Captain Francis Read: Patriot, Privateer’s Prize, and Messenger to Lafayette

Sultana a 60 ton schooner similar to Liberty

During the research into the Reade/Jackson connection, we were able to come across information about Francis Read (1756-1818).  A transcription of historical documents from 1777-1778 found in the Library of Virginia archives told the story of a ship called Liberty being taken by a privateer ship called Harlequin.

Francis Reade was the master (or captain) of Liberty.

If you can't have a pirate in the family, being captured by pirates is the next best thing.

According to the documents, the schooner Liberty was taken by Harlequin and her commander John Stout on November 1, 1778 off  Cape Henry.  Liberty was listed as "a vessel of some 60 tons" and the Schooner along with her cargo was taken to New York.

At the time, New York was loyalist controlled so most likely John Stout was a loyalist privateer.  There wasn't any information found about him in a search though it was explained that there was little printed information about Loyalist commanders and what was printed was often printed under assumed names.

The ship's papers mostly contained receipts for payment of wages to the crew from Captain Francis Reade, but there are some interesting nuggets of information.

Per a deposition of Francis Reade he was born in Virginia and a subject of the United States of America.  He was master of the Liberty at the time of her capture on November 1, 1778.

He was appointed to his command by Norton and Beale of Williamsburg.  They together with Nicholas B Seabrook were owners of the ship and cargo and all three were residents of Virginia.

The Liberty was of 6 tons and had a crew of 12, all shipped in Virginia.  Her last voyage began at South Quay, Virginia for Bordeaux, France with a cargo of tobacco.  She was captured on her return voyage.

Within the ship's papers were the following items:

• Printed French passport issued in the name of Duc de Penthievre on September 16, 1778 at the Ile de Re` to Francis Read of the Liberty allowing him to proceed to Virginia.
• Bills of lading for goods shipped aboard the Liberty at Bordeaux and St Martin on the 5th and 17th of September 1778 by Samuel and I.H. Delap and consigned to Norton and Beale Williamsburg
• Receipt in French from Francis Read for 6 cases of wine received in the Liberty at Bordeaux for Virginia dated September 2, 1778
• An invoice for salt received on board the Liberty for Williamsburg at St Martin Ile de Re' September 17, 1778
• Register for the Liberty issued at South Quay on June 13, 1778 by Christopher Calvert N.O. with a declaration by John H. Norton that the Liberty was built at North Hampton in 1777 and that he, Samuel Beale and Nicholas Seabrook are the sole owners
• Permit issued at Roanoke, North Carolina for the Liberty to proceed in ballast for South Quay May 8, 1778
• Certificate issued at Yorktown on May 2, 1778 by Lawrence Smith DNO that the master of the Liberty has registered and has on board 84 hogsheads of tobacco and 600 staves.
• Sailing order from Norton and Beale Williamsburg June 4, 1778 to Captain Read enclosing letters to Messers Delap, Bordeaux and giving Captain Read liberty to vary their instructions.  For the return journey they suggest he should make for the eastern shore of Virginia and find out which port would be the safest to make for.  They consider the sand shoal near Smith Island a good inlet also Matchipongo and Hog Island.  A list of their agents in Europe and the West Indies is appended

While all this is pretty interesting, the most notable and interesting thing is that there was a piece of paper on which was written "Inclosed [sic] is a letter for General de La Fayette.  It went on to say "Recommended by James Sauvage to Captain Read's particular care"

The letter itself was in French and was unsigned but had the heading "Bordeaux 5 Sept 1778 to Monsieur le marquis de La Fayette, General Major au service des estat unis de l'Ameique a` l'Armee"

The writer seemed to be, based on the context, Lafayette's wife, but the letter contained little of interest.  It merely had affectionate greetings and the statement that the writer was leaving Bordeaux the next day to return to their poor little Anastasie whom they hoped to find well. 

So Captain Francis Read was important enough to be trusted with a personal letter to General Lafayette. 

Which is pretty freaking awesome.

South Quay: A Forgotten Port of War

It's also important to note that South Quay, Virginia (pronounce South Key) was a rendezvous for militia as early as 1712.  It was a site where where Colonial leaders met to make plans for war against the Indians, and was an important port of entry for supplies during the Revolutionary War. Unlike the major ports of Wilmington and Norfolk, the inlets of the Outer Banks of North Carolina were not blockaded by the British Navy.  Because of this, ships were able to travel to and from South Quay through the Albermarle Sound, up the Chowan River to the Blackwater River where South Quay was located.

During Colonial times it had a customhouse, a shipyard, and warehouses for tobacco and other exports. Today, South Quay is an unidentifiable spot of land along state route 189. There is nothing left to indicate it was once a busy port except a lonely historical marker noting the site.

The historical marker inscription reads "Nearby along the eastern bank of the Blackwater River once existed the community of South Quay, also sometimes called South Key, Old Quay, or Old South Quay. Founded by 1657, South Quay by 1701 had become the site of a landing and trading post. A customs house for international trade had been built at South Quay by 1776. During the Revolutionary War, supplies from overseas arrived there for the colonial army and at least two ships were built there. South Quay was destroyed by fire by British troops on 16 July 1781. The port was rebuilt, but its prominence diminished by the end of the 18th century, and eventually the community disappeared."

Norton, Beale, and Patriot Smuggling

Another interesting fact is that the owners of the Liberty Norton and Beale were supplying the Virginia Committee of Safety with powder and arms, smuggling them on their ships, Their instructions to Captain Read that told him he could vary their instructions but "for the return journey they suggest he should make for the eastern shore of Virginia and find out which port would be the safest to make for.  They consider the sand shoal near Smith Island a good inlet also Matchipongo and Hog Island." were basically instructions on avoiding the British Navy blockades. 

Captain Read’s Service

Further information found also shared some details about his service during the Revolutionary War.  According to affidavits acquired for a petition for a land grant by descendants of Francis Reade, he served in the Revolutionary War as a Lieutenant in the Navy.  He was first aboard the galley Manly under Captain Edward Travis, then transferred to the galley Henry under Captain Robert Tompkins before finally serving on the galley Dragon.  He served for a total of three years. 

So not only was Captain Francis Read a skilled mariner, but he was also a trusted messenger to Lafayette, a blockade runner, and without a doubt—a Patriot.