Name of Vessel:

Hooper

Master of Vessel:

William Knapp

Rig of Vessel:

Brigantine

Date of Capture:

10 January 1778

Place of Capture:

Off Santander, Spain

Captor:

British Privateer Schooner Active

Home Port:

From What Port:

James River, Virginia

To What Port:

Bilbao, Spain

Cargo:

Tobacco

Tonnage:

Battery:

Crew:

Owners:

Prize master:

Prize crew:

Ordered Into:

Guernsey, Channel Isles

Into What Port:

Guernsey, Channel Isles

Date Arrived:

16 January 1778

Date Tried:

Date Sold:

Action:

No

Recaptured:

No

Comments: Brigantine Hooper (William Knapp) was bound from the James River, Virginia to Bilbao, Spain with a cargo of tobacco. She was forced into the port of Santander, Spain to repair damage caused by bad weather. While Hooper was in port the British Privateer Schooner Active (Peter Agnew), a vessel of eight guns and forty men, arrived off the port. Agnew lay to and hoisted the American colors. A pilot soon came out and asked Agnew if he wanted anything. Agnew requested fresh provisions and gave the pilot money to pay for them. Agnew asked the pilot if there were any ships in port. The pilot said that there was only an American brigantine bound to Bilbao, which was ready to sail. The pilot thought that the master of the brigantine would be glad of an escort to that port, if Agnew was going that way. Agnew said he was. When the pilot went ashore he duly reported the conversation to Knapp.

On 10 January (or 11 January) Hooper came out and closed to the privateer. Knapp observed a small two masted vessel, with no flag or sign of nationality, that appeared to be a fishing vessel. When Hooper drew closer Knapp recognized the vessel as an armed British schooner and ran for the beach, intending to run aground. The Active pursued the Hooper, firing on her. When Hooper was within a musket shot of the beach, Knapp and his crew abandoned the Hooper, getting ashore on the brigantine’s boat. Knapp then went to the Spanish authorities and filed a formal legal protest against the actions of the Active. Agnew took possession of the Hooper and brought her into Guernsey on 16 January 1778. Her cargo was estimated to be worth £10000.

As it happened there were a number of American privateers in port at the time, as well as the Continental Navy Cutter Revenge (Captain Gustavus Conyngham). Conyngham was not present, but Lieutenant John Beach organized a rescue expedition using the cutter. She was double manned, including many volunteers from the crews of the American privateers in port and sailed the same day (10 January or 13 January). Although the Hooper was not found the Americans did take the ship Hope and sent her into port.

[NDAR, XI, 918 and 919 notes, 920 and note, 934-935, 984-985 and notes, 1014-1016 and 1016 note]