Statistics about the American Revolution are notoriously tricky to ascertain, but it is estimated that around 20,000 men fighting for the colonies were taken prisoner by the British. Many were held in prison ships – old and neglected hulks moored off New York. As many as half of these men died on these ships, from disease, malnutrition, or the treatment they received.

That is compared to the 6,800 thought to have died in battle. The most infamous of the prison ships was HMS Jersey, which had a capacity of 400 but at times held more than 1,000. Those that succumbed were tossed overboard or buried in shallow graves on the shore.

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