USA > Massachusetts > Essex County > Newburyport > History of Newburyport, Mass., 1764-1905, Volume I > Part 48
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Given under our hands, and the seal of the said Colony, at Watertown, the 20th day of February, in the sixteenth year of the reign of his Ma- jesty King George the Third.
By their Honours command.
PEREZ MORTON, Deputy Secretary.
Signed :- B. Greenleaf, W. Spooner, Caleb Cushing, T. Cushing, John Wetcomb, Jedediah Foster, Eldad Taylor, B. Lincoln, Michael Farley, J. Palmer, Moses Gill, Jabez Fisher, B. White, S. Holton, and John Taylor.I
May 7, 1776, the brig Yankee Hero, Capt. James Tracy, master, carrying twelve carriage guns and six swivels, sailed from Newburyport for Boston, with twenty-six men, including officers, intending to take the rest of her crew at the last named port.2 Flying a flag, occasionally displayed on the sea coast of New England, with a white field and a pine tree in the centre, she fell in with the English frigate Milford, carrying twenty-eight guns, on the afternoon of that day, and after a desperate fight was compelled to surrender. Four of her crew were killed and thirteen wounded, including Captain Tracy who was struck in the thigh by a cannon ball. The wounded officers and men were sent to Halifax ; twelve able-
1 American Archives, fourth series, vol. VI., p. 748.
2 The brig Yankee Hero was evidently captured May 7, 1776, as stated by Nathaniel Tracy in his petition to the General Court, printed on the next page, but some writers have erroneously given the seventh day of June, 1776, as the correct date.
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HISTORY OF NEWBURYPORT
bodied seamen were transferred to the Milford; the second lieutenant, Robert Tracy, and others uninjured were taken in the brig Yankee Hero to the lower harbor in Boston, where several English ships-of-war were waiting reinforcements.1
On the tenth day of June, the following petition was pre- sented " to the hon'ble Council of the Colony of Massachusetts Bay."
Nathaniel Tracy of Newburyport in the County of Essex, merchant, lately one of the owners of the Yankee Hero Privateer [humbly shews] that on the seventh day of May instant the said Privateer was unfortu- nately engaged with a ship of Force belonging to the enemy & after an engagement of more than two Hours Length she was taken & carried into Boston Harbour.
Your Petitioner has Reason to believe that the Hon'ble Major General Ward, if your Honours shall see fit to recommend the measure to him, would send a Flag to the Commander of the Enemy's Fleet & propose an Exchange of Prisoners taken by some of the Vessells of this Col- ony for the brave men who were taken in said Privateer. An Inter- position of this kind your Petitioner humbly conceives would not only relieve a number of our Friends who deserve well of the Community & have repeatedly exerted themselves in its Defence, but be an encourage- ment to others more freely to engage in the same service when they may be assured that in Case of their misfortunes they will not be neglected, and as in Duty bound will ever pray.
NATL TRACY.2
In answer to this petition the following notice was sent to the commander-in-chief of the Continental Army at Cambridge.
In Council, June 10, 1776.
It having been represented to this Board that the Brig called the Yan- kee Hero lately belonging to Nath1 Tracy Esq. & others has been taken by the enemy & carried into Boston Harbor by which a number of our friends who deserve well of the Community & have repeatedly exerted themselves in its defence, are made prisoners. It is therefore recommended to his Honor Gen! Ward to propose to the Commander of the enemy's fleet in said Harbour an exchange of the same number of prisoners now in our hands for ye men taken in said Yankee Hero.
In the name & by order of the Council.
CALEB CUSHING, Presdt 2
1 American Archives, fourth series, vol. VI., p. 746.
2 Massachusetts Archives, vol. CLXIV., p. 389.
PRIVATEERS IN THE REVOLUTIONARY WAR
623
NATHANIEL TRACY.
On the eighteenth day of July, the following letter, prepared by a committee appointed by the council, was ordered to be sent to General Washington :-
SIR : Messrs Jackson, Tracy & Tracy, Merchants of Newburyport, are very solicitous to procure the Release of the officers & men of their late Privateer (Yankee Hero) which was taken after a brave & manly Resistance by the Milford Frigate ; they are now in the hands of our Enemies. We take leave to recommend their case to yr Excellnys Con- sideration not doubting but you will attend to every application made to you on their behalf by the Gentlemen above named and afford every rea- sonable assistance to accomplish their benevolent purpose; and if they shod be happy enough to affect it, it will give us a particular pleasure, as those men by their past Conduct merit our regard & sho'd they be ob- tained may be greatly serviceable in the American Navy.I
1 Massachusetts Archives, vol. CLXV., p. 122.
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HISTORY OF NEWBURYPORT
Nearly two months later, General Washington, who had superseded General Ward in command of the army at Cam- bridge, wrote Hon. Benjamin Greenleaf of Newburyport as follows :-
I have the pleasure to inform you there is a prospect of an early ex- change of the prisoners taken in the Yankee Hero privateer. As Mr. Tracy negotiated this matter and had an interview with Lord Howe on board the Eagle, man of war, I must refer you to him for particulars.I
Arrangements for the exchange of prisoners were probably completed in the month of September or October following. In a petition to the General Court, dated April 15, 1777, and signed by Jackson, Tracy & Tracy, is the following statement :-
Your petitioners have met with heavy losses by the enemy the past year more especially in an armed Brig, the Yankee Hero, wch was the first vessel of such Force that cruised on our Enemies & was sent out at a Time when many Persons (some of which have since made their Fortunes by privateering) supposed the owners were more likely to meet with an Halter than any good success for their exertions against the enemies of America.2
A silver teaspoon, with the figure of. the privateer Yankee Hero, in bas-relief, on the
1 American Archives, fifth series, vol. I., p. 727.
2 Massachusetts Archives, vol. CCXIII., pp. 325 and 326. Nathaniel Tracy died in 1796. In a memorial presented to congress ten years after his death it was claimed, that from the beginning of the Revolutionary war until peace was declared in 1783, he was the principal owner of one hundred and ten merchant vessels which with their cargoes were valued at $2,733,300 in specie. Twenty-three of these vessels were letters of marque, carrying two hundred and seventy-eight guns and sixteen hundred and eighteen men. All but thirteen, out of a total of one hundred and ten, were lost or captured. He was also principal owner of twenty- four cruising ships, six thousand three hundred and thirty tons register, carrying three hundred and forty guns and twenty-eight hundred men. These ships captured during the war one hundred and twenty vessels, carrying two thousand, two hundred and twenty-five men. The vessels with their cargoes were sold for $3,950,000. From this sum Mr. Tracy contributed $167,219 for supplies furnished the army and merchandise imported for the colonial government. (New- buryport Herald, December 4, 1832.)
YANI
GT
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PRIVATEERS IN THE REVOLUTIONARY WAR
convex surface of the bowl of the spoon, was manufactured and sold by an enterprising silversmith soon after the close of the Revolutionary war. Two of these spoons with the initials of the manufacturer, "G. T.," stamped on the handle were in the possession of one family in Boston for several generations.' They are somewhat worn, but have the figure of a vessel with the name " Yankey Hero " on them as shown in the half-tone print on the opposite page. A third spoon was found in Boston twenty-five or thirty years ago by workmen engaged in laying the foundation of a new building on land where the old Sun tavern formerly stood.
In 1777, a twenty-gun ship, called the Hero, was built in Newburyport for Capt. James Tracy. She was launched on the second day of June and sailed for Cape Ann on the twenty-third day of July. She went ashore on the bar but was hauled off during the night, and proceeded on her voyage.2 In August, the following petition was presented to the presi- dent of the council at the state house in Boston :-
To the Honble Council of the State of Massachusetts Bay.
Humbly shews James Tracy Commander of the armed Privateer Hero that he is now in this Harbour ready for Sea but the naval officer refuses to give him a Pass without a certificate from the treasurer which must be founded on Bonds given by the major Part of the owners who are not here. Your Petitioner conceives that since the Repeal of the Embargo Bill no such Bonds are necessary & if requisite he concludes they must have been given by his owners at Newburyport from where he was fitted out & has passed the Fort there & at Marblehead & is only in this Port as an Harbour. He prays your Honours would be pleased to direct the Naval officer to give him such a Pass as will enable him forthwith to proceed to sea & as in Duty bound will ever pray
ROBERT TRACY.
BOSTON, Aug. 21, 1777. in behalf of Capt. James Tracy.
In Council Augt 21, 1777 Read & Ordered that the Naval Officer be and hereby is directed to permit the above mentioned ship to pass the Forts & proceed to Sea. JNO AVERY, Dy. Secy 3
1 These spoons are now in the possession of Mrs. A. F. A. King of Washing- ton, D. C.
2 Diary of Samuel Horton now in the possession of Mr. Eben Bradbury, New- buryport.
3 Massachusetts Archives, vol. CLXVII., p. 176.
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HISTORY OF NEWBURYPORT
It is supposed that the privateer Hero was lost in a heavy storm soon after she left Boston. Her officers and crew were never heard from.1
May 28, 1776, the Ranger, a snow carrying fourteen guns, Capt. Patrick Dennis, master, brought into Newburyport two ships loaded with military stores and clothing, including eleven thousand pair of shoes, for the British troops in Boston. The next day, the frigate Belleisle, from St. Maloes, arrived with ninety barrels of gunpowder, a few heavy guns with carriages and a great number of bombs and shells for the use of the provincial army.2
Tuesday [June 4, 1776] arrived safe in Newburyport a sloop from Tortola and a schooner from Barbadoes prizes taken by Captain O'Brien in one of the Colony's cruisers.3
The schooner Hawk, Capt. John Lee, was fitted out as a privateer August 13, 1776. She captured the ship Nancy, two hundred tons burthen, Capt. John Cowan, master, bound from Cork to Quebec, and sent her into Newburyport, where she arrived October 24, 1776, with a cargo of provisions and mil- itary stores, consisting of eighty barrels of beef, three hundred and twenty barrels of pork, two hundred firkins of butter, one hundred barrels of oatmeal, three hundred and seventy-four barrels of flour, twelve hundred bushels of peas, sixty-eight thousand pounds of bread, two hundred and seven casks of nails, twenty-two barrels and two half-barrels of gunpowder, one arm chest with balls, sixteen carriage guns and ten swivels.4 Captain Lee subsequently captured several other valuable prizes and sent them into port, but took two captains and a few men with him, in the Hawk, to Bilboa, Spain. There the vessel was detained for several weeks by complications arising from the claim that her commission was fraudulently issued by a government not recognized in the courts of Europe.5
1 History of Newburyport ( Mrs. E. Vale Smith ), p. 106.
2 American Archives, fourth series, vol. VI., p. 629.
3 American Archives, fourth series, vol. VI., p. 800.
4 American Archives, fifth series, vol. II., p. 1245.
5 American Archives, fifth series, vol. II., p. 1091.
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PRIVATEERS IN THE REVOLUTIONARY WAR
The arrival of privateers in Newburyport, with valuable prizes, during the summer and autumn of 1776 was promptly reported by the committee of correspondence and safety to the colonial authorities at the state house in Boston.
NEWBURYPORT, August 16, 1776.
Yesterday Captain Wingate Newman arrived in the privateer named the Hancock from Philadelphia. She brought in a prize (which is now safely anchored before this town), the ship Nancy, from Antigua, Captain Keys, bound to London, having on board about four hundred hogsheads of sugar, ninety of rum, and a few casks of Maderia wine. A lady and several gentlemen were passengers in the above ship. He like- wise brought in with him the sloop Industry, Capt. William Hazen, bound to St. John's in Nova Scotia, in ballast.I
The brigantine Georgia Diana, Peter Rigan, master, cap- tured by the privateer Washington, arrived in Newburyport September fifteenth with two hundred and fifty hogsheads of rum and sugar and about twenty chaldrons of coal. The privateer arrived on the twenty-seventh with another prize loaded with provisions and a few cannon.2
The construction of barracks and other buildings for the use of the army in New York and New Jersey was seriously delayed by the scarcity of nails suitable for that work, and the General Court of the province of Massachusetts Bay ordered, October 25, 1776, that a prize vessel then in Newburyport, not lawfully condemned by the maritime court, " be so far unloaded as to take out of her such a quantity of nails as will be sufficient to answer the present urgent call from General Schuyler."3
October 10, 1776, a commission was granted by the hon- orable council of the province of Massachusetts Bay for the privateer brigantine Dalton, one hundred and sixty tons bur- then, Tristram Dalton and Stephen Hooper, owners, armed with four six, fourteen four, and four two-pound carriage guns and twenty swivels and carrying a crew of one hundred and twenty men all told, Eleazer Johnson, captain, Anthony Knap,
1 American Archives, fifth series, vol. I., p. 990.
2 American Archives, fifth series, vol. II., pp. 346 and 576.
3 American Archives, fifth series, vol. III., p. 411.
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HISTORY OF NEWBURYPORT
first lieutenant, John Buntin, second lieutenant, and Daniel Lunt, master.1
The Dalton sailed from Newburyport on the fifteenth day of November, and was captured December 24, 1776, by the English ship-of-war Reasonable, carrying sixty-four guns. Her officers and men were taken to Plymouth, England, and confined in Mill prison. The trials and hardships they endured are described in detail in the diary of Charles Herbert, published in 1854,2 and in the diary of Samuel Cutler, published in 1878.3 They suffered for lack of nourishing food and warm clothing. Many of them attempted to escape. A few'evaded the vigilance of the guards ; others were detected and placed in irons or confined in a dark dungeon for thirty days.
Mill Prison was a massive stone building in the centre of an extensive court. The court was surrounded by a high wall, and twenty feet be- yond there was another wall, parallel to the first, completely surround- ing it. The only apertures in these walls were a gate in each, the inner one being formed with massive iron bars eight feet high. The outer gate during the day usually was left open so as to allow free communica- tion between the keepers and their dwellings which were placed just out- side the outer wall. Between eight o'clock in the morning and sunset the prisoners were allowed the privilege of the inner court, but at night they were securely locked in the prison house. Many sentinels were sta- tioned among the prisoners in the inner court and in the prison itself, besides the regular patrols in the two encircling walls and at the gates.4 .
The following-named persons were on board the privateer Dalton when she was captured. Many of them were released in 1779 and sailed on the memorable cruise with John Paul Jones in the Bon Homme Richard.
1 American Archives, fifth series, vol. III., p. 380.
2 The Prisoners of 1776; A Relic of the Revolution by Rev. R. Livesey.
3 New England Historical and Genealogical Register, vol. XXXII., pp. 48, 184 and 305.
4 History of American Privateers (Edgar S. Maclay), p. 152.
PRIVATEERS IN THE REVOLUTIONARY WAR
629
Capt. Eleazer Johnston I Ist Lieut. Anthony Knapp I 2nd Lieutenant. John Buntin Daniel Lunt I
Nathaniel Warner
Josiah George I Moses Merrill
Jacob True 2
Alexander Ross I
John George
Offin Boardman I Moses Cross
Ebenezer Brown 3
Thomas Cluston I
Paul Noyes 3
Cutting Lunt 2
Joseph Plummer 3
Wym'd Bradbury
Reuben Tucker
Henry Lunt 2
John Smith 3
Samuel Cutler I
Charles Herbert 3
Francis Little
Joseph Choate 3
Joseph Auslier I
Thomas Bayley 2
Joseph Brewster 2
Nathaniel Bayley 2
Nathaniel Wyer I
Benjamin Carr 3
John Knowlton 5
Samuel Woodbridge
Joseph Racklief
Henry Smith
William Shackford 3
Ebenezer Edwards 3
John Key I
Jonathan Whitmore 4
John Barrenger I
Edward Spooner 4
- Stickney
Daniel Cottle 5
Joseph Poor 3
Ebenezer Hunt 5
The brigantine Vengeance, Capt. Wingate Newman, between three and four hundred tons burthen, mounting twenty guns was fitted out as a privateer in Newburyport. She sailed from Cape Ann August 16, 1778, and in Septem- ber captured several valuable prizes and sent them into port. Dr. Samuel Nye, surgeon on board the Vengeance, in his diary, published nearly a century ago, gave an account of the capture, September seventeenth, of the packet ship Harriot, sixteen guns, Sampson Sprague, commander, bound from Falmouth, England, to New York, and on the twenty-first the packet Eagle, Capt. S. Spencer, twelve guns, bound from New York to Falmouth, England, with considerable specie and sev-
1 Escaped.
2 Sailed with Paul Jones.
3 Sailed in the Alliance.
4 Shipped on English man-of-war.
5 Died.
Richard Lunt 3
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HISTORY OF NEWBURYPORT
eral English officers on board.' The capture of these mail packets was announced in the London Chronicle for October 22-24, 1778, as follows :-
Accounts are just received at the Post Office that the Harriot packet boat (Cape Sprague) with the mail of September for New York was at- tacked and taken on the 18th of September in lat 49° long 22º by the Vengeance, American privateer, carrying 20 six pounders. One man was killed and five wounded on board the Harriot.
Intelligence is likewise received that the Eagle, packet boat (Capt. S. Spencer) from New York for Falmouth was taken on the 21st of Septem- ber in lat 510 26 ' long 19º 27 ' by the same privateer. Col. Howard How- ard, a passenger, and one more, was killed on board the Eagle and six men wounded. The crews of the above packets were put on shore at Corunna and the packets were sent to Newburyport in North America. The mails with the letters were thrown overboard.2
At a later date, the packet Lord Hyde was captured by an American privateer and sent into Newburyport. She was of about two hundred tons burthen, a very fast sailer, and carried eighteen guns. She was sold at auction at Tracy's wharf, Thursday, April 5, 1781, " with all her guns and appurtenances."3
The capture of these packets interrupted the line of com- munication between the English government and the English army in America and cheered and encouraged the patriotic citizens of the province of Massachusetts Bay. That three swift-sailing vessels, bearing government dispatches, army officers and funds for the payment of troops, should be taken after a sharp contest and brought into Newburyport is, to say the least, a noteworthy circumstance that has not received the attention it deserves.
Moses Brown, captain of the ship General Arnold, two hundred and fifty tons burthen, owned by Nathaniel Tracy and others, was granted a commission April 16, 1778, "to cruise against the enemies of the United States."4
' Newburyport Herald,"May 4, 1827; and History of Newburyport (Mrs. E. Vale Smith), p. 117.
2 Pennsylvania Magazine of History and Biography, vol. XIV., p. 93.
8 Independent Chronicle (Boston), March 29, 1781 (Boston Athenæum)."
4 Massachusetts Archives, vol. CLXVIII., p. 263; also, Revolutionary Records, vol. V., p. 316.
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PRIVATEERS IN THE REVOLUTIONARY WAR
This ship, previously engaged in the merchant service, was fitted out with heavy guns and ammunition and sailed from Newburyport early in the month of May following. Captain Brown, in a manuscript journal now in the possession of Hon. Moses Brown, giving an account of this cruise, says : "The first gun that was fired burst and killed or wounded all my. officers ; returned to Newburyport again, proved my guns, and burst four more of them ; got new ones and sailed again in August ; cruised three months and took a brig, which was re- taken, and returned in November."
In February, 1779, Captain Brown sailed on his third cruise in the General Arnold. He had several desperate engagements with English ships and captured several prizes. Thomas Greele, sailing master of the General Arnold, wrote in his diary as follows :-
March 28th Sunday at 6 A. M. St Michaels bore S. S. E. distant nine or ten miles. Saw a sail under St. Michaels which gave us chase. At ten she came up with us and proved to be the British ship Gregson, a Liver- pool privateer, mounting twenty twelve pounders and one hundred and eighty men. After an action of two hours and fifteen minutes, she sheared off and made sail; but we could not come up with her as our spars, rigging and sails were much cut up; her loss unknown but from appearances it must have been deplorable indeed.I
April 4th took the ship William, Capt. John Gregory, from Gib- . . . ralter, bound to New York ; put Mr. Samuel Robinson on board as prize master. . . April 19th anchored in Corunna, in Spain, refitting till May 19th ; at 9 A. M. sailed from Corunna. May 20th Cape Finisterre S. W. eight leagues ; at 6 A. M. saw a sail and gave chase; came up with her at 8 A. M. She proved to be the ship Nanny of Liverpool, Thomas Beynon, master, mounting sixteen six pounders. After an action of an hour she struck but having many shot between wind and water, she soon after sunk ; we having our fore yard cut away and the main mast and rigging much damaged. May 27th put Captain Beynon and two other prisoners on board a Spanish brig bound for Cadiz. May 30th took the brig Despatch from Antigua for Oporto. Sent her to Corunna, Samuel Burbank, prize master. June Ist took a snow laden with fish
1 Sketches of Distinguished Men by Col. Samuel Swett (pamphlet, 1846), p. 13 ; also, History of Newburyport (Mrs. E. Vale Smith), pp. III and 113.
Joseph Brown, son of Captain Brown, says in regard to the escape of the Greg- son that an English newspaper reported "that she had a battle with a rebel frigate of thirty-two guns and beat her off," losing eighteen men, including her first lieutenant, and wounding several others.
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HISTORY OF NEWBURYPORT
from Newfoundland, for Oporto, called the George, Willicot, master. June 4th was captured by His Britannic Majesty's ship, Experiment, fifty guns, Sir James Wallace, commander. So ends our cruise.
THOMAS GREELE, sailing master.I
Captain Beynon in a letter dated Cadiz, June 2, 1779, wrote as follows to the owners of the ship Nanny :-
The following are the particulars of an engagement we had with the General Arnold, Captain Moses Brown, of eighteen six pounders and one hundred men on the 20th of May off Cape Finisterre. Saw a ship in chase of us, and being resolved to know her weight of metal before I gave up your property I prepared to make the best defence I could. Between; 8 and 9 o'clock he came along side with American colors, and three fire pots out, one on each fore yard arm and one at his jib boom end. Hailed and told me to haul down my colors. I desired him to begin and blaze away for I was determined to know his force before I gave up to him. The battle began and lasted two hours, our ships being close together, having only room to keep clear of each other. Our guns told well on both sides ; we were soon left destitute of rigging and sails. As I engaged under top sails and jib, and we were shattered below and aloft, I got the Nanny before the wind, and fought an hour that way, one pump going, till we had seven feet of water in the hold. I thought it then almost time to give up the battle, as our ship was a long time in re- covering her sallies, and began to be water logged. We were so close that I told him I had struck and hauled down my colors.
The privateer [General Arnold] was in a shattered condition ; his fore yard shot away in the slings and lying on her fore castle and a piece out of his main mast, so that he could make no sail until it was fixed : all his running rigging entirely gone, and a great part of his shrouds and back stays. None of his sails escaped except his main sail. By the time we were out of the Nanny, the water was up to her lower deck. When Captain Brown heard the number of men I had he asked me what I. meant by engaging him so long. I told him I was then his prisoner and hoped he would not call me to account for what I had done before the colors were hauled down. He said he approved of all I had done and treated my officers and myself like gentlemen and my people as his own.
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