Joseph Barss Junior | |
|---|---|
 Joseph Barss (1776 - 1824) | |
| Born | (1776-02-21)21 February 1776 |
| Died | 3 August 1824(1824-08-03) (aged 48) |
| Resting place | Kentville, Nova Scotia, Canada 45°4′39″N64°29′45″W / 45.07750°N 64.49583°W /45.07750; -64.49583 |
| Citizenship |  United Kingdom |
| Known for | Captain of the Liverpool Packet |
| Spouse | Olivia DeWolf |
| Parent(s) | Joseph Barss Sr. Elizabeth Crowell |
| Relatives | John Barss (brother) Elisha DeWolf (father-in-law) |
Joseph Barss (21 February 1776 – 3 August 1824) was a seacaptain of theschoonerLiverpool Packet and was one of the most successfulprivateers on the North American Atlantic coast during theWar of 1812.
Born 21 February 1776 inLiverpool, Nova Scotia to the son of sea captainJoseph Barss Sr. and Elizabeth Crowell. Barss' parents had married in 1773. They were one of the first families to settle in Liverpool, Nova Scotia. Barss was the second of fourteen children. In 1798 the Barss family built one of the largest homes in Liverpool. The house still stands today and is part of the Lane's Privateer Inn.
Barss gained experience as a privateer against the French in the 1790s, serving in several privateer vessels, as an officer in the shipCharles Mary Wentworth and in command the privateer schoonerLord Spencer. The schooner sank after striking a reef in the West Indies but Barss and his entire crew survived to be rescued by other Nova Scotian privateer vessels. Barss briefly served as commander of thebrigRover, a noted privateer vessel from Liverpool, Nova Scotia famous for its voyages commanded byAlexander Godfrey, another colonial Nova Scotian privateer.
In 1812, Barss took command of theLiverpool Packet, a capturedslave ship originally named theSevern and sometimes nicknamedthe Black Joke. Within a year, he had captured at least 33 American vessels. He was known for his excellent use of intelligence on American shipping movement, due in large part to his brother,John Barss. He was also known for his fair treatment of prisoners.
In 1813, following pursuit by the schoonerThomas ofPortsmouth, New Hampshire, which ended in a short battle, Barss surrendered thePacket. This defeat brought no embarrassment upon Barss, as theThomas was over twice the size of thePacket, not only in gross tonnage (143 tons vs. 67 tons) - but in firepower (12 guns vs. 5) and crew (80 vs. 45) as well. After several months of harsh imprisonment Barss was set free, paroled so long as he did not command a privateer vessel. He was briefly captured a second time during the war in command of a merchant vessel.
In 1804, he married Olivia DeWolf, the daughter of judgeElisha DeWolf. After the War of 1812, Barss settled near Kentville, Nova Scotia. He had nine children and lived there the rest of his life.
Barss died 3 August 1824 near Kentville, Nova Scotia. Barss is buried in the Oak Grove cemetery at Kentville.
TheStan Rogers' song, "Barrett's Privateers" may have taken some inspiration from the exploits of Barss, although the ship described in the popular song bore little resemblance to the sleek, fast lines of theLiverpool Packet and the inept Captain Barrett has no resemblance to the skilled and successful Joseph Barss.
