Rev. Mr. Robert Keith, Chaplain

Posted on June 21, 2010 by Joe

Robert Keith. The Mr. Keith who is named by James L. Howard as the frigate Confederacy’s chaplain on page 210 of Seth Harding: Mariner is Robert Keith. The fifth of nine or ten children of Captain William Keith (1714-1781) and Margaret Stockton (1721-1772), Robert was probably born in 1753, although some genealogical sources suggest he was born as early as 1747. He was the older brother of Isaac Stockton Keith born on 20 January 1755 who, like Robert, also became a Presbyterian minister. Continue reading →

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Elisha Fuller, Seaman

Posted on May 23, 2010 by Joe

Elisha Fuller. Elisha Fuller was born on 8 October 1761 in Lynn, MA to Elisha Fuller and Sarah Dispaw (aka Dispay). His parents intention to marry was published in Elisha’s hometown of Lynn on 25 December 1748 and their marriage occurred on 25 September 1750 in Sarah’s hometown of Chelsea. Continue reading →

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William Nourse, Midshipman

Posted on May 16, 2010 by Joe

William Nourse. According to the Nourse Family Bible which can be viewed online at http://www.noursefamily.net/docs/Nourse-Bible-Entries.pdf , William Nourse was born on 30 October 1763 in London. He was named after an older brother who died in infancy. Continue reading →

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Henry Norris, Private of Marines

Posted on May 11, 2010 by Joe

Henry Norris. According to the pension application #W-17407 of Norris’ widow Desire, Henry Norris, Jr. served on the Trumbull under Elisha Hinman beginning in August 1779 and subsequently under James Nicholson in an engagement between the Trumbull and Watt. According to the pension application, he entered service on the Confederacy in October or November 1780 and sailed under Captain Seth Harding until captured on 14 April 1781. Continue reading →

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Simon Gross, 1st Lieutenant

Posted on May 11, 2010 by Joe

Simon Gross. Simon Gross was commissioned as a Lieutenant in the Continental Navy on 12 October 1776. Gross is noted as Lieutenant on the list of officers and men belonging to the ship Boston under Captain Hector McNeill in 1777. His battle station on that list was designated as deck abaft. The 24 gun frigate Boston was built by Stephen and Ralph Cross of Newburyport, MA and launched on 3 June 1776. Continue reading →

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