Arrgh!! He's a Pirate

Henry Weaver, when quite a youth and not more than eighteen years of age, fired by that ardent patriotism which so distinguished the men of that day joined a crew of privateersmen. He was among the first that ventured upon the ocean under an American flag. When cruising the West Inda seas his ship fell in with a British vessel and after a desperate fight captured the British vessel.

In the act of boarding the British vessel Henry Weaver had three fingers of his left hand cut off by the stroke of a cutlass that was aimed at his head. After the capture of the British vessel they contiued cruising in the same area for a considerable time. Unfortunately for them they came upon a British Man-of-War of very superior size and they were in turn captured. Henry Weaver along with the survivors of the crew were captured and taken to England where he was confined to a British prison for eighteen months.

A treaty of peace was executed at Paris on November 30, 1783 which acknowedged the independence of the United States. Upon ratification of this treaty Henry Weaver was released from prison and was allowed to return to America

Upon his return to home in New York his family hailed his return as one risen from the dead, as they had long since considered him lost forever. His father had passed away during his absence.

Although Henry Weaver was eligble for a government pension due to the loss of three fingers of his left hand he refused to make an application for a pension to which he was justly entitled.