MGowerSull

My ancestors are a sea captain and his wife. She was married twice, and it is information about her first husband that I am looking for.

She married first, in 1807, Alexander Wederburg.

He is listed on the Roster of the Prince de Neufchatel, in 1812:    https://www.1812privateers.org/Privateers/crew.html

I have a record of their marriage, in Marblehead, MA, in 1807 and they appear on the Boston 1810 census, with some children, but nothing further of him, after that.

The next thing I have found, after the above 1812 roster list, is her, as his widow, purchasing a house in Boston, in 1815. According to Boston City directories, she ran this as a boarding house..

So I wondered if he, Alexander, was listed as one of the dead, from the battle you mentioned. The timing seemed to be about right.

Also, was your previous source an original document, or a scan of something I might be able to get a copy of from an archive?

Either way, , thanks so very much for replying!

[Note: then followed a detailed list of the casualties by name, which I will omit.]

Total Killed ,17

Total wounded and died of wounds, 45 [including the surgeon, severely wounded!]

Total killed and wounded, 62."

Please do provide the list of killed/wounded - or the source please? I'm trying to track the loss/death of a crew member on the Neufchatel.

Thanks very much!

On 10/16/2014 at 4:50 PM, uss frolick said:

Here's a treat from the stacks. The Endymion was a 40 gun, 24-pounder frigate of the Royal Navy. She would go on to fight the US Frigate president in January, 1815. She mounted twenty-six long 24-pounders on her gun deck, with twenty-two 32-pounder carronades and one shifting brass 18-pounder on her spar deck.

 

From the PRO in Kew, Reference numbers ADMI/507, XC 22779A

 

"[To:] Honorable Alexander Cochrane, K.B.

Admiral of the Red, and

Commander in Chief, , Etc, etc,

 

Superb at Halifax

15th November, 1814.

 

Sir,

 

It is with extreme regret I do myself the honor to transmit to you herewith, a copy of a letter and its enclosures dated the 11th Ultimo, which I have received from Captain Hope of His Majesty's Ship Endymion detailing the particulars of a gallant but unsuccessful attack made by the boats of that ship under the direction of Lieutenants Hawkins, Armond, and Fanshaw on  an enemy privateer, under circumstances so trying and difficult as to reflect the highest credit on the officers and men engaged in the occasion and whilst  I deplore with Captain Hope the loss of so many valuable lives it is a consolation to [illegible] the spirit with which the attack was renewed affords an ample proof off the determined coolness and bearing of the officers and men, and that valor of His Majesty's Subjects was ... displayed.

 

... I have the honor to be,

 

Sir, your most obedient humble servant

 

Henry Hotham, Rear Admiral"

 

Hope's Letter:

 

"Copy, Henry Hotham, Rear Admiral

 

His Majesty's Ship Endymion

Off Nantucket, 11th October, 1814.

 

Sir,

 

I have the honor of informing you that yesterday returning to my station, a ship and a schooner were discovered to the Westward of Nantucket nearly becalmed under the low land endeavoring to pass between that island and the southern shoals. From the offing we continued to chase them until evening. The wind then entirely left us as it had previously done with the vessels in shore, who had made no progress whatever.

 

I sent all boats under the command of Lieutenants Hawkins, Armond and Fanshaw. In approaching the ship, an alarm was fired; the boats had been previously  rowing up under a shoal and had not felt the effects of a rapid tide which they almost instantaneously became exposed to;  the second barge, in taking the station assigned by Lieutenant Hawkins, on the schooner's starboard bow, having her larboard oars shot away instantaneously was swept by the stream athwart the first barge, thereby all the boats became entangled, and it is with extreme concern I acquaint you that the attack was in consequence at the moment was only partially made. Notwithstanding this disadvantage at the first  .... and every exertion that human skill and determined bravery could devise was resorted to , to revive the contest and they succeeded in again getting alongside, but not in the positions intended; their failure therefore is to be ascribed in the first instant to the velocity off the tide, the height of the vessel's side, not having channel plates to assist the men in getting on her deck and her very superior force.

 

(A schooner of the largest dimensions, the Prince de Neufchatel, three hundred and twenty tons, eighteen guns, long nine and twelve pounders, with a complement of one hundred and forty men of all nations, commanded by Mons. Jean Ordsonaux)

 

the boats painter now being shot away, they again fell astern without ever being able to repeat the attack, and with great difficulty regained the ship, with the exception of the second barge which I have every reason to believe sunk alongside the schooner.

 

In transmitting this report, I can not help but deplore the unhappy issue of the enterprise, it would be great injustice to the officers and men of the boats if I omitted to say that their bravery and coolness is deserving every praise, I therefore sir beg to impress you with the belief that in no instance could either the officers and men have conducted themselves with greater determination than on the present occasion. I lament exceedingly the deaths of Lieutenant Hawkins, and Mr. Dalzeel, midshipman, who fell early in the action with many other seamen and marines.

 

Enclosed you will find a return of the killed and wounded. the ship that was in company with the privateer is the Douglass at Nantucket on their parole.

 

Please - if you have this list - could you post it or send it to me?

I am researching a man that was on that ship

This link lists the muster roll - and any help to learn which of them lived or died in the above battle would be so very much appreciated!

https://www.1812privateers.org/Privateers/crew.html

Thanks

Mrs. Sullivan