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Massachusetts Privateer Brigantine Betsey |
| Betsey | (1) Commander Benjamin Willis |
| Armed Brig | 26 September 1780- |
| Massachusetts Privateer Brigantine | (2) Commander Barzilla Smith
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| Commissioned/First Date: | 26 September 1780 |
| Out of Service/Cause: | [November] 1781/captured by the Enterprise |
| Owners: | (1) Smith & Codner of Boston, Massachusetts; (2) Isaac Smith et al of Boston, Massachusetts; (3) John Codman, Jr. and William Smith, of Boston, Massachusetts |
| Tonnage: |
| Battery: | Date Reported: 26 September 1780 Number/Caliber Weight Broadside 6/ Total: 6 cannon/ Broadside: 3 cannon/ Swivels: Date Reported: 1 January 1781 Number/Caliber Weight Broadside 6/ Total: 6 cannon/ Broadside: 3 cannon/ Swivels: Date Reported: 16 June 1781 Number/Caliber Weight Broadside 6/ Total: 6 cannon/ Broadside: 3 cannon/ Swivels: |
| Crew: | (1) 26 September 1780: 21 [total] |
| Description: |
| Officers: |
| Cruises: |
| Prizes: |
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Comments:
Massachusetts Privateer Brigantine Betsey was commissioned on 26 September 1780 under Commander Benjamin Willis of Boston, Massachusetts. She was listed as having a battery of six guns and a crew of twenty men. Her $20000 bond was signed by Willis and John Codman and William Smith of Boston. Betsey was recommissioned on 1 January 1781 under Commander Barzilla Smith of Cape Cod, Massachusetts. Her battery and crew remained the same. Her new $200000 bond was executed by Smith and Isaac Smith and William Smith of Boston.1 Isaac Smith and others of Boston are listed as her owners.2 Betsey was recommissioned again on 16 June 1781 under Commander Jesse Harding of Boston. Her battery remained the same, but her crew was increased to twenty-five men. The $20000 bond was signed by Harding, John Codman, Jr., (of Boston) and William Smith.3 About November 1781 the Betsey was captured by the Enterprise.4
1 NRAR, 236. Claghorn, Naval Officers of the American Revolution, 284, lists her battery as four guns and crew as nine men without giving the date. However, he has confused this Betsey and the one listed below as being commanded by Peter Wells.
2 Allen, Massachusetts Privateers of the Revolution, 81
3 NRAR, 237. All these commissions are also listed in Allen, Massachusetts Privateers of the Revolution, 81.
4 Claghorn, Naval Officers of the American Revolution, 138