Commodore John Shaw’s Signed Appointment to the Naval Benevolent Organization to Aid the Maritime Veterans of the War of 1812

This document has been passed down by the heirs and has never before been offered for sale; it is in the frame used by the Shaw heirs and perhaps by Shaw himself.

John Shaw had a remarkable career. He moved from Ireland in 1790, settling in Philadelphia. He started his naval career in 1798. His service took an Irish immigrant from Lieutenant to Commodore, saw him serve from Algiers to New Orleans, alongside Commodores Rogers, Preble and many others, and led to his command of the USS George Washington and John Adams. He saw combat in the War of 1812 and worked alongside other US vessels in patrolling against the slave trade.

On May 4, 1801, he was ordered to the command of the USS George Washington, in which he carried tribute from the United States to Algiers, bringing back many Americans who had been taken prisoners by the Dey. In 1805, he was ordered to New York to take command of the USS John Adams, sailing on 14 May for the Mediterranean, where he joined the squadron of Commodore Rodgers. And in 1806 he was ordered to the command of the vessels on the New Orleans Station, where he cooperated with the Army in foiling the conspiracy of Aaron Burr. He returned to Washington on the bomb ketch vessel Vesuvius in July 1807. Here he gained experience to be used later in his life in New Orleans. At this point, he was sent to Norfolk VA to the naval establishment there.

In 1810, President James Madison gave him back a familiar position: he was to head from Norfolk to Pittsburgh, there equip a vessel, and head south first down the Ohio River and thereby meeting the Mississippi. He was then to take the entire Southern Mississippi by boat to New Orleans and take command again of that Naval Station. He went on to serve as Commodore in the War of 1812.

In 1820, Shaw and a handful of other naval officers came together to form the the US Fraternal Naval Association, to provide aid to the veterans of the war of 1812. This was likely the first formal organization of its type. Shaw was elected its first president.

Document signed, August 22, 1820, stating that “Captain John Shaw was admitted a member of the United States Naval Fraternal Association for the relief of families and deceased officers…” Framed in the original frame kept by his heirs. There are two holes in the center of the document not affecting vignettes of signatures. Shaw here was both the signer of the document as president and the appointee, so he apparently admitted himself.

We found no record of any other such document ever having reached the market.