American Privateer frigate 'Rattlesnake' (1780)

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Rattlesnake

6103
Nominal Guns20W027
NationalityUnited States of America
OperatorPrivate Owners
Launched1780W027
First Commissioned12.6.1781W027
Home PortSalem - Massachusetts ref:1814
How acquiredPurpose builtW027
ShipyardPlymouth - Massachusetts W027
Constructor
John PeckAmerican
Ship Builder
Service 1780
W027
CategoryPrivateerW027
Ship TypeFrigateW027
Sailing RigShip RiggedW027
Captured17.6.1781BWAS-1714
Becomes
British sloop 'Cormorant' (1781) (18) 1781-1786
British 18 Gun
Unrated Sloop
1783 Renamed "Rattlesnake"

Dimensions


DimensionMeasurementTypeMetric EquivalentBWAS-1714
Length of Gundeck89' 3"Imperial Feet27.1357 
Length of Keel74' 11"Imperial Feet22.5616 
Breadth22' 4"Imperial Feet6.7564 
Depth in Hold8' 10 ½"Imperial Feet2.4511 
Burthen198 70⁄94Tons BM 

Owners


DatesOwnerSource
1781 - 1781/06/17
John AndrewAmerican
Ship Owner
Service 1781
OwnerNRAR

Crew Complement


Date# of MenNotesSource
12.6.178185 NRAR

1 Ship Commander


DatesRankNameSource
12.6.1781 - 17.6.1781Master (Privateer)
Mark ClarkAmerican
Naval Sailor
Privateer
Service 1776-1781
NRAR

Service History


DateEventSource
12.6.1781Issued with a Letter of MarqueNRAR
17.6.1781Taken by
Assurance (44) 1780-1815
British 44 Gun
5th Rate Ship of the Line
North America

 
Previous comments on this page

Posted by grammont on Friday 15th of July 2022 22:11

From "Naval records of the American Revolution : 1775-1788"
listing the bonds for Letters of Marque issued by Congress

1781 Jun 12 Rattlesnake. Massachusetts ship.
Guns: 20 Crew: 85.
Bond: $20.000.
Master: Mark Clark.
Bonders: Mark Clark [Salem?] John Andrew, Salem, Francis Boardman [Salem?]
Owners: John Andrew and others, Salem
Witnesses: Jeremiah Hall, Caleb Beal

So your model is correct

Posted by Tom Taggart on Friday 15th of July 2022 19:50

In Eric Dolin, in his book REBELS AT SEA, stated that the 1780 Rattlesnake carried 16 cannon. The model I built showed 20 cannon. Which is correct.

Posted by Cy on Friday 17th of February 2017 12:48

Thanks, it's been corrected.

Posted by Vol Williams on Friday 17th of February 2017 01:31

This Rattlesnake was built in 1780, not 1773.

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