Name of Vessel:

Little John

Master of Vessel:

Joseph Pratt

Rig of Vessel:

Brig

Date of Capture:

14 June 1777

Place of Capture:

102 miles southeast of Cape Ann, Massachusetts

Captor:

HM Frigate Milford

Home Port:

Salem, Massachusetts

From What Port:

South Carolina

To What Port:

Salem, Massachusetts

Cargo:

Rice

Tonnage:

Battery:

Crew:

Owners:

Elias Hasket Derby of Salem, Massachusetts

Prize master:

Prize crew:

Ordered Into:

Halifax, Nova Scotia

Into What Port:

Halifax, Nova Scotia

Date Arrived:

Date Tried:

Date Sold:

Action:

No

Recaptured:

No

Comments: HM Frigate Milford (Captain William Burnaby) was cruising about 102 miles southeast of Cape Ann, Massachusetts on 14 June 1777. At 0630 she sighted a sail to the northwest and chased in light winds and fair weather. The chase surrendered as the British frigate approached. She was the brig Little John (Joseph Pratt) bound from South Carolina to Salem, Massachusetts with a cargo of rice. Little John was owned in Salem by Elias Hasket Derby. She was sent in to Halifax, Nova Scotia.

[NDAR, IX, 108-109 and 109 note; “The following is a List of Vessels seized as Prizes, and of Recaptures made, by the American Squadron, between the 27^th of May and 24^th of October, 1777, according to the Returns received by Vice Admiral Lord Viscount Howe,” in The London Chronicle, Tuesday, December 2, to Saturday, December 6, 1777]