On February 5, 1799, in her first test against a foreign foe, during the undeclared "Quasi War" with France, the Constellation, won the first 'ship vs. ship' victory in the history of the U.S. Navy, capturing the French 36-gun frigate, Insurgente, in less than half an hour, off the Island of Nevis in the West Indies.

     
Artist: Louis Dodd, oil

The next year (Feb. 2, 1800), off the French base at Guadeloupe Island, the Constellation engaged the Vengeance, (52-guns) in a five-hour nighttime, ship-to-ship, slugging match. Though the Constellation reported 14 dead and 25 wounded, the Vengeance was a total wreck, seriously in danger of sinking, and suffered over twice as many casualties. She miraculously eluded capture and somehow managed to escape into the darkness.

Thanks to the overpowering naval supremacy provided by the Constellation, France wisely retreated from her aggressions against this newly formed, infant nation.

The three Eastwood boys were anxious to experience the excitement and adventure aboard this magnificent ship, and were eagerly awaiting her return to N.Y. Harbor when she returned from Guadeloupe Island. Both John and Asa immediately signed on for sea duty; however, at the age of seventeen, Enos was too young to sign on and was forced to remain at home and await the thrilling tales of his older siblings’ naval exploits.

Though the "Quasi War" with France was now over, the Eastwood boys were still able to experience some historical triumphs aboard the Constellation. They participated in the Barbary Wars against Tripoli, as well as countless sojourns to battle the Pirates of the Caribbean, who were wrecking havoc with the heretofore unprotected American merchant ships. With the successful completion of these campaigns and with no one left to battle, the Constellation returned to Baltimore for much needed repairs. John and Asa were now able to join with little brother, Enos, and apply their nautical expertise to various merchant applications. With Asa’s blossoming leadership skills, and their naval legend growing, they were privy to numerous seafaring ventures, including some whaling expeditions.

John was the first to lose his sea legs and chose to settle down with his wife on a farm and raise a family. Asa, also a married man, followed not too long after. Asa had married his beloved Mary Doxey, the “angel” who had faithfully waited for his return from seafaring duties (the defense of the newly formed United States of America). Their marriage followed on September 28, 1801, just months after the Eastwood brothers' return to the US.

When Asa purchased 107 acres in Cicero, New York in 1817, it became obvious that Enos was now the only sailor left of this generation of Eastwoods. He continued to balance his family life in Long Branch, New Jersey, with his nautical career, for the remainder of his life. It was on a return voyage from a merchant venture and a visit with relatives in Granville County, North Carolina, that he fell ill on October 28, 1823. He died on board ship two days later (10/30/1823). His crew was able to forestall their voyage to New York Harbor and they located a small bay where they were able to anchor the ship. They then began the arduous task of carrying the body of their captain overland for 40 miles to his widow, Sarah, and four young sons, in Shrewsbury, New Jersey (home of today’s Asbury Park). Older brother, Asa, was devastated by his younger brother's premature demise. Enos' four young sons ranged in age from youngest, Lewis, who had just reached the age of 10, to Nathaniel, who had turned 18 just two weeks before his father's tragic death. Asa watched over the family and assisted them on many levels (financial, legal, and most importantly, spiritually). Eldest son, Nathaniel, had been determined to follow in the footsteps of his father and two uncles and took to sea despite the tragic circumstances. Asa notes in his diary (March 21, 1825) "Went to Shrewsbury and saw Sally Eastwood and her three children, Enos, John, and Lewis; Nathaniel was aboating and had not been home for 18 months."

*Author's Note: Asa had affectionately nicknamed Enos' wife Sarah, "Sally", just as he had nicknamed his beloved wife, Mary, "Polly".

The death of Enos so grieved brother Asa that although he had fathered ten children by the time, an eleventh was born two years later and was christened “Enos” as a tribute to his closest, and dearest, younger brother.

Asa's eleventh child, Enos, is the great grandfather of your faithful author. Enos was born, spent his entire life, and eventually died, on the Eastwood farm in Cicero, NY, as did his son, and my grandfather, Ralph. My father, Robert, (youngest of 8 children), like dozens of Eastwoods before him, also was born on this monumental plot of land which played such a significant role in the history of the Eastwood family. Lewis Washington Eastwood (Asa's 5th child and great great grandfather of Clint) was only 7 years old when he accompanied his family in their move from the auspicious lifestyle of New York City to new beginnings as a pioneer family farming on the banks of Oneida Lake in the tiny village of Cicero. Lewis (Washington) also spent his entire life on the property and died there on Feb. 4, 1863, seven years before his father, Asa, peacefully passed on after reaching the tender age of 89. Lewis W. named his youngest son Asa, after his illustrious father, but with a different middle name (Bedesco), just as Asa had done when Lewis (Washington) was born.

Clint's great granddad, Asa B., was born on the Eastwood farm but was determined not to die there as his ancestors had done. At the age of 21, he married 19 year old local beauty, Emily (Emma) Young, on the farm and the young couple began their exploration of a new lifestyle. While exploring the potential of nearby Rochester (about 50 miles from Cicero/Syracuse), Emma gave birth to twins, Orlo and Mabel, on Aug. 7, 1870. On Dec. 9th of the following year, Clint's beloved grandfather, Burr, was born in Seneca Falls, NY, just a few miles from the family farm. Soon after, the young family opted to take the adventurous move and left for the coast of Northern California. This branch of Clint's family tree has remained in both northern and southern California since.

My father, Robert, left the Eastwood family farm to follow the naval roots of his ancestors, when he joined the Merchant Marines in World War II. It was the beginning of his lifelong love of the sea. An avid fisherman, he joined the Coast Guard Auxiliary when he moved south to Leucadia, California (later Carlsbad and Oceanside) and volunteered his services until his death in Jan., 1985. Not unlike the large turnout of Freemasons at the funeral of Asa Eastwood in 1870, the Coast Guard was prominent in the contingent of boats honoring our voyage to distribute his ashes in his cherished ocean.

Prior to his leaving for the war, he married his wife, Betty, on July 1, 1939 and she gave birth to my older brother, Robert B. Eastwood Jr. on Aug 7, 1940. At the conclusion of WW II, your author, Steven H. Eastwood, was born in Syracuse on Sept. 19, 1945, officially becoming an early member of the "Baby Boomer" generation. By 1948, sister Marilyn and youngest Ralph (again named after the father's father-with a different middle name) completed this Eastwood family's line up.

In 1955, Howard Hughes was conducting a national search for candidates for his new Hughes Tool Company, which was being developed to pursue his aspirations in the aviation industry. When my father (Robert B. Eastwood) received an offer from the company to cover the expenses of our family's relocation to Southern California, we were in transit before the completion of the school year. Following Asa Bedesco's western exodus by a generation, another branch of the Eastwood family tree was about to take root in sunny California.