Sturdy Beggar (1) Commander John McKeel Sloop-of-War []Brig/Sloop 19 November 1776- Maryland Privateer Brigantine (2) Commander James Campbell 5 August 1777-[] 14 December 1777 Commissioned/First Date: 19 November 1776 Out of Service/Cause: []14 December 1777/foundered in the Bay of Biscay Owners: (1) Lux, Bowley & Co. of Baltimore, Maryland [ Samuel and Robert Purviance, Hugh Young, John Smith, Lux and Bowley, Archibald Buchanan, John M’Lure, David Stewart, Nicholson & Kenndy, Garret Brown] ; (2) Samuel and Robert Purviance and Lux, Bowley & Co. et al, all of Baltimore, Maryland Tonnage: 135 Battery: Date Reported: 19 November 1776 Number/Caliber Weight Broadside 14/ Total: 14 cannon/ Broadside: 7 cannon/ Swivels: ten Date Reported: 10 March 1777 Number/Caliber Weight Broadside 14/ Total: 14 cannon/ Broadside: 7 cannon/ Swivels: Date Reported: 9 April 1777 Number/Caliber Weight Broadside 16/ Total: 16 cannon/ Broadside: 8 cannon/ Swivels: ©awiatsea.com-posted April 2020 --1-- Date Reported: 30 April 1777 Number/Caliber Weight Broadside 14/ Total: 14 cannon/ Broadside: 7 cannon/ Swivels: Date Reported: 5 August 1777 Number/Caliber Weight Broadside 14/4-pounder 56 pounds 28 pounds Total: 14 cannon/56 pounds Broadside: 7 cannon/28 pounds Swivels: fourteen Date Reported: 6 August 1777 Number/Caliber Weight Broadside 14/6-pounder 84 pounds 42 pounds Total: 14 cannon/84 pounds Broadside: 7 cannon/42 pounds Swivels: Date Reported: 17 September 1777 Number/Caliber Weight Broadside 16/ Total: 16 cannon/ Broadside: 8 cannon/ Swivels: Date Reported: 19 September 1777 Number/Caliber Weight Broadside 14/ Total: 14 cannon/ Broadside: 7 cannon/ Swivels: Date Reported: June 1778 Number/Caliber Weight Broadside 16/ Total: 16 cannon/ Broadside: 8 cannon/ Swivels: Crew: (1) 19 November 1776: 101 []total (2) 10 March 1777: 110 []total (3) 9 April 1777: 120 []total ©awiatsea.com-posted April 2020 --2-- (4) 5 August 1777: 84 []total (5) 17 September 1777: 93 []total (6) 19 September 1777: 100 []total (7) June 1778: “near” 100 []total Description: The “handsomest Vessel ever built in America,” and “remarkable for fast sailing.” Officers: (1 ) First Lieutenant William Coward []Garlin , 5 August 1777-[] 14 December 1777; (2) Second Lieutenant James Tibbitt, 5 August 1777-August 1777; (3) Second Lieutenant Benjamin Chew, August 1777-; (4) Master (Sailing Master) Benjamin Chew, 5 August 1777-August 1777; (5) Master Gabriel Slocom [ Salkum, Slacom] , August 1777-; (6) Prize Master G. Brown, -2 February 1777; (7) Prize Master Gabriel Slocom []Slacom , August 1777-August 1777; (8) Prize Master George Sampel, August 1777-[] 14 December 1777; (9) Prize Master Jesse Harding, August 1777-[] 14 December 1777; (10) Prize Master Robert Ewart, August 1777-[] 14 December 1777 Cruises: (1) Baltimore, Maryland to Martinique, French West Indies, []December 1776-March 1777 (2) Martinique, French West Indies to Saint-Domingue, French West Indies, [][]10 April 1777- April 1777 (3) Saint-Domingue, French West Indies to New Bern, North Carolina, May 1777-June 1777 (4) New Bern, North Carolina to sea, []October 1777-[] 14 December 1777 Prizes: (1) Brig []unknown , off the Madeira Islands, January 1777 (2) Ship Elizabeth (Joseph Snowball), 2 February 1777, at 17 E12 NN, 48 E24 NW (3) Brig Providence and Mary (Thomas Glynn), 2 February 1777, at 17 E12 NN, 48 E24 NW (4) Ship Marquis of Rockingham (Isaac Pocock), 7 February 1777 (5) [][]slaving vessel , March 1777 ©awiatsea.com-posted April 2020 --3-- (6) Ship St. George (Moore), []10 April 1777 (7) Snow [][]unknown , April 1777 (8) Snow Georgia , []November 1777 (9) Brig Annie , 11 November 1777 (10) Brig Glasgow , 15 November 1777 (11) Ship Smyrna Galley , 1 December 1777, 240 niles NNW of Cape St. Vincent Actions: (1) Action with unknown ship, 18 January 1777 (2) Action with Elizabeth and Providence and Mary , 2 February 1777 (3) Action with Marquis of Rockingham , 7 February 1777 (4) Action with the Glasgow , 15 November 1777 (5) Action with Smyrna Galley , 1 December 1777 Comments: Maryland Privateer Brigantine (or Brig) Sturdy Beggar was constructed at Baltimore, Maryland in the summer of 1776 for the trading firm of Lux and Bowley. On 24 September 1776 the final payment of £853.9.8 was made to the builder by John Kennedy and John McKeel. 1 She had been constructed by Colonel Richard Graves in his yard at Worton Creek in Kent County and was rigged as a brigantine. 2 Sturdy Beggar was first commissioned on 19 November 1776 under Commander John McKeel, possibly of Baltimore, Maryland. 3 Sturdy Beggar was listed as having a battery of fourteen guns, with ten swivel guns, and a crew of 100 men. She measured 135 tons. 4 Her $10,000 bond was executed by McKeel, John Muir of Annapolis, and Frederick Green. 5 Her owners are listed as Lux, 1 McManemin, Captains of the Privateers , 390 2 McManemin, Captains of the Privateers , 386 3 NRAR, 465; NDAR, “Continental Bond for the Maryland Privateer Brig Sturdy Beggar ,” 7:212 4 NDAR, “A List of Commissions of Letters of Marque and Reprisal granted by the Council of Safety for the State of Maryland,” 8:139 5 NRAR, 465; NDAR, “Continental Bond for the Maryland Privateer Brig Sturdy Beggar ,” 7:212 ©awiatsea.com-posted April 2020 --4-- Bowley & Co. of Baltimore. 6 Under McKeel Sturdy Beggar made a cruise to the West Indies in late 1776 and early 1777. In January 1777 she was off the Madeira Islands, where she captured a brig with a cargo of oats, which she ordered into Baltimore. This vessel had not arrived in port by 24 March 1777. 7 McKeel then steered toward the West Indies. About 18 January the Sturdy Beggar fell in with a large ship, perhaps an old East India vessel, or so McKeel thought. Sturdy Beggar sailed down but the British showed considerable fight and the privateer “ . could make nothing of hur fighting Consaderable more Guns than us and all under Cover . .” Sturdy Beggar moved away from this one and continued her cruise. 8 On 1 February 1777 Sturdy Beggar met a small group of eight sail. McKeel moved in close to look them over. Several of the vessels were of “Considerable force . .” and two were trailing astern. McKeel didn’t like the look of this at all and moved on to look for easier pickings. 9 On 2 February 1777, at 17 E12 NN, 48 E24 NW10 (or 17 EN, 58 EW; 11 17 EN, 68 EW), 12 ship Elizabeth (Joseph Snowball) 13 and the brig 14 or brigantine Providence and Mary (Thomas Glynn), 15 both sailing out of Cork, Ireland, were met by the Sturdy Beggar . Both vessels had cargoes of bread, flour, and coal; 16 were bound for the West Indies; 17 and were armed; each with fourteen guns. 18 6 NDAR, “Continental Bond for the Maryland Privateer Brig Sturdy Beggar ,” 7:212; “A List of Commissions of Letters of Marque and Reprisal granted by the Council of Safety for the State of Maryland,” 8:139 7 NDAR, “George Woolsey to John Pringles,” 8:192-193 and 193 note 8 NDAR, “Captain John McKeel to Robert Purviance and Daniel Bowly, Baltimore Merchants,” 7:1092 9 NDAR, “Captain John McKeel to Robert Purviance and Daniel Bowly, Baltimore Merchants,” 7:1092 10 NDAR, “Joseph Snowball to Governor Thomas Johnson,” 9:179 11 NDAR, “Libel in Maryland Admiralty Court Against Prize Ship Elizabeth ,” 8:193-194 12 NDAR, “Captain John McKeel to Robert Purviance and Daniel Bowly, Baltimore Merchants,” 7:1092 13 NDAR, “Joseph Snowball to Governor Thomas Johnson,” 9:179 14 NDAR, “George Woolsey to John Pringles,” 8:192-193 and 193 note 15 NDAR, “Libel Filed in Maryland Admiralty Court Against the Prize Brig Providence and Mary ,” 8:173 and note 16 NDAR, “George Woolsey to John Pringles,” 8:192-193 and 193 note 17 NDAR, “George Woolsey to John Pringles,” 8:192-193 and 193 note; “Joseph Snowball to Governor Thomas Johnson,” 9:179 18 NDAR, “George Woolsey to John Pringles,” 8:192-193 and 193 note ©awiatsea.com-posted April 2020 --5-- According to later reports, both were British Army transports. 19 A two and a half hour fight followed. 20 Sturdy Beggar captured both vessels and sent them in to Baltimore. 21 With G. Brown, the prize master of the Elizabeth , McKeel forwarded a report to the owners. 22 The two prizes had arrived by 23 March 1777. 23 Elizabeth was libeled in the Maryland Admiralty Court on 24 March. 24 The Providence and Mary evidently arrived about 20 March, for she was libeled on 21 March. 25 Elizabeth was condemned on 17 April 1777, 26 and ordered sold on 21 April. 27 Following the fight with the Elizabeth and the Providence and Mary , Sturdy Beggar continued her cruise. On 7 February she fell in with the ship 28 Marquis of Rockingham 29 (Isaac Pocock) 30 bound from Bristol, England, 31 to Tortola 32 (or St. Kitts), British West Indies, with a cargo of dry goods 33 valued at £8000. This ship was also armed with fourteen guns. A five hour fight followed before 19 NDAR, “Maryland Journal , Tuesday, March 25, 1777,” 8:199 20 NDAR, “George Woolsey to John Pringles,” 8:192-193 and 193 note 21 NDAR, “George Woolsey to John Pringles,” 8:192-193 and 193 note; “Joseph Snowball to Governor Thomas Johnson,” 9:179 22 NDAR, “Captain John McKeel to Robert Purviance and Daniel Bowly, Baltimore Merchants,” 7:1092 23 NDAR, “George Woolsey to John Pringles,” 8:192-193 and 193 note; “Joseph Snowball to Governor Thomas Johnson,” 9:179 24 NDAR, “Libel in Maryland Admiralty Court Against Prize Ship Elizabeth ,” 8:193-194 25 NDAR, “Libel Filed in Maryland Admiralty Court Against the Prize Brig Providence and Mary ,” 8:173 and note 26 NDAR, “Minutes of the Maryland Court of Admiralty,” 342.