HMS Amphitrite, Capt. Robert Briggs.

Stephen Davidson, a "Very Valued Friend of the Fort" (awarded VVFF), called our attention to the following passenger muster of an unknown Loyalist transport vessel. The transcription had been made by by J. S. Hughson from a document in the Amos Botsford papers. Among the passengers, the ship carried at least some members of the Loyalist refugee corps commanded by Major Thomas Ward, a small band that rendered vital service and won a measure of renown for the valiant defence of a block house on Bergen Neck in July, 1780, against a superior rebel force. Extensive research positively identified the vessel as the British ship-of-war Amphitrite of 24 guns, commanded by Robert Briggs, Esq.   With the exception of alphabetical sorting of names, the manifest following adheres to the Hughson transcription.

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Return of Men, Women & Children arrived at Annapolis from New York

19th Octr. 1782 (360 persons)

 

Name	Women	Ch. above 8 years	Ch. under 8 years
Abbott, Samel.
Anderson, Walter	1
Babcock, Benjn.
Belcher, Adam
Botsford, Amos, Esq.	1	4	1
Bouchan, Alexr.	1		2
Bourgar, Alexr.	1	3	1
Bragg, John	1
Brandon, John	1		1
Bunnel, Solomon	1	4	1
Burnet, William
Carrier, Green	1		2
Carron, James
Chandler, Samel.
Craiges, James	1	1
Crain, Thos.
Crook, Joseph	1	4	2
Crosby, John	2
Cummings, Samel., Esq.	1	4	1
Cummings, Thos.	1	1	1
Dowlin, Dennis
Edgar, James
Findle, George
Flewel [Flavel], Anthony	1		2
Fountain, Stephen	1
Fowler, Thos.
Goldsmith, Stephen
Gordon, Richd.	1		1
Graham, Alexr.	1
Graham, Muir
Graham, Patrick		1
Green, Reuben
Grogan, Richard	1
Gunning, John	1
Hall, Cornelius	1		2
Harding, George, Junr.
Harding, William	1	3	4
Harding, William	1	3	1
Hatch, John	1
Haughton, Nahum	1		1
Hauser, Capt. Fredk.	1	3
Houston, James	1	3	2
Houston, James, Junr.
Howe, William	1	2	2
Hoit, Jesse, Junr.
Hoyt, Jesse	1	3	1
Hutchinson, Thos.
Isaacs, Samel.		4
Jenkins, John
Jenkins, William	2	4
Johnson, George	1
Johnson, Henry	1
Johnson, James
Johnson, Martin	1	4	1
Johnson, Widow		2	1
Johnson, William	2	1
Jones, Elisha	1	6	1
Jones, John
Jones, Josiah	1	1	2
Kane, George
Knight, Mahlon	1	2
Langley, Timothy
Lawson, John	1	3	1
LeCarre (LeBar(r)e), Henry
Leroy, Simon	1	3
Lesage, Mentor
Lownsberry, Gilbert	1		1
Lownsberry, Michel.
McBride, Alexr.
McGuire, John
McGuire, Patk.	1		1
McKinney, William	1	2
McKown, John	1	1	1
McLinton, Alexr.	1	4
McPherson, John
More, Jeremiah	1		3
Nicholas, Henry	1		2
Northrop, Joseph	1		1
Parker, Simeon	1
Parks, James	1		1
Patterson, Joseph
Pemberton, Jeremiah	2	3
Persels, Simon
Phillips, Doit	1	2
Power, Nicholas
Procter, Nathel.	1		1
Richards, James	1	1
Roberts, Henry	2		1
Robinson, Fredk.	1	1
Ruggles, Jos.
Russel, Alexr.	1
Sanders, William	1	3
Sharp, Alexr.	(?)   1
Shea, M.	1	1	2
Smith, Austin	1	5
Smith, James
Stevens, Enos	1	1
Stone, Josiah	1
Trusdell, Alpheus
Trusdell, James
Trusdell, John	2	3	3
Tucker, George
Twaddle, James	1	5	2
VanClick (Van Cleke), Simon	1	2
Vitch (Veitch), Andrew	2	1
Vitch, John
Vitch, William
Walker, Adam	1	1	1
Ward, Jonas
Ward, Majr.3	1	4	4
Washburn, Ebenr.	1	3	2
Weare, Thos.
Wigham, John
Williams, Elijah, Esq.
114	75	112	60	Total   361*

The identity of the vessel and master is conclusively proven by the following letter,¹ signed by five principal passengers, and presented to Capt. Briggs the day following the above muster.

"To Robert Briggs, Esq., Commander of His Majesty's Ship Amphitrite,—

The Loyal Refugees who have emigrated from New York to settle in Nova Scotia, beg your acceptance of their warmest thanks for the kind and unremitted attention you have paid to their preservation and safe conduct at all times during their passage.

Driven from their respective dwellings for their loyalty to our King, after enduring immense hardships, and seeking a settlement in a land unknown to us, our distresses were sensibly relieved during an uncomfortable passage by your humanity,² ever attentive to our preservation. Be pleased to accept our most grateful acknowledgment, so justly due to you and the officers under your command, and be assured we shall remember your kindness with the most grateful sensibility.

We are, with the warmest wishes for your health and a prsoperous voyage, your most obedient humble servants,

Signed in behalf of the Refugees,

Amos Botsford Th. Ward3 Fred. Hauser Sam. Cummings Elijah Williams

Annapolis Royal, the 20th October, 1782."

 

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*   The discrepancy between this total and the "360 persons" noted in the manifest header may perhaps be explained by the erroneous inclusion of a woman (presumably wife) with Alexander Sharp, above. The listing of Major Ward's group of refugees at New York, prior to embarkation, shows Alexander Sharp without wife or family, and no record has been yet found of a marriage previous to his circa1785 wedding to Hester Campbell in New Brunswick.

1.   Savary, A. W., Supplement to the History of the County of Annapolis, pub. William Briggs, Toronto, 1913, pp. 36-7.   The letter was presented to Captain Briggs prior to the vessel's departure from Annapolis.

2.   Briggs reputedly expended £200 of his own money for the benefit of his refugee passengers.

3.   Major Thomas Ward, of Newark, N.J., and Orange County, New York. See Jones, E. Alfred, The Loyalists of New Jersey, Their Memorials, Petitions and Claims, pub. New Jersey Historical Society, 1927, p. 240.