Details:

Two autograph letters signed by Jeremiah Jaquith, each four pages, dated Wilmington, North Carolina, April 17, 1815, and Gibraltar, May 6, 1816, concerning the tragic fate of Charles Breed following the capture of the schooner Kelton during the closing months of the War of 1812.

The first letter, written less than three months after the incident, is addressed to Charles Breed’s father and recounts the attack on the schooner Kelton, a Letter of Marque commanded by David Newell. Jaquith explains that while lying in the harbor of Bonavista in the Cape Verde Islands, the vessel was attacked by the British frigate Porcupine. He relates that Charles Breed “received a musket ball through both legs, and [was] taken prisoner,” adding that conversations with the ship’s doctor indicated his wounds were healing and that Breed had chosen to remain aboard the British frigate until he recovered.

The second letter, written from Gibraltar more than a year later, provides the heartbreaking conclusion to the story. Having learned additional details, Jaquith explains that after recovering from his wounds, Charles Breed was released by the British on the island of Gorée, off the coast of West Africa. There, according to Jaquith, Breed was subsequently robbed and murdered after his release. Together, the two letters document the complete sequence of events surrounding one sailor’s ordeal, from his wounding and capture to the later discovery of his tragic death.

These letters also preserve an eyewitness account of the Kelton, a privately armed American vessel operating under a Letter of Marque - a government commission authorizing privately owned ships to capture enemy vessels during wartime. The correspondence offers a rare firsthand perspective on the hazards faced by American privateers and merchant seamen during the final months of the War of 1812, extending beyond naval combat to the dangers encountered by survivors far from home.

Very good condition.

Jeremiah Jaquith was the owner of the schooner Kelton, an American Letter of Marque engaged in privateering and commercial operations during the War of 1812. His correspondence documents an attack by the British frigate Porcupine in neutral waters near the Cape Verde Islands and preserves a poignant firsthand account of the capture, imprisonment, and eventual death of crew member Charles Breed, providing an uncommon and historically significant narrative from one of the lesser-known episodes of the conflict.

Authentication:
Includes a full letter of authenticity from JG Autographs, Inc.

Premium:
A 25% Buyers Premium Will Be Added to All Winning Bids

Reference sku: 11669 1416940-1