List of seventy-one of the frigate Queen of France’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 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 Queen of France’s typical complement and that the balance of her sailors, fifty marines and officers under the command of Captain John Peck Rathbun and Captain of Marines Edmund Arrowsmith 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 to block the channel between Charleston and Shutes Folly 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.”
Esek Whipple
Jn’o Morrison
Jn’o Collins
Jn’o Mehany, 17 May 1780, Romulus Vol
Ja’s Johnson
Sam’l Dellingham
W’m Millwood
Jn’o Dalley, 17 May 1780, Romulus Vol
Sam’l Thompson
Ben’n Briganton, 18 May 1780, Richmond Vol
Jn’o McCarty, 17 May 1780, Romulus Vol
Jo’s Gardner
Jn’o Barker, 17 May 1780, Romulus Vol
Rich’d Harper
Jn’o Scannell
Step’n Johnson
Benj’n Hutchins
Alex’r Jenkins
W’m Rogers
Owen Ryan
Jo’s Crosby
Jn’o Shine
W’m Parklow
Cha’s Rowlin, 18 May 1780, Richmond Vol
Comp’t Carpenter
Geo’ Uperton
R’t Lovell
Na’l Bailey
Tho’s Dimond
Jn’o Brown
Eben’r Stasey
Jn’o Fulse
Mor’s Poore
Jn’o Ryan, 18 May 1780, Richmond Vol
Tho’s Kelly, 18 May 1780, Richmond Vol
Jn’o Waters, 17 May 1780, Romulus Vol
R’d Lilly
Eb’r Price
Jn’o Brown
W’m Small
Ab’m Bristo
Moses Beard
Jn’o Martin, 18 May 1780, Richmond Vol
War’k Pears
Ja’s Lewis
Ja’s Stroud, 17 May 1780, Romulus Vol
Eph’m Finch
Cha’s Lickney
W’m Edward
Wha’ Denison
Edw’d Ackason
Whatta White
Step’n Coats
Jn’o Howard
Jn’o Cockran, 18 May 1780, Richmond Vol
Levi Carter
Esek Whipple
John Morrison
John Collins
John Mehany, 17 May 1780, Romulus Vol
James Johnson
Samuel Dellingham
William Millwood
John Dalley, 17 May 1780, Romulus Vol
Samuel Thompson
Benjamin Briganton, 18 May 1780, Richmond Vol
John McCarty, 17 May 1780, Romulus Vol
Joseph Gardner
John Barker, 17 May 1780, Romulus Vol
Richard Harper
John Scannell
Stephen Johnson
Benjamin Hutchins
Alexander Jenkins
William Rogers
Owen Ryan
Joseph Crosby
John Shine
William Parklow
Charles Rowlin, 18 May 1780, Richmond Vol
Comp’t Carpenter
George Uperton
Robert Lovell
Nathaniel Bailey
Thomas Dimond
John Brown
Ebenezer Stasey
John Fulse
Morris Poore
John Ryan, 18 May 1780, Richmond Vol
Thomas Kelly, 18 May 1780, Richmond Vol
John Waters, 17 May 1780, Romulus Vol
Richard Lilly
Ebenezer Price
John Brown
William Small
Abraham Bristo
Moses Beard
John Martin, 18 May 1780, Richmond Vol
Warwick Pears
James Lewis
James Stroud, 17 May 1780, Romulus Vol
Ephraim Finch
Charles Lickney
William Edward
Wha’ Denison
Edward Ackason
Whatta White
Stephen Coats
John Howard
John Cockran, 18 May 1780, Richmond Vol
Levi Carter