USRC Scammel
Encyclopedia
USRC Scammel was one of the first ten cutters operated by the United States' Revenue Cutter Service (later to become the US Coast Guard).
Scammel was named by Alexander Hamilton
for Adjutant General Alexander Scammell
of New Hampshire
, but one notes that Hamilton was rather careless about spelling - as were many men of letters of that time. Interestingly, this was the second cutter to receive the name of a Revolutionary hero but with an incorrect spelling (the General Green
was the first, the correct spelling is Greene).
and aft
, and was schooner
rigged
."
and on occasion did sail in tandem with the cutter Massachusetts
. Scammel seized the Lucy of Stamford for "illegal registration" which was eventually condemned and sold, along with her cargo for $750. The money was awarded to Yeaton.
Overall it would seem that Yeaton and his cutter carried out their duties effectively. The local collector, under whose authority Scammel sailed, Joseph Whipple, informed Hamilton that:
She was sold on 16 August 1798 to Clement Jackson for $565.
, Master, 1791-1798. Yeaton probably brought along his slave, Senegal, during the Scammels patrols as was this practice was permitted by the Treasury Department at this time.
John Flagg, First Mate, 1791-1791.
John Parrott, Second Mate
, 1791-1791.
Samuel Hobard, Third Mate
, 1791-1791.
Yeaton fired three of his crew after their first few months of service. The men had been in "open rebellion" over issues of pay and daily food rations - particularly after they learned that their fellow sailors on board the Massachusetts received more and varied foods each day than they did.
Benjamin Gunnison, First Mate, 1792-1798.
John Adams, second mate
, 1792-1796.
Sam Odiorne, second mate
, 1796-1798.
In 1796, the enlisted crew were:
Danzil Donnavin, Seaman.
James Smith, Seaman.
Thomas Fowler, Seaman.
George Yeaton, Seaman (he was Yeaton's son).
Joseph Call, Boy.
Stephen Weeks, Boy.
Scammel was named by Alexander Hamilton
Alexander Hamilton
Alexander Hamilton was a Founding Father, soldier, economist, political philosopher, one of America's first constitutional lawyers and the first United States Secretary of the Treasury...
for Adjutant General Alexander Scammell
Alexander Scammell
Alexander Scammell 1744 - October 6, 1781) was a Harvard educated attorney and an officer in the Continental Army during the American Revolutionary War...
of New Hampshire
New Hampshire
New Hampshire is a state in the New England region of the northeastern United States of America. The state was named after the southern English county of Hampshire. It is bordered by Massachusetts to the south, Vermont to the west, Maine and the Atlantic Ocean to the east, and the Canadian...
, but one notes that Hamilton was rather careless about spelling - as were many men of letters of that time. Interestingly, this was the second cutter to receive the name of a Revolutionary hero but with an incorrect spelling (the General Green
USRC General Green
USRC General Green was one of the first ten cutters operated by the US Revenue Cutter Service. She was named for the Revolutionary War hero Major General Nathanael Greene and note that her name was misspelled, probably by the man who oversaw her construction, the Collector of Customs in...
was the first, the correct spelling is Greene).
Description
The surveyor who examined Scammel prior to her entering service noted that "she had two masts, one deck, a short quarter deck, low waists with rails foreBow (ship)
The bow is a nautical term that refers to the forward part of the hull of a ship or boat, the point that is most forward when the vessel is underway. Both of the adjectives fore and forward mean towards the bow...
and aft
Aft
Aft, in naval terminology, is an adjective or adverb meaning, towards the stern of the ship, when the frame of reference is within the ship. Example: "Able Seaman Smith; lay aft!". Or; "What's happening aft?"...
, and was schooner
Schooner
A schooner is a type of sailing vessel characterized by the use of fore-and-aft sails on two or more masts with the forward mast being no taller than the rear masts....
rigged
Rigging
Rigging is the apparatus through which the force of the wind is used to propel sailboats and sailing ships forward. This includes masts, yards, sails, and cordage.-Terms and classifications:...
."
Operational service
As in the case of so many of these cutters, the Scammels monthly journals have been lost. Nevertheless, some information has survived. She cruised from Nantucket to PassamaquoddyPassamaquoddy
The Passamaquoddy are the First Nations people who live in northeastern North America, primarily in Maine and New Brunswick....
and on occasion did sail in tandem with the cutter Massachusetts
USRC Massachusetts (1791)
USRC Massachusetts was one of the first ten cutters operated by the United States' Revenue Cutter Service . She was built in Newburyport and served out of Boston. Massachusetts by tradition is held to be the first revenue cutter to enter active service...
. Scammel seized the Lucy of Stamford for "illegal registration" which was eventually condemned and sold, along with her cargo for $750. The money was awarded to Yeaton.
Overall it would seem that Yeaton and his cutter carried out their duties effectively. The local collector, under whose authority Scammel sailed, Joseph Whipple, informed Hamilton that:
The services performed by the Cutter I conceive to have been very important to the safety and preservation of the Revenue. The Coast which is assigned to her, that of New Hampshire and the District of MaineDistrict of MaineThe District of Maine was a legal designation for what is now the U.S. state of Maine from American independence until the Missouri Compromise on March 4, 1820, after which it gained its independence from Massachusetts and became the 23rd state in the Union...
, extending nearly 300 miles, many of which afford convenient places for fraudulent practices which have been checked by the attention and vigilance of the officers of the Scammel. The services for the year past consisted in cruising the aforementioned Coast, in entering and examining the Vessel's papers, instructing the ignorant coasters, and in bringing to justice those who break or evade the laws. Instances of contraventing of the laws have been discovered and prosecuted and some of them failed by the unaccountable determination of the court.
She was sold on 16 August 1798 to Clement Jackson for $565.
Crew
Hopley YeatonHopley Yeaton
Hopley Yeaton was the first officer commissioned under the Constitution of the United States by George Washington into the Revenue Cutter Service which is the forerunner of the modern day United States Coast Guard...
, Master, 1791-1798. Yeaton probably brought along his slave, Senegal, during the Scammels patrols as was this practice was permitted by the Treasury Department at this time.
John Flagg, First Mate, 1791-1791.
John Parrott, Second Mate
Second Mate
A second mate or second officer is a licensed member of the deck department of a merchant ship. The second mate is the third in command and a watchkeeping officer, customarily the ship's navigator. Other duties vary, but the second mate is often the medical officer and in charge of maintaining...
, 1791-1791.
Samuel Hobard, Third Mate
Third Mate
A Third Mate or Third Officer is a licensed member of the deck department of a merchant ship. The third mate is a watchstander and customarily the ship's safety officer and fourth-in-command...
, 1791-1791.
Yeaton fired three of his crew after their first few months of service. The men had been in "open rebellion" over issues of pay and daily food rations - particularly after they learned that their fellow sailors on board the Massachusetts received more and varied foods each day than they did.
Benjamin Gunnison, First Mate, 1792-1798.
John Adams, second mate
Second Mate
A second mate or second officer is a licensed member of the deck department of a merchant ship. The second mate is the third in command and a watchkeeping officer, customarily the ship's navigator. Other duties vary, but the second mate is often the medical officer and in charge of maintaining...
, 1792-1796.
Sam Odiorne, second mate
Second Mate
A second mate or second officer is a licensed member of the deck department of a merchant ship. The second mate is the third in command and a watchkeeping officer, customarily the ship's navigator. Other duties vary, but the second mate is often the medical officer and in charge of maintaining...
, 1796-1798.
In 1796, the enlisted crew were:
Danzil Donnavin, Seaman.
James Smith, Seaman.
Thomas Fowler, Seaman.
George Yeaton, Seaman (he was Yeaton's son).
Joseph Call, Boy.
Stephen Weeks, Boy.