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