The British are were no more sophisticated on the topic of human rights than anyone else in the late 1700s. During the American Revolutionary War, the British used prison ships, also known as “prison hulks,” to detain captured American soldiers, sailors, and privateers. These ships became infamous for their horrific conditions and high mortality rates.

Overview of British Prisoner-of-War Ships

1. Location:
   • The British stationed these prison ships primarily in New York Harbor, particularly around Wallabout Bay (present-day Brooklyn). The city of New York was under British control for much of the war, making it a strategic location for holding prisoners.
   • Other known locations included Charleston, South Carolina, and Portsmouth, England, for American prisoners captured at sea.
2. Conditions on the Ships:
   • Overcrowding: The prison ships were severely overcrowded. Many were old, decommissioned warships, not intended for long-term human habitation. Prisoners were crammed into the holds with little ventilation.
   • Starvation and Disease: Prisoners faced starvation, as rations were often meager or spoiled. Food consisted mostly of hardtack, salt beef or pork, and occasionally peas or oatmeal. Fresh water was scarce. Diseases like dysentery, typhus, and smallpox spread rapidly in these unsanitary conditions.
   • Lack of Medical Care: There was minimal medical care for the sick or wounded. Prisoners who fell ill were often left to die without any attempt at treatment.
3. The Most Notorious Ship: The HMS Jersey
   • The HMS Jersey, nicknamed “Hell,” was the most infamous of these prison hulks. It was a former British warship repurposed to house prisoners. It became a symbol of British cruelty and mistreatment.
   • Reports from survivors described the foul stench, lack of fresh air, and dark, damp conditions. Many prisoners died from starvation, malnutrition, and disease.
   • By some estimates, as many as 11,000 American prisoners of war died on British prison ships during the Revolutionary War. This number far exceeds the number of American soldiers killed in battle during the conflict.
4. Daily Life for Prisoners:
   • Prisoners were rarely allowed above deck and spent most of their time in cramped, dark holds below deck. The British guards were often harsh, and prisoners were subjected to abuse, beatings, and neglect.
   • The dead were typically disposed of unceremoniously, either thrown overboard or buried in shallow, mass graves along the shores. The remains of many of these prisoners were later discovered, and their bones are now memorialized at the Prison Ship Martyrs’ Monument in Fort Greene Park, Brooklyn.

Reasons for Using Prison Ships

• Limited Space on Land: With New York City already crowded and lacking space, and with many Continental prisoners captured during battles and naval engagements, the British needed an alternative place to house large numbers of POWs.
• Deterrence and Intimidation: The harsh conditions served as a deterrent. The British hoped the threat of being confined on one of these ships would discourage American sailors from engaging in privateering or resisting British forces.

Legacy and Impact

• The brutal conditions on these prison ships contributed to the animosity between the American colonies and Britain. The stories of suffering and death spread throughout the colonies, fueling anti-British sentiment and the resolve to fight for independence.
• The legacy of the prison ships remains a poignant chapter in the history of the American Revolution, symbolizing the sacrifice and suffering endured by those who fought for independence.

In recognition of the prisoners’ suffering, the Prison Ship Martyrs’ Monument, designed by Stanford White, was erected in 1908 in Brooklyn to honor the memory of the thousands who died on these ships. It stands as a stark reminder of the brutal conditions faced by American POWs during the Revolutionary War.