Ship's Crew
George Hand
Rank(s): Able Seaman
Dates of Service: 7/3/1812 - 6/1/1815
Early Life
George Hand’s place and date of birth are unknown.
Early Experience
Hand must have gone to sea at an early age, and while he received training in the art of seamanship, he would have had little formal education. He signed receipts with an “X” suggesting that he was probably illiterate.
Hand reported to Constitution as a seaman on July 3, 1812 at Annapolis, Maryland. He was discharged on June 29, 1814 in Boston, but because he owed the ship $36.44 he reenlisted the next day. He was finally discharged in June 1815.
Battles and Engagements
Hand participated in victories over HMS Guerriere on August 19, 1812 and HMS Java on December 29, 1812, receiving $42.62 ½ and $42.30 in prize money for the victories. He was on board when Constitution captured a British man-of-war schooner and three merchant vessels. He fought in the battles with HMS Cyane and HMS Levant at gun no. 4 in the first division of the gun deck and received $22.19 in prize money.
Hand’s place and date of death are unknown.
Crew ID
6507
