The 74-gun ship AMERICA – Hacket’s Yard, 1782. William Gilkerson, Maritime Arts Posted on August 26, 2015 by BillSeptember 29, 2020 AMERICA under construction on Rising Castle Island, April, 1782, print from an aquarelle 1985. John Paul Jones in the foreground watching over the work. The ship was given to the French Navy as a thank you voted on by Congress.