During the War of 1812 Red Brook Harbor, then known as Pocasset Harbor, was the site of significant shipbuilding activity, particularly for smaller vessels that could navigate coastal waters. These ships were valuable for coastal defense, commerce, and in some cases, privateering (government-sanctioned private ships that could capture enemy merchant vessels). One of the more notable builders, Captain William Handy, constructed various vessels including brigs, ships, and smaller sloops often named after family members, such as Polly and Nancy.
The protected nature of the harbor made it a strategic location for shipbuilding, as it was sheltered from storms. The area had other advantages for shipbuilding, including its proximity to timber resources from the surrounding woodlands; access to skilled craftsmen from the Cape Cod region; and relative seclusion that provided some protection from British naval forces. It is said that, during the war, Captain Handy moved his shipbuilding operations further up Red Brook to avoid detection, fearing that the British would either commandeer the vessels or burn them on the ways
The shipbuilding operations at Red Brook Harbor were typically run by local families and small business operators rather than large-scale industrial shipyards. This shipbuilding tradition actually predated and continued beyond the War of 1812, but the war created increased demand for vessels, which intensified activities at shipyards like those at Red Brook Harbor.
