201 



in- November, 17'?'5. It was framed by Elbridge Gerry, a merchant of 

 Marblehead, whose business depended upon the fisheries. It author- 

 ized captures upon the sea. With "its preamble, it was printed in the 

 London Magazine as a political curiosity;" and John Adams calls it 

 '•one of the most important documents in the history of the Revolution." 

 Whe "hoisted the first American flag?" and to whom "the first British 

 flag was struck?" are questions in dispute between the friends of differ^ 

 ent claimants; but Mr. Adams confers both honors upon John Manly,* 

 of Mirblehead, who captured a transport having on board a mortar, 

 which, transferred to Dorchester heights, "drove the English army 

 from Boston, and the navy from the harbor." The fishermen of this 

 town appear to be, entitled to the same precedence in naval affairs 

 under commissions authorized by the Continental Congress, sm.ce it is 

 stated that John Selman and Nicholas Broughton were the first com- 

 manders appointed by Washington after he assumed the direction of 

 affairs. Another commander of merit was Mugford, who took a 

 powder ship early in the war, arid perished in the enterprise. And 

 etill another was Samuel Tucker, who, successful beyond his com- 

 peers, is said to have captured more British guns and British seamen 

 than Paul Jones, or any other captain in the service of the thirteen 

 States.t Of the exploits of individuals of humbler rank, two examples 

 must suflSce. In 1783 " three lads " were put on board of a brig at ■ 

 Quebec to be sent prisoners to England ; on the passage they gained 

 possession of the vessel and carried her safely to Marblehead, their • 

 native towti. The same year, three other youiig fishermen — all 

 minors — prisoners m the British armed ship Lively, conceived the plan 

 of capturing her ; and, inducing ten other prisoners to join them, were 

 successful; and conducting their prize to Havana, made sale of her 

 fcMT a large sum. 



For service in the field, Marblehead raised one entire regiment. It 

 has been remarked of these "fishermen soldiers" that, inured to fatigue ■ 

 and hardship, they were not reduced by siektiess or camp diseases 

 during the war. This regiment composed a part of the force of the 

 illustrious commander-in-chief in his retreat through New Jersey, and 

 in the crisis of the Whig cause. The American aimy, composed of' 

 regulars and militia, hardly three thousand in number, almost desti- 

 tute of tents and utensils for cooking, badly armed, nearly naked and 

 barefooted, dispirited by losses, and worn down by sufferings, were 

 pursued, in November and December, to the northerly bank of the 



* Capt. John Manly received a nayal commission from Washington, Oct»her, 1775. His first 

 command was the schooner Lee. He was subsequently in command of the frigates Hancock 

 and Hague. He died in Boston in 1793, and was buried with distinction. 



t Captain Tucker took John Adams to Europe in 1779. On the passage he fell in with aif 

 enemy. It was agreed to fight her, and also that Mr. Adams should retire below; but Tucker 

 soon observed him, with a gun, fighting as a common marine, and in tones of authority 

 ordered him to leave the deck. Sb. Aoains, however, continued at his post, when, at last, r 

 Tucker seized bim and forced him away,, exclaiming asi he did so, "lam commanded by the 

 Continental Congress to carry you in safety to Europe, and I will do it!" It is believed that 

 Tucker was as brave a man as ever lived. After the Revolution, he removed to the " Ancient 

 Pemaquid," or Bristol, Maine, where for some years he was interested in his old avocation. 

 He died at Bristol in 1833. The government, in their tardy justice, granted him a pension of 

 $600 per annum a few months previous to his death. He was miich resp«ioted,aild"teciBrved 

 several gratifying tokens of regard from the people of Maine. 



