John Bunyan	Commander Silvanus Tripe
Armed Sloop	28 September 1781-
New Hampshire Privateer Sloop

Commissioned/First Date:	28 September 1781
Out of Service/Cause:

Owners:

Cajar Mendez and Joshua Brackett of Portsmouth, New Hampshire

Tonnage:

30

Battery:

Date Reported: 28 September 1781 Number/Caliber  Weight        Broadside 6/ Total: 6 cannon/ Broadside: 3 cannon/ Swivels:

Crew:

28 September 1781: 26 [total]

Description:

Officers:

Cruises:

Prizes:

(1) Schooner Betsey (Peter Doucett), [October] 1781

Actions:

Comments:

New Hampshire Privateer Sloop John Bunyan was commissioned on 28 September 1781 under Commander Silvanus Tripe of Dover, New Hampshire,¹ but was from Kittery, Massachusetts [Maine].² She was listed as being armed with six guns and as having a crew of twenty-five men. Her $20000 bond was signed by Tripe and by Cajar Mendez and Joshua Brackett, both of Portsmouth, New Hampshire.³

John Bunyan’s bond in the National Archives has been transcribed as follows:

“The United States of America in Congress Assembled. Know ye, That we have granted, and by these presents do grant license and authority to Sylvanus Tripe, Mariner, Commander of the Sloop called John Bunyan of the burthen of thirty tons or thereabouts, belonging to Caesar Mendes, of Portsmouth, in the State of New Hampshire, Merchant; mounting six carriage guns and navigated by 25 men to fit out and set out the said sloop in a warlike manner, and by and with the said sloop and the officers and crew thereof, by force of arms to attack, subdue, seize and take all ships and other vessels, goods, wares and merchandise belonging to King or Crown of Great Britain, or to his subjects or to others inhabiting within any of territories or possessions of the aforesaid King of Great Britain, or any other ships or vessels, goods, wares or merchandise to whomsoever belonging, which are or shall be declared to be subjects of capture by any ordinance of the United States in Congress Assembled, or which are so deemed by the Law of the Nations. And the said ships and vessels, goods, wares and merchandise so apprehended as aforesaid, and as first taken, to bring into port, in order that proceedings may be had, concerning such captures in due form of law, and to rights and justices appurtenant. And we request all Kings, Princes, States and Potentates, being in Friendship or Alliance with United States and others to whom it shall appertain, to give the said Sylvanus Tripe all aid, assistance and succor in their parts, with his said vessel, company, and prizes. We engaging to do the like to all the subjects of such Kings, Princes, States and Potentates, who shall come into any of our ports. And we will and require other officers whatsoever, to give to the said Sylvanus Tripe all necessary aid, succor and assistance in the premises. This commission to continue in force during the pleasure of the United States in Congress Assembled and no longer. Witness his excellency Thomas McKean, Esquire, President of the United States in Congress Assembled at Philadelphia, this 28th day of September, 1781, and sixth year of our independence. In testimony whereof, we have caused the seal of the Admiralty of the United States in Congress Assembled, to be affixed hereunto. [SEAL.]

Tho. McKean, President

Passed the Admiralty Office.

John Brown, Secretary.⁴

John Bunyan brought at least one prize into Portsmouth, the 10-ton schooner Betsey (Peter Doucett). Betsey was libeled on 27 October 1781, and tried on19 November 1781. It is worth noting that one of the owners of the John Bunyan, Joshua Brackett, was the judge of the New Hampshire Maritime Court, which was going to try the case.⁵

¹ NRAR, 360

² Oliver P. Remick, A Record of the Services of the Commissioned Officers and Enlisted Men of Kittery and Eliot, Maine: Who Served their Country on Land and Sea in the American Revolution, from 1775 to 1783 (Boston: A. Mudge & Son, printers, [1901]), 48

³ NRAR, 360

⁴ From Rootsweb

⁵ The New-Hampshire Gazette;  and General Advertiser [Portsmouth], Saturday, October 27, 1781

Posted 24 July 2011

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