Lt. Wilmer wrote his will while on the USS Essex on July 14, 1814, saying that if he was killed doing his duty, his sisters Mary and Sarah at Havre de Grace should receive his gold watch, clothes, effects and any prize money he had coming.
A fortunate move on his part because he was killed at Valparaiso, Chile, in March 28, 1814, when the British destroyed the Essex.
The 12-year-old cabin boy aboard the Essex at the time was a friend of crew member #61, a slave named Henry Ruff, who was listed simply as 'boy." He said that when Ruff was told that Wilmer had been killed, he was so distraught that he jumped into the sea and drowned. This story comes from the Essex's Captain Porter's foster son and future famous Civil War Admiral David Glasgow Farragut. Porter's son was another famous Civil War Admiral, David D. Porter, who became even more famous with the capture of Fort Fisher in North Carolina on January 15, 1865, almost 150 years ago this month.
--Brock-Perry
2012 marks the 200th anniversary of America's "Forgotten War," the War of 1812 that took place over three years, 1812 to 1815.
Battle of New Orleans.
Showing posts with label Wilmer James P.. Show all posts
Showing posts with label Wilmer James P.. Show all posts
Saturday, January 3, 2015
Friday, January 2, 2015
James P. Wilmer-- Part 2: U.S. Naval Hero
Young Midshipman Wilmer was on the first U.S. Navy ship to cross the equator and first to double the Cape of Good Hope, Africa, in 1800. He served in the First Barbary War and in the War of 1812 in the Caribbean Sea and the coasts of South America.
"The United States ship of war Alext, commanded by Lieutenant James P. Wilmer, arrived at this port yesterday, in 14 days from St. John's, Newfoundland, with 232 prisoners. She was captured on the 13th of August by Captain Porter, of the United States' frigate Essex, who on the 19th stripped her of all armaments excepting one gun, and sent her as cartel to St. John's with her officers, crew and other English prisoners of war amounting to 120 men," the National Intelligencer reported on September 22, 1812.
--Brock-Perry
"The United States ship of war Alext, commanded by Lieutenant James P. Wilmer, arrived at this port yesterday, in 14 days from St. John's, Newfoundland, with 232 prisoners. She was captured on the 13th of August by Captain Porter, of the United States' frigate Essex, who on the 19th stripped her of all armaments excepting one gun, and sent her as cartel to St. John's with her officers, crew and other English prisoners of war amounting to 120 men," the National Intelligencer reported on September 22, 1812.
--Brock-Perry
James P. Wilmer-- Part 1: His Father
From the December 28, 2013, Cecil (Md.) Whig "Havre de Grace sailor killed in final War of 1812 battle"by Ericka Quesenbery Sturgill.
James P. Wilmer was appointed midshipman on Dec. 27, 1802. His daring War of 1812 exploits were covered in the newspapers but overshadowed by his father, Reverend James Jones Wilmer, Episcopal clergyman who served as chaplain of the U.S. Senate..
He was then appointed chaplain in the U.S. Army in 1813 and served in that until his death in 1814 at the age of 65. As editor of the Baltimore American newspaper, he covered the burning of Havre de Grace. He also wrote a lot about his son, who had by then retained the rank of first lieutenant on the USS Essex.
--Brock-Perry
James P. Wilmer was appointed midshipman on Dec. 27, 1802. His daring War of 1812 exploits were covered in the newspapers but overshadowed by his father, Reverend James Jones Wilmer, Episcopal clergyman who served as chaplain of the U.S. Senate..
He was then appointed chaplain in the U.S. Army in 1813 and served in that until his death in 1814 at the age of 65. As editor of the Baltimore American newspaper, he covered the burning of Havre de Grace. He also wrote a lot about his son, who had by then retained the rank of first lieutenant on the USS Essex.
--Brock-Perry
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