Name of Vessel:

Betty [Betsey]

Master of Vessel:

James Sutton

Rig of Vessel:

Ship

Date of Capture:

24 November 1776

Place of Capture:

Off Louisburg, Nova Scotia

Captor:

Continental Navy Ship Alfred

Home Port:

From What Port:

Louisburg [Spanish River], Nova Scotia

To What Port:

New York, New York

Cargo:

Ballast

Tonnage:

Battery:

Crew:

Owners:

Prizemaster:

(1) Carpenter Samuel Tyler (25 November 1776-8 December 1776)

(2) First Mate John Margeson (8 December 1776-18 December 1776)

Prizecrew:

Ordered Into:

Newport, Rhode Island

Into What Port:

Newport, Rhode Island

Date Arrived:

18 December 1776

Date Tried:

Date Sold:

Action:

No

Recaptured:

Yes

Comments: British Transport Ship Betty (or Betsey) (James Sutton) was captured by Continental Navy Ship Alfred (Captain John Paul Jones) on 24 November 1776, along with British Transport Ships Surprize and Molly. The three vessels were under escort of HM Frigate Flora, and had parted with her on the 23rd. Flora was nearby but out of sight in the hazy weather. Jones saw the three ships and mistook them for British warships, as did his crew. Nevertheless he steered for the nearest ship, took her, and then captured the other two, although they were somewhat seperated. The master was allowed to remain on board but Betty's crew was removed. Many items were also removed for the use of the Alfred. On the 25th Carpenter Samuel Tyler was appointed as Betty's prizemaster and ordered to take station on Alfred's port quarter, with Surprize astern. Tyler was to keep company with Alfred, but if seperated he was to make for Rhode Island, going in through Nantucket Shoals. On 8 December 1776 Jones shifted Tyler to the Surprize and assigned First Mate John Margeson to the Betty as prizemaster. Margeson was ordered to keep company with Alfred and, if seperated, to make for the nearest port. The same day Betty parted from the Alfred. Margeson, not knowing of the British invasion of Rhode Island, steered for Newport, Rhode Island and put into Narragansett Bay, going up the Western Channel. Betty was seen by HM Frigate Sphynx (Captain Anthony Hunt) at 0900, heading towards Newport. Apparently Margeson stood north with a favorable west wind, but was cut off near Prudence Island, then turned south, again standing for Newport. The batteries ashore fired several shots at her about 1100, joined by HMS Preston (Captain Samuel Uppleby). A number of shots hit the Betty before Margeson surrendered. Preston's boats and those from other warships went out and secured the Betty. The capture was credited to HMS Chatham by Commodore Sir Peter Parker (Chatham was his flagship). He reported that she was so run down as to be unfit for sea.

[NDAR, VII, 267-270, 329-330 and 330 note, 407-408 and 408 note, 408 and note, 417, 511 and note, 512, 512, 512-513 and 513 note, 517-518, 540, 844-845 and 845 note, 891, 926-927, 923-927, 1005-1007, 1026-1027, 1158; NDAR, VIII, 42-46, 702-703, 743, 1053-1063]

Posted 10 August 2011

web counter