young cromwell connecticut schooner [wattles hilliard ... · (2) commander benjamin hilliard 5...

Young CromwellSchooner [ ](1) Commander William Wattles WattersConnecticut Privateer Schooner 5 June 1779-September 1779

(2) Commander Benjamin Hilliard5 October 1779-December 1779(3) Commander William WattlesJanuary 1780-March 1781(4) Commander Jonathan Buddington

[ ]March 1781- 20 May 1781(5) Commander Benjamin Hilliard

[ ]May 1781- 10 July 1781(6) Commander William Reed16 July 1781-1 November 1781(7) Commander John Cook6 November 1781-23 November 1781

Commissioned/First Date: 5 June 1779Out of Service/Cause: 23 November 1781/captured by HM Frigate Amphion

Owners: Joseph Williams et al, of Norwich, Connecticut

Tonnage:

Battery: Date Reported: 5 June 1779Number/Caliber Weight Broadside10/Total: 10 cannon/Broadside: 5 cannon/Swivels:

Date Reported: 5 October 1779Number/Caliber Weight Broadside10/Total: 10 cannon/Broadside: 5 cannon/Swivels:

Date Reported: October 1779

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Number/Caliber Weight Broadside16/Total: 16 cannon/Broadside: 8 cannon/Swivels:

Date Reported: 22 May 1780Number/Caliber Weight Broadside12/Total: 12 cannon/Broadside: 6 cannon/Swivels:

Date Reported: 30 March 1781Number/Caliber Weight Broadside12/Total: 12 cannon/Broadside: 6 cannon/Swivels:

Date Reported: 16 July 1781Number/Caliber Weight Broadside10/Total: 10 cannon/Broadside: 5 cannon/Swivels:

Date Reported: 6 November 1781Number/Caliber Weight Broadside12/Total: 12 cannon/Broadside: 6 cannon/Swivels:

Crew: [ ](1) 5 June 1779: 46 total[ ](2) 5 October 1779: 46 total

[ ](3) 16 July 1781: 46 total[ ](4) 6 November 1781: 46 total

Description:

Officers: (1) First Lieutenant John Cook, 5 June 1781-6 November1781; (2) [ ] [ ]Second Lieutenant Henry Wattles, June 1781-

Cruises: [ ](1) New London, Connecticut, to, 10 June 1779-



(2) to New London, Connecticut, 26 September 1779

(3) New London, Connecticut to New London, Connecticut,October 1779-December 1779

(4) New London, Connecticut to Saint Domingue, French[ ] [ ]West Indies, January 1780- February 1780

(5) Saint Domingue, French West Indies to Warren, Rhode[ ] [ ]Island, February 1780- 15 March 1780

(6) Warren, Rhode Island to New London, Connecticut, -12April 1780

(7) New London, Connecticut, to New London,[ ]Connecticut, 25 April 1780-17 May 1780

(8) New London, Connecticut to Norwich, Connecticut, [ ]10August 1780-14 September 1780

(9) Norwich, Connecticut to New Bern, North Carolina,[ ]October 1780- December 1780

(10) New Bern, North Carolina to Norwich, Connecticut, -14 March 1781

(11) Norwich, Connect [ ]icut to Norwich, Connecticut, 1[ ]April 1781- 15 April 1781

(12) Norwich, Connecticut to, Norwich, Connecticut, 18 April1781-1 May 1781

(13) Norwich, Connecticut to New London, Connecticut, [ ]5May 1781-16 May 1781

(14) New London, Connecticut to New London, Connecticut,[ ]1 June 1781-11 June 1781

(15) New London, Connecticut to New London, Connecticut,[ ]15 June 1781-8 July 1781

(16) New London, Connecticut to New London, Connecticut,[ ]17 July 1781-30 July 1781



(17) New London, Connecticut to New London, Connecticut,[ ]5 August 1781-1 November 1781

(18) New London, Connecticut to sea, [ ]10 November 1781-23 November 1781

Prizes: (1) Brigantine Nancy, [ ]25 June 1779, with ConnecticutPrivateer Sloops Beaver and Hancock

(2) Sloop Peggy [ ] (Heman Kenney), 5 September 1779

(3) Brig Walpole (William Robertson), [ ]5 September 1779,with Connecticut Privateer Sloop Retaliation

(4) Brig Endeavour (George May), [ ]10 September 1779,with Connecticut Privateer Sloop Retaliation

(5) Sloop Fly [ ], 10 September 1779

[ ] [ ](6) Sloop unknown , 20 September 1779

[ ] [ ](7) Brig unknown , 20 September 1779

(8) British Privateer Sloop Dolphin (David Hunter), 7 April1780, with Connecticut Privateer Schooner Bunker Hill

(9) Sloop Sally, [ ]1 May 1780, off Sandy Hook, New Jersey

(10) Ship Jenny (William Hamilton), [ ]13 May 1780, withConnecticut Privateer Schooner Hawk and ConnecticutPrivateer Sloop Sally (Commander Seth Warner)

(11) Schooner [ ]unknown , 19 August 1780, off Huntingdon,New York, with Connecticut Privateer Sloop Hamlin and anunknown privateer.

[ ] [ ](12) unknown , December 1780

(13) Brigantine Rochester [ ], February 1781

[ ] [ ](14) Brig unknown , 7 April 1781

[ ](15) British Privateer Boat unknown , 18 April 1781

[ ](16) Sloop unknown , 18 April 1781



[ ](17) Sloop unknown , 18 April 1781

(18) Brig Salem [ ] (James Searing), 25 April 1781

(19) Brigantine Jenny (Francis Croser), April 1781

(20) Sloop Tabitha, 14 May 1781, with Rhode IslandPrivateer Sloop Kingbird

(21) Schooner Dispatch, [ ]14 May 1781, with Rhode IslandPrivateer Sloop Kingbird

(22) Schooner Success [ ]15 May 1781, with Rhode IslandPrivateer Sloop Kingbird

(23) Brigantine Society, [ ]21 June 1781, with ConnecticutPrivateer Sloop Randolph

(24) Brig Neptune [ ], 22 June 1781

[ ] [ ](25) Brig unknown , 4 July 1781

(26) British Privateer Schooner Surprize (David Ross). [ ]25July 1781

[ ](27) Sloop unknown , 10 August 1781

(28) Schooner Hazzard, 11 August 1781, with ConnecticutPrivateer Sloops Randolph and Active

(29) HM Sloop Swallow (Commander Thomas Wells), 16August 1781, with Connecticut Privateer Brigs Hancock,Randolph, and Sampson

(30) Brig Venus, 16 August 1781, with Connecticut PrivateerBrigs Hancock, Randolph, and Sampson

(31) British Transport Ship Achilles (David Stanhouse), 3September 1781, with Connecticut Privateer Sloop Randolphand Rhode Island Privateer Sloop Success

(32) British Transport Ship Williamson (Christopher Reed),3 September 1781, with Connecticut Privateer SloopRandolph and Rhode Island Privateer Sloop Success



(33) Brig Peggy (Peter Jenkins), 13 October 1781, withConnecticut Privateer Brig Sampson

(34) British Privateer Schooner Betsey (John Robinson), 27October 1781

Actions: (1) Action with the Dolphin, 7 April 1780(2) Action with Swallow, 15 August 1781

Comments:

Connecticut Privateer Schooner Young Cromwell was first commissioned on 5 June 1779 underCommander William Wattles1 [ ]Watters of Norwich, Connecticut. She was reported as beingarmed with ten guns and as having a crew of forty-five men. Young Cromwell was bonded for$5,000 by Wattles, and by Joseph Williams and William Coit, both of Norwich.2 She was owned

&by Joseph Williams Co. of Norwich.3

Young Cromwell was at sea soon after. On 29 June,4 the 100-ton brigantine Nancy5 arrived atNew London, a prize to the Young Cromwell. She was bound from Halifax, Nova Scotia with acargo of fish, oil and potatoes, and had a British Commissary of Prisoners aboard as a passenger.The brig had been captured with the assistance of the Connecticut Privateer Sloop Beaver(Commander William Havens) and the Connecticut Privateer Sloop Hancock (Commander PeterRichards).6 Nancy was advertised for sale on 21 July 1779, with the sale to be held on 26 July.7

The “large” sloop Peggy (Heman Kenney) sailed from Halifax, Nova Scotia about mid-August1779. She was bound for either New York, New York8 (or, perhaps, the West Indies)9 with a

1 Middlebrook, Maritime Connecticut During the Revolution, II, 246

2 NRAR, 494; Middlebrook, Maritime Connecticut During the Revolution, II, 246; Emmons, 169, where Watters is“Walters,” and Young Cromwell is a sloop.


4 The Connecticut Gazette and the Universal Intelligencer [ New ]London , Thursday, July 1, 1779. Young Cromwell isreferred to as the Little Cromwell here. See also The Connecticut Courant [ ] Hartford , Tuesday, July 6, 1779.

5 The Connecticut Gazette and the Universal Intelligencer [ ] New London , Wednesday, July 26, 1779

6 The Connecticut Gazette and the Universal Intelligencer [ New ]London , Thursday, July 1, 1779. Young Cromwell isreferred to as the Little Cromwell here. See also The Connecticut Courant [ ] Hartford , Tuesday, July 6, 1779.

7 The Connecticut Gazette and the Universal Intelligencer [ ] New London , Wednesday, July 26, 1779


9 The American Journal And General Advertiser [ ] Providence , Thursday, September 16, 1779



cargo of lumber,10 spars and masts.11 At some time during her voyage she fell in with the brigWalpole (William Robertson), bound to New York from Cork, Ireland with a cargo of bread,flour, beef and butter. The two British vessels sailed together.12 Peggy was out twenty days13

when, about 4 September 1779, she was captured by the Young Cromwell.14 Meanwhile,Connecticut Privateer Sloop Retaliation (Commander Azariah Whittlesey) joined Young Cromwellto capture the Walpole. Peggy was sent into New London, Connecticut, where she arrived on 8September.15 She was libeled on 15 September and tried on 5 October 1779.16 Walpole was alsolibeled on 15 September (Retaliation joined the libel) and also tried on 5 October 1779.17 Walpole,listed as 160 tons, was advertised for sale on 13 October, with the sale to be held on 21 October.18

Massachusetts Privateer Brigantine Endeavour (Commander George May)19 sailed from Boston,Massachusetts for the West Indies20 in 1779 with a cargo of lumber and fish. She was armed withfour 4-pounders and some swivel guns.21 En route May captured (perhaps re-captured) a brig withtobacco. Soon after this the crew rose on May and took charge of the brig. They steered for NewYork, New York. Off New York the Endeavour was pursued by the Connecticut PrivateerSchooners Young Cromwell (Commander William Wattles) and Eagle (Commander David Brooks),and the Connecticut Privateer Sloops Retaliation (Commander Azariah Whittelsey) and Gates(Commander Timothy Sage). The mutineers ran her ashore on the back of Long Island andescaped. The brig was gotten off with no damage.22 She was sent into New London, Connecticut,where she arrived about 8 September 1779. Endeavour was libeled on 15 September and tried on




13 The Independent Ledger, and the American Advertiser [ ] Boston , September 27, 1779

14 The Connecticut Gazette and the Universal Intelligencer [ ] New London , Wednesday, September 15, 1779




18 The Connecticut Gazette and the Universal Intelligencer [ ] New London , Wednesday, October 13, 1779

19 Allen, Massachusetts Privateers of the Revolution, 122


21 The Connecticut Gazette and the Universal Intelligencer [ ] New London , Wednesday, October 13, 1779

22 The Independent Ledger, and the American Advertiser [ ] Boston , September 27, 1779



5 October 1779.23 Endeavour, with her cargo and guns, was advertised for sale on 13 October, withthe sale to be held on 21 October.24

A fourth prize was also a re-capture, bound from the West Indies to Boston.25

Young Cromwell was at sea on 20 September, when she sighted a fleet of forty sail, including fiveor six large ships, at 40EN, 20EW, steering North by West.26

The 40-ton Sloop Fly (Alexander McCaskie)27 was at sea when she was captured by ConnecticutPrivateer Sloop Beaver (Commander William Havens), Young Cromwell, and Connecticut PrivateerSloop Gates (Commander Timothy Sage) in September 1779. Fly was en route from St. Johns,Newfoundland to New York, New York with a cargo of fish and wine.28 She was sent in to NewLondon, Connecticut, arriving on 25 September,29 and was libeled on 29 September, and tried andcondemned on 5 October 1779.30 An advertisement for her sale appeared on 13 October, with thedate of sale given as 21 October. As usual she was described as “well found” and a “prime sailer.”31

On 25/26 September Young Cromwell, Hancock, Beaver, and Gates all came into New London.32

Young Cromwell was commissioned again on 5 October 1779, with Benjamin Hilliard as her newcommander. She is listed as being armed with ten guns and as having a crew of forty-five men.She was bonded for $5000.33


24 The Connecticut Gazette and the Universal Intelligencer [ New ]London , Wednesday, September 15, 1779, Wednesday,October 13, 1779



27 The Connecticut Gazette and the Universal Intelligencer [ New ]London , Wednesday, October 13, 1779; Middlebrook,Maritime Connecticut During The Revolution, II, 55

28 The Providence Gazette; And Country Journal, Saturday, October 2, 1779, datelined Boston, September 30, 1779

29 The Providence Gazette; And Country Journal, Saturday, October 2, 1779, datelined Boston, September 30, 1779


31 The Connecticut Gazette and the Universal Intelligencer [ New ]London , Wednesday, October 13, 1779; Middlebrook,Maritime Connecticut During The Revolution, II, 55


33 The bond is listed in the Tenpound catalogue. http://www.tenpound.com/173/41.html. Accessed 7/28/2009. Hilliard appearsas “Willard” in the extracts.



The story of the following voyage is given by a member of Young Cromwell’s crew, EbenezerAverill. Averill, in a later pension application, said: “That in the latter part of Sept or first ofOctober 178034 he again sailed from New London on board the privateer schooner Young Cromwellcarrying sixteen guns and commanded by Capt. Hilliard for a three months cruise that said vesselsailed first to the banks of Newfoundland where they cruised for some time without success andfrom thence sailed to New York and cruised off that place in hopes to intercept some vesselsengaged between Hallifax and New York. That while they were on that station they fell in witha fleet of thirty nine sail of British vessels convoyed by a fifty gun ship which gave chase to themand in order to escape they were compelled to throw overboard all their guns but two by whichmeans they succeded in escaping and returned to New London, from which place the applicantreturned home to Norwich aforesaid.”35 A conservative estimate would put Young Cromwell backfrom her cruise about December 1779.

An advertisement for the distribution of prize money appeared on 5 January 1780. The proceeds ofthe brigantine Nancy, brigantine Walpole, brigantine Endeavour, sloop Peggy, and sloop Fly wereto be paid to the crew.36 Wattles seems to have resumed command of the Young Cromwell at thistime.

Young Cromwell seems to have gone on a voyage to Saint Domingue, French West Indies duringthe following winter. She arrived in Warren, Rhode Island, perhaps in mid March 1780. Wattlesreported he sailed from Saint Domingue and fell in with a French merchant convoy of seventeensail. He mistook these for a fleet of Spanish and French warships bound for South Carolina orGeorgia, although he sailed with them for five days. He parted from the fleet and arrived atWarren ten days later.37

Young Cromwell was at sea in April 1780, sailing with Connecticut Privateer Schooner Bunker Hill(Commander Sanford Thompson). On 7 April Bunker Hill and Young Cromwell fell in with theBritish Privateer Sloop Dolphin (David Hunter), ten guns and a crew of twenty-one men. Dolphinwas en route from St. Kitts, British West Indies with a cargo of rum. A hot fight followed,during which Thompson was wounded. Lieutenant Smith took charge of the Bunker Hill andcaptured the Dolphin. Bunker Hill had Lieutenant Samuel Stow and another man killed andThompson and three men wounded. Young Cromwell had three men wounded in the fight.38 Thetwo privateers arrived at New London on 12 April.39 Dolphin was advertised for sale on 21 April,

34 Averill is off by one year, October 1779 is correct.

35 Pension Application of Ebenezer Averill, transcribed at “Geneaology Trails,” accessed 2010

36 The Connecticut Gazette and the Universal Intelligencer [ ] New London , Wednesday, January 5, 1780

37 The Connecticut Gazette and the Universal Intelligencer [ ] New London , Friday, May 12, 1780

38 Middlebrook, Maritime Connecticut During The Revolution, II, 63, 246-247; The Independent Ledger, and the AmericanAdvertiser [ ] Boston , April 24, 1780, datelined New London, April 14

39 The Connecticut Gazette and the Universal Intelligencer [ ] New London , Friday, April 14, 1780



with the auction to take place on 6 May 1780. She was listed as 90 tons and armed with ten 4-pounders. She was libeled on 21 April, with her trial set for 4 May.40

On 5 May Wattles sent into port41 the 40-ton sloop Sally,42 with a cargo of lumber. She wastaken off Sandy Hook as she was trying to get into New York. Sally was a re-capture, havingbeen taken in Delaware Bay by a small privateer from New York, along with some other coastingvessels.43 Sally was advertised for sale on 16 June 1780, with the sale set for 19 June.44

Nearly two weeks later, on 17 May, the 400-ton ship Jenny (William Hamilton45 [ ] Hambleton )arrived in New London, escorted in by the Young Cromwell, Connecticut Privateer Schooner Hawk(Commander Gideon Olmstead) and Connecticut Privateer Sloop Sally (Commander Seth Warner).She was from Whitby, England bound for New York, with a cargo of coal, cordage and duck.46

She was quickly advertised for sale, with the auction to be held on 15 June 1780. Six 4-poundersand nine 6-pounders, presumably her battery, were to be sold at the same time.47 Jenny was libeledon 26 May, with her trial set for 14 June 1780.48

Young Cromwell began preparing for sea again. The British newspapers in New York reportedthat Young Cromwell was fitting out in New London on 22 May 1780. She was reported as beingarmed with twelve guns.49 On 4 August 1780 an advertisement appeared in the newspapernotifying the crew to report aboard. Young Cromwell was now ready to sail.50

Young Cromwell sailed with or met the Connecticut Privateer Sloop Hamlin (Commander DavidBrooks). On 19 August, an unknown privateer brig joined these two in an attack on a schoonerpacket bound from New York to England with several passengers aboard. The schooner was armedwith ten 4-pounders. She was driven ashore near Huntingdon. All the crew and passengers got



42 The Connecticut Gazette and the Universal Intelligencer [ ] New London , Friday, June 16, 1780




46 The Providence Gazette; And Country Journal, Saturday, May 27, 1780, datelined New London, May 19



49 The New-York Gazette; and The Weekly Mercury, May 22, 1780

50 The Connecticut Gazette and the Universal Intelligencer [ ] New London , Friday, August 4, 1780



ashore except two. The schooner was immediately retrieved and sent into the Connecticut River.51

The schooner had tried to get out by the main entrance to New York Harbor several times, buthad been chased back in by American cruisers. This led the British skipper to try going by wayof Long Island Sound.52

Young Cromwell continued to cruise, unsuccessfully, until mid-September 1780. She encountereda British frigate, which chased her into Norwich, Connecticut on 14 September.53

After refitting, Young Cromwell sailed from Norwich on a cruise in October 1780. After beinggone for a long time people began to suspect she had been lost. Then on 23 January 1781, a reportarrived in Connecticut that she was safe and had put into New Bern, North Carolina. She hadbrought in a prize with a cargo of wine and cloth.54

Around the first of February 1781 another prize of the Young Cromwell’s arrived at Newport. Shehad a cargo of salt and dry goods.55 This was probably the Bermudian-built 100-ton brigantineRochester, “well found, and a fast sailer.” She was advertised for sale at Providence, Rhode Islandon 14 February, with the auction to be held on 27 February.56

Young Cromwell returned from this cruise, arriving in Norwich, on 14 March 1781. She was saidto have taken several prizes, all of which had safely arrived in port.57 Following this cruise Wattlesleft the Young Cromwell for another command.

A new commander was soon chosen, Jonathan Buddington, of Groton, Connecticut.58 A recruitingadvertisement, dated 27 March, appeared in the New London paper on 30 March, requesting YoungCromwell’s crew to report aboard. She was then laying at Norwich and was to sail in a few days.Young Cromwell was said to be armed with twelve guns.59

51 The Independent Ledger, and the American Advertiser [ ] Boston , Monday, September 4, 1780


53 The Connecticut Gazette and the Universal Intelligencer [ ] New London , Friday, September 15, 1780

54 The Norwich Packet and the Weekly Advertiser, Tuesday, January 23, 1781

55 The Norwich Packet and the Weekly Advertiser, Tuesday, February 6, 1781

56 The American Journal And General Advertiser [ ] Providence , Wednesday, February 14, 1781

57 The Norwich Packet and the Weekly Advertiser, Thursday, March 15, 1781


59 The Connecticut Gazette and the Universal Intelligencer [ ] New London , Friday, March 30, 1781



Young Cromwell was at sea in early April 1781. On 14 April60 a brig with a cargo of wine andlemons arrived at Newport, Rhode Island,61 bound from Madeira to New York,62 taken by theYoung Cromwell.63 On 18 April 1781 Young Cromwell made a sortie from Norwich over to LongIsland. She captured a “gun boat of the enemy’s, which has been for some time hovering aboutour harbours and retook two sloops belonging to New London,” all of which arrived in NewLondon on the morning of 19 April. The Young Cromwell was in chase of a schooner belongingto Norwich when the prizes parted from her.64

Later in April Buddington re-captured65 the 115-ton66 brig Salem (James Searing), with a cargo offish and lumber. She was sent into New London,67 arriving on 1 May 1781,68 and was tried there.69

Salem was formerly of Salem, Massachusetts, and was escorted into port by the Young Cromwell.She was advertised for sale on 4 May, with the sale to be held on 16 May. Salem was pierced forfourteen guns.70 She was libeled on 1 June 1781, with her trial set for 13 June.71

Another prize captured about this time was the 170-ton brigantine Jenny (Francis Croser), witha cargo of wine. She was bound from the Madeira Islands to New York, New York, and was sentinto Providence, Rhode Island. Jenny was libeled in the Rhode Island Court of Admiralty on 21April 1781 and tried on 7 May 1781.72

Buddington was quickly back at sea. On 13 May he was off Sandy Hook. A large fleet was

60 The American Journal And General Advertiser, Wednesday, April 18, 1781

61 The Norwich Packet and the Weekly Advertiser, Thursday, April 19, 1781







68 The Norwich Packet and the Weekly Advertiser, Friday, May 4, 1781




72 The Providence Gazette and Country Journal, Saturday, April 21, 1781



sighted there, some at anchor and some under sail.73 About the same time Young Cromwellcaptured,74 with the assistance of the Rhode Island Privateer Sloop Kingbird (Commander WilsonJacobs), the 40-ton75 sloop Tabitha, in ballast, in Jones Inlet on the south side of Long Island.76

She was sent into New London, arriving on 15 May.77 Tabitha was advertised for sale on 25 May,with the auction to be held on 28 May.78

Around mid-May 1781 Young Cromwell and the Kingbird were still sailing together. They fell inwith a small schooner named the Dispatch, bound from Halifax to New York, with dispatches inthe care of Lieutenant Douglas of the Royal Navy. Douglas commanded HM Schooner Observer,based at Halifax, Nova Scotia. The little schooner was captured by the two privateers and sentinto Bedford, Massachusetts, but most of the mail was destroyed. Douglas was taken aboard theYoung Cromwell and brought into New London by Buddington. The Young Cromwell arrivedfrom her short cruise on 16 May.79

About the same time as the Dispatch was captured, the two captured a small schooner.80 Theschooner was the 15-ton Success, which was sent in to Providence. Success was libeled on 28 July1781, and tried on 13 August 1781.81

Buddington now left the Young Cromwell and Benjamin Hilliard resumed her command. Arecruiting advertisement for sailors appeared in the New London paper on 24 May, listing Hilliardas the commander. Young Cromwell was ready to sail and the crew was directed to reportaboard.82 First Lieutenant John Cook of New London seems to have been aboard. The newcommission for Young Cromwell may have been issued on 5 June 1781.83 On 11 June 1781 YoungCromwell returned to New London from this short cruise.84








80 The Providence Gazette, and Country Journal, Saturday, May 19, 1781

81 The Providence Gazette and Country Journal, Saturday, July 28, 1781


83 Claghorn, Naval Officers of the American Revolution, 71




About 20 June Connecticut Privateer Sloop Randolph (Commander Augustus Peck) sailed, steeringfor the waters off Sandy Hook.85 Randolph soon met the Young Cromwell. The pair captured thebrigantine Society. The prize had been bound from Philadelphia to the West Indies with a cargoof flour and lumber. Society was captured by the British Privateer General Arnold, and orderedin to New York. She was then captured by the Randolph and Young Cromwell.. Peck broughtthe prize into port on 24 June.86 Society was libeled on 27 June 1781, with her trial set for 29 June,being noted as a capture and a re-capture.87 She was advertised for sale on 6 July, being listed as150 tons, with the sale to be held on July 13 at Norwich Landing.88

On 25 June 1781 Hilliard brought the new brig Neptune into port. She had been captured by theBritish ship Assurance. Neptune was bound from the Piscataqua River to Martinique with a cargoof fish and lumber aboard. Assurance’s prize crew of a midshipman and nine men were kept asprisoners.89 Neptune was advertised for sale on 6 July 1781, with the auction to be held on13 July.She was stated to have been built in New Hampshire as a privateer, and to be capable of mountingfourteen guns.90

Again at sea in early July 1781, Young Cromwell recaptured a brig from Salem, Massachusetts. Aprize crew was put aboard and she was ordered into New London. The prize met a British frigatenear Long Island. The prize crew took to the boats and got safely ashore, but the prize wasrecaptured. Young Cromwell returned to port on 8 July.91

Young Cromwell was re-commissioned on 16 July 1781, being listed with ten guns and with a crewof forty-five men, under Commander William Reed, of Norwich. Her new bond for $20,000 wasexecuted by Reed, William Coit, Jr., of Norwich, and John Alden of Lebanon, Connecticut.92 Reedwas described as age 43, a middling set man with dark hair tinged with grey, light complexion,six feet four inches tall.93 First Lieutenant John Cook was described as age 28, five foot seven



87 The Norwich Packet and the Weekly Advertiser, Thursday, June 28, 1781

88 The Connecticut Gazette and the Universal Intelligencer [ ] New London , Friday, July 6, 1781




92 NRAR, 495; Middlebrook, Maritime Connecticut During the Revolution, II, 246; Emmons, 169, where and YoungCromwell is a sloop.




inches tall, well set, with black eyes, long hair and his face pitted with smallpox.94

Young Cromwell returned from a short cruise on 30 July 1781, bringing in the British PrivateerSchooner Surprize (David Ross). Surprize was armed with eight 4-pounders and one 12-poundermounted in the bow, and had a crew of forty-five men. She was captured two days after shesailed from Sandy Hook.95 Surprize was libeled on 24 August 1781, with her trial set for 30 August.She was advertised for sale the same day, with the auction set for 28 August. Surprize was saidto measure 70 tons and to be a “remarkable fast Sailer.”96

On 11 August 1781,a sloop in ballast arrived at New London, captured by the Young Cromwellin Long Island Sound and sent into port.97 The next day98 the 60-ton 99 British schooner100

Hazzard (David Galbreath)101 arrived in New London. She was bound from the Penobscot River,Massachusetts [ ]Maine to New York,102 with a cargo of lumber.103 Hazzard had been captured bythe Young Cromwell, Connecticut Privateer Sloop Randolph (Commander Augustus Peck) andConnecticut Privateer Sloop Active (Commander Charles Bulkley).104 Hazzard was advertised forsale on 24 August, with the auction to be held on 28 August.105 She was libeled on 31 August 1781,with her trial set for the same day.106

HM Sloop Swallow was a brig rigged sloop-of-war, purchased in Dover in 1779. She measured79N5O length on the deck, 60N2O length on the keel, 26N7O beam, 10N2O depth in the hold, andmeasured 226 54/94 tons. Swallow was armed with fourteen 4-pounders to which four 18-poundercarronades were later added. In August of 1781 her crew of eighty men was commanded by
















Commander Thomas Wells.107 About mid-July 1781 Swallow was sent from Antigua to New York,New York with dispatches.

On 15 August 1781108 Swallow was nearing the entrance to New York Harbor, being about thirty-six miles from Sandy Hook, New Jersey. She had with her the brig Venus, a prize recapturedduring her voyage. Some of Wells’s crew would have been aboard the Venus, perhaps ten or so,as her prize crew. Four American privateers appeared from the haze and began chasing Swallow.These got between Swallow and the land, cutting her off from the shore.109 Wells ran north, notliking the odds of four to one too much.

The American privateers were the Connecticut Privateer Schooner Young Cromwell (CommanderWilliam Reed), armed with ten 4-pounders and with a crew of forty-five men, Randolph, armedwith sixteen 4-pounders and a crew of ninety men, Connecticut Privateer Brig Hancock(Commander Peter Richards), with sixteen 6-pounders guns and ninety men, and ConnecticutPrivateer Brig Sampson (Commander David Brooks), eighteen 6-pounders and 100 men.110 TheAmericans had been cruising about the waters off the entrance to New York for some time,interrupting British trade and taking prizes. Sampson had had a previous fight with Swallow. Theaction that resulted was more of a long range chase.

As Wells ran north he passed by New York. The shore of Long Island lay ahead, which was“friendly” territory for the British. At the entrance to the Great South Bay, at the end of FireIsland, Wells ran the Swallow ashore. Venus also went ashore. Both were under continual firefrom the four privateers. The vessels were evacuated and the British escaped ashore. Although theAmericans tried to get the two brigs afloat they could not. Both were burned by the Americans111

on 16 August.112

Young Cromwell, on 3 September 1781, was about nine miles south of Southampton, Long Island.At 0500 Young Cromwell was standing to windward with the wind at southwest, when shesighted two sail to the southeast, about fifteen miles distant. Young Cromwell put about in chase.At 0530 two more sail were seen to the east northeast, about twenty-seven miles distant. At 0730

107 Mr. Brooks’s e-mail 6/2/2009

108 The Pennsylvania Packet or the General Advertiser [ ]Philadelphia , Tuesday, September 4, 1781, datelined New London,August 24, 1781

109 The Pennsylvania Packet or the General Advertiser [ ]Philadelphia , Tuesday, August 28, 1781, datelined New York,August 22



112 The Pennsylvania Packet or the General Advertiser [ ]Philadelphia , Tuesday, August 28, 1781, datelined New York, August22



she caught the first prize, the 200-ton ship Achilles. Cook was sent aboard as prize master andsoon made sail after the Young Cromwell. At 0815 the second ship surrendered. This prize was the100-ton ship Williamson. The other two sail were now close to the land about six to nine milesaway. Young Cromwell and her prizes bore away and the two strangers chased, coming up inabout two hours.113 These proved to be the Connecticut Privateer Sloop Randolph (CommanderAugustus Peck) and Rhode Island Privateer Sloop Success (Commander John Burroughs Hopkins).These helped secure the prizes by furnishing prize masters and men.114

The Achilles and the Williamson were both Navy transports. British Transport Ship Achilles(David Stanhouse), bound from Deptford, England with a cargo of provisions for the Royal Navy.She sailed from Portsmouth, England bound for St. Kitts on 27 November 1780, and sailed fromSt. Kitts for New York on 1 August 1781. Stanhouse was at 40E30NN, 74EW when he wascaptured. Achilles was owned by Walter Cope and William Bignal & Co. Of London, England.Achilles was sent into New London, arriving on 4 September. British Transport Ship Williamson(Christopher Reed),115 owned by John Buntin and Boyn of Hull, England, was a Navy Victualler.She had loaded with provisions at Deptford and sailed from Portsmouth on 12 March 1781, for St.Kitts. She sailed from St. Kitts for New York on 1 August 1781. Reed was removed to the YoungCromwell when she was captured.116 Both prizes were sent into New London.117 Both were libeledon 9 November with trial set for 27 November 1781.118 Achilles was advertised for sale on 28September 1781, with the sale to take place on 4 October 1781. She was listed as “British built,”and 350 tons.119 Her sale did not go off, and she was re-advertised on 12 October, being listed as270 tons, with the sale to be held on 18 October.120 Williamson, listed as 300 tons, was advertisedon 28 September and sold on 4 October, along with some 4-pounder guns.121

On 13 October 1781, Young Cromwell and Sampson were near Fire Island Inlet, on the south sideof Long Island. She fell in with the brig or brigantine Peggy (Peter Jenkins), bound from Quebec,Quebec to New York with a cargo of lumber. The prize was owned by Alexander Brimer ofHalifax. She had sailed from Quebec on 12 September 1781. Lieutenant Henry Wattles of theYoung Cromwell went aboard as prize master. By consent of Reed, Jenkins was allowed to stay

113 Middlebrook, Maritime Connecticut During the Revolution, II, 249, 250

114 Middlebrook, Maritime Connecticut During the Revolution, II, 250, 251




118 The Connecticut Gazette and the Universal Intelligencer [ ] New London , Friday, November 9, 1781


120 The Connecticut Gazette and the Universal Intelligencer [ ] New London , Friday, October 12, 1781




aboard. She was sent into New London, arriving 18 October, where she was condemned.122 Peggywas advertised for sale on 26 October 1781, with the auction to be held on 30 October. She wassaid to be 140 tons. Her cargo of lumber was sold at the same time.123 She was libeled on 16November 1781, with her trial set for 27 November.124

A few days later, on 27 October, Young Cromwell fell in with the 75125 or 80-ton126 BritishPrivateer Schooner Betsey (John Robinson)127 near the lighthouse at Sandy Hook. Betsey was armedwith six guns and had a crew of sixteen men. She was en route from Halifax128 with a cargo offish, fish oil, essence of spruce,129 and bound for New York. Betsey was captured and brought intoNew London on 1 November 1781.130 Betsey was advertised for sale on 16 November, with the saleto take place on 29 November. She was noted to be “Virginia built.”131

Following this cruise Reed left the Young Cromwell. Young Cromwell' s new, and last, commanderwas the same John Cook who had served as First Lieutenant under Reed. He was commissionedon 6 November 1781. The 'schooner s battery was increased to twelve guns, but the crew remainedat forty-five men. She was bonded for $20,000 by Cook and by Seth Harding and Elisha Coit,all of New London.132

Cook soon had the Young Cromwell at sea. She had the misfortune to fall in with HM FrigateAmphion (Captain John Bazely) on 23 November 1781 and was captured.133 The prize was sent into New York and had arrived there before 30 November. The local papers gloated on the capture:Young Cromwell was “one of the New-London reptiles” which had been “very mischievous in

122 Middlebrook, Maritime Connecticut During the Revolution, II, 248; The Connecticut Gazette and the UniversalIntelligencer [ ] New London , Friday, October 19, 1781

123 The Connecticut Gazette and the Universal Intelligencer [ ] New London , Friday, October 26, 1781









132 NRAR, 495; Middlebrook, Maritime Connecticut During the Revolution, II, 246; Emmons, 169

133 “List of Prizes taken by His Majesty’s Ships employed in North America, from November 11, 1781, to March 23, 1782”[ ]Digby’s Prize List , in The London Gazette, Tuesday, April 23, to Saturday, April 27, 1782



enterprizes against the British trade.”134 The news of her capture was reported in Norwich on 12December.135

The crew of the Young Cromwell was sent to the prison ships. Seventeen died of a violent fever;136

their names were listed in the New London paper on 3 May 1782.137 Cook escaped by loweringhimself into the water and swimming ashore during the night. He returned to New London on 11May 1782. Cook sailed for Demerara as master of the Connecticut Privateer Schooner Turn ofTimes, but was captured again and sent to Bermuda.138

134 The New-York Gazette; and The Weekly Mercury, Monday, December 3, 1781, datelined 30 November

135 The Norwich Packet and the Weekly Advertiser, Wednesday, December 12, 1781






young cromwell connecticut schooner [wattles hilliard ... · (2) commander benjamin hilliard 5...

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