Name of Vessel:

Neptune

Master of Vessel:

Daniel Van Vorhus [Voorhees]

Rig of Vessel:

Schooner

Date of Capture:

5 April 1777

Place of Capture:

144 miles southeast of Cape Henlopen, Delaware

Captor:

HM Frigate Perseus

Home Port:

From What Port:

Philadelphia, Pennsylvania

To What Port:

Cargo:

Flour, hoops, staves

Tonnage:

Battery:

Crew:

Owners:

Prize master:

Prize crew:

Ordered Into:

New York, New York

Into What Port:

New York, New York

Date Arrived:

Date Tried:

1777

Date Sold:

Action:

No

Recaptured:

No

Comments: The Neptune (Daniel Van Vorhus [Voorhees])was bound from Philadelphia, Pennsylvania with a cargo of flour, hoops and staves. About 3 April 1777 she sailed from the Delaware Capes escorted by Continental Navy Sloop Sachem (Captain James Robinson). Two patrolling British frigates, the Roebuck (Captain Andrew Snape Hamond) and Perseus (Captain Charles Phipps) sighted the two sail at 0900 on 5 April, 144 miles southeast of Cape Henlopen, and chased. The weather was windy with strong gales and a few squalls, favoring the bigger ships. Around noon, Perseus fired a few shots at the Neptune, which hove to. Perseus put a prize crew aboard and continued the chase after Sachem. At 1700 Perseus closed up with Sachem. Several cannon and small arms were fired into her before she hove to. A prize crew was sent over and the prisoners removed. Neptune was sent in to New York, New York, where she was tried and condemned in the Vice Admiralty court in 1777.

[NDAR, VIII, 277-278 and 278 note, 1053-1063; HCA 32/409/12/1-4]