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BLOCKADE of New York
31 December 1812 HMS Charybdis Lloyd’s List January 1st 1813 London Gazette No. 16692 His Majesty’s Sloop Charybdis, Sombrero Passage, December 31, 1812 I beg leave to acquaint you, that at half-past nine this morning, the Island of Saba bearing N.E. six leagues, I fell in with, and after five hours and a half chase, captured the Blockade American schooner privateer, of ten guns and sixty-six men, her first cruise, had only taken a small schooner belonging St.Lucia, but being chased by one of our brigs, two days ago, was obliged to abandon her. The Blockade is a fine schooner, only three months since her keel was laid, is one hundred and twenty-eight tons, has thrown all her guns over board, except one, in the chase. Niles Weekly Register Vol. 3 No.17 page 268 The Head Money papers opposite carry more information :- Page 1 is the standard form Page 2. transcribed below, gives more information:- Extracted from the Registry of His Majesty’s Vice Admiralty Court at Tortola. Monday the first day of February 1813 Before James Robertson Esq. Judge and Commissioner of the said court.
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Schooner Blockade John Mix, Master
In pain of parties cited thrice called and not appearing. Lisle returned the monition. The judge assigned the cause for sentence on the first assignation and having heard the proofs read On motion of Counsel pronounced the said schooner Blockade her tackle apparel and furniture and the arms, store and ammunition taken on board the same, to have belonged at the time of the capture and seizure thereof to enemies of the Crown of the United Kingdom of Great Britain and Ireland, and as such as good and lawful prize taken by his Majesty’s Sloop Charybdis, James Clephane Esq. Commander and further pronounced that the said schooner Blockade was a privateer duly commissioned by the Government of the United States of America belonging to the Citizens thereof armed with ten guns and small arms and had alive and on board at the commencement of the engagement sixty six men.. Page 3 confirms the number of men abroad the Blockade and is signed by, Elisha Mix, Edward Dodd and William Cooley. The crew listed below is taken from American Prisoners of war: held at Barbados, New Providence and Newfoundland during War of 1812. By Harrison Scott Baker. Note that some names appear twice – this indicates that they escaped and were re-captured and given a new prisoner number. I’ve just given the names here but Baker gives more detail, for an example of the data included in Baker’s volumes see Bibliography. Extracted from the Registry of His Majesty’s Vice Admiralty Court at Tortola. Before James Robertson Esq. Judge and Commissioner of the said court. Schooner Blockade John Mix, Master taken by the Charybdis and carried into St.Thomas – other crew members mentioned Elisha Mix, Edward Dodd and William Cooley. The crew listed below is taken from American Prisoners of war: held at Barbados, New Providence and Newfoundland during War of 1812. Note that some names appear twice – this indicates that they escaped and were re-captured and given a new prisoner number. In addition it was noted that a further 4 crew members were noted as prisoners in Gibraltar: William Neal, David Ray, William Diamond and Samuel Sparkes, on page 31
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