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Massachusetts Privateer Sloop Yankee |
| Yankee | (1) Commander Corban [Corbin] Barnes |
| Armed Sloop | 17 December 1775-[February] 1776 |
| Massachusetts Privateer Sloop | (2) Commander Henry Johnson
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| Commissioned/First Date: | 17 December 1775 |
| Out of Service/Cause: | 3 July 1776/captured by prisoners |
| Owners: | (1) [Samuel Jackson] of Plymouth, Massachusetts; (2) Paul Dudley Sargent & Co., of Boston, Massachusetts |
| Tonnage: | 75, 80 |
| Battery: | Date Reported: 26 February 1776 Number/Caliber Weight Broadside 9/ Total: 9 cannon/ Broadside: 4 cannon/ Swivels: Date Reported: 8 July 1776 Number/Caliber Weight Broadside 10/ Total: 10 cannon/ Broadside: 5 cannon/ Swivels: Date Reported: 31 July 1776 Number/Caliber Weight Broadside 9/4-pounder 36 pounds 18 pounds Total: 9 cannon/36 pounds Broadside: 4 cannon/16 pounds Swivels: sixteen Date Reported: 8 August 1776 Number/Caliber Weight Broadside 8/4-pounder 32 pounds 16 pounds Total: 8 cannon/32 pounds Broadside: 4 cannon/16 pounds Swivels: Date Reported: 19 August 1776 Number/Caliber Weight Broadside 9/4-pounder 36 pounds 18 pounds Total: 9 cannon/36 pounds Broadside: 4 cannon/18 pounds Swivels: sixteen, two cohorns |
| Crew: | (1) 23 May 1776: 61 [total]
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| Description: | Tightly built sloop, laying low in the water, pierced for twelve guns on one deck. |
| Officers: | (1) Surgeon Eliphalet Downer, 23 May 1776-3 July 1776 |
| Cruises: | (1) Plymouth, Massachusetts to sea and return, about 20 December 1775
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| Prizes: | (1) Brig [Brigantine] Peter (Thomas Egger), [20] December 1775, off Plymouth, Massachusetts
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| Actions: | (1) Action off Plymouth, 23 February 1776
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Comments:
Massachusetts Privateer Sloop Yankee (Commander Corban Barnes) was commissioned on 17 December 1775, but her bond was not posted until 4 January 1776. She was described as a 75-ton sloop, and her £5000 bond was posted by Barnes and Samuel Jackson, both of Plymouth, Massachusetts.1 Yankee was later described as 75 tons and mounting nine guns.2 Yankee seems to have made several short cruises out of Plymouth in December 1775 and January 1776.
Brig3 (or brigantine)4 Peter (Thomas Egger), bound from Ubes, Portugal to New York with a cargo of salt, had been captured by HM Frigate Niger on 2 December 1775. A prize crew of six men were put aboard the Peter and she was ordered to Boston.5 Peter was recaptured off Plymouth by an unknown privateer (probably the Yankee) about 20 December 1775, and taken into that port.6 As the principal actor in recapturing the Peter, Captain Samuel Jackson was allowed to escort the six prisoners to camp on 23 December 1775.7
On 30 January 1776 Yankee sailed on a cruise with Continental Army Schooner Hancock (Captain John Manley).8 On 23 February 1776, Yankee, along with Continental Army Schooner Harrison (Captain Charles Dyar), sailed from Plymouth looking for prizes. About 1330 they were sighted by HM Brig Hope (Lieutenant George Dawson). Hope came up with the two “Rebel Arm’d” vessels at 1500 and engaged them. After three hours they were “Drove” back into Plymouth. Hope had some small damage done to her yards and rigging in this battle. Dawson returned to the mouth of the harbor at 2000 to await the next venture by the two raiders, but was lured away by the sighting of a small coasting schooner.9 Many Americans on shore witnessed the battle and noted that Hope was patching shot holes when she sheered off. Yankee, it was noted, had rescued Harrison from “destruction,” in this battle. Barnes deserved the “thanks of the public” for going to Harrison’s assistance.10 By 26 April 1776 Barnes was master of the Julia, in the Delaware River.11
Following the fall of Boston, another sloop named Yankee was being fitted out for a privateer at that place. This was probably the same vessel as the one operating out of Plymouth earlier. This one is described as about 80 tons, with a battery of nine guns. On 3 May 1776, Joseph Williams contacted William Coit, a merchant of Norwich, Connecticut, regarding investing in this privateer and one other. Both were being equipped to attack the homeward bound ships from Jamaica to England. Paul Dudley Sargent owned about one eighth and Michael Jackson about one third of the privateers. Sargent was Colonel of the 16th Continental Infantry and Jackson the Lieutenant Colonel. The two vessels were expected to cost about £2000 to fit out.12 Yankee was bonded on 23 May by her commander, Henry Johnson, Nathaniel Crafts of Watertown, Massachusetts, and by Paul Dudley Sargent, for $5000. She was listed as being armed with nine guns and as having a crew of sixty men.13 Never the less, Yankee only had forty-three men aboard when she sailed.14
Johnson took her to sea at once, sailing out of Boston15 to intercept the West India traffic in the Gulf of Florida.16 On 22 June 177617 Yankee fell in with the 300-ton18 ship Zachariah Bayley (James Hodges).19 According to Hodges this was at 29°54´N, 70°30´W.20 Zachariah Bayley was armed with two 6-pounders21 and made some resistance before surrendering.22 Upon examining her papers, Johnson found she was from Jamaica bound to London with a cargo of sugar, rum, cotton, wool, fustic and pimento.23 Johnson took the master and part of the crew aboard the Yankee, put a prize crew aboard the Zachariah Bayley, and gave them orders to keep company with the Yankee. If separated the prizemaster was to make for Boston, Marblehead or Cape Ann.24 Yankee then resumed her patrol.
On 26 June, at 31°00´N, 68°30´W25 a sail was sighted “in the grey of the morning,”26 and Yankee gave chase, coming up to her about 0900. The chase was the 200-ton27 British Army Transport Ship Creighton28 (George Ross)29, armed with two 4-pounders (but only twelve rounds), a substantial crew, and with four sailors from HMS Experiment aboard as passengers.30 As Yankee came up Creighton commenced firing and discovered that one cannon was useless due to a broken carriage. The other gun cranked off eleven shots, deterring Johnson not at all. When Yankee was alongside with guns loaded, Creighton surrendered. Ross took his papers aboard Yankee, where it was seen that Creighton was bound to New York (or Halifax) from Antigua with rum for the British Army.31 The master, part of the crew, and the Experiment’s sailors were placed aboard the Yankee,32 and a prize crew put aboard the Creighton. The prize master was given the usual orders, and the three vessels (Yankee, Zachariah Bailey, and Creighton) made sail in company. Another Indiaman was sighted, but Johnson decided he could not man another large prize with his depleted crew.33 About 29 June the two prizes parted company and made for Massachusetts, where they arrived off Salem on 7 July 1776, were intercepted by Massachusetts Navy Brigantine Tyrannicide (Captain John Fisk) and were escorted into Cape Ann harbor.34
With the crews of the two captured ships aboard the Yankee, and his own crew depleted by the two prize crews, the ratio of prisoners to crew aboard Johnson’s sloop was considerably lowered. All told there were fourteen prisoners aboard, and only twenty-five Americans. Only two officers were on the Yankee, Johnson and Surgeon Eliphalet Downer, and only two warrant officers.35 In addition, Johnson allowed the British officers the run of the sloop.36 Scarcely had the prizes parted company than the prisoners began to plot an uprising.
On 3 July 1776, at 36°40´N, 65°00´W, the British prisoners moved. Johnson, Hodge and Ross were sitting in the cabin, when Johnson laid down his cutlass. One British captain tackled Johnson from behind while the other snatched up the cutlass. Meanwhile the guard on the quarterdeck went forward, thoughtfully laying his cutlass down as he went. A British sailor rescued it and began yelling for help. One of the British captains ran up the ladder, secured the arms chest, and watched as the crew tumbled on deck from below. When one American sailor grabbed a mop handle and advanced, he was told he would have his head lopped off if he took another step. After a few moments of tense negotiation the Americans surrendered, being promised good treatment and to be landed in America. The British prisoners gained command of the vessel without bloodshed.37 The American crew was then secured below decks, some being put in irons.38 As soon as the capture was complete, two sloops were seen in chase of the Yankee, and the British made haste to escape.39 On 31 July the Yankee was off Dover, England, where the British sent word to the Admiralty of their arrival.40 The two captains noted that Yankee had nine 4-pounders, sixteen swivels, and twenty-five men aboard.41 Another report notes (19 August 1776) that she carried two cohorns as well.42
The American crew was mistreated, contrary to the promise of the British merchant captains. They were confined below decks, in a small hold, with only a two inch square grating for ventilation. The heat and smell were stifling and sickness threatened the men. Only two or three were allowed on deck at a time. There was no relief from the heat on deck. Johnson was subjected to rude insults and threats. When the sloop arrived in the Thames River, numerous people were allowed aboard to look at the crew, as if they were strange zoo specimens from another land. Johnson and Downer were allowed to room in a small cabin. The conditions were so bad that the crew (allegedly) petitioned the Admiralty for employment.43
On 4 August 1776 the crew was removed from the Yankee into the transport ship Justitia, which took them to Dover Castle.44 They were then placed on HMS Ardent, and then, on 15 August, ten were ordered to Spithead, to serve aboard or be kept aboard HMS Barfleur. The remainder were ordered to be kept aboard HMS Mars.45 On 16 August, those of the crew who wished to serve in the Royal Navy were allowed to enlist, but only for service in the East Indies or the Mediterranean. The four officers were to be confined.46 There were not four prisoners for long, however: in the night of 30/31 August Johnson escaped from HMS Mars.47 By 24 September 1776 he had been at Dunkerque, France, and proceeded on his way from there.48 Meanwhile the crewmen who entered the Royal Navy were sent aboard HMS Rippon, bound for the East Indies, on 30 September.49 Johnson worked his way back to America, arriving at Baltimore on 30 January 1777, and eventually becoming a captain in the Continental Navy.50
Surgeon Downer had become very ill while confined on ship.51 After repeated requests for transfer ashore were denied, Downer was finally sent to Haslar Hospital. From there he escaped and was a Paris by 30 March 1777.52 The boatswain, John Cockran, wound up at Forton Prison, where he and three other prisoners tried to escape on 30 July 1777. One got away, but Cockran and the other two were recaptured and confined on a starvation diet for forty days.53 At least one of the other prisoners took service in a British vessel, and returned to America where it was captured by the Massachusetts Privateer Brigantine Washington.54
As for the Yankee, she was ordered sold on 15 August 1776, with the money going to the captors.55 She was tried and condemned on 4 September 1776.56 The Yankee was put up for sale at Old Lloyd’s Coffeehouse three times before she was finally sold, on 12 November 1776, for £330.57 She was subsequently offered for sale to the Royal Navy, for use as a tender, but a survey proved her to be unserviceable.58
1 NDAR, “Public Advertiser, Wednesday, March 5, 1777,” VIII, 637-639
1 NDAR, “Bond of Corban Barnes, Captain of the Massachusetts Privateer Sloop Yankee,” III, 602-603; Allen, Massachusetts Privateers of the Revolution, 328
2 NDAR, “William Watson to Joseph Trumbull,” IV, 84-85 and 85 note
3 NDAR, “Journal of H.M.S. Niger, Captain George Talbot), II, 1255-1256 and 1256 note; “New England Chronicle, Thursday, December 21 to Thursday, December 28, 1775,” III, 274 and note
4 NDAR, “William Watson to George Washington,” III, 214-215
5 NDAR, “Journal of H.M.S. Niger, Captain George Talbot), II, 1255-1256 and 1256 note
6 NDAR, “William Watson to George Washington,” III, 214-215; “New England Chronicle, Thursday, December 21 to Thursday, December 28, 1775,” III, 274 and note
7 NDAR, “William Watson to George Washington,” III, 214-215
8 NDAR, “William Watson to George Washington,” III, 1031-1033
9 NDAR, “Master’s Log of H.M. Brig Hope,” IV, 47
10 NDAR, “William Watson to Joseph Trumbull,” IV, 84-85 and 85 note
11 NDAR, “Oath of Corban Barnes, Master of the Schooner Julia,” IV, 1267
12 NDAR, “Joseph Williams to William Coit, Norwich Merchant,” IV, 1389 and note
13 NDAR, “Continental Bond for the Massachusetts Privateer Sloop Yankee,” V, 215. Allen, Massachusetts Privateers of the Revolution, 328, indicates the bond was for £5000.
14 NDAR, “George Ross and James Hodges to Philip Stephens,” VI, 516-517
15 NDAR, “Samuel Eliot, Jr. to Governor Jonathan Trumbull,” V, 970-971
16 NDAR, “New-England Chronicle, Thursday, July 11, 1776,” V, 1026 and note
17 NDAR, “Petition of William Ross and Nathaniel Morgan to the Massachusetts Council,” V, 1110-1111 and 1111 note
18 NDAR, “Samuel Eliot, Jr. to Governor Jonathan Trumbull,” V, 970-971
19 NDAR, “New-England Chronicle, Thursday, July 11, 1776,” V, 1026 and note
20 NDAR, “George Ross and James Hodges to Philip Stephens,” VI, 516-517
21 NDAR, “George Washington to John Hancock,” V, 1072-1073
22 NDAR, “Isaac Smith, Sr. to John Adams,” V, 969-970 and 970 note
23 NDAR, “Major Joseph Ward to John Adams,” V, 969; “Isaac Smith, Sr. to John Adams,” V, 969-970 and 970 note; “James Warren to John Adams,” V, 1006 and note; “New-England Chronicle, Thursday, July 11, 1776,” V, 1026 and note; “John Brown to Captain William Chace,” V, 1026-1027 and 1027 note; “George Washington to John Hancock,” V, 1072-1073; “David Cobb to Robert Treat Paine,” V, 1083
24 NDAR, “George Ross and James Hodges to Philip Stephens,” VI, 516-517
25 NDAR, “George Ross and James Hodges to Philip Stephens,” VI, 516-517
26 NDAR, “Extract of a Letter from the Chief Mate of a West Indiaman, to his Father in Newcastle, dated London, August 19.,” VI, 554
27 NDAR, “Samuel Eliot, Jr. to Governor Jonathan Trumbull,” V, 970-971
28 NDAR, “Major Joseph Ward to John Adams,” V, 969 and note
29 NDAR, “New-England Chronicle, Thursday, July 11, 1776,” V, 1026 and note
30 NDAR, “George Ross and James Hodges to Philip Stephens,” VI, 516-517; “Extract of a Letter from the Chief Mate of a West Indiaman, to his Father in Newcastle, dated London, August 19.,” VI, 554
31 NDAR, “Major Joseph Ward to John Adams,” V, 969; “Isaac Smith, Sr. to John Adams,” V, 969-970 and 970 note; “Samuel Eliot, Jr. to Governor Jonathan Trumbull,” V, 970-971; “James Warren to John Adams,” V, 1006 and note; “New-England Chronicle, Thursday, July 11, 1776,” V, 1026 and note; “John Brown to Captain William Chace,” V, 1026-1027 and 1027 note; “George Washington to John Hancock,” V, 1072-1073; “David Cobb to Robert Treat Paine,” V, 1083
32 NDAR, “George Ross and James Hodges to Philip Stephens,” VI, 516-517; “Extract of a Letter from the Chief Mate of a West Indiaman, to his Father in Newcastle, dated London, August 19.,” VI, 554
33 NDAR, “James Warren to John Adams,” V, 1006
34 NDAR, “Journal of the Massachusetts Sloop Tyrannicide, Captain John Fisk,” V, 960; “Isaac Smith, Sr. to John Adams,” V, 969-970 and 970 note
35 NDAR, “George Ross and James Hodges to Philip Stephens,” VI, 516-517
36 NDAR, “‘Humanitas’ [William Lee] to the Lord Mayor of London,” VI, 529-531
37 NDAR, “George Ross and James Hodges to Philip Stephens,” VI, 516-517; “Public Advertiser, Monday, August 12, 1776, VI, 538-539
38 NDAR, “Public Advertiser, Monday, August 12, 1776, VI, 538-539
39 NDAR, “George Ross and James Hodges to Philip Stephens,” VI, 516-517; “Extract of a letter from Dover, July 31.,” VI, 517-518
40 NDAR, “George Ross and James Hodges to Philip Stephens,” VI, 516-517; “Extract of a letter from Dover, July 31.,” VI, 517-518
41 NDAR, “George Ross and James Hodges to Philip Stephens,” VI, 516-517
42 NDAR, “Extract of a Letter from the Chief Mate of a West Indiaman, to his Father in Newcastle, dated London, August 19.,” VI, 554
43 NDAR, “George Ross and James Hodges to Philip Stephens,” VI, 516-517; “‘Humanitas’ [William Lee] to the Lord Mayor of London,” VI, 529-531
44 NDAR, “Public Advertiser, Tuesday, August 6, 1776,” VI, 532-533; “Public Advertiser, Monday, August 12, 1776, VI, 538-539
45 NDAR, “Philip Stephens to Commodore Thomas Mackenzie, Chatham,” VI, 546
46 NDAR, “Lord Suffolk to the Lords Commissioners, Admiralty,” VI, 546-547; “Philip Stephens to Commodore Thomas Mackenzie,” VI, 547
47 NDAR, “Lieutenant St. Alban Roy, R.N., to Commodore George Mackenzie,” VI, 581
48 NDAR, “Andrew Frazer to Sir Stanier Porten,” VI, 611
49 NDAR, “Philip Stephens to Vice Admiral Sir James Douglas, Portsmouth, VI, 619
50 NDAR, “Independent Chronicle, Thursday, February 20, 1777,” VII, 1242-1243
51 NDAR, “Independent Chronicle, Thursday, January 23, 1777,” VII, 1024-1025
52 NDAR, “Deposition of Eliphalet Downer,” VIII, 723
53 NDAR, “Journal of Timothy Connor, Massachusetts Privateer Brigantine Rising States,” IX, 539-540
54 NDAR, “Boston Gazette, Monday, January 27, 1777,” VII, 1044
55 NDAR, “Public Advertiser, Thursday, August 15, 1776,” VI, 546
56 NDAR, “Public Advertiser, Saturday, September 7, 1776,” VI, 597
57 NDAR, “Whitehall Evening Post, Tuesday, November 12 to Thursday, November 14, 1776,” VII, 740
58 NDAR, “Minutes of the British Navy Board,” VII, 756 and note; “Philip Stephens to the British Navy Board,” VII, 779
| Revised 7 August 2009 |
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