Friday, March 15, 2013

"Still the bound prisoners wretched remain..."

Welcome to the Thomas B. Mott Project Blog. Thomas B. Mott was an American sailor, a privateersman during the War of 1812.  This blog chronicles my research into his time as a Prisoner of War--first at Halifax Nova Scotia in the infamous Melville Island Prison, and then at England's Dartmoor Prison.

I became interested in Mott when I discovered a small leather-bound manuscript of songs and poems he wrote while in prison. I found the manuscript in the New York State Library several years ago.  My fascination with the songs led me to research the story of POWs in the War of 1812, and especially the Dartmoor Prison story, all viewed through the remarkable words of Mott. For several years I have been patiently transcribing all the songs and compiling extensive historical notes, which I hope will soon be published as a book. 

I also perform several of the pieces, with my own settings and arrangements in a presentation for libraries, museums, and historical societies.