Charles Lacey Papers

There appears to be no published information about Charles Lacey. The documents in this collection shed some light onto the man and sailor he was and the life he led. Lacey's cash book from the U.S.S. "John Adams" lists items he purchased and cities to which he travelled from April 1809 until July 1810. Launched in 1799, the U.S.S. "John Adams," a small frigate, was one of only 14 U.S. vessels ready for sea service at the outbreak of the War of 1812. At least one of the letters retained in this collection was sent to Lacey while he was serving on board that vessel, and references to it are made in several other letters. Lacey served as a midshipman on the "John Adams." Lacey also served as a midshipman on board the U.S.S. "Madison." A 24-gun corvette launched early in the war only 45 days after its keel was laid, the "Madison" was the handiwork of Henry Ecford, a master shipbuilder working out of the American naval base at Sacket's Harbor, New York. The "Madison" took part in the landing of the army of General Zebulon Pike in Upper Canada in 1813. A few of the letters were adressed to Lacey at Sacket's Harbor. Lacey's letters suggest that he battled illnesses, presumably related to his maritime duties. They also suggest that he was a relative of Revolutionary War veteran John Lacey (1755-1814), who died in New Mills, New Jersey. Some of the letters were sent to Lacey from New Mills and provide information about conditions there during the Wa of 1812. It appears John Lacey was Charles Lacey's uncle. The Charles Lacey Papers were donated to Georgetown University by Charles H. Trunnel, a Georgetown resident and the nephew of Charles Lacey. These papers were previously part of the Historical Manuscripts Collection (Box 4 Folder 4) at Georgetown University Library Special Collections Division. Chalres H. Trunnel also donated a minute book of the Columbian Debating Society, a Georgetown citizens group that first met on February 21, 1827. In addition, Trunnel gave the library a large number of books, including the first edition of "The Federalist" (1788). Our Special Collections Division holds a number of other collections related to American naval history. Among them are the Causten Family Papers, the Stephen and Susan Decatur Papers, and letters to John Rodgers (1813-1815); all collections which relate to the War of 1812; and the Jackson McElmell Papers, which pertain to the Civil War. The following book was very helpful in the processing of this collection: Gardiner, Robert, ed. "The Naval War of 1812." London: Chatham (in association with the National Maritime Museum), 1998.