Liverpool Packet
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The Liverpool Packet was a privateer schooner from Liverpool, Nova Scotia which captured 50 American vessels in the War of 1812. Originally an American slave ship named Severn, the schooner was captured by HMS Tartarus in August 1811. The schooner was purchased from the Vice Admiralty Court by Enos Collins and other investors in Halifax in October 1811. The vessel was renamed Liverpool Packet, although she was sometimes bore the nickname The Black Joke, a name of several infamous slave ships. At first, the small and fast schooner was put into mail and passenger service between Halifax and Liverpool, Nova Scotia. However she was quickly commissioned as a privateer when the United States attacked the British North American colonies in 1812. Under the command of Joseph Barss Jnr, she captured at least 33 American vessels for the British side during the first year of the war.
A menace to New England shipping, she was captured by the Americans in 1813 and renamed the Portsmouth Packet, in 1814 she was under the command of Joseph Barss of Liverpool, Nova Scotia when she was pursued and captured by the schooner Thomas of Portsmouth, New Hampshire. The Thomas was twice her size.
After a short and unsuccessful career in American hands, the schooner was soon recaptured by the British warship HMS Fantome. She was quickly repurchased by her original owners and returned to the name of Liverpool Packet. Commanded by Caleb Seeley, she continued to enjoy success in taking American vessels in the last year of the war.
After the war, the vessel was sold in Kingston, Jamaica and her subsequent fate is not known. In all, she had taken 50 prizes in her brief but successful career. Her captures helped launch the great forture of Enos Collins. Two steamships from her old homeport of Liverpool, Nova Scotia were named in her honour in the 20th century.
[edit] References
- Prize and Prejudice Faye Kert
- Under the Red Jack C.H.J. Snider
