The historical background and uses of the prison "hulks" in Wallabout Bay, NY have already been discussed in an earlier post below - see post of "05/19/2015" on historical introduction and function of the various prison "hulks". One can gain an insight into what became of each of the prisoners-of-war on board the three British men-of-war as their respective cargoes of captives were discharged onto one or the other prison "hulks" in Wallabout Bay, NY. But, for each of the British men-of-war involved in delivering American prisoners-of-war to the prison "hulks" in Wallabout Bay, NY, I will attempt to present the particulars.
The HMS Diomede carried the largest consignment of captured crew and marines from the frigate South Carolina. According to the count given on page 96 of Lewis's work, Neptune's Militia, she carried 174 officers and other personnel into New York City harbor. It appears that all the NCOs and enlisted personnel were discharged to a prison "hulk" on December 26, 1782 with a two exceptions - James Robinson and John Miller - being discharged to a prison "hulk" five days later on December 31, 1782. The entry for this list of prisoners-of-war is clearly marked as indicating these men were all crew members and marines from the frigate South Carolina. No name of the specific prison "hulk" is given - the only citation contained in the British manifest for the prisoners-of-war is that they were discharged onto a "Prison Ship". The HMS Diomede is known to have carried eight captured officers and "gentlemen" on board her into New York City harbor. All of these men were discharged on Long Island on either December 28 or 29, 1782. The remaining 166 were discharged onto one of the prison "hulks" riding at anchor in Wallabout Bay, NY. Again, it is not known which one specifically, history has not recorded the name of this prison "hulk", only that they were discharged onto a "Prison Ship".
The HMS Astrea carried the smallest consignment of captured crew and marines from the frigate South Carolina. According to the count given on page 96 of Lewis's work, Neptune's Militia, she carried 87 officers and other personnel into New York City harbor. A close examination of the captive's list of the HMS Astrea by the writer of this blog turns up 89 names of prisoners-of-war who were transported on board the HMS Astrea into New York City harbor. Thus, there is slight discrepancy in the number of captive personnel she actually carried. It appears that all the NCOs and enlisted personnel were discharged to a prison "hulk" on December 27, 1782. They were all discharged on this single day, no exceptions. Again, as with the HMS Diomede, this captive's list is clearly marked as indicating these men were all crew members and marines from the frigate South Carolina. As with the prisoners-of-war carried on board the HMS Diomede, no specific prison "hulk" is named as receiving these prisoners-of-war. Again, the only citation given is that these men were all discharged onto a "Prison Ship New York". The captive's list of the HMS Astrea cites 11 officers and "gentlemen" on board her when she arrived in New York City harbor. The interesting fact is that there is no indication whatsoever as to the fate of these officers and "gentlemen". The entire captive's list for the HMS Astrea cites all of the prisoners-of-war as being "Discharged 27 Dec 1782 Prison Ship New York". The situation has already been addressed in the post immediately below and dated "05/22/2015". This is a highly unusual situation for officers and "gentlemen" to be placed in a condition reserved for NCOs and enlisted personnel. But, unfortunately, the record is silent on this matter. If this was not the case - if the officers and "gentlemen" were paroled - then between 76 - 78 NCOs and enlisted personnel were discharged onto one of the prison "hulks" moored in Wallabout Bay, NY.
The HMS Quebec carried the second largest number of captured crew and marines from the frigate South Carolina. According to page 96 of Lewis's work, Neptune's Militia, she carried 105 officers and other personnel into New York City harbor. Again, a close examination of the captive's list of the HMS Quebec by the writer of this blog turns up 104 names prisoners-of-war who were transported on board the HMS Quebec into New York City harbor. So, again, there is a very slight discrepancy in the number of personnel she actually carried. It appears that the NCOs and enlisted personnel were discharged to a prison "hulk" on December 23, 1782. These, too, were all discharged on a single day, no exceptions. But, the dispositions of many of these men is unusual in that these men are recorded as being discharged but, not onto a prison "hulk". These men are 45 in number and are cited as being "Discharged 23 Dec '82 Head Qrs". This captive's list also clearly notes that these men are all crew members and marines from the frigate South Carolina. The other two captive's lists for the HMS Diomede and the HMS Astrea refer to the frigate South Carolina simply as the "South Carolina" while the captive's list for the HMS Quebec refers to the frigate as the "Prize Ship South Carolina". As with the HMS Diomede and the HMS Astrea, the prisoners-of-war on board the HMS Quebec were discharged onto a prison "hulk" in Wallabout Bay, NY. But, unlike the two previously mentioned British men-of-war, the name of the prison "hulk" these men were discharged onto is recorded - the Jersey. The captive's list for the HMS Quebec cites 8 officers and "gentlemen" on board her when she arrived in New York City harbor. All of these men were paroled between December 27 and 28, 1782 with one exception - Henry Roymer who has this notation beside his name on the list - "26 Dec '82, Head Qrs".
(Note: The individuals who are cited as "Discharged 23 Dec '82 Head Qrs" all have a certain feature in common - they are all from the marine contingent of the frigate South Carolina. The situation and circumstances of these men have already been explored in the post dated "05/21/2015". These men had been recruited in the area of Reading and Lancaster, PA. A large proportion of these men were German-speaking Pennsylvanians and may well have been targets for recruitment by the Hessian forces in New York City at that time. Also, there were suspicions that some of these men might be deserters from the Crown forces and required that their individual cases be examined by British authorities. This situation only appears among the prisoners-of-war on board the HMS Quebec and not at all among the captives on board either of the other two British men-of-war, the HMS Diomede or the HMS Astrea.)
There are some pension applications for individuals who served on board the frigate South Carolina that mention that man's time on board one of the prison "hulks" in Wallabout Bay, NY after the capture of the frigate South Carolina. The list cited below is by no means exhaustive. These are simply the pension applications that this blog writer has located to date. These pension applications are in their own words and testament and are as follows:
John Fox - "Pension Application of John Fox S2219" - "The British made us prisoners of War conveyed us to New York and confined us on Board the Jersey Prison Ship then lying at North River -- a Strong Hessian & British Guard was our doom in this Situation as Prisoners of War we remained at least 11 months treated by the Hessian & British with Savage brutality many many Died of Starvation others of the Extreme cold and Ill Treatment on some days 14 of the man [men] Died out of our 70 men only seven returned to their Homes..."
Jacob Fleisher - "Pension Application of Jacob Fleisher S2214" - "...we were taken by 3 British Frigates who made us all Prisoners of War conveyed us to New York and confined us closely in the Jersey Prison Ship then lying in North River where we had a brutal Hessian & British Guard who treated us with savage brutality in this deplorable situation we remained about 11 months prisoners of War during this period many died of Starvation and Cold some with frozen limbs the number of Prisoners amounted to about 1400 on the Prison Ship out of the 70 man [men] which was our crew only 7 returned home..."
Abijah Hunt - "Pension Application of Abijah Hunt S23271" - "...that the South Carolina sailed in the latter part of September or first of October and having put to see [sea] was captured by a 56-Gun ship and carried into New York and the crew put on board the Prison ship at the Wallabout [Wallabout Bay] -- and continued about a month and the prisoners were then paroled..."
Henry Lotz - "Pension Application of Henry Lotz S40950" - "...that his ship and crew were taken prisoner by the British in sight of New York lighthouse that he among the rest of the Prisoners was put on Board the prison ship called "Olde Jersey" that he was kept and treated as a prisoner of War, until released at the close of the War,..."
William McMurray - "Pension Application of William McMurray S41862" - "He was taken from this Vessel [frigate South Carolina], put into a Prison Ship at New York confined for 3 months, suffering many and great hardships until he effected his escape by stratagem --"
Joshua Mersereau - "Pension Application of Joshua Mersereau S7224" - "I was one of the crew of the ship when we sailed which was on or about the 21st of December same year, we were chased by 3 British Ships, the Diomede, the Aystrich [Astrea] and the Quebec, we were captured, and in the battle I received a wound in my leg which has never healed, I was conveyed with the rest of the crew of the South Carolina, to New York, and put on board the Scorpion prison Ship. On or about the last of January I was permitted to retire on parole and remained a prisoner in that situation until peace was ratified by treaty in 1784."
Michael Spatz - "Pension Application of Michael Spatz S3957" - "...the Ship and crew were taken Prisoner by the British in sight of New York Light house that he was placed with the rest of the prisoners on board the prison ship called "Old Jersey"
that he was kept and treated as a prisoner of war until released at the close of the war..."
(Note: In a supporting statement attached to the pension application of Abijah Hunt, Joshua Mersereau states that he and Hunt along "...with the rest of the prisoners were transferred on board the Scorpion prison ship..." At least some of the crew and marines of the frigate South Carolina were incarcerated on board the prison "hulk", the Scorpion. But, most of the crew and marines were placed on board the Jersey as the pension applications above attest to.)
There are a few comments about this set of pension applications that should be made at this point. Jacob Fleisher's and John Fox's pension applications sound almost identical for a very sound reason. They were both acquainted with each other very well, evidently even prior to their service on board the frigate South Carolina. They both signed onto the frigate South Carolina as part of the marine contingent that was recruited in Reading and Lancaster, PA. At the end of their pension applications, both men cite that they and Michael Spatz are the only three still living who served on board the frigate South Carolina that came from that area of Pennsylvania.
According to Moss's work, Roster of South Carolina Patriots in the American Revolution, only three of the men cited above filed claims against the state of South Carolina after the end of the American Revolution for service on board the frigate South Carolina - Jacob Fleisher, Henry Lotz and Joshua Mersereau. Each of these claims are interesting, the former for its detail and the later two for their brevity. Both will be cited here in full.
Jacob Fleisher - he filed pension application S2214. "He entered the service in Reading, Pa., sometime during 1782, and served as a marine under Capt. John Joiner on board the ship South Carolina. He was taken prisoner when the ship was captured by three British frigates. After being carried to New York, he was confined in the prison ship Old Jersey, then laying on the North River and was held for eleven months. He was a German schoolmaster." (Moss, page 316) Lewis's work, Neptune's Militia, page 147 cites his "position" on board the frigate South Carolina as a "marine".
Henry Lotz - he filed pension application S40950. "He served in the sea service." (Moss, page 581) Lewis's work, Neptune's Militia, page 155 cites his "position" on board the frigate South Carolina as a "marine".
Joshua Mersereau - he served as a carpenter's mate aboard the South Carolina during 1782 and 1783. A.A.5180A; Y233; Moss, page 672. His last name is alternately spelled here as "Meisereau". Lewis's work, Neptune's Militia, page 157, cites his "position" on board the frigate South Carolina as a "carpenter's mate".
Only Jacob Fleisher mentions his imprisonment on board the prison "hulk" Jersey while Henry Lotz and Joshua Mersereau do not mention it or being captured by the British at all. Jacob Fleisher not only touches on his imprisonment but, also gives the location of the prison "hulk" in New York City and the length of time he was a prisoner-of-war there.
There is more detailed information on Jacob Fleisher and Henry Lotz in the post dated "10/31/2014". Joshua Mersereau has additional information on him in the post dated "11/05/2014".
These few pension applications also give us some idea of the length of time spent in the prison "hulks" by the crew and marines of the frigate South Carolina. John Fox and Jacob Fleisher both state that they were held for eleven months. Henry Lotz and Michael Spatz both state that they were held "...until released at the close of the war." Abijah Hunt was a midshipman and was released on parole within a month of his capture. He was friends with Joshua Mersereau, who had been wounded in the leg during the 18-hour chase and 2-hour engagement between the frigate South Carolina and the HMS Diomede, HMS Quebec, and HMS Astrea. It may have been that the British released Joshua Mersereau, a carpenter's mate who would have been consigned to the prison "hulks", because he was wounded and needed care but, also it may have been that their decision to release Mersereau was influenced by the possible intervention of Abijah Hunt on behalf of his wounded friend. Only William McMurray ended his incarceration through a rather unusual and unorthodox means as far as the British were concerned - he escaped, according to his pension application.
There is specific mention of incarceration on board the Jersey. John Fox and Jacob Fleisher both mention the Jersey as the prison "hulk" on which they were confined. Henry Lotz and Michael Spatz both mention the Olde Jersey or the Old Jersey. Joshua Mersereau states that he was confined on board the Scorpion and that Abijah Hunt was also imprisoned on board the same prison "hulk" even though Abijah Hunt only mentions "..the Prison Ship..." with no name being given by him as to the name of the prison "hulk". William McMurray only mentions being confined on board of "...a prison ship at New York..."