American Impressment Protection Certificates

An article by Acasta member Nicholas Weremeichik

In 1796, President George Washington and the 4th Congress passed an “Act for the Relief and Protection of American Seamen.” This act would be a step towards curtailing the impressment of American sailors by Britain or other foreign powers into their navies. Provision was made for a legal document called an “impressment protection certificate” and would plainly state as follows in Section 4 of the act:

“I, (first and last name of state official), collector of the district of (municipality), do hereby certify, that (first and last name of applicant), aged (x) years, or thereabouts, of the height of (x) feet (x) inches, [ describing the said seaman as particular as may be] has, this day, produced to me proof in the manner directed in the act, intituled “An act for the relief and protection of American seamen;” and pursuant to the said act, I do hereby certify, that the said (first and last name of applicant) is a citizen of the United States of America: In witness whereof, I have hereunto set my hand and seal of office, this day (x) of (x).” 

The state official is to preserve a copy of this document and proofs of citizenship for the records. An applicant would pay twenty-five cents for this service. Several extant examples of these have survived and are all different to a degree. Some certificates had more printed words and some more handwritten but all were compliant and legal if they followed the text above to the necessary extent.

• Andrew Boteler, born in Maryland, USA.

5’-4” in height, 28 years of age

Notarized by John Keese in the State of New York on May 11th, 1796.

• William Smith, born in New Haven, Connecticut, USA.

6’-1” in height, 32 years of age, light complexion, light hair, light eyes

Signed by collector Samuel Bishop in the State of Connecticut on November 7th, 1801.

• Joseph S. Foster, born in Ipswich, Massachusetts, USA.

5’-7” in height, 18 years of age, dark complexion

Signed by collector William R. Lee in the State of Massachusetts on November 24th, 1806.

• Henry Shapely, Jr., born in Gospers, New Hampshire, USA.

5’-5 3/8” in height, 30 years of age, dark complexion, grey eyes

Signed by collector Joseph Whipple in the State of New Hampshire on May 13th, 1808.

• William Skiddy, born in Westchester County, New York, USA.

5’-3@ ‘/2” in height, 16 years of age, light complexion, light hair

Signed by collector David Gelston in the State of New York on June 5th, 1810.

• Joseph Gladding, born in Westchester County, New York, USA.

5’-8” in height, 21 years of age, “pesh” complexion, dark hair, blue eyes, moles on right cheek and left arm

Signed by collector Charles Collins in the State of Rhode Island on February 6th, 1812.

To see more records of Impressment Protection Certificates, check out the Registers of Seaman’s Protection Certificates database at the Mystic Seaport Museum in Connecticut: https://research.mysticseaport.org/databases/protection/

Sources:

1796 Act for the Relief and Protection of American Seamen https://en.wikisource.org/wiki/United_States_Statutes_at_Large/Volume_1/4th_Congress/1st_Session/Chapter_36

The Press Gang & Naval Recruitment

The pressgang, or Jack in the bilboes (1790).
George Morland, from Humorous art : pictorial notes on the social aspects of life in the Royal Navy, With descriptive notes by Joseph Grego, London, 1891(?). (Source: archive.org)

The Royal Navy has always had problems recruiting enough personnel to crew the ships of the fleet, mostly during the times of war. Prior to the twentieth century, there were three means of recruiting: voluntary service, impressment and Quota Acts.

Men who volunteered to join the navy received conduct money and two month's salary in advance. From this, the sailor was expected to purchase clothes and equipment from the Purser, known as slops. This usually included the purchase of a hammock. One of the benefits of volunteering for the navy was that the sailor would be protected from any creditors if the debt owed was less than £20.

Impressment was a long standing authority from the state for the recruitment to military service, either on land or on sea. The impress service, or more commonly called the press gang, was employed to seize men for employment at sea in British seaports. Impressment was used as far back as Elizabethan times when this form of recruitment became a statute and later the Vagrancy Act 1597, men of disrepute (usually homeless vagrants) could be drafted into service. In 1703, an act limited the seizure of men for naval service to those under 18, although apprentices were exempt from being pressed. In 1740, the age was raised to 55. Officially, no foreigner could be impressed although they were able to volunteer. If, however, the foreigner married a British woman, or had worked on a British merchant ship for two years, their protection was lost and they could be impressed. However, these limits were often ignored and the impressment of Americans into the British navy became one of the causes of the American War of 1812.

The Press Gang by Robert Morley (1857–1941)

Once a man had been seized by the press gang, he was offered a choice. He could either sign up as a volunteer and receive the benefits that came with being a volunteer (advance payment etc.) or he could remain a pressed man and receive nothing. Some governments issued "Protections" against impressment, including Britain. These were mainly issued  by the Admiralty and Trinity House for specific types of employment. These protections had to be carried at all times and shown to the press gang on demand to prevent the holder being impressed. However, in times of crisis, even the protections became invalid. The order "press from all protections" - known as the "hot press" meant that no person was exempt from impressment.

Additionally, in times of war, other methods of recruitment were used. In 1795, during the French Revolutionary War, the Prime Minister, William Pitt, introduced the Quota Acts to supplement recruitment to the navy. This meant that each county in Britain had to provide a quota of men for naval service. The number of men to be provided was dependant on the county population and the number of seaports it contained. As an illustration, London was expected to provide 5704 men for naval service. To induce men to sign up, counties usually offered a bounty. However, this did not usually ensure the required number and counties had to resort to other methods of recruitment. Criminals, convicted of petty offences, were offered the choice of joining up for naval service (with the added incentive of a pension at the end of their service) or the normal harsh prison sentence for the crime committed. In some cases, the presence of convicts added to the navy's problems by bringing with them diseases that were rife in the jails and causing the spread of  disease amongst the crew.

Impressment was last used in Britain during the Napoleonic wars of 1803-1815. Although not used after that period, the right to use impressment was retained. In 1835, a statute was passed that exempted sailors who had been impressed and had served for five years in the navy from any further impressment. In 1853, the navy introduced continuous service for sailors who wished to make a career in the navy. After a fixed number of years, they would receive a pension. This reduced the need for general impressment and it died out in the form that it had been used previously.

However, in the twentieth century, during the two world wars, another type of impressment has been used in the form of compulsory national service or conscription and this type of service continued until the early 1960s.

From: the Royal Naval Museum Library, 2001

During a Hot Press

From Ship's Carpenter, Jas. Apple:

Sometimes as I recall during a hot press it was often necessary while in the search of able seaman to go outside of the normal bounds and look for men. We simply needed two arms, two hands and two legs, two feet and a body with a head on top

And often those who had heard the rumor that we were on the prowl would switch into long clothes and slip right off the reel, not be seen or heard from again till the coast was clear, that is to say we had set sail.

So with very little to tender we would crack on and start to careen from tavern to pub the nasties, and as I recall rarely did we find Jack or Joe, but more likely a spitkid full of dogsbodys begging for hanky panky to stay warm if it was cold. And lord we promised them a easy number, warm food and signing bonus and prize money.

So with a fair amount of hogging, even the worst chaffered up enough to make a landsman and on occasion with time if they didn't die or get whittled down make a damn fine and able seaman.

About Impressment

The Press Gang by Luke Clennell (1781-1840)

Some articles and research materials relating to the practice of Impressment:

The National Museum/Royal Navy
THE PRESS GANGS AND NAVAL RECRUITMENT

The Royal Museums Greenwich, Research guide to Press gangs and impressment

National Archives
The War of 1812
Stoking the Fires: The Impressment of Seaman Charles Davis by the U.S. Navy
By John P. Deeben

The Freedom Trail Foundation
IMPRESSMENT — Or, You're in the Royal Navy Now
Kim H. Carrell

And be sure to stop by and LIKE the Doctor's page on Facebook.

Here's the Tender Coming

  Here's the Tender Coming - new and improved! from Sharpie on Vimeo  

This video was SO popular last year that it HAD to be included again this year!

Here's The Tender Coming

Here's the tender coming, pressing all the men

Oh dear hinny, what shall we do then?

Here's the tender coming, off of Shields Bar

Here's the tender coming, full of men of war

Hide thee, canny Geordie, hide thyself away

Hide till the frigate makes for Druid's Bay.

If they take thee, Geordie, who's to win our bread?

Me and little Jacky: better off be dead.

Here's the tender coming, stealing of my dear

Oh dear, hinny, they'll ship you out of here

They will ship you foreign, that is what it means

Here's the tender coming, full of red marines.

Hey, bonny lassie, let's go to the Lawe*

See the tender lying, off at Shields Bar

With her colours flying, anchor at her bow

They took me bonny laddie, best of all the crew.

Here's the tender coming, pressing all the men

Oh dear, hinny, what shall we do then?

Here's the tender coming, off at Shields Bar

Here's the tender coming, full of men of war.

*The Lawe is a high vantage point at Shields; 'hinny' = henny, love or dear (cf. the Cockney 'ducks' or ducky')

Special thanks once again to regular reader 'Sharpie' for allowing us to make use of this video!

Special Press Gang related posts all week long leading up to the

Acasta's Press Gang program at the Fair at New Boston!

Be sure to check back every day this week at 8AM!

And be sure to stop by and LIKE the Doctor's page on Facebook.

Keeping it Legal

From the Orkney Library's Balfour Collection (Ref D2/19/16)

The above document gives ship captains the legal right to impress men for their ships. Captains would sign over such documents to their Lieutanants, who were the ones to lead the press gangs. Additional unseen text on this documents bears witness to that fact, it reads:

"I Do hereby Depute Lieut Wm Balfour belonging to His Majesty's Sloop Lynx under my command, to Impress Seamen, Seafaring Men and Persons whose Occupations and Callings are to work in Vessels and Boats upon Rivers, according to the Tenor of this Warrant. In Testimony whereof I have hereunto set my Hand and Seal this thirtieth day of April 1803."

In their Ernest Marwick Collection (Reference D31/1/6/15) in a transcript of a letter from Alex Skene on 6th November 1800 he states that: 

"I assure you Sir that the impress service is to me the most unpleasant part of an officers duty and it is impossible to defend the propriety of it but on the score of necessity"

All information comes from the Orkney Library, the oldest public library in Scotland.

Special Press Gang related posts all week long leading up to the

Acasta's Press Gang program at the Fair at New Boston!

Be sure to check back every day this week at 8AM!

And be sure to stop by and LIKE the Doctor's page on Facebook.

Pressgang Week is COMING!

In the week leading up HMS Acasta's Press Gang demonstration at the Fair at New Boston, there will be a series of posts dedicated solely to the act of Press Ganging in the early 19th Century.  We have dubbed it PRESS GANG WEEK! Starting Monday, August 31st and lasting until Friday Sept. 4th, each day the Acasta site will feature special articles, art, video, &c. about Impressment in the Royal Navy.

Come back Monday morning and be a part of the meanest week on the internet!

At Vincennes

Image by Christine Scanlon

Image by Pam Andrews

Image by Ann Hecht

Images by Melissa Alexander

You can see an assortment of images from Vincennes 2015 at the following links:

https://www.facebook.com/media/set/?set=a.956716484349329.1073741863.188817644472554&type=1

https://www.facebook.com/terry.l.wise/media_set?set=a.10207059595153490.1073741909.1388914927&type=1

A Recollection

By Jas. Apple 

Sometimes as I recall during a hot press it was often necessary while in the search of able seaman to go outside of the normal bounds and look for men. We simply needed two arms, two hands and two legs, two feet and a body with a head on top

And often those who had heard the rumor that we were on the prowl would switch into long clothes and slip right off the reel, not be seen or heard from again till the coast was clear, that is to say we had set sail.

So with very little to tender we would crack on and start to careen from tavern to pub the nasties, and as I recall rarely did we find Jack or Joe, but more likely a spitkid full of dogsbodys begging for hanky panky to stay warm if it was cold. And lord we promised them a easy number, warm food and signing bonus and prize money.

So with a fair amount of hogging, even the worst chaffered up enough to make a landsman and on occasion with time if they didn't die or get whittled down make a damn fine and able seaman.

Impressment Totals

The Acastas were charged with pressing no less than 75 men for service in His Majesty's Royal Navy, below find the final totals of the men that were taken up at New Boston.

Boy: 13

Landman: 48

Ordinary Seaman: 9

Able Seaman: 9

Gunner's Mate: 2

Blacksmith's Mate: 1

Carpenter's Mate: 1

Warrant: 1

Total: 84

There will be a group of Acastas this coming weekend at the 200th anniversary of the first battle of Ft. Bowyer, put on by the 7th United States Infantry Living History Association.

This image of Ft. Bowyer is from Lossing's Field History of the War of 1812.

The location is Ft. Morgan State Historic Site on Mobile Point. The fort is about 25 miles west of Gulf Shores Alabama on HWY 180.

Friday is a school day. Main public activities are on Saturday. No programming is scheduled for Sunday.

The Park opens at 8;30 am both days. Morning Colors are at 9. A complete schedule of activities will be available at the Fort.

If you are in the area, stop by and pay the Acastas a visit and be sure to remind them that their Doctor says they are to take their 'blue pill' while they are away from the ship!

Trouble with the Americans

Things got out of control quickly when an American mob came by the Acasta camp to cause trouble. The men of the Acasta fought valiantly, but being outnumbered 3 to 1 they were no match for the mob.

About Us

It is our hope that you have enjoyed Pressgang Week here at HMSAcasta.com. Our goal is the entertain and educate and to that end, our website here is updated every weekday at 8AM.

The eclectic band of historical reenactors and interpreters that makes up the 'CREW' of HMS Acasta spans a wide spectrum of real life occupations.

We are made up of students, educators, academics (a surprising number of us are teachers) even a Ph.D., present and former Coast Guard and U.S. Naval men, artists & artisans, tailors, musicians, professionals & executives. We even have a freelance copywriter, farrier & presidential presenter thrown into the mix for good measure! (hint: look for the fellow that looks like Jackson from the twenty dollar bill!)

What does this odd lot all have in common? A love for the history of the Royal Navy and passing it on in a unique way to the public.

 Looking for other items of Naval interest?

You can find specific content by following the labels at the bottoms of each day's posts, or by clicking on the links below, the NEW labels are highlighted in YELLOW:

200th - Posts with this label are posts that have to do with the 200th anniversary of some event that took place during the War of 1812. Either with the Acasta herself, or the war in general. Want to know what was happening on a particular date? Here you go.

Apple - Posts with this label are either written BY or about Acasta ship's carpenter Mr. Jas. Apple.

Baptiste - Posts with this label are either written BY or about the Acasta Surgeon's Mate.

Capt Freymann - Posts with this label are either written BY or about Acasta ship's Captain Robert Freymann

Capt Hurlbut -  Posts with this label are either written BY or about Captain Tom Hurlbut, friend to the Acasta.

Event Invite - These posts are invitations to the general public to attend specific historic events. A great way to figure out where the Acasta crew will be during the year!

Images - This label is given to any post that is picture heavy. Looking for lots of awesome War of 1812 or Royal Navy recreation pictures? Look no further! The Acasta has been gifted with some amazing photography over the years from a variety of sources.

Jane Austen Festival - Given to any post that has to do with the annual Jane Austen Festival that is held every July in Louisville, KY.

LIST - This label is given to the series of reenactor list, Ways to improve, the best and worst things about the hobby, stupid questions asked by the public and so forth.

Lt Ramsey - Posts with this label are either written BY or about Acasta ship's Second Lieutenant Michael Ramsey.

Lt. Hamilton - Posts with this label are either written BY or about Acasta ship's First Lieutenant Jim Hamilton.

Lt. Tumbusch - Posts with this label are either written BY or about Acasta ship's Third Lieutenant Tom Tumbusch.

Master & Commander - Posts that have to do with the Aubrey-Maturin series of books by author Patrick O'Brian or the 2003 movie.

Mail Packet - This label will involve letters (real or digital) sent or received by Acasta crew. It also occasionally has to do with a call to readers for letters, a fun project for authors and historians alike!

Midshipman Raley - Posts with this label are either written BY or about Acasta Midshipman David Raley.

Miscellany - A grab bag of odds and ends posts that couldn't really be labeled anything else.

Mission 1 - All posts pertain to the Acasta's first play test of the "Spy Game", a first person activity played between teams at Mississinewa 1812.

Mission 2 - A writing exercise by members of the crew involving the 1813 chase of the US vessel, 'Young Teazer'

Mission 3 - These posts involve the Doctor's special assignment to take part in a mock Naval assault at Niagara on the Lake.

Mission 4 - The Acastas go ashore at the Fair at New Boston in an attempt to catch a spy, and the Doctor gets engaged!

Mississinewa 1812 - Given to any post that has to do with the annual Mississinewa 1812 event that is held every October in Marion, IN.

Music - Music or lyrics (or both) to old period songs.

New Boston - Given to any post that has to do with the annual Fair at New Boston event that is held every Labor Day Weekend near Springfield, Ohio.

Press Gang - Content and images from the Acasta's Press Ganging activities at events AND the Pressgang Week posts past & present.

Red Box - Content and images having to do with the "Red Box' game.

Signal Flags - These posts involve images and information having to do with this means of communication during the War of 1812. Sometimes they even involve fun messages to be decoded!

The Doctor - Posts with this label are either written BY or about Acasta ship's surgeon Albert Roberts

Toasts - information pertaining to the Daily Royal Naval Toasts given at dinner.

Vassermann - Posts with this label are either written BY or about the Surgeon's personal servant James Vassermann.

Video - Any post with a video or a link to a video in it can be found here.

Wedding - These image heavy posts are all about the Doctor's 1813 style wedding.

A Little Light Reading

The Press Gang by Luke Clennell (1781-1840)

Some articles and research materials relating to the practice of Impressment:

The National Museum/Royal Navy
THE PRESS GANGS AND NAVAL RECRUITMENT

The Royal Museums Greenwich, Research guide to Press gangs and impressment

National Archives
The War of 1812
Stoking the Fires: The Impressment of Seaman Charles Davis by the U.S. Navy
By John P. Deeben

The Freedom Trail Foundation
IMPRESSMENT — Or, You're in the Royal Navy Now
Kim H. Carrell

And be sure to stop by and LIKE the Doctor's page on Facebook.