Marblehead in Essex County, Massachusetts — The American Northeast (New England)
Fort Sewall
1630 - 1930
Photographed By Michael Herrick, September 27, 2010
1. Fort Sewall Marker
Built in 1742 for defence (sic) against French cruisers. U.S.S. "Constitution" sought shelter under the fort's guns when chased by H.M.S. "Tenedos" and "Endymion" April 3, 1814. Named after Samuel Sewall of Marblehead, Chief Justice of Massachusetts in 1814.
Erected 1930 by Massachusetts Bay Colony-Tercentenary Commission.
Topics and series. This historical marker is listed in these topic lists: Colonial Era • Forts and Castles • War of 1812. In addition, it is included in the Massachusetts Bay Colony—Tercentenary Commission Markers series list. A significant historical date for this entry is April 3, 1742.
Location. 42° 30.508′ N, 70° 50.565′ W. Marker is in Marblehead, Massachusetts, in Essex County. Marker is at the intersection of Front Street and Fort Sewall Terrace, on the right when traveling north on Front Street. Touch for map. Marker is in this post office area: Marblehead MA 01945, United States of America. Touch for directions.
Other nearby markers. At least 8 other markers are within walking distance of this marker. A different marker also named Fort Sewall (within shouting distance of this marker); Fort Sewall Site Plan (within shouting distance of this marker); a different marker also named Fort Sewall (about 300 feet away, measured in a direct line); Gen. Casimir Pulaski (about 300 feet
this page online
Also see . . .
1. Fort Sewall. Wikipedia entry (Submitted on May 15, 2021, by Larry Gertner of New York, New York.)
2. Historical markers erected by Massachusetts Bay Colony. Internet Archive website entry:
Original 1930 publication by the Commonwealth of Massachusetts of Tercentenary Commission Markers, commemorating the three hundredth anniversary of the Massachusetts Bay Colony. (Submitted on May 21, 2011, by Russell Chaffee Bixby of Bernardston, Massachusetts.)
Additional commentary.
1. The Rescue of the USS Constitution, ‘Old Ironsides’
Background. On April 3, 1814, the United States almost lost its most famous ship: the USS Constitution. But thanks to the quick thinking of some sea-savvy citizens of Marblehead, Mass., the ship was saved from a watery grave during the War of 1812.
“Old
Photographed By Michael Herrick, September 27, 2010
2. Fort Sewall Marker
The USS Constitution vs. the HMS Guerriere. But on that spring day in 1814, she was limping north off the coast of Cape Ann in need of both supplies and repairs. She headed to the shipyard in Portsmouth, N.H., after spending months chasing hostile ships in the Caribbean. Two British warships, the HMS Judon and the HMS Tenedo, caught sight of her. The British frigates outgunned Constitution, and the wind was in their favor. They immediately gave chase.
The Constitution Flees. With his ship hopelessly outmatched and his crew in mortal danger, Capt. Charles Stewart decided to change direction and head south for the nearest safe port. He ordered Constitution’s crew to throw their water and rum supplies overboard because he hoped to lighten the ship and escape.
Stewart felt his best chance was to find a port where local artillery could deter the British frigates. He initially thought of Salem, Mass., but nobody on board had piloted a ship of Constitution’s size into Salem Harbor.
But many men on board hailed from Marblehead, and they knew well
Via Card Cow, unknown
3. Old Fort Sewall postcard
A History of Defense. Fort Sewall was built in 1644 to protect Marblehead from the Dutch, the French and pirates, often seen in Massachusetts waters. Initially, the colony’s General Court approved funds for ammunition, simple earthworks and two cannons. In 1742, the fort expanded as conflict between the English and French grew. But in the years between the French and Indian War and the American Revolution, the fort fell into disrepair.
In 1775, the HMS Lively and the HMS Nautilus set their sights on Marblehead. Desperate townspeople, lacking able-bodied men (many at war or decimated by smallpox), called upon old and young alike to man the fort. They lacked ammunition, but bravely pointed their cannons toward the invaders. They spent one of their few rounds to fire what they hoped the British would see as a warning shot. Fortunately for the plucky “Headers,” the ruse worked, and the British vessels moved on.
Originally named Gale’s Head after the land it stood on, in 1814 the fort was christened Fort Sewall to honor Massachusetts Supreme Court Justice Samuel Sewall, a Marblehead native.
Capt. Charles Stewart. On that fateful April day in 1814, Captain Stewart asked Marbleheader Samuel Harris Green, still recovering from a leg injury, to pilot the ship around the treacherous rocks scattered near the entrance to Marblehead Harbor. Green limped his way to the deck to command the helmsmen to steer toward the safety of Fort Sewall’s guns.
Meanwhile, Fort Sewall’s gunners, members of the 40th Regiment led by Capt. John Bailey, saw an alarming scene: three British warships headed for Marblehead. They mistook the Constitution for a British vessel because one of the Constitution’s sails billowed in front of the U.S. flag. The Marbleheaders could not see it. The British ships tailed Constitution so closely that the townspeople assumed the three ships belonged together. The soldiers aimed their guns at their country’s most famous warship.
Thankfully, Captain Stewart realized what was happening. He ordered one of his sailors to climb up the rigging as fast as he could to pull Old Glory out from behind the sail that obscured it. When they saw the American flag, the men of the 40th Regiment cheered. They then trained the fort’s cannons on the Tenedo and the Judon.
The British warships retreated. Constitution went on not only to endure through the remainder of the war but also to become a national treasure. She is the oldest military ship in the world that still sails. She recently underwent a major two-year restoration, and set sail again in 2018.
Fort Sewall, Marblehead, and the USS Constitution: Legacy. Fort Sewall and Marblehead have been honored throughout the centuries for saving the Constitution. In 1931, on tour to raise money for her preservation, Constitution visited Marblehead Harbor. The ship visited Marblehead again in 1997 on her 200th anniversary as an official “thank you” to the town.
The historical marker at Fort Sewall. In 2017, the Town of Marblehead received an eight-foot section of Constitution’s original white-oak bowsprit (a spar that extends out the ship’s bow). The section given to Marblehead weighs 1,500 pounds. The bowsprit is on display in Abbot Hall, the landmark building housing much of Marblehead’s town government.
In 1922, the federal government gave Fort Sewall and the land it sat on back to Marblehead. While repairs and updates have been made periodically throughout the years, the fort needs major restoration. At their 2019 Town Meeting, the citizens of Marblehead voted to approve more than $700,000 to help restore and improve the fort as its marks its 375th anniversary. The restorations will include reproduction cannons modeled after those that stood on the site—and saved the USS Constitution—during the War of 1812.
The author of this story, Rebecca Del Giudice, is a writer and editor who lives in Massachusetts. Note To Editor only visible by Contributor and editor
— Submitted July 31, 2023, by Williiam Flink of Meridian, Idaho.
Credits. This page was last revised on August 13, 2023. It was originally submitted on October 5, 2010, by Michael Herrick of Southbury, Connecticut. This page has been viewed 886 times since then and 16 times this year. Last updated on October 7, 2011, by Michael Tiernan of Danvers, Massachusetts. Photos: 1, 2. submitted on October 5, 2010, by Michael Herrick of Southbury, Connecticut. 3. submitted on May 15, 2021, by Larry Gertner of New York, New York. • Bill Pfingsten was the editor who published this page.
