 |
| Capt. John Bailey |
|
OF THAT, WHICH WAS LOST
Written by: Bro. Donald A. Doliber, Philanthropic Lodge Historian
This picture (copied around 1907) is of Captain JOHN BAILEY of Marblehead, who was baptized on April 7, 1761 and died on April 22, 1828. As a young man in the American Revolution, Bailey, at the age of twenty, sailed with other youth out of town and captured a British prize vessel off the coast of Marblehead. They sailed her into Salem Harbor to the delight of the townspeople and to the dismay of the British fleet keeping watch over the coast. Later in 1781, he sailed in the Schooner Thorn under the command of Captain SAMUEL TUCKER, an early Mason in Marblehead.
|
As a respected shipmaster and merchant, Bailey married Mary Huling in 1783 and raised seven children. In 1805, he was listed as the owner of the Schooners Industry (1790), Union, and Tom and of the Barque Washington (1796). He made many voyages to France, where the above portrait was painted (a print of which was in the picture frame). He is reported to have been captured in the quasi-war with France and held prisoner for three years. Later, from 1806-13 and again in 1818, John Bailey served as a state representative from Marblehead in the Massachusetts Legislature.
His most significant effect upon the course of American history came in the War of 1812. He was commissioned on September 13, 1813, captain of the 40th Regiment of Light Infantry (Massachusetts Militia) guarding Fort Sewall which protected Marblehead Harbor against British attack. On April 3, 1814 at noon, a ship, suspected to be a British vessel, appeared off the harbor entrance. Two other vessels were chasing it. Bailey withheld the fort’s cannon fire until he could identify the lead vessel. It turned out to be the Frigate Constitution being pursued by the British frigates Tenedos and Endymion (sometimes referred to as the Junion). As the Constitution sailed into Marblehead harbor, the cannon at Fort Sewall fired at the British vessels forcing them away from the coast. By 1 p.m., the Constitution was safely anchored in the harbor under the protection of Fort Sewall and Captain John Bailey. This sea captain turned militiaman had saved the most famous naval vessel in American history.
|
His Masonic apron is homemade and reflects the care and pride of an upright man with love for Freemasonry and his lodge. The people of Marblehead recognized his service through his election as a selectman in 1817-1818 and as assessor in 1819. Bailey went on to serve as the Federal Inspector of Customs in Marblehead from 1821 to 1826.
Upon his death in 1828, the Salem Gazette of Friday, May 2, 1828, noted
"In Marblehead Capt. John Bailey, aged 67. In all the
relations of life he was a good man-as a son he was
exemplary- a kind husband and parent- a generous
friend-and patriotic citizen. He was early engaged
in the service of his country in the revolutionary war,
and at the age of 20, with three lads, retook a prize
ship and brought her into Salem.
For many years he was a representative from that town; and during
the last war, had command of the garrison there. His sickness which
was of a very painful and protracted nature, seemed only to be
regretted by himself as depriving him of activity and usefulness, and
his life was so valuable even under these circumstances to his
numerous friends and family, that this separation, though long
looked for, is afflictive to bear.
|
Captain John Bailey was buried at the Old Burial Hill, Marblehead, where numerous early Masons and Revolutionary soldiers and sailors are interred.
|
As most Massachusetts Masons are aware, in 1792 the united Massachusetts Grand Lodge came into existence. On June 12, 1797, the Marblehead Lodge was formally received under the jurisdiction of Grand Lodge as PHILANTHROPIC LODGE as noted on her charter by Grand Master PAUL REVERE. Philanthropic Lodge, established as an English lodge in 1760, is the third oldest Masonic Lodge in Massachusetts, the eighth oldest in New England, and the nineteenth oldest in the United States. This diploma of December 3, 1798 is the earliest diploma found with the name Philanthropic printed on it.
The diploma itself is a true history book of early America. It tells a tale of Freemasonry from the Boston Tea Party to the War of 1812. The men who were present that evening represented noted sea captains and patriots. Historical research showed that John Bailey was raised on November 30, 1798 at Philanthropic Lodge.
Of importance are the signatures of the 1798 lodge officers. The Master of the 1798 Philanthropic Lodge (4th Worshipful Master, 1782-1798) was Doctor ELISHA STORY. He was born on December 3, 1743 and died on August 27, 1805. His occupation was that of an eminent physician and surgeon, trained in pre-Revolutionary Boston. In 1770, he moved his family to Marblehead. As a member of the Sons of Liberty, Story returned to Boston on December 16, 1773, and was one of the “Indians” who emptied two hundred forty-two chests of tea into Boston harbor. Shortly after the occupation of Boston by British regulars, he, with other Sons of Liberty, disarmed a British sentry and liberated two brass cannons from Boston Common. These fieldpieces (called by the Patriots the “Hancock” and the “Adams”) were smuggled out of Boston to Boston Neck and later used against the British forces.
|
Story enlisted as a soldier-surgeon in Colonel Moses Little’s 17th Regiment. His service record shows military action at the battles of Lexington and Concord in April 1775. At the Battle of Bunker Hill on June 17, 1775, he fought along side his close friend, Dr. JOSEPH WARREN, Provincial Grand Master of the Massachusetts Grand Lodge. During the battle, he was called to attend to wounded American militia including Dr. Joseph Warren who was fatally wounded.
Dr. Story was raised in Marblehead on May 7, 1778. He was a member of the local “Tuesday Evening Club” in Marblehead which claimed the membership of General JOHN GLOVER (of 1776 Crossing the Delaware fame and a member of the lodge 1760-1797), ELBRIDGE GERRY (signer of the Declaration of Independence and Vice President (1813-1814) of the United States), and Colonel JEREMIAH LEE (an early patriot who died in 1775). Story, married twice, fathered eighteen children, one of whom was JOSEPH STORY, the youngest person appointed to the United States Supreme Court. Joseph Story (1779-1845), also a member of Philanthropic Lodge, was an Associate Justice of the United States Supreme Court (1811-1845) and Dane Professor of Law, Harvard Law School.
|
Dr. Story was a founder of the Marblehead Academy in 1789, supporting formal education in the town. Although he was unpopular for his unsuccessful smallpox vaccination program in Marblehead in 1800; his patriotic service and humanitarian commitment allowed him to serve as the state representative from Marblehead to the General Court in 1799-1801; 1804-1805. Justice Story wrote of his father, Elisha: “…. my father was not a man of genius, but of plain practical sense, and of quick insight into deeds of men. He possessed great natural tact and sagacity with little pretension to learning.” Dr. Elisha Story was buried in the Green Street Cemetery in Marblehead.
The Senior Warden was Captain EDMUND LEWIS (1748-1805) who served as a private in Captain William Hooper’s Seacoast Company in 1776 and in 1781, served as the commander of the Privateer Washington. He also commanded the Schooners Samuel (1771), Benjamin (1773), William (1774), Catherine (1790), and John (1793).
The Junior Warden‘s signature belonged to Captain JOHN CANDLER. Jr. (7th Worshipful Master of Philanthropic, 1811-12). This sea captain later served as the Master’s Mate on the Frigate Constitution when she sailed under Commodore CHARLES STEWART into Marblehead on that famous day in 1814. It should be noted that many brethren of this lodge helped to sail and fight on the Constitution in the War of 1812. Capt. Chandler went on to become a successful shipbuilder and Boston merchant.
The Lodge Secretary was JOHN BOND, who was raised in the lodge on June 2, 1798. Bond was the principal of the Marblehead Academy in 1797 and served as Assessor in 1820.
* On July 21-22, 1997, the Frigate Constitution returned to Marblehead harbor (Piloted by Wor. William H. Kelley) to honor the service of Bailey and the Town of Marblehead for their heroic actions in 1813. This was the first time that she had been under sail in one hundred and sixteen years.
Sources:
Mr. Thomas Gray of Marblehead, a descendant of Captain John Bailey
Records of Philanthropic Lodge, Marblehead, Ma
Records of the Marblehead Historical Society, Marblehead, MA
William Story, Life and Letters of Joseph Story, 1851
|
|
