Capture of Mellish, 12 November 1776
Capture of Mellish 12 November 1776, Dept of Naval Revolutionary War Ship Print
Some (Men) may be familiar with this print if they've used the urinal at Elijah Churchill's. Tim came across the print a few years back and as it represents an interesting story and is loosely connected to our band he framed it and hung it in the john.
The painting is part of a collection of original artwork by water color in the Bailey Collection.
It was a momentous event in that
"Jones noted that "this Prize is I believe the most Valuable ship that hath been taken by the American Arms . . the clothing on board of her is the last intended to be sent out for Canada this season . . . I will not loose Sight of a prize of such importance but will sink her rather than suffer her to fall into their hands." Jones reported over sixty prisoners, of whom forty were soldiers and sailors. The value of the cargo was reputed to be £60000, an astounding figure. A London paper later gave the amount as £80000"
British Army Transport Ship Mellish (Joseph Stevenson) was a former Royal Navy bomb vessel, the Thunder. She was selected to transport a large amount of clothing to the British army in Canada for the winter and spring campaigns. Mellish was fitting out in England on 9 August 1776. The owners agreed to arm the transport with six 3-pounders and six swivels and furnish the ship with ten pounds of gunpowder as protection against American warships and privateers. On 21 August the British Navy Board ordered another master and mate selected for the Mellish, the present ones having declared that they would not defend the ship if attacked. Joseph Stevenson was selected as master. On 28 August the Admiralty took further precautions as to the Mellish: HM Frigate Richmond (Captain John Lewis Gidoin) being ordered to take the Mellish and British Troop Transport King George under escort for Quebec. Further, a Midshipman Samuel Horsenail was placed aboard the Mellish to "explain" convoy directions to her master. Gidoin was to send another midshipman and a good petty officer aboard to assist Horsenail. Stevenson was required to sign an affidavit promising to defend Mellish if she were attacked. Finally, an officer and twenty soldiers were placed aboard. With these precautions in place Mellish sailed with her convoy and escort. The Richmond, transport Union, and another transport (possibly the Mellish), got to the mouth of the St. Lawrence River where icing conditions and a severe northwest wind prevented the convoy from getting up the river. The three British vessels then bore away for Halifax, Nova Scotia.
Off Cape Breton, near Louisburg, and 120 miles south of Halifax, she encountered Continental Navy Ship Alfred (Captain John Paul Jones) and Continental Navy Sloop Providence (Captain Hoysteed Hacker). She was first sighted by Midshipman Stephen Rust of the Providence, part of the prize crew of the Active. Providence and Alfred both pursued the ship, taking such a pounding from the stormy seas that Providence began leaking badly. Nevertheless, as First Lieutenant of Marines John Trevett reported "the Ship haled dawn her colours to the Sloop Providence," encouraged by the Alfred and prize brigantine Active bearing down. Trevett reported she had twelve cannon and sixty or seventy in her crew. According to Jones "She made some defence but it was triffling." Jones noted that "this Prize is I believe the most Valuable ship that hath been taken by the American Arms . . . the clothing on board of her is the last intended to be sent out for Canada this season . . . I will not loose Sight of a prize of such importance but will sink her rather than suffer her to fall into their hands." Jones reported over sixty prisoners, of whom forty were soldiers and sailors. The value of the cargo was reputed to be £60000, an astounding figure. A London paper later gave the amount as £80000. Trevett noted her cargo as "10,000 suits of Soldiers Clothing ready made, a set of light-horse accoutrements with carbines and a valuable invoice of Medicine chests...trunks of silk gowns and dry goods suitable for Gen. Burgoynes army at Quebeck." In addition to the cargo, Jones also obtained the private recognition signals for British warships in North America.
First Lieutenant Philip Brown of the Providence was assigned to the Mellish as prize master, and the prisoners removed to the Alfred. Jones proceeded to fit out the Mellish, as much as he was able, to function as a warship, manning her and putting ten guns on the ship. On 15 November he ordered Brown to stay near Alfred, follow Jones' signals, and render assistance if an engagement should occur. If separated from Alfred Brown was to make for Rhode Island by way of Nantucket Shoals. On 25 November Jones ordered Brown to keep station two to three cable lengths on the Alfred's starboard quarter. Mellish stayed with Alfred until 8 December 1776, when they parted company during the brief fight with HM Frigate Milford, Jones last seeing her steering to the south.
As soon as Alfred made port in Boston (16 December) and reported that Mellish was still at sea, the Massachusetts authorities tried to get some of the Continental Army schooners out looking for her, without success. John Bradford (Continental Agent for Massachusetts) finally did get one schooner out, and sent out an advice boat from Dartmouth. This boat found Mellish at Martha's Vineyard and directed her into Dartmouth, Massachusetts on 20 December. Since Deputy Continental Agent Leonard Jarvis was absent, John Proud took charge of Mellish, sending an express rider to inform Bradford. Bradford ordered her unloaded and the clothing secured for the Army. According to Trevett "As soon as they arrived, without trial, for the Malech, she was onloaded, and all the clothing taken out and waggons prepared to send them on to Gen. Washington's army, at that time his army being in a distressed situation for clothing, and in this Ship was every article complete for a Soldier, from the hat, to the shoes, and at that time I can say with pleasure I had rather taken her than s Spanish Galleon with hard money, although we took Continental money for our parts of all the prizes." Mellish was libeled on 26 December 1776 and tried on 14 January 1777.
The arrival of this prize and others from the Cape Breton Expedition provoked an immense and prolonged wrangle over prize money, News of the capture of the Mellish had arrived in London by Christmas Day 1776. On 16 January 1777 Jones, in a letter to Robert Morris, first proposed converting the Mellish to a warship, pointing out that she could carry eighteen to twenty 9-pounders on one deck and was considerably less crank than the Alfred. Jones suggested that Alfred be used in the Secret Committee service to France. The next day John Bradford endorsed that opinion in a letter to the Secret Committee. On 29 January Bradford reported to Morris that he proposed to buy the Mellish, and again passed along Jones' opinion. On 1 February 1777 the "superintendent" of the Mellish, (Midshipman) Thomas Newberry petitioned the Massachusetts General Court for leave to depart for France (changed to Cork, Ireland on 17 February), which was granted. The same day "Superintendent" Samuel Horsenail was on a list of British prisoners aboard the cartel sloop Nancy, to be exchanged at Newport.
On 17 February Bradford noted, in a letter to Morris, that he had held back the sale of the Mellish, awaiting orders from the Marine Committee. He added that the expenditure of £1200 would make her an "Excellent twenty gun ship." Bradford repeated the request for orders for the Mellish in a letter to John Hancock on 20 February. On 4 March 1777 Bradford informed the Secret Committee that he intended to purchase the Mellish for that committee within two weeks. Two days later Bradford so informed Morris. On 7 March Bradford ordered Jarvis to purchase the Mellish when she came up for sale. Finally, on 27 March, the Marine Committee, through Morris, transmitted orders to Bradford to purchase the vessel. On 9 April 1777 Bradford reported to the Marine Committee and the Secret Committee that he had purchased the ship for £1020. By 15 April Bradford was pressing Jarvis to prepare to send Mellish to Boston to begin her conversion to a warship. By 24 April Bradford was ordering Jarvis to begin the alterations at Bedford. After a close examination by Jones, Jarvis, Captain Thomas Thompson, and a local shipwright, Bradford reported, on 15 May 1777 that the Mellish was not ideal for a warship, and requested further orders. Jones informed the Marine Committee on 26 May as to her shortcomings.
Some (Men) may be familiar with this print if they've used the urinal at Elijah Churchill's. Tim came across the print a few years back and as it represents an interesting story and is loosely connected to our band he framed it and hung it in the john.
The painting is part of a collection of original artwork by water color in the Bailey Collection.
It was a momentous event in that
"Jones noted that "this Prize is I believe the most Valuable ship that hath been taken by the American Arms . . the clothing on board of her is the last intended to be sent out for Canada this season . . . I will not loose Sight of a prize of such importance but will sink her rather than suffer her to fall into their hands." Jones reported over sixty prisoners, of whom forty were soldiers and sailors. The value of the cargo was reputed to be £60000, an astounding figure. A London paper later gave the amount as £80000"
British Army Transport Ship Mellish (Joseph Stevenson) was a former Royal Navy bomb vessel, the Thunder. She was selected to transport a large amount of clothing to the British army in Canada for the winter and spring campaigns. Mellish was fitting out in England on 9 August 1776. The owners agreed to arm the transport with six 3-pounders and six swivels and furnish the ship with ten pounds of gunpowder as protection against American warships and privateers. On 21 August the British Navy Board ordered another master and mate selected for the Mellish, the present ones having declared that they would not defend the ship if attacked. Joseph Stevenson was selected as master. On 28 August the Admiralty took further precautions as to the Mellish: HM Frigate Richmond (Captain John Lewis Gidoin) being ordered to take the Mellish and British Troop Transport King George under escort for Quebec. Further, a Midshipman Samuel Horsenail was placed aboard the Mellish to "explain" convoy directions to her master. Gidoin was to send another midshipman and a good petty officer aboard to assist Horsenail. Stevenson was required to sign an affidavit promising to defend Mellish if she were attacked. Finally, an officer and twenty soldiers were placed aboard. With these precautions in place Mellish sailed with her convoy and escort. The Richmond, transport Union, and another transport (possibly the Mellish), got to the mouth of the St. Lawrence River where icing conditions and a severe northwest wind prevented the convoy from getting up the river. The three British vessels then bore away for Halifax, Nova Scotia.
Off Cape Breton, near Louisburg, and 120 miles south of Halifax, she encountered Continental Navy Ship Alfred (Captain John Paul Jones) and Continental Navy Sloop Providence (Captain Hoysteed Hacker). She was first sighted by Midshipman Stephen Rust of the Providence, part of the prize crew of the Active. Providence and Alfred both pursued the ship, taking such a pounding from the stormy seas that Providence began leaking badly. Nevertheless, as First Lieutenant of Marines John Trevett reported "the Ship haled dawn her colours to the Sloop Providence," encouraged by the Alfred and prize brigantine Active bearing down. Trevett reported she had twelve cannon and sixty or seventy in her crew. According to Jones "She made some defence but it was triffling." Jones noted that "this Prize is I believe the most Valuable ship that hath been taken by the American Arms . . . the clothing on board of her is the last intended to be sent out for Canada this season . . . I will not loose Sight of a prize of such importance but will sink her rather than suffer her to fall into their hands." Jones reported over sixty prisoners, of whom forty were soldiers and sailors. The value of the cargo was reputed to be £60000, an astounding figure. A London paper later gave the amount as £80000. Trevett noted her cargo as "10,000 suits of Soldiers Clothing ready made, a set of light-horse accoutrements with carbines and a valuable invoice of Medicine chests...trunks of silk gowns and dry goods suitable for Gen. Burgoynes army at Quebeck." In addition to the cargo, Jones also obtained the private recognition signals for British warships in North America.
First Lieutenant Philip Brown of the Providence was assigned to the Mellish as prize master, and the prisoners removed to the Alfred. Jones proceeded to fit out the Mellish, as much as he was able, to function as a warship, manning her and putting ten guns on the ship. On 15 November he ordered Brown to stay near Alfred, follow Jones' signals, and render assistance if an engagement should occur. If separated from Alfred Brown was to make for Rhode Island by way of Nantucket Shoals. On 25 November Jones ordered Brown to keep station two to three cable lengths on the Alfred's starboard quarter. Mellish stayed with Alfred until 8 December 1776, when they parted company during the brief fight with HM Frigate Milford, Jones last seeing her steering to the south.
As soon as Alfred made port in Boston (16 December) and reported that Mellish was still at sea, the Massachusetts authorities tried to get some of the Continental Army schooners out looking for her, without success. John Bradford (Continental Agent for Massachusetts) finally did get one schooner out, and sent out an advice boat from Dartmouth. This boat found Mellish at Martha's Vineyard and directed her into Dartmouth, Massachusetts on 20 December. Since Deputy Continental Agent Leonard Jarvis was absent, John Proud took charge of Mellish, sending an express rider to inform Bradford. Bradford ordered her unloaded and the clothing secured for the Army. According to Trevett "As soon as they arrived, without trial, for the Malech, she was onloaded, and all the clothing taken out and waggons prepared to send them on to Gen. Washington's army, at that time his army being in a distressed situation for clothing, and in this Ship was every article complete for a Soldier, from the hat, to the shoes, and at that time I can say with pleasure I had rather taken her than s Spanish Galleon with hard money, although we took Continental money for our parts of all the prizes." Mellish was libeled on 26 December 1776 and tried on 14 January 1777.
The arrival of this prize and others from the Cape Breton Expedition provoked an immense and prolonged wrangle over prize money, News of the capture of the Mellish had arrived in London by Christmas Day 1776. On 16 January 1777 Jones, in a letter to Robert Morris, first proposed converting the Mellish to a warship, pointing out that she could carry eighteen to twenty 9-pounders on one deck and was considerably less crank than the Alfred. Jones suggested that Alfred be used in the Secret Committee service to France. The next day John Bradford endorsed that opinion in a letter to the Secret Committee. On 29 January Bradford reported to Morris that he proposed to buy the Mellish, and again passed along Jones' opinion. On 1 February 1777 the "superintendent" of the Mellish, (Midshipman) Thomas Newberry petitioned the Massachusetts General Court for leave to depart for France (changed to Cork, Ireland on 17 February), which was granted. The same day "Superintendent" Samuel Horsenail was on a list of British prisoners aboard the cartel sloop Nancy, to be exchanged at Newport.
On 17 February Bradford noted, in a letter to Morris, that he had held back the sale of the Mellish, awaiting orders from the Marine Committee. He added that the expenditure of £1200 would make her an "Excellent twenty gun ship." Bradford repeated the request for orders for the Mellish in a letter to John Hancock on 20 February. On 4 March 1777 Bradford informed the Secret Committee that he intended to purchase the Mellish for that committee within two weeks. Two days later Bradford so informed Morris. On 7 March Bradford ordered Jarvis to purchase the Mellish when she came up for sale. Finally, on 27 March, the Marine Committee, through Morris, transmitted orders to Bradford to purchase the vessel. On 9 April 1777 Bradford reported to the Marine Committee and the Secret Committee that he had purchased the ship for £1020. By 15 April Bradford was pressing Jarvis to prepare to send Mellish to Boston to begin her conversion to a warship. By 24 April Bradford was ordering Jarvis to begin the alterations at Bedford. After a close examination by Jones, Jarvis, Captain Thomas Thompson, and a local shipwright, Bradford reported, on 15 May 1777 that the Mellish was not ideal for a warship, and requested further orders. Jones informed the Marine Committee on 26 May as to her shortcomings.
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