| Back to A |
 |
Pennsylvania Privateer Brigantine Achilles |
|
| Achilles | (1) Commander Thomas Murdock |
| Armed Brig | 22 April 1779-9 August 1779 |
| Pennsylvania Privateer Brigantine | (2) Commander George Thomason [Thomson]
|
| Commissioned/First Date: | 22 April 1779 |
| Out of Service/Cause: |
| Owners: | (1) Thomas Morris and Samuel C. Morris & Co., both of Philadelphia, Pennsylvania; (2) John Wilcocks and Samuel & Thomas Morris, all of Philadelphia, Pennsylvania |
| Tonnage: | 60 |
| Battery: | Date Reported: 22 April 1779 Number/Caliber Weight Broadside 10/ Total: 10 cannon/ Broadside: 5 cannon/ Swivels: Date Reported: 28 August 1779 Number/Caliber Weight Broadside 12/ Total: 12 cannon/ Broadside: 6 cannon/ Swivels: |
| Crew: | (1) 22 April 1779: 31 [total]
|
| Description: |
| Officers: |
| Cruises: | (1) Philadelphia, Pennsylvania to Martinique, French West Indies, [1 May], 1779-[June] 1779
|
| Prizes: | (1) British Privateer Brig Betsey (John Russell), 7 September 1779 off the Delaware Capes, with Pennsylvania Privateer Brigs Patty and Hibernia |
| Actions: |
Comments:
The 60-ton1 Pennsylvania Privateer Brigantine Achilles was commissioned on 22 April 1779 under Commander Thomas Murdock of Philadelphia, Pennsylvania. She was listed as having ten guns.2 Achilles had a crew of thirty men aboard.3 Her first bond was for $10000 and was signed by Samuel C. Morris and Cadwallader Morris, both of Philadelphia.4
The owners, engaged in fitting out the Achilles in early April, appealed to the Pennsylvania Council on 8 April for permission to purchase some two or three pound shot for the brig.5 She received permission to pass the forts and sail for Martinique with a cargo of flour on 29 April 1778.6 Achilles made at least one voyage to the West Indies. She sailed from Martinique, French West Indies, on 25 July 1779 and arrived in Delaware Bay about 9 August 1779. Murdock died that day. Achilles arrived in Philadelphia on 10 August.7
Achilles was recommissioned on 28 August 17798 under Commander George Thomason9 [Thomson, Thompson] of Philadelphia. She was listed with an increased battery of twelve guns and a crew of thirty men. Her $10,000 bond was signed by Samuel C. Morris.10
 |
Thomason's commission to command the Achilles. |
On 6 September11 1779, at 1100, the Continental Army Sloop Argo (Captain Silas Talbot) captured the 200-ton British Privateer Brigantine Betsey (John Russell12 [Leech]13) after a sharp fight. Betsey was bound from Montserrat14 or St. Christopher’s, British West Indies, to New York, New York, with a cargo of rum.15 She was armed with eight guns and had a crew of fourteen men aboard. One George West was sent aboard as prize master, with a prize crew of eleven men, and ordered to take the prize in to New London, Connecticut.16 Argo stayed in company with the prize. At 1400 one Church, a member of the prize crew, sighted three sail to windward, all in pursuit, with the wind at the west. Betsey ran away through the night. At dawn Church saw the three strangers, still to windward.17 West reported his position as 39°4'N, 71°24'W.18 About 0900 the three came up with British colors flying. Talbot ordered Betsey to make off as best she could, and parted from his prize. At this time Betsey was about forty-eight hours sail from New London.19 One of the chasing brigs (later revealed to be the Patty) fired on the Betsey.20 At the second fire West lowered his reversed British colors and surrendered. When the boarding party came aboard it was discovered that the three were the Pennsylvania Privateer Brigs Patty (Commander John Prole), Hibernia (Commander John Angus) and Achilles.21
Achilles, Patty, and Hibernia had sailed from Philadelphia bound for different destinations: Achilles and Patty for Cadiz, Spain; Hibernia for Teneriffe, in the Madeira Islands.22 Patty sailed on 1 September23 and met the other two at Reedy Island. Here it was determined to stay together and cruise on the coast for a few days before steering for Europe. Prole was selected as commodore.24 On the morning of 6 September the three brigs were becalmed at the mouth of the Delaware, within hail of one another, in a thick fog. At 1000 the sound of cannon fire was heard. Looking in the direction of the gunfire the Americans saw a thick smoke, which gradually cleared and a sloop and a brig in an engagement became visible. The engaged brig steered toward the three Americans. The fight lasted about an hour, when the sloop closed the brig. Shortly after the two steered away to the north. The wind came up in the afternoon and the three brigs sailed from the Delaware Capes on 6 September at 1400, in chase of the vessels seen earlier. Patty was the first to come up with the Betsey and fired on her. Achilles was the first to send a boat aboard.25
Prole’s men went aboard the prize and began plundering. At Church’s request, one “Captain D.,” a passenger on the Patty, came aboard to prevent the plundering.26 After a “strict” examination, one of Argo’s prize crew was returned. Church was sent aboard the Patty. Boarding her, he saw two men he recognized: they were part of the crew of a British vessel captured by Argo about ten days before and sent into Philadelphia as prisoners. Church thought they had escaped and that the three brigs were British. “Captain D” assured Church that the two men had been shipped out of the jail at Philadelphia.27 West showed Prole his written instructions from Talbot, and pointed out that Argo was still in sight. Since there was no copy of Talbot’s commission aboard, Prole decided that Betsey was British, and a good prize. Every one of Argo’s prize crew was removed.28 The prize was manned with men from the brigs under one M’Neal and ordered into Philadelphia.29 Prole also removed two 3-pounders and some other items. West was kept aboard the Patty and taken into Spain.30 The Betsey was re-captured by the British Privateer Sandwich and taken in to New York, New York,31 being lost to all the captors.32
Talbot sued the three captains in the Pennsylvania Admiralty Court in 1783 for his loss of the prize and was awarded damages of some £12800.33 After a lengthy set of appeals and legal twists and turns Talbot obtained the judgment in 1785.
Meanwhile, Achilles pursued her voyage to Spain and from there to France, in company with the Patty. On 20 November 1779 she sailed from Calais, France, still in company with the Patty (Prowle). The two brigs parted near Teneriffe on 2 December 1779.34
1 The illustration reproduced here indicates her tonnage.
2 NRAR, 217
3 Pennsylvania Archives, Series 2, 1:366
4 NRAR, 217
5 Pennsylvania Archives, Colonial Records, 7:308
6 Pennsylvania Archives, Colonial Records, 9:762
7 The New Jersey Gazette, August 18, 1779; The Pennsylvania Packet or the General Advertiser, August 12, 1779; The Pennsylvania Gazette, August 11, 1779
8 NRAR, 217
9 Claghorn, Naval Officers of the American Revolution, 308
10 NRAR, 217
11 “Deposition of George West,” in Pennsylvania Court of Admiralty, Judgments in the Admiralty of Pennsylvania: In Four Suits, Brought as for Maritime Hypothecations. Also, the Case of Silas Talbot, Against the Brigs Achilles, Patty, and Hibernia, and of the Owners of the Hibernia Against Their Captain, John Angus : with an Appendix, Containing the Testimony Exhibited in the Admiralty in those Causes, Philadelphia, T. Dobson and T. Lang, 1789, 109-111. Hereafter Judgment.
12 “Deposition of George West,” in Judgment, 109-111
13 “Deposition of Isaac Church,” in Judgment, 107-109
14 “Deposition of George West,” in Judgment, 109-111
15 “Deposition of Isaac Church,” in Judgment, 107-109
16 “Deposition of George West,” in Judgment, 109-111
17 “Deposition of Isaac Church,” in Judgment, 107-109
18 “Deposition of George West,” in Judgment, 109-111
19 “Deposition of Isaac Church,” in Judgment, 107-109
20 “Deposition of George West,” in Judgment, 109-111
21 “Deposition of Isaac Church,” in Judgment, 107-109
22 “Deposition of Isaac Church,” in Judgment, 107-109
23 “W— D—‘s Deposition,” in Judgment, 112-117
24 Judgment, 97
25 “W— D—‘s Deposition,” in Judgment, 112-117
26 “Deposition of Isaac Church,” in Judgment, 107-109
27 “Deposition of Isaac Church,” in Judgment, 107-109
28 “Deposition of George West,” in Judgment, 109-111
29 “W— D—‘s Deposition,” in Judgment, 112-117
30 “Deposition of George West,” in Judgment, 109-111
31 Hall, John E., The American Law Journal and Miscellaneous Repertory, Vol 1, No. 1, Philadelphia: W. P. Farrand & Co., 1808, 266-287
32 Judgment, 67. In HCA 32/280/10/1-20 Betsey appears as an “American merchant ship,” commanded by George West.
33 Judgment, 72
34 The American Journal and General Advertiser [Providence], April 12, 1780; The Pennsylvania Gazette, March 8, 1780
| Revised 14 September 2008 |
|
|
|
|
|