This exhibit featured images and information about the Abolitionist movement and the Underground Railroad in Marblehead. Through photographs and objects from the Museum’s collection,  Marblehead’s past history in fighting slavery, prejudice and discrimination was presented.

During the Abolitionist Movement, Slaves were hidden in safe houses throughout Marblehead.  They were hidden in attic rooms or cellar storage spaces or even secret staircases and closets that had existed already and were used by Marbleheaders to hide smuggled goods long before they hid human contraband. Marblehead, situated as it was on the Atlantic seaboard, was a good stop along the Underground Rail Road. When a signal was given, slaves were put into dories, in the dark of night, and rowed out to ships usually bound for Halifax, Nova Scotia. In Canada, the slaves would be out of range of bounty hunters and enraged slave owners, who were known to track their escaped slaves all the way to northern states.

Marblehead was active in the Abolitionist movement from its beginning, and was an important location on the Underground railroad. Through the course of the Civil War Marblehead sent 1048 men to fight. 112 men made the ultimate sacrifice, and scores of men and boys were wounded. The story of Marblehead’s part in the Civil War is similar to that of men all over the United States. Some lived, some died and many were wounded. All were subjected to the horrors of war, as were their wives and families. When the war was over, the town of Marblehead voted to give support to veterans, and the Grand Army of the Republic, a Civil War veterans organization, continued that support.

The exhibit displays include documents, photographs, names and places of those who contributed to the war effort, either at home or at war. The Marblehead Museum is pleased to exhibit some of its extensive textile collection with fashions from the Civil War era.

March through September, 2013

There were many privateers from Marblehead, with captains who received letters of marque from President James Madison, certifying their right to act as representatives of the United States government, to capture foreign ships and confiscate their cargoes. As many as four privateers a day weighed anchor and stood out from Marblehead. There was the Concordia, owned by the Blackler family and John Pedrick, the Orient, and the Betsey, which was taken off Newfoundland. The naval vessels Essex and Constitution listed many Marbleheaders among their crew, as did privateers from Salem. The War of 1812 was the last major war in which privateers were used, because this war emphasized the need for, and firmly established the U.S. Navy.

Danger during the War of 1812 to the town of Marblehead came from the sea, and Town Meeting responded accordingly. Fort Sewall, at the mouth of Marblehead harbor, had been neglected since the end of the Revolution, and had fallen into disrepair. The Fort was reinforced and armed once again. To protect Little Harbor, Fountain Park was fortified by a battery and designated Fort Washington. A forty-two pound cannon was placed at Skinner’s Head (now Glover’s Landing), smaller cannons at Goodwin’s Head and Gilbert’s Heights, and guards were stationed on Marblehead Neck.

Much of the fighting in the War of 1812 took place on the Great Lakes, against Canadian, British and Native American forces. Fighting also took place in the southern United States and on the Gulf Coast. The great battle at Fort McHenry in Baltimore harbor was the inspiration for Francis Scott Key’s Star Spangled Banner. Andrew Jackson became a national hero for the Battle of New Orleans. Significant battles were fought at sea, and the small United States Navy distinguished itself against the British fleet, then considered the strongest in the world. Naval success in the War of 1812 changed the attitude of the world towards the United States.