Name of Vessel:

Royal Bounty

Master of Vessel:

William Kerr

Rig of Vessel:

Ship

Date of Capture:

July 1777

Place of Capture:

Near the Shetland Islands, Scotland

Captor:

Massachusetts Privateer Ship American Tartar

Home Port:

From What Port:

Greenland

To What Port:

Leith, Scotland

Cargo:

Tonnage:

300

Battery:

Crew:

Owners:

Prize master:

Captain of Marines William Smith

Prize crew:

7 [total]

Ordered Into:

[Massachusetts]

Into What Port:

Halifax, Nova Scotia

Date Arrived:

Date Tried:

Date Sold:

13 December 1777

Action:

No

Recaptured:

Yes

Comments: Massachusetts Privateer Ship American Tartar (Commander John Grimes) met the 300-ton ship Royal Bounty (William Kerr), from Greenland bound to Leith, Scotland. She was captured about mid July 1777 near the Shetland Islands. A prize crew of six men put aboard, under Captain of Marines William Smith. She was dispatched to America. However, Royal Bounty was recaptured by HM Frigate Diamond and HM Tender Buckram on 22 September 1777. The prisoners were removed to the Diamond and turned over to Halifax jail on 25 October 1777. On 8 November 1777 Smith was sent aboard a cartel at Halifax for exchange, and his exchange had been effected by 10 December 1777, along with the prize crew. Royal Bounty was sold on 13 December.

[NDAR, IX, 562, 950 and note; X, 347-349, 433 and note; XI, 99 and note, 406-407]

Revised 20 January 2009