USRC Scammel: History, Patrols, Crews

USRC Scammel: History, Patrols, Crews

Commissioning

The USRC Scammel was one of the first ten revenue cutters (hence the RC in the “USRC” acronym) authorized by the infant United States Congress to patrol the coasts of the new nation in August 1790. The 10 cutters were to be fast enough to overtake ships at sea, able to endure foul weather off the coast and be able to pursue ships up rivers, but was not to cost more than $1,000.

The Scammel was named by Treasury Secretary Alexander Hamilton in honor of U.S. Adjutant General Alexander Scammell, but Hamilton misspelled his name. With its missing “l”, the Scammel was launched in August 1791 and commissioned shortly thereafter. She was described as having “two masts, one deck, a short quarter deck, low waists with rails fore and aft, and was schooner rigged.”

Underway

Along with the USRC Massachusetts, the Scammel was tasked with enforcing U.S. tariffs and laws, as well as protecting the coasts of New Hampshire and Maine. On some occasions, she worked in tandem with the USRC Massachusetts, which operated out of Boston. Not much is known about the Scammel’s activities, but it is known that she seized the ship Luc of Stamford on the grounds of illegal registration; the ship was condemned and sold, along with her cargo, for a total of $750. The Captain of the Scammel, Hopley Yeaton, was awarded the money.

Though Yeaton was considered to be an effective captain, he struggled with his relationships with other members of the crew. Within months of the ship’s launching, he fired the first, second and third mates of the ship, claiming they were in “open rebellion” over wages and daily food rations. One of the regular crew members in 1796 was Yeaton’s son; it is also thought that the captain’s slave, Senegal, served on the boat frequently as well.

Whatever Yeaton’s problems with his crew may have been, he was still credited with performing his duties admirably. Customs Collector Joseph Whipple, who oversaw the Scammel’s activities, told Hamilton that “the services performed by the Cutter I conceive to have been very important to the safety and preservation of the Revenue. The Coast which is assigned to her…extending nearly 300 miles, many of which afford convenient places for fraudulent practices which have been checked by the attention and vigilance of the officers of the Scammel. The services for the year past consisted in cruising the aforementioned Coast, in entering and examining the Vessel's papers, instructing the ignorant coasters, and in bringing to justice those who break or evade the laws. Instances of contraventing of the laws have been discovered and prosecuted and some of them failed by the unaccountable determination of the court.”

Decommissioning

It was quickly determined that the cutters were too small and insufficiently armed to perform their duties effectively and plans were made to phase them out. On Aug. 16, 1798, the Scammel was sold to Clement Jackson for $565.

Career:

Name: Scammel
Operator: Revenue Cutter Service
Launched: 24 August 1791
Commissioned: 1791
Decommissioned: 1798
Fate: Sold 16 August 1798

General characteristics

Displacement: 51 85/95 tons
Length: 57.6 ft
Beam: 15.8 ft
Draft: 6.5 ft
Propulsion: Sail
Complement: 4 officers
Crew: 4 crewmen, 2 boys
Armament: 10 muskets, 20 pistols

Timeline:

August 1790: USRC Scammel ordered
August 1791: USRC Scammel launched
1791: Captain of USRC Scammel fires first, second and third mate
August 1798: USRC Scammel decommissioned and sold

Links:
http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/USRC_Scammel

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