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This intelligence prompted
Congress on October 13 to authorize the fitting out of two American warships, one of 10 guns and the other of an unspecified size, to attempt to capture these ships and divert their invaluable cargoes to the ill-equipped soldiers of Washington's army. Congress decided, on
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was inactive through the summer for a number of reasons, but high on the list of her problems were want of funds and a shortage of men. On August 7, Capt. John Paul Jones, who had helped to fit her out as a warship and had been her first lieutenant on the cruise to New
Providence, was placed in
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on
October 6, and on December 29 sailed for America. They proceeded via the coast of Africa, where they took a small sloop, and then headed for the West Indies, hoping to add to their score before turning northward for home. On March 9, 1778, near Barbados, they encountered British warships
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October 30, to specify the second vessel as being 14 guns and to add two more ships to the navy, one of 20 guns and the other slightly larger but not to exceed 36 guns. One of the ship's owners, Morris, was a member of the Marine
Committee when that committee acquired the
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joined
Hopkins' sailors in America's first amphibious operation. That evening, Hopkins issued a proclamation which promised not to harm "... the persons or property of the inhabitants of New Providence ..." if they did not resist. The following morning, Governor
714:; and, finally, to head for Rhode Island waters. He was given the discretion of disregarding these orders if they proved impossible and planning an operation of his own. However, by the time his ships broke free of the ice, growing British strength in the
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was selected to superintend changes strengthening her hull, timbers, and bulwarks as well as opening gunports; and
Nathaniel Falconer was made responsible for her ordnance and provisions. Soon four other vessels joined her in the Continental Navy:
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in 1774. No record of her builder seems to have survived, but it is possible that John
Wharton may have constructed the ship. She was owned by Willing, Morris & Co., a merchant trading firm operated by
1038:, of 400 tons (bm), built in Philadelphia, with master "Delamore" and owner T. Seale. Her trade is listed as London – Jamaica. Unfortunately there are no readily available interim or later issues of
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on April 8, the
Americans were at first welcomed as heroes. still, many of the officers of the American squadron voiced dissatisfaction with Hopkins, and he was later relieved of command.
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on August 10 but encountered contrary winds during much of her westward voyage and finally returned to
Philadelphia on October 4. While the ship had been abroad, the
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s tiller ropes, leaving
Hopkins' flagship unable to maneuver or to pursue effectively. The American ships did attempt to chase their fleeing enemy, but after dawn
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Fearing that American commerce would soon be interrupted, her owners were eager to export another cargo to England, so they again raced to load and provision her.
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for some six weeks. A thaw released Hopkins' warships from winter's icy grasp in mid-February, and the fleet sortied on 18 February for its first operation. The
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916:, where their crews burned a transport bound for Canada with provisions, and a warehouse full of whale oil, besides capturing a small schooner to replace
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777:, March 17, the same day that British troops were evacuating Boston. On April 4, during the homeward voyage, Hopkins' ships captured the six-gun British
572:. Moreover, private correspondence, between shipowner Morris, and his trading partner, Richard Champion of Bristol, was brought from England on
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served as the ship's only master during her career as a Philadelphia merchantman. Launched in the autumn of 1774 as relations between the
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which enabled her to escape from her substantially more powerful American opponents. At the outset of the fray, fire from her cannon cut
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The new fleet dropped down the Delaware on January 4, 1776; but a cold snap froze the river and the bay, checking its progress at
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https://www.history.navy.mil/content/dam/nhhc/research/publications/naval-documents-of-the-american-revolution/NDARVolume2.pdf
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https://www.history.navy.mil/content/dam/nhhc/research/publications/naval-documents-of-the-american-revolution/NDARVolume2.pdf
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to obtain military supplies. En route, they captured four small prizes, including brig "Sally" on September 28. They reached
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to capture a large supply of that commodity as well as other military supplies reportedly stored there in great quantity.
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but managed to escape after a four-hour chase. She arrived safely at Boston on December 15 and began a major refit.
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to members of the Continental Congress. It reported that the British Government was sending to America two unarmed
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sailed on May 7, this time bound for London. She did not reach that destination until June 27. The ship left the
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commanding officer in May 1777. She did not get underway until August 22 when she sailed for France with USS
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after 9th century English monarch Alfred of Wessex, four days later, and ordered her fitted out as a
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1124:"Chapter XIX John Paul Jones-Sayre ~ John Paul Jones Public Services & Effect of his Cruises"
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where she was condemned and sold. The Royal Navy purchased her and took her into service as HMS
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but only after he had spirited away most of the island's gunpowder from New Providence to
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fell behind her faster consort. Shortly after noon the British men-of-war caught up with
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on the last day of 1774. It did not return until April 25, 1775, six days after the
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which they reached by mid-November. There they took three prizes: on the 11th, the
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1126:[The Revolutionary Diplomatic Correspondence of the United States].
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After Hopkins stripped the forts of their guns and all remaining ordnance,
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615:. Her former master, John Barry, was placed in charge of her rerigging;
25:
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with coal for the British Army and, on November 26 captured the 10-gun
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to attack British warships which were harassing American shipping in
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and returned to Newport. Her officers and men then shifted to sloop
795:. Shortly after midnight on April 6, Hopkins encountered the 20-gun
588:. A second ship, also owned by Willing Morris & Co. became the
846:, but that vessel struck a "sunken rock" before they could leave
787:
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and forced her to surrender after a half an hour's battle.
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with an assorted cargo, the next day, the armed transport
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The Naval Committee of the Continental Congress purchased
529:
was fitted out quickly so that she could load and sail to
471:, and sold her in 1782. She then became the merchantman
1021:, a sloop of 20 guns. The Admiralty sold her in 1782.
908:
continued her cruise alone. On November 22 boats from
773:
led the American fleet homeward from Nassau harbor on
1216:
881:, laden with winter uniforms for British troops at
467:captured her in 1778, took her into service as HMS
1042:so her history as a merchant vessel is unclear.
817:disappeared over the horizon and safely reached
737:, on the morning of March 3 Hopkins arrived off
1128:Journals of the Continental Congress, 1774–1789
552:had been fought, the other colonies acting in
990:. When the American ships attempted to flee,
8:
1146:"Naval Documents of the American Revolution"
1075:Dictionary of American Naval Fighting Ships
655:, was appointed commodore of the flotilla.
1052:List of ships captured in the 18th century
741:and captured Fort Montague in a bloodless
710:waters; then to render similar service at
1278:Age of Sail frigates of the United States
1069:This article incorporates text from the
659:was acquired on December 3, 1775, Capt.
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1087:
840:, on October 26, 1776, in company with
691:and documented in letters to Congress.
651:, a veteran master of merchantmen from
580:heavily laden with gunpowder and arms.
947:of Liverpool. On the homeward voyage,
20:
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197:
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59:
7:
904:sailed for home soon thereafter and
671:became the first vessel to fly the
439:, and commissioned her as a 24-gun
427:acquired her in 1775, renaming her
836:command of the ship. She departed
607:on November 4, 1775, renaming her
14:
718:prompted Hopkins to head for the
560:in its struggle for freedom, and
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1226:
1192:
1179:. September 12, 1778. p. 2.
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702:had ordered Hopkins to sail for
663:in command, and became Hopkins'
240:
199:
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133:
61:
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421:Prince Edward, Duke of Cornwall
88:Prince Edward, Duke of Cornwall
733:A fortnight after leaving the
1:
1298:Ships of the Continental Navy
961:Captain Elisha Hinman became
885:; and, on the 16th, the scow
525:grew increasingly tense, the
381:Capt. Elisha Hinman (1777–78)
1293:Ships built in Philadelphia
1134:(August 13, 1888): 611–614.
807:a fierce and skillful fight
568:besieging British-occupied
1324:
1283:Age of Sail merchant ships
825:and her consorts put into
712:Charleston, South Carolina
451:participated in two major
445:American Revolutionary War
423:and launched in 1774. The
900:Because of severe leaks,
564:had taken command of the
350:
286:
193:Captured on March 9, 1778
97:Willing, Morris & Co.
54:
23:
1303:Sloops of the Royal Navy
838:Providence, Rhode Island
413:was the merchant vessel
282:Still in service in 1789
127:Sold on December 3, 1775
827:New London, Connecticut
556:had pledged to support
323:15 ft (4.6 m)
315:32 ft (9.8 m)
307:140 ft (43 m)
287:General characteristics
41:, depicting Lieutenant
764:St. Augustine, Florida
399:Battle of Block Island
819:Newport, Rhode Island
550:Battle of Bunker Hill
475:, and sailed between
39:W. Nowland Van Powell
1204:at Wikimedia Commons
331:220 officers and men
49:on December 3, 1775.
897:with oil and fish.
747:Continental Marines
683:was hoisted on the
535:Battle of Lexington
344:10 × 6-pounder guns
341:20 × 9-pounder guns
47:first American flag
1308:Three-masted ships
1176:The London Gazette
1151:. history.navy.mil
1034:for 1789 shows an
920:. Two days later,
914:Canso, Nova Scotia
860:Cape Breton Island
786:and the eight-gun
675:(precursor to the
667:. On the same day
661:Dudley Saltonstall
592:at the same time.
369:Dudley Saltonstall
364:, Master (1774–76)
1197:Media related to
1009:Her captors took
775:St. Patrick's Day
673:"Flag of America"
562:George Washington
457:battles of Nassau
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743:Battle of Nassau
700:Marine Committee
617:Joshua Humphreys
453:naval operations
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735:Delaware capes
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696:Reedy Island
693:
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653:Rhode Island
649:Esek Hopkins
643:
635:Andrew Doria
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527:Black Prince
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502:Pennsylvania
498:Philadelphia
494:Black Prince
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488:Black Prince
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461:Block Island
448:
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419:, named for
416:Black Prince
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292:Tons burthen
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234:Sold in 1782
216:
182:Commissioned
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118:Pennsylvania
114:Philadelphia
78:Black Prince
77:
33:
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18:
16:1774 frigate
1171:"No. 11909"
1155:October 30,
934:Nova Scotia
760:Fort Nassau
745:, in which
720:West Indies
433:9th century
388:Operations:
356:Commanders:
1273:1774 ships
1267:Categories
1083:References
918:Providence
902:Providence
864:brigantine
852:Providence
716:Chesapeake
644:Providence
613:man-of-war
515:John Barry
465:Royal Navy
362:John Barry
328:Complement
226:March 1778
985:HMS
978:HMS
930:Louisburg
871:Liverpool
677:U.S. flag
378:(1776–77)
1109:, pg 647
1097:, pg 441
1046:See also
1015:Barbados
973:L'Orient
963:Alfred's
938:New York
926:colliers
895:Barbados
779:schooner
708:Virginia
685:Delaware
665:flagship
623:Columbus
590:Columbus
554:Congress
521:and the
519:colonies
336:Armament
271:Acquired
266:T. Seale
223:Acquired
164:Namesake
110:Homeport
102:Launched
84:Namesake
1219:Portals
980:Ariadne
968:Raleigh
955:Milford
912:raided
879:Mellish
875:Halifax
843:Hampden
821:. When
815:Glasgow
811:Alfred'
803:frigate
798:Glasgow
728:Bahamas
726:in the
679:). The
531:Bristol
481:Jamaica
441:frigate
174:Ordered
55:History
1210:Alfred
1201:Alfred
1067:
1036:Alfred
1026:Alfred
1019:Alfred
1011:Alfred
1004:Alfred
996:Alfred
992:Alfred
949:Alfred
922:Alfred
910:Alfred
906:Alfred
883:Quebec
867:Active
856:Alfred
833:Alfred
823:Alfred
792:Bolton
771:Alfred
739:Nassau
681:ensign
669:Alfred
657:Alfred
638:, and
609:Alfred
598:Alfred
586:Alfred
570:Boston
546:Thames
477:London
473:Alfred
469:Alfred
463:. The
455:; the
449:Alfred
447:, the
431:after
429:Alfred
410:Alfred
374:Capt.
371:(1776)
367:Capt.
304:Length
257:Alfred
217:Alfred
158:Alfred
34:Alfred
1149:(PDF)
1058:Notes
987:Ceres
891:Gaspé
887:Kitty
640:sloop
629:Cabot
578:brigs
320:Draft
295:440 (
279:Notes
263:Owner
94:Owner
1208:USS
1199:USS
1157:2021
1002:HMS
983:and
953:HMS
945:John
928:off
788:brig
783:Hawk
596:USS
509:and
479:and
459:and
312:Beam
274:1782
253:Name
231:Fate
215:HMS
212:Name
190:Fate
156:USS
153:Name
124:Fate
105:1774
74:Name
30:The
1013:to
936:to
893:to
873:to
37:by
1269::
1173:.
1130:.
1122:.
766:.
647:.
632:,
626:,
537:.
513:.
500:,
483:.
297:bm
116:,
1221::
1159:.
1132:1
1078:.
299:)
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