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New Hampshire Privateer Ship Diana |
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| Diana | (1) Commander Thomas Manning |
| Armed Ship | 7 September 1780- |
| New Hampshire Privateer Ship | (2) Commander Josiah Shackford
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| Commissioned/First Date: | 7 September 1780 |
| Out of Service/Cause: | 20 July 1781/sold out of service |
| Owners: | George Wentworth and Thomas Martin, both of Portsmouth, New Hampshire |
| Tonnage: |
| Battery: | Date Reported: 7 September 1780 Number/Caliber Weight Broadside 10/ Total: 10 cannon/ Broadside: 5 cannon/ Swivels: Date Reported: 23 December 1780 Number/Caliber Weight Broadside 10/ Total: 10 cannon/ Broadside: 5 cannon/ Swivels: Date Reported: 16 July 1781 Number/Caliber Weight Broadside 8/4-pounder 32 pounds 16 pounds Total: 8 cannon/32 pounds Broadside: 4 cannon/16 pounds Swivels: |
| Crew: | (1) 7 September 1780: 51 [total]
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| Description: |
| Officers: |
| Cruises: |
| Prizes: | (1) Brigantine Cooper (Thomas Dwire), [20] October 1780
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| Actions: |
Comments:
New Hampshire Privateer Ship Diana was commissioned on 7 September 1780 under Commander Thomas Manning of Portsmouth, New Hampshire. She was listed as having a battery of ten1 (or eighteen)2 guns and a crew of fifty men. Her $20000 bond was signed by Manning and by George Wentworth and John Penhallow, both of Portsmouth.3
There exists a four page expense account for the outfitting of the Diana. The total is *44,187.18.0, with a payment to John Langdon for *7781 included. Langdon’s services are not recorded.4
Part of the owner’s instructions to Manning survive for this cruise, issued on 18 September by Martin and Wentworth: “. . . as She is now Compleatly fitted and Manned, with at least provisions, Stores etc. for 80 days - We request that you will embrace the first wind & proceed to Sea, we recomend you giving a good birth to the Nova Scotia Shore and proceed to the southern parts of the Banks of Newfoundland.”5 The owners thought that, in that location, the Diana had “ . . . a Good Chance of meeting British Ships that may be passing from any part of North America & the West Indies to Europe as well as from Europe to any of those places.”6 Manning was to keep a “ . . . steady regular Command with great care of your stores and great care of your prisoners with humanity . . .” If a prize was sent in, he was to “. . . instruct the prize master to be sure of Suffering no pillaging - be particularly Careful to preserve all papers, and letters that may fall into your hands . . .”7
About 20 October 1780 the Diana captured two prizes. The first was the 120-ton brigantine Cooper (Thomas Dwire), with a cargo of fish, cordage and wine; and the second was the 120-ton brigantine Minerva (Robert Kerlate). Both were brought into Portsmouth, where they were libeled in the Admiralty court on 9 November 1780. Both were tried and condemned on 1 December 1780.8
Both prizes were advertised for auction on 4 December 1780. Cooper was listed as a 100-ton, British built vessel, about three years old. Minerva was listed as a 120-ton British built brig. Three 2-pounders and four swivels were offered for sale, which were apparently some of the guns from the prizes. The cargoes were also to be sold. The auction was to take place on 13 December.9
Diana was re-commissioned on 23 December 1780 under Commander Josiah Shackford of Portsmouth. Her battery remained the same but her crew was reduced to thirty men. Her new $20000 bond was executed by Shackford, Wentworth, and by Thomas Martin of Portsmouth.10
About 21 May 1781 Shackford captured the 70-ton brigantine Adventure (John Steraling [Stealing]). Adventure was brought into Portsmouth where she was libeled on 7 June 1781 and tried and condemned on 10 July 1781.11 Adventure was advertised for sale on 16 July 1781, with the sale to be held on 20 July.12
At the same time as the Adventure was advertised, the Diana was offered for sale. She was noted as having eight 4-pounders in the advertisement.13
1 NRAR, 267
2 Claghorn, Naval Officers of the American Revolution, 194
3 NRAR, 267
4 Winslow, Robert E. III, “Wealth and Honour” Portsmouth During the Golden Age of Privateering, 1775-1815, Portsmouth: Portsmouth Marine Society, 1988, 55
5 McManemin, Captains of the Privateers, 364
6 Winslow, Wealth and Honor, 55
7 McManemin, Captains of the Privateers, 364
8 The New-Hampshire Gazette; or State Journal, and General Advertiser [Portsmouth], Monday, November 13, 1780; and Monday, November 20, 1780
9 The New-Hampshire Gazette; or State Journal, and General Advertiser [Portsmouth], Monday, December 4, 1780
10 NRAR, 268
11 The New-Hampshire Gazette; or State Journal, and General Advertiser [Portsmouth], Monday, June 11, 1781
12 The New-Hampshire Gazette; or State Journal, and General Advertiser [Portsmouth], Monday, July 16, 1781
13 The New-Hampshire Gazette; or State Journal, and General Advertiser [Portsmouth], Monday, July 16, 1781
| Posted 13 June 2011 |
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