Earl's Dinner Celebrates Destroying the Frigate Diamond

On December 31, 2009, I had my first dinner party honoring the destruction of the
Frigate Diamond that involved one of my ancestors Nathan Salisbury.This year is the first event. The party guests included me, my lady and my imaginary guests. So far, we've had two toasts and a great meal. Captain Cary Briggs called and said he'd be late.

Some of the menu features included Diamond shaped potatoes. They were a big hit.

Next year, there may be the firing of a small cannon.

Exactly one week after Cousin George crossed the Delaware and it's time to have a feast to celebrate the artillery attack at the Frigate Diamond.

Todays grocery list includes champagne, diamond shaped rolls (Esek Hopkins supplied bread in 1777), Salisbury Steaks etc.

By the way, there is no truth to the rumor that Dr. James Henry Salisbury had a cook named Howard M. Burgers.

Guest list should include Commander Hopkins, Captain Cary Briggs (a.k.a Capt Burgess), Commadore Abraham Whipple, Capt. Garzia, Nathan's older brother Peleg (known as the BIG man of Warwick and his mother Abigail. More currently Mayor Scott Adevesian, today's the Mayor of Warwick. I almost forgot the Captain of the Diamond.

Last but not least, Lt. Nathan Salisbury came with his brand new spontoon.

When I initially started my research at the library centered. My research continues to be library centered.

It was about two years before I started doing the Gaspee speech/first person Nathan programs. I was trying to figure out exactly what happened with the Gaspee as opposed to what James Henry Salisbury included in his letter. I started out with a small group of friends over for dinner, and it developed into an annual event. The guests always had ideas and suggestions that would motivate me to keep reading. One of the parts of the cookout was to put a model Gaspee on the grill after dinner and watch it burn. Because I had implanted it with very small fireworks, it became a dramatic conclusion for a fun evening.

I hope to do a similar event with the Diamond but the weather is against me.