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Maryland Privateer Schooner Williaminta |
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| Williaminta | (1) Commander Thomas Waters |
| Schooner | 20 October 1777- |
| Maryland Privateer Schooner | (2) Commander William Skillirn
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| Commissioned/First Date: | 20 October 1777 |
| Out of Service/Cause: | 26 August 1778/captured by HM Frigate Maidstone |
| Owners: | (1) Isaac Van Bibber, Charles Wallace, and Daniel Waters, all of Baltimore, Maryland, and John Muir of Annapolis, Maryland; (2) Isaac Van Bibber et al of Baltimore, Maryland |
| Tonnage: |
| Battery: | Date Reported: 20 October 1777 Number/Caliber Weight Broadside
Total: Broadside: Swivels: four Date Reported: 28 May 1778 Number/Caliber Weight Broadside 4/ Total: 4 cannon/ Broadside: 2 cannon/ Swivels: |
| Crew: | (1) 20 October 1777: 11 [total]
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| Description: |
| Officers: |
| Cruises: | (1) Baltimore, Maryland to sea, -26 August 1778 |
| Prizes: |
| Actions: |
Comments:
Maryland Privateer Schooner Williaminta was commissioned on 2 January 1778 under Commander Thomas Waters1 of Baltimore, Maryland.2 Her commission was back dated to 20 October 1777. She was listed as being armed with four swivel guns and noted as having a crew of ten men. Her owners are given as David Weems, Charles Wallace and John Muir.3 Her bond of $5,000 was executed by Waters and Isaac Van Bibber.4
Williaminta was re-commissioned on 28 May 1778 (the clerk listing her as the Willey & Minta) under Commander William Skillirn5 (or Skilliern, Skillom)6 of Baltimore. Her battery remained the same, but her crew was listed as seven men. The $5,000 bond was signed by Skillirn.7
The Williaminta sailed from Baltimore about mid-August 1778, bound for St. Eustatius in the Netherlands West Indies with a cargo of tobacco. On 26 August 1778, at 36°50′N, 75°24′W, she was captured by HM Frigate Maidstone and sent into New York, New York. She was referred to as Willey and Mente in the prize list.8 Williaminta was condemned at New York, being referred to there as Willey and Menta, and as an American merchant vessel.9
1 Archives of Maryland: Journal and Correspondence of the Maryland Council of Safety, January 1-March 20, 1777, 16:453-454; in Emmons, 168, Waters is listed as “J. Walters.”
2 NRAR, 493
3 Archives of Maryland: Journal and Correspondence of the Maryland Council of Safety, January 1-March 20, 1777, 16:453-454
4 NRAR, 493
5 NRAR, 493; see also NDAR, “List of Bonds given on issuing Commissions for Privateers in the State of Maryland, delivered into the Office,” X, 703-704
6 Claghorn, Naval Officers of the American Revolution, 281; Emmons, 168, list Skillirn as “W. Skinner.”
7 NRAR, 493
8 “List of Captures and Recaptures made by the American Squadron, of which Accounts have been received by Rear-Admiral Gambier, between the 23d of May 1778, and the 20th of December following,” in The London Gazette, Tuesday, February 2, to Saturday, February 6, 1779
9 HCA 32/489/11/1-13
| Posted 8 April 2011 |
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