WRECK OF THE ENGLISH FRIGATE SOMERSET.

About one mile westward from the Peaked Hill Life Saving Station, buried beneath the sands, lies the wreck of the English Frigate Somerset. This vessel has a history intimately connected with Provincetown. Authentic records give the information that she was a third rate frigate, built in Chatham dock-yards, England, and launched July 18th, 1748, and carried sixty-four guns, thirty-two, eighteen, and twelve pounders.

In 1774 she left England for the North American Station, returning to London in 1776. Left England again in 1777 to take an active part in the war of the Revolution; was present at the bombardment of Charlestown, being stationed the third ship up the river in the line, and covered the landing of the British troops, when the battle of Bunker Hill was fought. The poet Longfellow mentions the fact in one of his poems. She was commanded by the notorious Capt. Bellamy, who took every means to annoy the people of the defenseless coast.

She often made a rendezvous in Provincetown harbor and levied on the people for supplies, and instead of paying for the same in money, would allow his chaplain to come ashore Sundays and preach to the people, giving that as an equivalent for the eggs, butter and fish taken from the citizens. Such was the dread of seeing the vessel that mothers would tell their refractory children that the frigate would carry them off if they did not mind their parents. Such threats would cause the most incorrigible to mind.

The people here (Provincetown) were entirely unprotected during the Revolution, and the English held complete sway over the place. At length, one day the citizens saw the frigate, which had been absent for some time, returning, chased by some French men-of-war. The wind was blowing heavy from the north, and the Somerset was trying to make this port for safety. Being unable to weather Race Point, in tacking ship, she miss-stayed and struck on the outer bar; the French vessels seeing her ashore, fired a few shots at her, and tacking ship stood out to sea and safety.

The beach was soon lined with the citizens, who tried to save the lives of her crew, with all the means that lay in their power, though they were their enemies. On board the ship, boats were launched, but they were dashed to pieces alongside, and those that were in them drowned. Guns, shot, and other heavy articles were thrown overboard, her masts, that had been broken off neat at the deck, were cut adrift, and finally, at high water, the strained and leaking hulk was driven, by the force of the wind and seas, over the bar and up on the shore. Those that were alive of her crew were rescued by the people and held as prisoners of war.

Word was sent to Truro and a company of Militia from that place, with a company here, under the command of Captain Enoch Hallett, of Yarmouth, took the prisoners to Barnstable, and thence to Boston except for one -- the ship's surgeon Dr. William Thayer. Dr. Thayer --- who was paroled and stayed here to give aid to the people of Provincetown and Truro. He married Susan Rich, thereafter residing in Truro.