- USS Scourge (1812)
The "Scourge" was an American warship converted from a confiscated merchant
schooner . She foundered along with the American warship "Hamilton" during asquall onLake Ontario onAugust 7 ,1813 , during theWar of 1812 .The "Scourge" began its career as the "Lord Nelson", which was built at Niagara in
Upper Canada for merchant James Crooks. The "Lord Nelson" found its way into American naval service after it was stopped and searched by the American warship "Oneida" under the command of Lt. Melancthon T. Woosley in May 1812. The "Lord Nelson" was confiscated under theEmbargo Act of 1807 and taken toSackets Harbor , where it was armed with four 6-pound cannons, four 4-pound cannons and fitted withbulwark s. The ship was placed in CaptainIsaac Chauncey 'ssquadron and patrolled Lake Ontario during the War of 1812.The "Scourge" and the "Hamilton" sank during a sudden squall off Fourteen Mile Creek near present-day
Hamilton, Ontario around 2:00 am on August 7, 1813. The sinkings took more than 80 men to their death. The "Scourge" was under command of a sailing Master Osgood. According to a Letter of August 1813 after both ships were lost sixteen survived. {see external Link #2 below}. A survivor of the "Scourge" was Ned Myers who told his story toJames Fenimore Cooper . See Link # 3 below. According to Myers account about 8 from the Scrouge were saved and about 42 were lost.Crew List
*Mr. Joseph Osgood-sailing master-lost in storm
*Mr. Osgood's steward-a mulatto-survived the storm
*Mr. Bogardus-Master's mate-survived the storm
*Unnamed ships pilot-survived the storm
*William Deer-boatswain-lost in storm
*George Turnblatt-gunner-lost in storm
*Lemuel Bryant-survived the storm
*Ebenezer Duffy-Ships cook-a mulatto-survived the storm
*Tom Goldsmith-survived the storm
*Simeon Grant-left the ship before the storm after losing a hand in an accident
*James Lawson-{Seaman}-lost in Storm
*Leonard Lewis-survived the storm
*Mr. Livingston-left the ship before the storm
*Ned Myers-survived the storm
*Philips-powder boy-lost in storm
*Bill Southard-lost in stormExternal links
*http://www.hamilton-scourge.city.hamilton.on.ca/home.htm
* [http://books.google.com/books?id=ceceAAAAMAAJ&pg=PA195&dq=Schooners+Hamilton+and+Scourge&lr=&ei=lnZwR8GwBIfQiwHs7_WJCQ August 1813 letter reporting Loss of Hamilton and Scourge]
* [http://books.google.com/books?hl=en&id=fVcI6OY6N6gC&dq=ned+myers&printsec=frontcover&source=web&ots=cfLfegUCyA&sig=3FajNBQCbDhxAMQCfNoZC-ND36A#PPA67,M1 Ned Myers account]
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