During the Revolution, American
privateering became a way for colonists to harass the British for both
financial gain and to fight for their cause.
The vessels were armed, and while not naval ships, they were quite
effective. Many privateer ships carried
Letters of Marque which was an official authorization from the government allowing
privateers to seize British merchant ships, and in return the owner and crew
could receive a portion of the sale of the captured ship and its cargo. Hundreds of ships were commissioned as privateers
during the Revolutionary War.
Nathaniel’s experience is revealed by his son, David
Bill Dickinson, in a family memorial letter:
“Nathaniel
Dickinson served in several of the armed vessels of the United States during
the war of the revolution, the Ships Hancock, Beaver and others from its
commencement until the conclusion in 1783.
He was wounded and carried a prisoner on board the Jersey Prison Ship,
and there remained until a cartel was sent from New London at the instance of
his wife, the mother of your memorialist, when his exchange was affected. During his confinement on board the British
Prison Ship, he contracted the disease which ultimately terminated his
existence, and he died in the year Seventeen hundred and ninety six leaving his
wife and Six Children, entirely destitute of means for their support or
education.”
-- “Circumstances relating to the Life
and action of Capt Nathaniel Dickinson of New London, State of Connecticut” by
David Bill Dickinson; 1842.
Ships logs exist to show that Nathaniel Dickinson was among the
crew aboard the privateer sloop the Hancock
(noted above) in 1780 and that he earned prize shares.
The armed schooner, Lively,
was commissioned on March 27, 1781.
Family letters note that Nathaniel was aboard the Lively under Commander Edward Latham of Groton, Connecticut, probably
as the Prize Master, when the Lively captured the British schooner Seaflower in April 1781. But the Lively’s
fortunes turned on July 9, 1781, when Commander Edward Latham of the Lively and his crew were captured by the
British ship Goodrich. Latham was known to be a prisoner aboard the prison
ship Jersey after his capture, and it
was probably also at that time when Nathaniel was on the prison ship.
There were several British prison ships and confinement on one was
often a death sentence. Many more Colonists died on prison ships during the
Revolution than in battle. David Bill
Dickinson’s letter says that his father, Nathaniel, was “reduced almost to a
skeleton” before the family was able to purchase his freedom. Nathaniel died of illness while at sea in early
1797 at 48 years of age.
Among the list of items recorded in Nathaniel Dickinson’s estate
inventory, and valued at three-dollars, was a “Picture of General Washington on
horseback.”
* *
* * *
Key Individuals:
Nathaniel Dickinson (1749 – 1797)
Elizabeth Bill Dickinson (~1760/1766 – 1819)
Elizabeth Bill Dickinson (~1760/1766 – 1819)
David Bill Dickinson (1787 – 1846)
Notes:
Nathaniel
Dickinson was noted in his obituary as Captain Nathaniel Dickinson. During his privateering days, as a Prize
Master, he would be given command of a captured vessel to deliver it to the
authorities in port.
Several newspaper ads mention
Nathaniel:
“For Norfolk, Petersburgh,
and Richmond, in Virginia, (via New York.)
The Sloop SALLY, burthen 35 Tons, Nath’l Dickinson, master, will sail by
the 10th of October. Is a new
vessel and well found. For freight or
passage, apply to said Dickinson, at his house in New-London, or of Thomas
Latham at Gale’s Ferry in Groton.
New-London, Sept. 24, 1793.” -
Connecticut Gazette; New London, Connecticut
“If any House-Carpenter or
Joiner, a young Man, has a Mind to seek his Fortune over Sea, let him apply to
Nath'l Dickinson. New-London, June 15th,
1784.” – Connecticut Gazette; New London, Connecticut
– Jane Scribner McCrary