Much of the information concerning the Continental schooner ''Mosquito'' (or ''Musquito'', or ''Musqueto'', or ''Muskeito'') comes from her capture and destruction in July 1777. Even the

Dictionary of American Naval Fighting Ships The ''Dictionary of American Naval Fighting Ships'' (''DANFS'') is the official reference work for the basic facts about ships used by the United States Navy. When the writing project was developed the parameters for this series were designed to ...

(DANFS) has nothing about the vessel. On 1 October 1776, the Continental Marine Committee ordered Lieutenant Thomas Albertson to sail the schooner ''Muskeito'' to North Carolina with letters, and to bring back such naval stores as he could gather. Then on 10 October the Marine Committee formally established the ranks and precedence of the commanders of vessels in the Continental Navy. Lieutenant Thomas Albertson, as commander of the smallest vessel, ''Musquito'', of four guns, ranked 26th out of 26. The next (implicit) mention of ''Mosquito'' occurs on 22 April 1777 when the Navy Board of the Middle Department asked to borrow 70 shot for 2-pounder guns. Thomas Albertson carried the request, which he needed for his vessel, which was almost ready for sea. On 6 July 1777 Captain John Linzee, of , sent the schooner ''Endeavour'', a longboat, and a sloop and yawl, prizes to , up Duck Creek, which empties into

Delaware Bay Delaware Bay is the estuary outlet of the Delaware River on the northeast seaboard of the United States. It is approximately in area, the bay's freshwater mixes for many miles with the saltwater of the Atlantic Ocean. The bay is bordered inlan ...

, some five to six miles SEE from

Bombay Hook The Bombay Hook National Wildlife Refuge is a National Wildlife Refuge located along the eastern coast of Kent County, Delaware, United States, on Delaware Bay. It was established on March 16, 1937, as a refuge and breeding ground for migratory an ...

. The expedition was under the command of ''Pearl''s

sailing master The master, or sailing master, is a historical rank for a naval officer trained in and responsible for the navigation of a sailing vessel. The rank can be equated to a professional seaman and specialist in navigation, rather than as a military ...

. The expedition returned the next day. The British captured ''Mosquito'', Captain Thomas Albertson, at 3 in the morning, without any opposition as the only people aboard were her master and gunner. She was armed with six 3-pounder guns and four

swivel guns The term swivel gun (or simply swivel) usually refers to a small cannon, mounted on a swiveling stand or fork which allows a very wide arc of movement. Another type of firearm referred to as a swivel gun was an early flintlock combination gun wi ...

; the expedition burned her after taking their two prisoners off.

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References

* * * {{DEFAULTSORT:Musquito (schooner) 1770s ships Schooners of the United States Navy Ships of the Continental Navy Vessels captured from the United States Navy