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Connecticut Privateer Schooner Weasel |
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| Weasel [Weazle] | (1) Commander Edward Johnson |
| Schooner | 26 February 1781- |
| Connecticut Privateer Schooner | (2) Commander Sanford Thompson
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| Commissioned/First Date: | 15 October 1781 |
| Out of Service/Cause: | December 1782/wrecked |
| Owners: | (1) John Smith & Co. of Middletown, Connecticut; (2) John Smith and Hugh White & Co. of Middletown, Connecticut; (3) Nathan Stedman & Co. of East Haddam, Connecticut |
| Tonnage: | 20 |
| Battery: | Date Reported: 26 February 1781 Number/Caliber Weight Broadside
Total: Broadside: Swivels: six [two howitzers] Date Reported: 15 October 1781 Number/Caliber Weight Broadside 10/ Total: 10 cannon/ Broadside: 5 cannon/ Swivels: Date Reported: 22 December 1781 Number/Caliber Weight Broadside 12/ Total: 12 cannon/ Broadside: 6 cannon/ Swivels: six Date Reported: 13 January 1782 Number/Caliber Weight Broadside 8/ Total: 8 cannon/ Broadside: 4 cannon/ Swivels: |
| Crew: | (1) 26 February 1781: 21 [total]
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| Description: |
| Officers: | (1) First Mate Jacob White, 15 October 1781-; (2) First Mate Nathan Savage, 22 December 1781- |
| Cruises: |
| Prizes: | (1) Brig [unknown], August 1781
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| Actions: |
Comments:
The 20-ton Connecticut Privateer Schooner Weasel (Wezel) was commissioned 26 February 1781 under Commander Edward Johnson. Her battery was listed as two howitzers and six swivel guns and her crew as twenty men. On 10 March 1781 Johnson captured a “consignment” of British goods near Block Island.1
Weasel was re-commissioned on 15 October 1781 under Commander Sanford Thompson of Middletown, Connecticut. Jacob White of Middletown was listed as the schooner's First Mate. She was reported armed with ten guns and with a crew of forty men. Weasel was bonded for $20,000 by Thompson, and Chancey Bulkley and James Church of Hartford County. She was owned by John Smith & Co. of Middletown.2
In August 1781 Weasel captured a brig bound from Madeira with a cargo of wine. She was sent into Boston, Massachusetts and arrived there safely on 25 August.3
Weasel (now spelled Weasell) was re-commissioned on 22 December 17814 under Commander Zebulon How5 (or Howe)6(of Middletown) with Nathan Savage as First Mate. Her owners are now listed as John Smith of Middletown and Hugh White & Co. of Middletown. Her battery was raised to twelve guns and her crew was listed as thirty-six men. She was bonded for $20,000 by How, Smith, and Joseph King of Middletown.7
Weasel's last commission apparently meant a change of ownership. She was commissioned on 13 January 1782 under Commander Samuel Spencer of East Haddam, Connecticut. Her battery was dropped to eight guns8 (or two guns and six swivels),9 and the crew reduced to twenty men. The owners are listed as Nathan Stedman & Co. of East Haddam. She was bonded for $20,000 by Spencer, Stedman, and William Bull of Hartford.10 Other sources indicate Jabez Chapman, Jr. and Samuel Spencer as the owners. Samuel Mears served aboard as Lieutenant.11
On 24 February 1782 the Weasel captured the British sloop Sally (S. Raymond) near Oyster Bay, Long Island. The sloop had a cargo of British goods and was taken into New London for trial. Sally was owned by one George Lockwood of Lloyd’s Neck, Long Island, New York, and by Raymond.12
The Weasel evidently was wrecked in early December 1782. An advertisement in the Connecticut Courant of 7 January 1783 mentions the sale of the “remains of the Galley Schooner called the WEASELL” with a suit of sails suitable for a 20-ton vessel, two 3-pounders and six swivel guns. The sale was to be held on 14 January. The advertisement was dated at Weathersfield on 28 December 1782.13
1 Middlebrook, Maritime Connecticut During the Revolution, II, 242
2 NRAR, 491; Middlebrook, Maritime Connecticut During the Revolution, II, 241-242
3 The American Journal And General Advertiser [Providence], Wednesday, August 29, 1781, datelined Boston, August 27
4NRAR, 491; Middlebrook, Maritime Connecticut During the Revolution, II, 242
5NRAR, 491
6 Middlebrook, Maritime Connecticut During the Revolution, II, 242
7 NRAR, 491; Middlebrook, Maritime Connecticut During the Revolution, II, 242
8 NRAR, 491
9 Emmons, 168
10 NRAR, 491; Emmons, 168, where she is said to be a Pennsylvania vessel.
11 Middlebrook, Maritime Connecticut During the Revolution, II, 242
12 Middlebrook, Maritime Connecticut During the Revolution, II, 242
13 The Connecticut Courant and Weekly Intelligencer [Hartford] Tuesday, January 7, 1783
| Posted 12 April 2011 |
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