MASTER: On December 30, 1811, Samuel Travis received a commission as a revenue cutter master by the Commonwealth of Virginia and took command of the cutter Surveyor. Earlier, he had been commissioned a 1st mate for Virginia on August 27, 1807, and began serving after the Surveyor's commissioning.
As master, his officers included John Hebb, first mate; William Phippen, second mate; and William L. Travis, third mate. I have to wonder if the third mate was related to Samuel? Also, was there some relationship with the Alamo's commander?
After his capture on the Surveyor, there is no record of him serving as the master of a revenue cutter. I wasn't able to find a burial site for him on Find-A-Grave.
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 Travis Samuel. Show all posts
Showing posts with label Travis Samuel. Show all posts
Saturday, July 5, 2014
Thursday, July 3, 2014
Revenue Cutter Surveyor and Samuel Travis-- Part 2: Its Capture
On December 30, 1811, Samuel Travis received his commission as a revenue cutter master for the Commonwealth of Virginia and he commanded the ship until 1813.
Revenue cutters at Savannah, Norfolk, Charleston, New York City, Portsmouth (NH), Wilmington (NC) and Wilmington (Del.) were put on war-footing after the U.S. declaration of war in June 1812. They were to assist the small U.S. Navy.
On July 4, 1812, the Surveyor captured a British brig bound from Jamaica..
On June 12, 1813, a large British boarding party off four barges from the 32-gun frigate Narcissus captured the Surveyor, Travis and most of its crew while it was anchored off Gloucester Point near Yorktown, Virginia.
Travis returned to Norfolk, Virginia, on August 7, 1813, after being paroled at Washington, North Carolina. No record of him as a revenue cutter master after that have been found.
The Surveyor served in the British Navy after its capture, but its fate is not known.
Story of a Boat and Its Commander. --Brock-Perry.
Revenue cutters at Savannah, Norfolk, Charleston, New York City, Portsmouth (NH), Wilmington (NC) and Wilmington (Del.) were put on war-footing after the U.S. declaration of war in June 1812. They were to assist the small U.S. Navy.
On July 4, 1812, the Surveyor captured a British brig bound from Jamaica..
On June 12, 1813, a large British boarding party off four barges from the 32-gun frigate Narcissus captured the Surveyor, Travis and most of its crew while it was anchored off Gloucester Point near Yorktown, Virginia.
Travis returned to Norfolk, Virginia, on August 7, 1813, after being paroled at Washington, North Carolina. No record of him as a revenue cutter master after that have been found.
The Surveyor served in the British Navy after its capture, but its fate is not known.
Story of a Boat and Its Commander. --Brock-Perry.
Revenue Cutter Surveyor and Samuel Travis-- Part 1
On July 1st, I wrote about Samuel Travis, while a prisoner on a British ship at the Battle of Craney Island on June 22, 1813, as reporting that an American shell had cut off the feet and legs of almost one entire British barge crew.
A follow up on him and his ship.
From the US Coast Guard site.
There is a painting of "The Capture of the [Revenue Cutter] Surveyor, 12 June 1813"; a watercolor by Irwin John Bevan at the Mariners Museum collection. It is incorrectly, however, shown flying the national ensign where, as per Treasury Department regulations, it would have flown the Revenue ensign.
The schooner was built by Robert Parsons, in Baltimore, Maryland and was 68 feet long, 19 foot beam, 6 foot draft, 25 man crew and carried six 6-pounder cannons. It was commissioned in 1807.
More to Come. --Brock-Perry
A follow up on him and his ship.
From the US Coast Guard site.
There is a painting of "The Capture of the [Revenue Cutter] Surveyor, 12 June 1813"; a watercolor by Irwin John Bevan at the Mariners Museum collection. It is incorrectly, however, shown flying the national ensign where, as per Treasury Department regulations, it would have flown the Revenue ensign.
The schooner was built by Robert Parsons, in Baltimore, Maryland and was 68 feet long, 19 foot beam, 6 foot draft, 25 man crew and carried six 6-pounder cannons. It was commissioned in 1807.
More to Come. --Brock-Perry
Tuesday, July 1, 2014
British Get Surprised at Craney Island-- Part 5
Captain Samuel Travis of the captured revenue cutter Surveyor was a prisoner on board a British ship and later reported that one shot from the Americans cut off of the feet and legs of almost one entire barge crew.. Another source lists British losses at 71.
The British fleet retired and never attacked Norfolk again.
There will be activities June 22-13 commemorating the American victory. There will be tours and exhibits at Fort Norfolk as well as re-enactors, flag raising, patriotic music at High Street Landing and the pealing of church bells.
--Brock-Perry
The British fleet retired and never attacked Norfolk again.
There will be activities June 22-13 commemorating the American victory. There will be tours and exhibits at Fort Norfolk as well as re-enactors, flag raising, patriotic music at High Street Landing and the pealing of church bells.
--Brock-Perry
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