Now! Then! The Rev. William Whytehead writes from Hornsea to his cousin four miles away with news of the Battle of Flamborough Head

25 September 1779: The Rev. William Whytehead writes from Hornsea to his cousin four miles away with news of the Battle of Flamborough Head

Scottish-born American naval officer and privateer John Paul Jones shooting a sailor (Lieut. Grubb in some accounts) for attempting to lower a curious American flag during an engagement with the Royal Navy off Flamborough Head (Anon after John Collet 1779ish).

T.B. Whytehead. 1905. Paul Jones, Pirate. Yorkshire Archaeological Journal, Vol. 18. Leeds: John Whitehead and Son for the Yorkshire Archaeological Society. Get it:

Excerpt

One of our neighbours was at Burlington [Bridlington] yesterday, and brings us word that there was a desperate and bloody engagement off Flamborough Head on Thursday night between two of our armed ships, which had a fleet of loaden ships from the Baltic under convoy, and the large man-of-war that John Paul Jones commands for two hours. They were upon the point of boarding her when the two other frigates belonging to them came up to his assistance, so that our two ships were then obliged to strike. It is said his ship is greatly shattered and that he has lost 70 of his men killed. Two English sailors during the hurry of the fight swum on shore, and he shot another for not fighting valiantly. He takes no ships, they say, but sinks them after he has taken out their hands. But I hope soon to hear better news about him, for they say there are now in Bridlington Bay two small men-of-war waiting for a reinforcement of three ships more from Yarmouth Roads, and as the wind now blows fresh at south they cannot be long in coming, so that if he continues about the Head a day or two longer we may expect to hear of another engagement. He spent most of yesterday there in refitting. As I was returning home on Thursday evening from Silston [Sigglesthorne], Mr Bethel’s steward overtook me and told me that they had taken up seven of Jones’s men near Patrington, but I hear since that they are deserters from one of His Majesty’s ships at Hull, and that the three men whom your brother Constable sent to the Key yesterday belong to the same gang. If we continue quiet until Monday I purpose to fetch Rachel then.

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To facilitate reading, the spelling and punctuation of elderly excerpts have generally been modernised, and distracting excision scars concealed. My selections, translations, and editions are copyright.

Abbreviations

Comment

I think the blue-and-white-striped flag is artistic idealism, and that it reminds readers to the (ahem) barry (field) of thirteen azure (deep ultramarine) and argent (silver) on the canton of the flag given in 1775 by Abraham Markoe to his Philadelphia Light Horse, later the First Troop Philadelphia City Cavalry, which, according to Wikipedia, fought at the battles of Trenton, Princeton, Brandywine, and Germantown, and which often served as George Washington’s personal bodyguard:

Link

Similarly, the stars and stripes design shown in The Life and History of PAUL JONES, the English Corsair wasn’t afaik in circulation or perhaps even existence in 1779, and reflects instead popular vexillology at the time and place of the book’s publication – Portsea in around 1820:

Link

What symbols was the so-called pirate/privateer Jones actually displaying that day? I’ve read an attempt to answer the question, but can’t remember where.

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Original

Madam,
Supposing that you are desirous of hearing all the Reports in this Town concerning Paul Jones’s Squadron, have sent you what is stirring here since the Departure of your Servt. One of our neighbours was at Burlington yesterday, & brings us word that there was a desperate and bloody engagement off Flamboro Head on Thursday night between two of our armed ships, which had a Fleet of loaden Ships from the Baltic under convoy; that they engaged the large Man of War that Jones commands for two hours, & were upon the point of boarding her when the two other Frigates belonging to them came up to his assistance, so that our two ships were then obliged to strike; it is said his Ship is greatly shattered & that he has lost 70 of his men killd in the engagment. Two english sailors during the hurry of the Fight swum on shore, and he shot another for not fighting valiantly. He takes no ships, they say, but sinks them after he has taken out their Hands; 14 sail are sunk by him already. But I hope soon to hear better news about Him, for they say there are now in Bridlington Bay 2 small men of war waiting for a reinforcement of 3 ships more from Yarmouth Roads, and as the wind now blows fresh at South they cannot be long in coming from thence, so that if he continues about the Head a Day or two longer we may expect to hear of another Engagement. He spent most of yesterday there in refitting.
As I was returning Home on Thursday Even from Silston Mr. Bethels Steward overtook me & told me that they had taken up 7 of Jones’s men near Pattrington, but I hear since that they are Deserters from one of His Majesty’s Ships at Hull, and that the three men whom your Brother Constable sent to the Key yesterday belong to the same gang. If we continue quiet untill Monday I purpose to fetch Rachel then. With my wife’s most respectful Compts.
I am, Madam,
Yr. most obliged hble. Servt.,
Wm. Whytehead.
Hornsea, 25th Sept.
P.S. Noon. I have been enquiring of a Person just come from Burlington what news is stirring there this morn. He says that the Baltic Fleet are all safe in Scarbro’ Piers, that Mr. Greame of Swerby had left their house, & Mrs. Heblethwaite of Burlington.
P.S. The good family at Wassand have sent us word that they intend to honour us with their Company tomorrow in ye afternoon.

435 words.