Name of Vessel:

Nancy

Master of Vessel:

Thomas Davis

Rig of Vessel:

Brigantine

Date of Capture:

10 July 1775

Place of Capture:

Stonington, Connecticut

Captor:

Robert Niles and local citizens

Home Port:

From What Port:

West Indies

To What Port:

New York, New York

Cargo:

Molasses

Tonnage:

Battery:

Crew:

Owners:

Joshua Winslow of Boston, Massachusetts

Prizemaster:

Prize crew:

Ordered Into:

Norwich, Connecticut

Into What Port:

Norwich, Connecticut

Date Arrived:

10 July 1775

Date Tried:

[18 June 1776]

Date Sold:

Action:

No

Recaptured:

No

Comments: Brig or brigantine Nancy (Thomas Davis) was en route to New York from the West Indies with a cargo of molasses. She put into Stonington, Connecticut about 1 July 1775. Her master, Davis, then contacted Winslow in Boston, who sent out one William Lightly to take charge of the vessel. Lightly and Davis were captured and interrogated by the American army. It was feared the vessel would run into Boston with the cargo. Lightly was held and Davis released by the Massachusetts Provincial Congress, with instructions (dated 13 July 1775) to return to Stonington, discharge the portledge bill and the crew and secure the vessel and cargo. Meanwhile, on 10 July, Captain Robert Niles of Stonington, with some other people, had secured the vessel, which was taken to Norwich and put in charge of the local committee. They appointed Christopher Leffingwell and William Coit to care for the brig. On 29 November 1775, Christopher Leffingwell wrote to the Continental Congress, requesting directions as to disposing of the Nancy and her cargo. The letter was read on 12 December 1775. On 23 February 1776 it was referred to a committee, which concluded that the disposition was up to Connecticut, that colony now having admiralty courts. On 15 June 1776 the Norwich Committee asked the Connecticut General Assembly for further directions. Three days later the General Assembly gave the committee permission to sell the vessel and cargo.

[NDAR, I, 868-869, 877-878; NDAR, II, 1190; NDAR, III, 69; NDAR, IV, 54 and note, 97-98 and 98 note; NDAR, V, 546-547 and 547 note, 600-601 and 601 note]

Revised 2 December 2008