VINELAND - The Daughters of the American Revolution, Greenwich Tea Burning Chapter, welcomed a visitor from the War of 1812 to lunch, Monday afternoon at Marciano's restaurant.
Capt. James Lawrence, a Burlington County native and American maritime hero, played expertly by Jeff Macechak, Education Director for the Burlington county Historical Society, was on hand to discuss New Jersey history, naval tactics and his many experiences in battles great and small.
Macechak appeared in uniform, with an officers sabre strapped to his hip and golden epaulets gleaming. The Daughters of the American Revolution do a number of similar events, bringing in period experts to demonstrate the clothes, speech and attitudes of earlier Americans.
"We like to try and bring history alive," DAR member Valerie Baron said. "We enjoy having programs like this, that are educational about American history, and help to preserve local history."
Macechack spoke in detail about the great captain's more famous engagements, including a daring nighttime raid to burn the USS Philadelphia, an American vessel that had been captured by bloodthirsty buccaneers during the Barbary Pirate War; his great victory against the British vessel, the HMS Peacock; and his personal duel with English captain Philip Broke which culminated in a crushing defeat for Lawrence beneath the guns of Broke's HMS Shannon.
Though he may be an obscure figure today, Capt. Lawrence was very famous in the 1800s; his exploits on the high seas made him a legend in his own time. Shortly after his death he was immortalized at the hands of Washington Irving, who published a successful compedium of the great man's obituaries. "I always had a strong interest in Capt. Lawrence, even before I became involved with the Burlington Historical Society," Macechak explained. "But Burlington has a special connection to Lawrence, because that is where he was born."
For anyone interested in learning more about Capt. Lawrence, or in supporting the Burlington Historical Society, please visit the Children's History Center in Burlington City, or call (609) 386-4773.
