The Spirit of '76

"The Spirit of '76"

This famous painting, The Spirit of '76, was painted by Archibald M. Willard, an amateur painter from Ohio. (Several versions of this painting were made, but this is the most famous version). The painting was made in time to be exhibited at the Centennial Exposition in Philadelphia, Penn. in 1876. Commonly referred to as Yankee Doodle, it was then transported and exhibited across the country before being purchased by General John Devereux of Marblehead. The painting is on permanent display in the selectman room at Abbott Hall, in Marblehead, Mass.

A number of other paintings are on display in the room, along with a marble bust of Elbridge Gerry, a signer of the the Declaration of Independence. Many other items relating to the history of Marblehead are on display throughout the building. A small maritime museum is located on the first floor, with viewing hours by appointment and by chance. Abbott Hall is located at 188 Washington St. Marblehead, Mass. 01945 Abbott Hall is closed on Sundays.

"Weekend With the Glovers"

Glover's Encampment
Fort Sewall
Front St.
Marblehead, Mass.

This weekend (July 10-12) Col. Glover's regiment will be hosting their annual summer encampment at Fort Sewall in Marblehead. Starting on Friday, re-enactors from all over New England will turn this former colonial era fort into an Revolutionary War encampment, with units representing Colonial militia, the British Navy and British Regulars (to include the King's Own) on hand.

The highlight of the weekend for the viewing public will be, as always, the pitched battles through the streets of Marblehead between the Colonial militia and the armed forces of His Majesty King George III. There are two battles scheduled for Saturday, one in the morning at 10:15 and another in the afternoon at 2:00.

Fort Sewall is open to the public until sunset and public facilities are available. Parking in the area adjacent to the Fort is very limited.

Mass. Bay Colony Tercentenary Commission signs

Massachusetts Bay Colony

Tercentenary Commission

(1630-1930)

In 1930 during the 300th anniversary of the establishment of the Massachusetts Bay Colony in the New World a special commission was established to mark the occasion. As part of its work the commission located historic sites in the Commonwealth and marked them with large black and white cast iron signs. Dozens of the signs were cast and then mounted or supported with poles and placed throughout the state. Some 78 years have passed and many of the signs are gone, but there are still some of them out there to be found. Here are just a few I have run across.

Col. Glover's Regiment returns to Cambridge

Longfellow House
National Historic Site

105 Brattle St.

Cambridge, Mass. 02138

Saturday afternoon, after a 233 year hiatus, Col. John Glover's Marblehead Regiment returned to Longfellow's House in Cambridge and set up camp. The last time the Glover's were encamped here was in 1775 when General George Washington was living here and the Glover's were serving as the Headquarters Guard.

Col. Glovers Regiment of colonial militia made up part of the 16,000 man force that had answered the call after the fighting of April 19, 1775 and were holding Boston and its occupying British forces in a stage of siege. Besides serving as the Headquarters Guard, the Glover's were a "rapid response" unit ready to reinforce any part of the siege lines that fell under attack.

Deciding he needed a naval force to raid British supply vessels, Gen. Washington again made use of the Glover's. The regiment was a mixed group, largely made up of sailors and fisherman, which made it the perfect choice for this mission. Detached from duty in Cambridge, they established a naval raiding force in Beverly, Mass., which included Col. Glover's own schooner, the Hannah.

In December of 1775 Glovers Regiment was disbanded and Col. Glover was ordered to begin recruiting troops for his new Regiment, the 14th Continental Regiment. Col. Glover and the 14th Regiment went on to serve throughout the war and provided much needed amphibious and marine capabilities to the Continental Army.

In August of 1776, in a heavy fog, the 14th Regiment ferried the brunt of the Continental Army from Brooklyn to New York, saving them from certain defeat and capture. Again on Christmas Day in 1776 they rowed Gen. Washington and his troops across the Delaware, in poor weather conditions, to attack a Hessian force at Trenton, New Jersey. Taking part in the fighting, they then ferried the victorious Americans back across the Delaware, along with the prisoners they had taken.

The recreated Col. Glover's Regiment is based in Marblehead, Massachusetts. In addition to attending various Revolutionary War reenactments, they are well known for their boisterous annual (every July) weekend encampment held at Fort Sewall, Marblehead.

Fort Sewall, Marblehead, Mass.

Fort Sewall

N/E end of Front St.

Marblehead, Mass.

Originally a part of the Town of Salem, by 1622 fisherman were making use of Marblehead harbor and its surroundings. The first settlers arrived here in 1629 and soon established their own community. Years later, still seeking to become fully independent of Salem and looking to provide for their own defense, it was determined to build fortifications on what was then called Gale's Head. In 1644 the General Court provided two cannon and some ammunition and a Fort of simple earthwork construction was built.

Due to the fear of French raiders, the Fort was expanded into the size and layout that we find today. This work was completed in 1742. By the time of the American Revolution the fort had a few cannon, with some powder and it had a small garrison. But it was during the War of 1812 that Fort Sewall played in its most important, or at least its most famous, role.

On Sunday April 3, 1814 the U.S.S. Constitution was being closely pursued by two British frigates, the Tenedos and the Endymion. Outgunned by the combined firepower of the two vessels, the Captain of "Old Ironsides" chose the better part of valor and sailed into Marblehead harbor, under the protective guns of the Fort. The famous fighting ship was saved to fight yet another day.

It was in that same year (1814) that the Fort was named after Marblehead resident and Chief Justice of Massachusetts, Samuel Sewall. In 1860, with the outbreak of the Civil War and facing a new enemy, the town appropriated money to again make needed repairs to the old fort. Along with funds from the U.S. government the work was completed and the Fort was manned by men from Massachusetts.

In 1922 custody of Fort Sewall was given over to the Town of Marblehead for the creation of a public park. The cannon and the gun emplacements are now long gone. What you will find instead is a paved walkway around the "bowl" of the Fort, with benches for seating. Some of the offices and guard rooms remain, but entrance to the lower magazines is blocked off.

The park is open from dawn to dusk, providing an excellent view of Marblehead harbor. There are restrooms located on site, but parking is limited.