Crammed below deck a shocking one thousand at a time without light or fresh. An untold story of the american revolution by robert p. Moored off the coast of brooklyn until the end of the war, the derelict ship, the hms jersey, was a liv. Crammed below deck without light or fresh air, the diseaseridden prisoners were scarcely given food and water. Moored off the coast of brooklyn, the derelict hms jersey was a living hell for thousands of americans either captured by the british or accused of disloyalty. The ghost ship of brooklyn museum of the american revolution. His most recent book, published this past august is, the ghost ship of brooklyn, which is a recovered, largely unknown history, from the american revolution. The ghost ship at the brooklyn historical society meetup. The ghost ship of brooklyn naval historical foundation. Through these untold stories, robert watson recounts the horrors inflicted aboard the hms jersey. August 11, 2017 lunchtime author talk with the ghost ship of brooklyn author robert watson, sept. He has authored and edited more than 30 books and novels on american politics and history and published hundreds of articles, essays, and. Watson writes, dring noted of his feeble effort to tell the stories of the ghost ship of brooklyn, they have not been exaggeratedbut not one half of the detail of its horrors has ever been portrayed.
The most horrific struggle of the american revolution oc. Uss phenakite was a converted yacht that was used by the united states navy during world war i and. I first snapped a picture of it, and noticed it was floating down the bay. Crammed below decka shocking one thousand at a timewithout light or. Uncovering new yorks darkest secrets of the revolutionary war the brooklyn navy yard, no longer a bustling shipyard, lives on as a vibrant commercial compound of movie studios, bourbon distilleries and organic rooftop farms. Ship brooklyn summary the ship brooklyn saints volume 1 the voyage by richard h. History september, 2017 the ghost ship of brooklyn. Moored off the coast of brooklyn until the end of the war, the derelict. They basically feel like theyre above the law, burrows said of the venues owners, who operate out of an industrial lot at 111 gardner ave. While americans know the stories of paul reveres midnight ride and the boston tea party, few have heard of the incident that was the bloodiest affair of the revolutionary war.
The ghost ship of brooklyn an untold story of the american revolution moored off the coast of brooklyn until the end of the war, the derelict ship, the hms jersey, was a living hell for thousands of americans either captured by the british or accused of disloyalty. Bullock the writing of volume 1 tells the tale of the calling of the eastern saints of the church of jesus christ of latterday saints, their gathering in new york city, and sailing from there on 4 february 1846, around cape horn, to yerba buena san francisco in 1846. The ghost ship of brooklyn south jersey regional library. I began the video, and watched it float out of sight. Nov 09, 2012 i noticed this haze on the bay midafternoon on 10.
Lunchtime author talk with the ghost ship of brooklyn. Jul 01, 2019 we dont want a ghost ship in brooklyn. Crammed belowdecks a shocking 1,000 at a time without light or fresh air, the prisoners were scarcely fed food and water. Shockingly, more men died on the prison ships than in battle, due to the terrible conditions imposed upon them. More americans died in its ghastly hold than on all the wars battlefields. The ghost ship of brooklyn audiobook, by robert watson. Ship brooklyn, the forgotten voyage, ship brooklyn summary. Oaklands artistic community, and by extension every diy arts community around the country, is reeling after a fire consumed a beloved arts space over the weekend, killing more than 30 people in one of the nations deadliest building fires in the past 50 years. Oct 03, 2017 his recent book, americas first crisis. This is a brooklyn of old stately mansions and farms, with railroad tracks laid through forests and large tracks of land carved up, awaiting development.
The ship measured 27 meters 89 feet long and had oar rests along the gunwales that may have. Watson recounts in lurid detail just how horrific those conditions were, focusing on the stories of five men and boys who survived confinement aboard the jersey, the most notorious of the prison ships, and whose accounts survive too. Apr 02, 2018 home to south brooklyns mutant ghost population. Individuals can learn more about this historical incident during a discussion based on the ghost ship of brooklyn, an awardwinning new book of the same title. Moored off the coast of brooklyn until the end of the war, the derelict ship, the hms jersey, was a. The ghost ship of brooklyn brings to life the hell on water that thousands of prisoners were forced to endure during the american revolutionary war. Crammed below decka shocking one thousand at a timewithout light or fresh air, the prisoners were scarcely fed food and water. The ghost ship of sutton hoo sebago canoe club, brooklyn, ny. The war of 1812, received a 2015 ippy award for book of the year in u. Dring, one of watsons sources, survived and penned his memoirs years later. The british dismasted it, took of rudder and bowsprit, and used it as a floating coffin, anchored where the brooklyn ny navy yard is today. His book, the ghost ship of brooklyn, has just been released and has received advance critical praise.
The ship was the hms jersey, commissioned as a 60 gun line of battle ship. Oct 02, 2018 while americans know the stories of paul reveres midnight ride and the boston tea party, few have heard of the incident that was the bloodiest affair of the revolutionary war. A huge fire consumed oaklands ghost ship over the weekend, leaving more than 30 dead. The narrative flair watson showed in his previous works, such as the nazi titanic and americas first crisis, continues with ghost ship. A run down ship, hms jersey, was used by the british along with other ships to house thousands of war prisoners. Under dark and gray skies, the hms jersey sits ominously off the coast of brooklyn in the calm waters of wallabout bay. Robert watson is a prolific writer and, as a professor, an important voice in academia. Jan 27, 2018 the ship was the hms jersey, commissioned as a 60 gun line of battle ship. Aug 16, 2017 moored off the coast of brooklyn until the end of the war, the derelict ship, the hms jersey, was a living hell for thousands of americans either captured by the british or accused of disloyalty. An untold story of the american revolution author and historian dr. Crammed below decka shocking one thousand at a timewithout light or fresh air, the prisoners were.
It had a hard luck history, and bay the time of the awi was rotting away. The ghost ship of brooklyn sheds light on this littleknown, yet dark chapter in american history. In his new book, awardwinning historian robert watson brings to life the stories of survivors and charts the ships ghastly effect on the citys spirit, which eventually rallied public support for the war. Dec 05, 2016 a huge fire consumed oaklands ghost ship over the weekend, leaving more than 30 dead. There is nothing of the decayed wood, but we have the perfectly preserved form of the ship hull left in the compacted sand along with the iron planking rivets in their original places.
Dark skies over the brooklyn bridge, from a 1905 postcard courtesy mcny podcast brooklyn is the setting for this quartet of classic ghost stories, all set before the independent city was an official borough of new york city. An untold story of the american revolution, by robert p. Robert watson who will discuss his book the ghost ship of brooklyn. Robert watson on the american revolution and the ghost ship of brooklyn. The text is accessible to the casual reader, yet contains enough notes and appendixes to be a resource for. The term is sometimes used for ships that have been decommissioned but not yet scrapped, as well as drifting boats that have been found after. The ghost ship of brooklyn is a longoverdue account of this neglected chapter of the american revolution. Ship brooklyn, the forgotten voyage, passengers on the. The jersey, a british warship docked off brooklyn during the american revolution, served as a prison where some 11,500 perished.
Oct 16, 2017 1 comment on the ghost ship of brooklyn. Once they begin towing the ghost ship towards harbor, a series of bizarre ocurrences happen and the group becomes trapped inside the ship, which they soon learn is inhabited by a demonic creature. We discuss this terrible situation on my revolution in lower manhattan tour, but heres a chance to go even further detail, as the brooklyn historical society hosts a talk on the ghost ship of brooklyn. The ghost ship of brooklyn an untold story of the american revolution. The sunken history of this revolutionary war ghost ship. Ghost ship in bay ridge, brooklyn original video, copyrigh. Moored off the coast of brooklyn until the end of the war, the derelict ship, the hms jersey, held thousands of americans either captured by the.
Robert watson relates the harrowing story of a british prison ship off brooklyn during the american revolutionary war. The ghost ship of brooklyn by robert p watson deals with a little known part of the american revolution. Watson focuses on a single vessel, the jersey, where he following a 1783 newspaper report claims that more than 11,000 american soldiers died on the jersey alone during the three years 1780. Moored off the coast of brooklyn until the end of the war, the derelict ship, the hms jersey, was a living hell for thousands of americans either captured by the british or accused of disloyalty. Through these untold stories, robert watson recounts the horrors inflicted aboard the hms jersey, remembers the courageous spirit of its captives, and ensures the memory of these american patriots will never be forgotten. One of the most horrific aspects of the american revolution occurred within the harbor of new york city, where thousands of american soldiers and patriots suffered and died while imprisoned within a rotting, decommissioned british war ship. Moored off the coast of brooklyn until the end of the war, the derelict ship, the hms jersey, was a living hell for thousands of americans either. A ship that lived many lives under many names is now known merely as the ghost ship. The most horrific struggle of the american revolution occurred just 100 yards off new yorks brooklyn coast, where more men died aboard the rotting and derelict ship, hms jersey, than were lost to combat during the entire war. The ghost ship of brooklyn audiobook listen instantly. Watson, the ghost ship of brooklyn da capo press, 2017 tells the story of a prison ship employed by the british during the american revolution. The most horrific struggle of the american revolution occurred just 100 yards off new york, where more men died aboard a rotting prison ship than were lost to combat during the entirety of the war. After discovering a passenger ship missing since 1962 floating adrift on the bering sea, salvagers claim the vessel as their own. Open your eye girl is the message this looming skeleton silently projects on revelers as they party every warm sunday away at gowanus grove.
Fortunately, the memory of the prisonship captives is honorably served in robert p. This floating prison was a living hell for thousands of americans. An untold story of the american revolution watson, robert p. Aug 15, 2017 the ghost ship of brooklyn by robert p watson deals with a little known part of the american revolution. This event has been rescheduled for wednesday, dec. An untold story of the american revolution, robert p. He has authored and edited more than 30 books and novels on american politics and history and published hundreds of articles, essays, and editorials. Disease ran rampant and human waste fouled the air as prisoners. Uss sachem ruins petersburg, kentucky atlas obscura. Bk venues are hosting fundraisers for the oakland fire victims. Watsons terrifying new history, the ghost ship of brooklyn. The brooklyn navy yard, no longer a bustling shipyard, lives on as a vibrant commercial compound of movie studios, bourbon distilleries and. To research, authenticate and preserve the history of the ship brooklyn and the history of its passengers, crew and families. A ghost ship, also known as a phantom ship, is a vessel with no living crew aboard.