A little late for sharing on this site, but a couple of weeks ago I had given a talk on Moses Tryon during the Revolutionary War.  Perhaps about 20 people in attendance.  I like to think that my talk was well received.  I did give a warning that I might pop a couple of bubbles of preconceived notions regarding Moses, mostly due to Stile’s History of Ancient Wethersfield relating about half of the information about Moses to be incorrect in light of subsequent research.  Not sure that I convinced one or two there, but the questions were good.  Early on in becoming a historical researcher, I was told that this is something of a “blood sport”, and that some people hold their conclusions very dear, eager to discredit anything new unless they themselves uncovered it.

What I do is essentially a “deep dive” into my topics; I know that each time I look for something, what I find may completely change my most recent conclusions.  It can be disturbing, but it is also thrilling!

Previously owned by the late William Gemmell, an acquaintance of mine and fellow researcher, this creamware pitcher featuring the 1799 USS CONNECTICUT has now come into my possession. I am elated!

William showed me that this is a generic transfer image used on British pottery to represent a smaller warship such as a sloop-of-war.  We therefore know that this isn’t an actual image painted of the USS Connecticut, but since this pitcher was made, it has been the default representation, even used by the New York Times in 1904 in a history of the Public vessels named “Connecticut”.  It is without doubt meant to represent THIS Connecticut when the pitcher was made, regardless.  However, it also was intentionally used to represent other smaller US warships of the time (IE: not as large as the Constitution).

Nathan is going through a reading and editing process.  While that is being done, I have opened up the file on Silas Butler.  Currently, it’s just the framework for the book, so there will be some slogging at getting a good narrative together.  But there’s a lot of data to sift through, as well.  I hope to get Nathan uploaded in the next month or so and then devote all of my research time on Silas.

13 July 2025 – Well, having been tripped off track by running the CT Sea Music Festival, and my side quest of the Gregory watch, I am trying to redirect myself to wrapping up the Nathan biography.  I have asked someone to help with pinning down a particular site in Norwich, and I need to polish up the opening and the index.  This is only touching base for those of you who are following.  I really hope to get this done and uploaded in the next month or two.

Recently having collected a lovely pocket watch from the era, I thought it appropriate to share on this site.  Not specific to the ship or crewmembers, it is an item that any one of them could have carried on their person, as I intend to do.  It’s a bit of a story, still developing, and I pray that you’ll indulge me.

Verge Fusee Pocket Watch by Jas. Gregory.

The biography on Nathan Tisdale is almost completed.  It has a few loose ends to tie up and then should go into the hands of an editor.  There’s some interesting peripheral history included, not only to help set the stage for Nathan’s life but to help with context.

Next will be the biography of Silas Butler.  We have his portrait and a great deal of personal information on him, so it may be a more involved project.

Since my last, there has been tremendous progress on putting together the life of Nathan Tisdale and his family.  All of this has gone beyond anything published previously about the Tisdale family in genealogies, and thus far I am on schedule for publishing in the spring.  My hope of papers/letters by Nathan have not yet born fruition, so much of it has been by official documents and records… the side benefit is that, in my quest for accuracy, some local history is coming to light that had been long forgotten, or at least shoved into the shadows by other topics of local interest.  The towns of Lebanon, Norwich, and Bridgeport all come into play.

Nehemiah Hubbard Jr, as Post Master General, 1835

Nehemiah Hubbard, Jr, of Middletown, CT, was another gent with an interesting resumé through the RevWar and beyond.  He had been chosen in 1798 by Sec. of the Navy Stoddert to be the government rep for the building of the USS CONNECTICUT.  Click on the link for more of his story.

Wednesday, 21 August 2024 – Middle Haddam Public Library, Middle Haddam, CT.  There will be copies for sale.