History of Essex County, Massachusetts : with biographical sketches of many of its pioneers and prominent men, Vol. II, Part 32

Author: Hurd, D. Hamilton (Duane Hamilton) ed
Publication date: 1888
Publisher: Philadelphia, J. W. Lewis & Co.
Number of Pages: 1672

USA > Massachusetts > Essex County > History of Essex County, Massachusetts : with biographical sketches of many of its pioneers and prominent men, Vol. II > Part 32

Note: The text from this book was generated using artificial intelligence so there may be some errors. The full pages can be found on Archive.org (link on the Part 1 page).

Early in the spring of 1776, Captain John Lee, of Marblehead, was commissioned commander of the privateer "Nancy," a small vessel carrying six guns. One afternoon, just before night, he discovered a heavy armed merchantman, which, though much larger than his own vessel, he resolved to capture. The " Nancy " was so low in the water that she was not discovered by the enemy. As soon as the night became sufficiently dark, Lee sailed up to the ship, having extended indistinet lights beyond the bow- sprit and from the stern of his vessel, which gave her the appearance of great length. The English cap- tain, thinking it idle to contend with a force so much superior to his own, as he thought her from this stratagem, struck his colors. His men were sent on

1 Sheppard's " Life of Tucker."

1091

HISTORY OF ESSEX COUNTY, MASSACHUSETTS.

Boof captain Ley's small vessel in boat-loads, and pressing the ' Hancock,' the ' F'lora ' the 'Fox ' while the ' Boston ' had so much the start as to be alde easily to keepaloof. The ' Flora ' first closed with the ' Fox,' which ship she recaptured after a short but spirited ac- tion. The wind being very light, Captain Manly attempted to lighten his wir easily se re 1. The captain was among the last to base the Jup; and when he stepped on to the de k of the " houner, and saw how he had been de- | ship by pumping ont the water, and is believed to have hurt her sailing Five I. F . attempted to kill himself. He was pre- by altering her trim. Finding the 'Rainbow ' closing, that gallant officer made his disposition for boarding, and, doubtless, would have made a desperate effort to carry his powerful antagonist, had the wind permitted. The air remained so light, however, that the 'Rainbow' get him fairly under her guns before he could get near enough to accomplish the object, the 'Victor' getting a raking position at the same time the . Hancock ' struck. rente I by Captain Lee, who, by courteous and gentle treat neot en lavorel to soothe his wounded feelings. Danny the cruise Lee captured thirteen prizes, which Were sent into the port ot Bilboa, in Spain. The last of the- he followed, in order to superintend the trial. "Captain McNeil was much censured for abandoning his consort on this occasion, and was dismissed the service in consequence." 1 condemnation and sale of the vessels and cargoes, and to repair his own vessel.

After refitting, he salled into the British Channel on a cruise, aod was chased by the flag-ship of Ad- mural Jarvis. Captain Lee made every effort to in- grease the speed of his vessel by throwing his guns and other heavy ordnance overboard; but finding (impossible to escape, ran her on shore. The wreck was mirdiately surrounded by the boats of the ship; and the officers and crew were captured, and ulti- mately landed in England and sent to Forton Prison.

During the latter part of the month of October, Tucker captured the brig " Lively," bound from Air to Newfoundland, which, together with the cargo and crew, was sent into Boston. Mr. Sheppard, in his · Les of Commodore Tucker," states that during the voir 1776 the number of prizes captured by that dar- ing commander was from thirty to forty, including ships, brigs and smaller vessels, many of them with very valuable cargocs, and some of them armed vessels.

In March, 1777, Captain Tucker was received into the navy, and was commissioned as commander of fr gate " Boston." It is probable that he did not as- sun the command of the frigate for some time after however, as would seem from the following incident of naval warfare, during which the " Boston " was Ombanded by Captain Hector McNeil :

"It May of the year, the Hutcock,' 34, Captain John Manly, and t 1 15. . 4, Cyten th Er Me Neil, sail d in Company from Boston, 4 h | the . tward A few days out, or in the month of May, . Ha Dado intrat ge mell, early in the morning, and succeeded .Ivarei ht Ert ex lange broadsides, on opposite facks, 11 g Vier tar unland the ruemy her lurboard guns. At I Beth wuout of gunshot. Finding that he had to deal ( merlot farve, the English vessel, which was a Orwell to campo. The ' Hancock ' now went raj un Manly sent his pende from the guns, and Irishfanta. As the ' Have 'k' was one of the ( w )ist Ent, he pokly drew up abeam of the pok her guny would benr. Captain F

MI1 Cm antidi borgen gun until fairly r ale vton ( inmon el that lasted nu homs le din nº n u thy Englishman struck.

49 F\' th rty-te "he 'But i'dbl not BE ' x 'het -trik when she is said to Hào k' being thị the art of lowering Ir treet ep on the beam of

f' Rud contin

DJ : 1ft Halifax 11

Shortly after this event Captain Tucker, upon whom the rank of commodore had been conferred, sailed on a cruise in the " Boston." While out he fell in with a frigate much larger than his own and car- ried her by boarding. The marines were led by Lientenant Magee, a brave young officer, who was killed the moment his feet struck the enemy's deck. Captain Tucker, who had brought his ship gun to gun with the British frigate, leaped into the midst of his adversaries, cutting down all before him. The loss of life on board the frigate was very great, and she soon struck her colors and became the prize of the " Bos- ton."

During the latter part of October, or early in the month of November, 1777, the brigantine "Penet," Captain John Harris, of Marblehead, master, sailed for the port of Nantes, in the kingdom of France. Captain Harris was charged by the Board of War with the important duty of conveying Mr. Austin, who carried important papers from the government, to the first port that could be made in France or Spain. The passage was made in safety, and the "Penet " re- turned with a cargo and several seamen who had been discharged from American ships in France. Captain Harris subsequently sailed in private armed vessels, and in 1779 was sailing master on board a ship com- manded by Captain John Conway, of Marblehead. On the 19th of November of that year they fell in with and were captured by a British ship of a larger size than their own, though not without a spirited engagement. The American vessel was at length obliged to strike her colors. After the battle was over, and the American seamen had surrendered themselves as prisoners, a lieutenant of the British ship seized a musket, and aiming at Captain Harris, shot him through the head, killing him instantly. The murder was deliberate and intentional, and is only one of many instances of brutality on the part of British officers.

On the 10th of February, 1778, C'ommodore Tucker, who had again been commissioned as commander of the " Boston," received orders to carry the Hon. John Adams as envoy to France. Mr. Adams took with him Fis son, John Quincy Adams, then about eleven years of age. The "Boston" experienced a great deal of unpleasant weather during the passage, and

1 " Cooper's Naval History."

1095

MARBLEHEAD.

was several times chased by British cruisers which had been sent out to capture her. Commodore Tucker succeeded in eluding them all. On the 11th of March he fell in with the armed ship " Martha," bound from London to New York with a valuable cargo. As the " Boston " sailed up to her, the decks were cleared for action, and the men were at the guns ready for battle. Noticing Mr. Adams standing among the marines with a gun in his hand, Commodore Tucker, in tones of anthority, ordered him to leave the deck. Mr. Adams, however, continued at his post, when, at last, Tucker seized him and forced him away, exclaiming as he did so, "I am commanded by the Continental Congress to deliver you safe in France, and you must go down below, sir." Mr. Adams accordingly left the deck. The " Boston " fired but one gun at the enemy, who returned three, and then struck his colors. The prize was manned and sent into Boston, and Tucker kept on his course to France, arriving at Bordeaux on the 31st of March.

During the spring and summer of 1779, Commo- dore Tucker, in the frigate " Boston," sailed on several remarkably successful cruises. In the month of June alone he captured seven prizes, six of which were armed vessels. Of these, the most important were the " Pole," a frigate of two hundred tons burden, mount- ing twenty-four guns, and the sloop-of-war "Thorn," mounting sixteen guns. The "Pole " was captured without the firing of a gun on either side. As soon as Tucker saw the ships in the distance he knew her to be an English frigate, and boldly sailed up to her.

Disguising his own ship with English colors, he prepared for action, and, having obtained a command- ing position, hoisted the American flag and ordered an instant surrender. The commander of the British frigate, seeing that resistance was in vain, struck his colors. The prize was subsequently sold for one hun- dred and three thousand pounds, the sale of the coal and provisions found on board increasing the amount to nearly one hundred and twenty thousand pounds.

In the meantime, Commodore Manly, who two years before had been captured by the British and sent to prison, was exchanged. Upon regaining his freedom he at once assumed command of the priva- teer "Cumberland." While cruising in her he was captured by the British frigate "Pomona," and carried into Barbadoes, where he and his officers were im- prisoned. All their applications to obtain paroles were rejected. They finally succeeded in effecting an escape, and seizing a sloop, sailed for Martinico, where they arrived in safety. Manly was afterwards in command of the privateer "Jason," which had been captured by the British shortly before his escape. While on a cruise, during the month of July, he was attacked by two British privateers, one of eighteen guns, and the other of sixteen. In the engagement which ensued, Manly behaved with great bravery, and reserved his fire until he came close up with his ad- versaries. Running between them, he first discharged

a broadside into the eighteen-gun vessel, killing and wounding nearly thirty of her crew. He then gave her consort the other broadside, when both vessels surrendered, and became his prizes.

In November of this year the letter of marque " Freemason," Captain Benjamin Boden, sailed from Marblehead to Martinico. She carried six guns and fifteen men. On her passage she was taken by a Brit- ish privateer sloop, mounting sixteen guns. The captain, second mate and a hoy were left on board the " Freemason," but the first mate, Robert Worm- sted, with the rest of the crew, was carried on board the privateer. The prisoners were handcuffed and thrust into the hold, and at night the hatchway was closed. Here Wormsted conceived a plan of escape which was successfully executed. His handcuffs were so large that he could with little exertion get rid of them and set the rest at liberty. Ile proposed rising upon the privateer the next day, when the captain should be taking the sun. At first the attempt was thought to be too desperate, they being so few in number compared with the crew on board. At length, however, Wormsted prevailed with his com- panions, and they solemnly bound themselves to do their utmost. His plan was to spring upon deck and knock down the captain, and they were to follow and do their part. At twelve o'clock the next day their courage was put to the test, and in a few moments the captain and many others were laid prostrate upon the deck. Their pistols were taken and aimed at the enemy in the cabin, who surrendered without opposi- tion. Wormsted then bore down upon the schooner and ordered her to strike her colors. Captain Boden cried for joy, and his captors were as much chagrined as astonished at this unexpected reverse of fortune Wormsted, as commander, had the English flag low- ered and the American hoisted. Having ordered the British officers and sailors to be handcuffed and thrust into the hold, he appointed Captain Boden prize- master, and directed him to steer for Guadaloupe. There iu due time they arrived in triumph, and were received with unusual testimonials of exultation. The crew of the privateer were sent to prison and the prize was sold at auction. Having loaded his vessel, Wormsted sailed for Massachusetts, and on the second day was again captured and lost everything.

On the second cruise of the sloop-of-war " Thorn," Capt. Richard Cowell, of Marblehead, was appointed commander, and she had a crew of one hundred and twenty men. Being a very enterprising and brave officer, he made many captures, to man out which took so many of his seamen that his crew was reduced to only sixty, including officers and boys. He therefore concluded to return to port for the purpose of ob- taining a reinforcement of seamen.

Within a few days after having commenced his homeward passage he fell in with the British letter of marque " St. David," of twenty-two guns He first asked the opinion of his officers as to the expediency

10:0

HISTORY OF ESSEX COUNTY, MASSACHUSETTS.

Cengaging a shop of such superior size and arma- ment and apparently fully manned. Finding that te officers were in favor of atracking her, he ordered the crew to be mustered, and having represented to them the great disparity of force between the two »Mps, he observed, "Still your officers are anxious to attack her ; are you ready to go into action ?" They instantly gave three hearty cheers, as an emphatic athrinative response. The "Thorn " immediately ran down along-de of the enemy, and began a desperate engagement at close quarters. The contest lasted an hour and a half, when the "St. David" struck her colors. On boarding her it was found that she had a eres of one hundred and seventy men, having taken on board seventy marines from a transport, which she Wool fallen in with in distress. The captain was mor- tally wounded, and one-third of the crew killed or wounded. The cargo consisted of six hundred puncheons of Jamaica spirit. Captain Cowell put an officer and twenty-five men on board the prize, and or lered him to make the nearest port; but the ship was never heard of again.

On the next cruise of the "Thorn," she was com- manded by Commodore Tucker, who had been re. leased from his parole given at Charleston by being exchanged for a British officer of equal rank. The crew of the " Thorn " was composed of eighty-one men and eighteen boys. "She had been ernising about three weeks, when they fell in with the ' Lord Hyde,' an English packet oftwenty-two guns and one hundred min. As the two vessels drew near, the commanders hled each other in the customary way when ships meet at sent, and the captain of the English packet eriel out roughly from the quarter-deck-

"' llant down your colors, or I'll sink you.'

""Ay, ay, sir, directly,' replied Tucker, calmly and « Anplacently ; and he then ordered the helmsman to steer the 'Thorn' right under the stern of the packet, futf up under her lee quarters, and range alongside her. The order was promptly executed. The two vessels were laid side by side within pistol-shot of sh other. While the 'Thorn' was getting into pronon the enemy fired a full broadside at her, which did but little damage. As soon as she was brinight completely alongside her adversary, Tucker than ter ito his men to fire, and a tremendous dis- Arge followed, and, as good aim had been taken, a dvcadtul carna , was seen in that ill-fated vessel. It w . rold'y succeeded by a fresh volley of artillery, win twenty minutes n piercing ery was heard from the Foolish vesel. 'Quarter, for God's sake ! Our ship Looking! Går they are dying of their wounds !' To th har rendre appeal Commodore Tucker re- 1. ' Has can you expect quarter while that 10ur11 lying?" The sad answer came back : NOar halfords are shot away"' 'Then cut away Virer oni . ( or yor'na be dead men' It was Wat ten tately dowie une the colors ; the din of HOHE ccard, and only the groans of the

wounded and dying were heard. Thirty-four of the crew of the prize, with the captain, were either killed or wounded. Her decks were besmeared with blood, and in some places it stood in clotted masses to the tops of the sailors' slippers.1" On going on board the prize, Commodore Tucker is said to have exclaimed, as he witnessed the suffering of the wounded, " Would to God I had never seen her !"

During the year 1780, while cruising in the ship "Marquis " of sixteen guns, many of which were small four-pounders, Captain Richard Cowell fell in with a British letter of marque. She mounted twenty-four guns, and a complete set of men, far superior in numbers to his own. Relying, however, on the spirit and bravery of his officers and crew, he laid his ship alongside the enemy, and continued there for nearly three hour+. So near were the two ships in this sit- nation that the sponges were frequently taken from one to the other while the men were in the act of loading. One man on board the "Marquis " was near- ly taken ont of the port at which he was stationed, by one of the crew of the enemy. This gallant and heroic action would undoubtedly have resulted in a glorious victory for Captain Cowell; but the enemy, after having expended all his ammunition, hauled off from his opponent, and the disabled state of the spars and rigging of the "Marquis " prevented the gallant captain from pursuing him.

In the spring of 1781, Commodore Tucker, in com- mand of the " Thorn," captured the English ship "Elizabeth " of twenty guns. The ship was bound for Halifax under convoy with the brig "Observer " of sixteen, and the sloop-of-war "Howe," of fourteen guns. Ascertaining that two smaller vessels with valuable cargoes were sailing under protection of the convoy, Tucker determined to intercept them. On the appearance of the fleet Tucker hoisted the Eng- lish flag and boldly sailed into the midst of them. Coming up between the " Elizabeth " and the "Ob- server," he made friendly inquiries of them, and then, as if by accident, managed to get his vessel en- tangled with the "Elizabeth." When all was in readiness, Tucker lowered the English flag and hoisted the American, at the same time giving orders to fire a broadside. The "Elizabeth " fired at the same time. Before the English captain had time to discharge another gun, thirty picked men from the " Thorn " boarded his vessel. Obtaining possession of the deck, they drove the crew below, and hauled down the colors. The brig and the sloop-of-war then attempted an attack upon the "Thorn," but Tucker assumed a threatening attitude, and after the sloop- of-war had discharged a broadside both vessels sailed away. During the engagement the "Thorn" had nine men killed and fourteen wounded.

During the latter part of the month of July the " Thorn " was captured by the British frigate " Hind."

1 Sheppard's " Life of Tucker."

1097

MARBLEHEAD.

She was captured near the mouth of the River St. Lawrence, and Commodore Tucker, with his crew of eighty men, was landed at the Island of St. John's, to be conveyed to Halifax.

Shortly after they were landed at St. John's, Tucker and the officers of the "Thorn " were placed in an open boat for the purpose of being carried to Halifax. A verbal promise was exacted from Tuck- er, that he would coast along the shore and proceed direct for Halifax ; but he was overpowered by lis officers, who were determined to escape. They ac- cordingly sailed across Massachusetts Bay, and about the middle of August arrived at Boston in safety.

This was the last ernise made by Commodore Tucker during the Revolutionary War. His biographer claims that he "took more prizes, fought more sea- fights and gained more victories than, with a very few exceptions, any naval hero of the age." And it is true.

During the month of November, 1782, the ship "St. Helena," commanded by Captain John Stillwell, sailed with a fleet from Havana for Philadelphia. She mounted twenty guns between decks,-ten of which, however, were of wood,-and had under con- voy fifteen American vessels, which had previously been subjected to an embargo. On the day they were permitted to leave port the "St. Helena," in attempt- ing to get under way, met with a disaster which de- tained her till sunset. The fleet was beating back- ward and forward during the night, which was dark, waiting for the convoy. The "St. Helena " passed and repassed a number of the vessels. In the mean- time several guns were heard, supposed to be from one of the fleet At length, about midnight, she was

saluted with a broadside. It was something wholly unexpected; the men were fatigned ; no one seemed to know his station, and great confusion ensued. Some of the guns, however, were soon got into opera- tion, and the firing continued till daylight, when the antagonist was found to be His Britannic Majesty's hrig " Lively," commanded by Captain Michael Stanhope. The " St. Helena " was also within reach of the guns of the "Jupiter," a ship of the line. Of course, her colors were lowered, and the men taken on board the " Lively." Six days afterwards it was discovered that the crew of the "St. Helena " were preparing to rise. All the men were consequently confined below, and were suffered to come up only through a narrow grating, one at a time, the hatchway being constantly guarded by a sentinel. After six days' close confinement, five of the Americans-name- ly, Anthony Carner, John Prince,1 Seth Farrow, Lewis Russell1 and Nathan Walker-concerted a plan for taking the brig. Accordingly, about noon, Walker disarmed the sentinel, took out the bar which fastened the hatchway, and the other four instantly rushed upon deck, fought in a most desperate manner and in

a few moments took the vessel.2 The number of Ameri- cans on board the "Lively " was forty-six. They im- mediately bore away for Havana, and upon their arrival at that port a committee was chosen to sell the prize and settle with the crew.

The end of the year 1782 closed the maritime war of the American Revolution. As it had been be- gun by the men of Marblehead, so it was reserved for a Marblehead commander to close it with a bril- liant achievement. Commodore Manly, who in 1775 hoisted the first American flag, and on board the little schooner " Lee " made the first important cap- ture of the war, had been appointed to the command of the United States frigate " Hague." While cruising about the West Indies he was chased by an English seventy-four, and grounded on a sand-bank near Guadaloupe. Three ships of the line having joined the seventy-four, they came to anchor within gunshot of the "Hague." With springs on their cables, they opened a most tremendous fire. Commodore Manly supported this cannonade for three days. On the fourth day he succeeded in extricating his ship from her perilous position, when, hoisting Continental colors at the maintop-gallant-mast, he fired thirteen guns as a farewell defiance, and boldly sailed away. In due time the " Hague " arrived safe in Boston.

CHAPTER LXXXV.

MARBLEHEAD-(Continued).

Attempts to Restore Prosperity-Visit of General de Lafayette-The Federal Constitution --- Gift and Address of Marblehead to Vice- President John Adams-The Marblehead Academy Established-The First Collector of the Port- Visit of President Washington - Poverty of the Town-The Grund Lottery - Methodist Church Organized-The First Postmaster -- Death of Colonel Azor Orne-Hon. Samuel Sewall elected a Member of Congress-Bequest of John Marchant-Exercises on the Death of Wash- ington -- Doctor Elisha Story's Fatal Mistake -- Ravages of Small-Fox- Marblehead Bank Incorporated-The English Ship "Jupiter "-Depreda- tions of British Cruisers.

ON the return of peace, with that determined spirit of enterprise for which they had always been distin- guished, the people of Marblehead entered at once upon their accustomed commercial pursuits. Under the direction of merchants of the character and abil- ity of Colonel William R. Lee, John Hooper, Thomas and Knott Pedrick, and a score of others equally well known and respected, large ships were fitted out, some of which made successful voyages to France, Spain, Portugal and the West Indies. The Grand Banks fisheries were also, in a measure, revived, and every attempt was made to restore the prosperity which the town enjoyed before the war. It was not until these attempts were found to be well-nigh futile that the disastrous effects of the great struggle were realized. The days when Marblehead gave promise of being a great commercial port were gone, and they

2 Alden's " Collections.

1 Of Marblehead.

109-

HISTORY OF ESSEX COUNTY, MASSACHUSETTS.

were gone forever. The only recourse of the inhab- itanta was to proseente the fishing business, and in a few years it became almost the sole industry of the town.

On Tuesday, November 2, 1751, the Marquis de Lafayette visited the town. The general was accom- panded by the Chevalier Grandchamps, the Chevalier Caraman and Funnel Brock, Esq., of Boston. The distinguished visitors were met on Salem Road by a procession of prominent citizens, and escorted to the otrance of the town, where they were received with a band of music by a large concourse of people. As the procession marched into town, the church-bells were rung, and the mar quis was received on all sides with prolonged cheer- and cries of " Long life to the Marquis de Lafayette!" Arriving at the residence of one of the citizens, he was introduced to "the gentle- men of the place," and was presented with an address of welcome, to which he feelingly and appropriately rexpondled. He was then escorted to another private residence, represented in the newspaper reports as a "genteel house," where a grand dinner was served. After dinner, an hour was devoted to speeches, and the customary thirteen toasts were drunk, the senti- ment offered by Lafayette being "The Town of Mar- bichead, and Unbounded Success to its Fisheries." At six o'clock the distinguished visitors departed mtuid the booming of eannon, the ringing of bells and the joyful acclamations of the people.

Need help finding more records? Try our genealogical records directory which has more than 1 million sources to help you more easily locate the available records.

History of Essex County, Massachusetts : with biographical sketches of many of its pioneers and prominent men, Vol. II, Part 32

Author: Hurd, D. Hamilton (Duane Hamilton) ed Publication date: 1888 Publisher: Philadelphia, J. W. Lewis & Co. Number of Pages: 1672

Author: Hurd, D. Hamilton (Duane Hamilton) ed
Publication date: 1888
Publisher: Philadelphia, J. W. Lewis & Co.
Number of Pages: 1672