Maine Memory Network

Contributed by Maine Historical Society

Description

Elihu Gunnison, a ship's carpenter from Portland, wrote to Samuel Whiting of New York to tell him that the U.S. privateer Young Teazer was "blone up" and the surviving sailors imprisoned in Halifax, Nova Scotia.

The Young Teazer sailed mostly in the Gulf of Maine, preying on British ships, and had at least seven crewmen recruited in Portland on board.

British ships chased the Young Teazer in Mahone Bay, Nova Scotia, and a member of the privateeer's crew, who wanted to avoid capture, threw coal into the ammunition magazine. The ship exploded.

There were eight survivors.

The sailor writing the letter is concerned, in part, about prize money earned by sailors.

At the end of the letter is an endorsement from Samuel F. Whiting to authorize the prize money to be paid.

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Transcription

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About This Item

• Title: Sailor account of attack on ship, Halifax, Nova Scotia, 1813
• Creator: Elihu Gunnison
• Creation Date: 1813-07-08
• Subject Date: 1813
• Locations:
  • Portland, Cumberland County, ME
  • NS, Canada
• Media: Ink on paper
• Dimensions: 23 cm x 18.2 cm
• Local Code: Coll. 21, Box 7/6
• Collection: Thomas G. Thornton papers
• Object Type: Text

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Cross Reference Searches

Standardized Subject Headings

• Campaigns & battles--Nova Scotia
• Naval warfare--Nova Scotia
• Prizes (Property captured at sea)
• Sailors--Maine--Portland
• United States--History--War of 1812--Prizes, etc.
• Young Teazer (Privateer)

People

• Gunnison, Elihu

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For more information about this item, contact:

Maine Historical Society
485 Congress Street, Portland, ME 04101
(207) 774-1822 x230
Website

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