Massachusetts State Navy
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The Massachusetts Naval Militia (at first called the Massachusetts Colonial Navy and later the Massachusetts State Navy), was a naval
militia A militia () is generally an army or some other fighting organization of non-professional soldiers, citizens of a country, or subjects of a state, who may perform military service during a time of need, as opposed to a professional force of r ...
active during the
American Revolutionary War The American Revolutionary War (April 19, 1775 – September 3, 1783), also known as the Revolutionary War or American War of Independence, was a major war of the American Revolution. Widely considered as the war that secured the independence of t ...
. It was founded December 29, 1775, to defend the interests of
Massachusetts Massachusetts (Massachusett language, Massachusett: ''Muhsachuweesut assachusett writing systems, məhswatʃəwiːsət'' English: , ), officially the Commonwealth of Massachusetts, is the most populous U.S. state, state in the New England ...
during the war. The flotilla utilized 25 vessels over the course of the war, acting in various roles such as prison ships, dispatch vessels, and combat cruisers. Its most infamous engagement was the 1779
Penobscot Expedition The Penobscot Expedition was a 44-ship American naval armada during the Revolutionary War assembled by the Provincial Congress of the Province of Massachusetts Bay. The flotilla of 19 warships and 25 support vessels sailed from Boston on July 1 ...
, in which not only all of its vessels were destroyed, but also those of
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 ...
s hired to assist in the expedition. It was later activated for the
War of 1812 The War of 1812 (18 June 1812 – 17 February 1815) was fought by the United States of America and its indigenous allies against the United Kingdom and its allies in British North America, with limited participation by Spain in Florida. It bega ...
and the
Spanish–American War , partof = the Philippine Revolution, the decolonization of the Americas, and the Cuban War of Independence , image = Collage infobox for Spanish-American War.jpg , image_size = 300px , caption = (clock ...
. As under 10 U.S. Code §7851 naval militias form part of the United States organized militia and therefore are considered as such, any action to reactivate one of the nation's historic naval militia forces falls either on the
Governor of Massachusetts The governor of the Commonwealth of Massachusetts is the chief executive officer of the government of Massachusetts. The governor is the head of the state cabinet and the commander-in-chief of the commonwealth's military forces. Massachusetts ...
or by legislative action of the chambers of the
Massachusetts General Court The Massachusetts General Court (formally styled the General Court of Massachusetts) is the state legislature of the Commonwealth of Massachusetts. The name "General Court" is a hold-over from the earliest days of the Massachusetts Bay Colony, ...
.


Authorization

Following the outbreak of the
American Revolutionary War The American Revolutionary War (April 19, 1775 – September 3, 1783), also known as the Revolutionary War or American War of Independence, was a major war of the American Revolution. Widely considered as the war that secured the independence of t ...
with the
Battles of Lexington and Concord The Battles of Lexington and Concord were the first military engagements of the American Revolutionary War. The battles were fought on April 19, 1775, in Middlesex County, Province of Massachusetts Bay, within the towns of Lexington, Concord ...
in April 1775, the
Massachusetts Provincial Congress The Massachusetts Provincial Congress (1774–1780) was a provisional government created in the Province of Massachusetts Bay early in the American Revolution. Based on the terms of the colonial charter, it exercised ''de facto'' control over the ...
, which effectively controlled the
Province of Massachusetts Bay The Province of Massachusetts Bay was a colony in British America which became one of the Thirteen Colonies, thirteen original states of the United States. It was chartered on October 7, 1691, by William III of England, William III and Mary II ...
, began discussing the need for naval defenses against raids and punitive actions by the
British British may refer to: Peoples, culture, and language * British people, nationals or natives of the United Kingdom, British Overseas Territories, and Crown Dependencies. ** Britishness, the British identity and common culture * British English, ...
Royal Navy The Royal Navy (RN) is the United Kingdom's naval warfare force. Although warships were used by English and Scottish kings from the early medieval period, the first major maritime engagements were fought in the Hundred Years' War against F ...
against coastal communities in the province. A committee set up for the purpose on June 7 submitted a report on June 12 recommending the outfitting of at least six vessels, mounting up to fourteen guns, that would be managed by the province's Committee of Safety. Further discussion was apparently delayed by the
Battle of Bunker Hill The Battle of Bunker Hill was fought on June 17, 1775, during the Siege of Boston in the first stage of the American Revolutionary War. The battle is named after Bunker Hill in Charlestown, Massachusetts, which was peripherally involved in ...
on June 17, and was not taken up again until August. In the interim, the Provincial Congress was replaced by the Massachusetts Great and General Court as the province's legislative body, with a council acting as the executive. It received a petition in August from the town of Machias in the
District of Maine The District of Maine was the governmental designation for what is now the U.S. state of Maine from October 25, 1780 to March 15, 1820, when it was admitted to the Union as the 23rd state. The district was a part of the Commonwealth of Massachuse ...
(now the state of
Maine Maine () is a state in the New England and Northeastern regions of the United States. It borders New Hampshire to the west, the Gulf of Maine to the southeast, and the Canadian provinces of New Brunswick and Quebec to the northeast and north ...
) for protection and relief following the June
Battle of Machias The Battle of Machias (June 11–12, 1775) was an early naval engagement of the American Revolutionary War, also known as the Battle of the ''Margaretta'', fought around the port of Machias, Maine. Following the outbreak of the war, British a ...
, in which a British sloop-of-war was seized, and the capture in July of two more British ships. The legislature responded by officially adopting ''Machias Liberty'' and ''Diligence'', appointing
Jeremiah O'Brien Captain Jeremiah O'Brien (1744–1818) was an Irish-American captain in the Massachusetts State Navy. Prior to its existence (or that of the Continental Navy), he commanded the sloop ''Unity'' when he captured the Royal Navy, British armed s ...
their commander, with authorization to hire up to thirty seamen. These two ships served the state until October 1776. On November 1, the Massachusetts legislature enacted a law authorizing the issuance of letters of marque, as well as the creation of
admiralty court Admiralty courts, also known as maritime courts, are courts exercising jurisdiction over all maritime contracts, torts, injuries, and offences. Admiralty courts in the United Kingdom England and Wales Scotland The Scottish court's earliest ...
s for judging naval disputes and the disposition of captured
prize A prize is an award to be given to a person or a group of people (such as sporting teams and organizations) to recognize and reward their actions and achievements.
ships and cargo. On February 7, 1776, it enacted a law authorizing the construction of ten sloops, to carry fourteen to sixteen guns each, and approved £10,000 for their construction.Paullin, p. 325


Ships, 1776 to 1779

The first ships constructed were the sloop ''Tyrannicide'' and the brigantines ''Rising Empire'' and ''Independence'', which were ready to sail in June 1776. These were followed by the sloops ''Republic'', ''Freedom'', and ''Massachusetts'' in September. While they were being built, additional legislation was enacted, establishing pay scales and rules for prize distribution, and in October a
Board of War The Board of War, also known as the Board of War and Ordinance, was created by the Second Continental Congress as a special standing committee to oversee the American Continental Army's administration and to make recommendations regarding the ar ...
was created to oversee naval activities (military as well as economic) of the state. Over the course of the war, several additional ships were either purchased or constructed by the state. In 1777, the brigantine ''Hazard'' was built, and in 1778 a plan to construct two larger ships was entertained and eventually abandoned due to the cost. The brigantine ''Active'', a prize taken by ''Hazard'', was purchased in 1779.Paullin, p. 335 In April 1778, construction was authorized on the largest ship in the state navy. ''Protector'', a 28-gun
frigate A frigate () is a type of warship. In different eras, the roles and capabilities of ships classified as frigates have varied somewhat. The name frigate in the 17th to early 18th centuries was given to any full-rigged ship built for speed and ...
and a crew complement of 200, was launched in the fall of 1779. Unfortunately, due to the disaster of the
Penobscot Expedition The Penobscot Expedition was a 44-ship American naval armada during the Revolutionary War assembled by the Provincial Congress of the Province of Massachusetts Bay. The flotilla of 19 warships and 25 support vessels sailed from Boston on July 1 ...
, it was then the only ship in the state navy.


New Constitution

Administration of the navy was changed with the adoption in 1780 of a new state constitution. The
governor A governor is an administrative leader and head of a polity or political region, ranking under the head of state and in some cases, such as governors-general, as the head of state's official representative. Depending on the type of political ...
was responsible for issuing commissions and orders, and the Agent of the Commonwealth was responsible for outfitting the state's ships, and the Board of War ceased to exist.Paullin, pp. 337-8


Ships, 1780 to 1783

The state continued to authorize new ships for the navy. In the spring of 1780 the ''Mars'' was purchased, and the ''Defence'' was purchased in 1781. During the following winter and spring, ''Tartar'' and ''Winthrop'', the last ship commissioned into the navy, were constructed for the state.Paullin, pp. 338–39


Privateering and prizes

The state issued nearly 1,000 letters of marque authorizing privateering activities.Paullin, p. 340 The Massachusetts prize courts were busiest in 1779, when more than 180 prizes were adjudicated. This activity resulted in a demand for prison capacity for the captured crews, and the competition between the state navy and the privateers resulted in increased costs to the state to man its ships.


Naval activities

While the state's ships were most often patrolling in nearby waters, they ranged as far as the European coast, where prizes were sometimes taken (although those were also often recovered by the British). Its ships sometimes worked in concert with privateers, Continental Navy vessels, and French vessels.Paullin, p. 344 On 25 November 1776, , a 14-gun brig with a crew of 70 men under the command of Lieutenant George (or James) Dawson, captured ''Independence'', Captain Simeon Sampson, after a hard fight during which Dawson out sailed Sampson. As ''Independence'' had a larger crew and outgunned ''Hope'' she should have prevailed, but superior sailing, tactics, and a better crew delivered the victory to ''Hope''.Clarke (1999), pp. 175-8. ''Hope'' escorted ''Independence'' to
Fort Cumberland A fortification is a military construction or building designed for the defense of territories in warfare, and is also used to establish rule in a region during peacetime. The term is derived from Latin ''fortis'' ("strong") and ''facere'' ...
, where 14 of her guns were transferred to the fort's defenses. On 5 May 1781 and captured ''Protector''. The British
Royal Navy The Royal Navy (RN) is the United Kingdom's naval warfare force. Although warships were used by English and Scottish kings from the early medieval period, the first major maritime engagements were fought in the Hundred Years' War against F ...
took her into service as HMS ''Hussar'', and then sold her in 1783. The
Danish East India Company The Danish East India Company ( da, Ostindisk Kompagni) refers to two separate Danish-Norwegian chartered companies. The first company operated between 1616 and 1650. The second company existed between 1670 and 1729, however, in 1730 it was re-fo ...
purchased her and she continued to sail at least through 1785 as ''Hussar''. Still, most of the Massachusetts navy's engagements were minor, involving only a small number of ships, and little or no combat. The most notable exception was the
Penobscot Expedition The Penobscot Expedition was a 44-ship American naval armada during the Revolutionary War assembled by the Provincial Congress of the Province of Massachusetts Bay. The flotilla of 19 warships and 25 support vessels sailed from Boston on July 1 ...
, organized by the state in response to a British expedition that established a fortified base on the eastern shore of
Penobscot Bay Penobscot Bay (french: Baie de Penobscot) is an inlet of the Gulf of Maine and Atlantic Ocean in south central Maine. The bay originates from the mouth of Maine's Penobscot River, downriver from Belfast, Maine, Belfast. Penobscot Bay has many ...
.For a detailed exposition of this expedition, see Buker. The naval component of the state's response included three ships of the state navy, one from the
New Hampshire State Navy The New Hampshire State Navy during the American Revolutionary War consisted of a single ship commissioned by the U.S. state, state of New Hampshire in 1779. The ''Hampden'', a privateer owned by John Langdon (politician), John Langdon, was purch ...
, three Continental Navy vessels, and numerous private vessels, including transports for the 1,000 militia that were sent to dislodge the British. The operation was a fiasco. 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 ...
's Commodore
Dudley Saltonstall Dudley Saltonstall (1738–1796) was an American naval commander during the American Revolutionary War. He is best known as the commander of the naval forces of the 1779 Penobscot Expedition, which ended in complete disaster, with all ships lost. ...
, who commanded the fleet, disagreed with
Solomon Lovell Solomon Lovell (1732–1801) was a brigadier general in the militia of Massachusetts Bay during the American Revolutionary War. He is best known for leading the land forces during the 1779 Penobscot Expedition, a disastrous attempt by Massachuset ...
, the militia commander, over the overall command of the expedition. When a British fleet arrived, Saltonstall's fleet disintegrated. Ships surrendered, grounded and burned, or were abandoned after fleeing up the
Penobscot River The Penobscot River (Abenaki: ''Pαnawάhpskewtəkʷ'') is a U.S. Geological Survey. National Hydrography Dataset high-resolution flowline dataThe National Map, accessed June 22, 2011 river in the U.S. state of Maine. Including the river's We ...
. The expedition has been called the worst United States naval defeat prior to the
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ese
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in
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. Inquiries into the matter faulted Saltonstall for his actions; he was dismissed from the navy. The navy continued in operations until June 4, 1783, when the ''Winthrop'', the last ship owned by the state, was sold.Paullin, pp. 353


Captains

The list of names is from PaullinPaullin, p. 342 unless otherwise cited; other fields are from other sources.


Ships

The list of names, ship type, and years of service are from PaullinPaullin, p. 342 unless otherwise cited; other fields are from other sources.


Notes


References

* Allen, Gardner Weld (1913) ''A naval history of the American Revolution''. Vol. 1. (Houghton Mifflin Company). * * Clarke, Ernest (1999) ''The Siege of Fort Cumberland, 1776: An Episode in the American Revolution''. (McGill-Queen's Press). * This work contains summary information on each of the various state navies. * This work contains a summary of the ''Republic'' history, and its captains.


External links


The Colonial Navy of Massachusetts
{{State Defense Forces History of the United States Navy Massachusetts in the American Revolution Military in Massachusetts State defense forces of the United States 1775 establishments in Massachusetts 1783 disestablishments in Massachusetts