General Gage (Brig), 1773

" Mr. Grant was given permission to build a small fleet of schooners and sloops to be employed in transporting merchandise over the lakes. Two of these were built at The River Rouge and named the HOPE and FAITH, while the third, and largest, built near Fort Niagara, for the navigation of lake Ontario, was named CHARITY. A small sloop, named the ANGELICA, was also built at the River Rouge and, with the sloop CHIPPEWA, was owned by Grant, who, at the same time, had been entrusted by General Gage "with the direction of all the vessels upon the several lakes."
      "The two ships which he had been instructed to build for the government were not completed and fully rigged until the spring of 1777. The largest of these, at first rigged as a schooner but afterwards as a brig, measured 154 tons, and was named in honor of the Commander in Chief, the GENERAL GAGE. The other, a schooner of 106 tons, was called the EARL OF DUNMORE, in compliment to the energetic governor of Virginia. Both were immediately employed in the navigation of lake Erie."
      Memorials of Fort Erie and Early Navigation of Lake Erie
      by Colonel Cruckshank p13.
     
     
     
      Alexander Grant was summoned to a consultation with the Governor and on the 12 th June, 1775, he prepared a statement at Montreal, in which he said that the GENERAL GAGE, of 120 tons and sixteen guns was employed in navigating lake Erie, while the EARL OF DUNMORE of 90 tons and 12 guns was usually engaged in the navigation of Lake Huron. These were the only serviceable ships belonging to the King on the Upper Lakes. The merchant ships were the schooner HOPE, of 60 tons and six small guns, and the schooner FAITH of 30 tons, and the sloops ANGELICA of 60 tons and CHIPPEWA of 50 tons. Two other sloops, of 30 tons were still on the stocks".
      Memorials of Fort Erie and Early Navigation of Lake Erie
      by Colonel Cruckshank p16.
     
     
     
Nov. 1779:-- On the 8th instant the GAGE ran on shore ap Point au Pins on the north shore of lake Erie, "Grant wrote to Bolton on November 22 from Detroit " By mere good luck having favorable weather with the assistance of the troops on board she was got off with little or no damage except the loss of six guns."
      Memorials of Fort Erie and Early Navigation of Lake Erie
      by Colonel Cruckshank p32.
     
     
     
June 4, 1780 -- The small sloop ADVENTURE will be sent to Point au Pins to weight the guns of the GAGE left there last fall.
      Memorials of Fort Erie and Early Navigation of Lake Erie
      by Colonel Cruckshank p36.

     
     
A tabular return of the Force and Burthen of His Majesty's Armed Vessels on Lake Erie, Huron, and Michigan is dated August 1st. 1782, and signed by Alexander Grant
Aug. 1, 1782: Brig GAGE, of 154 tons, commanded by John Burnet, crew of 27. and 14 guns
Schooner DUNMORE, of 106 tons, commanded by James Graham. Crew of 14 and armed with 4 swivels.
Schooner HOPE, of 81 tons, commanded by henry Ford. Crek of 11 and carries 4 swivels.
Sloop ANGELICA, of 66 tons, commanded by James Underston. Crew of 7 and carries 4 swivels.
Sloop FELICITY, of 55 tons, commanded by Norman Mckay. Crew of 6 and carries 4 swivels.
Schooner FAITH, of 61 tons, commanded by George Andrews. Crew of 8 and carries 4 swivels.
Sloop WYANDOTT of 47 tons, commanded by William Gibson. Crew of 7 and carries 4 swivels.
Sloop ADVENTURE, of 34 tons, commanded by James Cumming. Crew of 8 and carries 2 swivels.
Un-named gunboat, commanded by Joseph Williams,. Crew of 11 and carries 4 swivels.
      Memorials of Fort Erie and Early Navigation of Lake Erie
      by Colonel Cruckshank p44.



" I shall have the new vessel launched some time in March if the weather continues as kind as it has been. I propose as soon as our carronades &c. arrives to mount 14 twelve pounders on board the new vessel, and 14, 9 pounders on board the GAGE, and ten four pounders on board the FAITH."
      Memorials of Fort Erie and Early Navigation of Lake Erie
      by Colonel Cruckshank p. 46.