Wellfleet Historical Society at Wellfleet Public Library

The War for American Independence had significant impact on the Outer Cape, and two shipwrecks that occurred during the period are prime examples. The wreck of the tea ship William occurred off of Race Point in December of 1773, just days before the Boston Tea Party. This event was to reverberate from Eastham to Provincetown for months to come, and Wellfleet plays a pivotal role in this story. Then, the wreck of the mighty British warship HMS Somerset occurred in November of 1778, also off of Race Point. The Somerset had played a significant role in the War's early days, and the handling of the wreck, the ship's crew, and the salvage speaks volumes about the character of Cape Codders of the day.