Bellona [Velona]	(1) Commander Thomas Stevens
Brig [Sloop/Brig]	29 April 1777-
Massachusetts Privateer Brigantine [Brig]	(2) Commander Nicholas Ogelbe 1 January 1778

Commissioned/First Date:	29 April 1777
Out of Service/Cause:

Owners:

(1) James Mugford et al of Marblehead, Massachusetts; (2) Samuel White of Boston, Massachusetts and John Grush of Marblehead, Massachusetts

Tonnage:

Battery:

Date Reported: 29 April 1777 Number/Caliber  Weight     Broadside 14/ Total: 14 cannon/ Broadside: 7 cannon/ Swivels: Date Reported: 1 January 17778 Number/Caliber  Weight     Broadside 14/ Total: 14 cannon/ Broadside: 7 cannon/ Swivels:

Crew:

(1) 29 April 1777: 91 [total] (2) 1 January 1778: 76 [total]

Description:

Officers:

Cruises:

Prizes:

(1) Brigantine Nancy (Isaac Burton), [August] 1777 (2) Sloop John (John Smith), [September] 1777

Actions:

Comments:

Massachusetts Privateer Brig Velona (almost certainly the Bellona) was commissioned on 29 April 1777 under Commander Thomas Stevens of Marblehead, Massachusetts. She was listed as being armed with fourteen guns and as having a crew of ninety men. Her $5000 Continental bond was signed by Stevens and by James Mugford and Joseph Cunningham, both of Marblehead.¹

Bellona was at sea in the late summer.  Bellona (under Stevens) was mentioned in the Boston Gazette of 22 September 1777.² At least two prizes were captured. On 6 October 1777 the 120-ton brigantine Nancy (Isaac Burton) was libeled, with trial set for 10 October 1777.³ On 30 October 1777 the 90-ton sloop John (John Smith) was libeled. Trial was set for 25 November 1777.⁴ Bellona had a man taken prisoner, perhaps indicating a re-captured prize. He was exchanged before 10 December 1777.⁵

Bellona was re-commissioned on 1 January 1778 under Commander Nicholas Ogelbe of Marblehead. She was listed as having a battery of fourteen guns and a crew of seventy-five men. Her $5000 Continental bond and her £500 Massachusetts bond were executed by Ogelbe, and by Major Samuel White of Boston, Massachusetts and John Grush of Marblehead. White and Grush are listed as Bellona’s owners.⁶

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¹ Allen, Massachusetts Privateers of the Revolution, 314

² Allen, Massachusetts Privateers of the Revolution, 79

³ NDAR, “Libels Filed in the Massachusetts Maritime Court of the Middle District,” X, 45-46

⁴ NDAR, “Libels Filed in the Massachusetts Maritime Court of the Middle District,” X, 354-355

⁵ NDAR, “Governor Nicholas Cooke to the Massachusetts Council,” X, 698 and note

⁶ Allen, Massachusetts Privateers of the Revolution, 79