The American Dredging Company was originally incorporated in Philadelphia, Pennsylvania in 1867. John Somers was the president and Franklin B. Colton was the treasurer. American Dredging dug up many of Americas most famous shipwrecks. One ship was the British HMS Augusta sunk one fire fiery night by American guns, off Fort Mercer. Another was the Alliance sailed by John Paul Jones and a participant in the bloody battle of Flamborough Head. After 125 years of business, Weeks Marine acquired the company in 1993.