Bennington	(1) Commander William Newton
Armed Sloop	16 December 1778-
Maryland Privateer Sloop	(2) Commander Robert Craige 18 August 1779-

Commissioned/First Date:	18 December 1778
Out of Service/Cause:

Owners:

(1) Samuel and Robert Purviance; and Hugh Young & Co., all of Baltimore, Maryland; (2) Alexander Murray et al of Baltimore, Maryland

Tonnage:

60

Battery:

Date Reported: 16 December 1778 Number/Caliber  Weight     Broadside 6/ Total: 6 cannon/ Broadside: 3 cannon/ Swivels: [four howitzers] Date Reported: 18 August 1779 Number/Caliber  Weight     Broadside 6/ Total: 6 cannon/ Broadside: 3 cannon/ Swivels: [four howitzers]

Crew:

(1) 16 December 1778: 16 [total] (2) 18 August 1779: 19 [total]

Description:

Officers:

(1) First Mate Nicholas Westcot, 18 August 1779-

Cruises:

Prizes:

Actions:

Comments:

The 60-ton Maryland Privateer Sloop Bennington was commissioned on 16 December 1778 under Commander William Newton¹ of Annapolis, Maryland.² She was listed as having a battery of six guns and four howitzers³, and a crew of fifteen men.⁴ Her owners are given as Samuel and Robert Purviance and Hugh Young & Co. of Baltimore, Maryland.⁵ Her $5000 bond was signed by Newton and John Davidson of Annapolis.⁶

Bennington was re-commissioned on 18 August 1779 under Commander Robert Craige⁷ of Annapolis. Aboard as First Mate was Nicholas Westcot, possibly of Baltimore, Maryland.⁸ Her battery was listed as six guns, with four howitzers,⁹ and her crew remained the same.¹⁰ She was said to measure 60 tons. Her owners are listed as Alexander Murray and others of Baltimore.¹¹ Her new $5000 bond was signed by Craige and Charles Wallace of Annapolis.¹² Under Newton she captured a “valuable” ship, and, under Craige a British twelve gun privateer.¹³

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¹ Archives of Maryland: Journal and Correspondence of the Council of Maryland, April 1, 1778 through October 26, 1779, 21:266

² NRAR, 234

³ Archives of Maryland: Journal and Correspondence of the Council of Maryland, April 1, 1778 through October 26, 1779, 21:266

⁴ NRAR, 234

⁵ Archives of Maryland: Journal and Correspondence of the Council of Maryland, April 1, 1778 through October 26, 1779, 21:266

⁶ NRAR, 234

⁷ Archives of Maryland: Journal and Correspondence of the Council of Maryland, April 1, 1778 through October 26, 1779, 21:498

⁸ NRAR, 234

⁹ Archives of Maryland: Journal and Correspondence of the Council of Maryland, April 1, 1778 through October 26, 1779, 21:498

¹⁰ NRAR, 234

¹¹ Archives of Maryland: Journal and Correspondence of the Council of Maryland, April 1, 1778 through October 26, 1779, 21:498

¹² NRAR, 234

¹³ Maclay, History of American Privateers, 115