Captain Thomas Gamble

He was one of the four sons of  American Revolution Marine William Gamble who joined the Navy.  One, John Marshall Gamble became a Marine officer.

From Find-A-Grave.

CAPTAIN THOMAS GAMBLE

BORN: 24 December 1783, Chesterfield, New Jersey

DIED:  9 October 1818, Pisa, Italy

BURIED:  English Cemetery,  Livorno, Italy

--Brock-Perry

Sandy Hook (Where Is It?)

I have been mentioning Sandy Hook a bit in regards to the New York Flotilla and had no idea where it was located.  Just somewhere near New York City.  Time to find out a little more about it.

From Wikipedia.

Actually, it is in New Jersey and is what is called a barrier spit, about six miles in length and varying from 0.1 mile to 1.0 mile in width.  It encloses the southern entrance of the Lower New York Bay south of New York City.  The name comes from the Dutch  "Sant Hoek."

The defunct Fort Hancock is at the northern end of Sandy Hook and was built in 1896.

--Brock-Perry

Edward McCall-- Part 3: Find a Grave

From Find a Grave.

CAPT. EDWARD R. McCALL

BIRTH: 5 August 1790, South Carolina

DEATH:  1 August 1855 (aged 62) New Jersey

BURIAL:   Christ Church Episcopal Cemetery Bordentown, New Jersey

His wife Harriet who died in 1836 and and daughter  Anna, who lived just 6 days in 1820 and second wife, Eliza are also buried there.

There are people wanting his grave stone replaced as it is no longer readable because of the ravages of time.  I'm all for it.

--Brock-Perry

Edward McCall, USN-- Part 2: The Congressional Gold Medal

Promoted to captain 3 March 1835, he died at his home in Bordentown, New Jersey, 1  August 1853.

Two ships have been named  USS  McCall after him.

EDWARD McCALL's CONGRESSIONAL GOLD MEDAL CITATION

"That the President of the United States be requested  to present to the nearest male relative of lieutenant  William Burrows, and to lieutenant  Edward R. McCall of the brig Enterprise, a gold medal with suitable emblems and devices; and a silver medal with like emblems and devices to each of the commissioned officers of the aforesaid in testimony of the high sense entertained in the conflict with the British sloop Boxer, on the fourth of September, in the year one thousand eight hundred and thirteen.

"And the President  is also requested to  communicate to the nearest male relative of lieutenant Burrows the deep regret which Congress feel for the loss  of that valuable officer, who died in the arms of victory, nobly contending for his country's rights and fame."

--Brock-Perry

The Aumack Family in the War of 1812: Garret, Jacob and William Henry Aumack

The last two posts were about a cemetery in New Jersey that had the graves of two Aumacks who had served in the War of 1812.

From Geni

GARRET AUMACK

Born January 10, 1773

Died 1845 (age 71-72)

Son of Jacob Aumack and   Geertje Aumack.  Husband of Mary Aumack.

Brother of  Helena (born 1761, died at age 2 or 3), William Henry Ariantje, Helena, Mathiasm Conover, Antje, Jacob Aumack.

*********************************

JACOB AUMACK

Born 1769 in Middleton, New Jersey

Died 1849 at age 79 or 80.

*********************************

WILLIAM HENRY AUMACK  (shown in a uniform, possibly American Revolution)

Born August 21, 1762

Died  April 28, 1849 (age 86)

Internment:    Hazlet, Monmouth County, New Jersey.

Probably also buried at the cemetery.

--Brock-Perry

Two War of 1812 Veterans Buried at Aumack Cemetery in New Jersey-- Part 2

In 1811, William Henry Aumack, who served as a private in the Monmouth County Militia during the American Revolution, purchased 42 acres of farmland for $100 (good deal) in present day Hazlet (Middleton back then)  He picked a hillock on the farm for a family cemetery after the death of his wife, Christiana in 1841.  Thus began the Aumack Family Cemetery.

In 1991, it was concluded that  20 people had been interred at the site, including two from the War of 1812: Private Garret Aumack and Corporal  Leonard Aumack.  Leonard's grave is the only one still visible in the cemetery.

It is great that the cemetery will be cleaned up and preserved better than in the past.

Thanks to the Boy Scouts and James Borg, Eagle Scout candidate.

--Brock-Perry

Two War of 1812 Veterans, an American Revolution and a Civil War Veteran in a Forgotten Cemetery, No Longer That Way

From the November 16, 2020, Asbury Park Press "Desecrated cemetery, lost grave of  18-year-old war heron getting restored in Hazlet" by Jerry Carino.

Hazlet, New Hersey.

Thomas Bailey Aumak was 17 years old when he enlisted to fight for the Union in the Civil War.  The Bayshore native  was mustered into the 87th New York Infantry in November 1861.

Less than a year later, he was dead.

The young hero's grave lies somewhere between two homes on  a residential street in Hazlet.  He is one of at least four  soldiers buried in this hidden cemetery.  There are also am American Revolution militiaman and two War of 1812 veterans.

After decades of desecration and neglect, one neighbor even built a shed on the site; another  removed a gravestone and used it as a porch step.

But, not anymore.  Thomas Aumack would have appreciated it

Because a 17-year-old Eagle Scout candidate was the catalyst.    His name is James Borg.

--Brock-Perry

Machine Guns in the War of 1812?-- Part 1

Frm the October 2014 Naval History Magazine "Armaments & Innovations:  The U.S. Navy's Early Machine Guns" by Comdr. Tyrone G. Martin, USN (retired).

Joseph G. Chambers abandoned his studies at Princeton as the British approached in the fall of 1776 and escaped, joining his father's New Jersey militia regiment.  He took part in the battles at Trenton, Princeton, Brandywine and Germantown.

His wartime service made him very interested in weapons and he became an inventor with some very innovative and unusual guns.

In late 1812, he arrived at Washington with repeating rifles and pistols which he offered to the War Department.  He referred to his inventions, which he had worked on for two decades as "machine guns."  They worked on the "Roman Candle" principle in which when the trigger was pulled, the weapon fired a number of rounds until all were exp[ended.

Secretary of War John Armstrong wasn't interested.

Multi-Shooting Back Then.  --Brock-Perry

HMS Martin-- Part 2

From Roadside America.

CAPE MAY POINT, NEW JERSEY: WRECK OF A 200-YEAR-OLD BRITISH WARSHIP. Exposed by Hurricane Hazel in 1954 (as I thought). Its ribs can be seen almost overgrown by foliage under an open canopy at the corner of Lighthouse and Cord avenues.

In 2010, it was reported to be gone.

COMMENT: The remains are gone, once thought to be from the HMS Martin but the remains of the real HMS Martin are displayed in Europe.

ANOTHER COMMENT: The marker at the site reads: "The British sloop of war HMS Martin which blockaded the Delaware Bay in the War of 1812 was attacked, driven to the shoals, grounded and burned in 1813. Exposed by Hurricane Hazel in 1954 on Lighthouse Avenue in Cape May Point, she was salvaged, mounted and placed on public display."

ANOTHER COMMENT: Might be the remains of a Viking longboat.

Will the Real HMS Martin Please Stand Up. --Brock-Perry

Not Much on the HMS Martin

The HMS Martin joined the HMS Statira and HMS Spartan for a very successful cruise in June 1813 capturing quite a few American, several Portuguese and even a Spanish ship off the coast of Delaware. I was unable to find out much about this ship other than it is thought that they might have some of the Martin's remains in a New Jersey park.

From the Lost in Jersey Blog.

The HMS Martin blockaded the Delaware River in the War of 1812. It was eventually grounded, destroyed and burnt.

Its remains were exposed during a hurricane in 1954 (Hurricane Hazel perhaps?). Locals had the remains moved to a nearby spot where they could be preserved. There are several photos showing wooden timbers under a pavillion. There is also a plaque to the HMS Martin.

--Brock-Perry

War of 1812 Had Essex Girding for Invasion-- Part 3

General William Gould, a Revolutionary War veteran, recruited a company, more than 100 men, all residents of Caldwell, and ordered them to Jersey City as well. It is believed that Caldwell was the only New Jersey town to send soldiers voluntarily. Eventually, Gould commanded a regiment of 1200 men at Jersey City.

After Washington, D.C., was burned in August 1814, Essex County troops were called to active duty. Field artillery was sent to Elizabethtown, Newark, Springfield, Bloomfield, Patterson and Caldwell.

In the event of attack at any point, three cannons were to be fired in rapid succession which was the signal for regiments to meet. The British captured several coastal vessels and the New Jersey militia was activated.

By December 1814, New Jersey militia strength continued to grow until it eventaully reached 3,529.

Then, the Treaty of Ghent was signed.

--Brock-Perry

War of 1812 Had Essex Girding for Invasion-- Part 2

New Jersey Governor Joseph Bloomfield was a Revolutionary War veteran and reactivated his military status as a commissioned officer in the U.S. Army and, as governor, issued orders that organized and activated New Jersey militia companies.

On April 10, 1812, President Madison signed the militia bill and on April 25th Bloomfield ordered 5,000 members of the New Jersey State Militia to mobilize. This included 441 Essex County men. Eleven companies with about 300 men were ordered to posts at Jersey City.

--Brock-Perry

War of 1812 Had Essex Girding for Invasion-- Part 1

From the September 2012 New Jersey Hills "War of 1812 had Essex residents girding for invasion."

Dr. Beverly Crifasi, vice president and historian of the Historical Society of West Caldwell said: "In 1812, the possibilities of British troops landing on the Jersey Shore or New York Harbor were realistic and a definite cause for concern."

This war was less than 30 years after the American Revolution and many adults had been in that war.

In 1812, New Jersey was an agricultural region with a population of around 250,000. The population of Caldwell was about 1500 and the state's largest cities were Newark and Elizabethtown where there were ports as well as industry and manufacturing. The neighboring cities of Philadelphia and New York were even larger.

More to Come. --Brock-Perry

Cape May Saw Its Share of Action-- Part 2" "We Will Surely Suffer Their Vengeance"

Several months later, another $150 was spent to make cannon balls, gun powder and material to make cartridges.

A good thing, too, as in 1813, a British fleet appeared at the mouth of the Delaware River.

William Douglas painted logs to look like cannons and placed them in the Goshen Creek area.

Abigail Hughes, a grandmother, saw British barges heading for the Cape May County shore and placed herself in front of the militia cannon, pleading for them not to fire, saying, "You shall not fire! We may not be disturbed if we don't, but we will surely suffer their vengeance if we do."  The militia held their fire and the English proceeded past them.

Some farmers hid their cattle and sheep in local swamps.

The British discover that Lake Lily had potable water so it is said that Americans dug a channel to it so salt water would enter it.

No Big Battles Here, But Activity.  __Brock-Perry

Cape May Saw Its Share of Action-- Part 1

From the August 8, 2012,  Shore News (NJ) Today "Bizarre History of Cape May--  Cape May County saw its share of action in War of 1812" by Jacob Schaad Jr..

The ocean was on one side, a bay and a wide river on the other two sides pretty-well meant that this area would become a British target.  English land parties came ashore and took cattle and fresh water.  They reportedly took several residents prisoner, including two women and set fire to some vessels.

The county's Board of Freeholders authorized the placement of two antiquated Revolutionary War cannons for defense.

In March 1813, the same board appropriated $300 for the purchase of equipment, gunpowder and buckshot.  Dr. John Dickinson, a Revolutionary War colonel and then-county tax collector, ordered this to be distributed to various militia units.

More to Come.  --Brock-Perry