found of Capt. Elisha Hinman in command in April of that year, as he participated in the capture of the British privateer sloop Game Cock, Charles Letelier late master, according to Court decree granted April 28th.

In May, 1779, Captain Hinman of the sloop Hancock also took the British schooner Mulberry, Philip Ohier late master. (N. L. Court, June 10, 1779.) Also recorded is his capture of the British privateer brig Bellona, Thomas Lawrence late master; and the privateer sloop Lady Erskine, Edward Drew late master (in company with the American sloop Beaver).

The last commander of the Hancock was Capt. Peter Richards, who, on June 4, 1779, captured the British privateer sloop Ariel, Captain Hagins, 12 hours from Sandy Hook. She had a battery of 12 guns. He also took the British sloop Eagle, also with 12 guns, from New Providence to New York, off Sandy Hook on June 6th, this being the 9th prize credited to the Hancock since March, 1779.

On Aug. 31, 1779, Capt. Lodowick Champlin, who was given command, sent in the British schooner Little William, Samuel Daniel late master, from Bermuda; also the British brig Strumpet from Jamaica, with a cargo of rum, John Angeles late master. (N. L. Court, Oct. 5, 1779.)

The next record of the Hancock is on June 2, 1780, when Captain Richards took her out for another cruise and sent into New London the British brig Friendship, Wm. Robinson late master, with 306 pipes of Madeira wine for the British officers in New York.

Again on Aug. 25, 1780, Captain Richards sent in a British schooner laden with naval stores.

And still again, on Sept. 2, 1780, he captured the British privateer Hibernia, of 10 guns, commanded by Capt. Hannah; and on Sept. 5th, the privateer sloop Venus. The Hancock was formerly a prize and was originally the Whim.

In March, 1781, Capt. Thomas Chester was taken by the enemy in the Iquebo River and sent to the West Indies.

HANCOCK, Brigantine.

Peter Richards of Norwich, commander; commissioned July 18, 1782. 18 guns, crew 110. Bonded for $20,000 by Peter

Richards, Jabez Perkins and Jos. Howland, all of Norwich. Owned by Thos. Mumfard, Joseph Packwood and Howland & Coit of Norwich.

This brig may have made some captures under the command of Captain Richards, but no record of them has as yet appeared in Connecticut courts. In the spring of 1783 the brig Hancock is, however, found in command of Capt. Joseph Conkling, who on April 2, 1783, while cruising on the high seas, in Lat. 40° N. Long. 73° W. fell in with, seized and captured the British brigantine Lyon of White Haven, England, Henry Moore late commander, and Francis Mitchell as prize-master and six others from the Hancock brought the prize into New London for libel. There were no papers found in the Lyon, which was owned by James Speading & Co. of White Haven, merchants. Capt. Joseph Conkling's commission is dated Dec. 30, 1782, and describes him as 43 years old, 5 feet 10 inches tall, gray eyes and brown complexion. Jasper Griffing, his First Lieutenant, aged 36 years, 5 feet 7 inches tall, light eyes and dark complexion. The Hancock was then owned by Giles Mumford. Favorable decree was granted libelants in N. L. County Court.

HANCOCK, Brigantine.

Lodowick Champlin of New London, commander; commissioned Oct. 30, 1781. 16 guns, crew 90. Bonded for $20,000 by Lodowick Champlin, Patrick Robertson and Thomas Coit of Norwich. Owned by Thomas Mumford & Co. Witnessed by Gurdon Saltonstall and Sallie Gardiner.

On June 1, 1782, she captured the British brigantine Thetis in Lat. 39° N. Long. 74° W., bound from New York to Charleston, commanded by Peter Robinson, and sent her into New London. According to the register of the Thetis she was owned by Mathias Nicoll of New York, a square-sterned brig of 80 tons, mounting 2 carriage guns and manned by 8 men, and was a prize of the same name taken by John Bagaley, Captain of his Majesty's Ship of War Amphitrite, and condemned by the Vice Admiralty Court at New York Aug. 22, 1782. Her clearance papers dated June 3, 1782, gave her

cargo as wine, brandy, flour, tea, soap, candles and merchandise for the British garrison of Charleston under bond of £1000. This was a valuable prize. (Decree granted N. L. Court.)

On the 23d of June, she captured the British schooner Mercury in Lat. 39° N. Long 74° W., 2 guns, 7 men, with cargo of provisions for British garrison at New Providence. Capt. Champlin's commission describes him as 35 years old, 5 feet 9 inches tall, gray eyes, dark brown short hair, dark complexion and middling well set.

HANCOCK, Brigantine.

Hezekiah Perkins of Norwich, commander; commissioned Sept. 16, 1782. 8 guns, crew 16. Bond, $20,000. Bonders, Hezekiah Perkins, John Alden and Elisha Lathrop Jr. Owners, Howland, Coit & Co., Norwich. Armed for the merchant service with West Indian ports. No record of captures.

HARRISON, Schooner.

On October 24, 1775, by order of General George Washington, Captain William Coit of Norwich, then in Parson's Regiment before Boston, marched with his company to Plymouth, Cape Cod, and took command of the privateer Harrison, 4 guns, 10 swivels. In a letter written by Jedediah Huntington to Jabez Huntington of Norwich, dated Roxbury Camp, Nov. 9, 1775, he states that "Capt. Coit in one of our privateers has taken two vessels from Nova Scotia to Boston with provisions and live stock." Captain Coit being also a mariner was detailed by General Washington for this duty to annoy enemy vessels approaching Boston at that time. The Harrison was one of the very first privateers to be made ready for service. In the Marine Letter Book of the Navy Committee of the Continental Congress (Prizes & Captures No. 25) is an Agreement between Daniel Adams mariner, of Plymouth, and Ephraim Bowen in behalf of General Washington for the use (charter) of the schooner Harrison between Cape Cod and

Cape Ann from October 16, 1775 until discharge. This paper contains the conditions, etc.

Captain Coit returned home about January 1st, 1776, on the disbandment of his regiment, and re-entered the Naval service later as Captain of the Colony Ship Oliver Cromwell; and still later in the privateering service again. Pownal Deming was a sergeant under Captain Coit in his company and vessel. His Instructions from General Washington are dated October 22, 1775, and are as follows:

Washington's Commission to Captain Coit
For Naval Service.

Instructions to Capt. Coit, commander of the armed schooner
HARRISON.

1. You being already appointed a Captain in the Army of the United Colonies of North America, are hereby directed to take command of a Detachment of said Army, and proceed on board the armed schooner Harrison, lately fitted out & equipped with Arms, Ammunition & Provisons at the Continental expense.

2. You are to proceed as Commander of said schooner immediately on a cruise against such vessels as may be found on the High Seas or elsewhere, bound inward or outward to or from Boston, in the Service of the Ministerial Army, & to take and seize all such vessels laden with Soldiers, Arms, Ammunition or Provisions for or from said Army, or which you shall have good Reasons to suspect are in such Service.

3. If you should be so Successful as to take any of said Vessels, you are immediately to send them to the nearest and safest Port to this Camp under a careful Prize Master, directing him to notify me by Express immediately of such Capture with all Particulars & there to wait any further direction,

4. You are to be very particular and diligent in your Search after all Letters or other Papers tending to discover the Designs of the Enemy or of any other kind, and to forward all such to me as soon as possible.

5. Whatever Prisoners you may take you are to treat with kindness & Humanity as far as is consistent with your

own Safety, the private Stock of Money & Apparel to be given them after being duly searched, & when they arrive at any Port you are to apply to the Committee or to any officer of the Continental Army stationed at such Port for a Guard to bring them up to Head Quarters. 6. For your own encouragement & that of the other officers and men to Activity and Courage in the Service over and above your Pay in the Continental Army, you shall be entitled to one third Part of the Cargo of every vessel by you taken & sent into Port (military & naval stores only excepted, which with the vessels & apparel are reserved for the Public Service) which said third Part is to be divided among the officers & men in the following Proportions:

7. You are particularly charged to avoid any Engagement with any vessel of the Enemy, tho' you may be equal in Strength or may have some small advantage; the Design of this Enterprise being to Intercept the supplies of the Enemy, which will be defeated by your running into unnecessary engagements. In this your own Discretion & Prudence must Govern.

8. As there may be other vessels employed in the same service with yourself, you are to fix upon proper Signals & your Stations be settled so as to take the greatest Range, avoid cruizing on the same grounds. If you should happen to take prizes in sight of each other, the Rules which take place among private Ships of War are to be observed in the Distribution of the Prize Money.