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Connecticut Privateer Sloop Beaver |
| Beaver | (1) Commander Joseph Dodge |
| Armed Sloop | 6 March 1778- |
| Connecticut Privateer Sloop | (2) Commander William Havens |
| Commissioned/First Date: | 6 March 1778 |
| Out of Service/Cause: | 22 March 1780/captured by HM Frigate Galatea and HM Cutter Tender Retaliation |
| Owners: | (1) Joseph Trumbull of Connecticut, Samuel Broome of Boston, Massachusetts, John Broome of Hartford, Connecticut, John Livingston of Connecticut; (2) Samuel Broome & Co. of Boston, Massachusetts; (3) John Broome & Co. of Hartford, Connecticut |
| Tonnage: | 110 |
| Battery: | Date Reported: 6 March 1778 Number/Caliber Weight Broadside 12/ Total: 12 cannon/ Broadside: 6 cannon/ Swivels: Date Reported: June 1778 Number/Caliber Weight Broadside 12/ Total: 12 cannon/ Broadside: 6 cannon/ Swivels: Date Reported: 3 September 1779 Number/Caliber Weight Broadside 12/ Total: 12 cannon/ Broadside: 6 cannon/ Swivels: Date Reported: 4 March 1780 Number/Caliber Weight Broadside 12/ Total: 12 cannon/ Broadside: 6 cannon/ Swivels: Date Reported: 22 March 1778 Number/Caliber Weight Broadside 12/4-pounder 48 pounds 24 pounds Total: 12 cannon/48 pounds Broadside: 6 cannon/24 pounds Swivels: |
| Crew: | (1) 6 March 1778: 66 [total] |
| Description: | New York built. |
| Officers: | (1) First Lieutenant Benjamin Hilliard, -22 March 1780 |
| Cruises: | (1) New London, Connecticut to Bedford, Massachusetts, [April] 1778-[April] 1778
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| Prizes: | (1) Sloop Morning Star (Peter Woglam), 4 May 1778
|
| Actions: | (1) Action with HM Frigate Maidstone, 4 April 1779 |
Comments:
The 110-ton1 Connecticut Privateer Sloop Beaver was commissioned on 6 March 1778 under Commander Joseph Dodge of Stonington, Connecticut. She was listed as having a battery of twelve guns and a crew of sixty-five men. Her $5000 bond was executed by Dodge, Samuel Broome, possibly of Boston, Massachusetts, and John Broome, possibly of Hartford, Connecticut.2
Dodge evidently moved up Long Island Sound to Bedford, Massachusetts to finish recruiting his crew in April 1779. On 3 May 1779 Beaver sailed from Bedford. The next day she encountered HM Frigate Maidstone. The wind was light, so Maidstone dispatched three armed boats to capture the Beaver. A sharp fight followed, with one if Maidstone’s boats being sunk and the other two driven back to the frigate. A thick fog came up and Beaver managed to escape into the fog. One American was killed and four were slightly wounded in the fight. With Maidstone still hanging about, Dodge decided to head for New London. The same day, off Montauk Point, New York, he captured two sloops in ballast, bound from Newport, Rhode Island to New York, New York.3 The sloops were the Morning Star (Peter Woglam) and the Seaflower (George Webster).4 All three arrived in New London on 7 May.5 The sloops were libeled on 20 May and tried and condemned on 10 June 1778.6
Another commander was selected for the Beaver. An advertisement in June 1778 noted William Havens as her commander. Beaver was re-commissioned under Commander William Havens of New London, Connecticut in June 1778, listing the same battery and crew.7
Under Havens, the Beaver captured, in October 1778, the sloop Lord Howe (William Price). She was sent into New London and tried 25 November 1778 at Norwich, Connecticut. On 29 January 1779 Beaver assisted in the capture of the British Privateer Brig Ranger, brig Peter (Joseph Brown) and brig Thomas and William (James Smith). All these vessels were cut out of Sag Harbor, Long, Island, New York.8
Beaver sailed on a cruise with Massachusetts Privateer Sloop Hancock (Commander Elisha Hinman) about 5 April 1779. Shortly after sailing they encountered the 30-ton British Privateer Sloop Game Cock9 (Charles Letelier), armed with six guns. She was sailing out of New York, and was captured near Block Island, Rhode Island. Game Cock was sent into New London, where she arrived on 11 April.10 No time was wasted: Game Cock was libeled on 15 April11 and tried and condemned on 28 April.12 She was advertised for sale on 22 April, described as “well found,” with the sale date set for 29 April.13
The next prize was the 70-ton14 British sloop Charlotte [Charlotta] (Charles Wheeler), captured by the Beaver on 16 April. She was bound from Newport, Rhode Island to New York, New York, in ballast, with a crew of nine men.15 Charlotte may have been the privateer of eight guns that was reported to have been captured about this time.16 Charlotte was libeled on 22 April and tried and condemned on 28 April.17 The Charlotte was advertised for sale on 27 May with the sale to take place on 8 June 1779.18
On 22 April a third prize arrived in New London. She was the sloop Despatch, bound from Saint-Domingue, French West Indies with a cargo of rum and sugar. Despatch had been captured by a British vessel and was re-captured by the Hancock and Beaver off Sandy Hook. The schooner Marlborough, bound from Bermuda to New York with a cargo of lumber, arrived the same day. She had also been captured off Sandy Hook. Friday, 23 April, another prize arrived at New London: a schooner in ballast bound from Newburyport, Massachusetts to Virginia. The schooner had been captured by the British and re-captured by the two privateers.19
Yet another prize arrived on 23 April. She was the sloop Speedwell (Wilson), owned in New Haven, Connecticut. Speedwell sailed from New London for the West Indies on 17 April. She was captured by the British Privateer St. George, and afterwards re-captured by Hancock and Beaver.20
About the end of April Havens and Hinman were cruising to the SSE of Sandy Hook. There they captured21 the 70-ton schooner22 Mulberry (Philip Ohier23 [Ahier],24 a privateer out of New York, but bound there from Bermuda with a cargo and some recaptured prizes. She was sent off to New London. As Mulberry departed on 1 May 1779 the two American privateers were seen in chase of a sloop.25 Mulberry was libeled on 20 May with her trial set for 10 June 1779.26 Mulberry was advertised for sale on 27 May, with the sale date set for 8 June.27
Hancock and Beaver continued to make prizes. On 1 May they brought into port at New London a British privateer of eight guns and twenty men. She was bound from St. Augustine, East Florida to New York with rum, molasses and naval stores.28 This sloop was probably the British Privateer Sloop Hunter (Robert M’Larty 29[McLarty]),30 eight guns, which was taken off Sandy Hook.31 Hunter was libeled on 20 May and tried and condemned on 10 June 1779.32 The 90-ton sloop Hunter was advertised for sale on 27 May, with the sale to take place on 8 June.33
About 10 May 1779 Beaver and Hancock recaptured a vessel with an interesting history. On 8 May the Connecticut Privateer Eagle (Conkling), cruising off Point Judith, captured six sail of vessels, mostly small. One was a little larger and had a cargo of West India goods aboard. Manning all the prizes left the Eagle with only fifteen men aboard, with sixteen prisoners. The prisoners rose on the crew and murdered all of them except two boys. Some were “mangled in a most savage manner, after they had surrendered.” The British then re-captured one of the prize vessels. This one was again re-captured by the Hancock and Beaver and sent into Stonington, Connecticut.34
On 11 May another of Beaver and Hancock’s prizes made New London.35 This one was the 160-ton36 British Privateer Brig Bellona (Thomas Lawrence), armed with twelve guns, but with eighteen gunports. Bellona was bound from Bermuda to New York with a cargo of West Indian goods. She was captured in the usual hunting grounds of the two privateers, off Sandy Hook. Bellona was owned in New York by the noted Virginia born Tory, Goodrich.37 She was libeled on 27 May, with the trial set for 10 June 1779.38 Bellona was advertised for sale on 27 May, with the sale to be held on 8 June.39
Hinman, still in company with the Beaver, met a convoy of twenty-one sail escorted by HM Frigate Thames, thirty-six guns. The convoy was bound from New York to Rhode Island.40 The 60-ton, ten gun41 British Privateer Sloop Lady Erskine [Lady Ayscough] (Edward Drew)42 was cut out of the convoy.43 She was sent in to New London, where she arrived on 16 May, escorted by the two privateers.44 She was advertised for sale on 27 May with her sale date set for 8 June. Lady Erskine is described as Bermudian built.45 Lady Erskine was libeled on 27 May, with her trial date set for 10 June 1779.46
Beaver, and no doubt Hancock, were in port by 24 May. On that date the newspapers carried the announcement for members of the Beaver’s crew to report aboard by 29 May.47
On 8 June 1779 some of the fruits of this cruise were sold in New London. Lady Erskine was sold as a unit, with guns and rigging. Bellona, Mulberry, Hunter, and Charlotte were offered for sale. The surplus of guns captured was also sold: twelve 6-pounders and eight 3-pounders.48 All told, Hancock and Beaver had captured, from April to mid-May 1779, five British privateer vessels with at least forty guns. In addition at least six other vessels were captured, or re-captured, from the enemy. By the time of the sale Beaver was at sea again.
On 9 June 1779 Beaver sent in the first fruits of the new cruise. The prize was the British Privateer Sloop Rover (Hays [Hayes]), armed with six guns, and captured off Sandy Hook.49The next day another prize arrived, also captured off Sandy Hook. She was a sloop with a cargo of rum and sugar.50
On 18 June Havens was still off Sandy Hook. Beaver captured the British Privateer Schooner Auctioneer (Samuel Rogers), armed with six guns. Auctioneer had sailed from New York only eight hours before. Beaver escorted Auctioneer in to New London on 20 June.51
Beaver was soon back at sea, with her old friend Hancock (now under Commander Peter Richards). These two, with a privateer called the Little Cromwell [but probably the Connecticut Privateer Schooner Young Cromwell (Commander William Wattles)] took a brig from Halifax, Nova Scotia. A British commissary of prisoners was aboard the brig, along with a cargo of fish, potatoes, and oil. The prize arrived at New London on 29 June.52
Beaver was in port on 8 July, when the newspapers published a call for the crew to report aboard by 10 July.53
Beaver sailed again, steering for Sandy Hook, with the Connecticut Privateer Sloop Gates (Commander Timothy Sage). The two privateers returned to the Sandy Hook hunting grounds. There they captured a British Privateer sloop bound from Jamaica to New York with a cargo of rum, sugar and molasses.54 This prize arrived at New London on 1 August 1779.55 A schooner from Georgia, bound to New York56 with a cargo of rice was also captured.57 She was only five days out from Georgia when taken.58 The schooner arrived in port on 31 July 1779. When the prizes were sent off the privateers were seen in chase of a large ship.59
Beaver and Gates returned to port from this successful cruise about 4 August 1779.60 Havens was re-commissioned to the sloop on 3 September 1779. Beaver again listed the same battery and crew. Her new $5000 bond was executed by Havens and David and John Trumbull of Lebanon, Connecticut.61
Havens was back at sea on 27 August. Sailing off Long Island on that date, Beaver fell in with a schooner. She fled from the Beaver but ran ashore at Sag [Harbor] in a high sea.62
After returning from this short cruise, Beaver evidentially underwent a more extended refit than usual. On 8 September 1779 the newspapers carried a recruiting advertisement for the “noted sloop Bever.” She was to sail on 14 September.63
Beaver returned from her cruise about 25 or 26 September. She had captured the 150-ton64 brig Jenny (James Duncanson) from New York, bound to Quebec, Quebec with a cargo of salt65 and tobacco. The prize arrived, presumably at New London, on 26 September.66 Jenny was libeled on 29 September and tried on 5 October 1779.67 On 1 December 1779 Jenny was advertised for sale, with the sale date as 7 December.68
While at sea the Beaver teamed up with the Gates again, to capture the 40-ton69 sloop Fly (Alexander McCaskie),70 with a cargo of fish and wine. She was bound from St. Johns, Newfoundland to New York, and arrived in port on 25 September.71 Fly was also libeled on 29 September and tried on 5 October.72 An advertisement for her sale appeared on 13 October, with the date of sale given as 21 October. As usual she was described as “well found” and a “prime sailer.”73
About 30 September 1779 Beaver sailed again. The weather was consistently bad, one hard, blowing day succeeding another.74 Beaver met two other privateers, the Gates (again) and the Connecticut Privateer Schooner Young Cromwell (Commander William Wattles).75
The weather continued to be very bad. About 7 October 1779 Havens saw four sail of dismasted vessels going into Sandy Hook, including two large ones. A few days later with two other privateers brought too a schooner, captured by British, but it was very windy with a large sea, and the Americans could not board her.76 Beaver re-captured a brig from Saint-Domingue, French West Indies. This prize arrived in port on 12 October 1779.77 Beaver returned to New London on 18 October.78
Beaver returned to New London from a cruise on 5 December 1779. She brought in with her as a prize a brig from Surinam, Netherlands West Indies bound to New York with a cargo of molasses and gin.79 This was probably the brigantine L’Amiable Constance (James Devereux).80 The prize was libeled on 19 January 1780, with a trial date of 9 February 1780.81
On 4 March 1780 Beaver was re-commissioned again, under Commander Daniel Scovell [Scovel, Schofield] of Farmington, Connecticut. Her battery was again listed as twelve guns but her crew was increased to seventy men. Beaver's $5000 bond was signed by Scovell and the two Trumbulls.82 She had about eighty men aboard when she sailed from New London. Her battery consisted of twelve 4-pounders. Benjamin Hilliard was aboard as First Lieutenant on this cruise.83
Beaver sailed from New London early in March. On 22 March 1780, at 39°N, Beaver was captured by HM Frigate Galatea (Captain James Reid) and HM Cutter Tender Retaliation (tender to the Thames; Lieutenant William Skinner). Beaver was taken into New York. On 27 March the entire crew of seventy-eight men was turned over to the prison ships at New York. Two days later Scovell was allowed to go to New York on parole.84
__________1 Middlebrook, Maritime Connecticut During The Revolution, II, 56-57, from the deposition of Benjamin Hilliard
2 NRAR, 232
3 The New-York Gazette; and The Weekly Mercury, May 25, 1778, datelined New London, May 15
4 The New-London Gazette, May 22, 1778
5 The New-York Gazette; and The Weekly Mercury, May 25, 1778, datelined New London, May 15
6 The New-London Gazette, May 22, 1778
7 Middlebrook, Maritime Connecticut During The Revolution, II, 54-55
8 Middlebrook, Maritime Connecticut During The Revolution, II, 54-55
9 The Connecticut Gazette and the Universal Intelligencer [New London]. Thursday, April 22, 1779
10 The Connecticut Gazette and the Universal Intelligencer [New London]. Thursday, April 15, 1779
11 The Connecticut Gazette and the Universal Intelligencer [New London]. Thursday, April 15, 1779
12 Middlebrook, Maritime Connecticut During The Revolution, II, 54, 107; The Connecticut Gazette and the Universal Intelligencer [New London]. Thursday, April 15, 1779
13 The Connecticut Gazette and the Universal Intelligencer [New London]. Thursday, April 22, 1779
14 The Connecticut Gazette and the Universal Intelligencer [New London], Thursday, May 27, 1779
15 The Connecticut Gazette and the Universal Intelligencer [New London]. Thursday, April 22, 1779
16 The Providence Gazette; And Country Journal, Saturday, May 1, 1779
17 The Connecticut Gazette and the Universal Intelligencer [New London]. Thursday, April 22, 1779
18 The Connecticut Gazette and the Universal Intelligencer [New London], May 27, 1779
19 The Connecticut Gazette and the Universal Intelligencer [New London]. Thursday, April 29, 1779
20 The Connecticut Gazette and the Universal Intelligencer [New London]. Thursday, April 29, 1779
21 The Pennsylvania Evening Post [Philadelphia], May 15, 1779, datelined New York, May 3
22 The Connecticut Gazette and the Universal Intelligencer [New London], May 27, 1779
23 Middlebrook, Maritime Connecticut During the Revolution, II, 107
24 The Connecticut Gazette and the Universal Intelligencer [New London], Thursday, May 20, 1779
25 The Pennsylvania Evening Post [Philadelphia], May 15, 1779, datelined New York, May 3
26 The Connecticut Gazette and the Universal Intelligencer [New London], Thursday, May 20, 1779
27 The Connecticut Gazette and the Universal Intelligencer [New London], May 27, 1779
28 The Connecticut Gazette and the Universal Intelligencer [New London], Wednesday, May 5, 1779
29 The Connecticut Gazette and the Universal Intelligencer [New London], Wednesday, May 20, 1779
30 Middlebrook, Maritime Connecticut During the Revolution, II, 54
31 The Independent Chronicle and the Universal Advertiser [Boston], Friday, May 7, 1779; The Pennsylvania Evening Post [Philadelphia], Saturday, May 15, 1779, datelined New York, May 3
32 The Connecticut Gazette and the Universal Intelligencer [New London], Wednesday, May 20, 1779
33 The Connecticut Gazette and the Universal Intelligencer [New London], May 27, 1779
34 The Connecticut Gazette and the Universal Intelligencer [New London], Thursday, May 13, 1779
35 The Connecticut Gazette and the Universal Intelligencer [New London], Thursday, May 13, 1779
36 The Connecticut Gazette and the Universal Intelligencer [New London], May 27, 1779
37 The Connecticut Gazette and the Universal Intelligencer [New London], Thursday, May 13, 1779; May 27, 1779
38 The Connecticut Gazette and the Universal Intelligencer [New London], Thursday, May 27, 1779
39 The Connecticut Gazette and the Universal Intelligencer [New London], Thursday, May 27, 1779
40 The Connecticut Gazette and the Universal Intelligencer [New London], Thursday, May 20, 1779
41 The Connecticut Gazette and the Universal Intelligencer [New London], Thursday, May 27, 1779
42 The Connecticut Gazette and the Universal Intelligencer [New London], Thursday, May 27, 1779
43 According to Maclay, History of American Privateers, 139, this was the Massachusetts Privateer Ship General Haccock, Commander Ishmael Hardy, but this seems to be a conflation and incorrect.
44 The Connecticut Gazette and the Universal Intelligencer [New London], Thursday, May 20, 1779
45 The Connecticut Gazette and the Universal Intelligencer [New London], Thursday, May 27, 1779
46 The Connecticut Gazette and the Universal Intelligencer [New London], Thursday, May 27, 1779. Newspapers of the period confuse the name Lady Erskine with the name Lady Ayscough. See The Independent Chronicle and the Universal Advertiser [Boston], May 20, 1779; The Providence Gazette; And Country Journal, Saturday, May 22, 1779; The Pennsylvania Packet or the General Advertiser [Philadelphia], June 8, 1779, datelined Providence, May 20.
47 The Connecticut Gazette and the Universal Intelligencer [New London], Thursday, May 27, 1779
48 The Connecticut Gazette and the Universal Intelligencer [New London], May 27, 1779
49 The Connecticut Gazette and the Universal Intelligencer [New London], Thursday, June 10, 1779
50 The Connecticut Gazette and the Universal Intelligencer [New London], Thursday, June 17, 1779
51 The Connecticut Gazette and the Universal Intelligencer [New London], Thursday, June 24, 1779
52 The Connecticut Gazette and the Universal Intelligencer [New London], Thursday, July 1, 1779
53 The Connecticut Gazette and the Universal Intelligencer [New London], Thursday, July 8, 1779
54 The Connecticut Gazette and the Universal Intelligencer [New London], Wednesday, August 11, 1779
55 The Independent Ledger, and the American Advertiser [Boston], Tuesday, August 2, 1779
56 The Connecticut Gazette and the Universal Intelligencer [New London], Wednesday, August 11, 1779
57 The Independent Ledger, and the American Advertiser [Boston], Tuesday, August 2, 1779
58 The Connecticut Gazette and the Universal Intelligencer [New London], Wednesday, August 11, 1779
59 The Independent Ledger, and the American Advertiser [Boston], Tuesday, August 2, 1779
60 The Connecticut Gazette and the Universal Intelligencer [New London], Wednesday, August 11, 1779
61 NRAR, 233
62 The Connecticut Gazette and the Universal Intelligencer [New London], Wednesday, August 25, 1779
63 The Connecticut Gazette and the Universal Intelligencer [New London], Wednesday, September 8, 1779
64 The Connecticut Gazette and the Universal Intelligencer [New London], Wednesday, December 1, 1779
65 The Connecticut Gazette and the Universal Intelligencer [New London], Wednesday, September 29, 1779
66 The Providence Gazette; And Country Journal, Saturday, October 2, 1779
67 The Connecticut Gazette and the Universal Intelligencer [New London], Wednesday, September 29, 1779
68 The Connecticut Gazette and the Universal Intelligencer [New London], Wednesday, December 1, 1779
69 The Connecticut Gazette and the Universal Intelligencer [New London], Wednesday, October 13, 1779
70 The Connecticut Gazette and the Universal Intelligencer [New London], Wednesday, September 29, 1779
71 The Providence Gazette; And Country Journal, Saturday, October 2, 1779
72 The Connecticut Gazette and the Universal Intelligencer [New London], Wednesday, September 29, 1779
73 The Connecticut Gazette and the Universal Intelligencer [New London], Wednesday, October 13, 1779
74 The Connecticut Gazette and the Universal Intelligencer [New London], Wednesday, October 20, 1779
75 The Providence Gazette; And Country Journal, Saturday, October 2, 1779
76 The Connecticut Gazette and the Universal Intelligencer [New London], Wednesday, October 20, 1779
77 [The Connecticut Gazette and the Universal Intelligencer [New London], Wednesday, October 13, 1779
78 The Connecticut Gazette and the Universal Intelligencer [New London], Wednesday, October 20, 1779
79 The Connecticut Gazette and the Universal Intelligencer [New London], Wednesday, December 8, 1779
80 Middlebrook, Maritime Connecticut During The Revolution, 54-55
81 The Connecticut Gazette and the Universal Intelligencer [New London], Wednesday, January 19, 1780
82 NRAR, 233
83 Middlebrook, Maritime Connecticut During The Revolution, 55-60
84 Middlebrook, Maritime Connecticut During The Revolution, 55-60. Middlebrook reprints the interrogation of Hilliard for the admiralty trial, on 16 April 1781 and the list of prisoners.