The Last Cruise of the 'Oliver Cromwell' 1779

Essex, Conn.: The Essex Historical Society, 1975. Reprint of 1975. Near fine in heavy paper wraps with a double staple binding. A small quarto measuring 10 by 7 inches. Without a dust jacket as issued. A reprint from an earlier publication of The Mystic Seaport Association. 52 pages of text followed by an afterword and bibliographic notes. The Oliver Cromwell was built at Essex, Conn. and launched in June of 1776 as a privateer to assist in the American cause for freedom. She was a 300 ton ship, 80 feet long at the keel and carried 20 guns. She was the largest warship ever built on the Connecticut River up to that date. For the next three years after her launching she was engaged in attacking and taking British merchantmen. The Oliver Cromwell was taken during a battle with three British naval vessels in June of 1798 off the coast of Sandy Hook, New York. (Inventory #: TB30488)