#prison ships

[clove-pinks]

Hello friend! What do you know about prison ships in the War of 1812? I’m picking apart an article that says there was a prison hulk stationed in Salem (MA) Harbor which I had not heard of but I thought I’d ask the local War of 1812 Expert :)

First, my apologies for sitting on this ask for ten thousand years.

This sent me down a rabbit hole, because discussions about War of 1812 prison ships are almost all regarding American prisoners of war in the custody of the British, and not the other way around! I'm guessing that the article you found is '"Find a Hell before You Leave this World': Maritimers as Prisoners of War, 1812-1815" by Joshua M. Smith, particularly since Smith has written a lot about Maine during the War of 1812, and Wiscasset jail. Smith references prisoners of war gathered at Salem, Massachusetts for repatriation back to the Canadian Maritimes, and one unfortunate man who died from an illness contracted "while on board the prison ship" at Salem.

Conveniently, the primary source that Smith cites can be found online: the Salem Gazette (Salem, Mass.), March 24, 1815. There is little information to be gleaned from this source, however, which lists the death of George Collins, aged 15 years, under death notices. Poor Collins was "late a prisoner of war in Salem. His death was occasioned by a cold taken while on board the prison ship in this town; and being naturally of a weak constitution, he fell a victim to the severity and privations of the prison."

I found another reference to the prison ship (now called Aurora) in the Salem Gazette of December 27, 1814. The number of British prisoners on board the prison ship is 336 (which gives a hint of badly crowded conditions), but they have been treated to "tables loaded with roast turkeys, plumb puddings, and other good things which distinguish the Christmas," and the paper prints a notice of their gratitude:

A CARD. The British Prisoners of War on board the Aurora, prison ship, return their hearty thanks to the gentlemen of this town, for the liberal and generous provision made for them, in commemoration of the day of our Saviour's birth.

A less sanguine picture of the prison ship is in the Acadian Recorder of 25 June 1814. On pp. 2-3, a narrative titled "Yankee Prison" from a "plain jack-tar" last held at Salem describes cruel punishments and appalling conditions. The sailor is held at Wiscasset jail after a forced march from the Fox Islands, but the worst is yet to come:

We were again removed to Salem, the worst of all places. Here we had a new Captain over the guard and us. This gentleman and the captain of the ship were the only humane men I have seen in America [...] The captain of the ship was never on board more than one hour out of 24, unless on business with the Marshal. The chief mate had sole command, and he was an imperious villain, whose only delight was in the destruction of his fellow men. He now had an opportunity with all his vile crew, to gratify their infernal spirits, not only by daily abuses, but by feeding us on what they thought proper, such as salt beef that stunk so bad, it could not be eaten [....] What would you think to be a prisoner of war, and see one of the guard over you, cock his gun and clap it to your breast, and swearing by the great God he would put a ball through you for getting upon the windlass bits to hang up a shirt to dry; or to have another beating you over the back with his sword, because you could not get down below faster? Behold another go down in the yard, and with his sword cut down all the cloathes-lines, and then cut your few rags that his countrymen had not stolen, all to pieces; to show that he would serve us the same if he dared [...] All this you must put up with, otherwise go in the black hole, as they call it; where you must lay ten days in irons, for the least offence besides being deprived of one third of your provisions.

The writer, who signed his narrative "T.D.," also describes overcrowded conditions and reports that the prison ship leaked badly.

Probably the best single source of information that I have found on American prison ships in the War of 1812 is the 1964 PhD dissertation of Anthony George Dietz: THE PRISONER OF WAR IN THE UNITED STATES DURING THE WAR OF 1812. I have not found much about the Aurora of Salem specifically: my search is frustrated by the fact that this evidently popular name for ships was used by multiple prison ships around the same time period.

[omenlight]

theyll never be able to be dumb like this again.

[bluerosefox]

Always Favors You

Another Sibling Danny and Jason idea!!

"Are you Jason Peter Todd?!" demanded a deep and commanding tone from the strange glowing being in front of them.

All the Bats stiffened and tensed, no doubt gearing up for a fight against the being that somehow knew Red Hood's full name.

Jason, Red Hood, decided to put on a brave front despite no doubt cursing in his head and wondering how the heck did this thing know his full freaking name.

"Whose asking." he snarled out, his hands twitching for his gun when the huge glowing knight with purple flames coming out of his helmet and cape, who was riding on a nightmare looking horse while they all had been in the cave going over tonight's patrol.

The Knight didn't seemed bothered by his response nor did he even seem to care or flinch when Batman made his own demand on 'Why was he there and who was he' or when Damian unsheathed his sword and pointed it towards him. Instead the strange glowing Knight reached to it side and pulled out... A glowing scroll? Huh. (Also he completely unnerved everyone in the room when the Knight didn't even react when Batman had tossed a Baterang when he reached for his side)

The Knight opened the scroll and spoke clearly with purpose.

"Jason Peter Todd,

You are hereby invited as a special guest of honor to the crowning of our future King of the Infinite Realms.

Daniel Phantom, once Daniel Jackson Fenton, and once Daniel Austen Todd.

Prince of the Infinite Realms, the Keeper of Balance, The Peacekeeping Halfa, the Defeater of the Tyrant King Pariah Dark, The Great One, Youngest of the Ancients, Ancient of Space, The Bridge between Life and Death.

You, the half-brother of our King, have been given the highest of honors for your past actions and will be given housing and food in the Realms and Phantom's Keep, for the week long event. Personal servants and attendants will be at your disposal and a seamstress will be on hand to tailor make your attire for the Coronation.

Signed: Clockwork. Ancient of Time. Watcher of the Infinite Timeline. Kronos. Mentor and Adviser.

PS: I shall have Fright Knight ("Me" the Knight bluntly said for a second) leave this scroll along with a personal one for you from Daniel to read over and once you make up your mind sign the bottom of the scroll.

I do hope in time you will pick the right choice Jason Todd, we of the Infinite Realms would like to reward you for your actions. After all, if you hadn't gotten young Daniel away from your father that night all those years ago, we would never had gained our Prince nor be free from our once Tyrant King.

Ah, one more thing.

The Infinite Realms will always favor you Jason."

Jason felt like he couldn't breath as Fright Knight? Rolled up the scroll, pulled a letter from his side, and held out the two items for him to take.

[carmelitequotes]

Quote of the day, 18 August: St. John Paul II

Check out our latest blog post featuring an excerpt from Pope St. John Paul II's homily, where he beatified 64 victims of the French Revolution, including three Discalced Carmelite friars who were imprisoned on ships at Rochefort, France.

Martyrdom is a special gift of the Holy Spirit: a gift for the whole Church. It finds its crowning in today’s liturgy of Beatification, in which we give glory to God in a special way: “Te martyrum candidatus laudat exercitus” [Translation: The noble army of Martyrs praise thee]. God, who through a solemn act of the Church—Beatification—crowns their merits; it manifests at the same time the gift…

[horcrux-sketches]

"No hate; but I wonder why people would ship Snirius. How would that even happen?", I asked my s/o. This is what he answered:

[supine-ly]

strangers

[xiaolanhua]

The Prisoner of Beauty 折腰 (2025) Dir. Deng Ke, Gao Cong Kai – Ep. 9

[sweaterrat]

“You’re pretty..”

Some lemlav art I made back in December heh (I never finished it bc I’d rather pull my hair out one by one than draw a background)

[sweeneydino]

The calmer one, my ass.

More Krell 👉👈

[pinardenizs]

"Your closest companion and true love is someone whom you can show your vulnerabilities to."

[the-borgias]

PRISON BREAK 1.01 • “Pilot”

[dramatictrajectory]

Gongsun Yang, Wei Shao's Advisor Marriage Counselor and absolute shipper.

[romeowtoo]

[dungeonmechoui]

Unprofessional yuri save me.. save me unprofessional yuri.. (image description in alt text)

[supine-ly]

in a world full of plotja shippers, I alone sail this vessel

I realized too late that I’d drawn sp’s cloak wrong

[xiaolanhua]

The Prisoner of Beauty 折腰 (2025) Dir. Deng Ke, Gao Cong Kai – Ep. 6