There was a lad who had been captured in a Salem privateer, and forced to enlist in the English navy. He was not of that heroic mold which preferred death to surrender and the hardships of prison life appear to have frightened him into changing his colors. He wrote home to Salem in 1781:
“Honoured Father and Mother:
“I send you these few lines to let you know that I am in good health on board the Hyeane Frigate which I was taken by and I hope I shall be at home in a few months’ time. When I was taken by the Hyeane I was carried to England, where I left the ship and went on board a brig going to New York. There I was prest out of her into the Phœnix, forty-eight gun ship. I remained in her four months and was then taken on board the Hyeane again, where I am still kept. We are lying in Carlisle Bay in Barbadoes. We are now going on an expedition, but will soon be back again when the captain says he will let me come home.”
Alas, the boy who had weakened when it came to the test of his loyalty was not so well pleased with his choice when peace came. In August, 1783, we find him writing to his mother:
“I cannot think of returning home till the people of New England are more reconciled, for I hear they are so inveterate against all who have ever been in the English navy that I can’t tell but their rage may extend to hang me as they do others.”
Another letter of that time, while it does not deal wholly with privateering, views the war from the interesting standpoint of a Loyalist or Tory of Salem who was writing to friends of like sympathies who had also taken refuge in England. It is to be inferred from his somewhat caustic comments about certain nouveaux riche families of the town that the fortunes of privateering had suddenly prospered some, while it had beggared the estate of others.
“Bristol, England, February 10, 1780.
“Perhaps it may amuse you to be made acquainted with a few particulars of our own country and town, that may not have come to your knowledge.... It is a melancholy truth that while some are wallowing in undeserved wealth that plunder and Rapine has thrown into their hands, the wisest and most peaceable, and most deserving, such as you and I know, are now suffering for want, accompanied by many indignities that a licencious and lawless people can pour forth upon them. Those who a few years ago were the meaner people are now by a Strange Revolution become almost the only men in Power, riches and influences; those who on the contrary were leaders in the highest line of life are very glad at this time to be unknown and unnoticed, to escape insult and plunder and the wretched condition of all who are not Violent Adopters of Republican Principles. The Cabots of Beverly, who you know had but five years ago a very moderate share of property are now said to be by far the most wealthy in New England.... Nathan Goodale by an agency concern in Privateers and buying up Shares, counts almost as many pounds as most of his neighbors.”
What may be called the day’s work of the Revolutionary privateers is compactly outlined in the following series of reports from Salem annals. In an unfinished manuscript dealing with privateering the late James Kimball of Salem made this note:
“June 26, 1857. This day saw John W. Osgood, son of John Osgood, who stated that during the war of the Revolution his father was first Lieutenant of the Brig Fame commanded by Samuel Hobbs of Salem, from whence they sailed. When three days out they fell in with a British man-of-war which gave chase to the Privateer which outsailed the man-of-war, who, finding that she was getting away from him, fired a round shot which came on board and killed Captain Hobbs, which was the only injury sustained during the chase.