, laden with fish and lumber was taken by the letter of marque Tom, December 28, 1777, and sent into Liverpool. General Wayne Brigantine General Wayne, 90 tons, 8 gtms, 25 men. Letter of marque. On petition of Samuel Page of Salem, February 3, 1780, Richard Quatermass com- missioned captain. (Revolutionary Rolls, xl. 87.) Brigantine, Gen. Wayne. John Leach of Boston commissioned master, John Bickford 1st mate, James Buckman 2nd mate, Francis Thompson boatswain, James Parker gunner, John Batchelder mariner. All, except Captain Leach, from Beverly. (Revolutionary Rolls, xl. 88.) The New York Gazette and Weekly Mercury of September 9, 1780, reports brigantine Gen. Wayne taken by H. B. M. ship Intrepid. Hampden Brigantine Hampden, 120 tons, 14 four-pounders, 120 men. Privateer. On petition of George Cabot and others, July 5, 1777, Benjamin Warren commis- sioned commander. Bond of Jonathan Ingersoll, commander of brigantine Hampden, George Cabot as surety, William Bartlett 1st lieutenant, November 1, 1777. (Revolutionary Rolls, vi. 103.) The Gentleman's Magazine for April, 1778, xlviii. 189, reports the Hampden rebel privateer 12 guns, 64 men, taken by the Seaford, and carried into Dominica. Hawke Schooner Hawke, 50 tons, 6 guns, 15 men. Letter of marque. Petition of Thomas Davis, of Beverly, and Ephriam Spooner, November 1, 1779, William Holland commissioned master. (Massachusetts Archives, clxxi. 1.) 412 THE COLONIAL SOCIETY OF MASSACHUSETTS [Jan. Hector Brigantine Hector, 150 tons, 8 guns, 17 men. Letter of marque. Petition of George Cabot for Joseph Lee, Andrew Cabot and William Bartlett, March 17, 1777, Zachariah Burchmore commissioned master. The Hector had sailed before for the Cabots under the name of the Union. Hope Brigantine Hope, 60 tons, 6 guns, 35 men. Privateer. Petition of Herbert Woodberry, May 28, 1782, Herbert Woodberry commissioned commander. Captured by English privateer Prince Edward, September 25, 1782, but retaken by the crew. (Massachusetts Archives, clxxii. 673.) Hopewell Schooner Hopewell, 25 tons, 10 swivel guns, 40 men. Privateer. Petition of William Homans and others of Beverly, July 26, 17S2, Cornelius Dunham com- missioned commander. March 26, 1783, same petitioners, Martin Brewster commissioned commander. (Massachusetts Archives, clxxii. 209.) Junius Brutus Ship Junius Brutus, 20 six-pounders, 120 men. Privateer. On petition of Joshua Ward and Henry Rust of Salem, John Leach commissioned commander, Benjamin Moses 1st lieutenant, William Carleton 2nd lieutenant, Daniel Adams master. Names of Beverly men in the crew. Jack ElUs, Isaac Cornish, James Black, Robert Remond, John Groce, and Absalom Goodrich. (Massach.usett8 Archives, clxxi. 168.) Ship Junius Brutus, 260 tons, 20 six and' 9-pounders, 120 men. Privateer. On petition of Josiah Orne and others of Salem, August 23, 1780, John Brooks commissioned commander. (Massachusetts Ai-chives, clxxi. 260.) Ship Junius Brutus, 200 tons, 20 guns, 120 men. Privateer. Petition of Nathan Goodale of Salem, Nathaniel Brookhouse commissioned commander, October 27, 1781. (Massachusetts Archives, clxxii. 44.) Ship Junius Brutus, same tonnage and force. Privateer. On petition of Henry Rust and others of Salem, John Brooks commissioned commander June 19, 1782. Bond signed by Andrew Cabot and Henry Rust. The Junius Brutus was taken by an English cruizer in 1782 and carried into Newfoundland. October 17, 1782, a cartel arrived in Salem bringing the crew of the Junius Brutus. (Massachusetts Archives, clxxii. 175.) Lyon Ship Lyo7i, 400 tons, 26 nine-pounders, 90 men. Letter of marque. Petition of A. & J. Cabot, William Tuck commissioned master, March 6, 1782. The Lyon was an English built ship, prize to the Ranger, bought by Mr. Cabot to serve as a mast ship. She sailed May 6, 1782, and was captured the same day by the English frigate Blonde. Mars ' Brigantine Mars of unknown tonnage and armament. Captain Joshua Elling- wood. "Petition of Mark Lafitte, Native of France, at present Resident in Salem, Humbly Showeth that the said Petitioner is owner of the Brigantine Mars, Joshua Ellingwood, Master, laying in Beverly, which Brigantine was almost ready for the Sea when an Embargo took place." Also a petition of 1922] BEVERLY PRIVATEERS IN THE REVOLUTION 413 Jean Frangois Greste St. Firmin, that he had come to Salem on business two months before, was part owner of the cargo of the Mars and was anxious to return to his home in the Island of High Hispaniola, whither the brigantine was bound. To these petitions were affixed these certificates: Beverly, Aug. 9, 1779, We certify whom it may concern that the Brigantine Mars, commanded by Capt. Joshua Ellingwood, now Lying in the harbour of Beverly is Loaded wit Alewives, Menhaden and lumber And That There is no Cod or other Dried fish on board Said Brigantine nor other provisions more than is necessary for her present voyage. Nathaniel Batchelder, Jr. Nathan Leach Council Chamber, Aug. 9, 1779, Ordered that the Naval Officer for the Port of Salem be and hereby is Directed to clear out the Brigantine Mars, Letter of Marque, now lying in the harbour of Beverly, bound to Hispaniola, when the Embargo on Vessels shall expire, the Embargo on provisions notwithstanding. Mohock Ship Mohock, 262 tons, 20 six-pounders, 130 men. Privateer. On petition of William Leach, William Bartlett and others of Beverly, Elias Smith com- missioned commander, November 8, 1781. The Mohock was a new ship built especially for a privateer. On September 6, 1782, John Carnes succeeded Captain Smith and the Mohock was taken fourteen days out by H. B. M. ship Enterprise and sent into New York. Neptune Brigantine Neptune, 115 tons, 14 guns, 80 men. Privateer. This vessel was partly owned in Beverly in 1779, but who her owners were is uncertain. The petition for her commission, dated August 5, 1779, was signed by George Dodge of Salem, and as he was associated with Andrew Cabot in many enterprises it is probable that the latter was largely interested. The Neptune was commanded, by John Ashton, with John Marsh as lieutenant, both of Beverly. New Adventure Brig N'ew Adventure, 14 gims, 50 men. Privateer. Petition of William Orne and John Leach of Salem, John Neal, Jr., commissioned commander, Jacob Oliver 1st lieutenant, Edward Stanly 2nd lieutenant. A number of American privateers were dogging the Quebec fleet and nine of them were taken and carried into Halifax, and some to St. John's, Newfoundland. Brig New Adventure, Captain Neal of Beverly. (New York Mercury, September 21, 1781.) The brig New Adventure is usually credited to Salem, the only authority for calling it a Beverly vessel is the above statement of the New York Mercury. Oliver Cromwell Brigantine Oliver Cromxvell, 162 tons, 16 guns, 130 men. Privateer. On petition of John Derby of Salem and Andrew Cabot of Beverly, William Cole commissioned commander, April 29, 1777. (Revolutionary Rolls, vii. 300.) Brigantine Oliver Cromwell, 160 tons, 16 guns, 100 men. Privateer. Petition of Jonathan Ingersoll, July 10, 1778, Thomas Simmons commissioned commander, James Barr Ist lieutenant. 414 THE COLONIAL SOCIETY OF MASSACHUSEITS [Jan. Ship Oliver Cromwell, 150 tons, 16 six-pound guns, 110 men. Privateer. On petition of Bart. Putnam and John Derby, March 29, 1779, Thomas Simmons commissioned commander. (Massachusetts Archives, clxx. 41.) Ship Oliver Cromivell, 150 tons, 18 guns, 110 men. Privateer. On petition of Bart Putnam and others, August 11, 1779, James Barr commissioned commander, I. Carpenter 1st lieutenant, Samuel West 2nd lieutenant. (Massachusetts Archives, clxx. 320.) Ship Oliver Cromwell, 160 tons, 16 guns, 85 men. Privateer. On petition of Nathan Leach, William Bartlett and others of Beverly, John Bray commissioned commander, April 19, 1781. (Massachusetts Archives, clxxi. 371.) The Oliver Cromwell, Captain Bray, while dogging the Quebec fleet was taken by a British frigate and sent into Newfoundland. On September 22, 1781, a cartel arrived at Boston from Newfoundland bringing Captain Bray and his crew. Pilgrim Ship Pilgrim, 200 tons, 16 nine-pounders, 140 men. Privateer. On petition of John and Andrew Cabot, Hugh Hill was commissioned commander, September 12, 1778, John Hooper 1st lieutenant, Benj. Moses 2nd Heutenant. (Massa- chusetts Archives, clxix. 157.) Ship Pilgrim,, 200 tons, 18 nine-pounders, 160 men. Privateer. On petition of Andrew Cabot, Joseph Robinson commissioned commander, March 24, 1780.*^ (Massachusetts Archives, clxxi. 104.) Ship Pilgrim, 200 tons, 18 guns, 150 men. Privateer. On petition of William Creed, in behalf of Jonathan Jackson, Joseph Lee, and J. & A. Cabot, Joseph Robinson commissioned commander, April 14, 1781. (Massachusetts Archives, clxxi. 369.) The New York Mercury of May 16, 1782, reports American privateer Pilgrim prize to H. B. M. ivigaiQ Belisarius;'^ American papers of October 12, 1782, report that the privateer Pilgrim was chased ashore on Cape Cod by the English frigate Chatham. 1 The officers and petty officers of the Pilgrim August 14, 1780, were as fol- lows: Joseph Robinson, Salem, commander; Jesse Allen, Manchester, 1st lieuten- ant; Benjamin Warren, Salem, 2nd lieutenant; Nicholas Garven, Boston, master; George Sugden, Beverly, master's mate; John Dean, Salem, 2nd mate; J. L. Hammond, Salem, 3rd mate; Samuel Blanchard, Boston, surgeon; Nathaniel Otis, Salem, chaplain; William Curtis, master of marines; Moses Vose, John Harris, Francis Horton, Joseph Hudson, John Kelly, John Marsh, and Thomas Hogkins, all prize masters; Jonathan Glidden, Beverly, carpenter; William Foot, Salem, cooper; Joseph Johnson, Salem, doctor's mate; John Turner, gunner; James Lyons, Marblehead, sailmaker; Jonathan McDowell, boatswain; Joseph Standly and William Vose, stewards. Of the crew only two, James Elliot and Richard Allen, were Beverly men. There were ten boys, one eleven, two twelve, two thirteen and five seventeen years or younger. Most of the crew were of foreign birth. - This report of the capture of the Pilgrim was probably incorrect. At all events the vessel, if captured, was not the Pilgrim of Beverly. There is in existence a log kept by Dr. Josiah Bartlett while surgeon on the Pilgriyn of Beverly from April 19, 1781, to July 23, 1782. This log will be printed in Vol. xxv. of the Publications of this Society. 1922] BEVERLY PRIVATEERS IN THE REVOLUTION 415 Rambler Ship Rambler, on February 18, 1777, Andrew Cabot, owner of ship Rambler, petitions the Council for permission to clear the Rambler in ballast for some neutral port in Europe, to bring back salt, woolens and naval stores. The Rambler probably belonged to Mr. Cabot several years prior to her commission in 1777. In 1776 the Rambler was at Bilbao, Spain, under command of George Cabot. In 1777 Andrew Cabot in a letter to Gardoqui & Sons, Bilbao, writes: "The Rambler, Capt. Simmons, which is owned by George Dodge and myself." (Massachusetts Archives, clxvi. 269.) Ship Rambler, 200 tons, 14 six-pounders, 50 men. Letter of marque. On petition of Andrew Cabot and others of Beverly, Benjamin Lovett commissioned master, October 16, 1779. (Massachusetts Archives, clxx. 434.) Ship Rambler, same tonnage and force. Letter of marque. Petition of J. & A. Cabot, February 14, 1782, Benjamin Lovett commissioned master. The Beverly men on the Rambler in 1780 were Benjamin Lovett captain, and William Ober, H. Hair, Robert Haskell, Robert Stanly, Nathan Gage, John Ellingwood, and William Poland mariners. (Revolutionary Rolls, xl. 70.) Reprisal Brigantine Reprisal, 70 tons, 8 three-pound guns, and 10 swivels and 60 men. Privateer. On petition of Job Prince and Samuel White of Boston, agents for themselves and Jacob Fowler, Andrew Cabot, John Coffin Jones and Benjamin Hichbourne, owners, John Wheelwright commissioned commander, October 3, 1776, Samuel Smallcorn 1st lieutenant, Nathaniel Thayer 2nd lieutenant, John Gregore master, Joseph Pitman steward, Stephen Johnson gunner, and John Ritchmond doctor. (Revolutionary Rolls, vii. 34.) The Reprisal may have been captured in 1777, as Nathaniel Thayer, her 1st lieutenant, returned on the cartel Swijt from Halifax November 9, 1777. Resource Ship Resource, 178 tons, 16 six-pounders, 30 men. Letter of marque. Petition of Thomas Woodberry, Ebenezer Parsons, and Israel Thorndike, June 10, 1780» Israel Thorndike commissioned master. (Revolutionary Rolls, xl. 64.) List of officers and crew and share of prize money: Israel Thorndike captain, 8 shares; Richard Ober mate, 4 shares; Andrew Thorndike 2nd mate, 3 shares; Samuel Cressy master, 3 shares; Nathan French gunner, 2 shares; Francis Gordon boatswain, 2 shares; Batholemew carpenter, 2 shares; Jonathan Wooden master's mate, 13^ shares; Edward Lee master of marines, 2 shares; Dana Whipple of Ipswich, steward, 13^ shares; Joseph Whittredge of Dan vers, William Eaves and Stephen Barker of Taunton, Ephriam Walton of Ipswich, Jonathan White of Boston, Jacob Thompson, Nathan Beaurigard, Edward Larcom, William Gage, Nicholas Thorndike, George Bray, Herrick, Richard Ober, all mariners from Beverly except where noted, 1 share. There were also three boys, Ezra Hall 16, Herbert Vickory 16, and Edward Marvell 14 years of age. Ship Resource, 140 tons, 10 guns and 24 men. Letter of marque. Petition of Thomas Woodberry and others, September 7, 1780, Richard Ober commissioned master. (Massachusetts Archives, clxxi. 176.) List of officers and crew and ages September 11, 1780: Richard Ober captain, 35 years; Andrew Thorndike 1st mate, 27 years; Sam. Cressy 2nd mate, 27 years; 416 THE COLONIAL SOCIETY OF MASSACHUSETTS [Jan. John Waters, 28; Andrew Ober, 18; John Woodby, 22; Jacob Woodby, 18; Andrew Woodby, 30; Thomas Woodby, 37; Ebenezer Woodby, 25; John Lovett, 27; Jacob Brown of Wenham, 28; Nathan Thome, 18; Jacob Thompson, 18; John Savage, 27; Thomas Harris, 27; Thomas Ober, 22; David Allen, 29; Richard Ober, 24; Richard Thome, 22; Nicholas Thorndike, 22; John Rea, 22; Joseph Ray, 24; and Andrew Woodman, 27 years of age. All of Beverly except one. (Revolutionary Rolls, xl. 66.) The Resource was taken by an English cruizer in 1780. Retaliation Brigantine Retaliation, 70 tons, 10 guns, 9 swivels, 70 men. Privateer. On petition of Josiah Batchelder, Jr., September 4, 1776, Eleazer Giles commander, Thomas Stephens Ist lieutenant, John Proctor 2nd lieutenant. (Massachusetts Archives, clxv. 204.) The Retaliation was taken in the autumn of 1777. Revenge Sloop Revenge, 90 tons, 12 guns, 60 men. Privateer. Petition of Miles Green- wood and Joseph Lee, May 14, 1776, Joseph White commissioned commander. (Massachusetts Archives, clxiv. 356.) The sloop Revenge was afterwards com- manded by Benjamin Warren, Edward Gibaut, and Benjamin Dean. Revolution Ship Revolution, 330 tons, 20 9-pounders, 130 men. Privateer. On petition of J. & A. Cabot, March 6, 1782, Stephen Webb commissioned commander. ROVEK Sloop Rover, 8 guns, 50 men. Privateer. On petition of Jacob Ashton, Joseph Sprague and others, July 17, 1776, Simon Forester commissioned captain. (Massachusetts Archives, clxv. 421.) Sloop Rover, same armament. Privateer. On petition of Benjamin Goodhue for the owners, November 13, 1776, Abijah Boden was commissioned commander. (Massachusetts Archives, clxvi. 37.) Sloop Rover, 60 tons, 8 guns and 50 men. Privateer. On petition of John Derby, Andrew Cabot and others, August 9, 1777, John Mitchell commissioned commander. (Massachusetts Archives, clxvii. 319.) Sally Ship Sally, Captain John Buffinton. Andrew Cabot was part owner. Saratoga Brig Saratoga, 120 tons, 8 guns and 30 men. Letter of marque. On petition of Andrew Cabot, Joseph Lee and others, July/1, 1778, John Tittle commissioned master. Brig Saratoga, 120 tons, 10 guns, 30 men. Letter of marque. On petition of Andrew Cabot, November 20, 1779, Stephen Webb commissioned master. (Massachusetts Archives, clxxi. 28.) September 4, 1780, Eleazer Giles was master of the letter of marque Saratoga and the list of officers and crew was as follows: Eleazer Giles master, Wilham Ellingwood 1st mate, Benjamin Parsons of Gloucester 2nd mate, Nicholas Ober 1922] BEVERLY PRIVATEERS IN THE REVOLUTION 417 prize master, James Hooper of Marblehead gunner, James Higgins (born in Virginia, lives in Beverly), Richard Green, Jonathan Bowls, Benjamin Roundy (Salem), Thomas Giles (Salem), John Tufts (Danvers), Ceaser and Cato IMont- gomery cooks, Joseph Haskell, all natives and residents of Beverly, except where noted. There were also two English prisoners, Robert Lefavour and James Mull, serving as mariners on the vessel. On November 1, 1780, the brig Saratoga was reported condemned and sold at Beverly. Scorpion Schooner Scorpion, 50 tons, 14 swivel and 2 carriage guna, 40 men. Privateer. On petition of Joseph White and Miles Greenwood of Salem, November 8, 1777, Israel Thorndike commissioned commander, John Ashton 1st lieutenant. (Massa- chusetts Archives, clxvii. 436.) Schooner Scorpion, 45 tons, 16 swivel guns, 40 men. Privateer. On petition of E. H. Derby, February 27, 1778, John Brooks commissioned commander, John Marsh 1st lieutenant. Schooner Scorpion, 50 tons, 2 guns, 40 men. On petition of Josiah Batchelder, Jr., June 16, 1778, Benjamin Niles commissioned master. In this petition the Scorpion is called both letter of marque and privateer. Schooner Scorpion, same armament and petitioners. Letter of marque. March 18, 1779, Benjamin Ives was commissioned master. September 20, 1779, Perry Howland was master. (Massachusetts Archives, clxx. 25, 410.) Scourge Ship Scourge, 240 tons, 20 gims, 120 men. On petition of Brown & Thorndike, May 24, 1781, Timothy Parker commissioned commander. The Scourge was taken by an Enghsh cruizer April 22, 1782. Sebastian Ship Sebastian, 150 tons, 10 guns, 30 men. Letter of marque. On petition of Andrew Cabot, Febi-uary 18, 1779, Benjamin Lovett commissioned master. (]\Iassachusetts Archives, cbdx. 444.) Ship Sebastian, same force and petitioner, September 18, 1779, Benjamin Ellingwood master. August 21, 1780, Ichabod Groves master. (Massachusetts Archives, clxx. 403.) Said to have been taken by an English cruizer in 1780. Shaker Galley Shaker, 50 tons, 6 four-pounders, 40 men. Privateer. On petition of Job Prince, Andrew Cabot and others, May 9, 1782, Samuel Stacy commissioned commander. (Massachusetts Arcliives, clxxii. 153.) Ship Shaker, 50 tons, 6 guns, 40 men. Privateer. On petition of Brown & Thorndike, February 26, 1783, James Lovett commissioned commander. (Massachusetts Archives, clxxii. 307.) Spanish Packet Ship Spanish Packet,' 10 guns and 20 men. Letter of marque. On petition of Francis Cabot and James Jeffreys, February 18, 1782, Thomas Baling com- missioned master. 418 THE COLONIAL SOCIETY OF MASSACHUSETTS [Jan. Staeks Brigantine Starks, 120 tons, 6 guns and 20 men. Letter of marque. On petition of Andrew Cabot, Richard Quatermass commissioned master. (Massa- chusetts Archives, clxviii. 67.) Brigantine Siarks, 10 guns and 20 men. Letter of marque. On petition of Andrew Cabot October 16, 1779, Ezra Ober was commissioned master, Richard Ober 1st mate, Edward Foster 2nd mate, Benjamin Porter gunner, Benjamin Presson prize master, James Richerson, David Bunker, Jolm Tuck, John Anderson, WilUam Morgan, Robert Stanly, Osman Thorndike, \yilHam Thompson, all of Beverly; Joseph and Nathaniel Ivingman of Wenham; James Dodge and Thomas Stevens of Ipswich. Sturdy Beggar Schooner Sturdy Beggar, 90 tons, 6 guns and 20 men. Privateer. On petition of E. H. Derby, June 1.3, 1776, Peter Landen of Salem commissioned commander. (Massachusetts Archives, clxiv. 391.) Schooner Sturdy Beggar, number of guns and crew not given. Privateer. On petition of Benjamin Goodhue, August 2, 1776, Allen Hallet commissioned commander. (Massachusetts Archives, clxv. 24.) Schooner Sturdy Beggar, 100 tons, 8 guns and 60 men. Privateer. On petition of Benj. Goodhue and others, October 2, 1776, Edward Rowland commissioned commander. (Massachusetts Archives, clxv. 308.) On Februar}' 24, 1777, the Sturdy Beggar, Captain Rowland, was reported taken by an EngUsh cruizer and the crew afterwards confined in Mill Prison. Brigantine Sturdy Beggar, 100 tons, 10 guns and crew of unknown number. Privateer. On petition of Joshua Ward of Salem, August 20, 1777, Philip Le- favour of Marblehead commissioned commander. (Revolutionary Rolls, v. 3.) Bond of Sturdy Beggar signed by Benjamin Goodhue and Andrew Cabot. Whether the schooner Sturdy Beggar had not been taken by an English cruizer and been rerigged as a brigantine, or whether this was another vessel, the writer has been unable to ascertain. The brigantine Sturdy Beggar is said to have been wrecked on the coast of France. Success Ship Success, Captain William Langdon. Petition of Zachariah Gage, June 16, 1777, for exchange of Captain Langdon, two mates and six sailors, of ship Success of Beverly, taken seven weeks before by the Diamond frigate. (Massa- chusetts Archives, clxvii. 32.) Brig Success, 120 tons, 8 guns and 15 men. Letter of marque. On petition of Stephen Higginson and Francis Cabot of Salem, Januarj' 4, 1779, William Groves commissioned master. (Massachusetts Archives, clxix. 398.) Swallow Schooner Sioallow, 60 tons. Petition of Thomas Davis of Beverly to send the Sivallow to Virginia for flour, January 8, 1777. Schooner Swallow, John Loviet, master. Built in New England in 1750. Registered at Salem, October 22, 1750. Owned by Thomas Davis and Benjamin Fisher. (Essex Institute Historical Collections, v. 282.) 1922] BEVERLY PRIVATEERS IN THE REVOLUTION 419 Swift Brigantine Swift, 100 tons, 8 guns and 20 men. Letter of marque. Petition of William Homans and others, January 3, 1781, Asa Woodberry commissioned master. (Massachusetts Archives, clxxi. 324.) Brigantine Swift, 100 tons, 14 guns, 70 men. Privateer. Petition of William Homans and others of Beverly, January 5, 1781, John Tittle commissioned commander. (Massachusetts Archives, cLxxi. 405.) Brigantine Swift, 100 tons, 14 guns, 70 men. Privateer. Same petition, October 20, 1781, Israel Johnson commissioned commander. (Massachusetts Archives, ckxii. 36.) The Swift was captured in 1782. Terrible Creature Brigantine Terrible Creature, 16 guns, 100 men. Privateer. Petition of George and Andrew Cabot, March 9, 1778, Robert Richardson commissioned commander, Zachariah Birchmore 1st lieutenant, Nathaniel West 2nd lieutenant, John Bradford master. True American Schooner True American, 90 tons, 10 guns, 70 men. Privateer. Petition of George Dodge for Andrew Cabot, April 29, 1777, John Buffinton commissioned commander, Benjamin Chapman 1st lieutenant, John Brooks 2nd lieutenant, William Thomas master. (Massachusetts Archives, clxvi. 372.) Brigantine True American, 90 tons, 70 guns, 2.5 men. Letter of marque. Petition of Andrew Cabot, May 20, 1778, John Buffinton commissioned com- mander. (Massachusetts Archives, clx\'iii. 237.) Two Friends Schooner Two Friends, 60 tons. Owned in 1782 by Andrew Cabot. Valiant Schooner Valiant. No record of her commission in the State Archives, except list of officers and crew, June 3, 1780: Joshua Ellingwood Capt. Nathan Batchelder Mate William Porter Edward Smith David Herrick Nathaniel Wallis Joshua Herrick Union Brigantine Union, 120 tons, 6 guns, 4 swivels, 20 men. Petition of Samuel Ward of Salem, January 4, 1779, William Langdell commissioned captain. (Massachusetts Archives, clxix. 399.) Warren Schooner Warren, 50 tons, 5 carriage and 10 swivel guns, 50 men. Privateer. Petition of Josiah Batchelder, Jr., and others, October 29, 1776, Israel Thorndike commissioned commander, Nicholas Ogleeby 1st lieutenant, William Ryan 2nd lieutenant, John Lee master. (Massachusetts Archives, clxix. 396.) 28 years c f age 5 ft. 2 in. in stature dark 29 " ' ' " 5 " 6 " (( (( lite 28 " ' < a 5 « 5 u dark 20 " ' < « 5 « g « lite 22 " ' ' " 5 " 8 " dark 21 " ' ' " 5 " 9 " lite 18 " ' ' " 5 " lite 420 THE COLONIAL SOCIETY OF MASSACHUSETTS [Jan. Schooner Warren, 60 tons, 10 guns, 50 men. Privateer. Petition of Josiah Batchelder, Jr., April 29, 1777, Nicholas Ogleeby, commissioned commander. Schooner Warren, 60 tons, 10 guns, 50 men. Privateer. Petition of Josiah Batchelder, Jr., December 3, 1777, John Ravell commissioned commander, Samuel Foote 1st lieutenant. The Warren was taken by the Torti, December 27, 1777, and by the Fanny February 6, 1778. Washington Brigantine Washington, 90 tons, 12 guns, 80 men. Privateer. Petition of John Dyson, Thomas Davis of Beverly and Jonathan Hobby and Samuel Thwing of Boston, October 3, 1776, Elias Smith commissioned commander, James Lovett 1st lieutenant, William Tuck 2nd lieutenant, John Vickorj'- master.^ (Massa- chusetts Archives, clxv. 311.) Brigantine Washington, same force and petitions, Maj' 2, 1777, EHas Smith commissioned commander. (Massachusetts Archives, clxvi. 379.) Brigantine Washington, 95 tons, 14 guns, 75 men. Privateer. Petition of Samuel Dyson and Samuel Thwing, November 8, 1777, Nicholas Ogleby com- missioned commander, Joim Ober 1st lieutenant, William Ryan 2nd lieutenant, David Stevenson master. (In the bond the name is written "Oglisby.") (Massa- chusetts Archives, clxvii. 437.) It is possible that the Washington, Captain Ogleeby, was not the original Washington. Of the seventy merchant and private armed vessels, described in the above Hst, it is probable that sixty were owned or controlled in Beverly and the other ten out of town. It is possible that some have been included which properly belonged to Salem, but the change of ownership in those days was so frequent, the evidence so con- flicting, that it is hard to draw the line. There were undoubtedly other vessels, besides the above, sailing from Beverly, and there is reason to believe that the following vessels might be included in the list, though proof is lacking: Schooner Gen. Gates Owned in 1776 by John Gardner and partner. John Cabot, witness on the bond. Schooner Harlequin Owned in 1776 by John Gardner and partner. The Harlequin was the schooner Sally, renamed, and Andrew Cabot owned J^ of the Sally. Brig Pluto Petition of Josiah Orne of Salem in 1777. Andrew Cabot, witness on the bond. Schooner Fair Lady Owned in Ipswich in 1776. William Homans, Jr., one of her owners. 1 With the exception of John "\'ickory, who was probably a Marblehead man, all the officers and most of the crew were from Beverly. 1922] BEVERLY PRIVATEERS IN THE REVOLUTION 421 Ship Rhodes Owned by William Shillaber and others in 1780. The Rhodes sent a number of prizes into Beverlj' and several were sold at the Cabot wharf. Ship Hawk, Ship Neptune, Brig Neptune, Schooner Resolution, Schooner Batchelder, Sloop Gates, Brig Rambler. It is impossible to enumerate all the vessels in which Beverly capital was interested, and the above is only a partial list. Shares in vessels were reckoned in eighths and multiples of that fraction and, in absence of other kinds of investment, the inliabitants of the seaport towns bought and sold them as stocks are bought and sold to-day. Men used their shares in ships as collateral, bought and sold futures; hedged against possible losses; sold short and played the game for all it was worth, and a fascinating game it was : a hun- dred pounds invested might within thirty days pay back a thousand ; one successful cruize might win a fortune. To be sure, the chance of loss was great, but w^hen did that ever check the gambling spirit? Under these conditions the control of vessels passed rapidly from hand to hand. The prosperous ship-owner of to-day might be the bankrupt of to-morrow, and w^ithin six months' time the same vessel might be owned consecutively in Beverly, Salem, and Boston. This spirit of speculation or gambling also affected the officers and men of the private armed vessels. After a successful cruize many of them, like the Scotch Highlanders after a victory, gave up their positions for a time and remained ashore to squander their booty. The history of Revolutionary privateering in the town of Beverly is, as has been said, the history of the house of Cabot. Before the war the firm of J. & A. Cabot had no great prominence in New Eng- land, though of good credit and considerable means. Beginning with small and scattered ventures in privateers, by shrewdness and natural ability they had by the end of the war accumulated great wealth and had become the most prosperous mercantile firm in the State. Andrew Cabot was a student of conditions, a good judge of men, and his partner, Joseph Lee, was an expert in ship architecture. Much of the firm's success was due to the captains commanding their vessels, and these Andrew Cabot picked with rare judgment and bound to the firm by liberal and considerate treatment. Hugh Hill, Benjamin Lovett, John Edmonds, John Buffinton, and Joseph Robinson were especial favorites of the firm and made much money for themselves and the owners. 422 THE COLONIAL SOCIETY OF MASSACHUSETTS [Jan. To give a complete list of the vessels in which the firm of J. & A. Cabot were interested is impossible, but that they were part owners in the following is certain: Brigantine Active Ship Pilgrim Ship Black Prince Ship Rambler Ship Buccanier Brigantine Reprisal Snow Caio Sloop Revenge Brig Chance Ship Revolution Ship Cicero Sloop Rover Ship Commerce Ship Sally Brigantine Defence Schooner Sally Brigantine Defence Sloop Sally Snow Diana Brig Saratoga Ship Essex Ship Sebastian Brigantine Experiment Galley Shaker Sloop Fly Ship Spanish Packet Brigantine Fortune Brigantine Starls Brigantine Hampden Schooner Sturdy Beggar Brigantine Hector Brigantine Terrible Creature Brigantine Hope Schooner True American Ship Junius Brutus Schooner Two Friends Ship Lyon Brigantine Union Ship Oliver Cromwell The total tonnage owned in Beverly in 17S0 amounted to 2844 tons, and of this J. & A. Cabot controlled more than two-thirds. The Cicero, Revolution, Buccanier, Lyon, and Rambler were owned almost entirely by the firm, the others merely enough to hold con- trol. A certain amount of the tonnage of vessels sailing from Beverly was held out of town. The following list for 1780 is given in the Nathan Dane Papers: Buccanier 200 tons Owne d in Salem and Boston 12/96 Pilgrim 235 it u u 11 u a " Newbury 32/96 16/96 Scourge 235 n (( " Salem and Boston 24/96 (( " Newbury 6/96 Mohawk 200 <( " " Ipswich 8/96 Fortune 90 (1 Out of town 24/96 Swift 90 li It 24/96 Sch. Two Friends 60 II II 12/96 Revolution 260 (( " " Beverly Cicero 240 Scorpion June 16, 1778 Ober, Benj. Captain L. M. brigantine Freedom Sept. 7, 1780 Beverly Captain L. M. schooner Hawk Ober, Ezra 1st Lieut, privateer sloop Fly, Beverly Capt. John Marsh Aug. 29, 1778 Captain privateer brigantine Slarks Sept. 20, 1779 Captain privateer brigantine Starks July 14, 1780 Ober, Israel Captain L. M. sloop Fish Hawk Sept. 1, 1780 Beverly Obeir, Israel F. Captain L. M. sloop Little Vincent Dec. 4, 1781 ? Ober, James 2nd Mate L. M. brigantine Freedom Beverly Capt. Benjamin Ober Sept. 17, 1781 Ober, John 1st Lieut, privateer brig Washington, Beverly " Capt. Ogilby May 8, 1777 Ober, Nathaniel 1st Mate L. M. sloop Fish Hawk, Beverly Capt. Samuel Foster Nov. 20, 1777 Ober, Nicholas Prize Master brig Saratoga, Capt. Eleazer Giles Sept. 4, 1780 Ober, Richard Captain privateer snow Fanny Jan. 15, 1778 Beverly 1st Mate L. M. brigantine Starks, Capt. Ezra Ober Sept. 20, 1779 1st Mate L. M. ship Resource, Capt. Israel Thorndike June 12, 1780 Captain ship Resource Sept. 7, 1780 Captain L. M. brigantine Fortune Nov. 7, 1781 Ober, William 1st Mate L. M. ship Rambler, Beverly Capt. Benjamin Lovett 1780 Ogliby (Ogleeby), 2nd Lieut. State schooner Hancock, Nicholas Capt. John Manly Jan. 1, 1776 Marblehead 1st Lieut, privateer schooner Warren, Capt. Israel Thorndike Oct. 30, 1776 Captain privateer schooner Warren Apr. 30, 1777 Captain privateer brig Washington Nov. 18, 1777 Captain privateer brigantine Bellona Jan. 2, 1778 Captain privateer brigantine Bwnfcer //'r'ZZ Nov. 8, 1778 2nd Lieut, privateer ship Thomas, Capt. Richard Cowell Sept. 14, 1780 432 THE COLONIAL SOCIETY OF MASSACHUSETTS [Jan. Oliver, Jacob Beverly Captain privateer schooner Hammond Dec. 10, 1777 Parker, Timothy Norwich, Conn. Parsons, Thomas Gloucester Patten, John Beverly 1st Lieut, privateer sloop Gates Ist Lieut, privateer sloop Bowdoin Captain privateer schooner Alert Master ship Eagle, Capt. William Groves 1st Lieut, brig New Adventure, Capt. John Neil Captain privateer ship Scourge 1st Mate L. M. brigantine Saratoga, Capt. Eleazer Giles Captain privateer schooner Spring Bird Captain privateer brig Spit-Fire Captain privateer brig Active Payne (Pain), Edward 1st Mate L. M. ship Count D'Estaing, EngUsh Capt. Elias Smith Porter, John Beverly or Danvers Potter, Abijah Boston Potter, Amos Boston Proctor, John Marblehead Quatermass, Richard Beverly Ravell, John Salem Richardson, Robert Salem Richerson, Philip Beverly Ciptain L. M. brig Experiment Captain privateer schooner Fox 1st Lieut, privateer ship Franklin, Capt. Allen Hallet Ist Lieut, privateer schooner Resolution, Capt. Samuel Trask Captain privateer schooner Resolution Captain privateer brigantine Prospect Captain privateer lugger Dreadnought Captain privateer sloop Revenge 2nd Lieut, privateer brig Retaliation, Capt. Eleazer Giles Sailing master State brigantine Freedom, Capt. John Clouston 1st Lieut, privateer brig Rambler Captain L. M. brigantine Starks Captain L. M. brigantine Starks Captain L. M. brigantine Gen. Waijne Captain L. M. schooner Success Captain privateer schooner Warren Captain privateer sloop Morning Star Captain L. M. schooner Polly Captain privateer Terrible Creature Saihng master privateer brig Eagle, Capt. William Groves Jan. 23, 1778 July 2, 1778 1779 June 17, 1780 1781 May 26, 1781 Sept. 4, 1780 Mar. 30, 1779 Apr. 4, 1780 Apr. 9, 1781 Aug. 22, 1780 Mar. 30, 1779 Nov. 15, 1782 June 26, 1781 Oct. 11, 1780 Mar. 31, 1781 Oct. 4, 1781 May 11, 1782 Feb. 4, 1783 Sept. 4, 1776 Feb. Sept. Dec. Oct. Feb. May Dec. Sept. Dec. Mar. 4, 1777 2, 1779 8, 1777 6, 1778 3, 1780 6, 1779 3, 1777 25, 1780 11, 1782 9, 1778 June 17, 1780 1922] BEVERLY PRIVATEERS IN THE REVOLUTION 433 Robinson, Joseph Salem Ryan, William Marblehead Sellman, J. Marblehead Simmons, Thomas Salem Smith, Elias Beverly- Smith, Ezra Beverly Stephenson, David Marblehead Stephens, Thomas Beverly Stevens, John Marblehead Stone, Samuel Beverly Sugden, George Beverly Master's mate State brigantine Massa- chusetts, Capt. John Fisk Mar. 17, 1777 Master State brigantine Massachuseiis, Capt. John Fisk July 31, 1777 Captain privateer brigantine Pluto Nov. 13, 1777 Captain privateer brigantine Franklin Mar. 30, 1779 Captain privateer ship Pilgrim Aug. 2, 1780 Captain privateer ship Pilgrim Aug. 14, 1781 Captain privateer ship Pilgrim Nov. 20, 1781 2nd Lieut, privateer schooner Warren, Capt. Israel Thorndike Oct. 29, 1776 1st Lieut, privateer schooner Warren, Capt. Nicholas Ogleeby Apr. 29, 1777 1st Lieut, brig Washington, Capt. Nicholas Ogleeby Nov. 18, 1777 2nd Lieut, privateer brig Franklin, Capt. Joseph Robinson Apr. 20, 1780 Captain privateer schooner Lively Dec. 23, 1777 Captain privateer brigantine Oliver Cromivell July Captain privateer ship Oliver Cromwell Mar. Captain privateer ship Grand Turk June Captain privateer brigantine Ranger Oct. Captain privateer brig Washington Oct. Captain privateer ship Black Prince June Captain L. M. ship Count D^Estaing Aug. Captain privateer ship Mohock Nov. 2nd Mate L. M. schooner Alert, Capt. Jacob OUver 1779 Master privateer schooner Warren, Capt. Nicholas Ogleeby Apr. 29, 1777 Master privateer brig Washington, Capt. Nicholas Ogleeby Nov. 18, 1777 1st Lieut, privateer brigantine Bellona Jan. 1, 1778 Captain privateer brigantine Siren July 13, 1781 1st Lieut, privateer brig Retaliation, Capt. Eleazer Giles Sept. 4, 1776 Captain privateer sloop Bowdoin July 2, 1778 2nd Lieut, privateer schooner Langdon, Capt. Jacob Oliver Aug. 24, 1776 Captain privateer sloop Satisfaction Nov. 9, 1776 Captain privateer brig Rambler Sept. 2, 1779 1st Mate L. M. brigantine Fanny, Capt. Herbert Woodberry Aug. 22, 1780 Master's mate privateer ship Pilgrim, Capt. Joseph Robinson Aug. 14, 1780 10, 1778 29, 1779 13, 1781 9, 1781 3, 1776 17, 1778 22, 1780 20, 1781 434 THE COLONIAL SOCIETY OF MASSACHUSETTS [Jan. Swasey (Swazy), Nathaniel Salem or Ipswich Thomas, William ? Thorndike, Andrew Beverly Thorndike, Ebenezer Beverly Thorndike, Israel Tittle, John Beverly Trask, Joseph Beverly? Tuck, William Beverly Turner, John Salem Vickory, John Beverly Warren, Benj. Salem Webb, Stephen Beverly 2nd Lieut, privateer schooner Success, Capt. PhiUp trask Sept. 3, 1778 1st Lieut, privateer brig Defence, Capt. John Edmonds July 6, 1779 Captain privateer brig Active Dec. 16, 1780 Master L. M. schooner True American, Capt. John Buffinton Apr. 29, 1777 2nd Lieut, privateer ship Gen, Putnam, Capt. Daniel Waters July 6, 1779 2nd Mate L. RL ship Resource, Capt. Israel Thorndike Apr. 29, 1777 1st ]\Iate ship Resource, Capt. Richard Ober Sept. 7, 1780 Captain L. M. brigantine Saratoga June 16, 1781 1st Lieut, privateer schooner Hammond, Capt. Jacob Oliver Dec. 10, 1777 Captain privateer schooner Warren Oct. 30, 1776 1st Lieut. State brigantine Tyrannicide, Capt. Jonathan Harraden Mar. 10, 1777 Captain privateer schooner Scorpion Nov. 8, 1777 Captain L. M. ship Resoiirce June 12, 1780 Captain L. M. brigantine Saratoga July 1, 1778 Captain L. M. ship Marquis La Fayette Nov. 23, 1779 Captain L. M. brigantine Sioijt June 5, 1781 Captain L. M. ship Calo Nov. 20, 1781 Captain privateer schooner Resolution Dec. 6, 1782 Captain L. M. schooner Buckram Aug. 22, 1782 2nd Lieut, privateer brig Washington, Capt. Elias Smith Oct. 3, 1776 Captain privateer Bennington May 6, 1779 Captain L. M. ship Lyon Mar. 6, 1782 Captain privateer ship Franklin Dec. 2, 1780 Master privateeer brig Washington, Capt. Elias Smith Oct. 3, 1776 Captain privateer sloop Revenge Sept. 14, 1776 Captain privateer brigantine Hampden July o, 1777 Captain privateer brigantine Lyon 1st Lieut, privateer schooner Modesty Aug. 6, 1779 2nd Lieut, privateer ship Pilgrim Aug. 14, 1782 1st Lieut, privateer sloop Patty Jan. 21, 1778 Capt. L. M. brigantine Saratoga Nov. 20, 1779 Capt. L. M. ship Commerce Jan. 1.5, 1781 1922] BEVERLY PRIVATEERS IN THE REVOLUTION 435 West, Nathaniel Salem West, Samuel Salem White, Joseph Salem Williams, Theodore Woodberry, Asa Beverly Woodberry, Benj. Beverly Woodberry, Herbert Beverly Woodberry, Wilham Beverly Woodberry, W., Jr. 3rd Lieut, privateer Terrible Creature, Capt. Robert Richardson Apr. 4, 1778 Captain privateer Terrible Creature 1778 1st Lieut, privateer schooner Tryal Sept. 7, 1778 2nd Lieut, privateer ship Oliver Cromwell, Capt. James Barr Aug. 16, 1779 Captain privateer sloop Revenge May 14, 1776 2nd Mate L. M. ship Count D'Estaing, Capt. Elias Smith Captain L. M. brigantine Sudft Captain L. M . schooner Swallow Mate cartel schooner Tryal Capt. L. M. brigantine Fanny Captain privateer brigantine Hope Captain privateer brig Hope Captain privateer ship Hope Captain privateer ship Neptune Captain privateer ship Mara Sept. 14, 1780 Jan. 3, 1780 1783 1782 Jan. 14, 1778 May 28, 1782 Oct. 14, 1778 June 12, 1780 Sept. 7, 1780 H i^. 33 89 ''* .0^ '": JK. ''^m'- J'K. ' '^} JK. '-^9/ ' %. % 'WWs ^^'% '-^s /x '-ywj ^^ /"-. " ^0' HECKMAN j±ri '^oV^ f'^'^^W'"; "^"^^ o^ 1 iL-vyrxiviMrN BINDERY INC. ^^^APR 89 wJ&B^ N. MANCHESTER INDIANA 46962 " fz^A !