Nancy (1775) facts for kids
Nancy flying an American flag at St. Thomas, engraving by John Sartain
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Quick facts for kids History |
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 United States |
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| Name | Nancy |
| Owner |
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| Builder | Barney Harris |
| Fate | Destroyed June 29, 1776 during the Battle of Turtle Gut Inlet |
| General characteristics | |
| Armament | Six 3-pounder guns |
| Service record | |
| Commanders: | Captain Hugh Montgomery |
| Operations: | Battle of Turtle Gut Inlet |
The Nancy was an American sailing ship, sometimes called a brig or brigantine. She became famous during the American Revolutionary War for carrying important war supplies. Her captain, Hugh Montgomery, is said to have flown the first American flag in a foreign port. This happened after he heard that America had declared its independence.
Later, on June 29, 1776, the Nancy was intentionally blown up. This dramatic event took place during the Battle of Turtle Gut Inlet near Cape May, New Jersey, to keep her cargo from falling into British hands.
Contents
History of the Nancy Ship
Building the Nancy
The Nancy was built around 1775 by Barney Harris in Wilmington, Delaware. She was owned by several people, including Joseph Shallcross and Joseph Tatnall. Her captain was Hugh Montgomery, also from Wilmington. Another owner, Vincent Gilpin, named the ship after his daughter, Ann.
Helping the American Revolution
On March 1, 1776, a group called the Pennsylvania Committee of Safety hired the Nancy. This committee was a governing body that helped organize the fight for independence. They wanted the Nancy to transport gunpowder and weapons for the American Revolution.
Later that month, the ship sailed to Puerto Rico to buy more arms and ammunition. By early June, she had picked up even more supplies in the Caribbean islands of St. Thomas and St. Croix.
First American Flag Abroad
While the Nancy was in St. Thomas, Captain Montgomery got exciting news: America had declared its independence! To celebrate, an American flag was quickly made by ensign Thomas Mendenhall. This new flag was raised to replace the old British one.
According to Captain Montgomery's daughter, Elizabeth, and family stories, this was "the first American stars ever seen in a foreign port." An old picture shows the Nancy flying an American flag with a circle of ten stars around three central stars. This flag raising happened before the official Declaration of Independence on July 4, but after the idea of independence was proposed on June 7.
The Battle of Turtle Gut Inlet
In the early morning of June 29, 1776, the Nancy was being chased by two British warships, HMS Orpheus and HMS Kingfisher. The British ships blocked her from entering the Delaware Bay. The Nancy quickly headed for the nearby Turtle Gut Inlet in a thick fog. She soon got stuck in the shallow water, while the larger British ships had to stay in deeper waters.
Even though they were still a bit far away, the British ships started firing cannons at the Nancy. American sailors from other ships, like the USS Lexington, USS Reprisal, and USS Wasp, rushed to help. They tried to save the important cargo, especially the barrels of gunpowder. One group of American sailors fired back at the British to stop them from getting closer. Another group moved the cargo onto smaller boats. They rowed to shore, where local people helped them unload and hide the supplies behind sand dunes.
By late morning, most of the gunpowder had been saved. However, the Nancy was badly damaged from the British attack. The American crew then wrapped the ship's main sail around 50 pounds of gunpowder. They made a long fuse that ran from the nearly 100 gunpowder barrels still in the ship's storage area, up to the deck, and over the side.
The fuse was lit as the crew left the ship. One brave sailor climbed the mast one last time to take down the American flag. The British thought the flag coming down meant the Americans were giving up, so they quickly boarded the Nancy. But by then, the fuse had reached the gunpowder. The ship exploded with a huge blast that could be felt for miles around!
After the Explosion
On July 12, 1776, the Pennsylvania Committee of Safety officially recognized the loss of the Nancy. They approved a claim for £1457 for Joseph Shallcross & Co. because of the ship's destruction.
Legacy of the Nancy
The seal of Wildwood Crest and the Wildwood Crest Historical Society both feature a drawing of the Nancy. This is to honor the ship and the important battle that took place there.
Images for kids
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Location of Turtle Gut Inlet on 1777 map, engraved by William Faden
