Name of Vessel:

Sam

Master of Vessel:

Samuel Richardson

Rig of Vessel:

Ship

Date of Capture:

25 October 1776

Place of Capture:

At 20°N

Captor:

Continental Navy Sloop Independence

Home Port:

From What Port:

Barbados, British West Indies

To What Port:

Liverpool, England

Cargo:

Ivory, iron, specie

Tonnage:

120

Battery:

4x

Crew:

10 [partial]

Owners:

Prize master:

Prize crew:

Ordered Into:

Philadelphia, Pennsylvania

Into What Port:

Philadelphia, Pennsylvania

Date Arrived:

25 November 1776

Date Tried:

14 December 1776

Date Sold:

28 February 1777

Action:

No

Recaptured:

No

Comments: The 120-ton ship Sam (Samuel Richardson) sailed from Barbados, British West Indies on 20 October 1776, with a cargo of ivory, some iron, and $20000 Spanish milled dollars in specie aboard, bound for Liverpool, England. At 20°N, on 25 October, she fell in with the Continental Navy Sloop Independence (Captain John Young). Although Sam mounted four guns, no resistance was made. The skipper and the boatswain were removed to the Independence, eight of the crew were left aboard, and a prize crew too the Sam off to Philadelphia, Pennsylvania. The captain and boatswain were landed at St. Pierre, Martinique, French West Indies. Some of the crew of the Sam entered aboard the Independence. Sam arrived at Philadelphia on 25 November 1776. The Continental Congress resolved that, if the guns were suitable, they should be mounted on carriages and sent to Washington’s army. Sam was libeled the next day, and tried on 14 December 1776. Sam’s ivory was advertised on 22 February 1777, as was the ship. The cargo was to be sold 25 February, and the ship the next day. Sam was not sold and was advertised again, to be sold on 28 February 1777. The Pennsylvania Navy Board ordered Paul Cox to purchase Sam, and another prize, the King George, for the Pennsylvania Navy, as fire ships.

[NDAR, VII, 227-228, 294 and note, 295, 1263 and note, 1321 and note]

Posted 19 October 2011

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