Name of Vessel:

Thomas

Master of Vessel:

Bell

Rig of Vessel:

Brig

Date of Capture:

27 June 1780

Place of Capture:

28°N

Captor:

Maryland Privateer Schooners Antelope and Felicity

Home Port:

From What Port:

Bermuda [New Providence, Bahama Islands]

To What Port:

St. Eustatius, Netherlands West Indies

Cargo:

Cotton, indigo, sarsparilla, lignum vitae and timber

Tonnage:

Battery:

12x

Crew:

32 [total]

Owners:

Prize master:

Prize crew:

Ordered Into:

Philadelphia, Pennsylvania

Into What Port:

Philadelphia, Pennsylvania

Date Arrived:

10 July 1780

Date Tried:

Date Sold:

Action:

Yes

Recaptured:

No

Comments: British Privateer Brig Thomas (Bell) sailed from Bermuda (or New Providence, Bahama Islands) bound to St. Eustatius, Netherlands West Indies in June 1780, with a cargo of cotton, indigo, sarsparilla, lignum vitae and timber. On the afternoon of 27 June, near 28°N, she met the Maryland Privateer Schooners Antelope (Commander Jeremiah Yellott) and Felicity (Commander Frederick Folger). Thomas was a Philadelphia built brig, mounting twelve guns and had a crew of thirty-two men aboard. Her crew had arranged cotton bales along her deck, as high as a man, to make a barricade. There was not the slightest disposition on the part of the British to surrender. Both American privateers attacked and a two hour fight began. Eventually the Thomas struck, but not before inflicting heavy damage on the Antelope, riddling her sails, mainmast and foretopsail yard nearly shot off, squaresail boom damaged, steering sail boom, sail, and yard shot off. Felicity and Antelope hove to and began repairs. The Thomas was sent off to Philadelphia. She safely arrived in Philadelphia about 10 July 1780.

[The Connecticut Journal [New Haven], Thursday, August 10, 1780, datelined Baltimore, July 25, 1780, extract of a letter from on board the Antelope; The Independent Ledger, and the American Advertiser [Boston], Monday, August 7, 1780, datelined Philadelphia, July 15, 1780; The Pennsylvania Gazette [Philadelphia], July 19, 1780]