NameArmamentCaptainPeriod CoveredIndex No.
Asia64 GunsGeorge Vandeput1771, April 23, to 1775, Mar. 91580
Asia64 GunsGeorge Vandeput1775, Mar. 10, to 1777, Mar. 101583
Asia64 GunsGeorge Vandeput1777, Mar. 14, to 1779, Apr. 241582
Asia64 GunsGeorge Vandeput1779, Apr. 24, to 1781, Apr. 231581
Asia64 GunsGeorge Vandeput1781, Apr. 24, to 1783, Apr. 32149
CarcassBomb-ketch1775 to 1778, Sept. 141640
CarcassBomb-ketch1778 to 17811641
CarysfortFrigateFanshaw1775, Nov. 15, to 1778, Apr. 301642
CharlotteMissing from 1770 to 1797
CharlottaTenderNone
Dutchess of GordonDespatch PacketNone
EagleFlagship1776, Mar. 4, to 1779, Jan. 81709
EagleFlagship1779, Jan. 8, to 1781, Jan 71710
EagleFlagship1781, Jan. 8, to 1782, April 162296
Experiment50 GunsAlexander Scott1775, July 11, to 1779, Mar. 181725
(1778, Wallace)(Missing to 1793)
Greyhound30 GunsArchibald Dickson1775, Nov. 5, to 1778, Dec. 21768
Greyhound30 GunsArchibald Dickson1778, Dec. 2, to 1780, Aug. 201765
(Missing on to 1794)
La Brune32 GunsNot in list
OrpheusCharles Hudson1775, Aug. 24, to 1781, Aug.1893
Pearl20 GunsThos. Wilkinson1776, Sept. 14, to 1777, Nov. 161392
Phœnix44 GunsHyde Parker, Jr.1775, July 8, to 1778, July 231909
Repulse50 GunsDavis1780 to 17822494
Renown50 GunsBanks1775, Aug. 4, to 1778, Mar. 181953
Renown50 GunsBanks1780, Aug. 2, to 1783, Jan. 52495
Roebuck32 GunsA. S. Hamond1775 to 1777, July 141963
Roebuck32 GunsA. S. Hamond1777, July 15, to 1779, July 141964
Roebuck32 GunsA. S. Hamond1779 to 1781, July 32504
Roebuck32 GunsA. S. Hamond1781 to 1783, April 92505
Rose20 GunsSir Richard Wallace1775, Nov. 1, to 1777, Oct. 311970
ShuldhamTenderNone
Solebay28 Guns1775, Aug. 16, to 1777, Aug. 271999
Solebay28 Guns1777, Aug. 27, to 1780, Mar. 31998
(Missing to 1787)
TartarFrigateEdward Medows1775, Dec. 13, to 1778, Sept. 222029
TartarFrigateEdward Medows1778 to 1781, May 262030
TartarFrigateEdward Medows1781 to 1783, Oct. 252567
ThunderBomb-ketch1775 to 1780, June 22041
ThundererBomb-ketch(Missing to 1778)
ThundererBomb-ketch1778, Feb. 25, to 1780, June 202042
(Missing to 1794)
TrialArmed SchoonerLt. John BrownUp to 1772, Aug. 61483
TrialArmed SchoonerLt. John BrownBegins 1790, Oct. 173551
VultureFrigate1776, June 19, to 1779, June 302072
VultureFrigate1779, June 29, to 1782, July 292073
VultureFrigate1782, July 30, to 1783, Nov. 192592
(Missing on to 1803)

Of these it may be noted that the Asia was conspicuous around New York, particularly in the summer of 1776, when a shot from her caused the only bloodshed of which Governor’s Island has been the scene, although it has been a military station since 1800. One of her cannon-balls took off an arm of an American soldier, in April, 1776.

Another of her shots penetrated the roof of Fraunces’ Tavern, in Broad street, New York. It was preserved until a few years ago, when it mysteriously disappeared. Freneau, in his Petition of Hugh Gaine refers to the incident:

At first we supposed it was only a sham

Till he drove a round ball through the roof of Black Sam.

The Eagle came very near furnishing the first proof in history of the efficiency of submarine boats or torpedoes. It is part of the history of the Revolution that Bushnell’s “Turtle” only failed to blow her up, as she lay off Governor’s Island in August, 1776, because of her bottom being coppered, and hence affording no chance of attachment of the “Turtle” by a huge screw, as the inventor had intended.

The Duchess of Gordon was Tryon’s headquarters at the same time. The Experiment, Thunder and Solebay were conspicuous in the unsuccessful attack on Charleston in June, 1776, and the Pearl, Phœnix, Rose, Roebuck and Tartar were particularly active near New York during the whole war.


The foregoing are by no means all of the vessels engaged in the war of the Revolution, of which I have gathered references to no less than one hundred and twenty-two, and there were doubtless many more engaged in those operations east and south of which I have been unable to make a close study.

These will, however, serve to indicate some of the material available, and perhaps afford some historical enquirers the means of adding to their information.