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Pennsylvania Privateer Sloop Active |
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| Active | Commander Peter Day |
| Armed Sloop | 20 September 1779- |
| Pennsylvania Privateer Sloop |
| Commissioned/First Date: | 20 September 1779 |
| Out of Service/Cause: |
| Owners: | Philip Moore and James Ash & Co., all of Philadelphia, Pennsylvania |
| Tonnage: |
| Battery: | Date Reported: 20 September 1779 Number/Caliber Weight Broadside 14/ Total: 14 cannon/ Broadside: 7 cannon/ Swivels: |
| Crew: | 20 September 1779: 61 [total] |
| Description: |
| Officers: |
| Cruises: | (1) Philadelphia, Pennsylvania to sea, [October] 1779 |
| Prizes: | (1) British Privateer Schooner Mercury (George Campbell), [October] 1779
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| Actions: | (1) Action with Mercury, [October] 1779 |
Comments:
Pennsylvania Privateer Brig Active was commissioned on 20 September 1779, out of Philadelphia, Pennsylvania, with a $10000 bond. Bonders were the same as her owners. Her commander was Peter Day of Philadelphia.1 She was listed as being armed with fourteen guns and as having a crew of sixty men.2
Active was at sea in about October 1779 when she fell in with the British Privateer3 Schooner4 Mercury5 (George6 Campbell), armed with eight guns and sailing out of New York, New York. A short action followed in which Mercury had four men wounded, including Campbell, before surrendering. No Americans were lost or injured. Active sent the prize into Egg Harbor, New Jersey.7 Mercury was libeled on 6 November 1779, with her trial in New Jersey set for 21 December 1779.8
On the same cruise, Active captured the brigantine Providence (John Munro). She was probably sent into Egg Harbor as well, and was libeled on 6 November, with her trial also set for 21 December.9
Somewhat later, perhaps on another cruise, Active captured the ship10 Needham11 [Neethem] (M’Meakin12 [M’Mickin]),13 bound from Jamaica, British West Indies to New York, New York.14 Needham was sent into the Delaware15 and arrived at Philadelphia, Pennsylvania on 17 April 1780.16
1 NRAR, 218
2 NRAR, 218; Emmons, 127
3 The Connecticut Courant [Hartford], Tuesday, November 23, 1779, datelined Philadelphia, November 4; same in The Connecticut Journal [New Haven], Wednesday, November 24, 1779
4 The New Jersey Gazette [Burlington], Wednesday, November 24, 1779
5 The Connecticut Courant [Hartford], Tuesday, November 23, 1779, datelined Philadelphia, November 4
6 The New Jersey Gazette [Burlington], Wednesday, November 24, 1779
7 The Connecticut Courant [Hartford], Tuesday, November 23, 1779, datelined Philadelphia, November 4
8 The New Jersey Gazette [Burlington], Wednesday, November 24, 1779
9 The New Jersey Gazette [Burlington], Wednesday, November 24, 1779
10 The Pennsylvania Packet or the General Advertiser [Philadelphia], Tuesday, April 18, 1780
11 The New Jersey Gazette [Burlington], Wednesday, April 19, 1780, datelined Philadelphia, April 15
12 The Pennsylvania Packet or the General Advertiser [Philadelphia], Tuesday, April 18, 1780
13 The New Jersey Gazette [Burlington], Wednesday, April 19, 1780, datelined Philadelphia, April 15
14 The Pennsylvania Packet or the General Advertiser [Philadelphia], Tuesday, April 18, 1780
15 The New Jersey Gazette [Burlington], Wednesday, April 19, 1780, datelined Philadelphia, April 15
16 The Pennsylvania Packet or the General Advertiser [Philadelphia], Tuesday, April 18, 1780
| Revised 12 November 2008 |
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