Massachusetts Privateer Sloop American Revenue was commissioned on 13 September 1779 under Commander WILLIAM JIGGER. [Allen, Massachusetts Privateers of the Revolution, 73] In June 1780 the sloop Katy (John Brown) was captured. Jigger fell overboard on 17 April 1781 and was lost, while returning to Stonington, Connecticut. The American Revenue made port under the command of one Palmer, [Middlebrook, Maritime Connecticut During The Revolution, II, 53] presumably Jigger’s lieutenant.

Asa (Amos) Palmer was a resident of Stonington, Connecticut. He was in command of the Connecticut Privateer Sloop America in May 1777. Under Palmer America captured five British prizes in the summer of 1777. [NDAR, VII, 1118; VIII, 945, 978-979, 986 and note; IX, 81-82] It seems likely that Palmer remained in New London this time. In early July 1777, Nathaniel Shaw purchased some £83 of materials from Palmer for the use of the Continental Navy Brigantine Resistance. [NDAR, X, 441-447] On 18 July 1777 America was captured by the British and taken into Newport, Rhode Island. Palmer was sent to the prison ship, but later was exchanged. [Middlebrook, Maritime Connecticut During The Revolution, II, 48-49] On 24 October 1781 he was commissioned to the Connecticut Privateer Sloop Right Hand. [NOAR, 230]

John Palmer was aboard the Massachusetts Privateer Schooner Warren (Commander ISRAEL THORNDIKE) as a Prize Master. Warren was commissioned on 28 October 1776 [ Howe, Beverly Privateers in the Revolution, 419; Claghorn, Naval Officers of the American Revolution, 310] and was soon at sea. On 20 November 1776 she captured the British Transport Brig Thomas and William (James Smith), an Army victualler. A prize crew [NDAR, 5, 112; 4, 903; VIII, 163; VIII, 613 and note] of three men under Prize Master John Palmer [NDAR, XI, 666-890] was put aboard and she was sent off, but Thomas and William was recaptured by HM Frigate Unicorn [NDAR, 5, 112; 4, 903; VIII, 163; VIII, 613 and note] on either 20 November [NDAR, XI, 666-890] or 27 November and sent into Halifax. [NDAR, 5, 112; 4, 903; VIII, 163; VIII, 613 and note] The prize crew was sent to Forton Prison, and were still there on 29 December 1777. [NDAR, XI, 666-890]

John Palmer was appointed First Lieutenant of Marines on the Connecticut Privateer Sloop Revenge (Commander JOSEPH CONKLING), commissioned 23 October 1776. [NRAR, 439; NDAR, VI, 1004-1005 and 1005 note; VII, 995-997] He was on the entire time of her first cruise, 22 January 1777-22 May 1777, and for her second cruise, perhaps July-September 1777. Two actions were fought, one resulting in the loss of HM Schooner Tender Admiral Parker, on 23 September. Palmer kept a journal of the two cruises. [see Revenge]

Robert Palmer was a resident of Norwich, Connecticut. Palmer took command of the Connecticut Privateer Sloop Nancy after WILLIAM WATTLES left the sloop. Nancy sailed out of New London, Connecticut in late June 1777. On 30 June she was sighted and captured by HM Frigate Unicorn. She was sent into Newport, Rhode Island. On 10 October 1777, in a letter to Connecticut Governor Jonathan Trumbull, Thomas Shaw solicited the exchange of the officers of the Nancy. Shaw stated that they had been prisoners at Newport for a long time. He lists the men, noting Palmer as the captain. Trumbull approved of the proposal to exchange for Palmer on 13 October. On 5 November 1777 Shaw reported to Trumbull that he had managed to get Palmer’s officers exchanged, but not Palmer himself. As more efforts to exchange Palmer were underway, he died in captivity, at some date before 9 December 1777. [see Nancy for references]

Thomas Palmer was born in 1720 and was a resident of Portsmouth, New Hampshire. [NOAR, 231] Jackson was commissioned to the New Hampshire Privateer Schooner Enterprize on 23 February 1776. [NDAR, IV, 41] However, by at least 22 April 1776, Palmer was in command of the brig Marquis of Kildare. [NDAR, IV, 1189-1190, 1230] On 12 June 1780 he was commissioned to the New Hampshire Privateer Ship Portsmouth. Portsmouth was captured by the British in June 1781. Palmer died in 1790. [NOAR, 231]

John Park was a resident of Groton, Connecticut. He was commissioned to the Connecticut Privateer Schooner Terror on 1 November 1781. On 20 January 1782 Terror captured a British vessel with a cargo of beef and provisions in Fisher’s Island Sound. Four prisoners were captured. The prize was sent into New London, where it was tried and condemned. [Middlebrook, II, 232] John Park was certainly a relative of THOMAS PARK.

Thomas Park was a resident of Groton, Connecticut. [Middlebrook, MCR, II, 68] He was commissioned to the Connecticut Privateer Sloop Prudence on 24 April 1778. On 20 October 1781 he captured a British galley and, the next day, the schooner Sally. [NOAR, 231] On 1 November 1781 Park served as security, and may have been a part-owner, for the Connecticut Privateer Schooner Terror (Commander JOHN PARK). [Middlebrook, II, 232] On 6 November 1781, still in the Prudence, Park captured the Connecticut Privateer Sloop Polly (Commander ELIAS PARSHALL). This was an illegal capture and Park’s bond was prosecuted, leading to the seizure of the Prudence on 3 December 1782. [NOAR, 234] Meanwhile, Park was commissioned to the Connecticut Privateer Sloop Defiance on 1 November 1781. [Middlebrook, MCR, II, 68] Park captured the sloop Tartar on 20 November 1781, and another boat later in the month. [NOAR, 231] On 15 May 1782 Park conducted a raid across Long Island Sound to Long Island and seized a herd of cattle belonging to the British. On 14 July 1782 he captured (presumably still in the Defiance) a two-masted boat in Long Island Sound, with an assorted cargo. [Middlebrook, MCR, II, 69]

Parke remained on the Alliance following the twin court-martials of Landais and Degge. He sailed with the frigate on 11 February 1781 and arrived there on 9 March 1781. After a brief layover the Alliance sailed for home on 29 March. En route several prizes were taken, including two privateer brigs, Mars and Minerva, in a brief action on 2 April 1781. Another action was fought on 28 May 1781, with HM Sloop Atalanta and HM Brig Trepassy. Parke's Marines were hard hit, one lieutenant and a sergeant and corporal being killed, and one lieuteant badly injured before the British surrendered. On 6 June 1781 the Alliance arrived in Boston. A long refit followed, during which Parke married Katherine Wendell Cooper, only daughter of William Cooper, the town clerk of Boston, on 15 August 1781. [Smith, Marines, 463]  Parke sailed on Alliance for France on 25 December 1781 and participated in her brief cruise in European waters in February 1782. The frigate arrived at New London on 13 May 1782. A mutiny broke out on 16 May, quelled largely by Parke's actions. Parke was aboard the Alliance when she sailed from New London on 4 August 1782 and captured nine prizes, including four rich ones, during her cruise. She put into L'Orient, France on 18 October 1782. A dispute over prize money arose there, during which six or eight officers refused to do duty and were arrested, including Parke. He was left in France until he could be tried in the United States. [Smith, Marines in the Revolution, 286-287, 339] Parke, having managed to return to the United States, found that he had a son, William Cooper, born 7 August 1782, and that his wife had died just over a month later, on 14 September. Parke still faced charges from the L"Orient incident. He was tried on the Continental Navy Ship George Washington at Philadelphia on 16 May 1783. He was charged with disobedience of orders and with "detaining the Ship in Port causing an additional Expence." Parke pled guilty to the first charge and not guilty to the second. He was convicted only of the first charge and sentenced to "forfeit his Commission Provided however that this sentence shall not affect any wages or Monies due" before 24 November 1782. The court "beg leave from the long & faithful Services of Captain Matthew Park to recommend him" to Congress. [Smith, Marines, 463] Parke became a grocer in Boston after the war and died there on 28 December 1813. [Smith, Marines, 463-464]

On 6 July 1776 the Rhode Island Frigate Committee voted to appoint Avery Parker a First Lieutenant of Marines aboard the Continental Navy Ship Providence, "on his inlisting thirty three good Men in Twenty Days from this Date." [Smith, Marines, 464] About May 1777 First Lieutenant Parker was "broke," and succeeded by SecondLieutenant STEPHEN EARL. [Smith, Marines, 464]

Joseph Parker, who listed his age as 22, was commissioned on 4 September 1781 to the Pennsylvania Privateer Schooner Vengeance, with six guns and eleven men. Possibly because of Parker's age, one of the owners, JOSEPH DELANDA, served as First Mate for Parker. [NRAR, 485; Claghorn, 232]

Robert Parker was a resident of Portsmouth, New Hampshire, when he was commissioned to the New Hampshire Privateer Schooner McClary on 2 September 1776. [NRAR, 381] Parker took the McClary out to sea in early September 1776, steering for the area around the Newfoundland Banks. Soon after sailing he fell in with two small fishing schooners (Neptune and Glasgow) and captured them. [NDAR, VI, 1172-1173; VII, 56-57, 101] More important were three prizes captured in October 1776. British Transport Ship Hero was en route to Quebec from Jamaica with a cargo of rum for the British Army in Canada. Arriving off the St. Lawrence, she was unable to get up the river because of contrary winds, and bore away for New York. Off the Newfoundland Banks, at 43°N,70°W, Hero fell in with the McClary, which captured Hero. She arrived at Portsmouth, New Hampshire with the McClary on 31 October 1776. [NDAR, VII, 46 and note, 101, 809-810, 1066-1067, 1273-1274] Among the cargo of rum were two special casks, one for Carleton and one for Burgoyne. One of these was eventually presented to George Washington. [NDAR, VII, 56-57] The vessel and cargo were estimated at £20,000 value. Ship Live Oak was bound from Honduras to London with a cargo of logwood and mahogany. She was also captured on the Newfoundland Banks; her estimated value was £2500. [NDAR, VII, 46 and note, 101, 1273-1274] Brigantine Three Friends was en route from St. Eustatia to Ireland with a cargo of sugar and coffee. Near the Newfoundland Banks, Three Friends fell in with the McClary with the usual result. [NDAR, VII, 46 and note, 56-57, 101, 353-354, 809-810, 1273-1274]

Following this successful cruise, Commander Parker "refused" to sail again in the McClary. Meanwhile, New Hampshire Privateer Ship Portsmouth was under construction at Portsmouth, New Hampshire on 18 November 1776. Robert Parker was selected to command the ship by the 18th. Portsmouth was to be launched within a week. The crew was completed and would be ready when the vessel was launched. [NDAR, VII, 194-195 and 195 note] It took longer than a week, and Portsmouth was still on the stocks when Parker was commissioned on 6 December 1776. [NRAR, 420] Portsmouth was launched on 21 December 1776. On 27 December Parker assisted in the capture of a small British tender (George) taken off Portsmouth. [NDAR, VII, 603] On 11 January 1777, the New Hampshire authorities approved the sailing of the Portsmouth on a cruise, despite an embargo on privateer departures. [NDAR, VII, 919] Portsmouth had not yet sailed by 6 February 1777 and her permission to sail was protested by Captain Thomas Thompson of the Continental Navy (the purpose of the embargo being to prevent privateers from sailing until the Continental Navy and Army had completed recruiting). Thompson really wanted the 130 men in Portsmouth’s crew. [NDAR, VII, 1114-1115 and 1115 note] By 18 February Portsmouth was ready to sail at the first good wind. [NDAR, VII, 1226] Portsmouth got to sea for the West Indies soon after, and returned to Boston, Massachusetts before 26 April 1777. [NDAR, VIII, 434-436, 1016-1017] On this cruise she captured an unknown brig with a cargo of beef, pork, and butter, [NDAR, VIII, 396-397] an unknown brig with a cargo of butter, beef, and 5700 stand of small arms, which arrived in Portsmouth on 22 April, [NDAR, VIII, 418-419 and 419 note] brig Rebecca (George Witherington) bound from Cork to St. Christopher’s with a cargo of beef, pork, butter and fish, snow Truit (William Canning) bound from Cork to Tortola with a cargo of beef, pork, butter, beans, groats, oats, tongue and fish, and brigantine Hannah, with ten guns, bound from New York to Antigua. [NDAR, VIII, 434] During this cruise Portsmouth fought a short action with two British vessels (one of sixteen guns, one of fourteen guns) for about an hour. Being unable to board because his crew was short-handed from manning prizes, Parker broke off the action with one killed and one wounded. [NDAR, VIII, 396-397] While at Boston, Parker agreed to participate in a cruise with eight other privateers and two Continental frigates under the command of Captain John Manley of the Continental Navy Ship Hancock. The privateers were to be paid by Massachusetts and insured by her for twenty-five days from the sailing date, which was to be 1 May 1777. [NDAR, VIII, 434-436] By 22 May Portsmouth was expected in Portsmouth. She was to sail again after a month in port. [NDAR, VIII, 1016-1017] Parker had left the Portsmouth by June 1777, when she was commissioned under another commander.

Robert Parker moved into the ownership of privateers later in the war. Vessels associated with Parker were:

Date

State

Rig/Name/Guns/Crew

Commander

Co-owners

Bonder

Witness

5/30/81

NH

Brigantine Venus (4/35)

Henry Moore

Robert Parker, Ichabod Nichols

Henry Moore, Robert Parker, Ichabod Nichols

[NRAR, 485]

7/10/82

NH

Brigantine Harmonie (6/16)

William Parker

Robert Parker et al

William Parker, Robert Parker, Nathaniel Folsom

[NRAR, 328]

Date

State

Rig/Name/Guns/Crew

Commander

Co-owners

Bonder

Witness

3/30/82

NH

Lugger Betsey (2/10)

John Matthews

Keith, Spence and Sherburne

Keith & Spence, Robert Parker

[NRAR, 238]

Timothy Parker was serving as First Lieutenant on the Connecticut Navy Schooner Spy on 8 June 1776. [NDAR, 6, 1160-1161, 1162] He was appointed as First Lieutenant of the Connecticut Navy Ship Oliver Cromwell on 11 July 1776 by the Council of Safety. His date of commission was to be determined at a later date, and his pay was to start when he was commissioned. [NDAR, 5, 1027] Parker did not leave the Spy however, remaining at least through 8 October 1776. [NDAR, 6, 1160-1161, 1162] He was succeeded by MICHAEL MELALLY aboard the Oliver Cromwell. Parker was appointed as prizemaster of the ship Hope when that vessel was captured by the Spy, and was recaptured by HM Frigate Galatea. On 9 December 1776 he appealed to Governor Trumbull for exchange. He was confined with 250 other prosoners aboard the stinking prison ship Whitby in New York harbor. [NDAR, 7, 421 and note] His wages from 8 October 1776 to 8 January 1777 were paid. [NDAR, 7, 894-895] Parker had evidently been exchanged by 11 April 1777, when he was appointed as First Lieutenant on the Connecticut Navy Ship Oliver Cromwell. [NDAR, 8, 319]

William Parsons was a resident of Gloucester (Cape Ann) and Boston, Massachusetts. He was associated with the following vessels:

Date

State

Rig/Name/Guns/Crew

Commander

Co-owners

Security

Witness

8/16/81

MA

Brigantine Delight (8/20)

Nathaniel Sargent

William Parsons et al

Nathaniel Sargent, William Parsons, Nehemiah Somes

Joshua Loring, Jr., John Lavell [NRAR, 266]

Date

State

Rig/Name/Guns/Crew

Commander

Co-owners

Security

Witness

9/30/80

MA

Schooner Norwich Watch (4/16)

Amos Miner

Henry Johnson et al

Amos Miner, Henry Johnson, William Parsons

Robinson Glidden, John G. Rogers [NRAR, 407]

10/19/80

MA

Brigantine Ranger (10/20)

Samuel Babson

William Gee et al

Samuel Babson, Ebenezer Parsons, William Parsons

John Foster, George Burroughs [NRAR, 430]

2/2/81

MA

Ship Betsey (20/130)

Philemon Haskell

David Peirce

Philemon Haskell, Eben Parsons, William Parsons

Josiah Elliot, John G. Rogers [NRAR, 237]

10/3/81

MA

Brigantine Friendship (8/20)

Isaac Elwell

John Low et al

Isaac Elwell, John Low, Jr., William Parsons

Moses Caiss, Edward Manning [NRAR, 307]

10/9/81

MA

Schooner Peacock (4/15)

Alexander Mackay

Daniel Sargent et al

Alexander Mackay, Daniel Sargent, William Parsons

Thomas Simmons, William Ellison [NRAR, 412]

11/29/81

MA

Ship Tempest (12/40)

Isaac Somes

John Somes et al

Isaac Somes, William Gee, William Parsons

Micholas Lobdell, Benjamin Somes, Jr. [NRAR, 473]

6/5/82

MA

Brigantine Swallow (6/20)

Henry Higginson

Stephen Higginson et al

Henry Higginson, Stephen Higginson, William Parsons

George Longley, Jeremiah Stimson, Jr. [NRAR, 469]

8/29/82

MA

Brig Delight (6/20)

Nathaniel Goodwin

Eben Parsons et al

Nathaniel Goodwin, William Parsons, Eben Parsons

John G. Rogers, J. Stimson, Jr. [NRAR, 267]

10/17/82

MA

Brig Peacock (4/12)

Peter Wells

Stephen Higginson et al

Peter Wells, Ebenezer Parsons, William Parsons

Jeremiah Stimson, Jr., David Spear, Jr. [NRAR, 412]

Date

State

Rig/Name/Guns/Crew

Commander

Co-owners

Security

Witness

9/7/80

MA

Ship Resource (10/24)

Richard Ober

Thomas Woodberry

Richard Ober, Eben Parsons, Thomas Woodberry

Mark Fitz, William Parsons [NRAR, 437]

5/4/81

MA

Schooner Peacock (4/10)

Elias Davis

Daniel Sargent et al

Elias Davis, Stephen Higginson, Daniel Sargent

William Parsons, John G. Rogers [NRAR, 412]

5/24/81

MA

Ship Robin Hood (14/60)

Sargent Smith

Stephen Higginson, Daniel Sargent

Sargent Smith, Stephen Higginson, Daniel Sargent

Moses Hale, William Parsons [NRAR, 445]

5/28/81

MA

Schooner Swift (12/80)

Thomas Saunders

Nehemiah Parsons et al

Thomas Saunders, Nehemiah Parsons, Ebenezer Parsons

Elias Tuckerman, William Parsins [NRAR, 471]

9/12/81

MA

Brigantine Joseph (6/20)

Peter Wells

Stephen Higginson et al

Peter Wells, Stephen Higginson, Ebenezer Parsons

William Parsons, David Spear, Jr. [NRAR, 361]

11/30/81

MA

Ship Adventure (8/20)

Edward Bacon, Jr.

Stephen Higginson wt al

Edward Bacon, Jr., Stephen Higginsom

William Parsons, David Spear, Jr. [NRAR, 222]

6/5/82

MA

Brigantine Wasp (6/20)

Daniel McNeill

Stephen Higginson et al

Daniel McNeill, Ebenezer Parsons, Stephen Higginson

Henry Higginson, William Parsons [NRAR, 490]

John Patten [NOAR, 234) (or Pattin) [NRAR, 219] was a native of Beverly, Massachusetts. [NRAR, 219] He was a Midshipman on the Continental Navy Brig Andrew Doria (Captain NICHOLAS BIDDLE) in January 1776. He was aboard the Continental Navy Ship Columbus (Captain ABRAHAM WHIPPLE) on 22 June 1776. [NOAR, 234] On 30 March 1779 he was commissioned to the Massachusetts Privateer Schooner Spring Bird. Patten next commanded the Massachusetts Privateer Brig Spitfire, commissioned 4 April 1780. [NOAR, 234] On 9 April 1781 he assumed command of the Massachusetts Privateer Brigantine Active. [NRAR, 219] Active was soon after captured by the British and taken in to Halifax. On 28 September 1781 the New York Mercury (a paper in British occupied New York) reported that a cartel had arrived at Boston with Pattin and the crew of the Active aboard. [Howe, Beverly Privateers in the Revolution, 405] Late in the war Pattin captured a prize. The Boston Gazette of 8 December 1783 noted that this prize was to be tried at the last session of the Maritime Court at Boston on 23 December. [Allen, Massachusetts Privateers of the Revolution, 66]

Date

State

Rig/Name/Guns/Crew

Commander

Owners

Bonder

Witness

12/12/80

PA

Brigantine Active (10/20)

John Craig

John Patton, James Craig

John Craig, John Patton

 [NRAR, 218]

Thomas Paul was a resident of Virginia. He was a presumptive owner of the privateer Capitol Landing’s Revenge. Paul was associated with ALEXANDER WYLLY and THOMAS MATHEWS in privateering. Vessels associated with Paul were:

Date

State

Rig/Name/Guns/Crew

Commander

Owners

Bonder

Witness

5/29/81

VA

Boat Capitol Landing’s Revenge (2/12)

William Roan

Thomas Mathews, William Roan

William Roan, Alexander Wylly, Thomas Paul

Archibald Blair [NRAR, 246]

One Pearce was an officer aboard the New Hampshire Privateer Ship Portsmouth (Commander JOHN HART) in November 1777. He was apparently assigned as prize master to the brig George, captured on 13 November 1777 at 27°40'N, 16°W. She was ordered into Portsmouth and parted from Portsmouth on 18 November. On the Nova Scotia coast she was recaptured by the British in early December 1777 and arrived at Halifax on 20 December. [See Portsmouth]

William Pearson of Newburyport, Massachusetts, was commissioned to the Massachusetts Privateer Brigantine Amiable Eunice on 29 April 1782. [NRAR, 225]

Ebenezer Peck was a resident of New Haven, Connecticut. He was commissioned to the Connecticut Privateer Sloop Wooster on 20 February 1778. [NRAR, 494]

Valentine Peers was a native of Fairfax County, Virginia. He was a Lieutenant of Marines and then a Captain of Marines on the American Congress. [Stewart, 9, 235] He was commissioned on 18 June 1776 as a Captain of Marines in the Potomac Department. [NOAR, 237] Later he was a major in the land service. He died on 6 June 1830 at Maryville, Kentucky. [Stewart, 9, 235]

Timothy Peirce [Pierce] was a resident of Boston, Massachusetts. He was commissioned to the Massachusetts Privateer Ship Maria on 24 November 1778. [NOAR, 237] Peirce was commissioned to the Massachusetts Privateer Ship Caesar on 26 December 1781. The London Chronicle of 1 June 1782 reported that the Caesar had been captured and taken in to New York. [Allen, MPR, 90]

Amos Pendleton was born about 1755, in Westerly, Rhode Island, and resided there. About 1782 he was described as 5'7" tall, with dark complexion, dark eyes and dark hair. Pendleton listed his age as 27. He was First Lieutenant aboard the Connecticut Privateer Sloop Centurion (Commander JOSEPH DODGE) about March 1782. [Middlebrook, MCR, II, 65]

Benjamin Pendleton was born in 1738. [NOAR, 237] He was a lieutenant aboard the Connecticut Privateer Sloop Centurion (Commander JOSEPH DODGE) in April 1782, said to be a successor to AMOS PENDLETON. [Middlebrook, MCR, II, 65] Pendleton died in 1824. [NOAR, 237]

Sylvanus Pendleton was a resident of North Carolina. He is presumptively the Pendleton that commanded the North Carolina Privateer Brig Bellona in 1778. Pendleton captured six prizes in 1778, including one British privateer. [see Bellona]

One Pepper was in command of a schooner on the St. Lawrence River in the late winter of 1776. [NDAR, 4, 1244] He had been at Quebec before 24 April 1776 and had been replaced by Captain Barent J. Ten Eyck by that date. [NDAR, 4, 1244] One Prince served as First Mate aboard Pepper's schooner. [NDAR, 4, 1259] The schooner was possibly Continental Army Schooner Isabella. The identification with Michael Pepper is very tentative. Michael Pepper was a Mate on the Connecticut Navy Schooner Spy (Captain Robert Niles) on 8 May 1777. He later served as Mate on the Connecticut Privateer Sloop Hibernia (Commander Samuel Smedley). Hibernia was captured on 25 October 1780 by HM Frigate Hussar. Pepper became a prisoner in New York. [Claghorn, 238]

John Percival was a resident of Barnstable, Massachusetts. He was commissioned to the Massachusetts Privateer Galley Anti Smuggler on 7 August 1782. [NRAR, 228]

Hezekiah Perkins was a resident of New London [Middlebrook, MCR, II, 109] and Norwich, Connecticut. [Middlebrook, MCR, II, 119] He was commissioned on 1 December 1778 to the Connecticut Privateer Sloop Maria. [NOAR, 238] On 12 June 1779 Perkins was commissioned to the Connecticut Privateer Schooner Hazard. Perkins, and presumably Hazard, were captured in the West Indies. Perkins was exchanged on 17 August 1779 and sent to Boston, Massachusetts. [Middlebrook, MCR, II, 119] He was commissioned to the Connecticut Privateer Brigantine Hancock on 16 September 1782. [Middlebrook, MCR, II, 109]

Date

State

Rig/Name/Guns/Crew

Commander

Owners

Bonder

Witness

10/5/76

CT

Sloop Nancy (6/15)

William Wattles

Jabez Perkins, Andrew Hutington

William Wattles, Jabez Perkins, Andrew Huntington

[NRAR, 398; NDAR, X, 589-590]

10/4/79

CT

Sloop York (6/10)

Jabez Perkins III

Jabez Perkins & Co.

Jabez Perkins III, Jabez Perkins, Joshua Huntington

Jonathan Huntington, Erastus Perkins [NRAR, 494]

Jabez Perkins III was a resident of Norwich, Connecticut. Perkins served as Captain of Marines aboard the Connecticut Navy Ship Oliver Cromwell (Captain Timothy Parker) in 1778-1779. [NOAR, 238] He was commissioned to the Connecticut Privateer Sloop York on 4 October 1779. [NRAR, 494; Middlebrook, II, 246] A Jebez Perkins, Jr. was captured by the British in the West Indies (8 March 1776) and taken to Antigua. [NOAR, 238]. This may be Perkins’ father, however.

Date

State

Rig/Name/Guns/Crew

Commander

Owners

Bonder

Witness

9/29/81

PA

Brigantine Active (7/25)

Charles Biddle

Francis Gurney, Charles Pettit, Charles Biddle et al

Charles Biddle, Francis Gurney

 [NRAR, 219]

Isaac Phelps was a resident of Hartford, Connecticut. He was commissioned to the Connecticut Privateer Sloop Dolphin on 16 October 1781. Phelps was listed as owner of the vessel. [Middlebrook, MCR, II, 72]

James Phillips was a resident, presumably, of Baltimore, Maryland. He was commissioned to Maryland  Privateer Schooner General Lee on 17 December 1776. [NRAR, 311] On 17 June 1777 General Lee was advertised for sale in the Baltimore papers, with the sale to be conducted on 23 June. She was then laying at New Bern, North Carolina. [NDAR, IX, 111] The same James Phillips, or perhaps another, was cmmissioned to the Connecticut Privateer Schooner Black Snake on 12 August 1779. This Phillips listed his address as Taunton, Massachusetts. [NOAR, 240]

Charles Phillyshill was presumably from Maryland. He was associated in privateering with JOHN CRAIG, HUGH McBRIDE, and WILLIAM McBRIDE. Vessels associated with McBride were:

Date

State

Rig/Name/Guns/Crew

Commander

Owners

Bonder

Witness

6/22/78

MD

Schooner Beggar’s Benison (0/7)

Thomas Stiles

John Craig, Hugh McBride, William McBride, Charles Phillyshill

David Phipps was a resident of New Haven, Connecticut. He was appointed as a Second Lieutenant in the Continental Navy on 22 August 1776. He served on the Alfred under Commodore Hopkins and in the Providence, Cabot, Raleigh, Warren and Trumbull. He was taken prisoner three times and exchanged. On 17 September 1782 he was commissioned to the Connecticut Privateer Brigantine Hetty. After the war he was appointed as a First Lieutenant in the United States Navy on 2 July 1798 and was promoted to Master on 1 June 1801. He died at New Haven in April 1825. [Middlebrook, MCR, II, 122]

Job Pierce [Pearce] was a resident of East Haddam, Rhode Island. He commanded the privateer Greenwich in which he took several prizes. [NOAR, 235] Pierce was commissioned to the Rhode Island Privateer Schooner Black Snake on 13 November 1779. Nothing more is known about Pierce. [see Black Snake]

Date

State

Rig/Name/Guns/Crew

Commander

Owners

Bonder

Witness

10/[1]/76

MA

Schooner Active (6/65)

Andrew Gardner

Nehemiah Somes, Joseph Pierce, Eleazer Johnson, Thomas Melvill, John Hinkley

Andrew Gardner, Joseph Pierce, Nehemiah Somes

[NDAR, VI, 1213 and note]

Tom Pierson was New York agent for prizes in early 1777, apparently succeeding JOSEPH HALLETT. [NDAR, 7, 987]

John Pine was a resident of Baltimore, Maryland in 1776. He was appointed as Second Mate (or Second Lieutenant) on the Maryland Privateer Sloop Baltimore Hero (Commander THOMAS WATERS) on 16 June 1776. A lengthy voyage to the West Indies followed. [see Baltimore Hero]

Selvenus Pinkham was aboard the Connecticut Navy Ship Oliver Cromwell as a Midshipman on 25 February 1777, according to the crew list. [NDAR, 7, 1283-1287] Pinkham was one of those officers who roomed and boarded ashore during the time the ship was fitting out, from about 7 August 1776 to 12 December 1776. [NDAR, 7, 459] Pinkham was aboard the Connecticut Privateer Sloop American Revenue (Commander SAMUEL CHAMPLIN) as Master, from about June 1777. [See American Revenue]

Joseph Pitman was a resident of Salem, Massachusetts. He was commissioned to the Massachusetts Privateer Schooner Black Bird on 24 October 1777. [Allen, MPR, 82] Probably in November 1777, Black Bird captured the sloop Adventure (Zachariah Foot), [NDAR, X, 664-665 and 665note] Pitman had left the Black Bird by March 1778. [Allen, MPR, 82] He was commissioned to the Massachusetts Privateer Schooner Viper on 30 September 1778. Pitman was commissioned to the Massachusetts Privateer Schooner Cent a pied [Centipede] on 27 April 1780. [NOAR, 243]

Robert Polk was a resident of Baltimore, Maryland. [NRAR, 239] He was commissioned to the Maryland Privateer Schooner Montgomery on 5 September 1776.  [NOAR, 244] Polk was commissioned to the Maryland Privateer Sloop Black Joke on 23 June 1777. [NRAR, 239] Black Joke was at sea on a passage to Martinique, French West Indies, in [July-August] 1777. She was spoken at sea by an unknown vessel. [NDAR, X, 208] While in Martinique Polk died. [NDAR, X, 378-379 and 379 note]

Benjamin Pollard was recommended [Stewart, 237] or commissioned [NOAR, 244] as a Lieutenant of Virginia Marines on 29 March 1776. [Stewart, 237; NOAR, 244] He was assigned to the Virginia Navy Galley Hero (Captain GEORGE MUTER). [NOAR, 244] He was later promoted to Captain, replacing SAMUEL HANWAY. [Stewart, 237; NOAR, 244] Pollard served until the end of the war. [NOAR, 244] Pollard was an original member of the Society of the Cincinnati in Virginia. He died in 1807. [Stewart, 237]

William Pollard was a resident of Philadelphia, Pennsylvania. He was associated with JAMES WILLIAMS of Annapolis in privateering. He was associated with the following vessels:

Date

State

Rig/Name/Guns/Crew

Commander

Owners

Bonder

Witness

11/17/78

MD

Brig Betsey (2/12)

Benjamin Bradhurst

William Pollard (et al of Baltimore)

Benjamin Bradhurst, James Williams

[NRAR, 235]

Samuel Pond was at Fort George on 26 June 1777, assigned to the vessel commanded or to be commanded by Captain PETER HEPBURN. [NDAR, 9, 174]

David Porter was a resident of Boston, Massachusetts. His first privateer command of the war was the Maryland Privateer Sloop Delight, commissioned on 1 May 1778. [NRAR, 266] On 18 October 1779 he was appointed to the Massachusetts Privateer Ship Tartar, a much larger vessel of twenty guns. Porter sailed in November 1779 and cruised around Jamaica for several months. Under the name American Tartar, Porter captured the British ship Wallace on 9 March 1780. [Allen, MPR, 74 and see Tartar]  Porter was in port on 2 October 1780, when he witnessed the bond for the Thomas Dennie owned Massachusetts Privateer Ship Apollo (Commander Henry Skinner), [NRAR, 229] and the Mungo Mackay owned Massachusetts Privateer Brigantine Hope (Commander Ezekiel Burroughs). That same day he was commissioned to the Massachusetts Privateer Ship Aurora. [NRAR, 231] About 10 1781, Aurora was captured by HMS Royal Oak. [see Aurora] Porter was taken to New York and later he was exchanged. He was appointed to command the Massachusetts Privateer Brigantine Prospect on 30 December 1781, [NOAR, 246] and, on 3 December 1782 he was commissioned to the Massachusetts Privateer Sloop Assurance. [NRAR, 230] Porter was the father of the future US Navy Admiral David Dixon Porter. [NOAR, 246]

John Porter was in command of the South Carolina Privateer Sloop Alice in 1777. [Coker, 300] She sailed from Charleston on 1 March 1777, bound for Nantes, France with a cargo of rice and indigo. On 30 April 1777, Alice was twenty-four miles from the mouth of the Loire, off Belle Isle, when HMS Foudroyant  (Captain John Jervis) was encountered. As Foudroyant closed in, Porter threw overboard his papers, commission, and his guns in an effort to escape. The British captured Alice, but treated Porter as a merchant skipper. The sloop was taken into Plymouth, arriving on 4 May 1777. [NDAR, VIII, 807, IX, 381-382, 390-391] Porter soon escaped and was at St. Malo on 6 June 1777. From there he worked himself back to Charleston by the fall of 1777. [NDAR, IX, 381-382, 390-391; Coker, 91] He later commanded the South Carolina Privateer Sloop Rutledge and took several prizes in her in the fall of 1777. [Coker, 91, 300]

Nathan Post was a resident of Saybrook, Connecticut; [Middlebrook, Maritime Connecticut During The Revolution, 70] born about 1749. [NOAR, 246] Post was First Lieutenant aboard the Connecticut Privateer Sloop Revenge (Commander JOSEPH CONKLING), commissioned 23 October 1776. [NRAR, 439; NDAR, VI, 1004-1005 and 1005 note; VII, 995-997] He was on the entire time of her first cruise, 22 January 1777-22 May 1777, and for her second cruise, perhaps July-September 1777. Two actions were fought, one resulting in the loss of HM Schooner Tender Admiral Parker, on 23 September. [see Revenge] Post was commissioned to the Connecticut Privateer Sloop Revenge on 23 July 1778. [NRAR, 440] On 1 July 1779, assisted by the privateers Gates and Washington, he captured the ship Otter. In August 1779 Post captured the brigantine King George, the sloop Mosquito, the brig Eliot and the sloop Adventure. [NOAR, 246] He was commissioned, on 10 April 1781, to the Connecticut Privateer Brigantine Delight. Post made a voyage to Guadeloupe in the West Indies and the return voyage in the Delight. [Middlebrook, Maritime Connecticut During The Revolution, 70] On 5 April 1782 Post was commissioned to the Connecticut Privateer Brig Martial. He captured the brig Matilda on 10 May 1782. [NOAR, 246]

Samuel Pote was a resident of Marblehead, Massachusetts. Vessels associated with Pote were:

Date

State

Rig/Name/Guns/Crew

Commander

Owners

Bonder

Witness

5/12/79

MA

Brigantine Terrible (12/70)

John Conway

Samuel Pote et al

John Conway, Samuel Pote, James Laskey

Henry Sibley, Jonathan Dall [Allen, MPR, 296-297]

Date

State

Rig/Name/Guns/Crew

Commander

Owners

Bonder

Witness

6/13/81

MA

Ship Siren (12/50)

David Stevenson

Elbridge Gerry et al

David Stevenson, Samuel Pote, Samuel Parkman

John Baker Brimmer, Alvan Fosdick [NRAR, 459]

Connecticut Privateer Sloop American Revenue was commissioned on 15 June 1776 under Commander STEPHEN TINKER. Aboard the sloop as Master was William Powers. [NRAR, 225; NDAR, V, 547-548] Powers was apparently still aboard when WILLIAM PACKWOOD took command and made a fruitless cruise. [See American Revenue] On 9 October 1776 SAMUEL CHAMPLIN took command. During the following cruise several prizes were captured, including the brig Sally on 22 January 1777. Powers was assigned as her prize master and was ordered to New Bern, North Carolina, where he arrived on 21 February 1777. Powers was not master on the ensuing cruise, beginning about July 1777. [See American Revenue]

Comfort Pratt was First Lieutenant aboard the Continental Army Lake Champlain Squadron Sloop Enterprise, at Fort Ticonderoga on 26 June 1777. [NDAR, 9, 174] During the British attack on Fort Ticonderoga on 5 July the Enterprise, being used as a provision vessel, was escorted to Skenesborough. She was burned there on 6 July 1776. [NDAR, 9, 225]

Job Pray of Philadelphia, Pennsylvania, was a co-owner of the Pennsylvania Privateer Sloop Alphen. He was commissioned as her commander on 8 September 1781. [NRAR, 224] On 20 June 1782 he was commissioned to the Virginia Privateer Schooner Richmond, a vessel which he also partly owned. [NRAR, 444]

He was appointed by the Georgia Council of Safety to proceed on a trading voyage to St. Thomas on 18 October 1776, for munitions and sailors, and was to arm his vessel for the return. Probably he was to sail in the Georgia Navy Schooner George. On 26 August 1778 he took four slaves for sailors.

John Prentice 2nd was a resident of New London in 1776 when he was appointed, on 31 July 1776, by the Governor and Council of Safety of Connecticut as First Lieutenant of Marines on the Connecticut Navy Ship Oliver Cromwell. [NDAR, 5, 1303-1304 and note] Prentice is shown as aboard the ship on 25 February 1777, in the ship's crew list. [NDAR, 7, 1287-1289] He was dismissed with the entire crew and officers of the Oliver Cromwell on 11 April 1777 and reappointed as Third Lieutenant on the same day. [NDAR, 8, 319]

Paul Preston was commissioned to the South Carolina Privateer Brig Polly on 12 December 1776. [NDAR, VII, 467-468] He evidently made a voyage in her to the West Indies in the winter of 1776-1777. On 9 March 1777 she was at Turks Island, when a small tender from HMS Badger, under Lieutenant Philip Trott, slipped in and captured her. [NDAR, VIII, 161-162, 956-957]

William Preston was aboard the Massachusetts Privateer Schooner America (Commander DANIEL McNEILL) as Captain of Marines on 16 April 1777. [see America]

Joseph Price took service as First Mate on the South Carolina Privateer Sloop Active (Commander JOHN OSBORNE). Active sailed from Charleston on 21 April 1777 with a cargo of rice, tobacco, and indigo. She was manned with a scratch crew of fifteen men (including two Dutch, five Spaniards, and three English). On 2 May 1777 Second Mate JOSEPH RING and the three English sailors, assisted by the two Dutchmen, rose and took control of the sloop. The mutineers headed for England, but stopped long enough to put Osborne and Price on a pilot boat at Kinsale, Ireland. [See Active]

Samuel Pritchard (or Prichard, Prichet) was from Boston, Massachusetts. He entered the Massachusetts Privateer Brigantine Rising States (Commander James Thompson) as a Lieutenant of Marines. Rising States sailed from Cape Cod on 29 February 1777 for Europe. Three prizes were captured before Rising States was captured by HMS Terrible on 15 April 1777. The prisoners arrived in Portsmouth on 30 April 1777 and were committed to Forton prison on 14 June 1777. Pritchard soon escaped. [See Rising States] In France he was commissioned as [First] Lieutenant of Marines on 20 September 1777 and assigned to Continental Navy Ship Deane (Captain SAMUEL NICHOLSON). He served on the Deane until 20 October 1780. Pritchard was a member of the courts-martial of Captain PIERRE LANDAIS and First Lieutenant JAMES ARTHUR DEGGE, held on board the Continental Navy Ship Alliance (Captain JOHN BARRY) at Boston, beginning 20 November 1780. On 28 January 1781 Pritchard transferred to the Alliance. He was aboard her when she sailed for France on 11 February 1781. She arrived at L'Orient on 9 March 1781, and sailed for home on 29 March. On 2 April 1781 a brief battle was fought with British Privateer Brigs Mars and Minerva, in which both were captured.

Leonard Primer was in command of the Continental Army Lake Champlain Squadron Schooner Liberty on 17 August 1776, anchored at Crown Point. When General Arnold ordered Liberty and Continental Army Lake Champlain Squadron Schooner Revenge to patrol down the Lake, Premiere got underway, firing signal guns. Commodore JACOBUS WYNKOOP, in the Continental Army Lake Champlain Squadron Schooner Royal George, believed the two schooners were defecting to the British, and fired a swivel gun to stop them. Royal Savage's boat fetched Premiere aboard, and he informed Wynkoop he was under orders. This affair precipatated Wynkoop's suspension from command. Later in the day, the Liberty and Revenge sailed on patrol. [NDAR, 6, 215, 215, 215, 216, 216-217, 317-322] Premiere was at Fort George on 26 June 1777, in the capacity of Captain, but is not shown as assigned to any particular vessel. [NDAR, 9, 174] Primer turns up as Mate on the Pennsylvania Privateer Brigantine Rebecca (Commander William Miller) on 24 October 1782, listing his address as Philadelphia. [NRAR, 434]

Mathias Primer was First Lieutenant and commanding officer aboard the Continental Army Lake Champlain Squadron Schooner Liberty, at Fort Ticonderoga on 26 June 1777. [NDAR, 9, 174] During the British attack on Fort Ticonderoga on 5 July the Liberty was loaded with gunpowder and escorted to Skenesborough. She was captured there on 6 July 1776. [NDAR, 9, 225]

One Prince was serving in the late winter of 1776 as Mate aboard one of the American schooners operating on the St. Lawrence River. He was assigned to Captain Pepper's schooner, [NDAR, 4, 1259] possibly the Continental Army Schooner Isabella. When Captain Barent J. Ten Eyck took command of her at Quebec before 24 April 1776 [NDAR, 4, 1244], Prince was not present. He was to be sent after on 26 April. [NDAR, 4, 1259]

Job Prince was a resident of Boston, Massachusetts. He signed the petition for commission for Massachusetts Privateer Snow Cato (Commander Eleazer Giles) on behalf of ANDREW and JOHN CABOT. [Allen, MPR, 91] Vessels associated with Prince were:

Date

State

Rig/Name/Guns/Crew

Commander

Owners

Bonder

Witness

5/6/80

MA

Brigantine Active (10/24)

Benjamin Ellinwood

Job Prince, Jr., William Creed

Benjamin Ellinwood, Job Prince, Jr., William Creed

[Allen, MPR, 66; Howe, 405]

Date

State

Rig/Name/Guns/Crew

Commander

Owners

Bonder

Witness

9/12/77

MA

Ship Cumberland (20/180)

James Collins

Paul Dudley Sargent et al

James Collins, Paul Dudley Sargent, Nathaniel Crafts, Job Prince

Elisha Turner, Thomas Snowden, Nathaniel Barber [Allen, MPR, 106]

Date

State

Rig/Name/Guns/Crew

Commander

Owners

Bonder

Witness

12/14/78

MA

Ship Cumberland (20/150)

John Manley

Edward Carnes  et al

John Manley, Edward Carnes, Stephen Bruce

Job Prince, Richard Salter [Allen, MPR, 106]

John Pringle was probably a resident of Philadelphia, Pennsylvania. As “John Pringle and others” he was associated with GEORGE WOOLSEY of Baltimore, Maryland; and JAMES CALDWELL and JOHN BAYARD, all of Philadelphia, Pennsylvania in privateering. Vessels associated with Pringle were:

Date

State

Rig/Name/Guns/Crew

Commander

Owners

Bonder

Witness

2/7/77

PA

Ship Oliver Cromwell (24/150)

Harman Courter

George Woolsey, John Pringle et al, James Caldwell, John Bayard

Harman Courter, James Caldwell, John Bayard

[Photograph of bond]

John Proctor, Jr. was a resident of Marblehead, Massachusetts. He served aboard the Massachusetts Privateer Brigantine Retaliation (Commander ELEAZER GILES), commissioned 4 September 1776, as Second Lieutenant. [Howe, Beverly Privateers, 432] On the ensuing cruise four valuable prizes were captured. [see Retaliation] Following this cruise Proctor entered the Massachusetts Navy, being the (sailing) Master aboard the Massachusetts Navy Brigantine Freedom (Captain JOHN CLOUSTON) on 4 February 1777. He was appointed as First Lieutenant on the Massachusetts Privateer Brig Rambler (Commander JOHN STEVENS) on 2 September 1779. [Howe, Beverly Privateers, 432]

Bartholomew Putnam was a resident of Salem, Massachusetts. He was associated in privateering with: JACOB ASHTON, JONATHAN INGERSOLL, CHARLES HAMILTON, JOSEPH SPRAGUE, JOSHUA WARD, Jr., HENRY RUST, JOHN CABOT, ANDREW CABOT, THOMAS PRINCE, ELIAS HASKET DERBY, and JONATHAN LAMBERT. He was associated with the following privateers:

Date

State

Rig/Name/Guns/Crew

Commander

Owners

Bonder

Witness

7/12/76

MA

Sloop Rover (8/50)

Simon Forrester

Jacob Ashton, Joseph Sprague, Bartholomew Putnam

Simon Forrester, Jacob Ashton, Joseph Sprague

Daniel Hopkins, Jonathan Molineux [Allen, MPR, 267]

4/20/78

MA

Brigantine Franklin (18/100)

Thomas Connoly

John and Andrew Cabot,  Bartholomew Putnam

Thomas Connoly, Francis Cabot, Thomas Prince

John Leach [Allen, MPR, 136]

10/14/78

MA

Brigantine Franklin (18/120)

John Leach, Jr.

Elias Hasket Derby, Jacob Ashton, Bartholomew Putnam

John Leach, Jr., Elias Hasket Derby, Bartholomew Putnam, Jacob Ashton

James Jeffry, Nathan Goodale [Allen, MPR, 136]

10/27/78

MA

Ship Bunker Hill (18/100)

Nicholas Ogelbe

Bartholomew Putnam, Jacob Ashton

Nicholas Ogelbe, Bartholomew Putnam, Jacob Ashton

Stephen Higginson, James Jeffry [Allen, MPR, 90]

6/15/79

MA

Schooner Hornet (4/12)

Robert Brookhouse

Bartholomew Putnam

Robert Brookhouse, John Norris, Bartholomew Putnam

Nathan Peirce, Joshua Grafton [Allen, MPR, 182]

6/15/79

MA

Sloop Macaroni (14/70)

William Patterson

Bartholomew Putnam and Jonathan Lambert

William Patterson, Bartholomew Putnam, Jonathan Lambert

Joshua Phippen [Allen, MPR, 213]

6/18/79

MA

Schooner Polly (4/12)

Samuel Williams

Bartholomew Putnam

Samuel Williams, Bartholomew Putnam, William Orne

Peter Lander, Joseph Grafton [Allen, MPR, 240]

8/11/79

MA

Ship Oliver Cromwell (18/110)

James Barr

Bartholomew Putnam

James Barr, Bartholomew Putnam, Benjamin Goodhue, Jr.

James Jeffry, Joseph Moses [Allen, MPR, 231-232]

6/8/80

MA

Ship Jason (10/25)

Simon Forrester

Bartholomew Putnam et al

Simon Forrester, Bartholomew Putnam, Jacob Ashton

Nathan Goodale, William Cleveland [Allen, MPR, 193]

12/15/80

MA

Ship Pallas (10/20)

Gamaliel Hodges

Bartholomew Putnam

Gamaliel Hodges, Daniel Hathorne, Bartholomew Putnam

[NRAR, 409]

12/15/80

MA

Ship Thomas (10/20)

Francis Boardman

Bartholomew Putnam

Francis Boardman, Bartholomew Putnam, Jonathan Ingersoll

[NRAR, 474]

3/30/81

MA

Ship Jason (16/70)

Charles Hamilton

Bartholomew Putnam et al

Charles Hamilton, Bartholomew Putnam, Jacob Ashton

William Pickman, Jonathan Messeroy [NRAR, 357]

6/13/81

MA

Ship Disdain (20/100)

William Patterson

Bartholomew Putnam et al

William Patterson, Jonathan Ingersoll, Jacob Ashton

Simon Forrester, Francis Burchmore [NRAR, 269]

6/22/81

MA

Ship Franklin (18/100)

John Allen Hallet

George and Andrew Cabot, Bartholomew Putnam

John Allen Hallet, Samuel Grant, Samuel Parkman

[NRAR, 303]

11/22/81

MA

Ship Thomas (10/20)

Francis Boardman

Bartholomew Putnam

Francis Boardman, Bartholomew Putnam, Jonathan Ingersoll

[NRAR, 474]

12/14/81

MA

Ship Franklin (18/25)

Silas Devol

Bartholomew Putnam et al

Silas Devol, Francis Mulligan, Samuel Tucker

[NRAR, 303]

Date

State

Rig/Name/Guns/Crew

Commander

Owners

Bonder

Witness

3/29/79

MA

Ship Oliver Cromwell (16/110)

Thomas Simmons

John Derby et al

Thomas Simmons, John Derby, Bartholomew Putnam

Samuel Flagg, Joshua Ward, Jr. [Allen, MPR, 231]

3/30/79

MA

Brigantine Franklin (18/100)

Joseph Robinson

Elias Hasket Derby et al

Joseph Robinson, Elias Hasket Derby, Bartholomew Putnam

Jonathan Fisk, Nathan Goodale (continental); Benjamin Moses, Thomas Palfray (State) [Allen, MPR, 136]

5/28/81

MA

Brigantine Cato (16/60)

Jesse Fearson

Samuel Page et al

Jesse Fearson, Bartholomew Putnam, Stephen Bruce

[NRAR, 248]

On 1 July 1777 Samuel Purviance, on behalf of the firm, wrote to Robert Morris, requesting a draft from Congress for $12000 for expenses of the Continental Navy Ship Virginia (Captain James Nicholson). Purviance recounted how he had written before on this subject. He had received only $10000 on this vessel’s account since October 1776. $30000 had been left when Congress had departed Baltimore, but $20000 of that went for materials for two new frigates to be constructed. [NDAR, IX, 197]

On 22 November 1777 the Marine Committee requested that the Purviances furnish Jonathan Hudson with rigging and sail cloth to prepare the Baltimore for sea. [NRAR, 57] On 20 January 1778 the Marine Committee forwarded $10000 to the Purviances and requested that their accounts with the Committee be closed, drawn up and forwarded. [NRAR, 64] On 23 February 1779 the Marine Committee replied to a letter from Samuel Purviance and William Smith respecting protection for the trade of Baltimore. The committee reported the measures adopted and suggested the state of Maryland furnish further aid. More would be done if possible. [NRAR, 98]

Samuel and Robert Purviance of Baltimore, Maryland were associated with the following privateers (always together as owners):

Date

State

Rig/Name/Guns/Crew

Commander

Owners

Bonder

Witness

12/17/76

MD

Schooner General Lee (10/50)

James Phillips

Samuel and Robert Purviance, David Weems

David Weems

[NDAR, VIII, 139]

7/23/77

MD

Schooner Swallow (4/15)

John Martin

Samuel and Robert Purviance

Martin, John Davidson

Thomas Johnson, Jr. [NRAR, 469]

8/5/77

MD

Brig Sturdy Beggar (14/80)

James Campbell

Samuel and Robert Purviance, Lux, Bowley

Campbell, Charles Wallace

Thomas Johnson, Jr. [NRAR, 465; NDAR, IX, 713-714]

5/1/78

MD

Brig Saratoga (20/20)

Alexander Murray

Samuel and Robert Purviance

Murray, David Stewart

[none] [NDAR, 454]

6/25/78

MD

Sloop Fly (2/6)

Jonathan Parsons

Samuel and Robert Purviance

Parsons, James Williams

Thomas Johnson, Jr. [NRAR, 295]

6/25/78

MD

Schooner Savage (8/12)

Henry Geddes

Samuel and Robert Purviance

Geddes, James Williams

Thomas Johnson, Jr. [NRAR, 455]

8/5/78

MD

Boat Lark (4/6)

Joseph Dority

Samuel and Robert Purviance

Dority, Joseph Williams

Thomas Johnson, Jr. [NRAR, 369]

9/14/78

MD

Sloop Abingdon (12/14)

James Handy

Samuel and Robert Purviance

Handy, Joseph Williams

Thomas Johnson, Jr. [NRAR, 217]

9/24/78

MD

Sloop Richmond (2/12)

Henry Geddes

Samuel and Robert Purviance

Geddes, John Davidson

William Hyde [NRAR, 443]

10/16/78

MD

Schooner Swallow (4/12)

William Bowen

Samuel and Robert Purviance, Young & Knox

Bowen, Samuel Roddey

William Hyde [NRAR, 469]

12/5/78

MD

Brigantine Columbus (12/30)

Thomas Moore

Samuel and Robert Purviance

Moore, Hugh Young

Thomas Johnson. Jr. [NRAR, 254]

12/16/78

MD

Sloop Bennington (10/15)

William Newton

Samuel and Robert Purviance, Hugh Young & Co.

Newton, John Davidson

James Buchanan [NRAR, 234]

1/9/79

MD

Ship Buckskin (28/100)

Aquila Johns

Samuel and Robert Purviance, John Crockett et al

Johns, John Davidson

William Hyde [NRAR, 243]

4/5/79

MD

Brig Columbus (16/25)

Alexander Murray

Samuel and Robert Purviance

Murray, Hugh Young

Thomas Johnson, Jr. [NRAR, 254]

4/28/79

MD

Brigantine Snake (19/60)

Luke Matthewman

Samuel and Robert Purviance , David Stewart, Hugh Young

Matthewman, John Davidson

Thomas Johnson, Jr. [NRAR, 459]

6/14/79

MD

Ship Fanny (12/40)

Benjamin Loxley, Jr.

Samuel and Robert Purviance

Loxley, Robert Purviance

William Hyde [NRAR, 290]

12/14/79

PA

Brigantine Hibernia (14/35)

John Burrows

Samuel and Robert Purviance

Burrows, John Purviance

James Trimble [NRAR, 337]

8/15/80

PA

Brigantine Hibernia (8/30)

John Brice

Samuel and Robert Purviance, John Purviance

John Purviance, Edward Paimell

Brice, James Trimble [NRAR, 337]

9/15/80

MD

Brig Fair American (8/26)

Luke Kiersted

Samuel and Robert Purviance

Kiersted, James Williams

Thomas Johnson, Jr. {NRAR, 286]

10/4/80

PA

Ship Experiment (20/65)

John Winning

Samuel and Robert Purviance, David Stewart, John Purviance

John Purviance, Robert Caldwell

Winning, James Trimble [NRAR, 285]

11/3/81

PA

Ship Marquis de La Fayette (10/30)

Nicholas Vallance

Samuel and Robert Purviance, Hugh Young, Nathan Kelso

John Purviance, Kelso

James Trimble [NRAR, 385]

Date

State

Rig/Name/Guns/Crew

Commander

Owners

Bonder

Witness

6/24/76

MD

Boat Rebecca and Sally (0/8)

Thomas Russell

James Calhoun,

John McLure

Russell, Robert Purviance, John Davidson

Gabriel Duvall [NRAR, 434; NDAR, VIII, 139]

7/6/76

MD

Schooner Harlequin (0/21)

William Woolsey

George Woolsey,

David Bowley & Co.

William Woolsey, William Lux, Robert Purviance

Richard Ridgely [NRAR, 326; NDAR, VIII, 139]

6/14/79

MD

Brigantine Revenge (12/40)

James Buchanan

Charles Wallace et al

Buchanan, Robert Purviance

Thomas Johnson, Jr. [NRAR, 440]