1812 Society to Unveil Plaque June 1 2019 in Portsmouth

6 Responses to 1812 Society to Unveil Plaque June 1 2019 in Portsmouth

1. Chris Melhuish says:

   April 9, 2019 at 6:52 pm

   I was interested to see Commodore Barron’s name listed on the plaque as a War of 1812 veteran. I thought he had no part in the war, spending the entirety in Europe (Denmark) working commercial interests. He was persona non grata by the US Navy for his actions in the 1807 Chesapeake-Leopard Affair, a proximate cause for the War of 1812. I hope I’m wrong…
2. Mike says:

   April 24, 2019 at 10:36 am

   Chris: He is listed as shown below in the society’s burial book, “Burials of War of 1812 Veterans in the Commonwealth of Virginia” published by Heritage Books, Inc in 2012.

   “BARRON, James; b 15 Sep 1768, Hampton; d 21 Apr 1851, Norfolk RU: Commodore, US Navy CEM: Trinity Episcopal; Portsmouth; 500 Court St GS: Y SP: mar (1) Elizabeth Mosely Armistead, b 1770, d 1832; (2) Mary Ann Wilson VI: Son of James Barron, Commodore of the Virginia State Navy during the Revolution. As Commander of the USS Chesapeake when it was halted & raided in June 1807 by the HMS Leopard which seized four sailors as deserters from HRH Navy. For this, Barron was court martial-ed and suspended for 5 years without pay. After his return to duty, he was controversial and widely criticized. Commodore Stephen Decatur, a former subordinate, was one of the most vocal. This resulted in a duel in which Barron was shot in the leg and Decatur was killed. He was a Navy senior officer in 1839 P: Spouse app BLW: No PH: N SS: AQ; BD pg 109 BS: 124 Stone #18.”

   The National Archives recognized his service in the War of 1812 as a Captain in the US Navy when they awarded a pension to his widow Mary as WC-#69. The source is Virgil Whites book,”Index to War of 1812 Pension Files,2d Edition 1992 National Historical Publishing Co; page 109

   As a result of this the society has approved his name for being on a plaque to be posted at the Trinity Episcopal Church Cemetery in Portsmouth as having War of 1812 service. Also on this plaque his name will be shown as having Revolutionary War service as well as at age 15 he was a Mate on his father’s ship before the war ended in September 1783.
   Mike Lyman
3. Chris Melhuish says:

   April 24, 2019 at 2:43 pm

   Thanks, Mike.
   Widow’s pension item noted, but the historical fact is that Barron did not participate in, or contribute to, the War of 1812 in any way. He was actually ignored by the US Navy’s Secretary of the Navy (William Jones). From 1813 to at least 1818, he was a half-pay captain who sat out the entire war in Copenhagen…and putting him in the same category as those who actually fought in the War of 1812 seems strange to me. Not like his naval contemporaries: Decatur, Rodgers, Hull, Lawrence, Stewart, Perry, et al. A navy veteran yes, but a veteran of the War of 1812? Well….as you note, the plaque is cast…
   Chris
   • Mike says:

     April 24, 2019 at 3:12 pm

     Chris: I found a new source today that proves he did have War of 1812 service. Burgess, Louis, Compiler/Editor “ VA Soldiers of 1776” Vol I, pg 1414 “ During the War of 1812 while in command of the PEACOCK, Commodore James Barron captured the EPERVIER” I guess this proves he was not in Copenhagen during at least part of the war period Jun 1812 to February 1815
     Mike
     • Chris Melhuish says:

       April 25, 2019 at 2:54 pm

       This information is incorrect. Master Commandant Lewis Warrington, USN, commanded the USS Peacock when it captured HMS Epervier, Richard Wales, RN, Commanding.

       I’m sorry, but official US Navy records do not show that Barron performed any active service to the United states Navy during the war of 1812.

       A department of the [US] Navy letter addressing Commodore’s service in specificity stated:
       “I have to inform you that the orders given by the Department to the late Comm. James Barron since his suspense for five years in February 1808 are as follows:
       2 Aug 1824 to command Philadelphia Yard.
       2 May 1825 Detached and to command Norfolk Yard.
       7 May 1831 Detached to command Philadelphia Yard.
       22 Jun 1837 Detached and three months on leave.
       31 Mar 1842 Appointed Governor Asylum Phiadelphia
       2 Dec 1842 Deatched and leave.
       From the 2 Aug 1824 to the date of Cmm. Barron’s decease — 21 Apr 1851 — the department regarded him in the “line of duty” and subject to its orders.”
       This makes it pretty clear that he did not serve the Navy in the line of duty during the war of 1812.
4. Chris Melhuish says:

   April 26, 2019 at 9:09 am

   Mike,
   Perhaps the following extract from the US Navy’s formal Court of Inquiry’s Opinion determined on Saturday, July 4th, 1821 (Commodore Charles Stewart, presiding) may provide illumination on the issue:
   “…And the court is further of the opinion, that although the evidence produced by Captain Barron establishes his sincere and earnest desire to return to the United States at certain periods, and his difficulty of accommoding his wishes, yet the court is of the opinion, that the evidence of his inability to return sooner than he actually did, is not satisfactory; and it is therefore the opinion of the court, that his absence from the United States, without the permission of the government, was contrary to his duty as an officer in the Navy of the United States.”
   [This is on page 90 of the Board of Inquiry report.]
   On your note about EPERVIER. Ironically, there is actually a connection to Barron. The first part of the Court of Inquiry examined allegations of misconduct by Barron witnessed by a certain William Lewis, who filed a written complaint. The Court cour not cross examine Lewis …. because he was onboard (USS) EPERVIER when it sank in a hurricane with all hands in July 1815. The alleged misconduct was Barron bad-mouthing the President of the Unitied States to the British Consul, Mr. Lyon, in the year 1809.

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