HISTORY

Louisa Baker, The Female Marine

Shortly after the War of 1812 a series of stories were published about Louisa Baker. According to the stories, Louisa was a Cape Cod native who had been jilted by her lover. She proceeded to move to Boston and after living there a few years, joined the United Stated Marine Corps. She was assigned as a sharpshooter and served, firing her musket, from the rigging of the USS Constitution. After the war, she collected a substantial amount of money from prizes taken during the ship’s cruises, and settled down, marrying the wealthy Chares West.

Sadly, the story is the sole invention of one Nathaniel Hill Wright, a local writer. No local birth records exist for Louisa Baker in Plymouth county … where she was supposed to have been born. Nor are there any records of a Lucy Brewer … the name the stories claim she used in Boston. Lastly the name George, which she used as a man, is completely absent from the rolls of marines who served aboard the USS Constitution. That is not to say that Nathaniel didn’t simply changed the names of his subjects to protect them, but it would have taken quite an effort of collusion for a woman to have served aboard a small frigate of men during the War of 1812. Let’s say that is it highly unlikely.