Famed American naval officer John Paul Jones is most known for his raids along the coast of Whitehaven aboard USS Ranger and his exploits as captain of USS Bonhomme Richard (his defeat of HMS Serapis in the Battle of Flamborough Head is perhaps his biggest accomplishment). When he was not at sea fighting, he spent time in coastal American towns preparing his ships for sea. On two occasions, Jones stayed in Portsmouth, New Hampshire and boarded at what is now known as the John Paul Jones House.
History
What is known and preserved as the John Paul Jones House was first built in 1758 for a Portsmouth merchant named Gregory Purcell. Interestingly, the house was framed by a free mulatto from Newmarket named Hopestill Cheswell (Portsmouth has a deep and fascinating African-American history that is highlighted throughout the town). In 1758, Gregory Purcell married Sarah Wentworth, daughter of John Wentworth (and a granddaughter of Lieutenant Governor John Wentworth).
The Purcell’s moved into the house and had (up to) a dozen children (there are varying accounts). Unfortunately, Gregory died just prior to the American Revolution, which left Sarah widowed and alone to raise her children and handle family debts. In order to support the family, Sarah decided to take in boarders. The most famous boarder to stay at the house was none other than naval officer John Paul Jones.
Portsmouth and neighboring coastal islands have a long and proud tradition of shipbuilding that stretches all the way back to the late 1600s. Thus, the region was a logical choice to build the first naval vessel for the Continental Navy, which was launched from John Langdon’s shipyard in May 1776: the USS Raleigh (32 guns). A year later on May 10, 1777, Langdon’s shipyard launched another naval vessel for the Continental Navy: USS Ranger (18 guns). Captain Jones was promised command of USS Ranger by the Continental Congress (he took command on June 14, 1777).
To oversee the outfitting and preparation of the Ranger, Captain John Paul Jones came to Portsmouth, New Hampshire and boarded at Mrs. Purcell’s house throughout the summer and early autumn of 1777. After filling the ranks with 140 men and fitting out the ship, Ranger sailed for France on November 1, 1777 and served the American cause admirably.
From 1781 to 1782, Captain Jones was once again a boarder at Mrs. Purcell’s House. He was promised command of the USS America (74 guns), which was being built in Portsmouth. Unfortunately for Jones, the United States decided to give the newly-constructed America to France (as recompense for the French ship Le Magnifique that ran aground while entering Boston). Jones soon left Portsmouth dejected.
In 1783, Sarah Purcell sold the house to Woodbury Langdon and over the next 30 years it would change hands four times. In 1826, local businessman Samuel Lord purchased the home and owned it until his death in 1871 (it then went to his widowed daughter Mary Morison, who lived there into the 1900s). In 1917, the house was saved from demolition when it was purchased by a descendant of Woodbury Langdon for $10,000. Subsequently, the newly formed Portsmouth Historical Society opened the house as a museum in 1920.
Interesting Facts
- On February 14, 1778, USS Ranger (under command of Captain Jones) fired a 13-gun salute to the French ship Robuste, which returned a 9-gun salute. This was the first time the American flag was recognized by a foreign warship at sea
- Jones always seemed to seek glory and adventure. In 1787, he went to Europe and fought under Empress Catherine II of Russia against the Ottoman Empire. After a tumultuous few years in Europe, Jones died alone in a Paris apartment on July 18, 1792
- In 1905, the corpse of John Paul Jones was discovered under the streets of Paris after a detailed search led by Ambassador Horace Porter. Jones’ body (which was incredibly well-preserved) was returned to the United States with much fanfare and is currently entombed under the United States Naval Academy Chapel in Annapolis, MD
Our Visit & Recommendations
Portsmouth, New Hampshire is home to a remarkable collection of 18th-century buildings and a rich maritime history. So many of these historic homes are preserved in large part due to the locals who fought and paid to maintain them over the years- luckily, one such house is the John Paul Jones House. Designated a National Historic Landmark in 1972, the house has been maintained by the Portsmouth Historical Society since 1919.
Although John Paul Jones shares only a small connection to the house, we were excited to tour such a beautifully restored home that has witnessed over 260 years of history. Before the house tour, we recommend checking out the Historical Society’s Discover Portsmouth Center. The Discover Center has a great gift shop, bathrooms, and information to help guide your day exploring the city. From the visitors center, the John Paul Jones House is approximately a two minute walk.
We arrived at the house for our scheduled tour time and after speaking with the guide at the entrance, we began the self-guided tour. While you can explore the house at your own pace, there is not someone immediately available to answer questions- so be sure to ask them before you leave.
The rooms throughout the house are furnished with period (and many locally produced) items and a fantastic collection of historic artifacts. Displayed throughout the house are unique and fascinating items to include a musket used at the Battle of Bunker Hill, a multitude of ship models, original period items related to John Paul Jones, and dozens of original portraits and nautical paintings.
As you explore the rooms, be sure to read the numerous information placards that are placed around the house. These signs outline the nautical history of Portsmouth, the city’s role in the American Revolution, the history of the house, and of course, the life and exploits of John Paul Jones.
The second floor has multiple bedrooms, including one decorated in 18th-century furnishings, a room displaying numerous nautical paintings and ship models (including unique items from the USS Constitution), and finally, the bedroom that is believed to have been rented by John Paul Jones himself.
The ocean-like blue room that is dedicated to Captain Jones has a remarkable display of original items and paintings. There are a few letters written by Jones, including one from December 11, 1777 to John Wendell in Portsmouth (Wendell’s son served as a midshipman onboard the Ranger). There is also a bust of John Paul Jones on display, which is an exact copy of the 1780 bust created by Jean Antoine Houdon.
We spent quite a bit of time in this room, reading all of the information placards and admiring the one-of-a-kind historic items that the museum has on display (some items are on loan from other museums or private-owners). It is so neat to think that John Paul Jones had once walked those same halls and rooms, undoubtedly concerned about the state of his ship, his crew, and the possibility of future glory at sea.
Although there is a third floor in the house (that would of originally had multiple bedrooms), it is not included in the tour. After the Jones room, we headed through a back room that explored Portsmouth’s role in the War of 1812.
The last main exhibit on display at the museum is downstairs, which currently examines the remarkable (and oft-unknown) Treaty of Portsmouth. This treaty was a result of a peace conference that took place in Portsmouth, New Hampshire in 1905 to end the Russo-Japanese war. President Theodore Roosevelt proposed and instituted this conference- he would win a Nobel Peace Prize in 1906 for his role.
Following our tour, we headed back out to the grounds, which boast a beautiful garden and places to sit, read, and relax. We were extremely impressed with the John Paul Jones House and the historic artifacts that are on display. The Portsmouth Historical Society has done a phenomenal job at preserving and presenting the house and museum.
If you are visiting Portsmouth, visits to the Discover Center and the John Paul Jones House are a must!
Source(s): https://www.seacoastonline.com/news/20170305/historical-society-hits-centennial-year