May 1778 Saturday 30
Cape Ann [Mass.] N77W 50 Lgs. at 5 AM up Top Gallt Yards out 2d Reefs & TKd Ship at 7 Saw a Sail to the NW Commdre.1 made the Raisonables Sigl. to Chace ½ past 9 Saw a Sail to the So: made Sail & gave chace ⅌ Sigl. at Noon all sails sett—
Cape Sable N20°E 33 Lgs: First parts Fresh Breezes & Clear Middle & latter Mode. & Do: ½ past Meridian Carried away the Starbd Main Topmst. Steering sail Boom ½ past 3 Came up with the Chace she prov’d a Privateer Brigg2 from Boston of 12 Guns and 64 Men had been out 3 Days. took out the Prisoners & sent onbd 2 petty Officers & 15 Men ½ past 6 TKd: & made Sail, prize in Co: at 12 Tkd:
D, UkLPR, Adm. 51/118, part 3, fols. 111–12.
1. Capt. Charles Feilding, commanding H.M. frigate Diamond and senior naval officer present.
2. Massachusetts privateer brigantine Washington, 115 tons burthen; its capture was credited to Blonde, Diamond and Scarborough. Gambier’s Prize List, 20 Dec. 1778. The London Gazette, 2–6 Feb. 1779. According to the application for a letter of marque, Washington’s captain was Nathaniel Wardell of Boston; it mounted 12 carriage guns; had a crew of 80; was commissioned on 25 May 1778; and was owned by William Shattuck and others, of Boston. M-Ar, Revolutionary Rolls Collection, vol. 7, pp. 299, 300; Mass. Archives Collection, vol. 168, p. 313. Capt. John Milligan entered a libel in the Vice Admiralty Court of Nova Scotia against Washington on 3 June and on 23 June the court condemned it as a lawful prize of H.M. frigate Blonde. John Fox, prize master, testified that Washington mounted twelve 3, 4 and6-pounders, and had stores for a three months’ cruise. CaNSHP, Vol. 496, Vice Admiralty Register, vol. 6 (1777–1782), pp. 137–38.
