Franklin | 2492 |
|---|
| Nominal Guns | 6 |
| Nationality | United States of America |
| Operator | State Navy |
| Hired | 10.1775 |
| Shipyard | Unknown |
| Category | Hired Vessel |
| Ship Type | Schooner |
| Returned to Owners | 1776 |
Dimensions
DimensionMeasurementTypeMetric Equivalent
Burthen60Tons BM
3 Ship Commanders
DatesRankNameSource1.1.1776 - 12.1776Unknownref:765.1776 - 1776Unknownref:7612.1776 - 19.5.1776Masterref:76Service History
DateEventSource
21.10.1775Left Marblehead in company with Lynch
17.11.1775Both ships raided Charlottetown, ignoring orders regarding Candian property
11.1775In company with Hancock was ordered to intercept two British brigs in the St Lawrence, instead they cruised off Cape Canso,
1.2.1776In company with Lee took the 300-ton brigantine Henry and Esther northeast of Cape Ann
17.5.1776Took the ship Hope
19.5.1776Togther with the privateer Lady Washington attacked at night by british boats Captin James Mugford was killed in this
Notes on Ship
Action on 19th May 1776
"The Sunday following May 19th 1776 Capt. Mugford, in company with Capt. Cunningham in the Lady Washington, a small privateer armed with swivels, blunderbusses and muskets, fell down in order to go out in the bay. The enemy observed their sailing and fitted out a fleet of boats for the purpose of surprising and taking them in the night ; and the Franklin's running aground in the Gut gave them a good opportunity for executing their plan. The Lady Washington came to anchor near capt. Mugford, and between 9 and 10 o clock he discovered a number of boats which he hailed and received for answer, that they were from Boston. He ordered them to keep off, or he would fire upon them. They begged him for God's sake not to fire, for they were going on board him. Capt. Mugford instantly fired and was followed by all his men, and cutting his cable bro't his broadside to bear, when he discharged his cannon loaded with musket ball directly in upon them. Before the cannon could be charged a second time, 2 or 3 boats were alongside, each of them supposed to have as many men on board as the Franklin, which were only 21, including officers. By the best accounts there were not less than 13 boats in all, many of them armed with swivels and having on board, at the lowest computation, 200 men. Capt. Mugford and his men plied those along side so closely with fire arms and spears and with such intrepidity, activity and success, that two boats were soon sunk and all the men either killed or drowned. But while the heroic Mugford, with out stretched arms, was righteously dealing death and destruction to our base and unnatural enemies, he received a fatal ball in his body, which in a few minutes put a period to a life, from which, had it been spared, his oppressed country would undoubtedly have reaped very eminent advantages. After our brave men had maintained this unequal contest for about half an hour, the enemy thought proper to retire. The carnage among them must have been great, for besides the two boat loads killed and drowned many were doubtless killed and wounded on board the others. Great execution was done by the spears. One man with that weapon is positive of having killed nine of the enemy. The number of boats which attacked the Franklin was about 8 or 9. The remainder, to the number of 4 or 5, at the same time attacked Capt. Cunningham in the Lady Washington, who then had on board only 6 men besides himself. This brave little company gave the boats such a warm reception that the enemy were soon glad to give over the contest, after suffering, it is thought, considerable loss."