When and where built unknown, but her homeport was Boston, Mass.
Used as an American privateer, under the name WILD CAT with a complement of 75 and armed with 12 (14) guns.
HMS SURPRIZE under command of Capt. Samuel Reeve alongside in St John’s Newfoundland received information that an American privateer was off the harbour, and he immediately sailed out and went after her.
16 July 1779 she was captured after a short chase.
The day before the WILD CAT had taken after a severe battle the schooner EGMONT under command of Lieutenant Gardner.
September 1779 bought by the Royal Navy, and commissioned the same day as HMS TREPASSEY.
After taken: her measurement is given as 95.0 x 26.0 x 11.6ft, tonnage 341 ton.
Armament 14 – 6pdrs.
Crew 80.
Commissioned under command of Commander Henry Edwyn Stanhope, based at Newfoundland.
September 1780 under command of Commander James Smyth.
28 May 1781 taken by the American frigate ALLIANCE off Cape Sable, Nova Scotia, six men killed under which Smyth and 11 wounded.
She thereafter was send as a cartel ship to Halifax with all the prisoners around 250 men to exchange them for American prisoners there. Her guns were thrown overboard. She arrived safely in Halifax.
1782 Was she retaken and recommissioned in the Royal Navy as HMS TREPASSEY, under command of Commander Francis Cole.
08 February 1784 arrived at Portsmouth, 01 March 1784 moved to Deptford where she was paid off.
29 April 1784 sold for £735 at Deptford.
Fate unknown.
British Virgin Islands 1976 75c sg358, scott? (name on the stamp is wrongly spelled as TREPASY.)
Source: British Warships in the Age of Sail 1714-1792 by Rif Winfield. Some web-sites.