Remarks and Occurrences on Board the U.S. Ship of the Line Delaware, 1835-1836: Finding Aid

History of U.S.S. Delaware (Ship-of-the-line)

The third U.S.S. Delaware, a ship-of-the-line, was laid down at Norfolk Navy Yard in August 1817 and launched on October 21, 1820. She was roofed over and kept at the yard in ordinary until she was ordered repaired and fitted for sea on March 27, 1827. Delaware put to sea on February 10, 1828 to become the flagship of Commodore William M. Crane and the Mediterranean Squadron, and remained on that station until returning to Norfolk on January 2, 1830.

Delaware was decommissioned on February 10, 1830, and lay in ordinary at Norfolk until 1833. Recommissioned on July 15, 1833, she received President Andrew Jackson on July 29, and put to see the following day to serve as flagship for Commodore Daniel T. Patterson in the Mediterranean. Returning to Hampton Roads on February 16, 1836, she was placed in ordinary on March 10 until recommissioned on May 7, 1841 for local operations from Norfolk.

Delaware sailed on November 1, 1841 for a tour of duty on the Brazil Station as flagship for Commodore Charles Morris, where she patrolled the coasts of Brazil, Uruguay, and Argentina. On February 19, 1843 she sailed from Rio de Janeiro for another cruise in the Mediterranean. Delaware returned to Hampton Roads on March 4, 1844 and was decommissioned at Norfolk Navy Yard on March 22. Still in ordinary there in 1861, she was burned on April 20 along with other ships and the yard facilities to prevent their falling into Confederate hands.

Description of Contents

The Remarks and Occurrences on Board the U.S. Ship of the Line Delaware, comprising 0.25 linear feet of documentation in a single volume of 43 leaves, span the period of June 14, 1835 to March 9, 1836, during which time the Delaware was under the command of John B. Nicolson and serving as the flagship of Commodore Daniel T. Patterson.

The volume, which notes the ship's course, weather, and daily events, covers the Delaware's cruise in the Mediterranean, including operations off Malta, Tripoli, Palermo, and with the English Fleet, as well as receiving the Consul of Tripoli. The log concludes with the Delaware at Norfolk, where she was placed in ordinary.

Arrangement

The Remarks and Occurrences on Board the U.S. Ship of the Line Delaware comprise a single volume.

Access and Use

Access

Patron use restricted to microfilm.

Copyright and Permission

The Remarks and Occurrences on Board the U.S. Ship of the Line Delaware is the physical property of Nimitz Library. Copyright belongs to the authors or creators of the works, or their legal representatives. For further information, consult the Head, Special Collections & Archives.

It is the responsibility of the researcher to secure written permission to publish, reprint, or reproduce material from Special Collections & Archives. The researcher assumes responsibility for infringement of copyright or literary or publication rights. Please contact the Head, Special Collections & Archives for permission to publish and for further information.

Acquisition and Appraisal

Provenance and Acquisition

Accessioned on February 3, 1872. Accession No. 13836.

Related Materials

Location of Copies or Alternate Formats

This collection also available on microfilm.

Related Archival Material

Additional contemporary documentation of U.S.S. Delaware in this repository can be found in the Thomas W. and Robert H. Wyman Naval Papers, 1817-1855, MS 5.

Official logbooks of U.S.S. Delaware may be available in Logbooks of U.S. Navy Ships, ca. 1801 - 1940, Record Group 24: Records of the Bureau of Naval Personnel, 1798-2007 at the National Archives and Records Administration.

Materials Cataloged Separately

No materials have been removed from this collection and cataloged separately.

Processing and Other Information

Preferred Citation

Remarks and Occurrences on Board the U.S. Ship of the Line Delaware, MS 16

Special Collections & Archives Department

Nimitz Library

United States Naval Academy

Selected Bibliography

The following sources were consulted during preparation of the biographical note:

"Delaware III (Ship-of-the-Line)." Dictionary of American Naval Fighting Ships. Washington: Naval History and Heritage Command, 2015, https://www.history.navy.mil/research/histories/ship-histories/danfs/d/delaware-iii.html.

Processing Information

This collection was processed by Mary R. Catalfamo. Finding aid written by David D'Onofrio in April 2020.

Subject Headings

Name and Subject Terms

• Delaware (Ship-of-the-line)
• Nicolson, John B., 1783-1846
• United States. Navy -- History -- 19th century -- Sources
• United States. Navy. Mediterranean Squadron

Genre Terms

• Manuscripts
• Ships' logs