Name of Vessel:

Mayflower

Master of Vessel:

Rig of Vessel:

Brig

Date of Capture:

10 June 1777

Place of Capture:

Off the Portuguese coast

Captor:

HM Frigate Levant

Home Port:

From What Port:

Lisbon, Portugal

To What Port:

Bristol, England

Cargo:

Tonnage:

Battery:

Crew:

Owners:

Prize master:

Prize crew:

Ordered Into:

Gibralter

Into What Port:

Gibralter

Date Arrived:

22 June 1777

Date Tried:

Date Sold:

Action:

No

Recaptured:

No

Comments: [unknown] Privateer Ship Vigilant (Commander Richard Witear) was fitted out at Dunkerque, France, probably in May 1777. She was armed with fourteen guns. On 9 June 1777 she captured the brig Mayflower, from Lisbon bound to Bristol, and put a prize crew aboard. The next day, about 10 June 1777 Vigilant encountered HM Frigate Levant (Captain George Murray). After a two hour chase the Levant got alongside and a ten minute action ensued before Vigilant struck her colors. One man was killed and three wounded aboard the Vigilant. The prize brig was now seen by the British, running away. A lieutenant and a few men boarded the Vigilant, cut her rigging and sails to disable her from running away, and then re-boarded the Levant. Levant chased the brig. In an hour the brig was recaptured and the prize crew removed, and, two hours later, the British returned to the Vigilant, sending eighteen of their sailors aboard as a prize crew. Both privateer and brig were sent into Gibralter, arriving before 27 June.

[NDAR, IX, 436-437]