Name of Vessel:

Watson

Master of Vessel:

Pearson [Bryson]

Rig of Vessel:

Brig

Date of Capture:

2 October 1776

Place of Capture:

41°N, 45°W

Captor:

Continental Navy Brig Cabot

Home Port:

From What Port:

Jamaica, British West Indies

To What Port:

Liverpool, England

Cargo:

Rum, sugar, cotton, coffee

Tonnage:

Battery:

Crew:

Owners:

James Bier

Prize master:

Prize crew:

8 [total]

Ordered Into:

New London, Connecticut

Into What Port:

Dundalk, Ireland

Date Arrived:

19 November 1776

Date Tried:

Date Sold:

Action:

No

Recaptured:

Yes

Comments:  Brig Watson (Pearson [Bryson]), was bound from Jamaica in the British West Indies to Liverpool, England with a cargo of rum, sugar, cotton, and coffee. She was captured by Continental Navy Brig Cabot (First Lieutenant Elisha Hinman) on 2 October 1776, at 41°N, 45°W. Cabot was reported, by the owner of Watson, James Bier, to be armed with fourteen guns. Cabot had just taken five large vessels. Bier was taken aboard Cabot, where he asked to continue aboard his own vessel. Hinman at first refused, “however, after some conversation about privateering, he consulted his Officers, and then told me I might go aboard.” All Watson’s crew were removed, except Pearson, a boy and a passenger. A prize crew of eight men went aboard, including a prize master and the Cabot’s Lieutenant of Marines. Watson was ordered into New London, Connecticut, or Newport, Rhode Island. About 23 October Watson was in soundings off Boston. By now Bier had suborned two of the prize crew, promising them £100 for their assistance. At 2000 Bier received a pistol, by the boy, sent by the traitors. He jumped on deck, jammed the pistol in the prize master’s ribs, “and demanded him to surrender.” Pearson and the boy seized the Lieutenant of Marines in the cabin at the same time. The hatches were secured. The arms collected. Bier bore away for Halifax, Nova Scotia, but continued on to Dundalk, Ireland, where Watson arrived about 19 November 1776.

[NDAR, VII, 85-86, 736, 774, 788]

Posted 19 October 2011

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