DID YOU KNOW?

Jun 17, 2014

This past weekend, Wareham held a re-enactment of the attack on its shores by the HMS Nimrod. Did you know that no one is completely sure why Wareham was chosen for attack that day?

The Nimrod was instrumental in helping to enforce the trade blockade off the New England coast. It was known to patrol Vineyard Sound, Buzzards Bay and Block Island Sound. The Nimrod often used Tarpaulin Cove on Naushon Island, one of the Elizabeth Islands, as its base of operation.  Its sailors enjoyed capturing American ships, taking their cargo and impressing their crews for Britain. So why attack Wareham?

One possible reason was that the town was well known as a center of shipbuilding, iron and leather manufacturing, all important in the war effort.  Wareham was also renowned for its privateers who were quite successful in boarding British ships and plundering them.

Another, more likely reason for the attack can be traced to the Nimrod’s attack on Falmouth in January, 1814.  The warship was responsible for a great deal of damage to Falmouth, and it is thought that on June 13 the Nimrod was actually chasing Falmouth ships up Buzzards Bay into Wareham where three new Falmouth schooners were anchored and eventually burned. Whatever the cause, the attack on Wareham is an integral part of its history.