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“Bite-Size Bits of Local, National, and Global History”
Taylors Island in Dorchester County, Maryland — The American Northeast (Mid-Atlantic)
 

The Becky Phipps

 
 
The Becky Phipps Marker image. Click for full size.
Photographed By F. Robby, November 4, 2007
1. The Becky Phipps Marker
Inscription. This cannon was captured in 1814 from a tender of the British ship of war "Dauntless".

Lieut. Phipps and crew of 17 men and one colored woman were taken prisoners at James' Point by Capt. Joseph Stewart's company of militia composed of men from Taylor's Island and Tobacco Stick.
 
Erected by Dorset Chapter D.A.R.
 
Topics and series. This historical marker is listed in these topic lists: African AmericansWar of 1812. In addition, it is included in the Daughters of the American Revolution series list. A significant historical year for this entry is 1814.
 
Location. 38° 28.174′ N, 76° 17.651′ W. Marker is on Taylors Island, Maryland, in Dorchester County. Marker is on Taylors Island Road, 1.1 miles west of Smithville Road, on the right when traveling west. Marker is about 100 feet west of the Taylors Island bridge. Touch for map. Marker is in this post office area: Taylors Island MD 21669, United States of America. Touch for directions.
 
Other nearby markers. At least 8 other markers are within one mile of this marker, measured as the crow flies. Trapped (a few steps from this marker); Battle of the Ice Mound (within shouting distance of this marker); Chapel of Ease (approx. 0.8 miles away); Old Schoolhouse (approx. 0.8 miles away); Grace Episcopal Church (approx. 0.8 miles away); First School House
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(approx. 0.8 miles away); a different marker also named Chapel of Ease (approx. 0.8 miles away); New Revived Church (approx. 1.1 miles away). Touch for a list and map of all markers in Taylors Island.
 
Additional commentary.
1. The name, Becky Phipps
According to Museums and Monuments of the Eastern Shore of Maryland by Mary U. Corddry, p. 83:

It was nicknamed "Becky" for the black cook who was captured with the British crew and "Phipps" for the British lieutenant.

The cannon was fired on special occasions but exploded when fired during a celebration of the election of Woodrow Wilson. It was later reassembled, mounted and marked by the Daughters of the American Revolution.
    — Submitted June 11, 2008, by Christopher Busta-Peck of Shaker Heights, Ohio.

2. Story of the reconstruction of the cannon
I have a manuscript written by a relative sometime in the last century (it is not dated) telling of her grandfather's participation in the battle when the Becky Phipps was captured from the British. Her information came from the son of
The Becky Phipps Marker image. Click for full size.
Photographed By Allen C. Browne, March 5, 2018
2. The Becky Phipps Marker
a close friend of her grandfather. According to her information, the cannon exploded when it was "fired by too heavy a charge after Cleveland's election." (She doesn't say which election, since Cleveland was elected twice.)

She goes on to say that the family of Duncan Noble, the source of her information, collected the parts of the cannon (she actually saw the parts in their garden) and had the cannon reassembled and mounted on a concrete base at the entrance to Taylor's Island.
    — Submitted April 4, 2009, by Ann Weber of Westminster, Marylnad.

3. The Daughters' Mistakes
“The DAR marker here has several mistakes. The carronade was captured in 1815, not 1814. Pvt. Joseph Fookes Stewart is referred to as a captain. While he may have been a captain of a nonmilitary vessel, there is no documentation that he held that rank in the militia. The carronade was nicknamed "Becky Phipps” for the tender's captured black cook Becky and the commander, Lt. Matthew Phipps. The cook's name was actually "Becca" and the commander's name was ‘Phibbs’. ‘Becca Phibbs’ was corrupted to ‘Becky Phipps.’” — Ralph Eschelman, A Travel Guide to the War of 1812 in the Chesapeake
    — Submitted March 15, 2018, by Allen
The Becky Phipps image. Click for full size.
Photographed By F. Robby, November 4, 2007
3. The Becky Phipps
C. Browne of Silver Spring, Maryland.
 
The Becky Phipps image. Click for full size.
Photographed By Allen C. Browne, March 5, 2018
4. The Becky Phipps
The Becky Phipps image. Click for full size.
Photographed By Allen C. Browne, May 28, 2011
5. The Becky Phipps
 
 
Credits. This page was last revised on March 24, 2018. It was originally submitted on December 5, 2007, by F. Robby of Baltimore, Maryland. This page has been viewed 2,310 times since then and 24 times this year. Photos:   1. submitted on December 5, 2007, by F. Robby of Baltimore, Maryland.   2. submitted on March 15, 2018, by Allen C. Browne of Silver Spring, Maryland.   3. submitted on December 5, 2007, by F. Robby of Baltimore, Maryland.   4, 5. submitted on March 15, 2018, by Allen C. Browne of Silver Spring, Maryland.

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Mar. 19, 2024