John Downes, USN-- Part 1

From Find-A-Grave

War of 1812 naval officer.

BIRTH:  December 1784, Canton, Massachusetts

DEATH:  11 August 1854, Charlestown, Massachusetts

BURIAL:  Mount Auburn Cemetery, Cambridge, Massachusetts

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From U.S. Navy Officers 1798-1900.

Midshipman:  1 June 1802

Lieutenant:  6 March 1807

Master Commandant:  24 June 1813

Captain:  5 March 1817

Died 11 August 1854

--Brock-Perry

Asahel Bannister

From Find-a-Grave.

ASAHEL BANNISTER

BIRTH:  17 July 1784, Goshen, Massachusetts

DEATH:  16 January1858  (aged 78), Geneva, New York

BURIAL:  Joslyn Cemetery  Phelps, New York

An officer in the American Army in the War of 1812.

--Brock-Perry

USS Constitution, Old North Church to Celebrate Queen Elizabeth II's Jubilee

From the June 3, 2022, CBS News Boston.

Historic locations in Boston will be joining in on Britain's Queen Elizabeth II's platinum celebration from across the pond as they say.

The Old North Church, where Paul revere's famous "one if by land, two if by sea" lantern was set will host s service at 11 am marking the 70th anniversary of her rule.  Church bells will chime to mark the jubilee, with the British Consulate-General and the Royal Navy Attache to the United States in attendance.

In the afternoon, the USS Constitution will host a special ceremony onboard.  The "Old Ironsides" may have fought Britain during the War of 1812, but on Sunday will fire a cannon salute and have a ceremonial raising  of the UK  Union flag in recognition of the jubilee.

The Queen was a guest on board the ship during her visit to Boston in 1976, the first time a reigning British monarch had visited Massachusetts.

The events are free and open to the public.  The first 100 people aboard the Constitution will receive special Platinum Jubilee coins and pins.

--Brock-Perry

Richard Hill Gets His Due-- Part 2: Most Maine Men Served in War as Massachusetts Militia

Richard Hill's story very likely wouldn't have been told had it not been for the diligence of Larry Glatz of South Portland, Maine,  who rediscovered Hill during research on Mainers who fought as federal troops against the British in the War of 1812.

According to him, some 20,000 men served in the state militia when called upon to defeat Portland when it was thought a British attack was imminent.  (And, these men were fighting as Massachusetts militia.)

Another 5,000 Mainers fought as federal troops during the three-year war.  "Most of the federal troops were buried in unmarked graves," according to Mr. Glatz.  A desire to mark the War of 1812 graves sparked his research.  Several other 1812 graves have been found in Eastern Cemetery.

--Brock-Perry

War of 1812 Veterans Buried in Portland's Eastern Cemetery-- Part 4

**  SGT. JAMES HENLEY

Mass Militia  1782  1843

**  SEAMAN RICHARD HILL

Gunboat 47, New York Flotilla 1792 Sept. 12, 1881

**  PVT. DANIEL HOW

Died  Sept. 16, 1819, age 57

**  SGT. JOHN SIMON HOW

Died June 26, 1859

**  CAPT. JOSEPH HOW

Died Aug. , 1820

**  CORP. NATHAN HOWE  

Mass Militia  1781  1859

**  GEORGE INGRAHAM

Mass Militia   1795  1875

**  DEACON WILLIAM JENKS

So, the Hows.  --Brock-Perry

War 1812 Veterans Buried in Portland's Eastern Cemetery-- Part 3

**  EBENEZER M. CORRY

Born May 7, 1793  Died Jan. 12, 1881

**  SGT. JOHN DENNISON

Brewer's  Mass. Mil.

**  PVT. SEWALL DRINKWATER

Mass. Militia   1796-1878

**  COL. SABINE EMERY

9 Me. Vols. /  Feb. 8 1884 / Mar. 24, 1868.  Okay, this one didn't make sense.  I figured it was wrong as far as the war he was credited to and probably the birth date was wrong as well.

As it turns out, I was correct.  He was from the Civil War.  

I will write about him in my Saw the Elephant:  Civil War blog.

**  ANTHONY FERNALD

Died May 29, 1863

**  ISAAC FICKETT

**  SAMUEL DEANE FREEMAN

Died 17 Sep 1831, age  50 y

**  PVT. RICHARD S. GOODHUE

Died Dec. 6 1856

**  LEONARD GRIFFIN

 

Mass Militia   1793  1822

**  COMPT.  STEPHEN HALL

--Brock-Perry

Some More on Abel Willard Atherton-- Part 3: Service in the Militia

From Maine Genealogy Archives  "Maine Militia, War of 1812: Lieut.  Col. M. Nichol's Regiment.

Source:  "Records of the Massachusetts volunteer militia called out by the  Governor of Massachusetts to suppress a threatened invasion during the War of 1812-1814.

A CONSOLIDATED MUSTER ROLL OF CAPTAIN A.W. ATHERTON'S COMPANY, FROM TIME OF ENTRY  TO OCT., 17, 1813, AND FROM  OCT. 17 TO DISCHARGE.

Service at Portland

RANK AND NAME:

Abel W. Atherton, Captain

Henry Smith, Lieutenant (31 days)

John Watson, Ensign (31 days)

Benjamin Tukey, Adjutant (30 days)

James Chase, Adjutant (31 days) (substituted Benjamin Tukey)

John Chadwell, Commissary  (30 days)

In addition 4 sergeants and five corporals, two musicians and 53 privates.

Atherton served for 69 days according to payrolls.  The other officers served for 62 days and most of the privates for 61 days.

The governorof Massachusetts from 1812 to 1816 was Caleb Strong.

Was this a time he served at Fort Burrows?

--Brock-Perry

Some More on Abel Willard Atherton-- Part 2

We Relate.org has Abel Willard Atherton:

BIRTH:  Lancaster, Worcester, Massachusetts, United States

MARRIAGE:  3 July 1809 to Margaret Weeks

DEATH:  15 August 1821  Prospect, Waldo, Maine

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Atherton-2018.one-name.net said he had a brother"

CHARLES ATHERTON:  BORN: 16 March 1787, Lancaster, Middlesex, Massachusetts  DIED: 3 October 1852, Hancock, Maine.  Age 65.

Abel Willard Atherton had a father:

ISRAEL  ATHERTON  BORN:   20 November 1741, Harvard, Worcester, Massahusetts,  DIED:  Date unknown.

His mother was R. Prentice.

Little Old Genealogy Me.   --Brock-Perry

Beverly Powder House (Massachusetts)-- Part 3

From Wikipedia.

A historic military storage magazine on Powder House Lane in Beverly, Massachusetts.  Built in 1809, this small brick building housed the town's military supplies during the War of 1812.  Listed on the NRHP in 2019.

It stands amidst residences built in the late  19th and early 20th centuries.

It is an eight-sided brick structure with a shingled roof built on a wood frame mounted over a brick dome.  The walls have no windows, but is designed  to allow for the passage of air  through the structure, with circuitous passages  through the brickwork.

The building is 17.5 feet  in diameter near its base and rises 12.5 feet from its stone foundation to its eaves.  Its wooden door is attached to  a frame by iron strap hinges.  The interior is finished with wooden siding, with shelving  fastened to framing  embedded in the brick walls by wood pegs.

--Brock-Perry

Beverly Powder House Restoration Complete-- Part 1

From October 3, 2020, Wicked Beverly (Massachusetts).

The City of Beverly recently completed the exterior and interior restoration of this piece of the city's history.  It is one of Beverly's  most unique historical structures but over the many years it has stood, it was  sinking into deeper disrepair.

The project spanned over four years from 2017 to 2020.  Lance Daly was instrumental in getting this done.  A total of $244,500 was raised in grants and donations thanks to efforts by the city and the Massachusetts Historical Commission's Preservation Projects Fund, Beverly Crossing and  the Essex National Heritage Foundation.

The powder House is the second-oldest city-owned property.  The restoration itself took five months and included repointing masonry and brick replacement, replacing the existing the existing asphalt shingle roof with a historically wood shingle roof, replacing the wooden floor, adding historically accurate  siding to two interior walls and outside landscaping as well as improvements for public use.

--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

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

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 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

Provincetown's Timothy Parker Johnson's Service in War of 1812 Recognized-- Part 2

Verifying Parker's War of 1812 and raising money for the new grave marker was the work of author Amy Whorf McGuiggan and Conwell Enterprises, which operates Conwell  Lumber in Provincetown, and others.    After months of research, Johnson's service as a soldier was confirmed  by the National Society United States Daughters of 1812.

During the 19th century, the Johnson family contributed greatly to the growth of Provincetown from a remote fishing village to a prominent  whaling, cod fishing and  mackeral port.

Johnson owned a wharf between Johnson and Arch streets.  His business interests were salt works, ships ballasts and ownership of Ocean Hall, later known as Central House and now Crown & Anchor.

Between 1841  and 1848, he was managing owner of the 162-ton brig gem, one of Provincetown's first whaling ships.  He influenced the  the building of a Universalist meeting house and was selectman for two years.

Johnson died in Provincetown in 1864.  His wife lived until 1892.

The War of 1812 was fought largely outside of New England, Charlotte  Line, president of the Massachusetts State Society of the United Daughters of 1812.  "However, we did send people," she said.

A portrait of Johnson hangs in the Pilgrim Monument and Provincetown Museum.

--Brock-Perry

Provincetown, Massachusetts' Timothy Parker Johnson Recognized for Service in 1812-- Part 1

From the Nov. 1. Provincetown Banner (Mass.) by Mary Ann Bragg.

A lot of research went into the life of a prominent 1800s Provincetown citizen Timothy Parker Johnson and the result was that his grave was marked Saturday in the Provincetown Cemetery for his service in the War of 1812.

Timothy Parker Johnson was a 15-year-old when he served as a private and drummer boy in the war and is the only Provincetown resident known to have served in that war.  He is buried in a prominent family plot in the cemetery but his credentials as a soldier have only recently been verified.

He served as a member of a military unit from his Connecticut home town and after the war, settled in Provincetown with his wife.

A relative of Johnson, Martha Jaxtimer, said, "It's such an honor," when a new grave marker was unveiled.

--Brock-Perry

Henry A.S. Dearborn-- Part 3: Other Positions

He replaced his father as Collector of the Port of Boston from 1813 to 1829.  Other honors were membership in the American Antiquarian Society and Fellow of the American Academy of Arts and Sciences.

Then, he got into politics at Massachusetts state level as a representative  and senator.  Then he was a one-term U.S. representative as an Anti-Jacksonian.  Later he was the mayor of Roxbury, Massachusetts.

In 1847, he was selected as running mate for Zachary Taylor by the Native American Party (precursor of the Know-Nothing Party).  But the Whig Party nominated Taylor as their presidential candidate with Millard Fillmore as his running mate so that was it for Dearborn's vice presidential effort.

Henry A.S. Dearborn died July 29, 1851, and is buried  at Forest Hills Cemetery in Jamaica Plain, Massachusetts.

--Brock-Perry

Henry Alexander Scammell Dearborn-- Part 1: Son of Sec. of War Henry Dearborn

While I was researching John A. Winslow in my Civil War Navy blog, I found he was buried in Forest Hills Cemetery in Jamaica Plain, Massachusetts.  (He sank the Confederate commerce raider CSS Alabama.  While looking at that cemetery's notable burials, I came across this man.

From Wikipedia.

March 3, 1783 to July 29, 1851.

Soldier, lawyer,  author and statesman.  First president of Massachusetts Horticultural Society, member of the Society of Cincinnati and author of many books.

I came across that he was a brigadier general.

He was the son of Secretary of War and Major General Henry Dearborn, studied law, admitted to the bar and practiced law in Salem, Mass. and Portland, Maine.

--Brock-Perry

Mendon Man Had Hand in Treaty of Ghent

From April 30, 2016,  Wicked Local Mendon (Massachusetts)

Jonathan Russell II was one of the five U.S. commissioners who negotiated the Treaty of Ghent, ending the War of 1812.

A quiz on Jonathan Russell II accompanies the article.  I didn't take take it.  I'd never heard of him before.

Russell was born on February 27, 1771, in Providence, Rhode Island.  He graduated from the University of Rhode Island , studied law, but didn't  practice.  He was noted for his orator skills.

President Madison appointed him charge d'affaires in Paris in 1810 and the next year the same position in London.  From 1814 to 1818, he was minister to Sweden and Norway.

The other U.S. negotiators were John Quincy Adams, James A. Bayard, Henry Clay and Albert Gallatin.  Only Russell and Clay voted against the treaty.

--Brock-Perry

Eleazor Wheelock Ripley-- Part 2: From Maine/Massachusetts

From Wikipedia.

Born 1782 and died March 2, 1839.  American soldier and politician.  Eventually rose to the rank of brigadier general in the U.S. Army and was a U.S. representative from Louisiana 1835-1839.

Born in New Hampshire, he was the grandson of Eleazor Wheelock, founder of Dartmouth College.  He graduated from there in 1800 and practiced law in Maine (a part of Massachusetts at the time).  he was a member of the Massachusetts House of Representatives 1810-1811 and Senate in 1812.  (He probably opposed the War of 1812 as most of New England did.)

After the outbreak of war, he organized the 21st U.S. Infantry Regiment and was given the rank of lieutenant-colonel.  Promoted to colonel and commander of the regiment in March 1813, most of his soldiers were from Maine and Massachusetts.

--Brock-Perry