In 1778, John Fulford, master, with a crew of 8 men, sailed the Le Duc de Choiseul from Edenton, North Carolina, bound for Bordeaux. She was loaded with 44 hhds of tobacco.
      The ship was captured by the British ship, Prince of Wales.
      The Le Duc de Choiseul was owned by David Stewart & Co., of Baltimore, Maryland. The crew was from Baltimore.
      It appears that a Thomas Fulford was the factor for the tobacco and had given bond for £ 1000 that the cargo would be landed at Bourdeaux.

Who was this John Fulford? Why was he master of a vessel with a French name? Was it a ruse in an attempt to avoid capture by the British? If so, it didn't work very well, did it!?

Why was John master of a ship from Maryland with a Maryland crew?

Who was this Thomas Fulford?

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