Help Us Celebrate the Remarkable Discovery of Who Was Buried as an “Unknown” Sailor in Mystic’s Packer Cemetery over 200 Years Ago during the War of 1812 !

Help us Give the Man a Name!

The Story: For over 200 years, a Scottish sailor has rested in Mystic's historic Packer Cemetery beneath a gravestone that simply marked him as "Unknown."

He died in 1814 during the War of 1812 after a dramatic confrontation between Mystic's hastily assembled militia and a British cutter from HMS Terror. Though the Mystic militia never learned his name, they buried him "with reverence" according to old chronicle reports, honoring a fallen enemy with dignity and respect.

Today, thanks to painstaking research by dedicated local historians, we finally know who he was!

He was William Adamson, and he hailed from Pittenweem, Scotland. He had signed on with (or been shanghaied by) the Royal Navy in 1807 as an able seaman, but by 1814 had been promoted to quarter-gunner and assigned to HMS Terror when it was a bomb ship sailing in the North American campaign during the War of 1812.

On Sunday, August 23, from 1pm to 5pm, we will gather at Packer Cemetery in West Mystic (68 New London Road, next door to the Hook and Ladder Fire Station) to properly remember William Adamson by name, place his name on his gravesite, and to remember ALL those along our shores whose lives were forever changed by this “forgotten” War.

You'll hear the extraordinary story of how William Adamson lost his life, why he was buried with reverence by the Americans, and why he lay unidentified for more than two centuries. And you’ll hear the equally extraordinary story how local researchers finally uncovered his identity (with much archival work on both sides of the Atlantic).

(A short clip video on what William’s life must have been like aboard HMS Terror is here: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=goW9yUUvhb0)

August 23 will be much more than dry history. It will be an opportunity to correct a 212-year-old omission and ensure that this man is no longer forgotten.

To commemorate this remarkable discovery, we are planning an authentic 19th-century afternoon of remembrance, featuring period music, historical presentations, refreshments, and living history demonstrations.

The afternoon will include performances by the Mystic Pipes & Drums, the Free Men of the Sea, fifers and drummers from the Nutmeg Fife and Drum Corps, and local traditional fiddler Craig Edwards, along with compelling stories told that will bring Mystic's role in the War of 1812 vividly to life.

But we need your help to make this a very memorable event!

Your generous donation in any amount will help cover our costs , including:

• Honorariums for speakers, musicians, and living history performers
• A brass plaque with his name placed at the grave
• Tent, tables, chairs, and sound equipment
• Printed commemorative souvenir programs for all attendees to take home
• Refreshments (a food truck)
• Event logistics and other expenses needed to create a meaningful public remembrance

Whether you are passionate about local history, military history, genealogy, or simply believe that every life deserves to be remembered by name, we hope you'll consider supporting this effort.

And, of course, we hope you'll join us on SUNDAY, AUGUST 23, from 1:00–5:00 p.m. at Packer Cemetery on the New London Road in Mystic! something for everyone, young and old!

Every contribution—large or small—helps us give William Adamson the remembrance he was denied for over 200 years, and helps us commemorate CT's role in the War of 1812.

If you're unable to donate, we'd still love your help. Volunteers are welcome, and your presence at the ceremony will help remember what is so frequently called America's "forgotten war", and ensure that a lonely sailor far from home is never again remembered as simply "Unknown."

After more than two centuries, it's time to give William Adamson back his name. Please help us honor his memory and CT's maritime history.

As Captain Jack Aubrey (Lucky Jack) said to his ship’s crew, "There’s not a moment to lose!” (Russell Crowe, in Master and Commander)

Thanks for your deep generosity! Much obliged indeed!

p.s. If we are fortunate enough to raise more than is needed for the event, every remaining dollar will be dedicated to preserving Packer Cemetery by:

restoring fallen and vandalized gravestones,

cleaning historic markers, and

repairing the cemetery's entrance gate—ensuring this sacred place continues to honor those buried there for generations to come.

Many thanks from all of us - a group of your friends and local neighbors who are passionate history-lovers!