USS Boston (1777)
| The Hancock and Boston overtake the British cruiser Fox. Continental frigates Hancock and Boston capturing British frigate Fox, 7 June 1777 | |
| Career | 100x35px |
|---|---|
| Name: | USS Boston |
| Builder: | Stephen and Ralph Cross, Newburyport, Massachusetts |
| Launched: | 3 June 1776 |
| Fate: | Captured, 12 May 1780 |
| General characteristics | |
| Type: | Frigate |
| Tonnage: | 514 |
| Length: | 114 ft 3 in (34.82 m) |
| Beam: | 32 ft (9.8 m) |
| Draft: | 10 ft 3 in (3.12 m) |
| Propulsion: | Sail |
| Speed: | 8.5 knots (9.8 mph; 15.7 km/h) |
| Armament: |
• 5 × 12-pounder (5 kg) guns • 19 × 9-pounder (4 kg) guns • 2 × 6-pounder (2.7 kg) guns • 4 × 4-pounder (1.8 kg) guns |
| Service record | |
|---|---|
| Commanders: | Capt. Hector McNeill (1777) Samuel Tucker (1778-1780) |
The second USS Boston was a 24-gun frigate, launched 3 June 1776 by Stephen and Ralph Cross, Newburyport, Massachusetts, and completed the following year with Captain Hector McNeill in command.
On 21 May 1777, Boston sailed in company with Hancock for a cruise in the North Atlantic. The two frigates captured three prizes including the 28-gun frigate Fox (7 June). Boston, Hancock, and Fox were engaged (7-8 July) by Flora, Rainbow, and Victor. Her consorts were taken by the British squadron, but Boston escaped to the Sheepscot River on the Maine coast. Her captain, Hector McNeill, was court-martialed in June 1779 for failing to support Hancock and dismissed from the service.
During 15 February-31 March 1778, now under the command of Samuel Tucker, Boston carried John Adams to France, capturing one prize en route. She then cruised in European waters taking four prizes before returning to Portsmouth, New Hampshire, 15 October. In 1779 she made two cruises (29 July-6 September and 23 November-23 December) in the North Atlantic capturing at least nine prizes. Boston then joined the squadron sent to assist in the defense of Charleston, South Carolina, and was captured there by the British when the town surrendered 12 May 1780.
References
- This article includes text from the public domain Dictionary of American Naval Fighting Ships. The entry can be found here.
