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Connecticut Privateer Sloop Revenge |
| Revenge | (1) Commander Joseph Conkling |
| Armed Sloop | 23 October 1776- |
| Connecticut Privateer Sloop | (2) Commander Nathan Post
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| Commissioned/First Date: | 23 October 1776 |
| Out of Service/Cause: | [28] October 1779/captured by HM Frigate Roebuck |
| Owners: | Nathaniel Shaw, Jr. & Co. of New London, Connecticut |
| Tonnage: | 80 |
| Battery: | Date Reported: 23 October 1776 Number/Caliber Weight Broadside 10/ Total: 10 cannon/ Broadside: 5 cannon/ Swivels: Date Reported: [January 1777] Number/Caliber Weight Broadside 4/4-pounder 16 pounds 8 pounds Total: 4 cannon/16 pounds Broadside: 2 cannon/8 pounds Swivels: four Date Reported: 23 July 1778 Number/Caliber Weight Broadside 12/ Total: 12 cannon/ Broadside: 6 cannon/ Swivels: Date Reported: 3 November 1779 Number/Caliber Weight Broadside 12/ Total: 12 cannon/ Broadside: 6 cannon/ Swivels: |
| Crew: | (1) 23 October 1776: 81 [total]
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| Description: |
| Officers: | (1) First Lieutenant Nathan Post, 23 October 1776-; (2) Second Lieutenant John Belcher, 23 October 1776-; (4) Master Thomas Sawyer, 23 October 1776-; (5) First Lieutenant of Marines John Palmer, 23 October 1776-; (6) First Prize Master William Jagger, 23 October 1776-; (7) Second Prize Master Isack [Isaac] Champlin, 23 October 1776- |
| Cruises: | (1) Stonington, Connecticut to Bedford in Dartmouth, Massachusetts, 22 January 1777-5 May 1777
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| Prizes: | (1) Schooner [unknown], 16 March 1777, at 16°4'N
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| Actions: | (1) Action of 10 February 1777
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Comments:
Connecticut Privateer Sloop Revenge was first commissioned on 23 October 1776 under Commander Joseph Conkling of Groton, Connecticut. She was reported as armed with ten guns and having a crew of eighty men. Revenge was bonded for $5,000 by John Hudson of Saybrook, Connecticut, owner Nathaniel Shaw, Jr., of New London, Connecticut, and Conkling.1 Other sources indicate her battery was four 4-pounders and four swivels, that she measured 80 tons, and that her actual crew was fifty-three men. Her officers were First Lieutenant Nathan Post, Second Lieutenant John Belcher, Master Thomas Sawyer, First Lieutenant of Marines John Palmer, First Prize Master William Jagger and Second Prize Master Isack [Isaac] Champlin.2 She was fitting out at Stonington, Connecticut by 18 October 1776.3 Revenge sailed on 22 January 1777.4 A journal of the cruise was kept by Palmer.
For the first three days out most of the hands were seasick. Later Palmer could only record the normal events of the cruise: catching a turtle and seeing a school of whales.5
On 10 February 1777 her lookouts saw a sail to the eastward, at 0900. The two vessels stood toward each other, and, by 1400, were close enough for the stranger to fire two recognition guns to leeward. The Americans did not answer. By 1500 the Revenge was passing to leeward of the stranger, on an opposite course. The Americans now fired a single shot, drawing a single shot from the stranger in reply. Revenge unleashed a full broadside, and got two back. Then the two passed out of range of each other. The Americans had fired about twenty shots, the stranger about thirty, with little damage to either. Revenge turned about to chase, but the wind came up against her and she was forced to heave to. The enemy appeared to carry about fourteen guns. The wind and sea came up, with big seas and rain. At dawn on 11 February the same ship was seen to windward, and again on the 13th, but then she was lost.6
On 13 February Lieutenant Palmer noted in his journal: “this Day We Crosed Tropick Line and We had full in Play A Shaving the hands and Swaering them.”7
At 0600 on 1 March 1777 Revenge saw another sail and set all available sail to run her down. She was steering southwest and got up six to seven knots in pursuit. At 1300 the distance was closing, and, by 1600, the stranger hove to, reefed in her sails, and cleared for action. At 1700 Revenge was at musket shot range and made a horrifying discovery: her chase was a 20-gun frigate. She turned to run just as the British opened fire. A shot carried away Revenge’s rail and dismounted a gun. Conkling steered south by west and lost her at 2200. He then steered southeast until 2300, when he hove to and began repairing the damage.8
On 16 March, at 16°4'N, at sunrise, Revenge captured a schooner from Halifax, Nova Scotia to Dominica, British West Indies, with fish and lumber. All but one of the crew was brought to the Revenge, and a Mr. King was sent aboard as prize master, with a prize crew of four men. At 1200 they set sail, steering west north west.9 This vessel was sent into Guadeloupe, in the French West Indies, where the cargo was sold.10
Revenge arrived at New Bedford on 22 May 1777,11 bringing in the 17-ton12 schooner Adventure (Richard Hinckley), bound from Dominica to Halifax13 with 7000 gallons of rum.14 Adventure was libeled on 26 June 1777, and tried on 16 July 1777.15
By August 1777 Revenge was back at sea. On 30 August 1777 she was at 38°25'N, in squally and rainy weather, steering west. At 0300 a sail was seen to the NNW. Revenge promptly gave chase. At 1000 Revenge came up with the stranger, who hoisted the colors of the Isle of Man. Revenge ran up British colors and hailed her quarry, learning she was from Dominica bound to Newfoundland. Conkling ordered her to stay by the Revenge, and boarded her the next day. She was the brig William16 (Henry Davis),17 with a cargo of rum. The master, mate and four men were removed and a prize crew of six men sent aboard.18 William was sent into Connecticut, where she was libeled on 7 October 1777, and tried on 4 November 1777.19
A second prize captured on this cruise was the 200-ton ship Amherst (Jacob Loran), bound from Honduras to England with mahogany and logwood as her cargo. Amherst arrived at Stonington, Connecticut on 22 September 1777.20 She was libeled on 7 October 1777, tried on 4 November 1777,21 and ordered sold at Stonington on 18 November.22
A third prize was the armed schooner Halifax, also libeled on 7 October and tried on 4 November.23
Revenge was sailing about an hour behind Amherst as she steered for Stonington. About the same time, a British force of twenty-one sail came out of Gardiner’s Bay and went down the sound, bound for Newport.24 This was one of the periodic wood-collecting expeditions.25 HM Frigate Cerberus and HM Schooner Tender Admiral Parker26 (Lieutenant Deane),27 of this force, sighted and chased the Revenge. The Admiral Parker, attempting to steer a short course and cut off Revenge from the land, ran hard upon Watch Hill Reef, about a mile from the American sloop. Conkling anchored Revenge within Watch Point and the two vessels began exchanging shots, which went on for several hours.28 A battery ashore joined in the gunnery practice.29 Meanwhile Cerberus anchored near the Admiral Parker, to protect her from the Revenge. After a while the shooting stopped;30 the British trying to get the Admiral Parker off.31
Dawn on 23 September revealed the situation much as it had been the evening before. After the sun rose the British crew set fire, in the hold, to the Admiral Parker, and then evacuated in Cerberus’s boats, which had been standing by. An American boat went out and got on board soon after the British left. One dead sailor was seen floating in the water. The Americans removed a few articles, but the fire had taken hold and they quickly left, pulling hard away. They had only gone a short distance when Admiral Parker blew up. By 3 October 1777 her guns, anchors and some small arms had been salvaged. Revenge received no damage in the fight.32 Cerberus brought in the crew of the Admiral Parker to Newport on 25 September. The British reported no losses.33
Revenge was at sea by late April 1778. She met another of Shaw’s privateers, the Connecticut Privateer Sloop American Revenue (Commander Samuel Champlin, Jr.), and the two sailed together. On 1 May 1778,34 the two privateers captured the ship Lovely Lass (Wade). She was bound from London for New York with a cargo of provisions, valued at £25000. Lovely Lass was sent into Boston, where she arrived on 11 May 1778.35
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An unsigned, printed “Articles of Agreement” for the Revenge, dated 27 June 1778. This was probably for a projected cruise under Conkling thay never took place. |
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Revenge was, presumptively, back from her cruise by early July 1778. An advertisement appeared in the New London newspaper on 24 July 1778, dated at Groton on 20 July, notifying the crew of the Revenge that the distribution of prize goods was ready to be made.36 On 4 December 1778, a similar advertisement notified the crew that the distribution of prize money from the Lovely Lass was ready.37
Revenge was re-commissioned on 23 July 1778 under Commander Nathan Post of Saybrook, with her battery increased to twelve guns and her crew remaining at eighty men. The new bond, for $10,000, was executed by Post, Shaw and John Hulbert of East Haddam, Connecticut.38
Revenge was back at sea, under Post, not too long after. The cruise was not productive. Revenge encountered a British cruiser which gave her such a hard chase that Post had to throw some of his guns overboard in order to elude the pursuit. Revenge returned to port in New London on 17 September 1778, in need of a refit.39
Revenge was not active again until the spring of 1779. Revenge joined with the American Revenue, now under Commander William Leeds, to capture a sloop bound from the West Indies with a cargo of sugar and rum. This was the 50-ton sloop Dispatch, armed with eight swivel guns. Dispatch was sent into New London and arrived on 16 May 1779.40 She was advertised for sale at New London on 27 May, with the sale to be held on 8 June.41 On 15 May 1779 Post brought the Revenge in to New London from this cruise.42
Revenge was back at sea in mid-June, patrolling off Sandy Hook, New Jersey. Here she captured a schooner with a cargo of tobacco. The schooner was sent off to New London, arriving on 15 June.43
The next prize captured was the 120-ton44 brig Neptune45 (Joseph Dorcen46 [Dorset]), outbound from Salem, Massachusetts with a cargo of indigo of lumber. The Neptune was standing in for New York on 18 June, about six miles from the port when she was taken. Neptune had an unusual history. She was originally outbound from North Carolina, cleared out for the Netherlands, with Lewes Henry DeRosset aboard as passenger and owner. DeRosset had formerly been a member of the Royal governor’s council in North Carolina. DeRosset was ordered to depart North Carolina and purchased the Neptune to take him to England. He was captured by a British cruiser, who sent her into New York as American property. En route to New York the Neptune was captured by a Salem privateer and sent into that port. DeRosset “comprising matters with his captors, . . . repurchased the vessel and shipt capt. Dorset and a number of sailors onboard, all British prisoners, and clear’d out for North Carolina, but frankly confesses his intention of going to New York, in order to pursue his first plan of going to England.” Neptune, now thrice captured, looked like a good prize to Post, who sent her in to New London, where she arrived on 20 June.47 Neptune was libeled on 28 July, with her trial set for 17 August 1779.48 She was advertised for sale in the newspaper on 25 August, with the sale to be held on 2 September 1779.49
Following the capture of the Neptune, a sloop bound from Halifax to New York was captured by the Revenge. She was sent into New London, arriving safely on 28 June.50 This was probably the 30-ton pilot boat sloop Lord Howe, advertised for sale on 21 July, a private sale, to be held on 28 July.51
On 3 July 177952 the 200-ton53 prize ship Otter54 (Robert Forbes)55 was brought into New London. She was bound from Liverpool, England for New York, and had been out thirteen weeks when captured. Revenge teamed up with the Connecticut Privateer Sloop Washington (Commander Benjamin King) and the Connecticut Privateer Sloop Gates (Commander Timothy Sage) to make the capture. The three sloops came into New London with the prize.56 Otter had an astonishingly varied cargo of glassware, tinware, pottery, paint, wire, iron and much more.57 It was reported that her cargo was valued at £3000.58 Otter was advertised for sale on 21 July, a private sale, to be held on 28 July. At the same time an advertisement appeared notifying the crews of the captors that their share of the prize goods from the Otter were ready for distribution.59 Otter was libeled on 4 August 1779, with her trial set for 17 August.60 On 3 November the officers and men of the Revenge were notified that the prize money from the capture of the Otter was ready to be paid.61
Revenge was back at sea in early August 1779. She re-captured a sloop and sent her into New London, where the prize arrived on 5 August. Revenge then teamed up with Continental Army Sloop Argo (Captain Silas Talbot)62 to take the ten63 or fourteen gun British Privateer Brig King George (Stanton Hazard). Argo brought the prize into New London on 7 August. King George was libeled on 11 August, with the trial set for 17 August.64 An advertisement for her sale appeared on 18 August, with the sale to take place on 24 August. She was described as mounting ten guns and two cohorns.65
Revenge was not yet done. On the south side of Long Island66 she encountered the ten67 or fourteen gun British Privateer Sloop Musquetto [Mosquito] (Neil McNeil), bound in to New York from St. Augustine, East Florida. Mosquito was owned in New York. She was captured and brought in to New London on 10 August. Mosquito was libeled on 11 August, with the trial set for 17 August.68 Mosquito was to be sold at the same time as the King George. She was described as being “Bermudian built,” mounting ten guns and four swivel guns.69
Revenge again joined the Argo to capture the brig70 Elliot (Francis Squires)71 bound in to New York from London with a cargo of flour and dry goods. She had been at sea about eight weeks. The brig was sent in to New London, arriving on 25 August. Soon after the two privateers captured the sloop Adventure (Thomas Jackson), bound from Tobago to New York with a cargo of rum. She was also dispatched to New London, arriving on 29 August.72 Both prizes were libeled on 15 September 1779, with the trials to be held on 5 October 1779.73
It seems that the command of the Revenge was now given to the noted former Connecticut Navy captain, Timothy Parker. On 29 September 1779, Parker, Connecticut Privateer Brig Defiance (Commander Thomas King), Connecticut Privateer Sloop Retaliation (Commander Azariah Whittlesey), Connecticut Privateer Sloop Sally (Commander Seth Warner), and Connecticut Privateer Schooner Experiment (Commander Nathan Sage) joined together to raid Oyster Bay, on the north side of Long Island. The privateers entered the bay and captured a guard brig,74 the Rogers (Townsend),75 which was pierced for fourteen guns but only had ten mounted. A privateer sloop of six guns,76 the 40-ton Two Brothers (Fitch or Samuel Rogers),77 was captured, along with three other sloops and a schooner. Three were loaded with wood, and one, a large sloop built in Bermuda,78 the Juno (John Leek),79 was in ballast.80 One of the three sloops was the 40-ton Clarissa (Nathaniel Hubbard).81
All the prizes had arrived in safe ports by 6 October 1779.82 The prizes were sent into Saybrook, Connecticut, at the mouth of the Connecticut River.83 Four of them were libeled in the Hartford County Maritime Court on 19 October 1779 with trial set for 2 November 1779.84
Revenge had the misfortunate to encounter HM Frigate Roebuck (Captain Sir Andrew Snape Hamond) in late October and was captured. The British reported her as having twelve guns. She arrived at Sandy Hook on New York on 31 October.85 Revenge was tried and condemned at New York.86
1 NRAR, 439; NDAR, “List of Bonds for Connecticut Letters of Marque,” X, 589-590
2 NDAR, “Journal of the Connecticut Council of Safety,” VI, 1004-1005 and 1005 note; “Shipping Articles for the Connecticut Privateer Sloop Revenge,” VII, 995-997
3 NDAR, “Nathaniel Shaw, Jr.’s Account Against the Connecticut Privateer Sloop Revenge,” VII, 875-876
4 NDAR, “John Palmer’s Journal of a Cruise in the Connecticut Privateer Sloop Revenge,” VIII, 130-131; “Shipping Articles for the Connecticut Privateer Sloop Revenge,” VII, 995-997
5 NDAR, “John Palmer’s Journal of a Cruise in the Connecticut Privateer Sloop Revenge,” VII, 1051-1052; “John Palmer’s Journal of a Cruise in the Connecticut Privateer Sloop Revenge,” VII, 1073-1074
6 NDAR, “John Palmer’s Journal of a Cruise in the Connecticut Privateer Sloop Revenge,” VII, 1174, 1197
7 NDAR, “John Palmer’s Journal of a Cruise in the Connecticut Privateer Sloop Revenge,” VII, 1197
8 NDAR, “John Palmer’s Journal of a Cruise in the Connecticut Privateer Sloop Revenge,” VIII, 12 and note, 89
9 NDAR, “John Palmer’s Journal of a Cruise in the Connecticut Privateer Sloop Revenge,” VIII, 130-131
10 Middlebrook, History of Maritime Connecticut, II, 208
11 NDAR, “Connecticut Gazette, Friday, May 30, 1777,” VIII, 1045
12 NDAR, “Libels Filed Against Seven Prizes in Massachusetts Admiralty Court,” IX, 173-174; Faibisy, “A Compilation . . .,” in NDAR, X, 1201-1210
13 NDAR, “Connecticut Gazette, Friday, May 30, 1777,” VIII, 1045; “Libels Filed Against Seven Prizes in Massachusetts Admiralty Court,” IX, 173-174; Faibisy, “A Compilation . . .,” in NDAR, X, 1201-1210
14 NDAR, “Connecticut Gazette, Friday, May 30, 1777,” VIII, 1045
15 NDAR, “Libels Filed Against Seven Prizes in Massachusetts Admiralty Court,” IX, 173-174
16 NDAR, “John Palmer’s Journal, Connecticut Privateer Sloop Revenge,” IX, 857-858
17 NDAR, “Libels Filed in Connecticut Maritime Court for New London County,” X, 56
18 NDAR, “John Palmer’s Journal, Connecticut Privateer Sloop Revenge,” IX, 857-858
19 NDAR, “Libels Filed in Connecticut Maritime Court for New London County,” X, 56
20 NDAR, “Connecticut Gazette, Friday, September 26, 1777,” IX, 967-968 and 968 note
21 NDAR, “Libels Filed in Connecticut Maritime Court for New London County,” X, 56
22 NDAR, “Connecticut Gazette, Friday, September 26, 1777,” IX, 967-968 and 968 note
23 NDAR, “Libels Filed in Connecticut Maritime Court for New London County,” X, 56
24 NDAR, “Connecticut Gazette, Friday, September 26, 1777,” IX, 967-968 and 968 note
25 NDAR, “Diary of Frederick Mackenzie,” IX, 963
26 NDAR, “Connecticut Gazette, Friday, September 26, 1777,” IX, 967-968 and 968 note
27 NDAR, “Diary of Frederick Mackenzie,” IX, 963
28 NDAR, “Connecticut Gazette, Friday, September 26, 1777,” IX, 967-968 and 968 note
29 NDAR, “Diary of Frederick Mackenzie,” IX, 963
30 NDAR, “Connecticut Gazette, Friday, September 26, 1777,” IX, 967-968 and 968 note
31 NDAR, “Diary of Frederick Mackenzie,” IX, 963
32 NDAR, “Connecticut Gazette, Friday, September 26, 1777,” IX, 967-968 and 968 note
33 NDAR, “Diary of Frederick Mackenzie,” IX, 963
34 Claghorn, Naval Officers of the American Revolution, 69
35 Middlebrook, Maritime Connecticut During The Revolution, 51-53
36 The Connecticut Gazette and the Universal Intelligencer [New London], Friday, July 24, 1778
37 The Connecticut Gazette and the Universal Intelligencer [New London], Friday, December 4, 1778
38 NRAR, 440
39 The Connecticut Gazette and the Universal Intelligencer [New London], Friday, September 25, 1778
40 The Connecticut Gazette and the Universal Intelligencer [New London], Thursday, May 20, 1779
41 The Connecticut Gazette and the Universal Intelligencer [New London], Thursday, May 27, 1779
42 The Connecticut Gazette and the Universal Intelligencer [New London], Thursday, May 20, 1779
43 The Connecticut Gazette and the Universal Intelligencer [New London], Thursday, June 17, 1779
44 The Connecticut Gazette and the Universal Intelligencer [New London], Wednesday, August 25, 1779
45 The Connecticut Gazette and the Universal Intelligencer [New London], Thursday, June 24, 1779
46 The Connecticut Gazette and the Universal Intelligencer [New London], Wednesday, July 28, 1779
47 The Connecticut Gazette and the Universal Intelligencer [New London], Thursday, June 24, 1779
48 The Connecticut Gazette and the Universal Intelligencer [New London], Wednesday, July 28, 1779
49 The Connecticut Gazette and the Universal Intelligencer [New London], Wednesday, August 25, 1779
50 The Connecticut Gazette and the Universal Intelligencer [New London], Thursday, July 1, 1779
51 The Connecticut Gazette and the Universal Intelligencer [New London], Wednesday, July 21, 1779
52 The Connecticut Gazette and the Universal Intelligencer [New London], Thursday, July 8, 1779
53 The Connecticut Gazette and the Universal Intelligencer [New London], Wednesday, July 21, 1779
54 The Connecticut Gazette and the Universal Intelligencer [New London], Thursday, July 8, 1779
55 The Connecticut Gazette and the Universal Intelligencer [New London], Wednesday, August 4, 1779
56 The Connecticut Gazette and the Universal Intelligencer [New London], Thursday, July 8, 1779
57 The Connecticut Gazette and the Universal Intelligencer [New London], Wednesday, July 21, 1779
58 The Connecticut Gazette and the Universal Intelligencer [New London], Thursday, July 8, 1779
59 The Connecticut Gazette and the Universal Intelligencer [New London], Wednesday, July 21, 1779
60 The Connecticut Gazette and the Universal Intelligencer [New London], Wednesday, August 4, 1779
61 The Connecticut Gazette and the Universal Intelligencer [New London], Wednesday, November 3, 1779
62 The Connecticut Gazette and the Universal Intelligencer [New London], Wednesday, August 11, 1779
63 The Connecticut Gazette and the Universal Intelligencer [New London], Wednesday, August 18, 1779
64 The Connecticut Gazette and the Universal Intelligencer [New London], Wednesday, August 11, 1779
65 The Connecticut Gazette and the Universal Intelligencer [New London], Wednesday, August 18, 1779
66 The Connecticut Gazette and the Universal Intelligencer [New London], Wednesday, August 11, 1779
67 The Connecticut Gazette and the Universal Intelligencer [New London], Wednesday, August 18, 1779
68 The Connecticut Gazette and the Universal Intelligencer [New London], Wednesday, August 11, 1779
69 The Connecticut Gazette and the Universal Intelligencer [New London], Wednesday, August 18, 1779
70 The Connecticut Gazette and the Universal Intelligencer [New London], Wednesday, September 1, 1779
71 The Connecticut Gazette and the Universal Intelligencer [New London], Wednesday, September 15, 1779
72 The Connecticut Gazette and the Universal Intelligencer [New London], Wednesday, September 1, 1779
73 The Connecticut Gazette and the Universal Intelligencer [New London], Wednesday, September 15, 1779
74 The Connecticut Gazette and the Universal Intelligencer [New London], Wednesday, October 6, 1779
75 Middlebrook, History of Maritime Connecticut, II, 209
76 The Connecticut Gazette and the Universal Intelligencer [New London], Wednesday, October 6, 1779
77 Middlebrook, History of Maritime Connecticut, II, 209
78 The Connecticut Gazette and the Universal Intelligencer [New London], Wednesday, October 6, 1779
79 Middlebrook, History of Maritime Connecticut, II, 209
80 The Connecticut Gazette and the Universal Intelligencer [New London], Wednesday, October 6, 1779
81 Middlebrook, History of Maritime Connecticut, II, 209
82 The Connecticut Gazette and the Universal Intelligencer [New London], Wednesday, October 6, 1779
83 Middlebrook, History of Maritime Connecticut, II, 209
84 The Connecticut Courant and the Weekly Intelligencer [Hartford], Tuesday, October 19, 1779
85 The Royal Gazette [New York], Wednesday, November 3, 1779
86 HCA 32/441/14/1-9
| Posted 18 February 2011 |
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