(There is a discrepancy between the number of prisoners-of-war stated to have been carried by her in Dr. Lewis's work, Neptune's Militia, page 96 and the number counted from the actual roster by the writer of this blog. The totals are very close but, a discrepancy exists nonetheless and should be noted.)
It should be noted and remembered that the HMS Astrea was on station alone off the Capes of the Delaware until the arrival of the HMS Diomede and the HMS Quebec on December 19, 1782. If the small rebel convoy, escorted by the frigate South Carolina, had emerged before the arrival of these crucial reinforcements, the HMS Astrea would have had to face the frigate South Carolina alone, which she probably could not have done without serious threat or damage to herself. But, such is the irony of history.
Again, as with the previous two posts, the officers will be listed alphabetically first - naval officers first, followed by marine officers. Then, the NCOs and enlisted personnel will alphabetically listed - naval first, marines second. Any additional information such as "position" on board the frigate South Carolina will be cited to the right of their listing in the roster.
Officers:
Naval:
Thomas Fitzgerald 3rd Lieutenant
Robert Coram 4th Lieutenant
John Blair Midshipman
Augustus Brown Midshipman
Gilbert Wall Midshipman
Richard Wall Midshipman
William White Landsman, midshipman
Marine:
William Thompson Lieutenant of Marines
NCOs and Enlisted:
Naval:
John Appleton
Henry Beards
Henry Brown
Thomas Brown
James Colvill
John Davis
Pierce Denney
Hugh Doile
John Down
Patrick Duffy Volunteer
Charles Eagen
John Forbes
Caspar Freuture
Pompey Gazer Black?
Hugh Geary
John Green Landsman
Michael Healey
Henry Hemsley
John Herber
Wilkens Hickmore
Frederick Hickpott
John Hill
John Hill
Adam Hindslar
Francis Hoskins
John Humphries
Samuel Jennings
Aaron Jester
Jack Jew
John Johnstone
George Jones
Thomas Kent
Thomas Knapp
Philius Lock
Cornelius Mandervil
Samuel McCowell
John McDaniel
William McLaughlan
John McLaughlin
William McMurray
Alexander McPherlin
Christopher Miller
Henry Miller
John Miller
Philip Miller
William Miller
John Morris
John Morrison
John Mungle
Thomas Noble
Henry Pegg
Thomas Philpot
Thomas Pitt
Jacob Rawer
John Rayner
James Reynold
Frederick Reidley
John Roberts
Isaac Salter
John Sulter
Edward Scully Volunteer
Luke Scully
William Sharp
William Short
John Siler
Charles Snatcherbt
Cornelus Sneider
John Somervill Volunteer
William Soula
Henry Strider
Hendrik Tangers
Christopher Titmore
William Wheeler
Jenkins Williams
John Wilson
Marine:
None
Like the HMS Diomede and the HMS Quebec, the HMS Astrea also carried prisoners to New York City who were found to be former British soldiers. But, unlike the previously mentioned two ships-of-war, the HMS Astrea carried more than either of the other two ships-of-war. The HMS Astrea carried two British soldiers and two possible Loyalist soldiers. The two British soldiers were:
Daniel Davidson British soldier 71st Regiment of Foot
Thomas Hall British soldier 20th Regiment of Foot
The possible Loyalist soldiers are not identified as such due to a slight alternate spelling of the last name, in one case, and mis-identification, in the next case. These two soldiers and their former regimental affiliations are:
John Finley The Queen's Rangers
George Jones The King's American Dragoons
In the roster of prisoners-of-war transported into New York City by the HMS Astrea, one finds a "John Fenley". This is found in Middlebrook's work, The Frigate South Carolina, page 24, but, as recorded, the last name is alternately spelled. In Lewis's work, Neptune's Militia, "Appendix: Crew and Marines of the South Carolina" , page 147, there is a John Fenley with no "position" citation and further down the page a "John Finley" with the "position" citation of "British soldier, Queen's Rangers". According to Dr. Lewis's work, Neptune's Militia, page 197-198, note 8, there were about eight former British soldiers on board the frigate South Carolina on her brief, final voyage. The rosters of captives transported into New York City list all eight of the former British soldiers, if "John Finley" is included in the count. It is a very slight alteration from "Finley" to "Fenley". He is cited here as "John Finley, The Queen's Rangers".
The other former Loyalist soldier was George Jones. Only two George Joneses were transported into New York City from the captured frigate South Carolina. Both of them were transported on board the HMS Astrea, according to Middlebrook's work, The Frigate South Carolina, pages 18-25. Neither of these men have any "position" recorded for their service on board the frigate South Carolina. But, again, if the original count of eight former British soldiers captured on the final voyage of the frigate South Carolina is to be adhered to, then one of them must be identified as "George Jones - British soldier, The King's American Dragoons".
Towards the end of the roster, we encounter the citation - "Edward Scully - Volunteer". This is the same individual that was written about at length in the post dated "03/12/2015". Again, this is one of the very few citations of this individual as "Edward Scully". Otherwise, he is always referred to as "Edward Scull". But, among the three different prisoner-of-war rosters of the three British men-of-war that carried them into New York City harbor, there never appears a prisoner by the name of "Edward Scull", only "Edward Scully". Yet, this name is not encountered anywhere else, as far as this blog writer is aware of. In Moss's work, Roster of South Carolina Patriots, as well as in Revell's work, Copy of the Index Book, the name "Edward Scully" does not appear. But, in both works, the name "Edward Scull" does appear. He also is directly mentioned in the pension application of John Fox, "Pension Application of John Fox S2219" as "...a certain officer..." who "...then said that his name was Scull...". There seems to exist overwhelming evidence that this individual's true name was "Edward Scull" and not "Edward Scully". But, this still does not answer the question - "Was Edward Scull on board the frigate South Carolina at the time of her capture off the Capes of the Delaware?" If what has been stated above is indeed correct, then the two individuals are probably the same man and, yes, Edward Scull was on board the frigate South Carolina at the time of her capture and he was transported to New York City on board the British Royal Navy frigate HMS Astrea. As an officer, a Lieutenant of Marines, he would have been paroled on Long Island with the rest of the commissioned personnel until they were exchanged at the end of the war. It maybe that his name was erroneously recorded as "Scully" rather than "Scull" by the person recording the prisoners-of-war as they were being listed on the roster of prisoners on board the HMS Astrea.