Web site maintained by Dodie E. Browning
(From Maryland State Archives)
Friday 26 April 1776.
Council met. Present as yesterday except Mr Jenifer.
Permits granted to the Boat Gimblet, Gilbert Middleton,
Master, and Schooner Ranger, George Steel, Master, to pass to Baltimore Town.
It was about this time that Lord Dunmore, the last Colonial Governor of Virginia, was forced to leave Norfolk. It had been well over two years since the Boston Tea Party took place on the 17th day of December, 1773, and several battles of the Revolutionary War had already taken place, but Lord Dunmore was reluctant to leave the Colonies.
Due to pressure and threats, Lord Dunsmore sailed up the Bay to Gwynn's Island in early 1776. He entrenched himself with 500 men, many runaway slaves, and a small fleet of ships. General Andrew Lewis was sent to dislodge him. Lewis and his army set up quarters on the mainland at what is now known as Cricket Hill and mounted their guns. Lewis then ordered his men to open fire on Dunmore's ships. The fighting was short lived because the strategy had been well planned. With the fighting over, and his fleet crippled, Lord Dunmore and what was left of his fleet fled up the Cheasapeake Bay to Maryland. They were not wanted in Maryland either and were chased out of Maryland waters also. He eventually left the Colonies and returned to England. Records in the Maryland State Archives reveal that the vessel Ranger was one of a fleet of vessels near Gwynn's Island.
If George Steel had come down from Baltimore, he would have likely been in the Cheasapeake Bay. It is not clear if the Ranger in the following documents was the Schooner Ranger (Captain George Steel(e), and had been seized, or if it was the HMS (sloop) Ranger, part of Dunmore's fleet. It definitely was not the USS Ranger, because that sloop made famous by John Paul Jones was not built until 1777.
Original records in the Maryland State Archives documents that one of the Rangers was definitely there and that she was in trouble.
Saturday 22d June 1776 Original [E. Johnson to Somerville.] An acct from the following men, which deserted from the Ranger tender, belonging to the Roebuck, the 20th June, their permits dated the 21st signed by Capt Dengerford, vizt John Walton of Boston, Saml McKenzie of Phila Robt McMichael & Danl McMichael of Phila & say that there are about 40 men of the 14 Regiment & about 500 negroes on Gwin's Island, the Roebuck of 44 guns, 20. 18 pounders & 22. 9 pounders & 2. 6 pounders-the Otter sloop of 14. 6 pounders & have about 40 men, the Roebuck has about 270 men. The Fowey 22 guns, 20. 9 pounders & 2. 18 pounders 100 men The Fincastle sloop tender 10. 4 pounders 35 men Lieut Wright. Lady Susanna Bridges Goodrick 4. 3 pounders, 2. 2 pounders, 20 men, The John Witworth 4. 3 pounders, 4 swivels 12 men, the Lady Gower, Captn not known, 4 Brass 3 pounders 14 men. Lady Augusta 2. 2 pounders & 6 swivels 15 men. N. B. 26 of the Roebucks Marines & says that Dunmores ship has 6. 3 pounders 4 wall pieces about 6 white men & 25 negroes, men & women, about 20 sail of ships, Brigs & about 80 sail of small vessels.
The records were vague about why the tender belonging to the Roebuck was assigned to the Ranger. The records are also vague about why the crew deserted the Ranger tender on 20 June 1776, but more than likely there was Small Pox on board.
From Maryland State Archives- typed script of original document:
(Apparently this was the examination of a man who deserted the ship, HMS Dolphin.)
18 July 1776 Cunningham's Examination. (First name not shown in records) Q. In what occupation did you act in Virginia? A. I was a Book Keeper there to Messrs Jameson and Company. Q: What became of Mr Jameson ? A.In the Fleet. (Note: Dunmore's fleet) Q: What vessel were you on board A: The Dolphin - the Brig. Q. Did you continue in the same vessel or did you land at Gwin's Island. A. No. I never landed. Q. What time did you leave Gwinn's Island and what was the cause? A. We were obliged to leave it by Battaries being erected on shore. Q. Was any damage done to the shipping? A. To Dunmore's Vessel. The Boatswain was killed, a man lost his arm. Q. None killed on the Island? A: None. Q. What condition were the people in on board? A: Sickly, the small pox negroes had the gaol fever. Q. What number were there? A: Not above 300 in arms. Q: Who commands them? A: Col Bird's son commands. Q: How many died and were buryed at G.[Gwynn's] Island? A: I think there must have been 500. Q: How were you provided with provision? A: Salt Beef enough for Troops. Q: How many families on board the Fleet. A: I suppose 1000 souls. Q: How many did the ships bring from E. S. [Eastern Shore] A: 150 - 50 belonging to 14th Regt they do not exceed 300 in all Q: How many did land upon St. George's Island? A: I dont know - none but soldiers. (Note: HMS Dolphin was a Bermuda-registered vessel, so he probably was referring to St. George's Island in Burmuda.) Q: How many marines on board? A: Roebuck 75, Fowey 25, Otter 15. (Note: All three of these vessels were part of Dunmore's British fleet) Q: Did you know where they are going? A: No. Q: Dad [sic] you come up or did you drift ashore? A. I came up voluntarily. Q. Whose property was in that Vessel? A. It was sold at Vendue. (It is not clear which vessel is being discussed in this question, but it appears that HMS Roebuck had captured the Ranger and sold her cargo (molasses). If this was the British sloop, Ranger, there may have been smallpox on board. Either would explain why HMS Roebuck tender was guarding the Ranger. Apparently when the battle began, the tender was abandoned. The fate of the Ranger was not stated, but a ship Ranger shows up registered in Baltimore in 1780, rigged as a Brigantine, with Thomas Johnson as her commander.) Q. Were the people inoculated on board? A. Yes. Q. Whose property were the Molasses? A. I bought part. Q. Was Gov. Eden on board the B. Fowey. A. Yes. I have seen him walking the Decks. Q. Did you know the Fowey was upon the Eastern Shore? A. Yes, the Governor was not on board. Q. Did they consent you should come off? A. No. Q. Was it in the night that you left the fleet? A. In the night. The fleet was after wood and Water. Q. Have you plenty of Bread? A. Yes. Q. Were there any Troops armed at G. Island? A. No. No troops but part of 14th Q. Do the Tenders ply out in the Bay? A. Yes they were cruising. Q. Did you know when Gov. Eden goes home? A. Yes he goes in a store ship. Q. How much stock was got upon Eastern Shore? A. The private Families get no share of it; I saw cattle on Decks. Q. Do the Tenders go out in the Bay, a cruising? A. Yes, I have seen them out in the Bay. Q. How long were they inoculated and was it done to communicate it to the people on shore? A. By no means, every one in the fleet inoculated that had it not. Q. How many men in the Gondolas? A. Ten men on each side, an old flat. Capt Hammond and Lord Dunmore at variance. I dont think Gov. Eden has any thing to do with the fleet. The Lively frigate at the Capes. Molasses at a bit. Good W I rum at 2/2. Marines and sailors would desert but no others, not 14th (Note: This was HMS Lively.) Q. What distance Fowey from the shore. A. Musket shot. Q. What number of vessels in the fleet. A. 72, many small boats. Q. Did you not say that the Fleet was going to sea? A. Yes, a signal given from Dunmore for masters of ships to come on board to receive orders, that they were going to St. Augustine. Q. Did you leave any vessels? A. Two Tenders in the straights, 2. 4 pounders, 2. 2 Do. Dunmore 3. 6 prs fired & slipt her cables, the Otter upon careen with her guns out. (Note: HMS Otter) Q. How long was it after the cannonade before you left it. A. Immediately, upon the first discharge of cannon. Q. Where did you get Beef? A. From Antigua, a Brig with 500 Bblls. a storeship with 500 do. (Note: HMS Antiqua.) Q. What exc did to your Tenders on E. S. [Eastern Shore] A. One man killed and 8 or 9 wounded. Q. money plenty. A. Yes. Commodore Hammond the best man in the navy. Capt Hammond will convoy them all out safe to sea. Q. Has not Lord D. sent people about to communicate the information. A. Not to my knowledge. Capt Hammond not continue on the Eastern Shore, to go to N York. Q. How many guns the Lively? A. 30 or 36 guns, 11 shot in the Dunmore 18. To be continued............
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