HMS Roebuck Muster Roll of Providence Men (May 1780)

List of eighty-seven of the frigate Providence’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, 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 Providence’s typical complement of 170 men and that the balance of her sailors, sixteen marines and officers 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.”

Levi Cole

Jn’o Ridgaway

Edw’d Brooker

Benj’n Austin, 17 May 1780, Romulus Volunteer

Jer’a Davis

Alex’r Cowen, 17 May 1780, Romulus Vol

W’m Witham, 17 May 1780, Romulus Vol

Geo’ Rumley

Jn’o Knowey

Dan’l Smith

Sim’n Blackmore

Nich’s Saunders

Henry Norton

Step’n Arnold

Geo’ Cushman

Ste’n Burdman

Jn’o Casey, 17 May 1780, Romulus Vol

Dav’d Jones, 17 May 1780, Romulus Vol

Randal Horn

Dav’d Graham, 17 May 1780, Romulus Vol

Caleb Sekins

Ja’s New, 18 May 1780, Richmond Vol

Alex’r Hill

Athen Brown

Ja’s Richardson

Davis Hawkin

Art’r Griffin, 17 May 1780, Romulus Vol

Edom Wadsworth

W’m Shaw

Ja’s Watson, 17 May 1780, Romulus Vol

Jn’o Allen

Ja’s Wheeton

Eben’r Jones

Jn’o Wright, 17 May 1780, Romulus Vol

Jesm’a Pedinkin

Tho’s Harrison, 17 May 1780, Romulus Vol

R’d Pride

Tho’s Hill

Ja’s Willard

Dav’d Wesley

Ja’s Matthews, 17 May 1780, Romulus Vol

R’t Jones

Chris’r Smith

Jn’o Love

Ja’s Bryan, 17 May 1780, Romulus Vol

Jn’o Hays, 17 May 1780, Romulus Vol

Jn’o Story

Ham’n Buckhorn

Jn’o Harris

Phi’p O. Bungy

Jn’o Canse

Dan’l Pane

Jo’s Lethin, 17 May 1780, Romulus Vol

Isa Fennor

Ma’w M. Larbory

Theo’e Luther

Peter Jones

Jn’o Burdin

Sam’l Piler

Ja’s Hole

Jn’o Eddy

Jn’o Lewis

Chris’r Hill

Dav’d Coble

Tho’s Ryan

Tho’s Moore

Jn’o Robert, 17 May 1780, Romulus Vol

Tho’s Nichols

Jn’o Brown

Geo’ Guist, 18 May 1780, Richmond Vol

Sam’l Bennett

Edw’d Cummins, 17 May 1780, Romulus Vol

Eph’m Woodward

Rich’d Powen, 18 May 1780, Richmond Vol

Ja’s Hirons

Ja’s Johnson, 24 May 1780, Richmond Vol

Cesar Wimou

Art’r Thomas

Rich’d Guy

Geo’ Skidick

Em’l Sullivan

Benj’n Henry

Jn’o Williams, 17 May 1780, Romulus Vol

Elisha Aldridge

Jn’a Clark

Jn’o Thomas, 18 May 1780, Richmond Vol

Sim’n Kelly, 19 May 1780, Parole


Levi Cole

John Ridgaway

Edward Brooker

Benjamin Austin, 17 May 1780, Romulus Volunteer

Jeremiah Davis

Alexander Cowen, 17 May 1780, Romulus Vol

William Witham, 17 May 1780, Romulus Vol

George Rumley

John Knowey

Daniel Smith

Simon Blackmore

Nicholas Saunders

Henry Norton

Stephen Arnold

George Cushman

Stephen Burdman

John Casey, 17 May 1780, Romulus Vol

David Jones, 17 May 1780, Romulus Vol

Randal Horn

David Graham, 17 May 1780, Romulus Vol

Caleb Sekins

James New, 18 May 1780, Richmond Vol

Alexander Hill

Athen Brown

James Richardson

Davis Hawkin

Arthur Griffin, 17 May 1780, Romulus Vol

Edom Wadsworth

William Shaw

James Watson, 17 May 1780, Romulus Vol

John Allen

James Wheeton

Ebenezer Jones

John Wright, 17 May 1780, Romulus Vol

Jesm’a Pedinkin

Thomas Harrison, 17 May 1780, Romulus Vol

Richard Pride

Thomas Hill

James Willard

David Wesley

James Matthews, 17 May 1780, Romulus Vol

Robert Jones

Christopher Smith

John Love

James Bryan, 17 May 1780, Romulus Vol

John Hays, 17 May 1780, Romulus Vol

John Story

Ham’n Buckhorn

John Harris

Philip O. Bungy

John Canse

Daniel Pane

Joseph Lethin, 17 May 1780, Romulus Vol

Isa Fennor

Matthew M. Larbory

Theodore Luther

Peter Jones

John Burdin

Samuel Piler

James Hole

John Eddy

John Lewis

Christopher Hill

David Coble

Thomas Ryan

Thomas Moore

John Robert, 17 May 1780, Romulus Vol

Thomas Nichols

John Brown

George Guist, 18 May 1780, Richmond Vol

Samuel Bennett

Edward Cummins, 17 May 1780, Romulus Vol

Ephraim Woodward

Richard Powen, 18 May 1780, Richmond Vol

James Hirons

James Johnson, 24 May 1780, Richmond Vol

Cesar Wimou

Arthur Thomas

Richard Guy

George Skidick

Emanuel Sullivan

Benjamin Henry

John Williams, 17 May 1780, Romulus Vol

Elisha Aldridge

Jonathan Clark

John Thomas, 18 May 1780, Richmond Vol

Simon Kelly, 19 May 1780, Parole

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