List of prisoners who died in Halifax Hospital (1777) believed to belong to the frigate Hancock

The following list of forty-eight prisoners who died in Halifax Hospital between late July and the end of September 1777 and believed to belong to the Continental Navy frigate Hancock taken with the prize ship Fox by the British 44-gun Rainbow and 32-gun Flora after a thirty-nine hour chase was likely composed by Dr. Samuel Curtis, Hancock’s surgeon. The list was transcribed by Joseph Ross from a photograph of the original document appearing online at: http://www.eldreds.com/auctions/detail/item/189306/sale/777/dept/43. One of several historically important hand-written documents sold at Eldred’s Marine Art & Antiques Auction in July 2013 associated with the Naval surgeon which also included another list of fifty-four persons Dr. Curtis apparently inoculated in the Halifax Prison in July 1777.

The resolution of the photograph is less than ideal so that names and dates of death are transcribed only with difficulty and certain knowledge that some mistakes have been made. The writer invites corrections and it is our hope that the successful auction bidder will at some point make a clear copy available for a more accurate transcription. Nevertheless, it is our desire to capture as much of the data as may be available based on the material accessible.

The title of the list reads, ” A List of the American Prisoners Who Died in Halifax Hospital 1777″. A second notation adds “Ship Hancock on this Page” leading this writer to deduce that other associated manuscript lists originally existed which documented frigate Hancock deaths between early October 1777 and early January 1778 when the majority of the crew was released from confinement and returned by cartel. It also suggests that the doctor may have kept a separate list of deaths at Halifax Prison not associated with the crew of the Hancock during his time there.

This list has been edited to note those men(with parenthesis) who also appear on the accompanying list of fifty-four persons Dr. Curtis apparently inoculated in the Halifax Prison in July 1777. Their quality or rate on the ship is noted [in brackets] where known. A second alphabetical organization of the list is included with a complete spelling of the abbreviated Christian name in order to assist with internet browsing.

William Smith, July 29th
Peter Guliburd, 30th
James Boss Gray, 30th
Joseph Feddimann, 31st
Roland Batten, Aug 2nd (Inoculated)
William Lovejoy, 2nd (Inoculated)
Isaac Dickman, 9th
James Malten, 9th
William Putnum, 10th
Joseph Dudley, 14th (Inoculated)
Elias Robinson, 14th
Nathan ?????,14th
Isaac Osgood, 14th
Sam’l Lawrence, 16th
Nath’nl Arnold, 18th (Inoculated)
William Jackson, 18th
George West, 19th [AB Seaman]
Caleb Brimkill, 20th
Stephen Horn, 20th
James Clarke, 23rd
Nath’nl Niles, 24th (Inoculated)
Charles Jones, 24th
Philip Bass, 25th
Thomas Luden (or Ludden), 26th
Sam’l Cochran (or Cockran), 28th
Sam’l Goodwin, 29th
Jacob Winter, 29th (Inoculated)
Benjamin Barnard, 30th
Joseph Saunders, 30th (Inoculated)
James Mellen, Jun’r, Sept 2nd
Sam’l Denning, 3rd
Isaac Niles, 4th [Boy] (Inoculated)
Joseph Grafton, 5th
Francis Galley (French man), 4th
James Goodwin, 5th
Wm Arnold, 5th
Levi Woodman, 5th
Zephaniah Briggs, 12th
John Huffin, 12th
Thomas Shepard, 12th
John Hodge, 13th
Caleb Tarr, 17th (Inoculated)
Daniel Silloway, 19th
John Davity (French), 22nd
Thos Winter, 27th [Boy] (Inoculated)
Francis Day, 29th (Inoculated)
James Sawyer, 30th [Carpenter’s Mate]
Thos Berry, 30th [2nd Lt. of Marines Servant]

Nathan ?
Nathaniel Arnold
William Arnold
Benjamin Barnard
Philip Bass
Roland Batten
Thomas Berry
Zephaniah Briggs
Caleb Brimhull
James Clark
Samuel Cochran
John Davity
Francis Day
Samuel Denning
Isaac Dickman
Joseph Dudley
Caleb Farr
Joseph Feddimann
Francis Galley
James Goodwin
Samuel Goodwin
Joseph Grafton
James Boss Gray
Peter Guliburd
John Hodge
Stephen Horn
John Huff
William Jacobson
Charles Jones
Samuel Lawrence
William Lovejoy
Thomas Luden
James Mellon, Jr.
James Milton
Isaac Niles
Nathaniel Niles
Isaac Osgood
William Putnum
Elias Robinson
Joseph Saunders
James Sawyer
Thomas Shepard
Daniel Silloway
William Smith
George West
Jacob Winter
Thomas Winter
Levi Woodman