Ray Brow, chair of the P.E.I. Military Sites Museum and P.E.I. Colonial Militia, is hoping to solve a 250-year-old mystery by finding the province’s Great Seal and having it returned. The seal was stolen during a raid in Charlottetown by U.S. privateers in 1775 and never returned. The anniversary of that raid takes place on Nov. 17. Photo by Dave Stewart /The GuardianArticle contentA P.E.I. military historian is trying to solve a 250-year-old mystery.THIS CONTENT IS RESERVED FOR SUBSCRIBERS ONLY.Subscribe now to access this story and more:Unlimited access to the website and appExclusive access to premium content, newsletters and podcastsFull access to the e-Edition app, an electronic replica of the print edition that you can share, download and comment onEnjoy insights and behind-the-scenes analysis from our award-winning journalistsSupport local journalists and the next generation of journalistsSUBSCRIBE TO UNLOCK MORE ARTICLES.Subscribe or sign in to your account to continue your reading experience.Unlimited access to the website and appExclusive access to premium content, newsletters and podcastsFull access to the e-Edition app, an electronic replica of the print edition that you can share, download and comment onEnjoy insights and behind-the-scenes analysis from our award-winning journalistsSupport local journalists and the next generation of journalistsRegister to unlock more articles.Create an account or sign in to continue your reading experience.Access additional stories every monthShare your thoughts and join the conversation in our commenting communityGet email updates from your favourite authorsSign In or Create an AccountorArticle contentIn 1775, a raid by U.S. privateers on Charlottetown resulted in the kidnapping of P.E.I. political officials and the theft of the province’s Great Seal.Article contentArticle contentAt the time, P.E.I. was known as St. John’s Island.Article content“We want the seal back,” Ray Brow, chair of the P.E.I. Military Sites Museum and P.E.I. Colonial Militia, told The Guardian in an interview at the P.E.I. Regiment Museum in Charlottetown on Nov. 6.Article contentArticle content“We want to convince the public that there is a seal somewhere and we would like it returned. It’s a piece of our history. It should have been returned in 1775, and it is long overdue.”Article contentBrow said he thinks the Great Seal, which is the size of a coaster, is somewhere in New England.Article content Ray Brow, chair of the P.E.I. Military Sites Museum and P.E.I. Colonial Militia, enjoys a historical display at the P.E.I. Regiment Museum in Charlottetown. Brow said a ceremony will be held Nov. 17 at the Prince Edward Battery in Victoria Park to mark the 250th anniversary of a U.S. privateers raid on Charlottetown. Photo by Dave Stewart /The GuardianArticle contentThe raidArticle contentBrow said on Nov. 17-18, 1775, two ships from the United States raided and pillaged Charlottetown, kidnapping town officials in the process. Those ships were under orders from U.S. General George Washington to chase British ships heading to Quebec City but did not catch the ships in time.Article contentHe said the privateers heard there may be some British recruiting happening in Charlottetown, so the ships diverted, went to the P.E.I. capital and commenced the raid.Article contentThe raid was carried out against Washington’s orders, and he later told the privateers to let the people who had been kidnapped go. Those people were forced to find their way back to the province.Article contentArticle content“When they did the raid in Charlottetown, they also took the colonial seal, the Great Seal awarded by the King to the colony (P.E.I.) saying that it was a colony of Great Britain. The seal never came back, and we want it back.”Article contentArticle contentArticle content1775 kidnappingArticle contentFollowing is information on who was kidnapped during the 1775 raid on Charlottetown:Article contentActing Governor Phillips Callbeck, who was the administrator at the time. He had taken over for Walter Patterson when Patterson had business in England.Thomas Wright, a surveyor who assisted Samuel Holland in surveying P.E.I. in 1763.David Higgins, a member of council and a merchant, ship’s captain, early settler and political figure.Article contentArticle contentCeremonyArticle contentA ceremony will take place on Nov. 17 at the Prince Edward Battery in Charlottetown’s Victoria Park to recognize the 250th anniversary.Article contentEntertainer Wade Lynch will perform a skit and P.E.I. historian Ed MacDonald will give a speech. P.E.I. songwriter Mark Haines wrote a tune for the event.
P.E.I. historians hope for the return of the Great Seal
