Name of Vessel:

Principe de Masserano

Master of Vessel:

Thomas Wharton

Rig of Vessel:

Brigantine

Date of Capture:

2 July 1777

Place of Capture:

Off Cape Finisterre, Spain

Captor:

Massachusetts Privateer Schooner Warren

Home Port:

From What Port:

Bergen, Norway

To What Port:

Venice Italy

Cargo:

Fish

Tonnage:

130, 220

Battery:

Crew:

Owners:

Joseph Dowson of London, England

Prize master:

Prize crew:

Ordered Into:

Boston, Massachusetts

Into What Port:

Boston, Massachusetts

Date Arrived:

[September] 1777

Date Tried:

30 October 1777

Date Sold:

 

Action:

No

Recaptured:

No

Comments: The 130 or 220-ton brig or brigantine Principe de Masserano (Thomas Wharton), from Bergen, Norway to Venice, Italy with a cargo of fish, was captured on 2 July 1777 by Massachusetts Privateer Schooner Warren (Commander Nicholas Ogelby), off Cape Finisterre, Spain. On 4 July the brig Elizabeth (William Dowling), Cork to Oporto, Portugal with dry goods, fell victim to the Warren. The day he captured the Elizabeth, Ogelvie ran into Vigo, Spain and landed the masters and ten of the sailors from the prizes. These reported to the British consul at Corunna. A few days later Warren put in to Bilbao, Spain, bringing in the Principe de Masserano with her [a few days before 12 July, probably about 6 July]. Here, the rest of her crew was set ashore. Principe de Masserano’s owner was Joseph Dowson of London. Dowson asked for British diplomatic help to obtain her release (5 August 1777). By 30 August the owner reported that the ship and cargo had been sold. When the mate of the brig had left Bilboa, on 14 August, the Warren and another privateer, Civil Usage, were refitting for a cruise. The name of the brig had been changed to St. Joseph and she was loading for Cadiz. This information was incorrect however: the brig was sent to Boston and libeled on 9 October 1777, with trial set for 30 October. By 22 September 1777 the British authorities were expressing some doubt as to whether the brig’s cargo could be recovered.

[NDAR, IX, 483, 494-495, 548-549, 615 and note, 654-655; X, 90 and note]

Revised 20 January 2009