One of America's most famous naval heroes, John Paul Jones, was appointed first lieutenant in the Continental Navy in December 1775.  In August 1976, he embarked on a cruise in the vicinity of Bermuda to take prizes and gather intelligence. 

His ship was the sloop Providence.  On September 1st, Providence was sighted and chased by Frigate Solebay which was escorting a small convoy bound from Jamaica to New York.  After a 10-hr race the powerful frigate had almost overhauled Providence, whereupon Jones, relying on his little ship's greater agility, suddenly cut sharply across Solebay's bows and setting all spare sails before the wind, sped away out of cannon-shot range before the larger vessel could complete the complicated manoeuvre of changing course. 

On August 1st, 1776, after carrying soldiers from New London to New York and escorting a convoy of colliers to Philadelphia, Providence sailed on an independent cruise.  Jones quickly captured a whaleship and a merchant ship and dispatched his prizes to Philadelphia.  He then turned for Nova Scotia, where he burned or captured eight fishing schooners and recruited new crew to replace those he had put aboard his captured ships.

In February, 1777, Providence ran the British blockade off Narragansett Bay and captured another transport off Cape Breton.

Put under Captain John P. Rathbun, Providence made two more coastal cruises before sailing again for the Bahamas in early 1778.  Through a series of brilliant stratagems, Rathbun took and held the town for three days (January 27 to 30) during which time he spiked the guns of Fort Nassau, seized 1,600 pounds of gunpowder, took 6 British prizes, and freed 30 American prisoners, all without bloodshed. She returned to Rhode Island unscathed on January 30, 1779.

Providence followed up this action with the capture of HM Brig Diligent (12 guns) off New York on May 7th.  The latter was taken into the Continental Navy and repaired in time to take part in the disastrous Penobscot expedition under Commodore Dudley Saltonst, together with thirty-seven other ships, including Providence.  On August 13th, Providence and all but two of the American ships were run aground and burned to avoid capture by a superior British fleet that had appeared in Penobscot Bay.

This Providence privateer schooner model features:

- Scratch-built
- Plank-on-frame
- All parts are wooden or metal

21" long x 14" tall    $1,790