Name of Vessel:

Ann

Master of Vessel:

Francis Robins

Rig of Vessel:

Brig

Date of Capture:

14 April 1777

Place of Capture:

36 miles southeast of Cape Henry, Virginia

Captor:

HM Frigate Emerald

Home Port:

From What Port:

Baltimore, Maryland

To What Port:

Nantes, France

Cargo:

Tobacco, flour, staves

Tonnage:

Battery:

Crew:

Owners:

Prize master:

Petty officer

Prize crew:

8 [total]

Ordered Into:

Into What Port:

Date Arrived:

Date Tried:

Date Sold:

Action:

No

Recaptured:

No

Comments: Brig Ann (Francis Robins) was bound from Baltimore, Maryland to Nantes, France with a cargo of tobacco, flour, and staves. She was at sea on 14 April 1777, some thirty-six miles southeast of Cape Henry, Virginia, when she was sighted and chased, about 1200, by HM Frigate Emerald (Captain Benjamin Caldwell). Ann was overhauled and captured at 1530. The prisoners were removed and a petty officer and seven men went aboard as a prize crew. She is listed in the High Court of Admiralty records as a former British vessel named the Jean.

[NDAR, VIII, 348 and note, 1053-1063 [where the date of her capture is given as 15 April 1777]; The London Gazette, Tuesday, February 24, to Saturday, February 28, 1778; HCA 32/268/12/1-20]