Maine Genealogy Archives

Officers and Crew of the Raleigh, 1777

Source: Oliver P. Remick, A record of the services of the commissioned officers and enlisted men of Kittery and Eliot, Maine: who served their country on land and sea in the American Revolution, from 1775 to 1783 (Boston: A. Mudge & Son, printers, [1901])

This transcription was generously provided by Barbara Hanscom Stuart.

Some forenames and surnames have been switched to facilitate searching.

[p. 216]
A list of the Officers and Crew on the Continental Frigate Raleigh when she sailed from the Piscataqua River about Aug. 12, 1777.
Commander, Thomas Thompson, Captain U. S. N., of Portsmouth, N. H.

1st Lieutenant, Peter Shores, of Portsmouth, N. H., joined her Sept. 1, 1776; salary, $20 per month.

2d Lieutenant, Josiah Shackford, of Portsmouth, joined Aug. 5, 1776; same salary.

3d Lieutenant, Hopley Yeaton, of New Castle, N. H., joined Sept. 28, 1776; same salary.

Master, Thomas Manning, of Portsmouth, joined Jan. 13, 1777; salary, $30 per month.

Capt. of Marines, George Jerry Osborne, of Exeter, N. H., joined Aug. 12, 1776; salary, $26 2/3 per month.

1st Lieut. of Marines, Stephen Meads, of New York, joined Aug. 9, 1776; salary, $18 per month.

2d Lieut. of Marines, Nathaniel Thwing, of Boston, joined Aug. 21, 1776; salary, same.

Surgeon, John Jackson, of Portsmouth, joined Sept. 2, 1776; salary, $21 per month.

Mates, John Yeaton, of New Castle, joined May 22, 1777, and Robert Curtis, of Kittery, joined June 21, 1777; salary, $15.

Midshipmen, John Frost, of Portsmouth, joined Dec. 24, 1776 ; Richard Littlefield, joined Feb. 3, 1777; Samuel McClintock, Jr., of Greenland, N. H., joined Feb. 10, 1777; Daniel Durgin, of Portsmouth, joined as Mate, Aug. 22, 1776, as Midshipman, July 2, 1777, and Daniel Lang, of Portsmouth, joined July 15, 1777; salary of each, $12 per month.

Boatswain, William Bray, of Kittery, joined July 15, 1776; salary, $15 per month.

Gunner, William Cambridge, of England, joined as Gunner’s Mate, July 22, 1776; salary, same.

Carpenter, Simeon Fernald, of Kittery, joined July 24, 1776; salary, same.

Sailmaker, Benjamin Dam, of Kittery, joined July 14, 1777, as Sailmaker’s Mate; salary, same.


[p. 217]
Surgeon’s Mate, John Quin, of Kittery, joined June 27, 1777; same salary, $15.

Captain’s Clerk, Richard Langdon, of Portsmouth, joined Sept. 5, 1776; same salary.

Armorer, Robert Whipple, of Portsmouth, joined Oct. 15, 1776 ; same pay.

Master-at-Arms, Henry Frost Cate, of Portsmouth, joined Feb. 3, 1777; pay, $10.

Steward, Samuel Parcher, of Portsmouth, joined as Seaman, Aug. 12, 1776; Steward, Feb. 12, 1777.

Cooper, Robert Cochran, of New Castle, joined Aug. 5, 1777; pay, $9.

Cook, William Stevens, of Kittery, joined Feb. 1, 1777; same pay.

Coxswain, William Ward, of Portsmouth, joined July 22, 1776; same pay.

Quarter-Gunners, William Thresher, of Portsmouth, enlisted, Aug. 2, 1777, as seaman for one year, and Robert Heslop, an Englishman, enlisted, May 27, 1777, as seaman for one year, from Privateer "Satisfaction."

Captain’s Steward, Joseph Clements, of York, Me., enlisted, June 3, 1777, for one year; pay, $8 per month.

Mess Steward, Timothy Gleason, of Barrington, N. H., enlisted, July 11, 1777, for the cruise as a marine.

Boat Yeoman, Mathias Bell, of Portsmouth, enlisted, July 28, 1777, for one year as seaman.

Boatswain Mates, James Furlong, an Englishman, enlisted, June 23, 1777, from frigate "Nelly," for one year; Henry Williams (Hendrick Beilson), a Dane, enlisted, July 5, 1777, for one year, and Phillip McCann, of Portsmouth, enlisted Feb. 6, 1777 ; pay of each, $9½ per month.

Gunner’s Mate, Francis Little, of Portsmouth, enlisted, June 15, 1777, for one year; pay, $9½ per month.

Gunner’s Yeoman, Nicholas Bouffard, of Portsmouth, enlisted Jan. 25, 1777.

Carpenter’s Mate, Ebenezer Pray, of Kittery, enlisted, July 29, 1776; pay, $10 per month, reduced to $9½; after Feb. 1, 1777.

Carpenter’s Crew, same pay as seamen, Joshua Fernald, of Kittery, enlisted, June 12, 1777, as seaman, for three months; James Claridge, of Portsmouth, enlisted, June 30, 1777, for one year; Peter Kennistone, of Portsmouth, enlisted Feb. 8, 1777; John Carr


[p. 218]
Roberts, of Somersworth, N. H., enlisted, June 17, 1777, for one year; George Spinney, of Kittery, enlisted, June 20, 1777, for one year, and Timothy Watson, of Portsmouth, enlisted in August, 1777, for one year.

Quartermasters, Thomas Passmore, of Portsmouth, enlisted, July 25, 1776, as seaman, Mark Pitman, or Bitman, of Portsmouth, enlisted Jan. 28, 1777 ; John Tanner, an Englishman, enlisted, March 27, 1777, for one year; Peter Meserve, of Portsmouth, enlisted, June 20, 1777, for one year; Ebenezer Stackpole, of Portsmouth, enlisted, July 10, 1777, for one year, and David Brown, of Kittery, enlisted, Aug. 8, 1777, as seaman, for one year; pay of each, $9 per month.

Seamen, Pay $8 per Month.
Name. Residence or Nationality. Date of Enlistment. Term of Enlisting.
Aaron Abbot, York, Me., April 22, 1777, for one year.

Samuel W. Barnham, Salem, Mass., July 31, 1777, for one year.

John Castle, Englishman, Feb. 6, 1777.

Jonathan Chase, New Castle, N. H., July 29, 1777, for one year.

David Davidson, a Creole, June 23, 1777, from "Nelly," frigate, for one year.

Michael Everett, Englishman, Jan. 28, 1777, from sch. “ George."

Robert Ellis, Englishman, Jan. 24, 1777, from sch. " George."

James Foggett, Portsmouth, N. H., Feb. 4, 1777.

William Follett, a Creole, Aug. 22, 1776.

Joseph Gerrish, Portsmouth, July 16, 1776, as ordinary seaman.

Peter Galteau, Bordeaux, France, July 8, 1777.

Caesar Lear, a Negro, Portsmouth, June 16, 1777, for Tobias Lear, for one year.

Daniel Melong, July 13, 1777, for one year.

John Morgan, Englishman, Jan. 28, 1777, from sch. "George."

John Parker, Portsmouth, Jan. 30, 1777, for Nutter.

James Richardson, Englishman, Jan. 27, 1777, from sch. "George."

John Spenley, Englishman, Jan. 28, 1777, from sch. "George."

John Simpson, New Castle, N. H., July 5, 1777, for one year.

Thomas Smith, Marblehead, Mass., June 14, 1777, for one year.

Robert Spencer American, Aug. 14, 1776, for the cruise.

John Turkan, North Britain, J an. 24, 1777, from sch. "George."

Paul Tibbets, Portsmouth, June 25, 1777, for one year.

Thomas Watkins, Englishman, Jan. 28, 1777, from sch. "George."

Richard Weaver, Englishman, Jan. 28, 1777, from sch. "George."


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Ordinary Seamen, Pay $6 2/3 per Month.
Name. Residence or Nationality. Date of Enlistment. Term of Enlisting.
John Adams, York, Me., Feb. 26, 1777.

Peter Adams, Negro, Durham, N. H., Feb. 10, 1777.

James Ayers, Portsmouth, Aug. 10, 1777, as tailor, for the cruise.

Joseph Clark, Portsmouth, Feb. 8, 1777.

Dodge Collins, African, Worcester, Mass., June 13, 1777, for one year.

Joseph Cotton, Portsmouth, July 28, 1777, for one year.

John Carr, Cape Porpoise, Me., July 9, 1777, for the cruise.

Robert Carter, jr., Kittery, July 10, 1777, as a marine, for one year.

Samuel Demerrett, Madbury, N. H., July 31, 1777, as a marine, for the cruise.

Robert Furnace, Berwick, Me., June 10, 1777, as a marine, for one year.

Stephen Frost, Berwick, Me., June 28, 1777, as a marine, for one year.

John Gammon, American, July 19, 1777, for one year.

John Gunnison, Portsmouth, June 26, 1777, as a marine, for one year.

William Harrison, York, Me., Aug. 1, 1777, as a marine, for the cruise.

Peter Jones, Englishman, Feb. 10, 1777.

Patrick Lynch, Irishman, Feb. 8, 1777.

Samuel McCornel, Nottingham, N. H., July 11, 1777, for the cruise.

Robert McDaniel, Barrington, N. H., July 11, 1777, for the cruise.

Peirce Murphy, Arundel (Kennebunk, Me.), June 25, 1777, for one year.

Thomas Murphy, Somersworth, N. H., July 15, 1777, as a marine, for one year.

John Merritt, Pleasant River, March 19, 1777, as a marine, for one year.

Robert Nason, Deer Island, July 14, 1777, for the cruise.

Moses Noble, Portsmouth, Feb. 10, 1777, as a marine.

Daniel O'Grandy, Englishman, Dec. 21, 1776.

William Philbrook, Fox Island, June 30, 1777, as a marine, for one year.

John Ponel or Powey, Exeter, N. H., June 23, for one year.


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Name. Residence or Nationality. Date of Enlistment. Term of Enlisting.
Benjamin Redman, Portsmouth, March 4, 1777, as a marine, for one year.

George Rundlet, Portsmouth, July 30, 1777, as a marine, for one year.

James Sullivan, Irishman, Feb. 4, 1777.

Pompey Sweat, Negro, York, Me., Jan. 30, 1777, for John Sweat of York.

Joshua Scates, Berwick, Me., June 19, 1777, as a marine, for one year.

George Shaw, Lee, N. H., July 31, 1777, as a marine, for the cruise.

Benjamin Seawards, Portsmouth, Feb. 6, 1777, as a marine.

John Sloper, American, Feb. 3, 1777, as corporal of marines.

Mark Snider, Portsmouth, Feb. 6, 1777, as a marine.

Moses Twombly, Berwick, probably, August, 1777, as a marine.

Robert Williams, Borenton, American, August, 1777, for the cruise.

Phillip Worster, Berwick, Me., June 11, 1777, as a marine, for one year.

John Walls, Portsmouth, Feb. 6, 1777, as a marine.

Boys, Pay $5 per Month.
Richard Baxter, American, Sept. 6, 1776.

Daniel Muncher, English, Feb. 6, 1777.

Reuben Noble, American, Nov. 2, 1776, for Lieut. Yeaton.

John Shores, Berwick, Me., April 22, 1777, as a marine.

Peter Sdney or Edney, July 11, 1777, for Lieut. Shackford, for one year.

Marines.
Sergeant William Hart, Jr., Portsmouth, Feb. 4, 1777, pay $8 per month.

Sergeant Simeon Tibbetts, Casco Bay, Aug. 1, 1777, pay $8 per month, for the cruise.

Corporal John Mills, Portsmouth, Feb. 4, 1777, pay $7 1/3 per month.

Corporal George Rollins, Newington, N. H., Feb. 21, 1777, pay $7 1/3 per month.

Corporal John Scates, Berwick, Me., June 11, 1777, pay $7 1/3 per month, for one year.

Drummer James McIntire, Portsmouth, Feb. 4, 1777, pay $7 1/3 per month.

Fifer Theodore Fernald, American, Jan. 25, 1777, pay $7 1/3 per month.


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Privates, Pay $6 2/3 per Month.
Name. Residence or Nationality. Date of Enlistment. Term of Enlisting.
James Allen, Wells, Me., July 9, 1777, for one year.

Jotham Booker, York, Me., Aug. 1, 1777, for the cruise.

Samuel Clay, Candia, N. H., Aug. 1, 1777, for the cruise.

John Davis, Berwick, Me., June 30, 1777, for one year.

Wiggin Evans, Cheshire, N. H., July 26, 1777, for one year.

Alexander Goold, Kittery, July 10, 1777, for one year.

Simeon Gray, Pownalboro, Me., June 21, 1777.

John Hill, Nottingham, N. H., July 22, for one year.

George Hohn, Portsmouth, July 3, 1777, for one year.

William Knight, Nottingham, N. H., July 26, 1777, for one year.

John Libby, Portsmouth, (Kittery), July 4, 1777, for one year.

George Loud, Portsmouth, June 26, 1777, for one year.

William Mendum, Kittery, June 9, 1777, for one year.

John Mills, 2d, Portsmouth, Feb. 4, 1777.

John McCoy, Nottingham, N. H., July 12, 1777, for one year.

Mark Nelson, Portsmouth, N. H., July 16, 1777, for one year.

George Parcher, Portsmouth, N. H., Feb. 1, 1777.

G. Andrew Rankins, York, Me., Aug. 1, 1777 (in room of Davis), for the cruise.

Satchewell Bundlet, Portsmouth, N. H., June 30, 1777, for one year.

Daniel Smith, Berwick, Me., June 30, 1777, for one year.

David Tina, York, Me., Aug. 1, 1777, for the cruise.

Ichabod Tibbetts, Wolfboro, N. H., March 30, 1777, for one year.

Jesse Wedgwood, Newmarket, N. H., June 26, 1777, for one year.

Ebenezer Whitehouse, Somersworth, N. H., June 3, 1777, for one year.

Benjamin Worster, Berwick, Me., June 11, 1777, for one year.

Isaac Worthem, Candia, N. H., Aug. 1, 1777, for one year.

Total, 152 all told, who were also all on the "Raleigh" on Jan. 22, 1778, at L'Orient, France. The following list of men were also on her at that time, but their names are not on her shipping list: they were probably, however, on her when she sailed from the Piscataqua. Seamen, John Adams, 2d, Nathaniel Allen, George Crump, Edward Parsons, Daniel Stewart, Samuel Weyman and Joseph Whittemore. Ordinaries, John Grant, John Harmon, Asa Kimbal, William Lawrey, Thomas Laraby, Charles Mans and Richard


[p. 222]
Sweeny. Corporal of Marines, Joseph Jackson. Boys, William Bragdon and Edward Wilson. There were many men enlisted from vessels on the cruise to France, and also in France, so that on Feb. 2, 1778, she had a total of 228 souls on board.

Capt. Thomas Thompson was appointed to command the "Raleigh" on June 6, 1776, by Congress. He was born in England, and came to the United States about 1767, settled at Portsmouth, N. H. Married there. Was a sailor, and also a shipbuilder. Was removed from the command of the "Raleigh" in the summer of 1778, and returned to Portsmouth. Has descendants living in that city at present. Died there in 1809.

Lieut. Josiah Shackford was a son of Josiah Shackford, who lived at Portsmouth. Lieut. Josiah married Deborah Marshall, of Portsmouth, a step-sister. He probably remained on the "Raleigh" until her capture, in 1778. He was a sea captain, and sailed ships out of New York for many years. At one time he sailed a sloop of fifteen tons from Bordeaux, France, to Surinam, South America, alone. He wished his wife to move to New York, but she refused to leave Portsmouth, and for several years she did not hear from him, when he returned suddenly to Portsmouth, put up at the hotel, took tea with his wife, and left the town next morning, never to return. He was next heard of in Ohio, where he founded the present city of Portsmouth, in that State; became quite wealthy, and died there when he was over eighty years old.

Lieut. Hopley Yeaton was born in 1730, at New Castle, N. H. He was a sailor and sea captain. Was a leader of the Sons of Liberty, at Portsmouth in 1775-76. Remained on the "Raleigh" until her capture, Sept. 28, 1778. Soon after he was assigned to the Continental frigate "La Hague" (or "Dean"), and was on her in 1779 and 1780. He was commissioned by President Washington, on March 21, 1791, a Captain in the United States revenue cutter service, and commanded the cutter "Scammel," the first one built under the United States. She was stationed at Portsmouth, N. H., and patroled the New Hampshire and Maine coasts. He resigned from the service Sept. 30, 1809, and moved to Lubec, Me., where he died in May, 1812, and was buried there.

Master Thomas Manning was a sea captain out of the river for many years. Married a Purcel, of Portsmouth, N. H.


[p. 223]
Captain of Marines George Jerry Osborne was a school-teacher at Portsmouth for several years before the Revolution, and raised a company of artillery at Portsmouth in 1775, of which he was Captain. It was stationed near Portsmouth in 1775 and 1776. Married Olive, daughter of Capt. Thomas and Dorothy Pickering of Portsmouth, and he lived at Portsmouth after marriage.

Midshipman John Frost remained on the "Raleigh" until her capture. Was Second Lieutenant of the privateer ship "Jason," Capt. J. Manly, June 2, 1779; was captured on her Sept. 30, 1779. Was commissioned Captain of the privateer cutter "Swift," of Massachusetts, in February, 1783. Midshipman Samuel McClintock was a son of the Rev. Samuel McClintock and wife Mary Montgomery, of Greenland, N. H. He was promoted to Lieutenant in the Navy, and was lost at sea.