Name of Vessel:

Venus

Master of Vessel:

John Peacock

Rig of Vessel:

Ship

Date of Capture:

19 December 1776

Place of Capture:

Captor:

Rhode Island Privateer Sloop United States

Home Port:

From What Port:

Jamaica, British West Indies

To What Port:

London, England

Cargo:

Rum, sugar, cotton

Tonnage:

Battery:

Crew:

21 [partial]

Owners:

Prize master:

Prize crew:

Ordered Into:

Massachusetts

Into What Port:

Date Arrived:

Date Tried:

[wrecked]

Date Sold:

Action:

No

Recaptured:

No

Comments: Rhode Island Privateer Sloop United States (Commander Benjamin Peirce) was at sea in December 1776. She captured the three decker ship Venus on 19 December 1776 (John Peacock). Venus was bound from Jamaica, British West Indies to London, England, with a cargo of rum, sugar, and cotton. The prize was eventually sent to America, but, on 17 February 1777 she ran onto that part of Nantucket shoals known as the Great Trip (or Rip), some fifteen miles from Nantucket Island. The twenty-one people aboard got safely into the boat and got to Nantucket, but the ship was lost. Among those aboard the Venus was first mate “Robd More,” who was supposed to be delivered to a cartel for exchange on 6 February 1777. A few days later, on 13 February 1777, Robert Moore is listed as still being a prisoner at Wrentham.

[NDAR, VII, 1119, 1189; VIII, 74, 217 and note [the note incorrectly identifies the vessel sunk], 217-218,

Posted 29 July 2011

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