The 20-gun ship Alfred under the command of Captain Elisha Hinman , originally purchased in 1775 and named Black Prince, was captured on 9 March 1778 by British warships Ariadne under Captain Thomas Pringle and Ceres under Commander James R. Dacres. Elisha Hinman became Alfred’s commanding officer in May 1777 and on 22 August 1777 sailed for France in company with the frigate Raleigh to obtain military supplies. En route they captured four small prizes, reaching L’Orient on 6 October 1777. On 29 December the two vessels sailed homeward bound for America. They proceeded via the coast of Africa where they took a small sloop, then headed for the West Indies. On 9 March 1778 near Barbados, they encountered British warships Ariadne and Ceres. When the American ships attempted to flee, Alfred fell behind the faster Raleigh. Shortly after noon the British men-of-war caught up with Alfred and forced her to surrender. British accounts indicate both Ceres and Ariadne got alongside the Continental ship and that Alfred gave and received a number of broadsides during the half hour fight. Captain Thomas Thompson on the Continental frigate Raleigh was about three miles away when the engagement began. After the fight, the British quickly sent boats over to the Alfred to take possession and to remove prisoners. Most of the 181 crew were removed to Ariadne, including seven ranking officers. Sixty were taken onboard Ceres. No mention of any casualties in the fight itself was made in either British or American sources. Within a few hours all prisoners had been removed and Ariadne began chasing the fleeing Raleigh, followed by Ceres shortly thereafter. The Alfred was taken into Barbados, arriving on 13 March 1778, where she was condemned and taken into the Royal Navy until 1782 as the armed ship Alfred.
Captain Nicholas Vincent of the HMS Yarmouth took six officers on board his vessel at Barbados from whence they were transported to England, arriving first at Gosport, before eventually being confined at Forton Prison on 18 July 1778. A seventh officer, Second Lieutenant of Marines Nathaniel Richards was released at Barbados due to the intercession of Yarmouth’s Captain Vincent, a family friend. Richards returned to America and informed the Navy Board of Thompson’s abandonment of the Alfred. Hinman soon escaped Forton Prison by bribing a guard and walking ten miles on a rainy night toward London, where he made contact with sympathizers who got him to France three weeks later. Hinman took passage home in the Continental ship Providence under Captain Abraham Whipple. The other Alfred officers committed to Forton also later escaped. Of the 114 prisoners remaining aboard the Ariadne, all were discharged at Barbados. Of Ceres’ sixty prisoners; five entered British naval service on HM sloop Fly on 15 March 1778 and two others joined the Nova Scotia Volunteers that same day. Midshipman Peter Arnold and four sailors remained aboard the Ceres until they entered British merchant service on 9 April 1778. Able-bodied seaman Thomas Burton was entered on Ceres’ Supernumerary List with the remaining forty-seven prisoners sent to a Barbados jail on 16 March 1778. However, Barbados lacked facilities to hold the prisoners and the crew was released almost immediately. After her surrender, Alfred was condemned and sold at Barbados where she was purchased and taken into the Royal Navy as H.M. armed ship Alfred until sold in 1782.
This alphabetical list of officers and men on Alfred’s last cruise was compiled from “A List of 181 Prisoners Taken out of the Rebel Ship Alfred, Victuad at 2/3d Allowance” and “Muster Table of H.M. Sloop Ceres” found on pages 577 through 585 of Volume XI of Naval Documents of the American Revolution. The alphabetized list includes alternate spellings in parentheses, followed by the vessel held in immediately after capture and ultimate disposition.
Jacob Allen, (HMS Ariadne), entered Barbados gaol on 16 March 1778
John Anderson, (HMS Ariadne), entered Barbados gaol on 16 March 1778
Peter (or Freegift) Arnold, Midshipman, (sloop Ceres), entered British merchant service on 9 April 1778
Joseph Aubry, (HMS Ariadne), entered Barbados gaol on 16 March 1778
William Bartlett, (HMS Ariadne), entered Barbados gaol on 16 March 1778
Ceasar Baxter, (sloop Ceres), entered Barbados gaol on 16 March 1778
Benjamin Bedford, (sloop Ceres), entered Barbados gaol on 16 March 1778
Charles Beers, (sloop Ceres), entered Barbados gaol on 16 March 1778
Cuff Belcher, (HMS Ariadne), entered Barbados gaol on 16 March 1778
David Bell, (HMS Ariadne), entered Barbados gaol on 16 March 1778
Etien Benard, (HMS Ariadne), entered Barbados gaol on 16 March 1778
Benjamin Beech (or Beoch), (sloop Ceres), entered Barbados gaol on 16 March 1778
Julian Benvoir, (sloop Ceres), entered Barbados gaol on 16 March 1778
Joseph Bigolet, (HMS Ariadne), entered Barbados gaol on 16 March 1778
Deville Blanche, (HMS Ariadne), entered Barbados gaol on 16 March 1778
James Bloudier, (sloop Ceres), entered Barbados gaol on 16 March 1778
John Bowles, (HMS Ariadne), entered Barbados gaol on 16 March 1778
John Brady, (sloop Ceres), entered Barbados gaol on 16 March 1778
Richard Bramble, (HMS Ariadne), entered Barbados gaol on 16 March 1778
Luther Breck (or Brock), AB Seaman, (sloop Ceres), entered Barbados gaol on 16 March 1778
John Brinley, (HMS Ariadne), entered Barbados gaol on 16 March 1778
Andrew Bronet, (HMS Ariadne), entered Barbados gaol on 16 March 1778
Edward Brown, (HMS Ariadne), entered Barbados gaol on 16 March 1778
Charles Bulkey, 3rd Lieutenant, (HMS Ariadne), taken on HMS Yarmouth to Forton Prison
George (or Pardoin [Parson?]) Burnham, entered Barbados gaol on 16 March 1778
Thomas Burton, AB Seaman, (sloop Ceres), entered on Supernumerary List on 16 March 1778
James Butler, (HMS Ariadne), entered Barbados gaol on 16 March 1778
Peter Burroughs, (sloop Ceres), entered Barbados gaol on 16 March 1778
Louis Caix, (HMS Ariadne), entered Barbados gaol on 16 March 1778
Elias Carr, (HMS Ariadne), entered Barbados gaol on 16 March 1778
Joseph Casneuf, (HMS Ariadne), entered Barbados gaol on 16 March 1778
James Castle, (HMS Ariadne), entered Barbados gaol on 16 March 1778
Prince Chace, (sloop Ceres), entered British merchant service on 9 April 1778
Peter Chalon, (sloop Ceres), entered Barbados gaol on 16 March 1778
Paul Chaloun, (HMS Ariadne), entered Barbados gaol on 16 March 1778
Francis Chequelle, (HMS Ariadne), entered Barbados gaol on 16 March 1778
Richard Cockhran, (HMS Ariadne), entered Barbados gaol on 16 March 1778
Jonathan Cogswell, (HMS Ariadne), entered Barbados gaol on 16 March 1778
Jean Colleax (or Coilleaux), (sloop Ceres), entered Barbados gaol on 16 March 1778
John Conway, (HMS Ariadne), entered Barbados gaol on 16 March 1778
James Coughlin, (HMS Ariadne), entered Barbados gaol on 16 March 1778
George Crump, (HMS Ariadne), entered Barbados gaol on 16 March 1778
Joseph D’Lahoy (or Delahoy), AB Seaman, (sloop Ceres), entered HM sloop Fly on 15 March 1778
Antonio DaSylva (or D’Silva), (sloop Ceres), entered British merchant service on 9 April 1778
Emile DaSylva (D’Silva), (sloop Ceres), entered British merchant service on 9 April 1778
Auge. Daigre, (HMS Ariadne), entered Barbados gaol on 16 March 1778
Peter Daniel, (sloop Ceres), entered Barbados gaol on 16 March 1778
James Davis, (HMS Ariadne), entered Barbados gaol on 16 March 1778
Joseph Day, (HMS Ariadne), entered Barbados gaol on 16 March 1778
Joshua Day, (HMS Ariadne), entered Barbados gaol on 16 March 1778
William Day, (HMS Ariadne), entered Barbados gaol on 16 March 1778
Eve Dayeux, (HMS Ariadne), entered Barbados gaol on 16 March 1778
Jan deFrance, (HMS Ariadne), entered Barbados gaol on 16 March 1778
Cato Denny, (HMS Ariadne), entered Barbados gaol on 16 March 1778
Silas Derby, (sloop Ceres), entered Barbados gaol on 16 March 1778
Evan Dio, (sloop Ceres), entered Barbados gaol on 16 March 1778
Joseph Dobell, (HMS Ariadne), entered Barbados gaol on 16 March 1778
Prince Doggett, (HMS Ariadne), entered Barbados gaol on 16 March 1778
Silas Doggett, (HMS Ariadne), entered Barbados gaol on 16 March 1778
Peter Douville, 2nd Lieutenant, (HMS Ariadne), taken on HMS Yarmouth to Forton Prison
Auge. Dugo, (HMS Ariadne), entered Barbados gaol on 16 March 1778
Cornelius Dunham, (HMS Ariadne), entered Barbados gaol on 16 March 1778
Jan Louis Dumois, (HMS Ariadne), entered Barbados gaol on 16 March 1778
John Dunlap, (sloop Ceres), entered Barbados gaol on 16 March 1778
Anthony Dyer, (sloop Ceres), entered Loyal Nova Scotia Volunteers on 15 March 1778
Jonathan Emerson, (HMS Ariadne), entered Barbados gaol on 16 March 1778
Samuel Erlom, (HMS Ariadne), entered Barbados gaol on 16 March 1778
Dom Faernel, (sloop Ceres), entered Barbados gaol on 16 March 1778
William Fell, AB Seaman, (sloop Ceres), entered HM sloop Fly on 15 March 1778
Pierre Fiquet, (HMS Ariadne), entered Barbados gaol on 16 March 1778
Ebenezer Flag, (sloop Ceres), entered Barbados gaol on 16 March 1778
Thomas Fowler, (HMS Ariadne), entered Barbados gaol on 16 March 1778
Joseph Francis, (HMS Ariadne), entered Barbados gaol on 16 March 1778
Jacque Fromage, (HMS Ariadne), entered Barbados gaol on 16 March 1778
Pierre Garandell, (HMS Ariadne), entered Barbados gaol on 16 March 1778
Hyacinte Gautier, (HMS Ariadne), entered Barbados gaol on 16 March 1778
Anthony Gill, (HMS Ariadne), entered Barbados gaol on 16 March 1778
Tlocks Gill, (HMS Ariadne), entered Barbados gaol on 16 March 1778
Pierre Godard, (HMS Ariadne), entered Barbados gaol on 16 March 1778
Louis Guillon (or Gouillion), (sloop Ceres), entered Barbados gaol on 16 March 1778
Jan Gourel, (HMS Ariadne), entered Barbados gaol on 16 March 1778
Nicholas Greely, (HMS Ariadne), entered Barbados gaol on 16 March 1778
William Grimes, (HMS Ariadne), entered Barbados gaol on 16 March 1778
Francis Guigneville, (HMS Ariadne), entered Barbados gaol on 16 March 1778
Samuel Guile, (HMS Ariadne), entered Barbados gaol on 16 March 1778
John Hall, (HMS Ariadne), entered Barbados gaol on 16 March 1778
Zacha. Hall, Carpenter, (sloop Ceres), entered Barbados gaol on 16 March 1778
William Hamilton, 1st Lieutenant of Marines, (HMS Ariadne), taken on HMS Yarmouth to Forton Prison
Jonathan Hammett (or John), (sloop Ceres), entered Barbados gaol on 16 March 1778
Jotham Harris, (HMS Ariadne), entered Barbados gaol on 16 March 1778
Shandy Hilman, (sloop Ceres), entered British merchant service on 9 April 1778
Elisha Hinman, Captain, (HMS Ariadne), taken on HMS Yarmouth to Forton Prison
Nathaniel Hinman, (HMS Ariadne), taken on HMS Yarmouth to Forton Prison
Joseph Hitchman, Midshipman, (sloop Ceres), entered Barbados gaol on 16 March 1778
James Hogan, (HMS Ariadne), entered Barbados gaol on 16 March 1778
Eleazer Jackson, (sloop Ceres), entered Barbados gaol on 16 March 1778
Joseph Jackson, (sloop Ceres), entered Barbados gaol on 16 March 1778
St. Jacque, (HMS Ariadne), entered Barbados gaol on 16 March 1778
Thomas Jeffries, (HMS Ariadne), entered Barbados gaol on 16 March 1778
Philip Joseph, (sloop Ceres), entered Barbados gaol on 16 March 1778
Julian Karodine (or Harodrine), (sloop Ceres), entered Barbados gaol on 16 March 1778
John Kellenbech, (HMS Ariadne), entered Barbados gaol on 16 March 1778
Andrew Kerney, (HMS Ariadne), entered Barbados gaol on 16 March 1778
Asa Kimball, (HMS Ariadne), entered Barbados gaol on 16 March 1778
Louis Kious, (sloop Ceres), entered Barbados gaol on 16 March 1778
Andrew Knett, (HMS Ariadne), entered Barbados gaol on 16 March 1778
Francis L’Reau, (sloop Ceres), entered Barbados gaol on 16 March 1778
Claude LaCombe, (HMS Ariadne), entered Barbados gaol on 16 March 1778
Peter LaCoste (or L’Coste), (sloop Ceres), entered Barbados gaol on 16 March 1778
Samuel Lamb, (sloop Ceres), entered Barbados gaol on 16 March 1778
Giles Lanaux, (HMS Ariadne), entered Barbados gaol on 16 March 1778
Joshua Landlaud, (HMS Ariadne), entered Barbados gaol on 16 March 1778
Amos Lane, (HMS Ariadne), entered Barbados gaol on 16 March 1778
Robert Lask, (HMS Ariadne), entered Barbados gaol on 16 March 1778
John Lay, (sloop Ceres), entered Barbados gaol on 16 March 1778
Philip LeClerc, (HMS Ariadne), entered Barbados gaol on 16 March 1778
John Lundland, (sloop Ceres), entered Barbados gaol on 16 March 1778
William Manders, (sloop Ceres), entered Barbados gaol on 16 March 1778
Francis Mandeville, (HMS Ariadne), entered Barbados gaol on 16 March 1778
Thomas Manter, (sloop Ceres), entered Barbados gaol on 16 March 1778
Jacque Marc, (HMS Ariadne), entered Barbados gaol on 16 March 1778
John Marchant, (sloop Ceres), entered Barbados gaol on 16 March 1778
Pierre Marle, (HMS Ariadne), entered Barbados gaol on 16 March 1778
Nathaniel Marston, (HMS Ariadne), entered Barbados gaol on 16 March 1778
John Martin, (HMS Ariadne), entered Barbados gaol on 16 March 1778
Robert McFarling, (HMS Ariadne), entered Barbados gaol on 16 March 1778
George McKenny, (HMS Ariadne), entered Barbados gaol on 16 March 1778
William McNeill, (HMS Ariadne), entered Barbados gaol on 16 March 1778
James Miles, (HMS Ariadne), entered Barbados gaol on 16 March 1778
Benjamin Millett, (HMS Ariadne), entered Barbados gaol on 16 March 1778
Stephen Minor, (HMS Ariadne), entered Barbados gaol on 16 March 1778
Joshua Mitchell, (HMS Ariadne), entered Barbados gaol on 16 March 1778
William Mitchell, AB Seaman, (sloop Ceres), entered HM sloop Fly on 15 March 1778
Jeremiah Molie, (HMS Ariadne), entered Barbados gaol on 16 March 1778
Richard Morrison, (HMS Ariadne), entered Barbados gaol on 16 March 1778
Samuel Moses, (HMS Ariadne), entered Barbados gaol on 16 March 1778
Pierre Movan, (HMS Ariadne), entered Barbados gaol on 16 March 1778
Nicholas Murphy, (HMS Ariadne), entered Barbados gaol on 16 March 1778
Samuel Nickolls, (HMS Ariadne), entered Barbados gaol on 16 March 1778
Cornelius Norton, (sloop Ceres), entered Barbados gaol on 16 March 1778
John O’Brien, AB Seaman, (sloop Ceres), entered HM sloop Fly on 15 March 1778
Pierre Olivier, (sloop Ceres), entered Barbados gaol on 16 March 1778
Edward Parsons, (HMS Ariadne), entered Barbados gaol on 16 March 1778
Stephen Pegg, (HMS Ariadne), entered Barbados gaol on 16 March 1778
James Percoff (or Percof), (sloop Ceres), entered Barbados gaol on 16 March 1778
Michael Percoff, (HMS Ariadne), entered Barbados gaol on 16 March 1778
Thomas Perrin, (sloop Ceres), entered Barbados gaol on 16 March 1778
Jan Plesson, (HMS Ariadne), entered Barbados gaol on 16 March 1778
Joseph Poppolo, (HMS Ariadne), entered Barbados gaol on 16 March 1778
Ishmael Powers, (HMS Ariadne), entered Barbados gaol on 16 March 1778
John Prunel, (HMS Ariadne), entered Barbados gaol on 16 March 1778
Louis Rabin, (HMS Ariadne), entered Barbados gaol on 16 March 1778
Christopher Raney, (HMS Ariadne), entered Barbados gaol on 16 March 1778
Samuel Rawlins, (HMS Ariadne), entered Barbados gaol on 16 March 1778
Pierre Rene, (HMS Ariadne), entered Barbados gaol on 16 March 1778
Edward Revely (or Reevely), Sailing Master, (sloop Ceres), entered Barbados gaol on 16 March 1778
George Richards, (HMS Ariadne), entered Barbados gaol on 16 March 1778
Nathan Richards, 2nd Lieutenant of Marines, Released in Barbados by HMS Yarmouth Captain Vincent
Peter Richards, 1st Lieutenant, (HMS Ariadne), taken on HMS Yarmouth to Forton Prison
Cornelius Riley, (HMS Ariadne), entered Barbados gaol on 16 March 1778
William Roche, (sloop Ceres), entered Barbados gaol on 16 March 1778
Abner Rogers, (HMS Ariadne), entered Barbados gaol on 16 March 1778
Michael Ryan, (HMS Ariadne), entered Barbados gaol on 16 March 1778
Pero Sharper, (sloop Ceres), entered British merchant service on 9 April 1778
William Sheldon, (HMS Ariadne), entered Barbados gaol on 16 March 1778
John Shoals (or Shouls), AB Seaman, (sloop Ceres), entered Barbados gaol on 16 March 1778
James Skilling, (HMS Ariadne), entered Barbados gaol on 16 March 1778
Jan Solier, (HMS Ariadne), entered Barbados gaol on 16 March 1778
Joshua Spear, (HMS Ariadne), entered Barbados gaol on 16 March 1778
Nathan Spicer, (HMS Ariadne), entered Barbados gaol on 16 March 1778
William Swain, (sloop Ceres), entered Barbados gaol on 16 March 1778
John Tennant (or Tenant), (sloop Ceres), entered Loyal Nova Scotia Volunteers on 15 March 1778
Major Tessieu, (HMS Ariadne), entered Barbados gaol on 16 March 1778
Andrew Tiler, (sloop Ceres), entered Barbados gaol on 16 March 1778
James Tindall (or Tindal), (sloop Ceres), entered HM sloop Fly on 15 March 1778
Donald Tinker, (sloop Ceres), entered Barbados gaol on 16 March 1778
William Tinker, (HMS Ariadne), entered Barbados gaol on 16 March 1778
Henry Toullie (or Hy Touillie), (sloop Ceres), entered Barbados gaol on 16 March 1778
John Welch, Captain of Marines, (HMS Ariadne), taken on HMS Yarmouth to Forton Prison
Andrew White, (HMS Ariadne), entered Barbados gaol on 16 March 1778
Amos Windship, Surgeon, (HMS Ariadne), entered Barbados gaol on 16 March 1778