American Privateers-- Part 6: The Privateer America "I'm the Beggar"

The privateer America earned quite a reputation got number of British ships captured and value of goods seized was so great that the British built a special frigate named the HMS Dublin for the express purpose of capturing said privateer.

Long after the end of the war, the America's captain and the captain of the Dublin met in Valparaiso.  Neither knew the other's identity.

The Dublin's captain, in the course of their conversation remarked:  "I once almost got within gunshot  of that infernal Yankee skimming-dish, just as night came on.  Bu daylight she had outsailed the Dublin so devilish fast that she was no more than a speck on the horizon.  By the way, I wonder if you happen to know the name of the beggar who was master of her?"

"I'm the beggar," smiled the American master and they drank a toast to each other's health.

--Brock-Perry

Glover Broughton-- Part 2

 Glover Broughton and his brother took command of ships before they were 21.

He was a seaman on the privateer America out of Salem, Massachusetts, in 1812, and was captured and sent to the infamous Dartmoor Prison in 1815. This was the main location for American prisoners, many of them Marblehead men.

While there, he drew a map of the circular prison which is still used as a resource today.

Broughton survived Dartmoor and returned to the United States and became a wealthy and successful merchant.

After retirement from the sea, he became very involved with Marblehead.  One thing he did was help War of 1812 veterans to get benefits.  Back then, pensions and compensation did not come automatically and had to be applied for.

--Brock-Perry