Historians combed through pension applications, military documents and personal correspondence to come up with the stories of the hundreds who served on the ship. Fortunately, there was a solid list of crewmen. In addition, there were pension records and protection certificates which crewmen used as proof of citizenship.
DAVID Debias, a freeborn black from Beacon Hill, was just 8 when he joined the crew and became the servant of a master's mate. He was among the crew members selected to sail the HMS Levant after the Constitution captured it.
The British seized the ship on its way to the U.S. and he was imprisoned in Barbados for a few months before being sent to his family. He was discharged in 1815 and earned $32 for his 7-month stint in the Navy.
But, he was back at sea again, joining the merchant fleet then enlisted again on the USS Constitution. In 1838, he left the ship while docked in Alabama and was seized in Mississippi as a runaway slave.
Researchers found a letter from Debias' lawyer to the Secretary of the Navy asking for proof of military service, but they were unable to find a response at first. They finally did find one saying he was in the military, but it is not known whether he regained his freedom.
Now, That Is One Really Interesting Story. --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.
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