Hiram 1799


Full-rigged ship, 312 tons, built New England 1797, draught 16 ft.
Captain Samuel A Whitney (owner with his father Samuel Whitney) of Castine in Maine.
She was captured by the French Privateer La Vengeance for several hours in January 1799 before being recaptured by HMS Clyde and escorted to Plymouth [she was carrying lumber from New England to Liverpool].

The Hiram (master Whitney) from Boston to Liverpool got on shore on 1st Sept 1799 near the entrance to the Chester River [Dee Estuary] and has been full of water. The Hiram must have been refloated since she was involved in dramatic developments the next year:

Captain Whitney had a very exciting sequence of events on a subsequent voyage in late 1800 on the Hiram from Liverpool to America: being captured by a French Man of War; managing to regain control of his ship from the prize crew; then being captured by a French Privateer; before being liberated by HMS Unite.

Captain Whitney's Report of these events.

For wrecks of Liverpool privateers: see Victory; Pelican.

For an account of the wreck of a prize being brought to Liverpool: Deux Amis.

More about the history of Liverpool Privateers

Dee Wrecks Index

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