HMS Bustler (1782)
HMS "Bustler" was the mercantile "Shillelagh", which the Admiralty purchased in January 1782. She was sold in 1788 and returned to mercantile service. In 1793 she became a privateer and made one notable capture. She then became a West Indiaman that the French captured in 1795. Royal Navy. The Admiralty purchased "Shillelagh" in January 1782 and she underwent fitting at Plymouth between February and June. In March Commander Samuel Cox commissioned her for the Channel. He paid her off in August. She underwent coppering and conversion to a brig between July and December. In November Commander Robert  Burton commissioned "Bustler" for the Irish Sea. She then served out of Holyhead, on Anglesey, until she was paid off in May 1786. The Navy sold her at Deptford for £240 on 25 August 1788. Merchantman. It is obscure what name "Bustler" sailed under, and who her owners were and what her trade was between 1788 and 1793. Still, Captain Hugh Passmore acquired a letter of marque on 4 March 1793 for "Bustler". "Bustler" captured in September 1793, and sent her into Dartmouth. "Neckar", Mitchell, master, prize to "Bustler", arrived at Gravesend on 21 October 1793. Captain Stephen Thomas  acquired a letter of marque on 8 March 1794. On this letter "Bustler"s crew had been reduced to 20 men. The reduction indicated that she was no longer engaged in privateering as she would not have enough men to for prize crews on captures. Captain Thomas sailed for San Domingo on 11 April. "Lloyd's List" reported in July 1795 that a French privateer or privateers had captured "Bustler", of London, as well as a number of other merchantmen, and taken them into Aux Cayes. Citations and references. Citations References