Help with Stern and Bow design 1779 6th Rate Frigate

[tennfox]

I am attempting to recreate the 1779 Frigate "Protector".  Not much is known about her.

 

 In April, 1778, the General Court resolved to build a frigate of 28 guns which would carry two hundred officers and men. This vessel was built at Newburyport and was named the Protector. In the fall of 1779 it was nearing completion. The launching of the Protector, which was the largest ship in the Massachusetts navy, was a matter of more than usual local interest. Stephen Cross who was in charge of the construction of the frigate wrote a letter to the Board of War in July, 1779, which throws light upon the minor naval duties of the Board.

 

it appears she was built right after the Boston, which was built by the same company in Newburyport,, Stephen and Ralph cross.

 

I know she had 5 windows on the captains cabin, and that's about it.   I'm going to venture a guess and say the figurehead on the bow was a man with a shield and maybe a sword or spear.  a model on this page shows the Boston with a roman soldier with a shield and spear.  Maybe the rear decor was a shield above the window or maybe crossed swords.  Just guessing here.

 

I know there is a wealth of nautical knowledge here and I'm asking for the best educated guesses on the stern decor and figurehead.  Since we have 3d printers anything is game.  My distant grandfather was aboard her during the revolutionary war and I would like to do her justice.

 

thanks

 

[allanyed]

Tennfox

As she was captured off Sandy Hook by the British, RMG might have some information as the British often took the lines of captures.   Perhaps Mystic has some helpful information.  Where were you able to find out about the number of lights (windows🙂) on the stern?  Could that source lead to more information?

Sounds like a fun research and build project!!!

 

Allan

 

 

[Thukydides]

She became the HMS Hussar for a couple years, but there are no plans on RMG that I could find. She was sold in 1803. Just so you don't get confused there are plans for an HMS hussar of the samish size on RMG, but they are for Hussar 1804 and Enterprise class ship which got the name after the American capture was sold in 1803.

 

https://threedecks.org/biyun/index.php?display_type=show_ship&id=4821

 

Note according to three decks protector was 26 guns, now their source would have been Winfield which I have found to sometimes not be completely accurate in the details.

 

A quick search of the national archives turned up these entries:

Capture of Protector

https://discovery.nationalarchives.gov.uk/details/r/C13507396

Hussar Captures other ships:

https://discovery.nationalarchives.gov.uk/details/r/C13508024

https://discovery.nationalarchives.gov.uk/details/r/C13507757

 

I couldn't find any captains logs, but there might be something if you go digging.

Edited March 25 by Thukydides

[tennfox]

Thanks for the help... My ancestor stated that she was a 20 gun frigate. ive seen 24, 26 and 28.  @allanyed im assuming she was 5 window just due to size and the bostons make up from a book on revolutionary war ships listing the 2 as sister ships.