# USS Hampden

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**USS *Hampden*** was a 14-gun [brigantine](/source/Brigantine) of the [Continental Navy](/source/Continental_Navy). She was originally a trading ship out of [Hispaniola](/source/Hispaniola) that carried military supplies to the [United Colonies](/source/Thirteen_Colonies) and avoided capture by [HMS *Cerberus*](/source/HMS_Cerberus_(1758)) thanks to the assistance of [John Paul Jones](/source/John_Paul_Jones), then in command of [USS *Providence*](/source/USS_Providence). She was later purchased by the [Continental Congress](/source/Continental_Congress) and refitted for service in [New Haven, Connecticut](/source/New_Haven,_Connecticut), for the Continental Navy.[1]: 210

Congress originally appointed Jones to take command of *Hampden*, yet feeling that the ship was inferior to *Providence* he chose not to change command. The ship instead was given to Captain Hoysted Hacker, who up to that point had been in command of the much smaller [USS *Fly*](/source/USS_Fly_(1776)).[1]: 85–86 Records indicate that Hacker sailed into New Haven on board *Fly* on 26 June 1776 in company with Biddle[2] and was in command of *Hampden* on 27 June.[3]

While many sources claim that she retained her name from merchant service, there does not appear to be any records of a merchantman with that name in the area at that time. It is possible that she was originally the brig *Catharine* which Congress ordered purchased on 26 June 1776.[4] Her name may be a reference to [John Hampden](/source/John_Hampden), who had been a [Member of Parliament](/source/Member_of_Parliament) during the [English Civil War](/source/English_Civil_War) and is credited with coining the term "[Glorious Revolution](/source/Glorious_Revolution)".

DANFS reports that Captain Hacker sailed for [Providence, Rhode Island](/source/Providence,_Rhode_Island), to join [USS *Alfred*](/source/USS_Alfred) in September 1776. However, due to the inability to recruit a full crew and supply both vessels, the ships did not depart until 27 October 1776 on a mission to harass [Newfoundland](/source/Newfoundland_(island)) fisheries and to attempt the liberation of American prisoners of war on [Cape Breton Island](/source/Cape_Breton_Island). Soon after getting underway, however, *Hampden* grounded on a ledge, was considerably damaged, and could not continue. Captain Hacker and his crew transferred to the sloop *Providence* and continued the cruise,[5] while *Hampden* returned to Providence. She was sold out of the service in late 1777 at Providence.

## References

1. *Naval Documents of the American Revolution*, Vol 6

1. NDAR vol 5, p. 788

1. NDAR vol 5, p. 770 - a record of goods received aboard Cabot indicates the delivery of a pair of carriages to "Hacker in the Hampton."

1. NDAR vol 5, p. 753

1. *Naval Records of the American Revolution, 1775-1788* pg 27 - Orders dated 28 October 1776 from Esek Hopkins to Captain John Paul Jones to transfer Hacker's crew

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Adapted from the Wikipedia article [USS Hampden](https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/USS_Hampden) by Wikipedia contributors ([contributor history](https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/USS_Hampden?action=history)). Available under [Creative Commons Attribution-ShareAlike 4.0 International](https://creativecommons.org/licenses/by-sa/4.0/). Changes may have been made.