Kelly’s Genealogy Blog

The following is from The Wilsom Museum Bulletin (http://www.wilsonmuseum.org/bulletins/bulletinVol2No22.html)

The other was Israel Trask, also fourteen, a fifer, who had enlisted in Massachusetts and was serving on the Black Prince when it sailed for Penobscot. Israel first entered the army when he was ten, at twelve and thirteen he sailed on privateers and, after the Black Prince was blown up in the Penobscot River he walked home to Gloucester through the wilderness. Israel Trask was famous in Castine, he had landed with the assault party on the west shore of the peninsula and found shelter from British gunfire behind a large white granite boulder; nearly forty years later, when he revisited Castine, his young friends took him to the boulder and wrote on it in large letters “Trask - 1779.” Until the 20th century Trask’s Rock was frequently visited and much photographed. These fourteen-year-old boys, William and Israel, may account for the age of the legendary drummer.

The following is from The Phinney Site (http://www.history.navy.mil/branches/org12-7l.htm)

On the night of 15 August, American General Solomon Lovell appeared aboard Providence and informed the naval officers that Saltonstall needed assistance to tow the Warren upriver. News that the flagship had not yet been destroyed invigorated the men, and numerous boats were promptly manned and sent down to Oak Point. Despite such good tidings, the privateer crews began scuttling their vessels during the early morning hours of August 16. The first vessel to be destroyed was the transport Pigeon, followed shortly thereafter by Hector and Black Prince. Monmouth exploded as flames from Black Prince reached its deck guns and powder stores. A few hours later, a messenger arrived from Oak Point with news that the Warren had been set ablaze on Saltonstall’s orders and was already consumed. The same fate befell the privateers downriver. With no other option left to them, the officers and crew of the remaining ships abandoned their craft and set them on fire. Since most were “half a pistol shot” or less apart, the flames rapidly spread from one vessel to another. By late afternoon 16 August, the river near Bangor was filled with the smoldering hulks of ships that had either exploded or burned to the waterline and slipped beneath the water. Only forty-eight hours after Collier’s British squadron arrived at the mouth of Penobscot Bay, most of the American fleet lay in ruins along the course of the river.

Increase Leadbetter was born 5 April 1724 (Dorchester MA).  He died 13 Jul 1800 (Vinalhaven ME).  He served on the frigate Boston in Jan 1777 that captured the British Frigate Fox.  Increase was placed on the Fox and captured by the frigate Flora 7 July 1777 and sent to Halifax.  He was a prisoner of war until Jan 1778.

I am still trying to research each Revolutionary Soldier that settled in Leeds.  I am hoping to find a conncection between one of them and Thomas Francis that will provide the proof of Thomas’ service record.

The list of Leeds Revolutionary War Soldiers can be found at http://www.avcnet.org/lhs/Veterans/Rev.pdf

I have had no luck trying to link Thomas Francis to Dighton MA, so decided to turn my research efforts to locating Richard Crowninshield in hopes that he would lead me to information on Thomas.  I was unable to discover information on a Richard, but was able to discover Benjamin Crowninshield Pension record!  His history aligns with the story that was told in the History of Leeds.  Benjamin was born 1757 in Salem MA and died 22 Nov 1836 in Charlestown.  In 1777, he was a midshipman on the Frigate Boston, which was commanded by Hector McNeil.  The Boston sailed with the Hancock, commanded by John Manley.  On 7 June 1777, they captured the British Frigate Fox (Capt Patrick Fotheringham).  Benjamin returned to Salem the latter part of 1777.  In July 1779, he was appointed Lieutentant on the Privateer Black Prince, which was commanded by Capt Nathaniel West.

From this evidence, I have concluded that Richard is actually Benjamin and the “English man-of-war” mentioned in Leeds History is the British Frigate Fox and Thomas Francis was captured at that time and brought to America.  Leeds History states that Thomas landed May 1778.

This conclusion now leads me to the quesion of “Where was Thomas from June 1777 to May 1778″?  It is still possible that the Thomas Francis of Dighton is the Thomas Francis of Leeds Maine.  Thomas of Dighton enlisted with Hathaway’s Company May 1778.

I found the Muster List for the men of Dighton in Capt Ephraim Hathaway’s Company.  The men listed were Eliot Poole, Nobles Cummings, Thomas Francis, Peter Paul, Paul Pigsley, Thomas Fisher, London Baley, Wiliam Nicoles.  None of these men settled in Leeds Maine with Thomas Francis.

The Military Record for Thomas Francis, Dighton is as follows:
May 1778: Capt Ephraim Hathawy’s Co, Cold Edward Pope’s Regiment
June 1778: Arrives at Fishkill
Aug 1779 - May 1780: Private, Colonel’s Co, Col Shepard’s 4th regiment
Aug 1780: Capt Henry Tew’s Co, Col John Hathaway’s Regiment
Aug 1780 - Nov 1780: Capt Benjamin Bate’s Co, Col Abiel Mitchell’s Regiment
Mar 1781: Capt Henry Brightman’s Co, Col James Dean Regiment

My next step will try to link a man from Leeds to one of the above units

I emailed the Leeds Historical Society, hoping & praying that they would have all my answers and documentation for me.  The information that I received from them led me to Massachusetts Soldiers and Sailors of the Revolutionary War, (MSSRW).  There are 6 Thomas Francis listed in the MSSRW.  The gentleman from the LHS referred me to the entry for Thomas Francis, Dighton.  The age for this Thomas in 1778 is listed as 16yrs.  This would make the birth year approx 1762.  It is possible that this is my Thomas Francis.  Many young soldiers often lied about their age in order to enlist.  1778 for enlistment is possible as this is the year that is mentioned for him being captured by the Black Prince.

I will take my research down this path, trying to prove that the Thomas Francis from Dighton is the Thomas Francis that settled in Leeds Maine.

I have done some internet searches for information on the “Black Prince”.  Of course the crew list for Penobscot Expedition (PE) did not just magically appear.

I have found the following information on the Black Prince.  It was a Massachusetts Privateer owned by George Williams of Salem.  Nathaniel West was the captain during the PE and the crew consisted of 160 men. 

I will try to look for information on Richard Crowninsheild and Nathaniel West to see what paths this will lead me to

I am currently researching Thomas Davis Francis and trying to prove his service in the American Revolution.  According to History of the Town of Leeds, Thomas was born in Wales and was sent to London at the age of 7 to be educated and apprenticed to a Dr Williams.  At the age of 13, Thomas ran away and became a cabin boy.  He enlisted on various voyages before he enlisted on an “English man-of-war”. 

This vessel was captured by the American ship Black Prince, commanded by Richard Crowninshield.  He and his shipmates were confined in irons and nearly devoured by lice.  On application to the commodore, who was moved with sympathy for the youth, his shackles were removed and permission given him to mingle and labor with the sailors of the Black Prince who manned the captured man-of-war vessel and took her into an American port (presumably Boston), where they landed in May 1778.  The succeeding fall, this vessel was impressed into the American service, sent to the Maine coast to aid in driving the Bristish from the Peneobscot, and young Francis, having sworn allegiance to the cause of America, acted in the capacity of “captain of the top” in the engagement at Castine that soon followed, in which this vessel was an active participant.  Soon after this engagement, having proceeded up the Penobscot River to near where the city of Bangor is now situated, and being hemmed in and pursued by a superior force of Red Coats, the vessel was abandoned, blown up and sunk in that river. (p56 - Leeds History)

You may say, “what are you trying to the prove, the information is listed right there!??!”  The issue that  I have is History of the Town of Leeds has no sources listed for this information.  This information could be family (or town) legend.

I will begin my search looking for information on the Black Prince.