Name of Vessel:

Grace

Master of Vessel:

Dickenson

Rig of Vessel:

Schooner

Date of Capture:

November 1776

Place of Capture:

Off St. Pierre, Martinique, French West Indies

Captor:

Maryland Navy Schooner Dolphin

Home Port:

From What Port:

To What Port:

Cargo:

Tonnage:

Battery:

Crew:

Owners:

Prize master:

Edward Markland [Markham]

Prize crew:

Ordered Into:

Into What Port:

Date Arrived:

Date Tried:

Date Sold:

Action:

No

Recaptured:

Yes

Comments: In November 1776 the Dolphin was at Martinique.¹ In the harbor was the schooner Grace. Patterson decided to capture this vessel after she sailed from Martinique and conferred with Richard Harrison, the Maryland Agent at Martinique. When he broached this matter Harrison noted she was flying a white flag in the shrouds and had the appearance of a flag-of-truce and “strictly charged him not to meddle with her or any other that he might find under similar Circumstances, or that were in any manner under the protection or within the Jurisdiction of the French Government . . .” Patterson investigated and determined she was not a flag-of-truce. When she sailed he informed Harrison of his conclusion. Harrison made no additional objection, based on Patterson’s investigation.²

When the schooner Grace sailed from Martinique the Dolphin followed her, after a delay of a few hours. The chase continued for seven or eight hours before the Grace hove to. Patterson sent a boarding party over and requested the skipper of the Grace, Dickenson, to come aboard the Dolphin with his papers. Dickenson did so, along with one of his owners. When Patterson asked for his papers Dickenson produced a small document which was a clearance from Martinique, similar to one which Patterson had obtained. Dickenson said it was the only paper or “protection” that he had. Dickenson informed Patterson that the Grace was Bermudian property, and half owned by himself; that if he took her as a prize he would “injure a Friend . . .” At no time did Dickenson say or produce any document indicating that the Grace was a flag-of-truce, nor was any evidence of her ownership produced.³

Patterson, along with others of the crew, stated that she was captured near Dominica, British West Indies. Harrison flatly contradicted this: the crew members of the Grace were put ashore at Martinique, and had complained to the commandant within six hours after Dolphin left Martinique.⁴ The owners, Nibbs & Co., drew up a declaration and added an account for damages. The French commandant held Harrison and William Bingham responsible for the damages.⁵

On 8 February 1777 Harrison received a letter from the Maryland Council, inquiring about the capture. He replied on 17 April 1777, furnishing a copy of the declaration and account of damages. He added that the incident had had no permanent ill effects to other Americans. Harrison felt the incident would have been ignored had the vessel not been a flag-of-truce.⁶

Grace was dispatched for America under command of Edward Markham [Markland]. On 10 December 1776 she was re-captured by HM Frigate Mermaid.⁷ She was taken to Jamaica. Two of the prize crew got to St. Eustatius and from there went to Baltimore, arriving about 25 April, where they were impressed by Captain Ncholson of the Virginia.⁸

The following March (1777) Patterson was arrested for capturing a flag-of-truce, and this was the first time the deponent, a crew member of the Dolphin had heard of Grace being such a vessel. On 31 October 1777, six members of the crew swore depositions, all of which substantially confirm the deponent’s (Thomas Doyle) testimony. Richard Coward and Edward Markland recalled seeing Grace flying a white flag in her shrouds at Martinique, but no mention was made of her being a flag-of-truce at the time.⁹

Endnotes

¹ NDAR, “Deposition of Thomas Doyle, Maryland State Navy Schooner Dolphin,” X, 365 ans 366 note

² NDAR, “Richard Harrison to the Maryland Council,” IX, 364-365

³ NDAR, “Deposition of Thomas Doyle, Maryland State Navy Schooner Dolphin,” X, 365 ans 366 note

⁴ NDAR, “Richard Harrison to the Maryland Council,” IX, 364-365

⁵ NDAR, “Richard Harrison to the Maryland Council,” IX, 364-365

⁶ NDAR, “Richard Harrison to the Maryland Council,” IX, 364-365

⁷ NDAR, VIII, 1053-1063

⁸ NDAR, Nicholas Thomas to Governor Thomas Johnson,” IX, 459

⁹ NDAR, “Deposition of Thomas Doyle, Maryland State Navy Schooner Dolphin,” X, 365 ans 366 note

Posted 10 August 2011

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