The War of 1812


John Hardy on War of 1812 naval battles, Sandy Hook, New York, 1813

John Hardy on War of 1812 naval battles, Sandy Hook, New York, 1813
Item 104423   info
Old Canada Road Historical Society

John Hardy wrote this letter on May 15, 1813, aboard the U.S. frigate "United States," to his wife, Mary Parsons Hardy of Kittery Point.

John Hardy was born in Skipsea, England in 1779, and died of yellow fever while on a merchant voyage to the West Indies in 1816. He served as Quartermaster on the frigate "United States" during the War of 1812, under Commodore Stephen Decatur. He took part in a battle with the British frigate "Macedonian" on October 25, 1812, when twelve of his shipmates were killed or wounded. Hardy was transferred and served to the end of the war on the frigate "President."

Mary Parsons Hardy (1787-1874) was a daughter of Richard and Dorothy (Lamphor) Parsons of Kittery Point.

Broadside on end of War of 1812, 1815

Broadside on end of War of 1812, 1815
Item 20166   info
Maine Historical Society

A broadside announced "Peace Concluded" in 1815, the end of the War of 1812 between Britain and the United States. It discusses the various ways people in Portland could celebrate the end of the war.

Frye H. Eastman War of 1812 bounty land claim, Portland, 1858

Frye H. Eastman War of 1812 bounty land claim, Portland, 1858
Item 100500   info
Maine Historical Society

Commissioner of Pensions George C. Whiting, who examined pension applications from soldiers in the War of 1812, wrote to lawyer Freeman Bradford of Portland recommending that the the claim of Frye H. Eastman be denied.

As a result of a law passed in 1855, bounty land claims were extended to soldiers who had served as few as 14 days in the war. Eastman was 19 years old and a fifer in a company headed by Capt. David Johnson of Harpswell.

The company hoped to guard Harpswell, but was sent to Bath. After a report of attacks on the Harpswell coast, about a dozen soldiers, including Eastman, headed for Harpswell and were termed deserters.

Peace announcement, 1815

Peace announcement, 1815
Item 20168   info
Maine Historical Society

A broadside dated February 14, 1815 announced that the peace treaty was signed ending the War of 1812.

Samuel Whiting letter on occupation of Castine, 1814

Samuel Whiting letter on occupation of Castine, 1814
Item 20813   info
Maine Historical Society

Samuel Whiting of Bangor wrote to William King of Bath recommending militia action to oust the British from Castine.

The British occupied the coastal community during the War of 1812 and Whiting noted that sentiment of residents, who had hoped for financial advantage from the occupation, had shifted.

James Monroe to John Holmes regarding the Treaty of Ghent, 1816

James Monroe to John Holmes regarding the Treaty of Ghent, 1816
Item 102124   info
Maine Historical Society

John Holmes (1773-1843), was a state senator of Massachusetts whom was instrumental in establishing Maine statehood in 1820 and later resident of Alfred, Maine.

Secretary of State James Monroe (1758-1831) wrote to John Holmes on behalf of President James Madison (1751-1836), naming Holmes commissioner of the fourth article of the Treaty of Ghent.

The Treaty of Ghent ended the War of 1812 between the United States and Great Britain. The fourth article was specific to the Bay of Fundy, with Holmes responsible for determining which islands in the bay belonged to the United States and which belonged to Great Britain.

Peleg Wadsworth III canteen, ca. 1812

Peleg Wadsworth III canteen, ca. 1812
Item 11147   info
Maine Historical Society

Peleg Wadsworth III (1793-1875) may have used this wooden canteen in the War of 1812. Wadsworth, the son of Peleg and Elizabeth Bartlett Wadsworth, was a general in the Maine Militia.

His first initial and last name are inscribed on the canteen, and a cross is carved on each side.

Chapeau-bras, ca. 1820

Chapeau-bras, ca. 1820
Item 48977   info
Maine Historical Society

A chapeau-bras -- a flat bicorne hat -- made of beaver felt belonged to Peleg Wadsworth (1793-1875).

Wadsworth was the son of Peleg Wadsworth (1748-1829) and Elizabeth Bartlett Wadsworth ( -1825).

He served as a general in the militia of Maine and lived in Hiram.

Distribution of separationist sentiment, Portland, 1816

Distribution of separationist sentiment, Portland, 1816
Item 103664   info
Maine Historical Society

Samuel Ayer wrote to Benjamin Ames about the behind-the-scenes propaganda of the post-War of 1812 separation (Maine from Massachusetts) movement. Ayer sought a financial contribution to print and distribute a pro-separation pamphlet, for "the love of Maine." Within this short letter, admittedly written “in haste,” Ayer provided insight into the movement's contemporary printing prices and methods.

John Quincy Adams letter on Northeast Boundary, 1823

John Quincy Adams letter on Northeast Boundary, 1823
Item 28422   info
Maine Historical Society

Vice President John Quincy Adams wrote to Maine Governor Albion K. Parris, to inform him of the latest developments in the efforts to resolve the Northeast boundary dispute.

He noted that Britain had authorized two persons to negotiate with Envoy Richard Rush about the boundary between Maine and Canada.

Distribution of separationist sentiment, Portland, 1816

Distribution of separationist sentiment, Portland, 1816
Item 103664   info
Maine Historical Society

Samuel Ayer wrote to Benjamin Ames about the behind-the-scenes propaganda of the post-War of 1812 separation (Maine from Massachusetts) movement. Ayer sought a financial contribution to print and distribute a pro-separation pamphlet, for "the love of Maine." Within this short letter, admittedly written “in haste,” Ayer provided insight into the movement's contemporary printing prices and methods.

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