Combat· American Revolutionary War
Raid on St. Mary's Isle
On the morning of April 23, 1778, hours after the raid on Whitehaven, the sloop Ranger put a landing party ashore on St.
Mary's Isle in Kirkcudbright Bay, Scotland. John Paul Jones hoped to seize the Earl of Selkirk and carry him to France as a hostage for the better treatment of American prisoners in England. Jones, Marine Lieutenant Wallingford, Master David Cullam, and a dozen sailors and Marines went in with the cutter. On the way to the house Jones learned that the earl was absent and turned back. Cullam and several others demanded to be allowed to loot the house, and Jones let Wallingford and Cullam take some of the men to demand the family silver, but not to search the house. Lady Selkirk gave up the plate, and no insult or injury was done. Jones later returned silver plate with a letter expressing his regrets. One day later, on April 24, 1778, the Ranger fell in with HMS Drake off Belfast Lough.
Record no. 139