Channel Islands Letters of Marque

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Introduction

When the American War of Independence broke out in 1775, many Channel Island shipowners saw little opportunity for privateering. However, by 1777 they had started to feel the impact of the war on their trade, and started fitting out ships as privateers.

In order to become a privateer, a merchant ship had to apply to the British Government for a "Letter of Marque" authorising it take enemy ships as "prizes".

Records of Letters of Marque granted during this period are registered at the Public Record Office, Kew. This site contains an index, compiled by Ray Le Mesurier-Foster, of Letters of Marque granted to Channel Islands ships 1777-1781.

Ship Commander   Tonnage Guns Swivel No Men Trade Owner(s) Year
Active AGNEW Peter 100 8 x 3 & 4 lbs 10 50 Guernsey Peter BONAMY, Paul GRUT, John GUILLE, John LE MARCHANT, Nicolas MAINGY, Michael ROBINSON, John TUPPER 1777
Charming Nancy WINTER Philip 200 18 x 6 lb 8 70 Jersey Philip WINTER, John VILLENEUFE, Eliza TUPPER, John BROCK, John LE MARCHANT, Charles CARTERET 1777
Kitty     100 10 x 4 & 3 lbs 10 25 Guernsey Peter BONAMY, Paul GRUT, John GUILLE, John LE MARCHANT, Nicolas MAINGY, Michael ROBINSON, John TUPPER 1777
Lively     150 12   60 Guernsey Peter BONAMY, Paul GRUT, John GUILLE, John LE MARCHANT, Nicolas MAINGY, Michael ROBINSON, John TUPPER 1777
Revenge GAUTIER Noah 150 14 x 4 & 3 lb   50 Jersey Nathan GOSSET, Francis JANVRIN, John THOREAU, Daniel TUPPER 1777
Royal Charlotte AHIER Peter 50 6 x 3 lbs 12 30 Guernsey Peter AHIER, Richard GUILLE, William Peter PRICE 1777
Active Cutter CARREL Amos 110 12 x 3 lb 12 40 Guernsey John LE MARCHANT, Nicolas MAINGY & son, Peter MAINGY, Michael ROBINSON 1778
Adventure BLAMPIED Thomas 12   6 20     1778
Alarm RICHARDSON William 130 10 x 4 lb 12 60 Guernsey Peter MOURANT, Henry LE MESURIER, Nicolas MAINGY 1778
Alderney LAUGA Samuel 110 8 x 4 lb 8 40 Alderney Nicolas ROBILLIARD, Peter ROBINSON, Edward ANLEY, Samuel LAUGA 1778
Defiance MALLET Nicolas 70 6 x 2 lb 12 30     1778
Diligence LE BRUN John 50 6 x 2 lb 8 40     1778
Dolphin VIBERT Philip 70 6 x 3 lb   40     1778
Duchess of Kingston LAUGAS Nicolas 75 8 x 3 lb 8 50 Guernsey Nicolas DOBRÉE, Thomas LE MARCHANT 1778
Friends Endeavour RENOUF Charles 20   10 25     1778
Greyhound SALE David 40 6 x 2 lb 6 30 Alderney John, Peter & Havilland LE MESURIER 1778
Hawke COHU Thomas 80 8 x 2 lb 16 45     1778
Hawke DE LA GARDE Thomas 60 4 x 2 lb 6 30 Guernsey William DE JERSEY 1778
Hawke SANDFORD John 149 14 x 3/4 lb 12 80 Alderney Nicolas ROBILLIARD & brother, Richard GUILLE 1778
Hector NAFTEL Thomas 180 14 x 4 lb 10 70     1778
Hero SCOTT William 105 10 x 3 lb 12 60 Guernsey Charles DE CARTERET, Peter LIHOU, John BROCK, John LE MARCHANT 1778
Hope LE LIEVRE John 60 4 x 1 lb   45     1778
Hope POINGDESTRE John 50 10 x 3 lb 16 25 Jersey Philip, John & Charles ROBIN 1778
Hunter JACQUE Peter 55 6 x 2 lb 6 25 Guernsey John WOOD, Richard GUILLE 1778
Juno Gideon DE GORNQUER Philip 130 8 x 4 lb 6 30 Jersey John GEFFRARD, Francis LE COUTEUR, George LIVRET, Francis TOURNEAUX 1778
Lisle DE GARIS John 140 12 x 3 lb 10 60     1778
Queen LE LIEVRE Peter 60 8 x 3 lb 6 16     1778
Revenge SAUVARY John 50 6 x 2 lb 8 30     1778
Revenge DREW John 50 6 x 2 lb 8 30 Guernsey Thomas DOBRÉE 1778
Royal Charlotte LE LACHEUR William 50 6 x 3 lb 12 30 Guernsey Richard GUILLE, William Peter PRICE, Peter AHIER 1778
Shaftesbury MONSFORD John 180 16 x 6/3 lb 12 80 Guernsey John LE MESURIER, William BELL 1778
Speedwell BUSHELL Abraham 130 14 x 4 lb 16 60 Guernsey John LE MARCHANT, Peter DE JERSEY 1778
Surprize FALLAISE Thomas 150 14 x 4 lb 14 150 Guernsey Henry LE MESURIER, Andrew BONAMY 1778
Swift GOSLIN Hilary 120 12 x 3 lb 16 60 Guernsey Henry LE MESURIER, Nicolas LE MESURIER, MOURANT & CHEPMELL, William COUTARH, Nicolas MAINGY & son, Elisha TUPPER 1778
Tartar LE MESURIER William 70 8 x 2 lb 10 70 Guernsey Henry LE MESURIER, Peter MOURANT, Nicolas LE MESURIER, William CHEPMELL 1778
Tarter LE MESURIER William 70 8 x 2 lb   30     1778
Tartor LE QUESNE Richard 120 10 x 4 lb 12 50     1778
Weasel QUERIPEL Abraham 25 4 x 2 lb   24 Guernsey John BEVOUIRE, John TRACHI & Co 1778
Weavel QUERIPEL Abraham 25 4 x 2 lb 6 24     1778
Wren MAHY John 40 6 x 2 lb   20     1778
Emely NAFTEL Thomas 250 16 x 6 lb   60     1781
Fly BYRNE Patrick 60 6 x 6 lb 4 15   LE MESURIER 1781
Gull DUMARESQ Chilt… 70 8 x 3 lb 4 40     1781
Lottery LE MESURIER William 50 4 x 3 lb 8 80     1781
Ounslow COHU Thomas 50 4 x 3 & 2 lb   40     1781
Ranger LE LIEVRE Thomas 70 8 x 4 lb 8 40     1781
Swallow JEHAN Leonard 70 4 x 2 lb 6 45     1781
Syreen QUERIPEL Abraham 20 2 x 2 lb 2 20     1781
Tartar DE JERSEY Nicolas 20   6 25     1781
Tartor LE SUEUR John 60 8 x 3 lb 8 60     1781
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