Alexander	(1) Commander Alexander Coffin
Armed Brig	29 March 1780-
Massachusetts Privateer Brigantine	(2) Commander Gideon Crawford 9 October 1781-

Commissioned/First Date:	29 March 1780
Out of Service/Cause:	[1782]/captured by the British

Owners:

William Foster et al of Boston, Massachusetts

Tonnage:

100

Battery:

Date Reported: 29 March 1780 Number/Caliber  Weight        Broadside 6/ Total: 6 cannon/ Broadside: 3 cannon/ Swivels: eight Date Reported: 9 October 1781 Number/Caliber  Weight        Broadside 6/ Total: 6 cannon/ Broadside: 3 cannon/ Swivels: eight

Crew:

(1) 29 March 1780: 21 [total] (2) 9 October 1781: 14 [total]

Description:

Officers:

Cruises:

Prizes:

Actions:

Comments:

The 100-ton¹ Massachusetts Privateer Brigantine Alexander was commissioned on 29 March 1780 under Commander Alexander Coffin of Boston, Massachusetts. She was listed as being armed with six guns and eight swivel guns and as having a crew of twenty men. Her $10000 Continental bond and £4000 Massachusetts bond were signed by Coffin and by John Johnston and William Foster of Boston. Her owner was listed as William Foster.² Alexander was re-commissioned on 9 October 1781 under Gideon Crawford, Jr., of Providence, Rhode Island, with a bond of $20000 being given by Crawford and William Foster and Bossenger Foster, both of Boston, Massachusetts. She was listed as having six guns and a crew of thirteen³ or fourteen men. Her owners were listed as William Foster and others of Boston.⁴

Alexander was captured by the British in late 1781 or in 1782. In her High Court of Admiralty record she is noted as a former Newfoundland vessel, captured by the Americans.⁵

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¹ Claghorn, Naval Officers of the American Revolution, 64

² Allen, Massachusetts Privateers of the Revolution, 69

³ NRAR, 223

⁴ Allen, Massachusetts Privateers of the Revolution, 69

⁵ HCA 32/266/4/1-8