HMS Mosquidobit (1813)
Modern replica of Lynx off Morro Bay, 2007 photo by Mike Baird
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| History | |
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 United States
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| Name: | Lynx |
| Builder: | James Cordery, Fells Point, Baltimore |
| Completed: | 1812 |
| Commissioned: | 14 July 1812 (Comm. #325) |
| Struck: | 13 April 1813 |
| Fate: | Captured by the Royal Navy |
 United Kingdom
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| Name: | Mosquidobit |
| Acquired: | By capture 13 April 1813 |
| Fate: | Sold 13 January 1820 |
| General characteristics | |
| Type: | Topsail Schooner |
| Tons burthen: | 223 92⁄94 (bm) |
| Length: |
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| Beam: | 24 ft 0 in (7.3 m) |
| Depth of hold: | 10 ft 3 in (3.1 m) |
| Propulsion: | Sail |
| Complement: |
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| Armament: |
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HMS Mosquidobit (sometimes Musquedobet or Musquidobit) was the Chesapeake-built six-gun schooner Lynx that the British Royal Navy captured and took into service in 1813. She was sold into commercial service in 1820 and nothing is known of her subsequent fate.
Owner-investors James Williams, Amos Williams and Levi Hollingsworth commissioned the noted shipbuilder Thomas Kemp to build them a schooner. Lynx was built at Fells Point, Baltimore during the opening days of the War of 1812. She was commissioned on 14 July under captain Elisha Taylor.
Lynx was a bit larger than the typical swift pilot boats after which Kemp modeled her. Kemp had increased her size to 97 feet (30 m) long by 24 feet (7.3 m) wide and 225 tons burthen (bm). She was fitted out as a trader though she carried a crew of 40 men and was armed with six 12-pounder long guns. She cost a little under $10,000.
Lynx was a letter of marque. That is, she was an armed merchantman with the warrant to take as prizes enemy merchantmen during the normal course of business, should the opportunity arise. As a merchantman, her crew received a regular wage; they did not depend on prizes for their income.
Lynx served as a merchantman for less than a year. She made one voyage, to Bordeaux, France, and returned with a cargo of luxury goods. She was waiting with three other schooners to run the British blockade for a second voyage when the British captured her.
On 13 April 1813, Sir John Borlase Warren's squadron, consisting of San Domingo, Marlborough, Maidstone, Statira, Fantome, Mohawk and Highflyer blockaded four schooners in the Rappahannock River. The British sent a cutting out expedition in boats 15 miles upriver to capture the schooners at anchor. The attacking British boats carried 105 men led by Lt. James Polkinghorne while the crews of the schooners numbered 160 in all.
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Wikipedia