The Archives

The ArchivesShipsRanger

Ranger

Charles Harris's eight-gun Bermuda sloop, captured after a running fight with HMS Greyhound off Long Island in 1723.

LaunchedBermuda-built sloopTotaken by HMS Greyhound, 10 June 1723

Charles Harris's eight-gun Bermuda sloop, captured after a running fight with HMS Greyhound off Long Island in 1723.

What the record establishes

This entity (ship code RAN) is the pirate sloop Ranger commanded by Charles Harris, consort to Edward Low, taken by HMS Greyhound (Capt. Peter Solgard) off the east end of Long Island on 10 June 1723; it is distinct from Charles Vane's Ranger and from Bartholomew Roberts's Ranger (RAN2)1

On 10 June 1723, off the east end of Long Island, the Ranger and the Fancy gave chase to HMS Greyhound, mistaking her for a merchantman, and engaged her2

After a running fight of several hours the Ranger's main-yard was shot down and she called for quarter; Low in the Fortune bore away and abandoned her, escaping near Block Island3

The vessel is named in the New England Courant of 24 June 1723 as 'the Pirate Sloop called the Ranger' taken by HMS Greyhound4

Bartholomew Roberts's consort Ranger (archive entity RAN2) is a further, separate vessel of the same name, illustrated in the same Dow and Edmonds volume as 'Royal Fortune and Ranger in Whydah Road, Jan. 11, 1722'; this pack is not that vessel5

The Ranger was a Bermuda-built sloop6

At her capture the Ranger mounted eight guns: 'a Pirate Sloop of 8 Guns, Barmudas built'7

At her capture the Ranger's company was 48: 42 white men and 6 black men8

Before Harris the sloop Ranger was 'lately commanded by' Francis Farrington Spriggs9

What the evidence does not settle

Her builder, civilian ownership and history before Edward Low's company have not been recovered; she must be kept distinct from the Rangers of Vane and Roberts.

What the evidence does not settle

Construction and ownership

  • Ranger's builder, civilian owners and earlier history

Namesakes

  • How Low's Ranger differs from the Rangers of Vane and Roberts

Each line is one question with its own grade, taken from the register where a claim carries it. Nothing here is graded as a whole.

Sources for this record

Every statement above that rests on a checked claim carries a small number; the numbers lead here. Each entry gives what is claimed, how far the record supports it, and where it comes from.

  1. This entity (ship code RAN) is the pirate sloop Ranger commanded by Charles Harris, consort to Edward Low, taken by HMS Greyhound (Capt. Peter Solgard) off the east end of Long Island on 10 June 1723; it is distinct from Charles Vane's Ranger and from Bartholomew Roberts's Ranger (RAN2) Confirmed Directly supported by the record. Period newspaper; Printed trial record; Period narrative: Boston News-Letter, 20 June 1723 (reprinted in Dow and Edmonds ch. XVI); New England Courant, 24 June 1723 (reprinted in Dow and Edmonds ch. XVI); Proceedings of the Court of Admiralty at Newport, 10 to 12 July 1723 (reprinted in Dow and Edmonds ch. XVI)
  2. On 10 June 1723, off the east end of Long Island, the Ranger and the Fancy gave chase to HMS Greyhound, mistaking her for a merchantman, and engaged her Confirmed Directly supported by the record. Period newspaper; Period narrative: Boston News-Letter, 20 June 1723 (reprinted in Dow and Edmonds ch. XVI); A General History of the Pyrates, chapter on Edward Low
  3. After a running fight of several hours the Ranger's main-yard was shot down and she called for quarter; Low in the Fortune bore away and abandoned her, escaping near Block Island Confirmed Directly supported by the record. Period newspaper; Period narrative: Boston News-Letter, 20 June 1723 (reprinted in Dow and Edmonds ch. XVI); A General History of the Pyrates, chapter on Edward Low
  4. The vessel is named in the New England Courant of 24 June 1723 as 'the Pirate Sloop called the Ranger' taken by HMS Greyhound Confirmed Directly supported by the record. Period newspaper; Printed trial record: New England Courant, 24 June 1723 (reprinted in Dow and Edmonds ch. XVI); Proceedings of the Court of Admiralty at Newport, 10 to 12 July 1723 (reprinted in Dow and Edmonds ch. XVI)
  5. Bartholomew Roberts's consort Ranger (archive entity RAN2) is a further, separate vessel of the same name, illustrated in the same Dow and Edmonds volume as 'Royal Fortune and Ranger in Whydah Road, Jan. 11, 1722'; this pack is not that vessel Likely More likely than not on the evidence we have. Modern scholarship: The Pirates of the New England Coast 1630-1730 (Chapter XVI, Charles Harris)
  6. The Ranger was a Bermuda-built sloop Confirmed Directly supported by the record. Period newspaper: Boston News-Letter, 20 June 1723 (reprinted in Dow and Edmonds ch. XVI)
  7. At her capture the Ranger mounted eight guns: 'a Pirate Sloop of 8 Guns, Barmudas built' Confirmed Directly supported by the record. Period newspaper; Printed trial record: Boston News-Letter, 20 June 1723 (reprinted in Dow and Edmonds ch. XVI); Proceedings of the Court of Admiralty at Newport, 10 to 12 July 1723 (reprinted in Dow and Edmonds ch. XVI)
  8. At her capture the Ranger's company was 48: 42 white men and 6 black men Confirmed Directly supported by the record. Period newspaper; Printed trial record: Boston News-Letter, 20 June 1723 (reprinted in Dow and Edmonds ch. XVI); Proceedings of the Court of Admiralty at Newport, 10 to 12 July 1723 (reprinted in Dow and Edmonds ch. XVI)
  9. Before Harris the sloop Ranger was 'lately commanded by' Francis Farrington Spriggs Very likely Strong evidence, short of proof. Modern scholarship: The Pirates of the New England Coast 1630-1730 (Chapter XVI, Charles Harris)