Middletown, Connecticut in the War of 1812

From Wikipedia.

Before the war, the city was a major shipping center, but the strained U.S.-Britain relations before the war and the Great Embargo started a decline from which the seaport never recovered. Diversification became the order of the day and Middletown was major center for firearms manufacturing and most of the U.S. pistols used during the War of 1812 came from there. After the war, however, manufacturing left the town for Springfield, Massachusetts, Hartford, Ct. and New Haven, Ct..

The city also had a large number of blacks, with some 218 in 1756. During the colonial times, it became quite the city for pewter manufacturing. George Washington visited in 1789, so if you see a place advertising that "Washington slept here," he might have.

Other famous people: BILL BELICHICK, head coach New England Patriots attended Wesleyan University; HENRY CLAY WORK, author of Civil War Song "Marching Through Georgia' and ALLIE WRUBEL, composer of "Zip-A-Dee-Doo-Dah."

Now, You Know. --Brock-Perry

Middleton Honors Thomas Macdonough-- Part 2

Macdonough was born in Delaware on Dec. 31, 1783, and served on the USS Ganges in the Quasi-War with France and the USS Constellation fighting the Barbary States. He also served on the USS Enterprise and distinguished himself in the destruction of the USS Philadelphia which had been captured by pirates.

He was promoted to lieutenant in 1806.

He assisted Isaac Hull in the construction of several gunboats in Middletown and married Lucy Anne Shaler on December 12, 1812. Several ships in the U.S. Navy have been named for him.

--Brock-Perry

Middletown Honors Thomas Macdonough-- Part 1

From the September 10, 2012, Middletown (Ct) Press "Middletown honors War of 1812 commodore."

Members of the Society of 1812 in Connecticut and the Connecticut United States Daughters of 1812, honored Commodore Thomas Macdonough, who lived and died in Middletown.

Macdonough Elementary School is named for him.

A ceremony was held at the Macdonough grave in Riverside Cemetery this past Saturday.

The Battle of Lake Champlain on September 11, 2014. brought him fame. Of interest, the American victory at Lake Champlain came just a year and a day after the much more famous Battle of Lake Erie (Sept. 10, 1813).

--Brock-Perry