Racehorse Sloop [William Jones]

American Prize Detail December 1776

Name of Vessel: Racehorse Master of Vessel: Lieutenant William Jones Rig of Vessel: Sloop Date of Capture: 8 December 1776 Place of Capture: At 22 E or 23 EN, near the Turks and Caicos Islands Captor: Continental Navy Brig Andrew Doria Home Port: From What Port: Jamaica, British West Indies To What Port: Cargo: Tonnage: 98 Battery: 10x4 Crew: 60 [] total Owners: Royal Navy Prize master: Prize crew: Ordered Into: Philadelphia, Pennsylvania Into What Port: Philadelphia, Pennsylvania Date Arrived: 25 December 1776 Date Tried: 21 February 1777 Date Sold: 25 February 1777 Action: Yes Recaptured: No

Comments: Continental Navy Brig Andrew Doria (Captain Isaiah Robinson) sailed from St. Eustatius, Netherlands West Indies on 1 December 1776. Andrew Doria had been sent to St. Eustatius to pick up a cargo of munitions and clothing and return them to Philadelphia, Pennsylvania. On 8 December, about 22 E or 23 EN, near the Turks and Caicos Islands, Andrew Doria fell in with HM Sloop Racehorse (Commander William Jones), 98 tons, with ten 4-pounders and a crew of sixty men. Racehorse had previously taken three prizes and had a reduced crew aboard. Andrew Doria was in chase of her when Racehorse ’s last prize parted company, and brought her to action. A “very obstinate engagement” began, which lasted for two hours and forty-five minutes before Racehorse was captured. Andrew Doria had two men killed and one, or “some,” wounded. Her mainmast was shot through and there was some other damage. Racehorse had eight wounded including Jones (wounded in the right arm), and several killed, although the number was unknown. She had three shots through her mast, her sails shot up and “much damage

Comment on this or any page at our ©awiatsea.com-posted December 2020 --1-- done to her.” Jones “defended her obstinately & is certainly a brave Man.” Jones was taken aboard the Andrew Doria and arrived at Philadelphia with the brig on 24 December. The Racehorse was ordered into Philadelphia. Jones was sent to the Pennsylvania Council of Safety on 24 December with a recommendation from Robert Morris that he be paroled, to reside in an inland town, until he was exchanged. Morris said that Jones “behaved very bravely during a long engagement, and appears to be a man of honor, it is a pity such Men are our Enemies . . .” Jones reported his capture to Howe on 27 December.

About 25 December the Racehorse got into Delaware Bay and up to the chevaux-de-frise below Philadelphia. In a letter to John Hancock, Robert Morris recommended that the Racehorse be taken into Continental service and the command be given to Lieutenant Benjamin Dunn of the Andrew Doria . On 13 January 1777 the Continental Congress ordered Racehorse purchased into the Continental Navy. The next day the Marine Committee named the sloop the Surprize and promoted Dunn to command her as Lieutenant and Commander.

Racehorse was libeled on 1 February 1777 and tried on 21 February. Racehorse was sold on 25 February.

[ NDAR, 7:574-576 and 576 note, 592 and note, 595-596, 600, 614-615, 631-633 and 633 note; 860 and notes, 862-863 and 863 note, 869-871, 898-901 and 901 note, 946, 954 and notes, 1083-1084 and 1084 note, 1109 and note, 1172, 1263]