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Virginia Privateer Brigantine Morning Star |
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| Morning Star | (1) Commander George Batty |
| Armed Brig | 1 March 1781-[27 April 1781] |
| Virginia Privateer Brigantine | (2) Commander Henry Stratton
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| Commissioned/First Date: | 1 March 1781 |
| Out of Service/Cause: |
| Owners: | (1) John Banks & Co. of Richmond, Virginia; (2) Hunter, Banks & Co. of Richmond, Virginia |
| Tonnage: |
| Battery: | Date Reported: 1 March 1781 Number/Caliber Weight Broadside 10/ Total: 10 cannon/ Broadside: 5 cannon/ Swivels: Date Reported: 22 March 1781 Number/Caliber Weight Broadside 2/4-pounder 8 pounds 4 pounds Total: 10 cannon/ Broadside: 5 cannon/ Swivels: Date Reported: 23 October 1781 Number/Caliber Weight Broadside 12/ Total: 12 cannon/ Broadside: 6 cannon/ Swivels: |
| Crew: | (1) 1 March 1781: 46 [total]
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| Description: |
| Officers: |
| Cruises: |
| Prizes: |
| Actions: | (1) Battle of Osborne’s Landing, 27 April 1781 |
Comments:
Virginia Privateer Brigantine Morning Star was commissioned on 1 March 1781 under Commander George Batty. She was listed as being armed with ten guns and as having a crew of forty-five men. Her $20000 bond was signed by Batty and by John Banks of Richmond, Virginia. Her owners are given as John Banks & Co. of Richmond, Virginia.1
Scrarcely had the Morning Star been commissioned than the state of Virginia impressed the brig into what was termed the “Emergency Fleet,” a collection of private vessels to be used in the defence against the British invasion of Arnold. In a return by Robert Mitchell, the Morning Star is listed as being at Turkey Island in the James River, on 22 March 1781. The commander’s name is variously given as Battey, Batty, or Beary. She was listed as mounting two 4-pounders and as having a crew of thirteen men.2
On 3 April 1781 the Virginia House of Delegates approved a warrant to John Banks for *17503.4.11, for the payment of the crews and the valuation of the Renown, Willing Lass, Buckskin Hero, and Morning Star.3
It can be presumed that she was with the fleet at the Battle of Osbourne’s Landing on 23 April, when the entire fleet was said to have been sunk, burned or captured.
That was not the end of the Morning Star. She either escaped, or was raised later, for she was re-commissioned, on 23 October 1781, under Commander Henry Stratton. Her battery was now said to be twelve guns and her crew was listed as sixty men. Stratton and “Hunter, Banks & Co.” signed the new $20000 bond.4
1 NRAR, 397
2 Pension Application of William Lewis, transcribed by C. Leon Harris, at Southern Campaign.org, also in Brumbaugh, Gaius Marcus, Revolutionary War Records, Vol. 1 - Virginia, 1936: Washington, D.C, 35
3 Extract from the Journal of the Virginia House of Delegates in Pension Application of William Lewis
4 NRAR, 397
| Posted 25 January 2012 |
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