Name of Vessel:

Frank

Master of Vessel:

Sylvanus Waterman

Rig of Vessel:

Schooner

Date of Capture:

29 October 1776

Place of Capture:

Captor:

Rhode Island Privateer Sloop Montgomery

Home Port:

Montego Bay, Jamaica, British West Indies

From What Port:

Newfoundland

To What Port:

Jamaica, British West Indies

Cargo:

Fish, oil

Tonnage:

65

Battery:

Crew:

2 plus

Owners:

Francis Mariez of Montego Bay

Prize master:

Prize crew:

Ordered Into:

Providence, Rhode Island

Into What Port:

Providence, Rhode Island

Date Arrived:

Date Tried:

16 December 1776, 27 January 1777

Date Sold:

27 January 1777

Action:

No

Recaptured:

No

Comments: On 29 October 1776 Rhode Island Privateer Sloop Montgomery (Commander Daniel Bucklin) captured the 65-ton schooner Frank (Sylvanus Waterman), with a cargo of fish and oil, and bound to Jamaica, British West Indies from Ferryland, Newfoundland.  Frank got into port safely and was libeled on 7 December 1776, with her trial set for 16 December.

The trial of the Frank proved to be difficult. The story of the Frank shows many of the problems faced by American ship-owners in the early revolution. Frank was owned by Richard Alsop of Middletown, Connecticut. In March 1775 he appointed Sylvanus Waterman as master of the schooner Dolphin, bound from New London, Connecticut to Montego Bay, Jamaica. Waterman’s orders were to sail to Montego Bay, sell his cargo and take on a cargo of West Indies produce, and then return to New London. Waterman sailed on 31 March and got to Montego Bay on 27 April 1775. While there he received news of the outbreak of the rebellion. To save the schooner from British cruisers, and without orders from his owner, Waterman made a fake sale of the schooner to one Francis Mariez. Dolphin was re-registered as the Frank, cleared out for Newfoundland, and sailed on 3 August 1775. As Waterman approached New London, within some twenty miles of the port, he was sighted and chased by a British cruiser. He got away in the foggy night, but the wind changed and he decided to bear away for Newfoundland. He arrived there on 4 October 1775. Waterman sold his cargo and cleared out for Jamaica, but intended to go to M*le Saint-Nicolas, Saint-Domingue, and from there back to New London. As he approached the French port, Frank was chased by two British frigates, and bore away for Jamaica. Waterman loaded again, clearing out for Newfoundland, but now having to give bonds for the delivery of his cargo there. Again he went to Newfoundland, “to save his Bondsman,” and took on a cargo of fish and oil. He cleared for Jamaica, but again intended for M*le Saint-Nicolas, and then to New London. On 29 October 1776 he fell in with the Montgomery and was captured. Waterman made deposition to these statements on 11 December, stating that he had constantly tried to return home to New London.

Frank’s trial began on 16 December but was promptly adjourned to 31 December. After hearing the evidence on both sides the jury acquitted and released the Frank. The captors immediately asked for an appeal which was granted. A second libel was published on 11 January 1777, and a second trial, on 27 January, condemned the Frank.

[NDAR, VII, 314-315, 448-449, 639-641 and 641 note; The Providence Gazette; And Country Journal, Saturday, 7 December 1776; January 11, 1776]

Posted 21 August 2011

web counter