Salem Maritime

National Historie Site, Massachusetts of the world. Salem's 150 privateering vessels The task of carrying the war to the British mer­ Throughout the war, sailors preferred to serve E would not remain idle in years to come. chant marine fell to America's merchant sea­ aboard privateers because their percentage of Independence meant losing foreign markets; men, sailing in private ships, the State navies, prize money—as well as their wages—were E Great Britain naturally closed her ports—and and the Continental Navy. At the beginning of higher than on Navy ships: privateers paid sea­ Elias Hasket Derby, 47 years old and well on those of her West Indian and other colonies—to 1776, the Continental Navy had only four ships men $12 to $16 per month, and one 14-year-old his way to becoming America's first millionaire, American vessels. So Salem shipowners, seek­ to put to sea, and was far too small to damage cabin boy's share of a month's prizes was said thrust the brass telescope through the second- ing new markets, sent vessels flying their house the Royal Navy. Congress, therefore, issued to total $700 in cash, a ton of sugar, 35 gallons story window of his counting house, looked past flags to the far corners of the world. They letters of marque and reprisal to individuals of rum, and 20 pounds each of cotton, ginger, the bustle and the ships berthed along the manned their ships with venturesome sailors, authorizing privately owned and operated ves­ logwood and allspice. family wharf, and scanned the horizon beyond many mere boys. And the merchants empow­ sels to capture enemy shipping for profit. Naugus Head. The horizon remained clear of ered their captains, some still In their teens, to In June 1778, with the news that France had act for them as buying and selling agents. entered the war, shipowners, following the sail, and eventually he put aside his glass. Early in the war privateers started to take their example of the Derbys of Salem, began to build Sighting Grand Turk, a favorite vessel he had toll. By the summer of 1776, faced with the The fame of Salem mariners dated back to vessels especially for privateering—big enough dispatched to the Far East almost 2 years earlier doubly rewarding prospect of taking enemy the early 1700's, when the town gained a repu­ to carry more than 20 guns and crews of 150, in 1785, would have given him a measure of shipping out of action and realizing prize money tation for having the New World's most able and and fast enough to run when outmatched. Such relief. A New York sloop had returned from from the sale of captured goods, many owners daring captains. And no wonder; many of her a ship was the 180-ton General Pickering, built China earlier that month, bringing news that had outfitted cargo and coastal craft with 6- or sons went to sea at an early age. A Salem boy in Salem and granted a letter of marque. She Grand Turk's captain planned to sail from Can­ 9-pounder cannon and sent them to sea. These breathed salt air from the day of his birth, fell carried 16 six-pounder guns and a crew of ton on New Year's Day of 1787. Derby had work first privateers, mostly small sloops and schoon­ asleep to snatches of sea chanteys blowing in 45 men and boys. What gave her a special to do, and so reluctantly he left the sighting to ers, were well armed and carried large crews on the onshore winds. A youth might ship as a place in privateering annals was the courage of the boys who lay on the rocks at The Neck, so they could man any prize. Other privateers cabin boy at the age of 14, captain a merchant her commander, 35-year-old Jonathan Haraden each one hoping to be first back to town with were larger and better armed, but they were vessel at 20, and by 40 retire from the sea to of Salem, and his ability to pass that courage the news that would earn him a Spanish silver few at the outset of hostilities. dollar from the vessel's owner. Derby, and his begin a career as a merchant as well as on to his crew. father before him, had dispensed many such shipowner. rewards In the 30 years since the seagoing fam­ The martial music of fife and drum had become A tall man, handsome with a high forehead, a ily had established themselves as Salem mer­ In 1768 Richard Derby financed the Essex commonplace by 1777 in coastal towns such as prominent nose, and close-cropped sandy hair, "To the farthest port of the rich chants. Now, the war years over, the Derbys Gazette, a newspaper that would become an Salem. A youth heading through twisted streets Haraden endeared himself to his men by tem­ East." As fishing village, haven for and other New England merchant-shipowners organ of the Revolution. Friction between Eng­ toward the sound would round one last corner pering his courage in battle with cool delibera­ privateers, and mercantile center, the were about to cross into an age of trade golden land and her American colonies was increasing. and come upon a knot of men listening to a tion, maintaining an easy-going air at other port of Salem was the embodiment beyond their expectations. In Salem, as elsewhere, British acts affecting smartly dressed ship's officer extolling the times, and showing a readiness to take advan­ of its exotic motto. Merchants like commerce and shipping were felt to be intol­ benefits of serving aboard a privateer—particu­ tage of anything luck brought his way. Elias Hasket Derby (above) sent their Richard Derby, who had turned over control of erable. In February 1775, after 5 years of larly the trim craft tied up to the wharf behind ships to sea in war and peace, seek­ the business to his second son, Elias, in the worsening relations, Thomas Gage, governor- him. A lad who stayed to listen might join oth­ In May 1780 Haraden set out on a voyage ing the world's wealth. Luxuries like 1770's, died in 1783 at the age of 71, but not general of Massachusetts, ordered soldiers to ers in accepting his invitation to step over to common to many letters of marque: he sailed Canton tea and china, staples like before seeing his youngest son, John, sail into seize ammunition and cannons in Salem. Some the tavern for free food and drink. And most, for Bilboa, Spain, with a cargo of sugar, and Russian iron and canvas flowed into port from Europe with the Nation's first news of belonged to Richard Derby, who refused to give after the fellowship that followed, thought it only planned to hunt enemy shipping on his return Salem and became in turn cargoes the end of the Revolutionary War—the signing them up. Two months later a similar order to right to sign the articles of service that the voyage, filling his empty hold with captured for ships embarking on new mercan­ of the Treaty of Paris. Ellas never went to sea, British soldiers sent them marching to Concord officer promised would certainly bring them cargo. After an uneventful trip across the North tile ventures. but Salem families like the Derbys played an and led to the firing of the shot "heard 'round adventure and possibly wealth beyond their Atlantic, the ship encountered a British cutter important part in the war, and many reaped a the world." John Derby immediately sailed for imaginings. A privateer's officers and crew, as of 22 guns but fought her off in a 2-hour run­ profit from privateering ventures; at war's end, England in Quero and reached London in late well as her owner, stood to gain from capture ning battle. In the Bay of Biscay a few nights they had the resources and the will to help their May, providing the British with the colonies' of a rich prize, for each got a percentage of later Haraden closed unobserved with another town, State, and Nation gain economic stability side of the April 19 skirmish and the first news the total prize money. vessel his lookout thought to be more heavily and their townsmen renown as merchant-seamen of the war—copies of the Essex Gazette. way, off Sandy Hook on the New Jersey coast, weeks. Grand Turk navigated the treacherous shortened sail and fired a salute. From through­ they met three armed British merchantmen that Sunda Straits and entered the balmy, archipel­ out the town, people flocked to the waterfront. split up and ran. General Pickering fought and ago-studded Java Sea before passing into the Ready hands took holds of hawsers and eased captured each one singly, then brought them South China Sea. In early September she sailed her into the wharf. Derby stepped aboard with into Salem—ending a voyage as profitable as out of the North China Sea and picked up a other townspeople who were eager to greet the it was adventurous. Chinese pilot at the Portuguese colony of crew and admire the curios they had brought Macao. Passing the dark, narrow peak of Lintin back. But after a few minutes Derby went below £ One of the most successful of New England's Island, she beat 60 miles up the Pearl River with his captain to review the manifest, join in Revolutionary War privateersmen, Haraden is under the guidance of the pilot. Rounding a a toast to successful completion of one venture, E said to have captured more than 60 ships, final bend, Grand Turk came upon the river's and just possibly talk of others to come. mounting 1,000 guns. Other Salem captains did deepwater anchorage at Whampoa, where for­ 3 well, too. By the time John Derby brought home eign ships anchored in a line that sometimes For Derby, the wooing of the China market the Nation's first news of the signing of the stretched for 3 miles. would be short and profitable. In 1789 his ship Treaty of Paris, the privateers that the town of Astrea again carried a mixed cargo to Canton; less than 6,000 had put to sea had captured Grand Turk nosed through the sampans, their he sometimes spent a year assembling goods almost 450 vessels and had brought most of cooking fires burning astern and wafting strange for his eastern voyages—iron and hemp from them into port. However, the British fleet had smells over the teeming river. The Salem trader the Baltic, wines from France, rum from the captured more than 50 of Salem's privateers, passed large, ocean-going junks with eyes West Indies, and provisions such as flour and Grand Turk and many other Salem ships were lost at sea. meat from American ports. He also invited Jonathan Haraden painted on their sharp prows to spy out devils and smaller river junks manned by naked coo­ townspeople to consign goods for sale in for­ Capt. Charles Derby entered port in 1795 with The American merchant marine now was about lies. She berthed among vessels from Holland, eign ports. As a result, Astrea carried such odd armed than General Pickering. Without hesi­ Arabian coffee, starting a Salem monopoly of to come of age. An independent America was Spain, France, Britain, Denmark and Sweden, items as 50 boxes of chocolates, two boxes of tating, Haraden brought his blacked-out ship the trade from Muscat and Mocha that lasted not permitted by Britain to continue the pre­ all veterans of the China trade. women's shoes, 228 handkerchiefs, and a buggy alongside, took a deep breath, and bellowed a until 1807. In 1796 Capt. Henry Prince, in war practice of buying Chinese teas from and harness. She arrived in Canton in 1789, a bluff through his speaking trumpet: he identified Derby's Astrea II, set out to open American Britain's East India Company, which had an There she would lie for more than 3 months as year that found four other Salem vessels—three his ship as "an American frigate of the largest trade with the Philippines—in sugar, pepper, absolute monopoly on trade between Canton Captain West awaited the arrival of the best of them Derby's—among the 15 American ships class." Taken by surprise and unable to verify indigo, and Manila hemp. and England and her colonies. So practical men teas and went through the complex process anchored at Whampoa. Asfrea, as a latecomer, the statement in the dark, the captain of the decided to send their own ships to Canton. A of selling, buying, and dealing with Chinese found little demand for American wares or for 22-gun British privateer Golden Eagle struck Through other wharves in Salem—Derby's was New York financier renamed a privateer Em­ merchants through government officials. The ginseng, the medicinal herb, highly prized by her colors within minutes. When he came only one of 45 in 1801—and all along the press of China and dispatched her the year crew, meantime, overhauled and repainted the the Chinese, which Americans used to open aboard General Pickering as a prisoner of war ship. When not working they took in the sights Atlantic seaboard, foreign imports—as frivolous after the signing of the Treaty of Paris. A Salem the China trade. as jungle beasts, as essential as basic metals— and learned that his ship carried more guns— ship was not far behind. Manned by a crew of of Canton, marvelling at a world where birds and crewmen—he was furious. sang in gilded cages, where hauntingly strange flowed into the United States, while exports 13 under Capt. Ebenezer West, Grand Turk Already Americans had begun to look for new passed into the world economy. Coasters also sailed for the Isle of France (Mauritius) in the strains of Oriental music floated over the dark wares to trade for the teas and silks in demand. Several days later as General Pickering and her waters alight with flares of flaming joss paper, loaded and unloaded at the same wharves. Indian Ocean in December 1785, carrying a A ship, Columbia, sailing from Boston but Some cargoes were sold locally, others ware­ prize neared the Spanish harbor, Haraden's varied cargo that Derby had been accumulating where jugglers, cobblers, barbers and beggars owned in part by Salem men, including John lookouts spotted a vessel coming out under vied with merchants of fireworks, ivory, herbs housed for later overseas ventures. In many —as was his method—over a number of months. Derby, discovered in 1789 that the skin of sea instances, foreign goods were stored right on heavy sail to meet them. The captain of Golden Finding the market there depressed, Captain and gold for the attention—and the money—of otters found along America's northwest coast Eagle cheerfully informed Haraden that the gawking sailors. When Grand Turk finally sailed the wharf, or just off it, in a warehouse; teas West went on to Canton. brought top value in the China trade. Boston coming in from China in May might be shipped vessel was the British privateer Achilles, mount­ for home on January 1, she carried, in addition men soon took over the business, sailing around ing 42 guns and carrying 140 men. Haraden out to Europe in November. As a privateer the 300-ton Grand Turk, carrying to sundry goods and wiser crewmen, her main Cape Horn, bartering with the Pacific Northwest replied simply: "I shan't run from her." He was 28 guns and 128 men, had captured 16 prizes cargo of 400 chests of Bohea tea that Massa­ Indians for skins. Some broke the voyage to The wharf came under the command of a determined to deliver both his sugar and his in her four voyages. But on her first trip out as chusetts ladies soon would be sampling from hunt seals off Chile or trade for sandalwood in wharfinger, or manager, appointed by its owners. prize to Bilboa. a merchant vessel she got off to a poor start. the china services also stowed belowdecks. the Hawaiian Islands, both enterprises profiting From his small office, where often a coal fire Buffeted by winter gales in the North Atlantic, them in the China trade. burned to combat the waterfront damp, he As the wind subsided, Achilles closed and then becalmed in the doldrums farther south, The sight of the Grand Turk off Bakers Island tended his complex business: charging vessels recaptured Golden Eagle, while Haraden, alert she put into Table Bay at the Cape of Good on May 22, 1787, gladdened the heart of Elias As the China market began to overflow with for loading and unloading, buying and selling to every breath of wind remaining, maneuvered Hope after 82 days at sea. Captain West re­ Derby, for his ship, and investment, were safe. American goods, so America's tea market provisions and ballast for outward bound ships, to the position from which he had chosen to ported sails split and rotted, spars sprung, and As she passed Naugus Head, Captain West became saturated. By 1790 Derby had all but auctioning Incoming trade goods left on con-

"Considble Loss in the Cargo by Heads of E dropped out of the China trade, seeking com­ E Cask Swelling out." Three weeks later, after merce in other areas, and other merchants had making major repairs and selling cargo to at least slacked off. Between 1785 and 1799 E E lighten the ship, the captain sailed across the Derby's ships made only 4 voyages to China, Indian Ocean toward the Isle of France and, 3 but 35 to the East Indies and India. Many Salem within 5 weeks, dropped anchor in the open ships continued to chart courses to the Far roadstead off Port Louis. There he got his sec­ East. Derby sent his son Elias Jr. to India, ond setback, finding money scarce, local buy­ where he opened American trade with Calcutta ing power low, and little opportunity to refill his and Madras, making more money there for his hold with an outbound cargo. By July 1, after 2 father than the China trade did that year. Derby months in port, he had sold some of the goods continued to do business in Russia, a market —among them, 50 boxes of spermaceti candles opened in 1784 when his bark Light Horse and 22 boxes of prunes—and had chartered the touched at Kronstadt, the port of St. Peters­ space in his hold to a French trader who wanted burg. In 1797 Salem's Rajah arrived with to ship ebony, gold thread and betel nuts to America's first shipment of pepper from its Canton to exchange for teas. Outbound under source, Sumatra, and established Salem as the tropic skies, the lookout raised Java Head in 3 Derby Ship John world pepper emporium for a decade to come. Whampoa Anchorage, 1850 Privateer Ensign fight—inside a line of shoals that the heavier This 1797 view of Salem shows Derby Wharf with three warehouses that stored goods from the West Indies, Russia, or Canton. signment, and protecting the wharf from fire enemy could not cross. After ordering the men and the dock from being shallowed by the a to be ready for battle in the morning, Haraden a dumping of ballast. retired for a sound night's sleep. When finished a. with their tasks, those Salem boys who could The wharfinger worked in the center of a town's not sleep took to the rigging to watch the scene EC commercial activity. In the Salem of 1807, for ashore, where thousands of Spaniards spent the example, the man in charge of Derby Wharf night before bonfires, dancing, carousing, and O might have five or six vessels docked on the shouting insults at Achilles—the representative westerly side, maintaining a brisk movement of O of a nation that had dealt defeat to Spain upon U goods between them and the five warehouses the seas since the days of the Spanish Armada. ranged along the easterly length of the wharf behind an array of cargo scales, booms, On a light dawn breeze, Achilles, whose guns winches, tackle, and cordage. Other ware­ and men outnumbered General Pickering's by houses, owners' counting rooms, sailmakers' 3 to 1, crept toward the shoals. Ashore, Span­ lofts, ship chandlers' stores and retail outlets iards shouted defiance. Haraden kept his for imported goods crowded the seaward side of broadside to the approaching Achilles and Derby Street near the wharf, facing the houses maintained a raking fire upon the British of the gentry. From the back rooms of some of privateer. Since Achilles could not fire directly the waterfront buildings came the scream of ahead, she was practically defenseless. For 2 parrots, the chatter of monkeys, brought back hours shot struck hull, deck, sails, and rigging from distant shores. Sailors recently returned of the British vessel. Then with his ammunition from the Indies, Russia, Australia or China, running low Haraden ordered his sweating talked loudly on street corners, in front of gunners to load with crowbars, cargo from a boarding houses and taverns. Wagons creaked previous prize. After receiving this terrible and horses clattered over the cobblestones, volley, Achilles ran for sea on a fresh breeze. while the caulkers' mallet kept up its regular Haraden gave chase under full sail, retook tatoo. But for all activity to come up short, Golden Eagle, but could not catch the fleeing a lad out of breath after his run from The Neck Achilles, and returned to a hero's welcome in had only to shout: "An Indiaman! An Indiaman! Bilboa. Later, with cargo and prize sold, Hara­ Look to Naugus Head!" den and his men sailed for home. Along the Stratford C. Jones Salem Maritime

3 Until 1806, the wharf ended Waterfront Buildings C In the Scale House were stored About Your Visit o A Tour of Salem's here. The extension was added In 1790 Salem was the sixth weighing and measuring de­ Salem Maritime National Historic Site is on Derby Old Waterfront to provide more deep water city of the United States, and vices used to determine value Street, Salem, 20 miles northeast of Boston. berths as the volume of ship­ the duties collected in the port of cargoes. Some of the equip­ Derby Wharf ping increased. on vessels entering from a ment is still in operation. Salem was always a busy port, foreign voyage furnished one- Groups may receive special service if advance but especially so in the yea.s 4 Around the time this extension twentieth of all the Federal 9 Hawkes House was designed I was built, more wharves were Government's revenues. In a by Samuel Mclntire, Salem's arrangements are made at the site. between the Revolution and the O War of 1812. On any day a being constructed near the day before the Internal Rev­ great architect. Capt. Benjamin O dozen vessels—schooners, mouth of the harbor to the east­ enue Service and income Hawkes, who operated a ship­ Administration brigs, and ships—-might be ward. Gradually the inner har­ taxes, the customs officers— yard directly across the street, Salem Maritime National Historic Site is seen entering or leaving port. bor was filled in. You can see collector, surveyor, weighers, bought the house in 1801 and The wharf was the center of this what is left by looking west past gaugers, measurers, inspec­ completed it in its present form. administered by the National Park Service, activity, and the ships alongside Central Wharf. tors, boatmen, and clerks— The house is the only known U. S. Department of the Interior. A superin­ might be loading tea, fish, or were responsible for obtaining privateer prize warehouse left the government's revenues. in Salem and was used as tendent, whose address is Custom House, timber for Boston, Kingston, or 5 Wharves were built by floating Savannah. such by Elias Hasket Derby Derby Street, Salem, MA 01970, is in timber rafts into position, then during the Revolution. sinking them with stones. Some Walking back toward the shore immediate charge. A ship standing in with the tide of the oldest stonework in Der­ you will see the buildings along between Winter Island and by Wharf, dating from 1806, can Derby Street appear about as Naugus Head, clews up her be seen at the bottom of the they did to a seaman returning As the Nation's principal conservation agency, courses and topgallant sails, east wall between the two mod­ to port. the Department of the Interior has responsibility rounds to off Derby Wharf, and ern small boat piers. for most of our nationally owned public lands is warped in to the pier. In her hold might be silk, iron, or pep- '5 Beyond the islands to the east, and natural resources. This includes fostering per from Bombay, Kronstadt, you can see the Atlantic about the wisest use of our land and water resources, or Sumatra. 5 miles away. The lighthouse protecting our fish and wildlife, preserving the on Baker's Island marks the Derby Wharf was continually channel entrance. The numer­ E Derby House, now the oldest environmental and cultural values of our busy distributing the products ous rocks helped make Salem brick dwelling in Saiem, was national parks and historical places, and pro­ of world commerce. In wartime the only major American port erected in 1761-62 for Elias viding for the enjoyment of life through outdoor trade was replaced by the never held by the British in the Hasket Derby by his father, martial preparations of priva­ Revolution. Capt. Richard Derby. Elias and recreation. The Department assesses our en­ teers and auctions of their his family lived here until after ergy and mineral resources and works to assure prizes and cargoes. War or 7 Salem Harbor has a 9-foot tidal the Revolution. Above peace, Salem's waterfront was range. Ships docked and sailed that their development is in the best interests a scene of maritime enterprise. at high tide—and settled in the A The Custom House was built in F West India Goods Store was mud when the tide was out. 1819 for the officers of the cus­ of all our people. The Department also has a built in the early 1800's, by Most Salem vessels were small toms revenue who handled the major responsibility for American Indian reser­ 1 Derby Wharf was Salem's long­ Capt. Henry Prince, who lived in and did not need very deep business of the port for the Fed­ est and busiest in the heyday the Derby House next door. It vation communities and for people who live in water. A 100-foot vessel would eral Government. Several of­ between the Revolution and the was one of the many shops Island Territories under U.S. administration. War of 1812. The red building have a draft of about 10 feet. fices are restored, including one used by Nathaniel Haw­ along the waterfront where im­ on Central Wharf is an exterior ported goods were sold. copy of a typical warehouse. '3 This lighthouse, built in 1871, is thorne. The cupola atop the still in use. By keeping this light building is regularly open to visitors. Above 2 At this warehouse in April 1791 in line with the red lighthouse the cargo of the brig Henry from further out, vessels will stay in India and the Cape of Good the channel. Oil tankers dock­ B The Bonded Warehouse was Hope was auctioned. Chintz, ing near the mouth of the har­ used for the storage of cargoes cottons, gingham, indigo, os­ bor are the only oceangoing awaiting re-export or payment trich feathers, raisins, wine, vessels now using the port. of customs duties. The original China silks, and chests of tea hoisting winch and other pieces drew local merchants and of equipment are still in oper­ townspeople. ation, and tea chests, rum bar­ rels, and other typical cargoes can be seen.

National Park Service U.S. Department of the Interior National Historic Site, Massachusetts