In January of 1781, the brig Fame overturned in a heavy gale while at the anchored near Egg Harbor inlet. The wind from the North West carried intense cold, snow squalls and a high flood tide. Twenty crewmen lost their lives on the bay. Capt. Treen and several others were on shore. Four crew members, Thomas Adams, Eleazer Crawford, Jacob Corson and `one Steelman' succeeded in landing a galley on the beach. Steelman, who was most active in cheering his companions and freeing the boat, perished when near land.
Capt. Treen was once run down by two British frigates after refusing their summons to surrender. The frigates sailed over his vessel and crew. Capt. Treen and a boy grabbed the rigging of one of the frigates as it cut through their ship and were saved. Others crew members also grabbed the rigging, but had their fingers and arms cut off by cutlasses. On board the ship, Capt. Treen implored for the lives of his crew but was refused. Captured, he was sent to the prison ship HMS Jersey. Captain Treen escaped from the prison ship with his life and continued privateering until the end of the Revolutionary War. He is documented with a prize capture in 1782.
TIMELINE:
Sept. 1779 First Lt. on the schooner Hawk from PA under command of Cpt. Enoch Stillwell. The Hawk carried 10 guns and 80 men and was captured w/I a few days Treen was sent to the Prison Ship Jersey.
March 3, 1780 Rattlesnake PA schooner. Guns 8 crew 35 Master WT Bonders Carson and Jo. Hargon, Owners J. Carson and Co.
March 30, 1780 the Admiralty court sold at Great Egg Harbor the prize sloop Hazard which had been captured by Capt. W. Treen together with her sails, tackle, and her cargo of rum, sugar, molasses coffee etc.
Dec. 23 1780 Fame, PA Brig Guns 10, Crew 55 Master WT, Mate Uriah Smith Bonders Jo. Carson and W. Treene, Owners Jo. Carson
January 1781 The brig Fame Capt. William Treen of Egg Harbor took the privateer schooner Cock, Capt. Brooks bound from NY to Ches Bay and sent her into port in NJ.
January 22, 1781 The brig Fame while at the anchoring point near Egg Harbor inlet in a heavy gale from the N.W. with some snow squalls on the flood tide, was tripped and upset by which mishap some 20 lives were lost.
1781 Captain of Privateer Rattlesnake for six months in 1781 and Captain of armed whale boat Unity. (DLAR rev. War Cards RJH 9.15.33)
Jan. 1782 Treen and Jos. Edwards, commanders of the whale boat Unity captured the Betsy which lately sailed from Jones Creek Delaware loaded with wheat Indian corn and flour which was taken in the Delaware by a british cruiser and retakent by Treen and Edwards.
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