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Maryland Privateer Sloop Baltimore Hero |
| Baltimore Hero | (1) Commander Thomas Waters |
| Armed Sloop | 16 September 1776- |
| Maryland Privateer Sloop [Schooner] | (2) Commander John Earle |
| Commissioned/First Date: | 16 September 1776 |
| Out of Service/Cause: |
| Owners: | (1) Abraham Van Bibber, John Crockett, and Thomas Ringgold, of Baltimore, Maryland; Robert T. Hooe of Alexandria, Virginia; (2) Benjamin and John Crockett, John Sterett et al, all of Baltimore, Maryland |
| Tonnage: | 50, 80 |
| Battery: | Date Reported: 16 September 1776 Number/Caliber Weight Broadside 6/3-pounder 18 pounds 9 pounds Total: 6 cannon/18 pounds Broadside: 3 cannon/9 pounds Swivels: six Date Reported: 10 March 1777 Number/Caliber Weight Broadside 8/ Total: 8 cannon/ Broadside: 4 cannon/ Swivels: Date Reported: 9 April 1777 Number/Caliber Weight Broadside 8/ Total: 8 cannon/ Broadside: 4 cannon/ Swivels: Date Reported: 15 May 1779 Number/Caliber Weight Broadside 14/ Total: 14 cannon/ Broadside: 7 cannon/ Swivels: six [and two cohorns] |
| Crew: | (1) 16 September 1776: 24 [total] |
| Description: |
| Officers: | (1) First Mate William Jones, 16 June 1776-; (2) First Mate William Britton, 15 May 1779-; (3) Second Mate John Pine, 16 June 1776-; (4) Third Mate John Sharp, 16 June 1776- |
| Cruises: | (1) [Baltimore], Maryland to St. Eustatius, Netherlands West Indies, [September] 1776-[October] 1776
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| Prizes: | (1) Brigantine May (William Taylor), 21 November 1776, off St. Eustatius
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| Actions: | (1) Action off the Rappahannock River, 13 June 1779 |
Comments:
Maryland Privateer Sloop Baltimore Hero was commissioned on 16 September 1776 under Commander Thomas Waters of Baltimore, Maryland.1 She was listed as having a battery of six 3-pounders, six swivel guns2 and a crew of twenty men. Serving aboard the Baltimore Hero as First Mate was William Jones of Baltimore, with John Pine as Second Mate and John Sharp as Third Mate, both also from Baltimore. Her $5000 bond was executed by Waters, Robert T. Hooe of Alexandria, Virginia, and John Crockett and Thomas Ringgold, both of Baltimore.3 On the same day Waters received permission to sail for Martinique, French West Indies, or some other foreign port, from the Maryland Council of Safety.4
Baltimore Hero sailed down to the West Indies soon after she was commissioned and called at the neutral port of St. Eustatia, Netherlands West Indies. Waters refitted her, then began running out of the port to seize prizes, to the fury of the British.
On 21 November 1776,5 she captured the brig6 or brigantine7 May (William Taylor),8 about three miles from Sandy Point on the island of St. Christopher’s, British West Indies.9 Other accounts say the capture was in Dutch territorial waters and under the guns of the Dutch fort at St. Eustatius.10 The capture was seen from St. Christopher’s11 and witnessed from St. Eustatius by that island’s governor, Johannes de Graaff.12 The prize was owned by Bendal13 and Foster McConnell of Dominica,14 British West Indies, William Brown of Cork, Ireland, and Benson & Postlewait of Liverpool, England.15 She was en route from Dominica to St. Eustatius when captured.16 Perhaps sensing the trouble this capture was going to make, Waters seems to have identified himself to the prisoners as Ezekiel John Dorsey.17 May was brought back into St. Eustatius with Baltimore Hero flying the American colors.18
Baltimore Hero was at St. Eustatius on 1 December 1776, where members of her crew were ashore, bragging about their capture of the “Irish brig” just offshore.19
This action brought a strong protest from Vice Admiral James Young, commander of the Royal Navy's Leeward Islands Station.20 On 17 December 1776 Governor Craister Greathead of St. Christopher’s lodged another strong protest with Governor Johannes de Graaft of St. Eustatius.21 On 19 December the Governor of St. Eustatius ordered an investigation into Waters' activities,22 which, despite being essentially a cover up, brought some embarrassment to the Dutch.23
In any event, the Baltimore Hero moved on for a time. She was at Martinique and St. Lucia about 10 March 1777, being reported as having eight guns and fifty men.24 Another report, dated 9 April 1777, puts her at Martinique, and gives her eight guns and fifty men.25 Yet another report, dated at London on 24 May 1777, indicates that a privateer named the Baltimore, with sixteen guns, had put into Bordeaux, France, in a “very leaky” condition.26
On 3 September 1777 the ship Catherine (John Freeman) arrived at New York with her cargo of rum and sugar, from Tobago. Freeman reported that he had been captured on 13 August 1777 by a privateer sloop called the Baltimore Hero, commanded by “one Halsey.” A lieutenant, a prize master, and three hands went aboard as the prize crew. On 22 August the British crew rose on them and re-captured the Catherine, bringing her into New York.27
Baltimore Hero was re-commissioned on 15 May 1779 under Commander John Earle28 of Philadelphia, Pennsylvania.29 Her rig was changed from sloop to schooner, and her battery was listed as fourteen guns, six swivels, and two cohorns,30 with a crew of thirty men. William Britton of Philadelphia served aboard as First Mate.31 She was said to measure 80 tons. Her owners are given as Benjamin and John Crockett, John Sterett, and others of Baltimore.32 The new $5000 bond was executed by Earle and John Crockett.33
On 13 June Baltimore Hero sailed with the Maryland Privateer Brig Lively (Commander James Belt), bound for St. Eustatius. Accompanying these two privateers was the Maryland Privateer Brig Lady Washington (Commander Joseph Greenway) and four pilot boats. Off the Rappahannock River, Virginia, in Chesapeake Bay, the Americans collided with two British privateers of twelve guns each, who had two prizes with them. Baltimore Hero and Lively came to action and were, seemingly, in the process of capturing the British privateers, when four more British vessels, two brigs and two schooners intervened. Baltimore Hero managed to re-capture one of the British prizes, sending it into the Rappahannock River. The rest of the Americans retreated. The British chased them up to Point-No-Point before breaking off. Baltimore Hero had three men wounded in the two and a half hour fight, and was damaged in her hull, rigging, and sails. Lively had two men mortally wounded.34
The Americans retreated to Annapolis and began refitting. The plan was to sail in a few days with additional privateers in company.35 Baltimore Hero was still in port on 14 June, when the Maryland Council loaned some munitions to her owners. Included were 188 rounds of 3-pound shot.36
Baltimore Hero eventually made her voyage to St. Eustatius. In late October 1779 it was reported that Baltimore Hero arrived at Baltimore from St. Eustatius.37
__________1 NRAR, 232. See also NDAR, “A List of Commissions of Letters of Marque and Reprisal Granted by the Council of Safety for the State of Maryland,” VIII, 139; “List of Bonds given on issuing Commissions for Privateers in the State of Maryland, delivered into the Office,” X, 703-704.
2 NDAR, “Application for Commission of Letter of Marque and Reprisal for the Maryland Sloop Baltimore Hero,” VI, 864
3 NRAR, 232
4 Archives of Maryland: Journal and Correspondence of the Maryland Council of Safety, July 7:December 31, 1776, 12:274
5 NDAR, “Governor Craister Greathead to Governor Johannes de Graaff,” VII, 507-509
6 NDAR, “Purdie’s Virginia Gazette, Friday, December 27, 1776,” VII, 616-617
7 NDAR, “Governor Craister Greathead to Governor Johannes de Graaff,” VII, 507-509; “Deposition of Foster McConnell,” VII, 917-919
8 NDAR, “Deposition of Foster McConnell,” VII, 917-919
9 NDAR, “The General Advertiser, Liverpool, Friday, April 11, 1777,” VIII, 743-744
10 NDAR, “Governor Craister Greathead to Governor Johannes de Graaff,” VII, 507-509; “The General Advertiser, Liverpool, Friday, April 11, 1777,” VIII, 743-744
11 NDAR, “Governor Craister Greathead to Lord George Germain,” VII, 673
12 NDAR, “Deposition of Foster McConnell,” VII, 917-919
13 NDAR, “Vice Admiral James Young to Governor Johannes de Graaff,” VII, 486-487 and 487 note; “Deposition of Foster McConnell,” VII, 917-919
14 NDAR, “Governor Craister Greathead to Governor Johannes de Graaff,” VII, 507-509; “Vice Admiral James Young to Governor Johannes de Graaff,” VII, 486-487 and 487 note; “Deposition of Foster McConnell,” VII, 917-919
15 NDAR, “Deposition of Foster McConnell,” VII, 917-919
16 NDAR, “Purdie’s Virginia Gazette, Friday, December 27, 1776,” VII, 616-617
17 NDAR, “Deposition of Foster McConnell,” VII, 917-919
18 NDAR, “Governor Craister Greathead to Governor Johannes de Graaff,” VII, 507-509
19 NDAR, “Deposition of Mathew Murray,” VII, 427 and note
20 NDAR, “Vice Admiral James Young to Governor Johannes de Graaff,” VII, 486-487 and 487 note
21 NDAR, “Governor Craister Greathead to Governor Johannes de Graaff,” VII, 507-508
22 NDAR, “Governor Johannes de Graaff to Vice Admiral James Young,” VII, 524-525
23 NDAR, “Deposition of Foster McConnell,” VII, 917-919
24 NDAR, “Extract of a letter from a Gentleman at St. Lucia, to a Merchant in this town [London], Dated March 10, 1777,” VIII, 81
25 Jamieson, Alan G., “American Privateers in the Leeward Islands, 1776-1778,” in The American Neptune, [volume unknown], reprinting a table from CO 101/20
26 London Chronicle, Thursday, May 22 to Saturday, May 24, 1777,” VIII, 863-864
27 The Pennsylvania Ledger: or the Weekly Advertiser [Philadelphia], Wednesday, October 15, 1777, datelined New York, September 4, 1777
28 Archives of Maryland: Journal and Correspondence of the Council of Maryland, April 1, 1778 through October 26, 1779, 21:393-394
29 NRAR, 232
30 Archives of Maryland: Journal and Correspondence of the Council of Maryland, April 1, 1778 through October 26, 1779, 21:393-394
31 NRAR, 232
32 Archives of Maryland: Journal and Correspondence of the Council of Maryland, April 1, 1778 through October 26, 1779, 21:393-394
33 NRAR, 232
34 The Pennsylvania Packet or the General Advertiser [Philadelphia], Tuesday, June 22, 1779, datelined Annapolis, June 18. Somewhat garbled accounts of this action are in Claghorn, Naval Officers of the American Revolution, 21, 128 and Maclay, History of American Privateers, 133. On p. 73 Maclay says the Baltimore Hero took the privateer.
35 The Pennsylvania Packet or the General Advertiser [Philadelphia], Tuesday, June 22, 1779, datelined Annapolis, June 18
36 Archives of Maryland: Journal and Correspondence of the Council of Maryland, April 1, 1778 through October 26, 1779, 21:453
37 The New Jersey Gazette [Burlington], Wednesday, November 10, 1779, datelined Philadelphia, November 2