List of seventy-one of the sloop Ranger’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 should be noted that sloop Ranger was taken into Royal Navy service and renamed HMS Halifax. It is estimated that this list represents only approximately half of the Ranger’s typical complement of 145 men and that the balance of her sailors, thirty-five marines and officers under the command of Captain Thomas Simpson and Lieutenant of Marines William Morris 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.”
Sam’l Hutchins
R’d Jakes
Jn’o Davies, 16 May 1780, Halifax Vol.
W’m Allerd
N’s Hardison
Edw’d Dartlin
Dan’l Pike
Jo’s Hunston
Jed’a Knox
W’m Hilton
Sol’n Hutchins
Tho’s Chandler
Tho’s Lord
Tho’s Allen
Benj’n Eatin
Roger McGeary
Jn’o Libbitt
Jo’s Goodin
Jn’o Hooper
Noah Ricker
Step’n Jones
Geo’ North
Jn’a Roberts
Jn’o Fifield
Abner Coffin
Elias Plower
W’m House
Dav’d Woodshrup
Pelitia Greeno
Jn’o Williams, 19 May 1780 Parole
Eb’n Watson
Ja’s Weymouth
Is’l Hanson
Tho’s Davies
Sam’l Levy
Dav’d Winton
Tho’s Fowell
Tho’s Bundington
Mich’l Horseman
Jn’o Seby
Nath’l Cobbitt
Jn’o Gowin
Ben Roberts
Ja’s Brotin
Dan’l Perkins
Benj’n Fishley
John Lord
Rich’d Harvey
Dan’l Neson
C’e Wentworth
Step’n Dixon
Benj’n Suit
Jos Wadwell
Em’l Pike
W’m Long
The’s Wiggings
Sam’l Staples
Tim’y Wentworth
Jn’o Junkin
Sam’l Hill
Ja’s Boyce
Jo’s Robbin
W’m Hart
Dav’d Mitchell
Tho’s Sprout
Rich’d Mulnae
Eskobod Burnett
Ja’s Holbert
Rich’d Tiner
Geo’ Hooper
Newp’t John
Samuel Hutchins
Richard Jakes
John Davies, 16 May 1780, Halifax Vol.
William Allerd
Nicholas Hardison
Edward Dartlin
Daniel Pike
Joseph Hunston
Jedidiah Knox
William Hilton
Solomon Hutchins
Thomas Chandler
Thomas Lord
Thomas Allen
Benjamin Eatin
Roger McGeary
John Libbitt
Joseph Goodin
John Hooper
Noah Ricker
Stephen Jones
George North
Jonathan Roberts
John Fifield
Abner Coffin
Elias Plower
William House
David Woodshrup
Pelitia Greeno
John Williams, 19 May 1780 Parole
Ebenezer Watson
James Weymouth
Israel Hanson
Thomas Davies
Samuel Levy
David Winton
Thomas Fowell
Thomas Bundington
Michael Horseman
John Seby
Nathanial Cobbitt
John Gowin
Ben Roberts
James Brotin
Daniel Perkins
Benjamin Fishley
John Lord
Richard Harvey
Daniel Neson
C. Wentworth
Stephen Dixon
Benjamin Suit
Joseph Wadwell
Emmanuel Pike
William Long
Theophilus Wiggings
Samuel Staples
Timothy Wentworth
John Junkin
Samuel Hill
James Boyce
Joseph Robbin
William Hart
David Mitchell
Thomas Sprout
Richard Mulnae
Eskobod Burnett
James Holbert
Richard Tiner
George Hooper
Newport John