Commodore Joel Abbot, Camp No. 21

Biography of
Commodore Joel Abbot
(1793 - 1855)

Commodore Joel Abbot (often mis-spelled "Abbott") was born on January 18th 1793, in Westford, Massachusetts was son of Joel Abbot and Lydia Cummings. He married (first) January 1st 1820, Mary Wood, of Newburyport, MA, born January 20th 1796. She died April 15th 1821. He then married (second) November 29th 1825, Laura, daughter of Charles and Abigail (Miller) Wheaton, born March 15th 1801.

In the early stages of the War of 1812, June 15th of that year, young Abbot received the appointment of Midshipman in the United States Navy. He was attached to the frigate USS President, commanded by Commodore Rogers, and later became the latter's aide and signal officer.

Abbot was taken as a prisoner of war while in charge of a prize and, after being released, was assigned to serve under Commodore McDonough, on Lake Champlain. Here he was commissioned by McDonough, and ordered to go to a designated point and destroy a quantity of masts and spars which were to be used by the British in fitting out the naval force with which their object was to attack the Americans. In this hazardous undertaking he was successful, but such were the handicaps he met with in the project, that he never fully recovered from the effects.

In the naval engagement on Lake Champlain, which occurred not long thereafter, young Abbot bore an active and honorable part, and for his bravery was promoted (April 1st 1818) to a lieutenancy, and was presented with a sword by the United States Congress.

From 1815 to 1817 he served onboard the frigate USS Congress. For a period commencing in 1818, he cruised the Mediterranean as an attaché to the frigate USS Guerriere.

From 1820 to 1821 he was stationed at Charlestown, Massachusetts, where the schooner USS Alligator was being built.

Starting in 1821 he served on the Alligator, on the African coast, and was successful in bringing to Boston a Portuguese pirate ship, which had been taken off the African coast.

The Alligator a swift 12-gun schooner built in 1820, had a brief but remarkable career. Designed by William Doughty, Alligator was one of two schooners built at the Charlestown Navy Yard in Boston, and is the last known example of the five 12-gun schooners built to stop African slave traders and pirates.

Alligator served during a very challenging period in U.S. history. The 198-ton, 86-foot long schooner made two short cruises to the West Coast of Africa, during which time it captured several slavers. Alligator was sent to Africa not only to suppress the slave trade, but also to search for a stretch of land for the American Colonization Society. This society was formed for the purpose of returning former slaves to the African continent. Its historic first voyage off the coast of Africa led to the establishment of a colony for former slaves that later became the State of Liberia.

In early 1822, Alligator returned from Africa and spent the remainder of its career hunting pirates in the West Indies. Alligator left Matanzas, Cuba escorting a convoy of vessels. On 9 November 1822, she captured a pirate schooner off Matanzas. During the engagement, Alligator's captain, W. H. Allen, was killed. On 18 November 1822, Alligator ran aground on Caryford Reef near Islamorada, Florida. The crew tried in vain to refloat the vessel by tossing articles over the side and transferring the more valuable articles to nearby vessels. When this attempt failed, and with no other option left to them, the crew regretfully abandoned and burned their ship, which blew up.

His efforts in exposing a series of stupendous frauds in the navy yard attracted the attention and secured the commendation of the (Navy) Department. In 1827 he was stationed onboard Sloop-of-War USS Warren. From 1830 to 1832 he was stationed on the Receiving Ship, Boston, Massachusetts. In 1833 he was stationed onboard Sloop-of-War USS Vandalia. Abbot was promoted to the rank of commander in 1838 and was stationed onboard the brig USS Dolphin.

In 1843 he took command of the Sloop-of-War USS Decatur, one of Commodore Perry's African squadron. While at Cape Palmas, he learned that Bishop Payne was in imminent danger at Cavalla, and, promptly sailing to his aid, was instrumental in saving him from a force of 500-armed natives. His conduct on the African coast was warmly commended by Commodore Perry and the secretary of the navy. On October 3rd, 1850 he was promoted to captain.

In 1852, when Commodore Perry was entrusted with power to select the officers to accompany him in his famous Japan expedition, he chose Captain Abbot in command of the Frigate USS Macedonia, who was with him until the object of the expedition - negotiating of a treaty which would open the ports of that country to the commerce of the United States - was accomplished.

On Perry's return home Captain Abbot was appointed Commodore in command of the United States naval force on the coast of China and Japan. At that time the Chinese pirates were committing acts of barbarity upon our vessels, and Unites States merchants engaged in business in various Chinese ports were urgent in their demands for protection and relief. The course which Commodore Abbot pursued received the emphatic approval of the Government. Commodore Abbot accomplished his task, but not without seriously affecting his health.

Comodore Joel Abbot died of malaria at Hong Kong, China, December 14th 1855.

Note - Some readers may wonder why a camp of the Sons of Union Veterans would be named after someone who did not serve during the Civil War. Joel Abbot Camp 21 was founded in 1909 and orginally met in Warren, Rhode Island. Warren was Joel Abbot's home town as well as the residence of his grandson Major (later Brigadier General) Charles W. Abbot, Jr. Major Abbot was active in the Sons of Veterans and was the Department Commander for Rhode Island in 1897. It would seem that it was due to insistance that the camp was named after his grandfather.

Major Abbot would later serve as commander of the 1st Rhode Island Volunteer Infantry during the Spansih War and later served as Adjutant General of Rhode Island form 1911 - 1923. He was involved in numerous patriotic organizations including the Military Order of the Loyal Legion of the United States, the General Society of the War of 1812 and the Sons of the American Revolution.

For more information on General Abbot please see the Biograhy of Charles Wheaton Abbot, Jr.

The first, DD 184, was a Wickes (Lamberton) Class Destroyer built by Newport News Shipbuilding, with a displacement of 1,213 tons. Laid down April 5 1918, launched July 4 1918 and commissioned June 19 1919. She was decommissioned July 5 1922, recommissioned June 17 1940 and sent to Britain under the lend lease program September 23 1940. She was renamed HMS Charlestown. Broken up for scrap in 1947. More information on DD 184 may be found here.

The second, DD 629, was a Fletcher class destroyer built by Bath Iron Works, with a displacement of 2,924 tons. Laid down September 21 1942, launched February 17 1943 and commissioned April 23 1943. Decommissioned May 21 1946 and recommissioned February 26 1951. Decommissioned March 26th, 1965, sold July 31st, 1975 and broken up for scrap. More information on DD 629 may be found HERE. Please visit the USS Abbot Website.

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