A Scottish sailor killed during a skirmish off the coast of Connecticut in 1814 has been identified more than two centuries later, resolving a longstanding historical mystery and prompting a memorial ceremony in Mystic, Connecticut.

The sailor, who died during the War of 1812, had been buried in an unmarked grave in Packer Cemetery, beneath an apple tree. The incident took place on August 13, 1814, when a group of American militiamen lured a British boat sent by the warship H.M.S. Terror into range from the shoreline and opened fire. The Terror had previously bombarded the nearby village of Stonington and was a significant British naval asset during the conflict.

For years, the identity of the fallen sailor remained unknown. Jon Fuller, a local history enthusiast from nearby Groton Long Point, took an interest in the grave after coming across it during a visit to the cemetery. He arranged for a modest engraved stone marked “Unknown H.M.S. Terror August 13, 1814” to be placed at the site around 2019. Fuller routinely visited the grave, playing “Scotland the Brave” on his phone to honor the sailor.

The mystery deepened when Grace Cleere, a retired historical researcher and longtime Connecticut resident, noticed the gravestone’s relatively modern appearance amid older 19th-century markers. Intrigued by the name “Terror”—a ship later lost in an Arctic expedition in 1848—Cleere began investigating the sailor’s identity. She collaborated with Roger Hutchins, a freelance historian in Britain who searched the British Admiralty’s National Archives.

Their research uncovered muster roll records listing the only fatality suffered by the H.M.S. Terror during the 1814 action off Connecticut: William Adamson, a quarter gunner born circa 1771 in the Scottish fishing village of Pittenweem. Records also indicate Adamson married Christian Thomson in 1807, shortly before joining the Royal Navy, possibly under duress given his family obligations.

With Adamson’s name established, Cleere sought to honor his memory and locate living descendants. Hutchins traced a sixth-generation relative, Claudia Chagnon, who lives in Lynchburg, Virginia. Chagnon was unaware of her ancestor’s story until contacted and expressed enthusiasm about the discovery.

Earlier this year, a plaque commemorating the 1814 skirmish, called by some the “Battle of Groton Long Point,” was installed on a large rock near Groton Long Point. This plaque and the engraved gravestone had both been installed by Fuller without formal permission, a fact that surprised Cleere but underscored his dedication to remembering the sailor.

In August, hundreds gathered at Packer Cemetery for a ceremony honoring Adamson, featuring bagpipes, fifes, and drums. Attendees left offerings including tobacco, rum, and Scottish shortbread as tokens of respect. Local historians and Navy officials spoke, highlighting the sailor’s story as a poignant link across centuries.

Brian LeGare, executive officer of the Naval Submarine Base New London, addressed the crowd, saying, “Shipmate, after 212 years, you are unknown no more.” The event marked a significant moment of reconciliation with history, providing a name and story to a sailor long lost to time.