Ship's Crew

Comminsky enlisted in the U.S. Navy on June 26, 1812. He joined Constitution ’s crew as an ordinary seaman on July 3, 1812 while the ship was anchored off Annapolis, Maryland. He was discharged sometime after February 17, 1813.

Among the enlisted men, ordinary seamen stood in the middle of the lower-deck hierarchy. These men had typically sailed one or two voyages and knew basic seamanship. Like the able seamen, they too could “hand, reef, and steer,” but some of the more complicated maneuvers were foreign to them. Many ordinary seamen would have been numbered among the topmen, the young and agile crewmembers who were responsible for working aloft on the masts and yards. The ordinary seaman made $10.00 per month.

Battles and Engagements

Comminsky participated in the victories over HMS Guerriere on August 19, 1812, receiving $42.62 ½ in prize money, and over HMS Java on December 29, 1812, receiving $42.30 in prize money. During the second battle he served as third loader for gun no. 1 on the gun deck.

Comminsky’s date and place of death are unknown.