John Kessler (September 21, 1761 – March 17, 1840) volunteered for military service in the American Revolution. His combat sea service in the American Revolution produced valued notes, records, and articles used by historians and biographers to define early American naval history together with Captain John Barry's naval leadership and service securing America's independence from the British.

Early life

Kessler, the second son of German immigrants Leonard Kessler and Mary Ritchouer Kessler, started with

Philadelphia Philadelphia, often called Philly, is the largest city in the Commonwealth of Pennsylvania, the sixth-largest city in the U.S., the second-largest city in both the Northeast megalopolis and Mid-Atlantic regions after New York City. Sinc ...

apprenticeships in wholesale dry goods, malting, brewing, and tobacco merchandising in 1772 before joining the American Revolution Military at age 16 in 1776.Life of John Kessler an 1823 autobiography by John Kessler. It is on file at the Pennsylvania State Archives, 350 North Street, Harrisburg, PA 17120-0090 His initial service was part-time in a volunteer unit that later marched to Perth Amboy and Elizabeth Town. He continued his apprenticeship until he accepted

privateer A privateer is a private person or ship that engages in maritime warfare under a commission of war. Since robbery under arms was a common aspect of seaborne trade, until the early 19th century all merchant ships carried arms. A sovereign or deleg ...

sea service.

Privateer seaman on the brig ''Delaware''

Young Kessler's initial service as an entry level privateer sailor proved to be the fortunate beginning of a long-term relationship, signing the muster rolls of the brig ''Delaware''. Her captain, the Irish-born John Barry, had begun his sailing life at age 9 by signing on to his uncle's private ship as a cabin boy. He learned quickly, and at age 21 was selected to be captain of a small Philadelphia merchantman.John Barry – An American Hero in the Age of Sail written by Tim McGrath published in 2010 by Westholme Publishing, LLC, 904 Edgewood Road Yardley, Pennsylvania 19067 Barry grew to identify with America as his country, and Philadelphia as his home. By the time the American Revolution began Barry was a seasoned mariner and received a captain's commission in the

Continental Navy The Continental Navy was the navy of the United States during the American Revolutionary War and was founded October 13, 1775. The fleet cumulatively became relatively substantial through the efforts of the Continental Navy's patron John Adams ...

from the President of Congress,

John Hancock John Hancock ( – October 8, 1793) was an American Founding Father, merchant, statesman, and prominent Patriot of the American Revolution. He served as president of the Second Continental Congress and was the first and third Governor of the ...

, in March, 1776. On April 7, 1776, Captain Barry's brigantine, the ''Lexington'', engaged and captured the British sloop ''Edward''. It was the Continental Navy's first combat victory. During the war Barry became so successful against both Royal Naval vessels and Loyalist privateers that Admiral Richard Howe offered him a handsome sum and captain's commission in George III's navy. In 1779, Barry was without a command in the Continental Navy; Congress permitted him to accept the captaincy of the privateer brig ''Delaware''. John Kessler began his maritime career under Barry's tutelage. In Barry, the teenage Kessler acquired his best possible mentor; in Kessler, Barry found a loyal, smart understudy who became a trusted associate and friend for life.Give Me A Fast Ship – The Continental Navy and America’s Revolution at Sea written by Tim McGrath published in 2014 by the Penguin Group (USA) LLC, 375 Hudson Street, New York, New York 10014 He promoted Kessler from landsman to steward, clerk, and later Captain of Marines. The ''Delaware’s'' cruise to Port au Prince, Haiti, resulted in the capture of two prize eligible vessels. When the ''Delaware'' returned to Philadelphia, Barry returned to service in the Continental Navy, while Kessler remained with the privateer, whose command was transferred to Lieutenant James Collins. A subsequent voyage to St. Eustatia and

Port au Prince Port-au-Prince ( , ; ht, Pòtoprens ) is the capital and most populous city of Haiti. The city's population was estimated at 987,311 in 2015 with the metropolitan area estimated at a population of 2,618,894. The metropolitan area is defin ...

returned to Philadelphia without incident. On their next voyage to Port au Prince, the ''Delaware'' and her crew were captured by three British frigates, HMS ''Phoenix'', ''Pomona'', and ''Lowstoff''.Loss of the Phoenix written by John Kessler is on file at the Pennsylvania State Archives, 350 North Street, Harrisburg, PA 17120-0090 Lieutenant Collins, Kessler, and their fellow sailors were greeted by their captor, Sir Hyde Parker, with: ”My Lads, you will now consider yourselves as belonging to his Britannic Majesty’s Ship ''Phoenix'', and if you behave yourselves well you will be treated the same as the rest of the crew. But had I my will, I would hang every one of you for fighting against your King and Country.” John Kessler was assigned to the ''Pomona''. He was treated well, but was soon incarcerated by the British in Kingston, Jamaica on July 15, 1780. Sir Hyde Parker's flagship, ''Phoenix'', encountered very harsh weather, and soon ran aground, damaged beyond repair. Collins, Kessler, and about 15 crewmembers were assisted by Lieutenant Collins’ brother, who worked in Jamaica and helped them escape their Kingston captors in a small vessel. They sailed to Port au Prince, and arrived there on September 27, 1780. Once ashore, they decided to seek passage to America separately. Kessler took passage on a 20 gun ship whose destination was Salem, Massachusetts.

Midshipman and master mate on the Frigate ''Alliance''

A penniless, raggedly-clothed John Kessler arrived in Salem, Massachusetts on November 11, 1780. Having had no friend or contact in Salem, he learned that Captain Barry was captain of the 36 gun frigate ''Alliance'' docked in Boston. In spite of Kessler's shabby appearance, Barry recognized him immediately and gave him a hearty welcome. Desperately short of hands, Barry was as glad to see Kessler as he was glad to see Barry. Kessler accepted the position of acting midshipman aboard the ''Alliance'', thus beginning his service in the Continental Navy. For the next two years, their service together on the ''Alliance'' included engaging and capturing enemy ships of war on the high seas; safely transporting war leaders such as Marquis de Lafayette, Thomas Paine, and Colonel Laurens from America to France; overpowering a mutiny; and transporting desperately needed currency to America.Rough Sketch of Life of Commodore Barry written by John Kessler at the request of Mrs. Barry for a publication known as Port Folio. It is on file at the Pennsylvania State Archives, 350 North Street, Harrisburg, PA 17120-0090 Barry's courage, integrity, leadership, and sailing knowledge insured his, Midshipman Kessler's, and the ''Alliance’s'' survival under combat and severe weather. Kessler's duties expanded to ship's log keeper, allowing him to enter accounts of major naval combat activities. One of the most famous engagements occurred on May 29, 1781, when the ''Alliance'' was engaged by two British ships - the ''Atalanta'' and ''Trepassey''. Initially the ''Alliance'' was adrift by calm winds. The two British ships used their sweeps to maneuver themselves into advantageous positions off the ''Alliance’s'' stern. For three hours, their combined broadsides swept the deck and quarterdeck of the frigate, tearing into the rigging while inflicting numerous casualties. Kessler was wounded in the leg, and Barry was seriously wounded in the shoulder. Barry's loss of blood required his removal from the main deck but when his Lieutenant, Hoystead Hacker, suggested surrender, an enraged Barry emphatically declared that surrender would not be considered, and he demanded to be brought back to the ''Alliance’s'' deck if Hacker had truly lost his will to keep fighting. The emboldened Lieutenant Hacker resumed command and followed Barry's orders not to surrender. Soon the wind returned, allowing ''Alliance'' to sail and take control of the fight. In minutes, her broadsides changed the momentum of the battle. One British captain was killed; soon the surviving British captain Sampson Edwards, surrendered both ships. Kessler brought Edwards aboard the ''Alliance'' to Barry's cabin. When Edwards offered Barry his sword, he refused, simply saying “I return it to you, Sir – you have merited it and your King ought to give you a better ship – here is my cabin at your service, use it as if your own.” Throughout the war, Barry's treatment of prisoners was exemplary, and could be considered a paradigm for the standard of behavior accepted by today's United States military under similar circumstances. The ''Alliance'' continued cruising the Atlantic, its campaign, capturing a host of prizes. By war's end, Barry had promoted Kessler to Master's Mate. The Treaty of Paris signaled the end of the American Revolution. Barry had captured the first enemy ship of the American Revolution and, on March 10, 1783, fought the last sea battle of the American Revolution. The ''Alliance’s'' arrival in Providence on March 25, 1783, signaled the end of Kessler's service in America's Continental Navy.

Early chronicler of American navy history

Captain Barry was arguably one of the most skilled and capable sailing ship masters of his time. His outside communications were direct, succinct, and effective, but not effusive. He had self-confidence and courage in his knowledge of the sailing ship and its environment, but was not self-promoting, or arrogant. It would fall to future researchers and writers,Commodore John Barry written by Martin I. J. Griffin published in Philadelphia by the author in 1903 and sponsored by 400 subscriptions including 4 from John Kessler’s Great-Grandson Brigadier General Harry C. Kessler of Butte, MontanaCatholics And The American Revolution V2 written by Martin I. J. Griffin published in Philadelphia by the Author in 1909 and sponsored by 614 patronsCommodore John Barry – Father of the American Navy written by Joseph Gurn published in New York in 1933 by P. J. Kennedy & Sons, PublishersFather of the American Navy – Captain John Barry written by Floyd Anderson published in 1959 by Benziger Brothers, Inc. New York, Boston, Cincinnati, Chicago, San FranciscoFather of the American Navy – A Story of Captain John Barry (Revised) written by Brother Flavius, C.S.G. published in 1966 by Dujarie Press at Notre Dame, Indiana to establish John Barry's exemplary war accomplishments and place in American naval history. Barry and Kessler had become trusted friends during America's struggle for independence. They both resided in the Philadelphia area in the years following the American Revolutionary War and maintained their friendship. After Barry's death, their mutual friend John Brown teamed with Kessler to write early sketches of Barry's life for a magazine publication, Port Folio. Kessler's autobiographical sketch and his writings on Barry are on file at the Pennsylvania State Archives. Since 1903, they have been used as a foundational reference for early American naval history and four biographers of Captain John Barry.A Naval History of the American Revolution – Chapters 16 and 17

Distinguished Philadelphia citizen

John Kessler's post-war business and government career began in Boston. He married Abigail Anderson on October 6, 1783. Abigail gave birth to their first son, John, on July 11, 1784. He first moved his small family and fledgling business activities to Waldeborough, Maine. He moved to Philadelphia in May, 1793, and initially established himself as a shopkeeper. From their marriage until her death on December 3, 1793, Abigail gave birth to a total of six children. Five of them died shortly after birth. Only their first son survived to maturity. In May, 1795, Kessler married a widow, Martha Berrill Shriver. He gave up his shop keeping and applied his administrative and writing skills to assume valued administrative positions of responsibility in Philadelphia. In 1800 he was elected to the state legislature. this elevated the public's recognition of his administrative and financial talents that would offer many opportunities for future growth for the rest of his life. Kessler became friends with steamboat co-inventor, clockmaker, and first coiner of the U. S. Mint – Henry Voigt.Henry Voigt - Wikipedia, the free encyclopedia Voigt assisted David Rittenhouse with the construction and repair of an orrery for Princeton University.History Corner: Henry Voigt Professional Surveyor Archives by Silvio A. Bedini Historian Emeritus with the Smithsonian Institution, Washington, DC Voigt produced the surveying instrument used by U. S. Surveyor General, Isaac Briggs, to survey the Louisiana Purchase.Transit and Equal Altitude Instrument Smithsonian National Museum of American History Behring Center Physical Sciences Collection – Surveying and Geodesy Catalogue number: PH*311772 His surveying instrument, inscribed “Henry Voigt Philadelphia”, was transferred to the Smithsonian National Museum of American History in 1891. The Kessler and Voigt families became joined through marriage. Kessler's son, John, married Voigt's daughter, Catharine, at St. Michael's Lutheran Church in Philadelphia on August 28, 1808.Marriage records of St. Michael’s Lutheran Church in Philadelphia on file at the Philadelphia Historical Society Later, Kessler's niece, Maria Kessler, married Voigt's son Thomas. Thomas Voigt, after an apprenticeship with his father, Henry, assumed leadership of his family's clock making business when his father was appointed by President Washington to be the first coiner of the first U.S. Mint. One of their customers was President Thomas Jefferson. In 1812, Thomas built a floor-to-ceiling clock for President Jefferson known as the Astronomical Case Clock.Thomas Jefferson Encyclopedia article on President Jefferson’s Astronomical Case Clock This clock is functional today and stands in President Jefferson's study at his home, Monticello. In 1816, under purchase order, Thomas constructed a large floor-to-ceiling clock for the U. S. Senate. It became known as The Ohio ClockOhio Clock – Wikipedia, the free encyclopedia and is in daily operation today near the main entrance to the U. S. Senate chambers. John Kessler, died on March 17, 1840, and resides along with his wife, descendants, Henry, Maria, and Thomas Voigt at Laurel Hill National Park near Philadelphia, PA.

Epilogue

After the American Revolution ended with the Treaty of Paris, Captain Barry focused on securing back pay for his sailors. He also engaged in private shipping cruises to rebuild his own finances. In 1794, President Washington recognized that the young nation needed an organized Navy in addition to its Army. He offered six distinguished officers a commission in the new U.S. Navy as Captain with relative seniority rank. Barry became the U.S. Navy's first and highest ranking Captain. This appointment elevated him to the fledgling U.S. Navy's equivalent to today's Chief of Naval Operations. After accepting Washington's appointment, Captain Barry and shipbuilder Joshua Humphreys began building and staffing the first ships to comprise the U.S. Navy. Barry later assumed command of the large frigate, ''United States'', and served with the honorary rank of “Commodore” of the navy's first squadron. He faithfully served his country under Presidents Washington, Adams, and Jefferson as its senior Navy Officer until his death in 1803. Commodore Barry's fellow sailor, John Kessler, and longtime Irish friend John Brown eulogized their beloved Irish Catholic Commodore as “the first of patriots, and the best of men.” President Dwight D. Eisenhower honored Commodore Barry's service to the United States with the donation of a statue of Commodore Barry to the people of Wexford, Ireland on September 14, 1956.Letter from President Dwight D. Eisenhower to Ireland President O’Kelly dated September 14, 1956 courtesy of the American Presidency Project As a US Navy PT boat commander in World War II, President (then Lieutenant, j.g.) John F. Kennedy was also wounded engaging his country's enemy - Japan. His blockade of Cuba, accompanied by his willingness to leave his opponents room to find a peaceful solution to the Cuba Missile Crisis, made sure that the event remained only a crisis. And, while his advisors debated strategy in the Oval Office, John Barry's cutlass – the same one he used while serving with John Kessler, hung on the office wall. When President Kennedy visited Ireland, he placed a wreath at Commodore Barry's statue at Wexford, Ireland on June 27, 1963.Commodore John Barry - Wikipedia, the free Encyclopedia’s pages

References

{{DEFAULTSORT:Kessler, John 1761 births 1840 deaths American naval historians Continental Navy personnel Merchants from the Thirteen Colonies