Name of Vessel:

Industry

Master of Vessel:

Stephen Pierce [Pearce]

Rig of Vessel:

Sloop

Date of Capture:

22 December 1775

Place of Capture:

Hampton Roads, Virginia

Captor:

Virginia militia

Home Port:

From What Port:

Turk’s Island, British West Indies

To What Port:

St. Mary’s, Maryland

Cargo:

Salt

Tonnage:

Battery:

Crew:

Owners:

Prizemaster:

Prize crew:

Ordered Into:

Hampton, Virginia

Into What Port:

Hampton, Virginia

Date Arrived:

Date Tried:

3 January 1776

Date Sold:

Released

Action:

No

Recaptured:

No

Comments: Sloop Industry (Stephen Pierce) received sailing orders for Antigua on 11 September 1775. She cleared out of North Potomac for Antigua on 25 September 1775 with flour, corn and livestock, arrived at Antigua on 16 November 1775, and on 28 November cleared from Turk’s Island for St. Mary’s, Maryland. She was driven into Hampton “by means of the late storm” and captured by Captain James Barron in Virginia Navy Schooner Liberty. She was at Hampton on 30 December 1775. Pierce petitioned the Virginia Convention about his capture. A Committee reported on his petition on 3 January 1776. Pierce said he was permitted to sail late because of storm damage to his vessel, but had no evidence. Although Pierce may have violated the Association, the Virginia Convention released him because they thought Maryland wanted the salt, and that the committee of St. Mary’s be informed of Pierce’s conduct. Industry had not arrived at Baltimore by 6 January.

[NDAR, II, 80; III, 309, 591-592, 659-660]

Revised 10 August 2009