Essex's Annual Burning of the Ships Day-- Part 1

From the May 9, 2017, Zip 06.com  "Essex's Annual Burning of the Ships Day Commemorates Historic Event on May 13" by Jenn McCulloch.

The Reenacting group Free Men of the Sea will be on hand to recreate life in Essex during the War of 1812.

Over 200 years ago, the British burned nearly 30 ships in Essex Harbor, Connecticut, and in the surrounding area.  This will be commemorated on May 13 in Essex from 1 to 4 p.m..  The event is cohosted by the Connecticut River Museum and Sailing Masters of 1812.

--Brock-Perry

Essex Goes to NRHP for Raid-- Part 2

Essex, Connecticut was attacked by the British because it was a regular hotbed for privateering.. The town, called Pettipaug back then, had lost a lot of trade and commerce because of the British blockade on Long Island Sound and had turned to privateering to make money.

The traditional belief was that when the British attacked, Essex gave up without a fight. For years the town marked the anniversary of the date with a parade on "Loser's Day" as it was referred to, but researchers have now found evidence of intense fighting.

There is also evidence of a shipwrecked privateer which was discovered in the Connecticut River in several feet of water this past September. It is off Watrous Point, a mile south of Essex Harbor. The ship has long since disintegrated, but tell-tale ballast stones have been found.

The National Park Service oversees the American Battlefield Protection Program and expects to rule on the application this spring on the bicentennial of the raid.

--Brock-Perry

Essex Goes for NRHP for Raid-- Part 1

From the Jan. 10, 2014, Hartford (Ct.) Courant "Essex Researchers To Submit Sites For Historic Register" by Erik Hesselberg.

Several sites along the Connecticut River played a key role in the famed 1814 British Raid on Essex, Connecticut, when 27 American ships were burned, will be submitted for inclusion on the National Register of Historic Places (NRHP). This is the result of six years of study by researchers in the Battlefield Essex Project, coordinated by the Connecticut River Museum in Essex.

The researchers were identifying sites along the river linked to the raid by 136 Royal Marines who stormed ashore and burned the town's fleet (and some of the ships were still in their stocks while under construction).

--Brock-Perry

Some More On the Connecticut River Mystery Ship-- Part 2

Based on the age and location of the ships knee, it is likely from one of two American privateers the British attempted to take downriver with them after their attack on the privateer base at Essex in 1814 in which 27 American ships were destroyed.

They burned the Young Anaconda and Eagle after running them aground in shallow water near where the ships knee was found.

The knee is in a tank undergoing a two-year conservation process and can be seen at the Connecticut River Museum at 67 Main Street in Essex.

The museum is also home to the permanent "Burning of the Fleet" exhibit which includes artifacts from the British raid, a 14-ft long mural, paintings, dioramas and audio clips of the event. A second piece of wood was found in the same location last week. It is believed that a heavy spring freshet (flood) uncovered them. Last year, the museum was given a British sword found in the area.

And I Had Never Heard of the Raid on Essex Before Starting This Blog. --Brock-Perry

Some More On That Connecticut River Mystery Shipwreck-- Part 1

A follow up to yesterday's post from the October 12, 2013, Connecticut Day "Mystery Shipwreck Discovered in Connecticut River."

On June 20th, while dragging nets for sturgeon research in the Connecticut River just south of the town of Essex, Tom Savoy and his state Department of Energy and Environmental Protection snagged an old ship's knee (a large wooden L-bracket used to fasten the deck beams to the ribs of wooden ships).

They took it to the Connecticut River Museum where it was identified and preservation begun.

It is tentatively identified as a wooden knee made in America prior to the 1820s due to its hand-carved wooden trunnels (pegs) and lack of metal fasteners.

So, the Knee Knew. --Brock-Perry

War of 1812 Shipwreck Possibly Discovered in Connecticut River

From the September 30, 2013, WTIC 1080 CBS, Connecticut.

The remains of a ship was found in Old Saybrook in several feet of water off Watrous Point about a mile south of the harbor. All that was found is a ballast pile since the rest of the wooden ship has disintegrated in the water.

Old musket balls have been found buried in the lawn on the banks of the river near the ballast stones.

Archaeologists have started a dig and think it might be the remains of the Young Anaconda.

--Brock-Perry