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Falmouth Neck As It Was When Destroyed By Mowett, Oct. 18, 1775, William Willis

Maine Bicentennial

Black and white by William Willis in 1831, depicting Falmouth Neck (present day Portland) as it appeared prior to the October 18, 1775 bombardment by the British Navy under the command of Captain Henry Mowat (1734-1798). Willis includes the caption: "All the buildings within the Dotted line were destroyed except a few within the perfect line." British ships depicted in the etching include the 16-gun HMS Canceau[sic], the 20-gun Cat, the bomb sloop HMS Spitfire, and the HMS Symmetry labeled "store vessel." The unlabeled ship may be the 12-gun schooner HMS Halifax. Mowat was under orders from Vice-Admiral Samuel Graves …