Name of Vessel:

Little Hannah

Master of Vessel:

Robert Adams

Rig of Vessel:

Brig

Date of Capture:

8 December 1775

Place of Capture:

Boston Bay, Massachusetts

Captor:

Continental Army Schooner Lee

Home Port:

Boston, Massachusetts

From What Port:

Antigua, British West Indies

To What Port:

Boston, Massachusetts

Cargo:

Rum, gin, cocoa, sugar, fruit

Tonnage:

140, 150, 220

Battery:

2 guns

Crew:

Owners:

Prizemaster:

Prize crew:

Ordered Into:

Beverly, Massachusetts

Into What Port:

Beverly, Massachusetts

Date Arrived:

9 December 1775

Date Tried:

16 April 1776

Date Sold:

24 May 1776

Action:

No

Recaptured:

No

Comments: Brig Little Hannah (Robert Adams) was captured after an action with and eight gun tender escort. Libeled 26 February 1776. Netted $25000 to the captors. Escorted into Beverly by Lee after capture. Portions of her cargo were forwarded to Washington for his use and portions were ordered sold on 14 December 1775 to prevent spoilage. By 20 December her cargo was unloaded and in storage. Purchased for the United States by William Bartlett for £520. She was at Beverly then, and was to be used by Captain Manley as a warship. He declined her command. By 11 June 1776 she had been delivered to John Bradford for use of the Secret Committee as per request of Robert Morris. She was re-named Despatch by Bradford.

[Maclay, 64-67; NDAR, III, 17 and note, 17, 44-45 and 45 note, 46-48 and 48 note, 54-56 and 56 note, 93-94, 110, 145 and note, 181, 186 and note, 233 and note, 497 and note, 834-835 and 835 note; V, 10 and note, 251 and 251-252 note, 267 and note, 470-471; Clark, GWN, 231, 232]

Revised 10 August 2009