Ship's Crew
Josiah Mann
Rank(s): Ordinary Seaman
Dates of Service: 7/10/1811 - 2/27/1813
Birth Date: 6/19/1783
Early Life
Josiah was born on June 19, 1793 in Scituate, Massachusetts, the son of Josiah and Sage(y) Clark Mann. He was one of at least four children. His mother died in about 1802 and in 1810 his father remarried to a woman named Lucinda Litchfield. Mann married Zylpha Stetson (b. 1795, d. ca. 1844) on December 10, 1820 in Scituate, Massachusetts. Together the couple had four sons and two daughters. During the War of 1812, Mann allotted half his monthly pay ($5.00) to his step-mother Lucinda Mann.
Early Experience
Mann served on USS Hornet until July 1811, and so had some naval experience before joining Constitution’s crew.
Ordinary seaman Mann transferred to Constitution from USS Hornet on July 10, 1811 while the ships were at Washington, DC. He left the ship sometime after February 27, 1813.
Battles and Engagements
During his service on board, the ship made a diplomatic voyage to France and Holland. Mann participated in the battles against HMS Guerriere on August 19, 1812 and HMS Java on December 29, 1812. He received $42.62 ½ and $42.30 in prize money for the victories. During the second battle he served as 1st sponger on the No. 7 carronade on the quarterdeck.
After the war, Mann returned home to Scituate, Massachusetts. He was still there in 1850, but by that point he was “insane” and was living as a pauper in the town’s alms house. It is not known when he died.
Crew ID
9307
