| The first Washington -- while never part of the Continental
Navy -- was a 160-ton schooner named Endeavor acquired by General
George Washington in early October of 1775 from George Erving and Capt. Benjamin
Wormwell of Plymouth, Massachusetts. Renamed Washington, the schooner
was fitted out at Plymouth and was re-rigged as a brigantine at the behest
of her officer from Rhode Island, Capt. Sion Martindale. On 3 November 1775,
Washington's charter was consummated, and she was authorized to operate
off the New England coast between Cape Cod and Cape Ann in the hope of disrupting
British shipping. |
| Washington sailed in company with the schooner
Harrison on 23 November. No more than three leagues from shore, both
Continental ships came across the British frigate HMS Tartar and two
forage-laden transports. The British ships scared off and separated
Washington and Harrison and chased the former until well after
nightfall. |
| Although Washington spent most of 25 November looking for
Harrison, she did not find her. Soon thereafter, she captured the
provision - laden, 80-ton sloop Britannia and turned her over to
Continental authorities before returning to sea on the 28th. However, stormy
weather and a poorly disciplined crew caused Washington to head back
to port the next day. Back at Plymouth, it was ascertained that some of the
men's grumblings had been occasioned by their contention that they had enlisted
to serve in the army -- not as sailors. Moreover, a lack of winter clothing
demoralized the crew. They were quickly supplied with suitable winter outfits,
and the ship returned to sea on Sunday, 3 December 1775. Late the next day,
the British 6th rate, 20-gun frigate HMS Fowey, cruising Massachusetts
Bay on the lookout for "rebel cruisers," in company with HMS Lively,
sighted Washington and gave chase. |
| Just before nightfall, Fowey reached gun range and fired
a warning shot. Seven subsequent rounds brought the brigantine to, and she
lowered her colors. Taken to Boston, Washington, upon inspection by
the Royal Navy, was deemed unsuitable for operations on the high seas; she
eventually rotted away at Boston. |
Tonnage, 160; Complement, 74; Armament, six 6-pdrs., four 4-pdrs.,
10 swivels |
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