Name of Vessel:

Surprize

Master of Vessel:

Rig of Vessel:

Ship

Date of Capture:

24 November 1776

Place of Capture:

Off Louisbourg, Nova Scotia

Captor:

Continental Navy Ship Alfred

Home Port:

From What Port:

Louisbourg [Spanish River], Nova Scotia

To What Port:

New York, New York

Cargo:

Coal

Tonnage:

Battery:

Crew:

Owners:

Prize master:

(1) Midshipman Michael Knies (25 November 1776-16 December 1776)

(2) Carpenter Samuel Tyler (8 December 1776-16 December 1776)

Prize crew:

6 [total]

Ordered Into:

Newport, Rhode Island

Into What Port:

New York, New York

Date Arrived:

[25] December 1776

Date Tried:

Date Sold:

Action:

No

Recaptured:

Yes

Comments: British Transport Ship Surprize was captured by Continental Navy Ship Alfred (Captain John Paul Jones) on 24 November 1776, along with British Transport Ships Molly and Betty. 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. The vessels were en route to New York from Louisbourg, Nova Scotia with coal. 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 separated. On the 25th Midshipman Michael Knies was appointed as Surprize's prizemaster and ordered to take station on Alfred's port quarter, astern of the prize Betty. Knies was to keep company with Alfred, but if separated he was to make for Rhode Island, going in through Nantucket Shoals. The master was allowed to remain on board, but the crew was removed. On 8 December 1776 Jones shifted Carpenter Samuel Tyler from the prize ship Betty to the Surprize, leaving Knies aboard. The Surprize stayed in company with Alfred until 9 December, when she parted company during the encounter with HM Frigate Milford. On 15 December Knies and Tyler were running off the coast of Long Island in breezy and cloudy weather. At 1600 HM Frigate Greyhound sighted the ship, fifteen miles offshore, and began to chase. At 1630 Greyhound fired one gun in the general direction of the Surprize, and Knies and Tyler bore down to the Greyhound, coming close enough to speak her by 1800. But the heavy seas and winds prevented the two ships speaking, so Greyhound set sail and fired guns at the Surprize to keep her in company. About 2300 the wind began to drop off. At 0630 on 16 December the Greyhound's cutter went over and took the prize crew of six men as prisoners. Seven men from the Greyhound went aboard and both vessels made sail. The Surprize was sent into New York, and Knies, Tyler and crew were sent to the prison ships. On 18 January 1777 Commodore Esek Hopkins was requesting an early exchange for Knies from Commodore Sir Peter Parker, or Parker's intercession to allow the men to be confined ashore. On 3 February 1777 Hopkins dispatched British prisoners to be exchanged for Knies and his crew.

[NDAR, VII, 267-270, 329-330 and 330 note, 407-408 and 408 note, 408 and note, 417 and note, 495, 517-518, 540, 935-937, 990, 1005-1007, 1158 and note]

Posted 10 August 2011

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