Unsung Seaman of the Revolutionary War

 Unsung Seaman of the Revolutionary War

An aside before I start discussing an unsung seaman in a little discussed skirmish of the American Revolution. The aside...it is tough finding pictures to use to accompany the stories.  I want to avoid anyone accusing me of inappropriately using pictures.  I could probably find a 100-year-old...drawing or photo that would be beyond any copyright restrictions; however, I have so many photos of things I have taken over the years.  This one is about the sea and a sailing vessel - so this one should work. I know the boat is wrong. I know that shoreline doesn't look like Massachusetts. And, yes, I see that parasail in the sky!  But, hey, it's a good photo. At least give me that!

Two-hundred fifty years ago the course a fisherman's life changed in a moment.

King George and British Parliament had imposed taxes and tariffs on the colonies because they needed more revenue. The colonies rebelled famously with the Boston Tea Party.  More long-term, though, the colonist's businesses begun finding ways to avoid paying British taxes/tariffs by striking deals with other Nations that didn't include British ports. In response, Britain began using their Navy to enforce The Restraining Acts to make the colonies only trade with Britain. These enforced restrictions had begun before the April 19th Battle of Lexington and Concord, but they continued and increased following that battle.

While enforcing these restrictions, Captain John Linzee of HMS Falcon, under-provisioned, decided to loot some sheep from a Major Coffin's property. That activity resulted in the local militia firing on them. The looting was thus discouraged. Linzee continued his patrol activities in the area. On 8 August 1775 he chased a schooner into the Gloucester Harbor. His unfamiliarity with the bay required some expertise. Empowered as he was, he conscripted a fisherman.  William Babson, was fishing that day and at that moment in a dory boat within too easy access of Captain Lindzee.

The whole affair in Gloucester Harbor quickly went badly for Captain Linzee. Militiamen Linzee tried to subdue outwitted, outmaneuvered, and overcame.  The colonial militiamen captured three British vessels, released ten conscripted colonist and took captive over twenty British sailors. 

As for our unsung seaman, William Babson, war came to him, so he severed as a sailor in the Revolutionary cause.

End Note: The WikiTree links for Major Coffin and William Babson are probable identities of these candidates. In Major Coffin's case there was the father born in 1723 and a son born in 1750. Which one was "the Major" needs verification. The main reference for the circumstances of the Battle of Gloucester provided the names and it's reference provides some additional confidence about the identification.