'Cole’s Antiquities of Filey' published in 1828 gives a fairly detailed account of the Battle and specifically refers to the hoisting of a red flag on Scarborough Castle as a warning signal to shipping (page 36). In Rowntree’s History of Scarborough reference is made (page 297) to the Bailiffs of Scarborough, who, in 1779, were William Porrett and Thomas Haggitt, sending a letter by boat to Captain Pearson on board HMS Serapis to warn of a “flying squadron” of enemy ships in the area.
Research by James Hodgson indicates that the Bailiffs requested the firing of a morning and evening gun from the Castle as a deterrent to a possible landing (source – Scarborough Maritime Heritage Centre):-
The Bailiffs of Scarborough sent a message to Major General Hall 13 March 1780:-
“Sir., Lt Col Foord having done us the honour to communicate the contents of your letter of the 7th inst. concerning the firing of a morning and evening gun from the battery at the castle. We beg leave to inform you that the order was given at our request, because we apprehended the town and shipping to be in some danger at that time from the appearance off the coast of a very large cutter privateer, with an American and French commission. But the gun was discontinued as soon as the enemy quitted our coast.”
All accounts of the Battle, which was clearly visible from the Castle and Harbour, refer to the Baltic merchant fleet of 41 ships (all laden with essential supplies for the Royal Navy dockyards) taking refuge under the guns of Scarborough Castle which protected the harbour, presumably the South Steel Battery – the range of these guns in 1779 and why it was called the South Steel Battery to be ascertained.
It is therefore beyond question that, in addition to the heroic actions of the Royal Navy escorts HMS Serapis and The Countess of Scarborough, the Castle played a vital role in saving the valuable merchant fleet from capture or destruction by John Paul Jones and his Franco-American Squadron of four ships (The Bonhomme Richard, Alliance, Pallas and Vengeance). If the attack had happened further up or down the coast then there would have been nowhere for the merchant fleet to take refuge.
As for the Battle itself, the engagement began on the north side of Flamborough Head at about 7.30pm on 23 September 1779. Hundreds of people lined the cliffs along the coast from Filey to Flamborough to watch the Battle. After about two hours The Countess of Scarborough surrendered (“struck”) to the Pallas, by which time the merchant fleet was safely under the Castle’s guns. The main encounter between the Bonhomme Richard and HMS Serapis lasted for somewhere between three-four hours before Captain Pearson surrendered (“struck”) to John Paul Jones, by which time there were over 400 dead and wounded and the Bonhomme Richard was so badly damaged it later sank with many wounded and prisoners still on board – although several British prisoners of war serving on the ship in return for their future liberty managed to escape by boat to Butcher’s Landing on Filey Beach.
There is much speculation as to how quickly and where the Bonhomme Richard sank – some accounts say within two hours in Filey Bay, others say up to 36 hours, several miles offshore. Several possible wreck sites have been identified including two beneath Bempton and Speeton cliffs.
The Americans viewed the Battle of Flamborough Head as a major naval victory on the back of which John Paul Jones became regarded as the ‘Founding Father’ of the US Navy. The reality however is that, although he captured both HMS Serapis and The Countess of Scarborough, Jones lost his own ship (the Bonhomme Richard) and failed to capture or destroy a single ship of the merchant fleet. Both Captain Pearson (HMS Serapis) and Captain Piercy (The Countess of Scarborough) were knighted for their heroic defence of the fleet and made Honourary Freemen of the Borough of Scarborough, in addition to reaping rich rewards from the Insurers of the convoy.
Thanks go to Kim and James Hodgson
More information can be found on https://fileybay1779.com
