Then he discovered that Beverly’s was also true. Word of his trip and mission, of course, had traveled fast and soon other candidates turned up, also claiming the title. Both South Carolina and Georgia offered that their ships had jointly captured a British ship carrying powder and turned the cargo over to the United Colonies. Hence, South Carolina and Georgia were, in their minds, entitled to the sobriquet. The good folks in Philadelphia suggested that since the bill creating the Navy was signed in Philadelphia, they were entitled to the honor. Swanson soon discovered, to his chagrin, that on 1 August 1775, Commodore James Smith had taken command of the sloop Enterprise at Crown Point (near Whitehall, New York) on the New York side of Lake Champlain. And of course, Benedict Arnold a year later had built his fleet of gunboats there prior to the Battle of Valcour Island, October 1776. They were units of the United Colonies Navy, and anyone driving through Whitehall, New York, has likely noticed the prominently placed sign stating the town is the “Birthplace of the US Navy.” Not to be left out, Rhode Islanders suggested that they should win the title, as
their governor, responding to orders from General Washington, sent a sloop to Bermuda in August 1775 to capture the British gunpowder supplies stored there. That vessel, Katy, was successful in its mission and justified, in the governor’s mind, Rhode Island’s claim to fame. Let us not forget far-flung little Machias, Maine (then technically part of Northern Massachusetts), where in June of 1775 a local ship with a local Patriot crew armed with pitchforks, axes, and sabers had forced a British ship, Margaretta¸ to surrender five days before the Battle of Bunker Hill. Machias claimed, and still does today, that it should wear the title. According to some who witnessed it, an overwhelmed Secretary Swanson muttered, “To hell with it!” and returned to Washington. The controversy was left wide open and remains so to this day. And while we didn’t mention it herein, many in Salem, Massachusetts, also lay claim to the title, as they were heavily involved in providing ships, both purposebuilt and purchased, for the Navy, and many of their merchants took their own ships out, under letters of marque, as part of the privateer fleet. I recall speaking at an event in Salem some years ago, and, following my remarks,
(right) A bronze marker in Machias, Maine, erected by the local chapter of the DAR in 1927 reads: “This tablet commemorates the first naval battle of the American Revolution. On June 12, 1775, a gallant force of Machias men led by Capt. Jeremiah O’Brien in the sloop Unity pursued and captured the British sloop of war Margaretta in Machias Bay.” SEA HISTORY 178, SPRING 2022
William H. White is a trustee and treasurer of the National Maritime Historical Society and serves as an editorial advisor for Sea History. A frequent contributor to the magazine, he is also the author of numerous books on naval history, both fiction and non-fiction. To learn more, visit his website at www. seafiction.net.
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photo by paul fishman
Signage in Whitehall, New York, alerts visitors of the town’s significance in US Navy history.
I was asked which town was the birthplace of the US Navy: Salem (local crowd, of course) or Marblehead (a few visitors who came to the event). Realizing the peril I faced, I responded with, “Neither. Whitehall, New York, is.” The silence was momentarily deafening, but I managed to avoid the conflict! The conflict remains unresolved to this day and is still a source of heated argument and sometimes hot tempers in New England. More than one bar-room brawl has erupted when sailors from Beverly or Salem visit Marblehead. It would appear that, barring any substantive new information, the 200-year-old fight will continue unabated. So, dear reader, you can make up your own mind: whose claim is best justified, Marblehead, Beverly, Machias, Providence, Philadelphia, or Whitehall? Or Salem? Or South Carolina/Georgia? Just be mindful of where you are when you mention your choice!
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