This is the second of three articles on privateering in Marblehead history.
Nathaniel Lindsey Sr. died in 1798. Marblehead at the time of his death, newly post-Revolution, was grateful for the end of the war and the start of their new Republic, and proud of the role the townspeople had played in winning independence.
Marblehead was also reeling from the loss of so many of its ships, and especially its men, during the War of Independence. While still proud, Marblehead was no longer the very wealthy community it was pre-revolution.
The new democracy, so hard earned, was far from settled on the international front. By 1812, another hot war with Britain had started.
Nathaniel Lindsey Jr., a child during the Revolutionary War, seized the opportunity to benefit from the War of 1812 as a privateer.
Unlike his father, who served as an agent for various ships from land, Lindsey Jr. went to sea as captain of his privateer, the Brigantine Growler. Lindsey Jr. was also involved in ownership of the ships American Hero, Print, Legal Tender, Ruthy, Four Sisters, Victory and Spring Bird.
Nathaniel Lindsey Jr. did not compulsively save all his letters and documents. What we know of his naval career and his participation in the War of 1812 as a privateer follows.
Lindsey was an accomplished captain by the outbreak of the second war with Britain. He primarily captained merchant vessels owned by men in Salem and Marblehead, sailing throughout Europe and even as far as Alexandria, Egypt.
The embargo put in place by President Thomas Jefferson from 1807-1809, followed by the outbreak of the War of 1812, severely hindered the East Coast shipping business that had become brisk again following the Revolution.
After war was declared, many shipping vessels, like the American Hero and Two Brothers, were once again fitted out as privateers, adding swivel guns and cannons to otherwise barely armed ships. Once a ship was licensed as a privateer, all the usual fees applicable to shipping became costs which were charged against captured prizes and deducted from the funds that financed shares.
Records indicate that Lindsey claimed at least one significant prize as captain of the Growler. In April of 1812, he and his crew captured the 10-gun Brigantine Anne, which was laden with a cargo worth $100,000. Lindsey also is recorded as capturing at least two other enemy vessels.
Lindsey continued his career at sea for many years following his days as a privateering captain. In 1829, while captain of the merchant vessel Candace, Lindsey and his crew were captured by pirates but were released unharmed after surrendering their cache of money on board.
After retiring as a mariner, Lindsey served Marblehead as a selectman and as postmaster.
Like the Lindsey family, Marblehead’s Brown family also scrupulously saved letters and documents over the centuries. Brown descendant Sally Sands has generously donated a significant portion of those papers to the Marblehead Museum for safekeeping and research.
At the time of the War of Independence and the War of 1812, the Browns were primarily successful commercial fishermen. At the outbreak of the Revolution, family papers show that the family owned the privateer schooner Spring Bird (Nathaniel Lindsey Sr.’s records show that he served as an agent for the Spring Bird.) The Spring Bird had a succession of commanders including James Dennis, William Denis, Thomas Elkins, John Pettin and Joseph Northey (Note that these names are spelled in a variety of ways in a variety of documents).
The Spring Bird was commissioned on March 10, 1778, and was outfitted with 14 swivel guns and four cannons. Spring Bird was a remarkably successful privateer. From April 1778 to July 1779, while commanded by James Dennis, the boat captured 13 prizes.
The Raven, another ship co-owned by the Browns with partners including Samuel Gale, was not as successful, or even very lucky. The Raven was commissioned on Aug. 28, 1778. She sailed for less than a year until captured by the British in May of 1779 while captained by John Brown. The Raven was grounded and abandoned in Nova Scotia, but the crew was able to escape unharmed. Once refloated, the Raven was brought into port in Halifax on June 19, 1779, to be auctioned off.
By 1793, the Browns were back to their previous occupation as commercial fishermen.
Next up: Glover Broughton; privateer, prisoner and hero
Jo Ann Augeri Silva
Marblehead resident Jo Ann Augeri Silva, a retired journalist, author, public relations professional and educator, was an editor of the Marblehead Reporter.
