PRIVATEERS
Beginning in 1775 and lasting until 1782, actions regularly occurred between American privateers and British ships as well as privateers from Nova Scotia off the coast of Nova Scotia as well as attacks on settlements. The Second Continental Congress authorized privateers to operated against British shipping in a resolution dated 23 March 1776. A few days later it made provision for issuing "letters of marque", formal licenses to privateers. Nova Scotia issued 77 letters of marque during the American Revolution.
The New England coast was a primary area of activity for American Privateers who operated out of ports such as Boston, Newport, Providence, Rhode Island, New London, Connecticut, Salem and Beverly, Massachusetts. They targeted the Canadian Maritimes as well as Atlantic Shipping Lanes, the West Indies and even European waters.
Privateering Actions:
June 1775 - Battle of Machias , Maine. American Privateer Jeremy O’Brien captured British warship H.M.S. Margaretta
July 12, 1775 - two more British warships captured in the Bay of Fundy by Jeremy O’Brien
August 14, 1775 - Battle of Wreck Hill, Bermuda . British magazine in St. George's attacked and gunpowder taken off
August 29, 1775 - American Privateers raid Saint John area
October 1775 - British burn Falmouth (present day Portland) in retaliation
November 1775 - American Privateers raid Charlottetown and Canso
December 5,1775 - American Privateers from Salem, Massachusetts landed at Yarmouth
1776 - American Privateers took four vessels and prisoners at Cape Forchu
May 2, 1777 - American Privateer vessel Sea Duck, under command of John Bohannan, captured and taken to Windsor, Nova Scotia
July 1777 - British ship H.M.S. Amazon captures American Privateer ship Active off Cape Sable Island
April 1778 - American Privateers attack Liverpool, Nova Scotia
August 9, 1778 - American Privateers raid Cornwallis (present day Kentville)
1778 - British schooner Hope defeats American vessel Canso. Seven rebels escaped but later caught near Halifax
June 1779 - British troops at Windsor capture American Privateers in Bay of Fundy
1779 - American Privateers raid Canso, Nova Scotia
June 4, 1780 - Engagement off Bilboa, Spain, American Privateer General Pickering, captained by Jonathan Haraden of Salem, Massachusetts and British Privateer ship Achilles, with Captain Williams
July 10, 1780 - Battle of Halifax. The British Privateer Resolution commanded by Captain Thomas Ross of Halifax fought the American Privateer Viper under command of William Williams.
May 21, 1781 - Battle of Blomidon . Three American Privateers engaged Nova Scotia vessels. The first Privateer was captured by Lieutenant Benjamin Belcher. Belcher Street in Port Williams, Nova Scotia is named after him.
August 7, 1781 - British schooner Adventure captured American schooner Mary off of Annapolis Royal.
August 29, 1781 - American Privateers raid Annapolis Royal , Nova Scotia and take away captives
May 28, 1782 - Battle off Halifax. American Privateer ship Jack and H.M.S. Observer in conflict
July 1, 1782 - American Privateers led by Captain Noah Stoddard raid Lunenburg
Further Reading:
1781 American Raid on Annapolis Royal by Brian McConnell, UE
Rebels at Sea: Privateering in the American Revolution
