lifting the bucket to his mouth, a cannon ball severed his head from his shoulders.

Early in 1776, he entered as ensign in captain Joseph Lee's company, belonging to colonel John Glover's regiment. It is well known that this regiment, consisting mostly of men accustomed to the water, was of essential service in managing the boats on the Delaware, at a time, when the hazard of crossing was extreme, and had the honour of forming the advance of Washington's army, which, on the 26 of December, the same year, entered Trenton, and captured a thousand Hessians.

While this regiment lay at Beverly, in the former part of 1776, many of the officers and soldiers had a temporary employment in some of the government's vessels, in Massachusetts bay, under the command of commodore Manly.

The subject of this article was a lieutenant in one of them, and was at the taking of several of the enemy's armed vessels.

In 1777, he was captain of marines in a large privateer ship, commanded by Graham, and owned in Boston and Providence. He afterwards went mate of a schooner, of which his brother Bartholomew Jackson was commander, bound to Bilboa. The vessel was captured and the captain with most of the crew was taken out. The subject of this memoir, one man, and one boy were left on board of the schooner, which was ordered to repair to some port in England. With the aid of the man and boy he

retook the schooner and carried her safely into Bilboa. On his homeward passage, he was unfortunately captured and stripped of all his property, not being suffered to retain a single article of clothing besides what he wore.

In November, 1779, he sailed from Marblehead in the letter of marque, Freemason, bound to Martinico, which carried six guns and fifteen men, as first mate to captain Benjamin Boden. On their passage for that island, they were taken by a privateer sloop, mounting fourteen or sixteen guns, from the city of New-York. The captain, second mate, and a boy remained in the Freemason; but mr. Wormsted with the rest of the crew was carried on board of the privateer, treated in a very ungentlemanly manner, handcuffed, thrust into the hold, and, at night, the hatchway was closed. Here he found means to perform an exploit, which was long the subject of conversation and a ̧plause. His handcuffs were so large he could, with little exertion, get rid of them and set the rest at libcrty. He proposed rising upon the privateer, the next day, when the captain should be about to take the sun. At first the attempt was thought to be too desperate, they being so few in number compared with the crew on board, and none seemed willing for the undertaking. He was always sanguine in every enterprise and fearless of danger. If they would agree to his proposal, he engaged to be the first to spring upon deck and knock down the captain. They were instantly to follow and do their part in every

direction. He told them they must succeed or die in the attempt. They, at length all solemnly bound themselves with an oath to do their utmost. At twelve, the next day, opportunity was offered to put their courage to the test, and, in a few moments, the captain and many others were laid sprawling upon deck. Their pistols were taken and pointed to the enemy in the cabin, who surrendered without opposition. Mr. Wormsted then bore down upon the schooner and ordered her to strike her colours. Captain Boden cried for joy, and his captors were as much chagrined, as astonished at this unexpected reverse of fortune. Mr. Wormsted, as commander, had the English flag lowered and the American hoisted. He ordered all the British officers and sailors to be handcuffed and thrust into the hold, treating them, secundum legem talionis, much as they had treated him and his countrymen, the day before, appointed captain Boden prize master, and directed to steer for Guadaloupe. In due time, they arrived safely at this island, in triumph, and were received with uncommon testimonials of exultation. The prize master of the privateer with the crew was sent to prison, and, notwithstanding the savage manner, in which mr. Wormsted and his people had been used by them, he bought them a quintal of fish, a jar of oil, and furnished them with money, to get such things as they wanted. He sold the brig and privateer, at auction, one of which he bought for his employers. His part of the prize money was eight hundred johannes. Having load

ed his vessel he set out for Massachusetts, and, on the second day after sailing, was, unfortunately, captured and lost every thing, the frequent result of war.

After this, in the autumn and winter of 1780, he performed one prosperous voyage to the West Indies, as commander of the brig, Hope, a letter of marque belonging to colonel William R. Lee, captain Samuel R. Trevett, and captain Joeseph Lee.

Captain Wormsted was then invited to go master of a privateer from Salem. He went, and, being in danger of capture, run his vessel ashore, to avoid the enemy, somewhere on the coast of Nova Scotia. He and his men travelled through the woods till they came to the water again, where they found an open boat, which they took, entered, and made the best of their way for New England, running near the land. At length, they fell in with a vessel from Cork laden with linens, butter, and candles, which had been taken by the Americans and retaken by the British. Captain Wormsted and his crew boarded and took her, by surprisal, without arms. Elate with hope, they thought then to have reached their native shore with a valuable prize, but they had not long enjoyed their pleasing anticipations, when a British vessel hove in sight, and bore down upon them so rapidly, that they were obliged once more to have recourse to their boat. They hastily threw in a few stores and other articles, made their escape, and gained the port of Marblehead, without further molestation, about the 10 of Nov. 1781.

Mrs. Wormsted was so unwilling that he should again go in any privateer, that he at length went, as first officer of a letter of marque, which was a brig, commanded by captain Trask and owned by Nathaniel Tracy, esq. of Newburyport, to Bilboa. The brig arrived in safety and on her homeward passage, being deeply laden, was lost in a tremendous gale, near the Grand Bank, about the 2 of October, 1782. His widow was left to mourn a kind husband, his daughter an indulgent father, and his country one of her most intrepid sons.

Captain Wormsted was five feet and eleven inches in height, uncommonly active and athletick, brave to a proverb, generous to excess, and humane, as he was fearless of danger and death.

MARBLEHEAD, MASS.

526. Mrs. MARTHA WORMSTED, relict of captain Robert Wormsted, died at Boston, 25 September, 1809, aged 50 years and one day.

Note.-Mrs. Wormsted was the second daughter of captain John Shepherd of Marblehead, of whose family some account may be seen in the 72 article of this Collection. She was tenderly educated under the pious instructions and truly christian example of her excellent mother, who was left a widow, in the morning of life, with five young children. After the marriage of her daughter, mrs. Wormsted constantly resided with her to the close of life. From