Behmus [Bemus]	(1) Commander Benjamin Hill
Armed Ship	28 December 1778-
Massachusetts Privateer Ship	(2) Commander Samuel Bayley 7 August 1779-

Commissioned/First Date:	28 December 1778
Out of Service/Cause:

Owners:

Ralph Cross of Newburyport, Massachusetts

Tonnage:

Battery:

Date Reported: 28 December 1778 Number/Caliber  Weight     Broadside 4/ Total: 4 cannon/ Broadside: 2 cannon/ Swivels: Date Reported: 7 August 1779 Number/Caliber  Weight     Broadside 8/ Total: 8 cannon/ Broadside: 4 cannon/ Swivels:

Crew:

(1) 28 December 1778: 14 [total] (2) 7 August 1779: 21 [total]

Description:

Officers:

Cruises:

Prizes:

Actions:

Comments:

Massachusetts Privateer Ship Behmus¹ [Bemus]² was commissioned on 28 December 1778 under Commander Benjamin Hill of Newburyport, Massachusetts. She was listed as being armed with four guns and as having a crew of thirteen men. Her $10000 Continental bond and her £4000 Massachusetts bond were signed by Hill and by Samuel Bayley and Ralph Cross, Jr. of Newburyport. Her owners were listed as Ralph Cross and others of Newburyport.³ Behmus was re-commissioned on 7 August 1779, under Commander Samuel Bayley of Newburyport. She now listed eight guns in her battery and a crew of twenty men. Her Continental bond (no amount specified) and her £4000 Massachusetts bond were signed by Bayley and by Moses Little and Joseph Moulton, Jr. of Newburyport.⁴

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¹ Allen, Massachusetts Privateers of the Revolution, 78

² Claghorn, Naval Officers of the American Revolution, 150

³ Allen, Massachusetts Privateers of the Revolution, 78

⁴ Allen, Massachusetts Privateers of the Revolution, 79