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Posted by colin munro on Tuesday 2nd of September 2025 17:39
Benjamin Munro of Rhode Island was a grandson of John Munro, a Scots prisoner of war exiled to New England after the defeat of the Royalists at the Battle of Worcester in 1651. Benjamin served as ship's master on the Prince Charles of Lorraine commanded by Simeon Potter, under a commission signed by Governor William Greene of Rhode Island authorizing Potter to seize vessels belonging to the Kings of Spain and France, during the British war with Spain termed the War of Jenkins’ Ear or King George’s War (1740-1748). Benjamin's son James was also a privateer (see separate entry), active during the American War of Independence. Amongst other privateers, he commanded the Saratoga (q.v.) when it was captured by HM Galatea. Descendants of this family, probably fleeing debt, settled in the Bahamas.