Name of Vessel:

Nancy

Master of Vessel:

John Lowrie

Rig of Vessel:

Ship

Date of Capture:

5 July 1777

Place of Capture:

Off Havana, Cuba [in the Florida Straits]

Captor:

South Carolina Privateer Sloops Vixen and General Washington

Home Port:

London, England

From What Port:

Old Harbor, Jamaica

To What Port:

London, England

Cargo:

Rum, sugar and wine

Tonnage:

Battery:

Crew:

Owners:

Prize master:

Commander Andrew Groundwater

Prize crew:

[10]

Ordered Into:

Charleston, South Carolina

Into What Port:

New York, New York

Date Arrived:

29 August 1777

Date Tried:

Date Sold:

Action:

No

Recaptured:

Yes

Comments: South Carolina Privateer Sloops Vixen (Commander Downham Newton) and General Washington (Commander Hezekiah Anthony) were patrolling north of Havana, Cuba, in the Florida Straits, on 1 July 1777, looking for the homebound Jamaica convoy. They found it that day, over 100 sail, escorted by four British warships. For the next four days the two privateers dogged the fleet, despite the General Washington being chased on two different occasions. Finally, on 5 July, the two picked off a straggler. The prize was ship Nancy (John Lowrie), bound from Old Harbor, Jamaica to her home port of London. Nancy had a valuable cargo of rum, sugar, and wine aboard. Commander Andrew Groundwater (former skipper of the South Carolina Privateer Sloop Swift, who had been rescued by Vixen when his vessel foundered) was assigned as prize master, with a prize crew of about nine men.

On 9 July, HM Frigates Brune, Perseus, and Galatea were patrolling off the entrance to Charleston harbor. At 0400 a two sail were sighted in the northeast, one of which was the Nancy. Both Brune and Perseus gave chase, Perseus being close enough to open fire at 0600. Nancy surrendered immediately and her prize crew was removed to the Perseus. By 1100 the frigates made sail again, keeping the Nancy with them. On 18 July she was sent off for New York, where she arrived on 29 August 1777. The American prize crew was kept prisoners aboard the Perseus. Several weeks later they either escaped or were released in Chesapeake Bay. Groundwater arrived in Charleston on 28 September 1777.

Revised 20 January 2009