Samuel Adams enlisted as a Mariner aboard the Privateer Ship "Boston." This was in the fall of the year 1776. The ship "Boston" was of 400 tons, carried 22 guns and had a compliment of 210 men, quite a good sized vessel of the day. She was commanded by William Brown of Lincoln, Middlesex county, Mass. The Independent Chronicle, March 6, 1777 states; "Captain Brown, in the Privateer Boston, of this port, has taken and sent into North Carolina a ship and schooner from Guinea with Negroes, bound to the West Indies; many of the poor slaves perished soon after their arrival." Boston Gazette, March 31, 1777; " Tuesday, the privateer ship Boston, commanded by Capt. John Brown, returned into port; during her cruise she has taken six prizes, all of which are arrived in safe ports." (In the prize list published in the Gazette of April 7, 1777, the Captains name is given as William Brown). Sam had enlisted for six months and a very eventful and exciting time it must have been. How he fared in the prize money is not known but the practice used was that each member of the crew shared in proportion to his responsibility, of course the owners of the vessel and the Master and Bondsmen were first served. http://www.isomedia.com/homes/krhodes/stories/sam_adams.htm

Hello all, This is the first I have heard that Samuel Adams signed on with the Privateer ship, "Boston". In the fall of 1776, John Adams had some tea sent to Abigail, Mrs. J. Adams, by a man who delivers it instead to Mrs. S. Adams. Abigail goes to visit Mrs. Samuel Adams and is served HER tea but says nothing to Mrs. Samuel Adams about the wrong delivery address. When asked about the delicious tea, Mrs. Adams says her "sweetheart" sent it to her. This is the only mention I can find that Samuel Adams is away. Very interesting. Thank you, Margaret