Birthplace Of Navy Still In Dispute After Meeting

By The Associated Press
Oct 14, 2010, 11:23 AM
1 Comments

BOSTON — The debate over the birthplace of the U.S. Navy will have to go on a bit longer.

The Archivist of the United States, David Ferreiro, came to the U.S.S. Constitution Museum in Boston on Wednesday to discuss the rival claims of several communities to be the Navy birthplace. They include Philadelphia, Providence, R.I., Whitehall, N.Y., and Marblehead and Beverly, Mass.

But instead of declaring a winner, Ferreiro – a Beverly native – put the question before the 100 or more people who came to hear the discussion. He read off each of the claimants and asked audience members to greet their preferred Navy birthplace with a shout of “huzzuh” – an old English cheer.

The lion’s share of huzzuhs came for Marblehead and Beverly, and a spokesman for the archivist said the decidedly unscientific poll was declared a tie.

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Brian Lansol

Beverly is and will always be the birthplace of the american navy! ,.. The Hannah was the first armed naval vesel in this nations history ,Owned by John Glover and converted for service at Glovers warf in Beverly.Was then leased to the colonies on August 1st 1775.The Hannah sailed on September 5th 1775.September 7th she recaptured the brig Unity which had been captured by the British a short time earlier. On October 10 th she engaged H.M.S.Nautilis at Mackerel cove , the Hannah survived!
The Hannah was retired from service a short time later,on October 21st 1775.
The Hannah was 1 of 8 ships in General Washingtons initial naval fleet 6 of which were outfitted and sailed from Beverly , America’s first naval base !