HMS Roebuck Muster Roll of Boston Men (May 1780)

List of ninety-five of the frigate Boston’s crew taken at Charleston onboard HMS Roebuck on 12 May 1780 as recorded in Roebuck’s Muster Book (ADM36/8643) transcribed by Joseph Ross in April 2023. Many thanks to Todd Braisted of The Online Institute for Advanced Loyalist Studies at www.royalprovincial.com who graciously made available the materials necessary to transcribe this list. Unless otherwise specifically noted as paroled or entering British service and seven noted by + as entered on HMS Renown on 23 May 1780, all of the prisoners are recorded as entered on the HMS Renown on 24 May 1780. It is estimated that this list represents only approximately half of the Boston’s typical complement of 200 men and that the balance of her sailors, fifty marines and officers under the command of Captain Samuel Tucker and Captain of Marines Richard Palmes will be identified with additional research. A second list has been included with full Christian name to assist in internet browsing as most in the original are recorded in abbreviated form. Invariably errors in spelling are to be anticipated in transcribing eighteenth century script and the author welcomes corrections.

Departing Boston on 23 November 1779, a Continental Navy squadron consisting of the frigates Boston, Queen of France and Providence and sloop Ranger under the command of Commodore Abraham Whipple briefly cruised off Bermuda before arriving at Charleston, SC one month later to participate in the defense of the port city from threatening British forces. The vessels’ guns, munitions, gun crews and marines were removed to reinforce shore batteries and repulse the anticipated assault. After a six-week siege beginning on 1 April 1780, Major General Benjamin Lincoln surrendered Continental forces totaling over 5,200 soldiers and sailors on 12 May 1780. The 28-gun Queen of France was scuttled in the Cooper River during the siege, however the 30-gun Boston, 32-gun Providence and 20-gun Ranger were taken by the enemy and put into British naval service. While some militia and civilians were paroled and other prisoners housed at two barracks on the site of today’s College of Charleston and at the Old Exchange and Provost Dungeon; the bulk of the approximately 2,600 Continental prisoners were confined on British ships. The Journal of William Jennison, Jr., a Marine officer attached to the frigate Boston, describes the sequence of events characterizing his experience, “March 24. Got our guns, powder and provisions out and put our provisions under the Exchange. March 25. Lieut. Deval was ordered to command a fort at Governor’s Bridge, to which I was attached. May 8. A flag from the enemy with a second summons. May 9. A flag was sent to the enemy with alterations to the articles of capitulation, but they were refused. May 11. A flag to the enemy accepting the terms offered. May 12. At 2 p.m. the British Grenadiers marched in and took possession of the Horn Work. Flags at all the forts were struck and the forts taken possession of by different parties of soldiers. June 10. Those of us who had been taken belonging to the sea service, were sent on board three vessels as cartels. June 23. We arrived at Chester below Philadelphia and were transported in a schooner to the city. Took lodgings on Spruce street until the 18th of July.”

Art’r Dunn, 15 May 1780, Parole

R’t Jackson, 15 May 1780, Parole

Dan’l Webber, 15 May 1780, Parole

Benj’n Kimball, 15 May 1780, Parole

Pat’k Murphy

Jn’o Tiliston, 19 May 1780, Parole

W’m Eddy

Pat’k Gore, 19 May 1780, Parole

W’m Hevens

W’m Baker

Jn’o McClure

Jn’o Miars

Jn’o Bradsford

Wal’r Miller

Ja’s Jones

Ja’s Walker

W’m Game, 18 May 1780, Richmond Vol

Rob’t Horn

Jo’s Wing

Rob’t Ardison, 19 May 1780, Parole

John Fish

Benj’n Luce

Jn’o Fitzpatrick

Ja’s Stewart

Prince Coleman

John Wales

Sam’l Way

W’m Barns

Eli Bunker

Jn’o White I

Peter Ward, 17 May 1780, Romulus Vol

Ezk’l Levaine

Peter Mitchell

Jn’o White 2

Rich’d Karey

W’m Farmer

Sam’l J. Harris, 19 May 1780, Parole

John Clark

Ja’s Clark, 23 May 1780, Sandwich Vol

Dav’d Sevane

Jn’o Warren +

Jn’o Chandler +

Jack Sevane +

Sam’l Johnson +

Ab’m Temple +

Jo’s Peek +

Sa’l Kiminway +

Jn’o Smith, 19 May 1780, Parole

Jn’o Martin

Eph’r Bennett

Jos’h Levine, 17 May 1780, Romulus Vol

Is’l Barney

Tho’s Kitchinway, 17 May 1780, Romulus Vol

Sam’l Gardner

Cato Egary

W’m Boston

Juby Kathanway

Jo’s Lorin

Jn’o Cowin

Rich’d Clark

Ja’s Jewell

Tho’s Jenkins, 17 May 1780, Romulus Vol

W’m Beatty

Geo’ Ayars

R’d Hughes, 17 May 1780, Romulus Vol

Cato Franklin

W’m Gomen

Jn’o Watkins, 17 May 1780, Romulus Vol

Cha’s Magnus, 17 May 1780, Romulus Vol

P’k McKelly, 17 May 1780, Romulus Vol

Jerry Shaw

Rob’t Knights, 17 May 1780, Romulus Vol

P’k Sullivan, 17 May 1780, Romulus Vol

And’w Hanson, 17 May 1780, Romulus Vol

Jo’s Wallis

Ja’s Burney

Sam’l Bell, 18 May 1780, Richmond Vol

Prince Katch

Jack Brick

Jn’o Moore, 18 May 1780, Richmond Vol

Tho’s Badkin, 17 May 1780, Romulus Vol

Jos’h Pee, 18 May 1780, Richmond Vol

Ely Purdee

Ez’ Harris

Ja’s Walker, 17 May 1780, Romulus Vol

Dan’l Curley, 17 May 1780, Romulus Vol

Jn’o Hogan

Jn’a Perry

Jn’o Hunter, 17 May 1780, Romulus Vol

Man’l Seran

Ja’s Gordan

Dav’d Malcolm

Jn’a Spencer

Benj’n Warren

S’l Henmenwy


Arthur Dunn, 15 May 1780, Parole

Robert Jackson, 15 May 1780, Parole

Daniel Webber, 15 May 1780, Parole

Benjamin Kimball, 15 May 1780, Parole

Patrick Murphy

John Tiliston, 19 May 1780, Parole

William Eddy

Patrick Gore, 19 May 1780, Parole

William Hevens

William Baker

John McClure

John Miars

John Bradsford

Walter Miller

James Jones

James Walker

William Game, 18 May 1780, Richmond Vol

Robert Horn

Joseph Wing

Robert Ardison, 19 May 1780, Parole

John Fish

Benjamin Luce

John Fitzpatrick

James Stewart

Prince Coleman

John Wales

Samuel Way

William Barns

Eli Bunker

John White I

Peter Ward, 17 May 1780, Romulus Vol

Ezekiel Levaine

Peter Mitchell

John White 2

Richard Karey

William Farmer

Samuel J. Harris, 19 May 1780, Parole

John Clark

James Clark, 23 May 1780, Sandwich Vol

David Sevane

John Warren +

John Chandler +

Jack Sevane +

Samuel Johnson +

Abraham Temple +

Joseph Peek +

Samuel Kiminway +

John Smith, 19 May 1780, Parole

John Martin

Ephraim Bennett

Joseph Levine, 17 May 1780, Romulus Vol

Israel Barney

Thomas Kitchinway, 17 May 1780, Romulus Vol

Samuel Gardner

Cato Egary

William Boston

Juby Kathanway

Joseph Lorin

John Cowin

Richard Clark

James Jewell

Thomas Jenkins, 17 May 1780, Romulus Vol

William Beatty

George Ayars

Richard Hughes, 17 May 1780, Romulus Vol

Cato Franklin

William Gomen

John Watkins, 17 May 1780, Romulus Vol

Charles Magnus, 17 May 1780, Romulus Vol

Patrick McKelly, 17 May 1780, Romulus Vol

Jerry Shaw

Robert Knights, 17 May 1780, Romulus Vol

Patrick Sullivan, 17 May 1780, Romulus Vol

Andrew Hanson, 17 May 1780, Romulus Vol

Joseph Wallis

James Burney

Samuel Bell, 18 May 1780, Richmond Vol

Prince Katch

Jack Brick

John Moore, 18 May 1780, Richmond Vol

Thomas Badkin, 17 May 1780, Romulus Vol

Joseph Pee, 18 May 1780, Richmond Vol

Ely Purdee

Ezekiel Harris

James Walker, 17 May 1780, Romulus Vol

Daniel Curley, 17 May 1780, Romulus Vol

John Hogan

Jonathan Perry

John Hunter, 17 May 1780, Romulus Vol

Manuel Seran

James Gordan

David Malcolm

Jonathan Spencer

Benjamin Warren

Samuel Henmenwy

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