Elisha Hinman

• BIRTH 9 Mar 1734 Woodbury, Litchfield County, Connecticut, USA
• DEATH 29 Aug 1807 (aged 73) New London, New London County, Connecticut, USA
• BURIAL Cedar Grove Cemetery, New London, New London County, Connecticut, USA Show Map, PLOT Section 7, MEMORIAL ID 21359, Photos by Irma & Don Connelly

Elisha Hinman was a Revolutionary War Continental Naval Officer. Born the son of son of Mary (Noble) Hinman and Andrew Hinman in Woodbury, Connecticut on March 10, 1734. Grandson of Capt. Titus and Hannah (Сое) Hinman; great-grandson of Sergt. Edward and Hannah (Stiles) Hinraan, the first American ancestor.

At fourteen years of age he took to a seafaring life, and before he had reached his twentieth year he was the captain of a merchantman trading with Europe and the Indies. With two of his brothers he removed to New London, and there he amassed property which he lost when that town In 1775, he accepted a lieutenant’s commission in the Continental Navy, he was in the first group of men to be commissioned in the United States Navy. He took command of the 'Cabot,' a brig, in 1776, and captured five British ships sailing from Jamaica. In 1777, he was commissioned a Captain and took command of the 'Alfred.'

He captured one merchantman, then two larger ships from Jamaica which he ferried to France to be sold by American agents there. On his cruise back to the US in March, he was taken by two British ships and made a prisoner. He was incarcerated in in Fortune prison on July 18. Five days later, he bribed the guards and walked away. He made his way to Dunkirk by August 11, but was without his ship. In August 1778, he returned to the US aboard the 'Providence' under Captain Whipple.

In 1780, he took command of the gunboat 'Dean.' At war's end, the government was found to owe him 3,000 dollars in back wages; which was cleared by issuing a Government promissory note rather than cash. Desperate for funds, however, he was forced to sell the note for three shillings on the pound. He applied for command of a revenue cutter in a letter to John Adams in 1798, citing his former service, good health, lack of further ambition, and financial need. He received command of the federal revenue cutter 'Argus' following the death of the previous captain. He was replaced as captain in 1803, when he was 69 years old. He would die just four years later.

He was one of the first captains of Hi navy appointed by congress, and commanded the Cabot, a Continental brig fitted out in New London in 1776. Later he succeeded Paul Jones as captain of the Alfred, which was captured by the Ariadne and Ceres while on her way home from France March 9, 177Ь. He was carried as a prisoner to England, but succeeded in escaping to. France, whence he relumed home, and engaged for a time in privateering. la 1779 he commanded the Hancock, a privateer sloop owned by Thomas Mumford, and had a run of exceptionally brilliant successes.

He was honorably acquitted of all blame for the loss of the Alfred, and in 1780 took commaud of the gunboat Dean. In 1780 Capts. Hiuman and Havens in their sloops the Hancock and the Beaver captured the Lady Erskine, a brig of ten guns, one of a fleet of twenty-one sailing vessels, which was passing New London.under the cou voyof the Thames, a frigate of thirty-one guns. He commanded several other vessels, and at the close of the war returned to the merchant service. In 1794 Près. Adams offered him the command of the Constitution, but he felt compelled to decline by reason of his advanced age. From 1798 to 1802 he was in the revenue service. He died at New London, Aug. 29, 1807.

Spouse
Abigail Dolbeare Hinman 1743–1816

Children
Mary Sherwood Hinman Dimon unknown–1852
Hannah Hinman Day 1780–1850

References

https://www.findagrave.com/memorial/21359/elisha-hinman

DAR Ancestor #: A055364