History of shipbuilding on North river, Plymouth county, Massachusetts, with genealogies of the shipbuilders, and accounts of the industries upon its tributaries, 1640 to 1872, Part 19

Author: Briggs, L. Vernon (Lloyd Vernon), 1863-1941
Publication date: 1889
Publisher: Boston, Coburn brothers, printers
Number of Pages: 556


USA > Massachusetts > Plymouth County > History of shipbuilding on North river, Plymouth county, Massachusetts, with genealogies of the shipbuilders, and accounts of the industries upon its tributaries, 1640 to 1872 > Part 19


Note: The text from this book was generated using artificial intelligence so there may be some errors. The full pages can be found on Archive.org (link on the Part 1 page).


Part 1 | Part 2 | Part 3 | Part 4 | Part 5 | Part 6 | Part 7 | Part 8 | Part 9 | Part 10 | Part 11 | Part 12 | Part 13 | Part 14 | Part 15 | Part 16 | Part 17 | Part 18 | Part 19 | Part 20 | Part 21 | Part 22 | Part 23 | Part 24 | Part 25 | Part 26 | Part 27 | Part 28 | Part 29 | Part 30 | Part 31 | Part 32 | Part 33 | Part 34 | Part 35 | Part 36 | Part 37 | Part 38 | Part 39 | Part 40 | Part 41


* See preceding Chapter for account of the Thomases.


188


THE BRIGGS BROTHERS.


ter, Alice C., born in Milton, April 2, 1802, married Capt. Charles Taylor, of Milton, April 28, 1833." She died about 1889, aged 86. The following account of the famous ship " Massachusetts," from " Amasa Delano's Voyages," is given to show how high the standard of our ship-builders was, and their reputation abroad, viz. :


"The ship 'Massachusetts' was built at Quincy and launched Sept., 1789, for Shaw & Randall. The contractor was Eli Hayden of Braintree, the draughtsman, Capt. Wm. Hackett of Amesbury on the Merrimack. She was of 900 tons, built expressly for Canton trade, was brought to Boston under jury masts, and was the largest ship built at that time in the United States. She excited consider- able sensation in the commercial part of the community, and parties of people in every rank of society came on board of her to gratify their curiosity, and express their admiration. Five French men-of- war were then in the harbor, and their officers often visited the ' Massachusetts' and gave her great praise. She was pierced for 36 guns, but her armament consisted of 20 six-pounders, and musketry. Her crew consisted of 61 men. Capt. Amasa Delano was second officer. He was born in Duxbury, Feb. 21, 1763, on the North side of Blue River. His father was Sam'l Delano : his uncle Amasa. In 1772 the family removed to Braintree, where his father attended to ship-building, but they remained here only about two years, when, owing to the interruption of navigation occasioned by the disputes between Great Britain and the Colonies, they returned to Duxbury. Capt Amasa went to sea at a very early age, but about 1782 com- menced laboring with his father, ship-building at Duxbury, some- times being the master builder. His first voyage as commander was in a schooner belonging to his uncle, Joseph Drew. He sailed from Duxbury in 1786. His brothers have been master builders, riggers, and navigators of ships. His brother, Sam'l Delano, was carpenter on board the 'Massachusetts,' and while on a voyage with Amasa in the 'Perseverence,' he built a small vessel, the 'Pilgrim,' with which he explored, and discovered the Pilgrim Islands, in the Pacific in 1805. Thos. Lunt of Portsmouth, N. H. and Prospect Carpen- ter of Pembroke, Mass., were seamen on board the 'Massachusetts.' Job Prince, Esq., of Boston, was her commander, and John Prince, his son, was a mid-shipman. The ' Massachusetts' was sold to the Danish East India Co., at Canton, for $65,000, Dec. 4th, 1790. The name of the master builder of the 'Massachusetts,' was Daniel Briggs. Capt. Delano says 'he was one of the best men I ever knew to keep a large company of men at work, and to make their labor productive.' He writes : 'The family of Briggs in Pembroke, Plymouth county, was celebrated for extraordinary merit. There were five brothers. Elisha continued in his native town an excellent ship builder. Alden was brought up a blacksmith, was remarkable for the talents he showed in the heavy work of a ship, was the


189


TURNER, PALMER & MAGOUN.


mechanic employed for the 'Massachusetts' in this department, and afterwards became a merchant. Enos is a ship builder at Salem, and built the Essex frigate. Daniel united mercantile speculations with ship building, and has lived many years in Milton. Thomas was educated a ship builder also, went to sea afterwards as captain, transacted business as a merchant in Boston for many years, and died in Dorchester in 1809, beloved and respected by all who knew him. The five brothers were employed upon the 'Massachusetts.' It would not be proper for me to say here all that I know and feel in praise of this family.' The other mechanics were generally from the North River, County of Plymouth, and were faithful in the per- formance of their duties. The ship was as well built as any ship could be under the circumstances. The timber was cut, and used immediately while perfectly green. It was white oak, and would have been very durable had it been docked, or properly seasoned. Notwithstanding the unprepared state of the materials, the ‘ Massa- chusetts' was so well built, that on her arrival at Batavia and Canton the commanders of English, Dutch, and other European ships were continually coming on board to examine her and to admire the model and the work. She was acknowledged to be the handsomest vessel in the two ports."-Delano's Voyages.


Luther Briggs was the last member of this family who built in Pembroke. Seth Briggs, a great-grandfather of Luther Briggs, Jr., learned his trade of Capt. Benj. Turner. Calvin Turner was son of Captain Benjamin ; he had a son, Calvin, who went to Medford.


was building vessels in Medford on the Medford River in 1807. Joshua Turner was also a son of Capt. Benjamin, and married a daughter of Joshua Briggs, brother of Seth Briggs. We will take up Luther Briggs in connection with other ship-builders and by himself later, and now look into the business done here by others about this time. Turner, Palmer, d' Magoun built . separately at this yard before going over to the Hanover side, where they built in partnership .* Luther Briggs was also a member of the firm at one time as his old account books show. Jeduthan Palmer built here alone in 1816, the ship "SUF- FOLK," 314 tons of Boston.


For full account of this firm see Bridge Yards.


190


PALMER GENEALOGY.


GENEALOGY OF JEDUTHAN PALMER'S FAMILY.


Jeduthan's father was Ephraim, who died Jan. 10, 1797. His mother was Desire Oldham who survived her husband and mar. 2ndly, in 1798, the father of Benjamin Pratt. The house where Jeduthan was born, located on the Drinkwater road, (now Hanover St., ) was purchased by his father, Ephraim, March 7, 1782. Jeduthan mar. Sarah the daughter of Calvin Turner April 25, 1811, and died in 1860. Sarah his wife died in 1872. The children of Jeduthan and Sarah Turner Palmer were : 1. CHARLES, b. 1812. 2. SARAH, b. Dec. 5, 1814, died 1889. She mar. Samuel P. Brackett in 1847, and they had three chil- dren : Sarah, b. 1848; Fred, b. 1850; Mary Cora, b. 1858 ; the last child only, is living. 3. JEDUTHIAN, b. Jan. 25, 1817, d. about 1833, unmarried. 4. MARY ANN TURNER, b. Oct. 26, 1819, mar. in 1847, N. P. Banks, Jr. They have had four children : Harry Waltham, b. 1848, d. 1853 ; Mary Binney, b. 1852, mar. in 1880 Rev. Paul Sterling ; Joseph F., b. 1855 ; Maude ; b. 1857, all are living excepting Harry W. 5. AMANDA F., b. Nov. 6, 1822, d. in 1845, unmarried. 6. ALICE W., b. July 26, 1825, mar. Emory Seaman, by whom she had four children, Julia, Alice, Emery and Mary ; only Alice is living. 7. WILLIAM T., b. Dee. 6, 1827. 8. DANIEL T., h. July 27, 1830. 9. JULIA O., b. Dec. 4, 1833, mar. in 1867 Charles Edward Bulkley, and they have one child, Charles.


Most of the vessels built by Turner, Palmer & Magoun were for Baker & Hardy, and Charles Cole of Boston, and for Scit- uate Harbor parties. Barker Turner was a son of Nathaniel, of So. Scituate, and built at So. Scituate, now Norwell, at the Copeland & Ford Yard, at Fox Hill, until about 1820, when he went into partnership with Luther Briggs, at the Brick Kilns, where Mr. Turner did the drafting of the vessels.


TURNER GENEALOGY.


Capt. Benjamin Turner, of Pembroke, mar. 1st, , dau. of Rev. Mr. Eells, of Scituate. 2ndly, Ruth Briggs, of Pembroke. He had by his first wife two children : 1. , who mar. a Mr. Lane, of Scituate. 2. David, of Plymouth.


Barker Turned the ship-builder, was a son of Nathaniel, who was a son of


Capt. Benjamin by his second wife. Nathaniel Turner mar.


Barker Tunnel


191


TURNER GENEALOGY.


Lucinda -. Hed. Nov. 19, 1814, aged 81 ; she d. Dec. 11, 1807, aged 67. They had children as follows : 1. CHRISTO- PHER, d. in Salem. 2. CALEB, mar. Deborah Turner, and had six children, Myra, Jane, William, Temperance, Joseph G., and Warren. Caleb d. in Bridgewater. 3. BENJAMIN, mar. - Wheeler. They had five children, Ambrose, Lydia, Joseph M., Charles, and Ruth. 4. Barker, the ship-builder. The genealogy of his family is given below. 5. POLLY, mar. John Bassett, of Hingham, and they had two children, John and Caleb. 6. LUCY, mar. John Thomas, of Marshfield, and they had three children, Henry, Ray, and Ann. Barker, the fourth child of Nathaniel, mar. Polly, dau. of Melzar and Lucy W. Stoddard, of Scituate. Melzar d. April 19, 1839, aged 79. Lucy W., his wife, d. July 6, 1850, aged 88. Polly, wife of Barker Turner, d. Aug. 4, 1835, aged 48.


CHILDREN OF BARKER AND POLLY TURNER.


1. BARKER, b. Feb. 16, 1808 : mar. Sophia Baker, of Pem- broke. They had five children, Edwin, Israel H., Polly, Frederick, and Augustus. 2. MARY, b. June 23, 1809; d. Ang. 1, 1819. 3. ELMINA, b. Nov. 16, 1811; d. March 2, 1842. She mar. Eben Witherell, of Pembroke, and they had two children, Augustine and Eben Herbert. 4. ANDREW, b. Aug. 13, 1812 ; mar. Hannah Bell, of Boston, and they had two children, Susan L. and Andrew W. 5. DELIA, b. Nov. 26, 1813 ; mar. Calvin Baker, of Pembroke, and they had six children, Calvin L., Andrew H., Delia T., D. Webster, Bar- ker, and Walter S. 6. HULDAH L., b. Nov. 20, 1816 ; mar. Joseph R. Sheperd, of Pembroke, and they had three chil- dren, Joseph J., Julius R., and Huldah T. 7. ISAIAH ALDEN. b. Oct. 25, 1818 ; mar. Mary Childs, of Hingham, and they had two children, Alden D. and Elmer E. 8. CYRUS, b. Feb. 20, 1821 ; mar. Mary A. Baker, of Pembroke, and they had three children, Eliza (who d. young), Morris, and Anna. 9. SUSAN, b. March 13, 1824: mar. Walter B. Studley. of Rockland, Mass., and they have had two children, Susan L. and Addie. 10. ELIZABETH, b. Jan. 21, 1828 ; d. Jan. 27, 1828. 11. ED- WARD EVERETT, b. Sept. 17, 1831 ; mar. Elizabeth Sturtevant, of Pembroke, and they have had two children, Ella and Charles.


Barker Turner and Luther Briggs built in Pembroke, in 1824, sch. "VIRGINIA," 62 tons, of Boston. They also built the sch. "CHARLES," in Pembroke, in 1825, 62 tons, owned


192


VESSELS BUILT AT THE BRICK-KILN YARD.


by Jesse Dunbar, Sr. and Jr., Isaiah Alden, Charles Vinal, and Cushing Otis, of Scituate. She was built of green plank brought from Bridgewater. Cyrus Turner worked on her at Hingham in 1848. The same year, 1825, Barker Turner built on his own account the sch. "JUNO," 85 tons, for Noble E. Jenkins, Moses Rich, Elisha Foster, Jr., Isaiah Alden, Cush- ing Otis, John Beal, and Peleg Jenkins, of Scituate ; after- ward sold to Gloucester. In company with Luther Briggs, he built, in 1827, the brig "TENEDOS," 245 tons, of Boston. In 1840 she was bought by Lawrence & Co., New London, Conn., and sent whaling in the So. Atlantic. In 1844, while in the Indian Ocean, Churchill, the first mate, was injured by falling off a water cask, and died in 1847. In 1856, the " Tenedos " was one of the "Stone Fleet." No. 1. Barker Tur- ner also built alone, at the Briek-kilns, in 1827, the sch. "JAMES OTIS," 80 tons, owned by Geo. Manson, Anthony Waterman, Peleg and Elijah Jenkins, Jr., John Beal and Jesse Dunbar, of Scituate ; commanded by Capt. Manson in 1820, engaged fish- ing summers, and in the coasting trade winters .* This schooner was of perhaps the poorest model of any ever built on the river. When launched, it was almost impossible to make her sail. She would act like a tub at sea, which she resembled somewhat. She was always known as " Barker Turner's tool- chest." For several years, about this time, Mr. Turner appears to have been building on his own account. In 1828, the sch. "DANUBE," 71 tons, was built by Barker Turner, master car- penter, at Pembroke, and owned by Howland Otis, Peleg Jen- kins, Jas. Damon, J. Dunbar, Sr. and Jr., Seth Webb, John Beal, Simeon Litchfield, and Francis G. Chubbuck, of Scituate. She was afterward sold to Cape Cod. In 1829, he built the sch. "RAILWAY," 86 tons, Pembroke : Jesse Dunbar, Sr. and Jr., and Thos. L. Manson, Scituate, owners. In 1830, the sch. "PERFECT," 68 tons, of Pembroke ; owners, Isaiah Alden, Colman Jenkins, Sr. and Jr., Geo. M. Allen, Thos. Burroughs, of Scituate, and Horace Collamore of Pembroke ; afterward sold down East. Also, in 1830, he built the sch. "ELIZA ANN," 99 tons, of Boston. In 1831, the brig " VERGES," 151 tons, of Boston. The following year he again built a ves- sel in company with Luther Briggs, 1832, the bark " MI- RANDA," 189 tons, of Boston. The last vessel Barker Tur- ner built in Pembroke, of which we have any account, was in


* See account Capt. Manson, under Fox Hill Yard.


1


-


5201


3.


SHIP " LAURA ANN," 375 TONS. Built at the Brick-kilns in 1815 by Calvin Turner.


193


VESSELS BUILT AT THE BRICK-KILN YARD.


1833, the bark " LEONIDAS," 183 tons, of Boston. Ile had during the past few years been building in Hanover, also, and probably decided to take all of his business over there about this time. From his sons, Barker, Andrew, Alden, and Cyrus, much information has been gleaned. Cyrus says his father told him that he had built thirty-two vessels on North River. Barker Turner, Jr., died since the compiling of this volume was begun. Among the characters of his time, located here, none were better known or more popular than Tom Briggs, of Pembroke. He was an excellent workman and ship-carpenter of those days; but he preferred nmsie and excitement rather than work. He was a skillful bugler, and his widow, who now lives in Dor- chester, has the bugle which he formerly played. At one time he decided to go to Mexico, with Elijah Lapham, but the scheme fell through. He and Horace Collamore used to joke each other whenever an opportunity presented. Thomas Briggs was b. in 1803, and d. in 1876.


To go back to 1815, we find Caleb Turner building a vessel at the Brick-kilns, the ship " LAURA ANN," 3752 tons, of Boston. Her length was 103 feet; breadth, 28 feet ; depth, 14 feet. She was owned by David Greenough and Sam- uel Parkman, Jr., of Boston, and Alden Briggs, of Pembroke. She was the largest vessel built at the Brick-kiln Yard. Caleb probably did not build many vessels here, as in 1818 we find him at the Fox Hill Yard, in Norwell, building with his brother Barker.


Cushing O Briggs built here in 1815-16, the first vessels he built on his own account .* IIe left his home in Scituate and came to Pembroke, apprenticed to Elisha Briggs, a relative, both being descendants of Walter. Cushing having served his time and become of age, and being a skilled artisan, built at the Brick-kilns, in 1815, the brig "PERSEVERANCE" of 184 tons, with two decks, two masts, length, 78 feet ; breadth, 23 feet ; depth, 11 feet; of Boston, Thos. Snow, master. Owned by Elijah Loring, Joshua Ellis and Robert Thompson, of Boston. And in 1816, the brig "ANN," 204 tons, with a billet figure head, a double decker with


*For account of Cushing O. Briggs, see Briggs Yards at Hobart's Landing, Scituate.


/


194


LAST SILIP-BUILDING IN PEMBROKE.


two masts ; length, 86 feet ; breadth, 23 feet ; depth, 11 feet,


of Boston. Immediately after this he went to Scituate, where we find him building at Hobart's landing. The following sketch, written by an old resident of Pembroke, gives a good idea of the last of ship-building at Pembroke : "The name of Briggs seems to be identified with ship-building from the early settle- ment of Scituate. Whether Walter, the elder, was a ship- builder, we are not able to say, but that many of his posterity followed that vocation successfully has come within the mem- ory of many now living. Luther Briggs, the subject of this sketch, was the son of Elisha, and grandson of Seth, who removed from Scituate to Pembroke early in the last century, having a large family, several of whom followed the occupation of their father. Luther learned the art of ship-building of his father and was apprenticed at the same time with Cushing O. Briggs, who in company with his brother Henry, became a suc- cessful builder at Scituate. The apprenticeship of Luther and Cushing O. Briggs was a remarkably congenial one which resulted in a lifelong friendship terminating only with death. The one quarrel, it is said, that they ever had, was when a dis- pute arose as to who was occupying the larger half of the bed one night. It was settled by their getting out and measuring their sides off, when peace reigned again. The early years of Luther Briggs' life were much interrupted by ill health, which prevented him from engaging in active business for several years after his majority, but later he commenced business at the Brick-kilns, (so called), where his father and grandfather had previously built in company with the late Barker Turner. One incident occurring at the time they built, seems worthy of notice. It had been the custom in all the ship-yards to carry around liquor at stated hours and distribute to the men, as it was considered indispensable to a good day's work. After taking into consideration the great evil of intemperance they resolved building a ship without furnishing liquor to their men. They were told it could not be done, that men would not work with- out their accustomed dram, and probably many drank at their own expense, but it was the last of their furnishing it, and they had no trouble in building without it. It was an innovation which was soon followed in other yards on the River, where it had been thought indispensable to successful business. Luther Briggs deceased in 1864, aged eighty years, much respected as an honest and just man in all his business relations. He left one son, Luther, an architect in Boston, who still survives


195


VESSELS BUILT AT THE BRICK-KILN YARD.


him." Luther Briggs built alone and in company with Barker Turner, Silvanus Smith, and Melzar S. Turner at different times. In 1836, Melzar Turner (as he was commonly called), left the Brick-kilns and built on his own account at Scituate Harbor. Later, he again built in company with Luther Briggs at the Brick-kilns, carrying on his Harbor Yard at the same time. Ile was not very successful financially, and becoming somewhat embarrassed, in 1845 Luther Briggs was obliged to go down to the Harbor, and "help him out" on a vessel he was building. From this time Luther Briggs continued in business at the Harbor and together they were very successful. Luther Briggs built at the Brick-kilns until 1850, when he gave all his time and energies to the Harbor Yard. He is described as being an extremely nervous man, especially if anything went wrong, just the opposite of his son Luther. Melzar Turner was a son of Luther Turner, who was a cousin of Barker Turner, Sr. He died leaving children. (See Harbor Yards).


The schooner "CATHERINE," 70 tons, was built here for John Bates, of Cohasset. Benj. Barnes, who will be remem- bered by many of the residents in the vicinity of North River as having brought fish to their doors, was commander. There was also built here during Luther Briggs' time the schooner " NOBLE E. JENKINS," 100 tons, which we find later in the Mediterranean trade ; the "INDUSTRY" and the brig "SUN," 200 tons, Capt. Rich, which was probably the same " Sun " that was used later as a packet between New Bedford and the South, and which was condemned at the Bay of Islands in Aug., 1863 ; the brig "BENJAMIN FRANKLIN," 164 tons, which had a figure head of Benj. Franklin. She was added to the Beverly, Mass., whaling fleet in 1850, sold to Fall River in 1856, was Fall River's last whaler, was bought in 1862 by E. Maxwell, of New Bedford, and while engaged in whaling was lost near Zanzibar, Sept. 8, 1867; and the "KENEDOS," but we have been unable to find out the exact years when each was built. Luther Briggs built in 1823 the sloop " MAYFLOWER," 32 tons, of Pembroke ; owners : Asa Sherman, Jr., her captain, Elisha Phillips, Stephen Rogers, Jonathan Stetson, Jesse Reed, and Chandler Sampson, of Marshfield, Alden Briggs, Luther Briggs, the builder, Elias Magoun, Horace and Gilman Collamore and Daniel Magoun, Pembroke, Elisha Foster, Jr., and Elisha Tolman, Scituate. Ile also built the " PHILENA OTIS " about 1828.


196


VESSELS BUILT AT THE BRICK-KILN YARD.


Lüthen Bruges built in 1833 the "Han- son" a centre board Barker Turned sloop. She was a very heavy craft and very flat, being only three inches "dead rise." She was used as a North River packet, running between Boston and the Brick-kilns, and had many owners, as the following regis- ter shows :- 1833, sloop "HANSON," 47 tons, Pembroke ; own- ers : Asa Sherman, Sr. and Jr., John Stetson, Daniel Phillips, Ephraim Randall and Stephen Rogers, Marshfield, Horace Colla- more, Calvin Shepard, Aurora W. Oldham, Alden and Luther Briggs, of Pembroke. In 1834, Luther Briggs built the " SU- SAN" for Hardy & Baker. Mr. Hardy married Susan Holmes and named this vessel after her. Mrs. Nathl. Smith was then Miss Susan Briggs. She says on invitation of Mr. Hardy, the two Susans were launched in this vessel. He built the same year, 1834, the bark " BLACK HAWK " after the model of the " Black Hawk." In 1835, he built the " PALERMO" for Hardy & Baker. During the latter two years he also built at the Brick- kilns the following vessels in company with Melzar Turner. In 1834, the schooner " CORNELIA," owned by Thos. J. Bur- rows, Geo. M. Allen, of Scituate, Horace and Anthony Colla- more, Ephraim Randall, Melzar Turner, Luther Briggs and Luther Magoun, of Pembroke; and in 1835, the schooner " ADELINE," 99 tons, owned by Geo. M. Allen, Scituate, Horace Collamore, Alden and Luther Briggs, and Melzar S. Turner, Pembroke. About this time, in company with Melzar Turner, he built a vessel at Kingston for Capt. Delano, and in 1836, at the Brick-kilns, the schooner "KEMP" for Wm. Kemp & Co. He also built at the Brick-kiln, in 1836, the schooner "SWAN," 129 tons, of Boston; and in the same year, the schooner" EDWIN," 103 tons, of Boston, afterward of Newburyport, and used whaling from Provincetown in 1846. In 1837, he built the brig " WILLIAM PENN," 158 tons, of Boston, which had a figure head modelled after the man for whom she was named. In 1838, he built the sch. "RED ROVER," 99 tons, of Pembroke, sold to Kingston, also in 1838, a brig for a Mr. Flynn, and about this time the sch. " CORDOVA." In 1839, he built the brig "WILLIAM PITT," 174 tons, Howes Baker, master, and owned by Al- pheus Hardy, of Boston, and others. In 1841, he built the bark SOPHRONIA," 197 tons, of Boston, copper and iron fastened, ce


197


VESSELS BUILT AT THE BRICK-KILN YARD.


owned by Trull and others, Boston, in 1859, Capt. Drew ; built of mixed wood. In company with Melzar Turner, he built in 1842, the sch. "CHESTER," 86 tons, of Boston. Owned by John Beal, Peleg Jenkins, Samuel Brown and John Bouve, of Scituate, James Bonney and Luther Briggs, of Pembroke. Business was very lively at Scituate Harbor about this time and Luther Briggs was so busy at that yard that he did very little at the Brick-kilns until 1847, when he built a bark for Lombard & Hall. The same year he entered into a partnership with Sil- vanus Smith, son of Capt. Jonathan Smith, of Duxbury, who commanded many vessels sailing out of Duxbury. Silvanus lived in Duxbury during his younger days, but later married a daughter of Lewis MeLaughlin and bought the old Morse place in Pembroke, where he resided during his partnership with Luther Briggs and Melzar S. Turner. Together they built at the Brick-kilns the " Arthur Pickering," in 1847, which they were one month getting out of the river, and another vessel, probably the "Matilda," for J. Bates, in 1848. The sch.


"e MATILDA," 60 tons, was built in Pembroke, Mass., 1848, and was owned in 1884 at Boston. They also built the "CATHERINE" in 1848. Several years after this, Silvanns Smith left Pembroke and went to East Boston, where he worked in Samuel Hall's and Donald McKay's yards and in E. & II. O. Briggs' at South Boston. After building three ships on his own account at East Boston, he went into partnership with Paul Curtis at Medford. For about sixteen years he has been a partner with James L. Townsend, under the firm name of Smith & Townsend, ship-builders at East Boston. They have built many fine ships there, several for C. Brewer & Co., among them the "Martha Davis," the "James Stone," the "Edward May," and last but not least, the good bark " AMY TURNER" of 1000 tons, which has recently made over 260 miles in twenty-four hours under Capt. Chas. A. Johnson, on a passage from Honolulu to Hong Kong. This vessel, under Capt. Albert W. Newell, carried the author around Cape Horn to the Sandwich Islands in 1880. Silvanus Smith has had six children :- 1. Sidney, who superintended the work on Stony Brook, Roxbury ; 2. Frances F., b. in Pembroke ; 3. Zilpha D., the present secretary of the Associated Charities, of Boston, also b. in Pembroke ; 4. Erasmus F. ; 5. Mary, who married Luke Hall, grandson of the old ship-builder, Luke Hall; 6. Jennie W. The bark "ARTHUR PICKERING," built in 1847, was 254 tons, of Boston, built at Pembroke, of mixed


198


TURNER, BRIGGS & SMITH.


wood, Luther Briggs, Melzar Turner and Silvanus Smith, M. C's. She was iron fastened, and in 1868 was whaling in the Pacific Ocean. The same year, her first mate, W. S. Maxfield, died.




Need help finding more records? Try our genealogical records directory which has more than 1 million sources to help you more easily locate the available records.