MARBLEHEAD HISTORY TOUR FIELD GUIDE
Schooner Hannah: A Zoom Lecture on Marblehead’s 1775 Narrow Escape
A one-hour illustrated lecture from the Marblehead Museum that reexamines John Glover’s schooner Hannah and its famed October 10, 1775 engagement with the British vessel Nautilus.
Schooner Hannah: A Zoom Lecture on Marblehead’s 1775 Narrow Escape.
This is the Annual Ambassador Michael Brackett Smith Memorial Lecture presented by the Marblehead Museum: an illustrated, tightly focused examination of John Glover’s Marblehead schooner Hannah, the little vessel that famously engaged and escaped a larger British warship in 1775.
Highlights
Outing Highlights
The 1775 Engagement at Beverly Harbor
The lecture recounts Hannah’s harrowing encounter and narrow escape from the larger British vessel Nautilus on October 10, 1775 — the moment that made the schooner historically notable.
Reconstructing Hannah’s Origins and Appearance
Biographer Randy Biddle presents his investigation into the origin story and likely appearance of the small Marblehead schooner Hannah (1765–1775), offering a fresh examination of the vessel’s documentation and physical characteristics.
Challenging Conventional Wisdom
This illustrated presentation explicitly aims to challenge established interpretations of Hannah’s story, reframing what is commonly asserted about the vessel and its famed escape.
What the day feels like
What the lecture feels like
Attendees join a focused, illustrated hour-long presentation that traces a biographer’s inquiry into the schooner Hannah and revisits the October 1775 engagement with the Nautilus, concluding with a reconsideration of long-held assumptions about the vessel.
Suitability
Who it's for
Who this virtual lecture suits — and what limitations to expect.
Practical planner
Details to review before reserving
The Annual Ambassador Michael Brackett Smith Memorial Lecture is scheduled as a one-hour program.
This event is Zoom only; registration is required to receive the Zoom link from the Marblehead Museum.
The lecture is free but requires registration to obtain the link and participate remotely.
Prepare a stable internet connection and a device capable of running Zoom; bring note-taking materials if you wish to record details from the illustrated presentation.
Review cancellation policies before reserving.
Frequently asked questions
Planning Your Outing
Is this an in-person or on-water event?
Zoom only — there is no in-person or on-water participation for this lecture.
How long does the lecture last?
The program runs for one hour.
Do I need to pay to attend?
The lecture is free, but registration is required to receive the Zoom link.
Who is presenting the lecture?
Vessel biographer Randy Biddle presents the illustrated talk on John Glover’s schooner Hannah.
What topics will the lecture cover?
The presentation covers Biddle’s investigation into Hannah’s origin and likely appearance, the October 10, 1775 engagement and narrow escape from the British vessel Nautilus, and a reassessment intended to challenge conventional wisdom about the vessel.