Name of Vessel:

Charles

Master of Vessel:

Jeffrey Tapley

Rig of Vessel:

Brig [Brigantine]

Date of Capture:

23 [26] May 1777

Place of Capture:

South of Port Rosaway, Nova Scotia, near George’s Bank

Captor:

HM Frigate Mermaid

Home Port:

From What Port:

Chester

To What Port:

Newfoundland

Cargo:

Salt

Tonnage:

Battery:

Crew:

Owners:

Prize master:

Midshipman Peter Martin

Prize crew:

Ordered Into:

Halifax, Nova Scotia

Into What Port:

Halifax, Nova Scotia

Date Arrived:

Date Tried:

6 June 1777

Date Sold:

Action:

No

Recaptured:

No

Comments: Brig or brigantine Charles (Jeffrey Tapley) was en route from Chester to Newfoundland with a cargo of salt. On 11 May 1777 she was anchored on the Newfoundland Banks when Continental Army Schooner Lee (Captain John Skimmer) appeared and captured the Charles. Skimmer removed ten of her crew and put a prize crew aboard. Charles was ordered into Boston, Massachusetts. On 23 May (or 26 May), to the south of Port Rosaway, Nova Scotia (or near George’s Bank), Charles fell in HM Frigate Mermaid (Captain James Hawker) and was re-captured. The “rebel” prize crew of four men was removed and Midshipman Peter Martin went aboard as prize master with a prize crew. Charles was sent into Halifax, Nova Scotia. She was libeled on 31 May 1777, and condemned on 6 June 1777. The prisoners were sent to the prison ship in Halifax on 16 June.

[NDAR, IX, 40-41 and 41 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]