“fit out” armed vessels built in New Hampshire. In 1778, he volunteered for duty under General Sullivan in Rhode Island in a company raised by Colonel John Langdon in Portsmouth and was made lieutenant. He served as Colonel in the battle Saratoga with Langdon’s New Hampshire Independent Company. For his indispensable services, Hackett was given command of a battalion of artillery of three companies in Portsmouth. He had the honor of receiving General Washington with a “grand salute” at the occasion of his Excellency’s reception at Portsmouth on October 31, 1789. Shipbuilder for the Continental Navy Colonel Hackett is best known as a Master Shipbuilder completing an incomparable list of vessels for the Continental Navy. With the assistance of his compatriots James Hill and Stephen Paul, he constructed the frigate RALEIGH, the ship that appears under construction on the seal and flag of the State of New Hampshire. He also built John Paul Jones famed sloop of war RANGER; the largest Continental warship of the Revolution, the ship of the line AMERICA; two early vessels of the service which was a forerunner to the United States Coast Guard, the United States Revenue Service cutters SCAMMEL II and the GOVERNOR GILMAN; the USS CONGRESS, which was one of the first six frigates of the United States Navy; a host of privateers and merchant vessels including the McCLARY, the PORTSMOUTH I, the BELLONA and the FREE TRADE; and the tribute ship frigate CRESCENT. "...on March 20, 1784, John Langdon contracted with Major James Hackett of Exeter for 'a good well-built Ship' to be delivered at Langdon's Island 'finished to a cleat.' Hackett was to be paid as follows: “Four Hundred and Thirty Pounds in cash---three hogsheads rum at four shillings and six pence per gallon; five hogsheads molasses, at two shillings per gallon; one teirce coffee at one shilling and three pence per Lt.; fifteen barrels sugar at three pounds per hundred weight; two hundred weight of Bohea Tea, at four and six pence per pound. The remainder in any dry goods the said Langdon may have at two for one from the sterling cost." Quoted from William G. Saltonstall's book "Ports of Piscataqua". Later years living in Brookfield, NH At some point prior to 1796 Hackett purchased a working farm and Tavern/Inn in Brookfield NH while he was still living in Exeter NH. Hackett's stepson, Hiram Hodge, was both an occupant