| Back to M |
 |
Maryland Privateer Schooner Montgomery |
|
| Montgomery | (1) Commander Robert Polk |
| Armed Schooner | 5 September 1776- |
| Maryland Privateer Schooner | (2) Commander John Burnell
|
| Commissioned/First Date: | 5 September 1776 |
| Out of Service/Cause: |
| Owners: | (1) Gilbert Middleton of Annapolis, Maryland; (2) Charles Wallace et al of Maryland; (3) Wallace, Davidson and Johnson, of Annapolis, Maryland |
| Tonnage: | 20, 25, 30 |
| Battery: | Date Reported: 5 September 1776 Number/Caliber Weight Broadside 2/2-pounder 4 pounds 2 pounds Total: 2 cannon/4 pounds Broadside: 1 cannon/2 pounds Swivels: five Date Reported: 1 April 1777 Number/Caliber Weight Broadside 2/2-pounder 4 pounds 2 pounds Total: 2 cannon/4 pounds Broadside: 1 cannon/2 pounds Swivels: six Date Reported: 6 June 1777 Number/Caliber Weight Broadside 2/4-pounder 8 pounds 4 pounds Total: 2 cannon/8 pounds Broadside: 1 cannon/4 pounds Swivels: six Date Reported: 10 June 1777 Number/Caliber Weight Broadside 2/ Total: 2 cannon/ Broadside: 1 cannon/ Swivels: four Date Reported: 12 June 1777 Number/Caliber Weight Broadside 2/ Total: 2 cannon/ Broadside: 1 cannon/ Swivels: four Date Reported: 17 November 1778 Number/Caliber Weight Broadside 2/ Total: 2 cannon/ Broadside: 1 cannon/ Swivels: four |
| Crew: | (1) 5 September 1776: 28 [total]
|
| Description: | Black schooner, former Chesapeake ferry-boat, long and low built, fast sailer, 37' length on the keel, 10' beam |
| Officers: | (1) First Mate James Robinson, 5 September 1776-; (2) Second Mate Davis Rees, 5 September 1776-; (3) First Lieutenant John Hall, 1 April 1777-; (4) First Lieutenant William Morris, -15 June 1777; (5) Master Thomas Cooper, 1 April 1777- |
| Cruises: | (1) Baltimore, Maryland to Cherbourg, France, 5 April 1777-6 June 1777 |
| Prizes: | (1) Brigantine Sarah, [October] 1776
|
| Actions: |
Comments:
Maryland Privateer Schooner Montgomery was fitting out for sea at Annapolis, Maryland in late August 1776.1 She was a 202 or 253 ton former Chesapeake Bay ferryboat.4 Montgomery measured 37' in length on the keel, with a 10' beam.5 Her skipper was thought to have enlisted several deserters from the Continental Navy Ship Virginia. Captain James Nicholson of the Virginia requested permission from the Maryland Council of Safety to search the schooner on 1 September 1776.6 Montgomery was commissioned on 5 September 17767 under Commander Robert Polk, possibly of Baltimore, Maryland. James Robinson, possibly of Annapolis, Maryland, served aboard as First Mate and Davis Rees, possibly of Baltimore, served as Second Mate.8 Montgomery was listed as being armed with two 2-pounders and five swivel guns.9 She had a crew of twenty-five men. Her £1000 bond was signed by Polk and by John Davidson of Annapolis.10 On her first cruise she captured the 170-ton brigantine Sarah, sending the prize into Hampton Roads, Virginia before 18 October 1776.11
Montgomery was re-commissioned on 1 April 1777 under Commander John Burnell of Baltimore. The only change in her battery was the addition of a swivel gun.12 She was listed with a twenty-five man crew. Her bond was signed by Burnell and by Charles Wallace and William Wilkins, both of Annapolis.13 John Hall served as First Lieutenant and Thomas Cooper as Master on this cruise.14 Burnell was an Englishman,15 from Ilfracombe.16 His family was living in England but he had left there on family business.17 It was later stated that his First Lieutenant was William Morris.
By 5 April Montgomery was at sea.18 She proceeded to the Virginia Capes and sailed from there on 11 April.19
Montgomery captured a 120 ton brig, Fly (J. Harvey) with a cargo of salt, bound from Dartmouth to Newfoundland some three hundred and sixty miles west of the Scilly Isles. This prize was sent off to America.20 Another prize was a 200 ton brig out of Alicant, which was also sent to America. Montgomery also captured four or five vessels in the English Channel, mostly smuggling vessels, and removed their cash. Burnell, a “good-natured fellow” let the smugglers go. Another prize was a transport, captured within sight of a British warship. When Burnell boarded the transport and announced to the skipper that he was a prisoner, the British skipper “insolently” asked where Burnell’s ship was. He found in inconceivable that so small a craft had crossed the Atlantic. When the warship intervened Burnell was forced to recover his prize crew and leave her.21
On 5 June 177722 Montgomery was in the English Channel, six miles off the island of Alderney, Channel Islands,23 near the Gaskets.24 Here the Americans captured the 120 ton25 brig Good Intent (Paul Bieuvenn),26 loaded with gin,27 resin,28 pitch29 and oil 30 and bound from Rotterdam 31 to Guernsey in the Channel Isles. The prisoners were removed and a prize crew put aboard. Montgomery and her prize then sailed to Cherbourg, France, arriving 6 June, where the British prisoners were released.32 Burnell then applied to the firm of V. Du Longprey Coney et Fils for assistance. This company took charge of the prize and dispatched a letter to American Commissioner Benjamin Franklin, seeking to obtain permission to sell the prize.33 Burnell left town on the 6th, taking a post chase, en route to Paris 34 with the letter to Franklin.35 Seven of the crew returned to Alderney on 7 June, but Bieuvenn waited to try to claim his brig. The returning British reported Montgomery was a small black schooner, long and low to the water. When clearing for action the crew removed the hatches and stowed them in the hold. She was armed with two 4-pounders and six swivels, and had twenty-six men aboard, one of whom was a French pilot. The British reported she was named Montgomery, and had sailed five months ago from Maryland. They reported she had taken four prizes, one of which had been sent to America with a prize crew of four men.36
The Admiralty had already heard of the Montgomery. On 10 June HM Cutter Sherburne (Lieutenant Thomas Gaborian) was ordered to patrol between the Isle of Bas and the Isle of Brehat in an attempt to intercept the privateer. Gaborian was told that the Montgomery was armed with two guns and six swivels and had a crew of twenty-three men (four of which were French). She was reported to be cruising off Rock Dovie, twenty-one miles south of Guernsey.37
Meanwhile the French commissary at Cherbourg seized the prize on 11 June, to prevent its sale. A report current at that time identified Montgomery as the smallest of three privateers in the area, being 30 tons, armed with two guns and four swivels and having a twenty-five man crew, mostly French. Reporting this information the Lieutenant Governor of Jersey, M. Corbet, noted that the French were promoting these raids, “for the Americans could never think of these bye Ports, nor could they come in so small a vessel.”38
Franklin replied to the French firm on 12 June. He pointed out that the French could not formally permit the sale of the prize, as that would be a violation of international treaties. Franklin, however, pointed out that sales had been conducted in the open roads to the ports of Britttany, and he “supposed” such could be done in Normandy as well. Here “. . . the Business may be transacted without much Observation & conducted with Discretion, so as to Occasion no Trouble to the Ministers by Applications from the English Ambassador.” Franklin requested continuing assistance to Burnell. If facilities were found to dispose of this prize, Franklin would be glad to know, for other prizes could then be sent to the address of V. Du Longprey Coney et Fils.39
Meanwhile, Lieutenant Gaborian of the Sherburne was on Montgomery’s trail. Gaborian was at Alderney on 14 June where he learned that Montgomery and her prize were at Cherbourg. He proceeded to that port, anchored five miles out to sea, and developed a scheme to secure Burnell.40 Sherburne was disguised as a merchant vessel, a smuggler.41 Arriving at Cherbourg, Gaborian sent his pilot ashore, and then disguised himself as a smuggler.42 He found Burnell, Montgomery’s First Lieutenant, William Morris, the skipper of the Good Intent, Paul Bieuvenn, the master of the Good Intent, and some others at dinner in a tavern on 15 June, a Sunday. The pilot introduced himself into the party and joined the conversation. The liquor freely flowed. The talk turned to spy glasses and the pilot bragged about one he had aboard his vessel, and which was for sale. Burnell said he wanted one. It was suggested they go aboard and try out the spy glass.43 The pilot suggested it would be a present if Burnell would protect the pilot’s smuggling vessel from a British revenue cutter which had chased him in.44 According the party set out in the town boat, flying the French flag. As the boat came alongside the cutter two men seized Burnell. Burnell got loose and dived into the sea, swam to the boat and got aboard. Gaborian’s men ran out their guns and threatened to open fire if Burnell was not returned. This was done, and Burnell and Morris were put in irons. Sherburne sailed for England at once.45
Burnell had a goodly number of papers on his person, which Gaborian seized. Gaborian reported that Montgomery was 37' in length on the keel, with a 10' beam, measured 25 tons, and was a very fast sailer. Burnell was talkative, telling Gaborian that he had breakfasted with Franklin in Paris on 10 June and dined with Franklin and Silas Deane that evening. On 22 June Sherburne was in port and Gaborian reported on the capture, asking for directions as to the prisoners.46 Burnell and Morris were sent to the Blenheim on the 23rd and then to Mill Prison on the 24th.47 He was confined by himself, as the British attempted to extract more information from him.48 Dr. Jonathan Haskins, a prisoner at Mill Prison, learning of the method of Burnell’s capture, referred to his action as “Simple,” meaning stupid.49
It was now the turn of the Americans to protest to the French. An appeal to Vergennes, signed by Franklin and Deane, was forwarded on Burnell’s behalf on 26 June. The Americans pointed out that the kidnaping occurred within French territorial waters, within easy gunshot of a French fort, and that the British had threatened to fire on the French pilot boat. They requested that the French government intervene to secure Burnell’s release.50
As for the Good Intent, the British reported, on 8 August 1777, that she had been ordered out of Cherbourg as American property. Outside the port she was sold and reentered the port as French property.51
Montgomery returned to America and was commissioned a third time on 17 November 1778 under Commander James Belt52 of Philadelphia, Pennsylvania.53 Her battery was listed as two guns, with four swivel guns,54 and her crew to six men.55 She was said to measure 25 tons. Her owners are listed as Wallace, Davidson & Johnson.56 Her $5000 bond was signed by Belt and by John Muir of Annapolis.57
1 NDAR, “Captain James Nicholson to the Maryland Council of Safety,” VI, 641-642 and 642 note
2 NDAR, “William Carmichael to Charles W. F. Dumas,” IX, 395-396 and 396 note
3 NDAR, “Copy of a Letter from Governor Le Mesurier to Mr Stephens, dated Alderney the 7th of June 1777,” IX, 384-385 and 385 note; “Lieutenant Thomas Gaborian, R.N., to Philip Stephens,” IX, 420-421
4 NDAR, “William Carmichael to Charles W. F. Dumas,” IX, 395-396 and 396 note
5 NDAR, “Lieutenant Thomas Gaborian, R.N., to Philip Stephens,” IX, 420-421
6 NDAR, “Captain James Nicholson to the Maryland Council of Safety,” VI, 641-642 and 642 note
7 NDAR, “Journal of the Maryland Council of Safety,” VI, 717 and note
8 NRAR, 396. See also NDAR, “List of Bonds given on issuing Commissions for Privateers in the State of Maryland, delivered into the Office,” X, 703-704.
9 NDAR, “Journal of the Maryland Council of Safety,” VI, 717 and note
10 NRAR, 396
11 NDAR, “Dixon and Hunter’s Virginia Gazette, Friday, October 18, 1776,” VI, 1326 and note; “Advertisement of Sale at Jamestown of the Prize Brigantine Sarah,” VII, 13; “Purdie’s Virginia Gazette, Friday, November 8, 1776,” VII, 92
12 NDAR, “Application for a Commission for the Maryland Privateer Schooner Montgomery,” VIII, 246; “Bond to Recover Former Commission of the Maryland Privateer Schooner Montgomery,” VIII, 246-247; “Continental Bond for the Maryland Privateer Schooner Montgomery,” VIII, 247; “Journal of the Maryland Council,” VIII, 247. See also NDAR, “List of Bonds given on issuing Commissions for Privateers in the State of Maryland, delivered into the Office,” X, 703-704. See also Archives of Maryland: Journal and Correspondence of the Maryland Council of Safety, January 1-March 20, 1777, 16:195
13 NRAR, 396
14 NDAR, “George Woolsey to John Pringle, Philadelphia,” VIII, 278
15 NDAR, “Lieutenant Thomas Gaborian, R.N., to Philip Stephens,” IX, 420-421; “Journal of Dr. Jonathan Haskins,” IX, 439
16 NDAR, “Lieutenant Thomas Gaborian, R.N., to Philip Stephens,” IX, 420-421
17 NDAR, “Journal of Dr. Jonathan Haskins,” IX, 439
18 NDAR, “George Woolsey to John Pringle, Philadelphia,” VIII, 278
19 NDAR, “Lieutenant Thomas Gaborian, R.N., to Philip Stephens,” IX, 420-421
20 NDAR, “Lieutenant Thomas Gaborian, R.N., to Philip Stephens,” IX, 420-421; index 1063
21 NDAR, “William Carmichael to Charles W. F. Dumas,” IX, 395-396 and 396 note
22 NDAR, “Copy of a Letter from Governor Le Mesurier to Mr Stephens, dated Alderney the 7th of June 1777,” IX, 384-385 and 385 note; “Lieutenant Thomas Gaborian, R.N., to Philip Stephens,” IX, 420-421
23 NDAR, “Copy of a Letter from Governor Le Mesurier to Mr Stephens, dated Alderney the 7th of June 1777,” IX, 384-385 and 385 note
24 NDAR, “Lieutenant Thomas Gaborian, R.N., to Philip Stephens,” IX, 420-421
25 NDAR, “M. Corbet, Lieutenant-Governor of Jersey, to Lord Weymouth,” IX, 401-402 and 402 note
26 NDAR, “Copy of a Letter from Governor Le Mesurier to Mr Stephens, dated Alderney the 7th of June 1777,” IX, 384-385 and 385 note
27 NDAR, “Copy of a Letter from Governor Le Mesurier to Mr Stephens, dated Alderney the 7th of June 1777,” IX, 384-385 and 385 note; “William Carmichael to Charles W. F. Dumas,” IX, 395-396 and 396 note; “Lieutenant Thomas Gaborian, R.N., to Philip Stephens,” IX, 420-421
28 NDAR, “Lieutenant Thomas Gaborian, R.N., to Philip Stephens,” IX, 420-421
29 NDAR, “William Carmichael to Charles W. F. Dumas,” IX, 395-396 and 396 note
30 NDAR, “Copy of a Letter from Governor Le Mesurier to Mr Stephens, dated Alderney the 7th of June 1777,” IX, 384-385 and 385 note; “William Carmichael to Charles W. F. Dumas,” IX, 395-396 and 396 note
31 NDAR, “Copy of a Letter from Governor Le Mesurier to Mr Stephens, dated Alderney the 7th of June 1777,” IX, 384-385 and 385 note; “William Carmichael to Charles W. F. Dumas,” IX, 395-396 and 396 note
32 NDAR, “Copy of a Letter from Governor Le Mesurier to Mr Stephens, dated Alderney the 7th of June 1777,” IX, 384-385 and 385 note
33 NDAR, “Benjamin Franklin to V. Du Longprey Coney et Fils, Cherbourg,” IX, 394
34 NDAR, “Copy of a Letter from Governor Le Mesurier to Mr Stephens, dated Alderney the 7th of June 1777,” IX, 384-385 and 385 note
35 NDAR, “Benjamin Franklin to V. Du Longprey Coney et Fils, Cherbourg,” IX, 394
36 NDAR, “Copy of a Letter from Governor Le Mesurier to Mr Stephens, dated Alderney the 7th of June 1777,” IX, 384-385 and 385 note
37 NDAR, “Lords Commissioners, Admiralty, to Lieutenant Thomas Gaborian, R.N.,” IX, 388 and note
38 NDAR, “M. Corbet, Lieutenant-Governor of Jersey, to Lord Weymouth,” IX, 401-402 and 402 note
39 NDAR, “Benjamin Franklin to V. Du Longprey Coney et Fils, Cherbourg,” IX, 394
40 NDAR, “Lieutenant Thomas Gaborian, R.N., to Philip Stephens,” IX, 420-421
41 NDAR, “Account of the Capture of Captain John Burnell,” IX, 404 and note
42 NDAR, “Lieutenant Thomas Gaborian, R.N., to Philip Stephens,” IX, 420-421
43 NDAR, “Account of the Capture of Captain John Burnell,” IX, 404 and note
44 NDAR, “Lieutenant Thomas Gaborian, R.N., to Philip Stephens,” IX, 420-421
45 NDAR, “Account of the Capture of Captain John Burnell,” IX, 404 and note
46 NDAR, “Lieutenant Thomas Gaborian, R.N., to Philip Stephens,” IX, 420-421
47 NDAR, “Philip Stephens to Vice Admiral Molyneux Shuldham, Plymouth,” IX, 427
48 NDAR, “Extract of a Letter dated Mill Prison, Plymouth the 27th June 1777 from Mr Wm Coudry Keeper and Agent there to the Commissrs for Sick & Hurt Seamen &c,” IX, 435-436; “Journal of Dr. Jonathan Haskins,” IX, 439
49 NDAR, “Journal of Dr. Jonathan Haskins,” IX, 439
50 NDAR, “American Commissioners in France to Vergennes,” IX, 434
51 NDAR, “Lord Weymouth to Lord Stormont,” IX, 556-558
52 Archives of Maryland: Journal and Correspondence of the Council of Maryland, April 1, 1778 through October 26, 1779, 21:240
53 NRAR, 396
54 Archives of Maryland: Journal and Correspondence of the Council of Maryland, April 1, 1778 through October 26, 1779, 21:240
55 NRAR, 396
56 Archives of Maryland: Journal and Correspondence of the Council of Maryland, April 1, 1778 through October 26, 1779, 21:240
57 NRAR, 396
| Posted 29 January 2011 |
|
|
|
|
|