“…Four separate demands were made for these men, but without success; one on Lieutenant Sinclair, of the Chesapeake; one by the British consul, on the Mayor of Norfolk ; one on Captain Decatur; and one by Lord Erskine, the British minister on the Secretary of State. The government, willing to be just, and anxious for honorable peace, instituted inquiries concerning the deserters, and Commodore Barron, in a letter to the secretary of the navy, dated April 7th, 1807, thus gives an account of the deserters:

“William Ware, pressed from on board the brig Neptune, Captain Crafts, by the British frigate Melampus, in the Bay of Biscay, has served on hoard the said frigate fifteen months.

“William Ware is a native American, born on Pips creek, Frederick County, State of Maryland, at Bruce’s Mills, and served his time at said mills. He also lived at Ellicott’s Mills, near Baltimore, and drove a wagon several years between Hagerstown and Baltimore. He also served eighteen months on board the United States frigate Chesapeake, under the command of Commodore Morris and Captain James Barron. He is an Indian looking man.

“John Strachan, born on the Eastern Shore of Maryland, Queen Ann’s County, between Centreville and Queen’s Town. Strachan sailed in the brig Martha Bland, Captain Wyvill, from New York to Dublin, and from thence to Liverpool. He there left the brig and shipped on board an English Guineaman. He was pressed on board the Melampus, off Cape Finistere.

The other, a colored man, named Martin, was a native of Massachusetts and was pressed at the same time and place with William Ware. Ware and Strachan had protections, but Martin had lost his. The Chesapeake sailed with these men on board, and on the 21st of June, 1807, when at sea, not far from the Capes of Virginia, the Chesapeake was overtaken by the British frigate Leopard of fifty-six guns, commanded by Captain Humphreys. The Chesapeake carried forty-four guns. Captain Humphreys sent his boat with a note to Commodore Barron, informing him that his commanding officer, Vice Admiral Berkeley by instructions dated 1st of June, had directed him to take any British deserters on board the Chesapeake, by force if necessary, and to allow on his part a search for American deserters. Barron astonished at the insolence of Humphreys and the assumptions of Berkeley, refused permission to search, aud stated that he had no deserters on board the Chesapeake, and that his crew should not be mustered except by their own officers. On the receipt of this answer the Leopard opened fire upon the Chesapeake, and the latter being taken by surprise, and unprepared for action, did not return the fire, and immediately struck her flag. Three men were killed and eighteen wounded upon the unresisting ship. When the American ensign was lowered, several of the British officers went on board, mustered the crew, arrested the three deserters from the Melampus, and took a fourth named John Wilson, who had deserted from the Halifax. Captain Humphreys, refusing to receive the Chesapeake as a prize, she returned to Norfolk. John Hayden, of Baltimore, was wounded in the attack on the Chesapeake.”

Reference Data:

History of Maryland, by John Thomas Scharf, 1879, pages 621-2