The Iron on the remains of a Yard Arm, taken out of the Delaware, which is now in the Museum

Object Status:

Unlocated

Primary Source Reference:

Peale Museum Accessions Book, Historical Society of Pennsylvania, p. 12

Additional Source Text:

"Belonged to the Fire ship Augt. 2 1777, it is Called a shear Hook -- made by Peter Browne."

Notes:

American forces prepared fireships to prevent the British fleet from sailing up the Delaware River into Philadelphia in the late summer of 1777. Instead, the British landed at the northern end of Chesapeake Bay and occupied Philadelphia following the Battle of Brandywine and other land engagements. Fireships featured grappling hooks at the end of yardarms so as to entangle the fireship in the target ship's rigging.