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American Prizes
December 1776





Name of Vessel:

Placentia

Master of Vessel:

Thomas Eldrad

Rig of Vessel:

Brigantine

Date of Capture:

6 December 1776

Place of Capture:

36 miles off Cape Finisterre, Spain

Captor:

Massachusetts Privateer Brigantine Washington

Home Port:

Pool, England

From What Port:

To What Port:

Cargo:

Tonnage:

130

Battery:

Crew:

Owners:

Prize master:

Prize crew:

Ordered Into:

Massachusetts

Into What Port:

Massachusetts

Date Arrived:

Date Tried:

29 April 1777

Date Sold:

Action:

No

Recaptured:

No


Comments: Brigantine Placentia (Thomas Eldrad [Eldred]), 130 tons, was captured by Massachusetts Privateer Brigantine Washington (Commander Elias Smith) on 6 December 1776, about thirty-six miles off Cape Finisterre, Spain. The next day the Samuel and Mary (Bennett), bound from Seville, Spain to London, England, and owned in Weymouth, England, was captured. Eldrad and five of his crew were put aboard the Samuel and Mary, which was then released. The Samuel and Mary put into Pool soon after. The prisoners reported that the Washington was six weeks out of Marblehead, Massachusetts, mounted twelve guns, and had taken five prizes before she captured the Placentia. The prize was sent to Massachusetts and was libeled 10 April 1777 and tried 29 April.


[NDAR, VIII, 309-310; New-Lloyd’s List [London], December 20, 1776]


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