Armd Schr	Egmont [4]			1778 Sep 27	1779 July 27	Taken
Rate	Name	Men	Guns	Commissioned	Stricken	Notes

NEWFOUNDLAND

EGMONT Schooner 10, 199bm, Purchased 1770 [sic]   Captured 7.1779 by the American Privateer WILD CAT of Newfoundland. (Colledge).

Winfield confuses this schooner with the Earl of Egmont, another armed schooner.

1778 Aug 29:

“The Surprize, Captain Linzie, on of Commodore Evan’s Squadron, on the 29th of August took the Harlequin, privateer of 9 carriage guns, Hambleton master, from Salem” (Continental Journal, Boston, 21 Jan 1779)

1778 Oct 05:

“Captain Linzee, of the Surprize, returned from the Coast of Labrador on the 9th ult. He was too late on the Coast for the Privateer he went after, but on his Way back took a Schooner Privateer of 10 Three-pounders, 8 swivels, and 40 Men, in Trinity Bay, called the Harlequin, belonging to Salem, which I have bought into the Service.” (Montagu-Stephens, The London Gazette, 10-14 Nov 1778)

1779 July 14:

“Sailing from her anchorage near Cape spear, Newfoundland, she sighted a brig closing her. The stranger did not answer private signals and the schooner made all sail to get away, the brig in pursuit. The chase continued for some time, with bow-chasers being used by the brig, which was an American privateer Wildcat, 12 guns. The Americans eventually caught the schooner and fired into her, killing one man. The fire was returned, but the schooner was hampered by water continually washing over deck. The vessels fell aboard one another and the privateer entered borders. After a brief hand-to-hand fight in which another Crew member died, the Egmont surrendered.” (Hepper)

1779 July 24:

“I arrived here the 21st Instant; I found His Majesty’s Ship Surprize, Captain Reeve, who, on the 14th Instant, was preparing her for Sea ; and receiving Information, that His Majesty’s armed Schooner Egmont had been attacked and taken off Cape spear, that Day, by a Privateer Brig, immediately slipped his Cables, and went out after her. In the Evening he got Sight of her, chaced, and about Twelve o’Clock at Night took her. She proved to be the Wild Cat Privateer of Salem, not ten Weeks off the Stocks, mounting fourteen Carriage Guns, and had 75 Men when she came out. Lieutenant Gardiner and Twenty of the Egmont’s People were retaken in her, but unfortunately the Schooner had separated before Captain Reeve, whose Conduct upon this Occasion deserves much Commendation, could get Sight of them.” (Edwards to Stephens [The London Gazette, 7-11 Sep 1779]).

1779 July 27:

Court-martial: Lieutenant John Gardiner, The Officers & Company of the Egmont armed Schooner, for the loss of her. Minutes wanting. (ADM 1/5311)

Captain’s Log	From	To	Muster Books	From	To
Not found			ADM36/8475	1773 Dec*	-1779 July
Master’s Log	From	To	Pay Books	From	To
Not found			ADM34/277	1778 Sep 27	-1779 July 27

* Includes books from Egmont [1], Armd Schr

ADM34/818

1778 Sep 27

-1779 July 27

Rank

Officer’s Name

Date of Rank

Notes

L^t&C^r

L^t&C^r

Gardiner, John

1777 Dec 16

L^t&C^r

Revised 13 September 2008

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