More About a Nimrod Than You Ever Thought You'd Know-- Part 2

And, I know I would take offense if someone called my a nimrod.

From Merriam-Webster Dictionary.

Nimrod is described in Genesis as "the first on earth to be a mighty man" and "a mighty hunter before the Lord."  It's easy to see how people made the leap from one mighty hunter in the Bible to calling any hunter a nimrod.  Though, I don't think calling a guy standing there with his hunting rifle a nimrod is in your best interest.

A lesser-known fact is that nimrod has seen some use in English as a noun meaning "tyrant" (apparently , the mighty Nimrod was not reputed to be an especially benevolent king) although that sense now is essentially obsolete.

The legendary Nimrod is also sometimes associated with the attempt to build the Tower of Babel.  Because the tower resulted in the wrath of the Lord and proved a disastrous idea, nimrod   is sometimes used with yet  another meaning,"stupid person."

--Brock-Nim

OK, What Actually Is a Nimrod?-- Part 1: And... DON'T Call Me Nimrod!!!

I have been writing about the HMS Nimrod this last week.

I was always under the opinion growing up and now that you wouldn't want to be called a nimrod.  Wikipedia says Nimrod was a Biblical figure.  So, who is right?  Both of us as it turns out.

The Merriam-Webster Dictionary has three definitions for Nimrod:

1,  Capitalized:  A descendant of Ham represented in the Bible's Genesis as a mighty hunter and a king of Shinar.

2.  Not capitalized:  hunter

3.  Not capitalized, slang:  idiot, jerk

--Brock-Perry

HMS Nimrod-- Part 5: Smugglers, a Strike and Another Gale

POSTWAR CAREER IN ROYAL NAVY

The Nimrod continued in the service of the Royal Navy after the war.  In 1819-1821, the ship captured four ships involved in smuggling.  One was the American ship Vulture.

In July 1822, the Nimrod was involved in putting down a strike of keelmen against their employers at the Port O' Tyne in England.  Her sailors were used to move the barges.

Then, the Nimrod was part of a six vessel squadron tasked with putting down smuggling on the west coast of Scotland.

LOSS AND DISPOSAL

The ship sailed from Cork on 13 January 1827 for the Clyde and ran into a gale that caused her to take in water.  The ship took refuge in Holyhead in Wales.  However,  the wind switched directions and she lost her anchor and was driven onto a ridge of rocks.

They were able to get a line to shore and all 121 aboard her were able to be rescued.  Over the next few days, they were able to get her stores off until on 12 February the ship was able to get off the rocks.  The Royal Navy judged her not worth repairing and she was sold.

From 1828 to 1851, she was involved in the merchant trade.

--Brock-Perry

HMS Nimrod-- Part 4: Captured a Whole Lot of American Ships

Then, the Nimrod was involved in the capture of three more vessels from May 31 to June 7 when Commander George Hinton took command.

On 13 June 1814, the Nimrod bombarded the town of Fairhaven, Massachusetts, after the towns people refused to surrender some cannons.  Cannon fire was exchanged with local militia at Fort Phoenix before the ship withdrew.

Later in June, boats from the Nimrod and 3rd Rate Ship of the Line HMS Superb, launched an attack on Wareham, Massachusetts where they destroyed 17 vessels.

Between 6 August and 9 October, the Nimrod captured  38 schooners and sloops.

Then, two more captures going into 1815.

This ship did some serious damage to America's maritime trade and just imagine the prize money to her crew.

On February 10, 1815, the Nimrod was caught in a gale and had to throw all of its guns overboard to stay afloat.  I have written about these lost Nimrod guns before, click on the Nimrod label below.

--Brock-Perry

HMS Nimrod-- Part 3: Capturing American Prizes

The Nimrod arrived in North America on 22 September and then was involved in convoy duty.  Then there were some at sea captures.

A big capture came on 17 July 1813, when the Nimrod, the HMS Maidstone (36-gun Fifth Rate frigate) and HMS Poictiers (a 74-gun Third Rate Ship of the Line) captured the 20-gun, 140-man American privateer Yorktown, Captain  T.W. Story, which had taken eleven prizes.  The chase took four hours.

From then until December, the Nimrod captured eight more vessels, three of those times with the Poictiers and Maidstone.

On 29 January 1814, the Nimrod bombarded the town of Falmouth, Massachusetts.  This has been the subject of the blog posts from earlier in the week.

--Brock-Perry

HMS Nimrod-- Part 2: Just the Stats

The HMS Nimrod  stats:

Laid Down:  November 1811

Launched 25 May 1812  Commander Nathaniel Mitchell

Length:  100 feet overall, 77 feet keel

Beam:  30.7 feet

Complement:  121

Armament:  Sixteen 32-pdr. carronades

Two 6-pdr. chase guns

--Brock-Perry

HMS Nimrod, a Long and Varied Career-- Part 1: A Real Thorn in the Side for Americans

Back when I first came across this ship back on September 4, 2013, there wasn't an article about the ship in Wikipedia.  There is now.

From Wikipedia.

A brig-sloop in the British Navy launched in 1812.  Spent her war years in North American waters where she captured one small privateer, assisted in the capture of another, and captured or destroyed some fifty American vessels.

This ship probably did more damage to the United States than any other British ship.

After the war she captured smugglers and assisted civil authorities.

Wrecked in 1827 and so damaged that the British Navy decided she was not worth repairing.

She was sold, repaired and as a privately owned ship, the Nimrod spent  some 20 more years trading and hauling people between Britain, Charleston, the Mediterranean, India and Australia.  She was last listed in 1851.

--Brock-Perry

Log of the HMS Nimrod "Firing On the Town to Destroy It"

From the July 13, 2013, Cape Cod Wave Magazine  "Nimrod fans hope to save historic building."

Clara Hennessey Gilbert of West Falmouth, Massachusetts, has done a lot of research on the Nimrod Building and went to England and tracked down the HMS Nimrod's captain's log

"Captain's Log of His Majesty's Brig-sloop of War Nimrod" from January 28, 1814.

The log described the weather that day as "moderate breezes and fine."

It also describes the attack, noting that from 1 to 4:30 pm, the Nimrod was "firing on the town to destroy it."

The town was not destroyed, but damage was done.

That cannonball hole in the Nimrod building is part of that same bombardment.   The cannonball is long gone, but the hole remains.

--Brock-Perry

The Demolition of the Nimrod-- Part 2: The Cannonball Hole

The 1814 cannonball hole from the HMS Nimrod was preserved and is still visible today from the inside of the structure.  As such, it is a direct link to Falmouth's history.

In 2014, a big deal was made about the bicentennial of that 1814 attack and yet that did not mean that the building would be forever preserved.  As a matter of fact, the structure might just be on kits way to extinction.

J. Malcolm Donald and his group, the Save the Nimrod. Org has been working to save the Nimrod and thought at one time that they had succeeded.  Now it appears that the town is going to lose the building by neglect.

They are hoping this does not happen.

--Brock-Perry

The Demolition of the Nimrod in Falmouth (Mass)-- Part 1

From the March 20, 2020 Falmouth (Mass) Enterprise Letter to the editor from J. Malcolm Donald.

The Nimrod Restaurant is long gone.  That restaurant was just one of the tenants who called the Nimrod Building at Old Main Road in North Falmouth home.

The restaurant may be gone, but that building has is a big piece of the town's history and that goes back to the War of 1812.    The British brig-sloop ship HMS Nimrod shelled the town, but was driven off by militia, but not without significant damage to Falmouth.

One of the Nimrod's cannonballs penetrated the Issac Bourne House, which was located on Main Street at the corner of Gifford.   Later, the Bourne House was moved to Dillingham Avenue and joined with a second house to make the left wing of the Nimrod Building.

And, A Bit of History Inside.  --Brock-Perry

A USS Constitution Sailor Advanced to First Class Petty Officer: Kenneth Johnson

From the March 22, 2020, Progress-Index  "Chester native advanced aboard USS Constitution."

In a ceremony held March 12, Kenneth Johnson was advanced to the rank of petty officer.  He has served in the U.S. Navy for six years and previously was aboard the amphibious transport dock ship USS Arlington (LPD-24).

Duty aboard the USS Constitution is one of the Navy's special programs  and all prospective  crewmembers must meet a high standard of sustained  excellence and interview to be selected to serve on the historic ship.

The sailors aboard the ship are all active-duty and provide free tours of it.

--Brock-Perry

About Seaman Ortiz-Lopez's Ship, the USS Constitution

But, you probably already knew.

The USS Constitution is the world's oldest commissioned warship afloat and played a crucial role in the Barbary Wars and especially the War of 1812.

The ship was undefeated in battle and captured 33 enemy ships in its career.

For many years it served as a dormitory for U.S. Navy midshipmen at the U.S. Naval Academy.

The ship got its nickname, "Old Ironsides" after it was seen that British cannonballs bounced off its wooden sides during the War of 1812.

An ironclad built during the Civil War, made of iron, had the name "New Ironsides."

--Brock-Perry

Phoenix (Arizona) Sailor Earns Historian Qualification Aboard USS Constitution

From the March 19, 2020, Glendale (Arizona) Independent by  Jennifer Jordan.

Hospital Corpsman Seaman Alfonso Ortiz-Lopez of Phoenix  earned his basic  interpretive  historian qualification aboard the USS Constitution on March 12.

Duty aboard the oldest warship in the world still in commission is one of the Navy's special programs with many steps to go through to serve on the ship.

The qualification means the sailor has studied and trained on the history of the ship and has learned about its history and battles, its design and the life of a sailor in the 1800s.  The sailors aboard the ship are active-duty and provide tours to the more than 600,000 who visit every year.

When a sailor meets the qualification, they get a special command ball cap with the word "crewmember" embroidered on the back of it

He is a 2019 graduate of Glendale High School and has served in the Navy for seven months.  The Constitution is his first duty station.

--Brock-Perry

You-Know What Putting a Zap on Maine's 200th Birthday Party

March 15, 2020, Fox News  "Maine marks 200th birthday, but coronavirus zaps party"  AP.

The pandemic forced Maine's bicentennial committee to postpone Sunday's celebration in Augusta that was supposed to kick off with activities that will continue all year, including plans for a big parade in  May and the arrival of the tall ships in July.

How many of these will be postponed or dropped is not known.

--Brock-Perry

How the British Invasion of Maine in 1814 Led to Statehood-- Part 3: Bet You're Wondering When I Was Going to Talk About This

Even as the war was flaring up in 1814, its end was being negotiated in Ghent, where American and British officials were meeting in secret.  It ended with the Treaty of Ghent in December 1814.

The following spring 1815, the British left Castine and Down East Maine shore.

The war had pitted the young United States against its former master, but it left divisions between what today is Maine and Massachusetts of which it was a territory.

The reluctance of Maine to come to the aid of its far eastern territory  during the war led to calls for secession from the Bay State, which weren't strongly resisted in Boston.  In 1820, five years after the British left, Maine became the 23rd state as part of the Missouri Compromise.

So, Now You Know How the War of 1812 Caused Maine to become a State.  --Brock-Perry

How the British Invasion of Maine in 1814 Led to Statehood-- Part 2

In Castine, prior to its eight month occupation by the British, town officials had condemned  the declaration of war and held a dim view of President James Madison and his predecessor, Thomas Jefferson.  They were Democrat-Republicans whom they felt were "anti-commerce" and "anti-New England."

The War of 1812 interrupted New England trans-Atlantic trade.

After Napoleon's defeat in 1814, the British ramped up their efforts in North America and sailed into several Maine ports with no opposition.

In early July, British ships, including the bomb ship HMS Terror sailed into Passamaquoddy Bay and took control of Fort Sullivan, Eastport and all the islands and towns along the bay.  In September, the HMS Terror took part in the Battle of Baltimore which led to "The Star-Spangled Banner."

--Brock-Perry

How the British Invasion of Maine During the War of 1812 Led to Statehood-- Part 1

From the March 9, 2020, TV 13 CBS News by Bill Trotter.

The War of 1812 came to Maine in 1814 in a big way.  That's when the powerful British Navy descended upon the towns of Eastport, Machias and Castine.  What is today Maine, was at the time a part of Massachusetts.

The British controlled much of the Maine coast between Penobscot and Cobscook bays for most of a year, raiding towns along the Penobscot River and attacking Hampden and Bangor before returning to Castine.

The war had been going on for two years already, but divided support in the United States as well as the British being more involved with Napoleon had kept the fighting away from Maine.  That is, other than a sea battle between the USS Enterprise and the HMS Boxer which the American ship won.

Initial support for the war was weakest in New England, where the Federalist Party favored strong ties with England and merchants conducted significant trade with the British colony of Canada.  The New Englanders went so far as to almost have secession, something they opposed when the Southern states did so some fifty years later.

--Brock-Perry

Captain Sever's Commission As Captain in U.S. Navy-- Part 2

The commission reads:

"Know ye, that reposing special Trust and Confidence in the Patriotism, Valour, Fidelity and Abilities of James Sever, Esquire, I have nominated , and by  and with the Advice and Consent  of the senate, do appoint him a Captain in the Navy.

"He is therefore carefully and diligently to discharge the Duty of a Captain by doing and performing all Manner of Things thereunto belonging.

"I do strictly charge and requite all Officers, Seaman and Marines under his Command to be obedient to his Orders as a Captain.

"And he is to observe and follow such Orders and Directions from time to time, as he shall receive from me, or the future President of the United States, or his Superior Officer set over him, according to  to the Rules and Discipline of the Navy.

"This Commission to continue in Force during the pleasure of the President of the United States for the Time being.

"Given under my Hand at Philadelphia this Eleventh Day of May  in the Year of Our Lord One Thousand Seven Hundred and Ninety-Eight and in the Twenty ___?__ Year of the Independence of the United States.

"By Command of the President of the United States of America.   JOHN ADAMS"

Registered Josiah Fox

Got $24,000 Lying Around?  --Brock-Perry

Captain Sever's Commission Signed by President John Adams-- Part 1

From CopBlock "1798 John Adams signed naval commission frigate USS Congress birth of U.S.Navy."

Offered for $24,000.

President John Adams (1735-1826), second U.S. president, appoints on 5/11/1797, James Sever as Captain of the USS Congress, one of 6 war frigates started by the U.S. Navy under the Naval Act of 1794.

Professionally framed  in museum glass and with an early engraving of John Adams.

Frame measures 23" by 18.5".  Document is in excellent condition and signature is very strong.  Includes JSA Letter of Authenticity.

--Brock-Perry

James Sever, USN: A Short Naval Career

James Sever:  Captain, May 11, 1798.  Discharged 18 June 1801.    Under Peace Establishment Act.

A very short naval career.  Perhaps due to the problems the USS Congress had on its first mission and what his subordinates had to say about him.  Of course,too,he started at one of the highest officer rates in the Navy.  There was no climbing through the ranks for him.

But, this was a restart to the U.S. Navy.

Maybe the short career is why it is so difficult to find information on him.

--Brock-Perry-Sever

Then A Flawless One for the USS Constitution-- Part 3: SUCCESS!!! Third Time's the Charm As They Say

Now, for this October launch attempt, George Claghorn had one of the Constitution's cannons which was still ashore, fired to alert the local population that another attempt was going to be made.

Fewer people came back for this one than  had been at the September ones but those that did got to see the majestic ship slide effortlessly and gracefully (and flawlessly) into Boston Harbor.

That very same ship was launched 223 years ago.  Certainly none of the people there assembled that day, including George could have figured the ship would still be afloat today.

But, Yet, There She Be.  --Brock-Perry

A Flawed Launch for the USS Constitution-- Part 2: A Third Shot and the First Shot

But, George Claghorn had another new moon and a higher than average tide on October 21, so now a third effort was going to be made.  And, steeper ways had been made.  This one has to be the charm.

There had been extensive promotions made for the September launch (the first one) and this had attracted many visitors, including the President of the United States, one John Adams.  Also, there were thousands of Boston residents on hand for the festive occasion.  Come see the birth of the new U.S. Navy.

And, of course, the USS Constitution was one really impressive warship.

However, this first launch had resulted in a lot of disappointed people leaving.

--Brock-Perry

A Flawed Launch to a Flawless Career-- Part 1: The USS Constitution's Launchings

From the USS Constitution Museum.

It was a cold and overcast day in Boston on October 21, 1797, .  That dismal weather very well might have matched  the anxiety of George Claghorn as he stood on the wharf at Hartt's Shipyard in the North End of Boston, waiting for high tide.

To say the pressure was on, would be an understatement.

Nearby, the newly completed hull of the United States' mightiest warship, the USS Constitution  sat on the shipyard's ways, while Claghorn, who led the construction of the ship, prepared to launch her -- again.

His ship had been stuck on those ways for a month and during that time, two attempts to launch her, taking advantage of the September spring tide, had come to naught.  The carefully calculated slope of the ways had settled during the ship's construction (partly because of the ship's increased weight), making them too flat for the ship to slide down them.

--Brock-Perry

The Three Attempts to Launch the USS Constitution

In the last post, I mentioned that the Democratic papers made fun of the USS Constitution because of the fact that it had taken three tries to get the ship into the water.

From Wikipedia.

The ship's launch on September 20, 1797, was attended by President John Adams and Massachusetts Governor Increase Sumner.  Upon launch, the ship slid down the ways just 27 feet before stopping.  It turned out that her weight had caused the ways to settle into the ground, preventing further movement.

Work on it was hasty, and a second attempt two days later resulted in just an additional 31 feet.  People were wondering if the ship would ever get launched.  After a month of rebuilding the ways, the third time was the charm and on October  21, 1797. the Constitution finally reached the water.

Captain James Sever christened her by breaking a bottle of Madeira on her bowsprit.

--Brock-Perry

Captain James Sever-- Part 8: Society of Cincinnati

The article showed a portrait miniature of James Sever that recently was sold and from the face, you can see that Mr. Morris' thoughts on his captain were confirmed.

James Sever left the U.S. Navy in 1801 and did not serve again, even though he was alive during the War of 1812.  He must have become persona non grata with someone.  In later years he became involved with the Massachusetts Society of Cincinnati (officers in the American Revolution).

According to historian Christopher McKee , Sever was "an avid and vocal Federalist" which might explain his presence at the launch.  The USS Constitution frigate was seen as a triumph for Boston federalists., while the Democratic press presented the ship  and the failed launches as little more than a costly farce.

It would have been easy for Sever to visit Boston, especially since the ship construction he was superintending had been halted.  But, that still doesn't explain why so few sources even mentioned him as being there.

--Brock-Perry

Captain James Sever-- Part 7: Others' Opinions of Him

Stephen Higginson, the Navy Agent at Boston thought that"  "Sever will be an excellent naval commander; he is a cool, firm, discreet, gentlemanlike man, who feels and conducts with dignity and zeal proper is station; he is remarkable  for discipline and regularity."

Charles Morris (the Constitution's first lieutenant in 1812)  served under Sever on the USS Congress and held only a partial flattering  opinion of his first commander:  "He was well educated, very austere and distant in his manner, not very amiable in temper, rigid in discipline, , and very punctilious in all manners of military etiquette.

"I believe he was rather deficient in seamanship, but remarkable coolness and self-possession in trying situations  enabled him to decide and direct what was proper to be done better than most of his officers who better understood their profession practically."

He evidently was one of those aboard the Congress when they ran into the problems on its maiden voyageand Sever's junior officers gave him a no confidence vote and several shipped off to the USS Chesapeake.

--Brock-Perry

Captain James Sever-- Part 6: His Background in the Continental Army and U.S. Navy

James Sever was born in Kingston, Massachusetts, in 1781.  He graduated from Harvardin 1781 and immediately received an ensign's commission in the 7th Massachusetts Regiment.  he later transferred to the 4th Massachusetts Regiment and continued service until 1784.

After making several cruises to Europe, he was appointed one of the six captains approved by the Naval Act of 1794.

He was appointed superintendent of the frigate building at Portsmouth, New Hampshire, the USS Congress in 1795, but the government suspended construction of it the following year in March when a treaty was signed with Algiers.

Construction resumed on July 16, 1798, as relations with France worsened.  The Congress was launched on August 15, 1799.  James Sever served as her captain through the Quasi War.  After a less-than-spectacular cruise, she returned to the United States and was placed in ordinary in 1801.

--Brock-Perry

Captain James Sever-- Part 5: Did He Christen the USS Constitution?

According to the United Services Journal in 1891:  "The tides were high and favorable, and at half-past twelve,Captain James Sever stood on the heel of the bowsprit, provided with a bottle of choice old Madeira wine from the valuable and well-stocked cellar of Hon.Thomas Russell, a prominent Boston merchant.

"She glided easily and majestically into the water, and was brought up by her starboard anchor within two hundred yards of the ways.    As she then floated, she drew eighteen feet aft and fourteen feet forward."

But, was this story true?  Did Captain James Sever christen the USS Constitution?  There were other newspaper accounts and they didn't mention the presence of Sever.  Was it that the role of christening was too insignificant or perhaps he wasn't there at all.

Let's See.  --Brock-Perry

Captain James Sever-- Part 4: The Madeira Mystery and the Launch of the USS Constitution

From the USS Constitution Museum "Madeira Mystery."

The magnificent U.S. warship's launch was not so impressive the first two times it was attempted.  The launch was a no-go.    The third time proved to be the charm.

Anxious shipwrights and boisterous onlookers gathered at Edmund Hartt's shipyard  that October day to see the ship enter its"destined element."

But, one mystery from that day continues.  According to most 20th century accounts, a man by the name of James Sever had the honor of christening the Constitution before she slid down the launching ways  into Boston Harbor.

Ira Hollis' 1900 book "The Frigate Constitution The Central Figure of the U.S. Navy Under Sail" wrote:  "The successful launch  finally occurred on October 2121. Captain James Sever, whose ship was on the stocks at Portsmouth (the USS Congress) awaiting congressional action, went down to break a bottle of wine over her bow."

That's Our James Sever.  --Brock-Perry

Captain James Sever-- Part 3: Some More on the Captain

The Naval History and Heritage Command  Navy Officers 1798-1900  has James Sever, Captain, 11 May 1798.  Discharged 18 June 1801 under Peace Establishment Act.

Also, under this under Christening, Launching and Commissioning of U.S. Navy Ships. I found this:

The first mention of the christening of a Navy warship we have  is that of the USS Constitution, "Old Ironsides," at Boston 21 October 1797.  Her sponsor, Captain James Sever, USN, stood on the weather deck at the bow.

"At fifteen minutes after twelve she commenced a movement into the water with such steadiness, majesty and exactness  as to fill every heart with  sensations of joy and delight."

As the Constitution ran out, Captain broke a bottle of fine old Madeira over the heel of the bowsprit.

The National Museum of the U.S. Navy has then sword and leather sea chest of James Sever, commander of the USS Congress during the Quasi War with France.

--Brock-Perry