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The HMS Jersey was an infamous British prison ship used to house American prisoners of war during the American Revolution. The practice of keeping prison ships was used as a way to prevent overcrowding in British prisoners and detain prisoners without having to send them to Britain. The HMS Jersey was originally built for war, but was later repurposed as a hospital ship in 1771. In 1779, it was used as a prison ship for American prisoners of war and docked in Wallabout Bay, which is today known as the Brooklyn Navy Yard.
Source: Wilkins, Armonee. “Hell in New York Harbor: HMS Jersey.” Fraunces Tavern® Museum, www.frauncestavernmuseum.org/hms-jersey. Accessed 27 Feb. 2025.
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