Defence (1779 brigantine) facts for kids
Quick facts for kids History |
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|---|---|
 United States |
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| Name | Defence |
| Laid down | 1779 |
| Out of service | August 13–15, 1779 |
| Fate | burned and sunk |
| General characteristics | |
| Sail plan | Brigantine |
| Armament | 16 guns |
The Defence was a special kind of ship called a privateer during the American Revolutionary War. A privateer was a private ship that was allowed by the government to attack enemy ships. The Defence was part of a big naval event in 1779 called the Penobscot Expedition. This ship was a brigantine, which means it had two masts with square sails. It was built in 1779 in Beverly, Massachusetts. Later, during the expedition, it was sunk on purpose near Stockton Springs, Maine. In the 1970s, people explored the sunken ship. The site was added to the National Register of Historic Places in 1975 because it was an important historical find.
Contents
The Ship Defence and Its Role
Building and Owners
The Defence was a brand new ship. It was built in 1779 in Beverly, Massachusetts. The ship was owned by two merchants from Beverly, Andrew Cabot and Moses Brown. These men owned many privateer ships. Records from Massachusetts show that the Defence weighed 170 tons. It had 16 cannons, each firing a six-pound cannonball. The ship also had a crew of 100 sailors.
Joining the Penobscot Expedition
The Defence was asked to join the Penobscot Expedition. This expedition was put together by the state of Massachusetts. It was a response to British forces taking over Castine, Maine in June 1779. Castine is located on Penobscot Bay in what is now Maine. The Defence was officially ready for duty on July 6, 1779. Its captain was John Edmonds, also from Beverly.
The Expedition and Loss of the Ship
The Penobscot Expedition set sail in late July 1779. However, the leaders of the expedition had different ideas. Because of this, they could not successfully attack the British at Castine. On August 13, British reinforcements arrived. This caused the American fleet to scatter. Over the next two days, all the ships in the expedition were lost. Some were sunk, some were captured, and others were burned or sunk on purpose. The Defence was set on fire and left in the harbor of Stockton Springs, Maine. It then sank to the bottom. The ship's owners later received some money from the state for their loss. They built another privateer in late 1779, also named Defence. This new ship was 140 tons.
Discovering the Wreck Site
The exact location of the Defence wreck was found in 1972. This happened during a special survey using sonar. The survey was done by the Maine Maritime Academy and the Massachusetts Institute of Technology. It was the first wreck from the Penobscot Expedition to be found. That same year, divers brought up one of the ship's cannons and other items. In 1976, more dives helped map out the wreck. They found that the ship was in good condition. More items were also recovered. Between 1976 and 1980, archaeologists fully explored the wreck. They found many artifacts. After the exploration, the remains of the ship were covered again with a layer of mud to protect them.
Remembering the Defence
Two places nearby are named after the sunken ship. These are Defence Point (44°26′45″N 68°51′31″W / 44.4459092°N 68.8586427°W) and Defence Head (44°26′37″N 68°51′36″W / 44.4436500°N 68.8599400°W). The wreck site itself was added to the National Register of Historic Places in 1975. This means it is recognized as an important historical place.
