Leopard

Posted by Tim Oakley on Monday 9th of July 2018 19:41

The boarding party proceeded to search the American ship and found four suspected deserters. These were Daniel Martin, John Strachan and William Ware. These three men had run from HMS Melampus. The fourth man, Jenkin Ratford had run from HMS Halifax. The four men were arrested, taken aboard HMS Leopard and taken to Halifax, where they stood trial at Court Martial. Of the four men, Martin, Strachan and Ware were able to prove their American citizenship. They had previously served in the Royal Navy but were not British Citizens. Two of the three men were African-Americans. They were each sentenced to 500 lashes, but this was commuted. Ratford was not so lucky. He was a British citizen, had deserted from the Royal Navy and was sentenced to death. He was hanged from the fore-yard of HMS Halifax. USS Chesapeake had been allowed to go on her way after the men were seized.

kenthistoryforum

Posted by Tim Oakley on Monday 9th of July 2018 19:36

In the afternoon of 9th June 1797, a meeting of the loyal officers, men and Marines in HMS Leopard agreed that they should take back control of the ship from the mutineers. The meeting had been convened following concerns about the increasingly militant demands of the ringleaders and rumours about sailing to join the French and Dutch at Texel. The men agreed to divide themselves into three teams. One, under Lieutenant Joseph Robb would move two 12pdr long guns in the part of the upper gundeck screened off to form the wardroom away from their gunports and aim them down the gundeck. A second party would disable the 24pdr long guns on the lower gundeck by filling the vents with vinegar and then cut the anchor cable, while a third party would go aloft and set the sails.

At a pre-arranged signal the plan was put into action. The wardroom screens were taken down and faced with large cannons filled with grapeshot and unable to fire the lower gundeck guns, the mutineers had no choice but to surrender and the ship made good her escape and rejoined the rest of the North Sea Fleet at Yarmouth.

In the Courts Martial which followed the collapse of the Mutiny, 42 of HMS Leopard's men were tried. Of those 42 men, nine were convicted of whom seven were hanged from her fore-yard, two were sent to the prison hulks and the rest were acquitted.

kenthistoryforum.

Posted by Brian Stephens on Sunday 20th of April 2014 17:31

The Times (Charleston S.C.) July 6, 1807
The schooner, Margaret K. Bailey, Captain Ferguson, of and bound to Philadelphia with a cargo of sugar and coffee, having a pilot on board, was captured on Friday last of the Capes of the Delaware, by the British ship, Leopard, Capt. Humphrey's and sent to Halifax.