American Privateer brig 'General Pickering' (1778)

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John WalkerBritish
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Service 1790-1824
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Countess of Scarborough (20) 1777-1779
British 20 Gun
Hired Armed Ship
(1777)
Alliance (36) 1778-1785
American 36 Gun
5th Rate Frigate
(1778)
Brilliant (28) 1779-1811
British 28 Gun
6th Rate Frigate
(1779)
Brilliant (28) 1779-1811
British 28 Gun
6th Rate Frigate
(1779)
Amphion (32) 1780-1796
British 32 Gun
5th Rate Frigate
(1780)
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British 44 Gun
5th Rate Ship
(1781)
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British 52 Gun
4th Rate Ship of the Line
(1780)
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British 64 Gun
3rd Rate Ship of the Line
(1782)
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British 98 Gun
2nd Rate Ship of the Line
(1782)
Bellona (74) 1760-1814
British 74 Gun
3rd Rate Ship of the Line
(1760)
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General Pickering
Nominal Guns	16	ref:462
Nationality	United States of America
Operator	Massachusetts State Navy
Acquired	30.9.1778	ref:462
Home Port	Salem - Massachusetts	ref:462
Shipyard	Unknown	ref:462
Category	Privateer	ref:462
Ship Type	Brig	ref:462
Captured	1780	ref:462

Crew Complement

Date# of MenNotesSource
9.1778100 ref:462

1 Ship Commander

DatesRankNameSource
30.9.1778 - 1780Unknownref:462

Service History

DateEventSource
21.9.1779Took the Sloop
10.4.1780Took the Sloop off Sandy Hook, New Jersey

Sources

IDNameAuthorType

ref:462Granville Hough, Book

Previous comments on this page

Posted by Regan Walker on Tuesday 15th of July 2025 18:11

The Pickering was a privateer, or rather a letter-of-marque ship out of Salem. Her captain was the heroic Jonathan Haraden, who captured 66 British ships and over 1000 cannon in his career. The Pickering was not captured in 1780 for she was successfully battling the Achilles off the coast of Bilboa Spain in that year and took other prizes late that year. The Pickering was captured in spring 1781 in the Dutch Caribbean port of Saint Eustatius that, unbeknownst to Haraden, had been captured by British Admiral Rodney.

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Date posted	By	Page
Tuesday 16th of June 2026 20:32	Jon Miller	British hired armed ship 'Countess of Scarborough' (1777) (20) 1777-1779 British 20 Gun Hired Armed Ship
Tuesday 16th of June 2026 20:31	Jon Miller	American Fifth Rate frigate 'Alliance' (1778) (36) 1778-1785 American 36 Gun 5th Rate Frigate
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Tuesday 16th of June 2026 20:28	Jon Miller	British Sixth Rate frigate 'Brilliant' (1779) (28) 1779-1811 British 28 Gun 6th Rate Frigate
Tuesday 16th of June 2026 20:23	Jon Miller	British Fifth Rate frigate 'Amphion' (1780) (32) 1780-1796 British 32 Gun 5th Rate Frigate

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