Name of Vessel:

Esther

Master of Vessel:

John Harvey

Rig of Vessel:

Ship

Date of Capture:

2 October 1776

Place of Capture:

Captor:

Continental Navy Brig Cabot

Home Port:

From What Port:

Jamaica, British West Indies

To What Port:

London, England

Cargo:

Cotton, sugar, rum, coffee

Tonnage:

350

Battery:

Crew:

Owners:

Prize master:

[First Lieutenant Thomas Weaver]

Prize crew:

Ordered Into:

[Dartmouth, Massachusetts]

Into What Port:

Dartmouth, Massachusetts

Date Arrived:

Date Tried:

15 November 1776

Date Sold:

8 January 1777

Action:

No

Recaptured:

No

Comments: The 350-ton ship Esther (John Harvey), bound from Jamaica in the British West Indies to London, England, with a cargo of coffee, rum, sugar, and cotton, was captured by the Continental Navy Brig Cabot (Captain Elisha Hinman) on 2 October 1776. On 5 October 1776, the ship Georgiana was captured. After being plundered, the Georginia was released with prisoners, including the Esther’s, aboard. Esther was sent in to Dartmouth, Massachusetts. She was libeled in the Maritime Court of the Southern District on 31 October, and was tried on 15 November 1776. On 11 November Harvey petitioned the Massachusetts Council for permission to leave, supported by First Lieutenant Thomas Weaver. The petition was granted. Esther was sold at Dartmouth on 8 January 1777, for £1230, to John Bradford, for use by the Secret Committee. He described her as river built and five years old. The “finest ship in America.” Some passengers were still being exchanged on 13 February 1777.

[NDAR, VII, 5-6, 85-86, 736, 905-906 and 906 note, 958 and note, 1013-1014, 1189, 1216-1218; The Independent Chronicle [Boston], Thursday, October 31, 1776]

Posted 21 August 2011

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