John Kessler (naval historian)
His combat sea service in the American Revolution produced valued notes, records, and articles used by historians and biographers to define early American naval history together with Captain John Barry's naval leadership and service securing America's independence from the British.
[1] Young Kessler's initial service as an entry level privateer sailor proved to be the fortunate beginning of a long-term relationship, signing the muster rolls of the brig Delaware.
Her captain, the Irish-born John Barry, had begun his sailing life at age 9 by signing on to his uncle's private ship as a cabin boy.
By the time the American Revolution began Barry was a seasoned mariner and received a captain's commission in the Continental Navy from the President of Congress, John Hancock, in March, 1776.
During the war Barry became so successful against both Royal Naval vessels and Loyalist privateers that Admiral Richard Howe offered him a handsome sum and captain's commission in George III's navy.
[1] On their next voyage to Port au Prince, the Delaware and her crew were captured by three British frigates, HMS Phoenix, Pomona, and Lowstoff.
[4] Lieutenant Collins, Kessler, and their fellow sailors were greeted by their captor, Sir Hyde Parker, with: ”My Lads, you will now consider yourselves as belonging to his Britannic Majesty’s Ship Phoenix, and if you behave yourselves well you will be treated the same as the rest of the crew.
Sir Hyde Parker's flagship, Phoenix, encountered very harsh weather, and soon ran aground, damaged beyond repair.
[1][3] For the next two years, their service together on the Alliance included engaging and capturing enemy ships of war on the high seas; safely transporting war leaders such as Marquis de Lafayette, Thomas Paine, and Colonel Laurens from America to France; overpowering a mutiny; and transporting desperately needed currency to America.
[1][2][5] Barry's courage, integrity, leadership, and sailing knowledge insured his, Midshipman Kessler's, and the Alliance’s survival under combat and severe weather.
Kessler's duties expanded to ship's log keeper, allowing him to enter accounts of major naval combat activities.
For three hours, their combined broadsides swept the deck and quarterdeck of the frigate, tearing into the rigging while inflicting numerous casualties.
Barry's loss of blood required his removal from the main deck but when his Lieutenant, Hoystead Hacker, suggested surrender, an enraged Barry emphatically declared that surrender would not be considered, and he demanded to be brought back to the Alliance’s deck if Hacker had truly lost his will to keep fighting.
When Edwards offered Barry his sword, he refused, simply saying “I return it to you, Sir – you have merited it and your King ought to give you a better ship – here is my cabin at your service, use it as if your own.”[2][5] Throughout the war, Barry's treatment of prisoners was exemplary, and could be considered a paradigm for the standard of behavior accepted by today's United States military under similar circumstances.
[2] It would fall to future researchers and writers,[2][3][6][7][8][9][10] to establish John Barry's exemplary war accomplishments and place in American naval history.
[1] this elevated the public's recognition of his administrative and financial talents that would offer many opportunities for future growth for the rest of his life.
[12][13][14] His surveying instrument, inscribed “Henry Voigt Philadelphia”, was transferred to the Smithsonian National Museum of American History in 1891.
Kessler's son, John, married Voigt's daughter, Catharine, at St. Michael's Lutheran Church in Philadelphia on August 28, 1808.
John Kessler, died on March 17, 1840, and resides along with his wife, descendants, Henry, Maria, and Thomas Voigt at Laurel Hill National Park near Philadelphia, PA. After the American Revolution ended with the Treaty of Paris, Captain Barry focused on securing back pay for his sailors.
After accepting Washington's appointment, Captain Barry and shipbuilder Joshua Humphreys began building and staffing the first ships to comprise the U.S. Navy.
Barry later assumed command of the large frigate, United States, and served with the honorary rank of “Commodore” of the navy's first squadron.
