HORNET Continental Navy 1775

[aukepalmhof]

Where and when built not sure but she did belong in 1775 to William Stone under the name of HORNET, sloop rigged and armed with 10 – 9pdrs. guns.
William Stone was born in Bermuda, and it can be possible that she was built there.
In 1775 a group of Baltimore merchants acquired the HORNET.
It is given that her tonnage was 75 tons, dim. 19.5 x 5.5 x 3m. Two masts.
She was chartered by the Continental Congress in 1775

First she was under command of Capt. Stone when she was commissioned in the Continental Navy as HORNET.
End of January 1776 she joined Commodore Esek Hopkins fleet.
Baltimore had requested that the HORNET and WASP were used for convoy duty for Maryland vessels who where ready to sail for the West Indies.

The HORNET fitted out at Baltimore and on 15 February the HORNET rendezvoused in the Delaware River, and sailed on 18 February with Hopkins fleet to capture a large quantity of powder, guns and stores, the operation netted 88 cannons, 15 mortars, and 11,077 cannon balls and other military stores but not the much needed powder, which was taken away by the British before the landing.

The Hornet took not part in the operation, outside the Virginia Capes the HORNET ran afoul of the FLY during bad weather and was unable to accompany the fleet for the amphibious assault on New Providence, Bahamas.

Thereafter used for patrol in the Delaware Bay, in August is given that she was very leaky and needed repair. Captain Stone received a letter where in the Marine Committee wanted to buy the HORNET as she not longer wanted to hire her, and it would more cost to strip her of all the Government belongings than to buy her.
The committee wrote the hull is old and scattered I should imagine you would readily see that it is more in your interest to sell her than to receive her back in such bad condition.

November 1776 John Nicholson was appointed to command the HORNET, so it looks she was bought by the Continental Navy.
What the HORNET did after Nicholson took over command is obscure the documents of service are incomplete.

In 1777 her received orders from the Marine Committee of the Continental Congress to blow up the HORNET in the Delaware River when necessary and not to fall in British hands during the British invasion of Philadelphia.
The HORNET was blown up in the Delaware River by Nicholson in October 1777 to prevent capture by the British HMS PORCUPINE but he and his crew were taken prisoner and send to the Forton Prison near Portsmouth in England where they arrived on 13 October 1777. (Looks the date is wrong of one of the sources; from America to England the voyage is longer than 13 days)

Paraguay 1975 50gs sg?, scott1623.


http://www.brucenicholson.net/JohnNIcho ... o1844.html http://freepages.genealogy.rootsweb.anc ... stone.html Wikipedia and various other web-sites.