An Appeal to Heaven

The story of the ship Concord of Greenock gives an interesting look at some of the events taking place on the other side of the Atlantic during the American Revolution.  Many of Greenock and Port Glasgow's ship owners and captains must have put up many appeals to heaven for the safe arrival of their ships.  The problem was not just the Atlantic crossing itself, but the danger from enemy privateers patrolling the eastern shore of America.  The American privateers had their own flag - the Fir Tree Flag or An Appeal To Heaven.  The ship Concord was just one of many to have a run in with ships flying this flag.

An advertisement appeared in the Caledonian Mercury in 1775 giving details of the ship - "For Boston - The ship CONCORD, now lying at Greenock, will be clear to sail for Boston in New England by the 15th day of September next.  All letters and parcels for the Army or Navy sent, post paid, to Andrew Anderson & Co. Greenock, or Allan Blaikie and Co. Glasgow, will be taken particular care of.  The Concord is a fine new vessel, has good accommodation for passengers, and the time of sailing may be depended upon.  Not to be repeated." 

The ship sailed for Boston, taking coal and woollen goods to supply the besieged British army in the town.  The valuable supplies did not get to their intended users.  Instead the Concord was intercepted in by an American privateer .  A newspaper clipping tells the story -

"Last Saturday se’ennight, a ship from Scotland bound to Boston, laden with about 350 chaldron of coal, and a quantity of bale goods, taken by Captain Manley, was carried into Salem.  She is about two hundred tons burden, and is almost a new ship."

A letter was published in the Caledonian Mercury giving a few more details of the events - 

“Extract of a letter from a gentleman in Greenock to the Publisher, dated Jan 14.  Since I had the pleasure of seeing you at Edinburgh, have had no news from America, worth communicating, till now.  Last post brought a letter from Boston, dated 16th December, enclosing a letter from Captain James Laurie of the ship Concord of this place.  His letter is dated Cambridge, 6th December, advising of his being taken by a Provincial privateer, the Saturday before, within about 30 miles of Boston, after a hard passage of ten weeks and five days, five weeks of which he was within twelve hours sail of Boston.  Certainly our men of war are not in their duty to allow such proceedings.  I believe there is eight or ten men of war lying idle at Boston.  When I hear any thing worth communicating, shall advise you”.

British forces were garrisoned at Boston.  In April 1775 American militiamen blocked land access to the town so it was important that provisions and supplies were brought to Boston by sea.  However British ships were harried by American privateers trying to stop supplies reaching the British.  The siege ended in March 1776 when the British evacuated the town and moved their base to Nova Scotia.

Having captured the ship, the problem for the Americans now was whether or not Concord was a legitimate prize.  Was her cargo intended for the British or was she supplying the Americans?  The matter was put to George Washington who at the time was Commander in Chief of the Continental Army which had been created in June that year.  His reply, dated 7 December 1775, to John Hancock, President of Congress gives the answer -

"I am credibly informed that James Anderson the Consignee and part Owner of the Ship Concord and Cargo, is not only unfriendly to American Liberty, but actually in Arms against us, being Captain of the Scotch Company in Boston.  Whether your being acquainted with this Circumstance or not, will operate against the Vessel and Cargo, I will not take upon me to say, but there are many Articles on board Absolutely necessary for this army, which whether a prize or not, they must have.  I have the Honor to be, Sir."

So ship and cargo were confiscated and some of the crew and passengers imprisoned.  It was a good result for the Americans who were also running short of supplies.  However privateer Captain John Manley (1733-1793) of the ship Lee, had just previous to the capture of Concord taken a very valuable ship the Nancy which had a huge cargo of arms for the British.  Manley became quite a hero!

Just a part of the Nancy's cargo.

The Revolutionary war affected many local merchants - not just tobacco importers.  As the story of the ship Concord shows, ship owners as well as ship captains and crew and their families were impacted by events on the other side of the Atlantic.  An appeal to heaven meant something very different for those left behind in Britain.