This Month in War of 1812: Chesapeake Bay, Lewes, Mobile, West Florida and York

All events in April 1813.

APRIL 1813

**  Commerce raids  begin in the Chesapeake Bay.

APRIL 6, 1813

**  Lewes, Delaware bombarded by the British.

APRIL 13

**  Capture of Mobile, Alabama, by the British

APRIL 15

Americans occupy West Florida.

APRIL 27

**  Battle of York.

--Brock-Perry

Jacob Jones, USN-- Part 1: The Oldest Midshipman and Capture at Tripoli

From the August 14, 2021, Delmarva ""War of 1812 hero, Jacob Jones found a home in the United States Navy" by Michael Morgan.

Master Commandant (a rank in the early U.S. Navy, now called commander) Jacob Nicholas Jones had weathered the storm.  In October 1812, the U.S. and Britain were at war.  He had guided his 18 gun sloop USS Wasp past Cape Henlopen and out into the Atlantic in search of enemy warships.

The Delaware native and resident of Lewes was born near Smyrna, Delaware in 1768.  His mother had died when he was an infant; and his father married Penelope Holt, the granddaughter of Ryves Holt of Lewes.  When he father passed away, Penelope raised the boy in Lewes, where he lived at the Ryves-Holt House at Second and Mulberry streets.

After he completed his elementary education in Lewes, Jones studied medicine and hung out his shingle as a doctor; but had few patients.  He considered a legal career, worked as a store keeper and took up farming.  But nothing seemed to satisfy him.

In 1799, ate the age of 31, Jones joined the fledgling U.S. Navy as one of the service's oldest midshipmen.  (Midshipmen were usually in their early to mid teens).

In 1803, Jacob Jones was now a lieutenant and on board the frigate USS Philadelphia, when the ship ran aground in the harbor of Tripoli in what is now Libya.  The American crew was captured and imprisoned  for twenty months.

--Brock-Perry

Naval Hero Jacob Jones

From the November 5, 2019, Cape Gazette (covering Delaware's Cape region)  "Historical Society to present Jacob Jones program Nov. 8."

Retired Navy officer, will present "Jacob Jones: His Life in Lewes During the Revolution" at the Lewes History Museum.

He was just five years old when five ships of the newly-formed Continental Navy sailed into Lewes in early 1776, but their activity stirred him to make himself a career in the Navy.  And, he became a hero in the War of 1812, receiving a gold medal from Congress for action off the Coast of North Carolina.

Jones spent his early life living at the Ryves Holt House on the corner of second and Mulberry streets in downtown Lewes. It is believed to have been built in 1665 and it is the oldest house in Lewes still on its original foundation.

Grave of Jacob Nicholas Jones, USN

Last week in a post on the Lewes, Delaware, War of 1812 Heritage Trail, I wrote about the Ryves Holt House which at one time was the home of the famous Commodore Jacob Nicholas Jones, hero of the USS Wasp-HMS Frolic battle in the war.

He is buried in the Wilmington and Brandywine Cemetery in Wilmington, Delaware.

--Brock-Perry

War of 1812 Memorial Park in Lewes, Delaware-- Part 2: The First City in the First State

From the City of Lewes site, which bills itself as "The First Town in the First State."

 Located downtown by the entrance to the Otis Smith City Docks.  Also known as "The Cannonball Park" at the corner of Savannah Road and Front Street, along the Lewes-Reheboth Canal.

The park commemorates the defense of Lewes during a two-day British bombardment April 6-7, 1813.  Many of the cannonballs fired by the British were collected by local residents and preserved to this day.

The site was where a battery was located during the attack and is marked by a granite monument.

The four large guns are from the U.S. government and the small gun is believed to be from a pirate vessel found abandoned in the creek.  There is also a 3-inch World War I naval gun on the lower terrace of the park that was placed there by the American Legion in 1930.

--Brock-Perry

War of 1812 Memorial Park in Lewes, Delaware

From TripAdvisor.

Located on Front Street and Canal Street across from the post office and the Cannonball House in Lewes, Delaware.    One reader said his kids enjoy the cannon and a dock that is popular with fishermen and a good place to watch cruising boats.  Located in downtown Lewes, right by shopping.

Has authentic War of 1812 cannons.

So, get Your History and Shopping Too.  --Brock-Perry

War of 1812 Heritage Trail, Lewes, Delaware-- Part 4: Fisher House and Churches

**Henry Fisher House--  American Revolution hero.  The house was sold to Colonel Samuel Boyer Davis who was living there when he commanded the defense of Lewes in the War of 1812.

**  Presbyterian Church--  has a communion service given to it by Col. Samuel Davis.  Two Delaware governors are buried there.

**  Saint Peter's Episcopal Church--  Four Delaware governors are buried here.

--Brock-Perry

War of 1812 Heritage Trail-- Part 3: Lightships and Commodore Jones

**  Overfalls Lightship, given to Lewes Historical Society in 1973.  The last lightship still functioning on the east coast.  In service 1892-9161.  One of only 17 lightships still afloat and there was once 179.

**  Blockhouse Pond--  site of an American encampment during most of the War of 1812.

**  Ryves-Holt House-- believed to be the oldest house in Delaware.  Dating to 16685, was once a colonial inn.  Commodore Jacob N. Jones once lived here.  He received much acclamation for his defeat of the HMS Frolic in his ship, the USS Wasp.  (He is buried in Wilmington, Delaware's Wilmington and Brandywine Cemetery.)

--Brock-Perry

War of 1812 Heritage Trail-- Part 2: Lewes 1812 Memorial Park

Some of the sites on the trail:

**  1812 Memorial Park.  Was a defense battery during the Battle of Lewes.  Has a granite monument placed there by the National Society U.S. Daughters of 1812.

The four cannons in the upper lumps were given to Lewes by the government.  A smaller gun by them is believed taken from a pirate vessel found abandoned in the creek.  There is also a World War I 3-inch naval gun placed at the park by the American Legion in 1930.

**  Across the street from the park is The Cannonball House, erected before 1797  It was the home of David Rowland and struck by cannonballs during the British attack on Lewes April 6-7, 1813.

--Brock-Perry

War of 1812 Heritage Trail in Delaware-- Part 1: An Eagle Scout's Work

While looking up more information on New Castle, Delaware, in the War of 1812, I came across mention of this trail.

It is an eight mile hiking trail established recently by  Eagle Scout Conor Small of Troop 2540, Lewes, Delaware.  It is a tour of key locations and buildings used during the War of 1812, including the 1812 Memorial Park.

--Brock-Perry

Joseph Haslet, Delaware's War Governor-- Part 4: Lewes Attacked

The British bombarded Lewes on April 6, 1813.  There were no human American casualties, but "one chicken was killed and one pig wounded."

Over 300 British cannonballs were picked up by the Americans (who didn't have cannonballs in the battle).  Between 40 and 50 were of the 32-pdr. variety.  A British landing the next day was beaten off.  In June, though, the British landed at Milford and took what they needed.

Meanwhile. the other British fleet in the Chesapeake was raiding towns along the coast:  Havre de Grace, Georgetown and Frenchtown.  Everyone in New Castle County, Delaware, was nervous.

--Brock-Perry

Delaware's Joseph Haslet, War Governor-- Part 3: Rush to Lewes, Delaware

For protection against the British, an encampment was built at "The Rocks" in Wilmington, Delaware.  Captain Caleb P. Bennett fortified New Castle and Pea Patch Island was deeded over to the U.S. government so that a fort could be built on it.  That fortification eventually became Fort Delaware.

Lewes was particularly vulnerable to the British and received repeated requests/demands for provisions.  These were refused.

Governor Haslet and his militia rushed to the town's defense.

--Brock-Perry

British Attack on Lewes-- Part 4: American Casualties: One Chicken and One Pig

There was damage to some buildings in Lewes as a result of the attack.  One remains today and is called The Cannonball House.  One chicken was killed and a pig lost a leg, but no humans were injured.

Legend has it that women and children dressed as men and carried corn stalks, rakes and hoes and marched like they were men in sight of the British who thought that they were an advancing American army.

--Brock-Perry

The British Attack on Lewes-- Part 3: The Battle

The Americans sent no food.  The Delaware Governor Joseph Haslet sent no food to the British and the stage was set.  He got four old Revolutionary War cannons, but had no cannonballs for them.

By late March, food aboard the British ships was running out and a final appeal was sent.  No food was forthcoming.

On April 6, 1813, the British fired rockets and their 32-pounder cannons at Lewes.  The villagers went around collecting the British cannonballs and fired them back.  One of those cannonballs hit a British ship and started a fire on it.  The British ships withdrew.

--Brock-Perry

The British Attack on Lewes-- Part 2: The Stand-Off

After several more attempts to procure provisions, British Commodore John P. Beresford sent a letter:  "As soon as you remit this, I must request you will send twenty live bullocks with a proportionate quantity of vegetables and hay to the Poictiers (British ship) for use of His Majesty's squadron, now at this anchorage which shall be immediately paid for at Philadelphia prices.

"If you refuse this request, I shall be under necessity of destroying your town."

Governor Joseph Haslet replied that to do so would be a violation of American laws and would be an "eternal stigma on the nation of which I am a citizen."

No food was sent.

The British Attack on Lewes-- Part 1: Closing the Delaware River Ports

From the February 16, 2018, Sahuaitsun.com.  "Geneaology Today:  Truth to town's War of 1812 legend" by Becky McCreery.

In March 1813 British naval ships sailed from the Chesapeake Bay to the mouth of the Delaware Bay with the plan of cutting off the Delaware River ports.

While anchored in the harbor at Lewes, men went ashore to procure fresh provisions.  They were refused.

--Brock-Perry

Col. Samuel Boyer Davis-- Part 2: Built Delamore Place

When Davis helped rescue the family of a French baron from the island of Santo Domingo during a 1792 slave insurrection, he met and fell in love with the baron's daughter Rose and they married.  Later they moved to New Orleans where he became a wealthy landowner.

At the outbreak of the War of 1812, he was commissioned a lieutenant-colonel in the 32nd U.S. Infantry and assigned to the task of defending the entrance to Delaware Bay, which included where he was born, Lewes.

He built an imposing home there he called Delamore Place outside of Wilmington, Delaware.

After the war, he lived in Philadelphia and was a member of the Pennsylvania legislature.

He is buried at the Wilmington & Brandywine Cemetery in Wilmington, Delaware.

--Brock-Perry

Col. Samuel Boyer Davis, Defender of Lewes-- Part 1: A French Connection

From Find-A-Grave.

In my October 3, 2017, blog entry, I mentioned War of 1812 Lewes, Delaware defender Col. Samuel Boyer Davis having lived at Fisher's Paradise house in Lewes.

Some more information on him.

He was born in Lewes, Delaware, December 26, 1765 and died September 5, 1854 in  New Castle County, Delaware.

Davis developed a love of the sea at an early age and made many voyages across the Atlantic to France where he eventually joined the French Navy.

An Interesting Life.  --Brock-Perry

Fisher's Paradise in Lewes, Delaware: Revolutionary War, War of 1812 For Sale, $2.3 Million

From the September 27, 2017, Delaware Online  "Fisher's Paradise: Lewes home to Revolutionary spy."

It is on the canal in Lewes.  Major Henry Fisher, the local "eyes and ears" of the Continental Congress during the American Revolution lived here at 624 Pilottown Road from his boyhood to death in 1792 at age 57.

During the Revolution, Fisher "monitored and bedeviled British ships by removing navigation buoys and erecting underground wooden "spike strips" and darkening the Cape Henlopen Lighthouse.

The home was then sold to Colonel Samuel Boyer Davis, who lived there while he headed the defense of Lewes during the War of 1812.

And the 2,800 square foot home on an acre of land is on sale for $2.3 million.

Got $2.3 Million Lying Around?  --Brock-Perry

The Bicentennial of Lewes Attack

From the Lewes Military and History page.

This past weekend marked the bicentennial of the British attack on the small town on April 6-7, 1813.

"Cannonballs and Congreve rockets shattered the calm of coast and countryside on April 6-7, 1813, during America's 'second war of Independence'."  The War of 1812 washed ashore at little Lewes on Delaware Bay where for a dramatic 22-hour there was an exchange of cannonballs."

The 74-gun HMS Poictiers and 36-gun Belvidera needed food and water and demanded those from Lewes, offering to pay Philadelphia prices for it.  The demands "were denied by the spunky Americans, and the enemy attacked the town by cannonade. 

Although there was no loss of life and little property damage, it took great courage for the defenders led by a native, Colonel Samuel Boyer Davis, to retort under such odds.

Cannons facing seaward today and the Cannonball House-Marine Museum, in the vicinity of the post office on Front Street, are reminders of the brave stand."

It Was 200-Years Ago.  --Brock-Perry