Revenue Cutter Thomas Jefferson

From the U.S. Coast Guard Site and the article from the last post.

The Revenue Cutter Thomas Jefferson was constructed and commissioned in Norfolk, Virginia, in 1802 and served out of Savannah until 1809 when relieved by the Revenue Cutter James Madison, then served out of Norfolk until it was decommissioned in 1817.

In May 1812 (before the war) it sailed around the Hampton Roads area with US Navy Captain Stephen Decatur to survey existing lighthouses and signal towers for a communication system. The ship was responsible for the U.S.'s first maritime victory in the war when it captured a British schooner sailing from Guadeloupe to Halifax with a cargo of sugar.

Little is known of the ship after its 1817 decommissioning.

It's War of 1812 commander was William Ham who was commissioned a 2nd mate in Norfolk, Virginia, based cutter Virginia. He served as an officer on Norfolk-based cutters through the War of 1812, after which little is known of his life.

--Brock-Perry