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 29
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* See chapter on Chittenden Yard.
1
294
BRIGGS GENEALOGY.
Oct. 12, 1791. 5. Deborah, b. Nov. 16, 1801; d. Dec. 26, 1875, unmarried.
Cushing Otis II., son of Thomas Barker VII., mar. in Jan., 1813, Mercy Little, dan. of *Ichabod Thomas of Pembroke. She was b. Sept. 25, 1791. Cushing O. d. in Braintree, Mass., Mar. 10, 1861, aged 74 years. Mercy, his wife, d. Aug. 16, 1862, aged 70 yrs. 11 mos. They had eight children :
1. Charles Cushing, b. Oct. 8, 1813; d. Apr. 11, 1843, aged 29 yrs., unmarried.
2. William Thomas, b. Dec. 1. 1815, mar., 1st, in Scituate, Oct. 20, 1846, Harriet Swan Dana of Woodstock, Vt. She d. in North Andover, March 7, 1849, aged 30 years. By her he had child, 1., Harriet Swan. b. Mar. 7, 1849 ; d. Sept. 29, 1849. He mar., 2ndly, Nov. 10, 1852, Abby Learnerd Davis, of Oxford, Mass., and by her he had children : 2. Abby Davis, b. Dec. 8, 1853, in North Andover ; d. Dec. 19, 1853. 3. William Harrison, b. March 10, 1855, in North Andover, mar., in 1885, Vivia Rowley, of Montezuma, Iowa. 4. Helen Leroy, b. Sept. 15, 1858, in Princeton, mar., Sept. 22, 1885, Rev. Carleton P. Mills, of Williamstown, Mass., and they have two children : Margaret, b. Aug. 31, 1886, and Dorothy, b. Aug. 23, 1888. 5. Anna Isabella, b. Sept. 27, 1861, in Prince- on, d. July 17, 1866, in East Douglas.
3. HANNAH BARKER, b. June 13, 1819, mar. in Boston, June 12, 1849, Francis James, formerly of Scituate. They have children : 1. Emma Frances, b. June 2, 1850, mar. Feb. 27, 1873, J. Payson Bradley, of So. Boston, formerly of Methuen, and they have had three children : Francis Edwin, b. Nov. 21, 1873 ; Fannie Josephine, b. March 1, 1877; Marion, b. June 12, 1886 ; d. Aug. 27, 1888. 2. Edwin Irving, b. Feb. 5, 1854, mar. Feb. 26, 1883, Minnie H. Pierce, of So. Boston, by whom he has had three children : Florence, b. Feb. 23, 1884, d. Aug. 11, 1884. Edwina, b. Sept. 6, 1885, and Nel- son Pierce, b. Nov. 30, 1888. 3. Charles Thomas, b. Aug. 21, 1856. 4. Arthur Holmes, b. Oct. 7, 1858.
4. JAMES EDWIN, b. May 8, 1821, mar. Jan. 6, 1847, Har- riette Richmond, dan. of Jotham Stetson of Medford. She was b. May 14, 1825, and d. Oct. 10, 1879. He d. June 24,
* See chapter on Brick-kiln Yard.
busking @ Brings
295
BRIGGS GENEALOGY.
.1880. They had children : 1. Frank Stetson, b. Feb. 21, 1848 ; d. Nov. 21, 1859. 2. Edwin Richmond, b. Sept. 8, 1860; d. Sept. 24, 1860. 3, by adoption, Lilian Frederica, b. Nov. 11, 1861.
5. HARRISON OTIS, b. Jan. 30, 1824, mar. Oct. 14, 1847, Hannah Elizabeth, dau. of Alphens Stetson of So. Boston. She was b. Nov. 17, 1828, and d. Nov. 27, 1881. He d. Dec. 6, 1881. They had children : 1. Ella Stetson, b. Dec. 21, 1849, mar. Feb. 9, 1871, George Andrew Thayer, of Boston, and they have had two children : Elaina, b. March 3, 1872, and Florence Briggs, b. Dec. 31, 1873. 2. Lizzie Florence, b. Sept. 1, 1853, mar. JJune 8, 1880, Andrew Gerrish Webster, of Boston, and they have had two children : Harrison Briggs, b. Jan. 26, 1884, and David Locke, 2nd, b. Nov. 6, 1888. 3. Frank Harrison, b. Feb. 26, 1860. 4. Harrison Otis, Jr., b. July 26, 1871, d. Nov. 26, 1872.
6. MARY THOMAS, b. April 11, 1828, mar. April 14, 1852, James T. Tolman of Scituate. They have had children : 1. Morgianna, b. April 4, 1856. 2. Herbert Cushing, b. Nov. 4, 1865.
7. LLOYD, b. April 8, 1830, mar. Nov. 15, 1858, Sarah Elizabeth Elms Kent,* dau. of Noah B. Kent of So. Boston. She was b. in Scituate, Sept. 22, 1834. They have had chil- dren : 1. Harriette Stetson, b. Jan. 29, 1860; d. JJune 23, 1879. 2. Velma, b. Oct. 20, 1861. 3. Lloyd Vernon, b. Aug. 13, 1863.
8. FRANKLIN, b. Jan. 9, 1833.
Henry III., son of Thomas Barker VII., mar. Betsey Rug- gles ; she was b. in 1794, and d. in Dec., 1833. He d. in Dec., 1837. They had children :
1. CAROLINE OTIS, b. Aug. 23. 1813 ; d. Dec. 29, 1888. She mar., May 9, 1837, Elijah Barstow, t of Hanover, by whom she had two children : 1. Henry Briggs, b. Nov. 23, 1838, mar., 1st, June 21, 1864, Susan W. Atwood, who was b. Oct. 18, 1838, and d. April 2, 1867. He mar., 2ndly, Nov. 24, 1870, Emily Morse, who was b. Feb. 6, 1839. By her he
* See Kent Genealogy in chapter on Scituate Harbor.
t See Barstow Yard.
296
BRIGGS GENEALOGY.
has had four children : Albert Henry, b. Sept. 6, 1871 ; d. Sept. 22, 1873 ; Alton Morrison, b. Jan. 4, 1874 ; Elmer Williams, b. Oct. 9, 1876 ; Caroline Otis, b. Oct. 18, 1878. 2. Albert, b. July 8, 1840 ; d. April 7, 1863.
2. GEORGE H., b. Sept. 10, 1815, d. March 11, 1881 ; he mar. in Nov. 1840, Nancy L. Stockbridge, by whom he had six children. 1. Nancy Maria, b. Nov. 22, 1841, mar. June 17, 1868, Joseph F. Turner and they have one child, Julia Maria, b. Oct. 31, 1869. 2. Caroline Louise, b. Feb. 2, 1844, d. April 22, 1849. 3. Henry Joseph, b. Aug. 1, 1846, d. April 25, 1849. 4. George Herman, b. Oct. 8, 1848, mar. May 23, 1871, Ada A. Brown, and they have six children : Henry Joseph, b. Sept. 13, 1874; Arthur Newton, b. March 10, 1876 ; Everett Lewis, b. May 28, 1877 ; Georgie Herman, b. June, 3, 1879 ; Alice Lee, b. Dec. 18, 1880 ; Harlem Page, b. Jan. 10, 1883. 5. Caroline Elizabeth, b. March 3, 1856, mar. Oct. 5, 1881, George H. Turner, and they have one child, Carrie Louisa, b. Oct. 8, 1883. 6. Sarah Frances, b. Aug. 22, 1858.
3. MARY, b. Oct. 25, 1817, d. May 30, 1880, unmarried.
4. ELIZABETH R., b. April 25, 1820, d. March 11, 1863.
5. DEBORAH CLAPP, b. April 6, 1823, mar. May 23, 1842, Israel Nash of Boston; later they removed to Wellesley Hills, Mass. They had seven children. 1. Franklin, b. Feb. 7, 1843, mar. Dec. 25, 1873, Eunice Ford, by whom he has had six children : John Franklin, b. July 17, 1875 ; Emma Louisa, b. Dec. 6, 1876 ; Albert Edward, b. Nov. 4, 1879; Flora, b. Dec. 28, 1880; Alice Cushing, b. Feb. 3, 1884 ; Deborah Briggs, b. March 14, 1886. 2. Helen Louisa, b. Sept. 9, 1844, d. Dec. 2, 1863. 3. Emma Isabel, b. Jan. 1, 1847, mar. Sept. 23, 1868, William H. Towne, by whom she had two children : Helen Louise, b. Sept. 1, 1869, and Lucy Nash, b. May 26, 1877. 4. Herbert, b. Dec. 12, 1848, mar. June 5, 1879, Mary C., dau. of Wm. H. Baldwin, by whom he has had four children : Miriam Baldwin, b. Oct 22, 1880; Herbert, b. Dec. 2, 1882 ; Chauncey Cushing, b. Oct. 17, 1884 ; Elizabeth Flint, b. Oct. 3, 1886. 5. Lucy Cushing, b. May 31, 1855, mar. Feb. 15, 1883, Frank F., son of Wm. H. Baldwin, by whom she has had three children : Roger Nash, b. Jan. 21, 1884; Margaret Nash, b. Aug. 3, 1885; Ruth, b. Dec. 31, 1887. 6. Charles Edward, b. Jan. 10, 1859, d. March 3, 1859. 7. Arthur Irving, b. Feb. 5, 1864, mar. March 14, 1888, Mary A. Batchelor of Wellesley Hills.
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RESIDENCE OF CUSHING OTIS BRIGGS, SCITUATE, AND BIRTHPLACE OF HIS CHILDREN.
297
BRIGGS GENEALOGY.
6. THOMAS WALES, b. March 23, 1825.
7. JOIIN RUGGLES, b. Oct. 14, 1827, d. Sept. 17, 1888. He mar. June 3, 1858, Sarah C. Shattuck of Maine, by whom he had one child, Sarah Elizabeth, b. Oct. 23, 1863.
8. LUCY TURNER, b. Jan. 23, 1830, d. April 14, 1862. She mar. May 31, 1849, Nath. C. Nash, by whom she had one child, Nath. C., who was b. April 4, 1862, and mar. June 26, 1884, Nellie Monroe Fessenden. He is a graduate of Harvard University and resides in Cambridge. They have one child, Nath. C., b. June 19, 1885.
9. SARAII, b. Jan. 5, 1832, d. April 23, 1863. She mar. March 15, 1854, Andrew Clark and had two children, George Edward, b. Aug. 9, 1859, d. April 28, 1868, and Lucy Briggs, b. Sept. 22, 1862, mar. June 2, 1889, Edward E. Ells.
CHARLES IV .. son of Thomas Barker VII., mar. Rhoda Reed, by whom he had a large family of children, eight of whom are now living. 1. Charles Otis, who now resides in Vallejo, Cal., where he is employed in the ship-yards there and on the Mare Island navy yard, being the last ship-carpenter of the Briggs family. His dau. Kate mar. Geo. W. Spencer of San Francisco. 2. Mary Jane, mar. William Spear, and resides in Lynn. 3. Emeline, mar. LeGro, and resides in Danvers. 4. Horace Cushing, who has been twice mar. and resides in Lynn. 5. Charlotte mar. Henry Prentiss and resides in Danvers. 6.
Almira, mar. . Millett, and resides in Danvers. 7. Alfred, resides in Danvers. 8. Henry Thomas, mar. and has a family. 9. Lucy Ann, who mar. Nichols Lincoln, and d. leaving two children : Emma S. and George H.
James Briggs, b. 1719, probably the first ship-builder of this family, is remembered by Hon. Samuel Adams Turner, who is now living at Norwell in his 98th year. He describes him as an honest upright man and a good citizen of the town. He says he was noted for being very courageous and when the call was made for men to enter the Continental army he was among the first to volunteer. It was next to impossible to buy a gun at this time. Each citizen furnished his outfit at his own expense. James Briggs had no gun but he went off with the others who answered the call, having only a stick of wood over his shoulder to drill with. When asked what he was going to do with the stick, he replied "I am going. to knock down
298
COLUMBIA," BUILT BY JAMES BRIGGS.
the first British soldier I see and take his gun." He came home with a gun. He was noted for being the most expert swimmer of his time in Scituate. It is related that once when a party of men were pickerel fishing and spear- ing eels through the ice on North River, James Briggs fell through one of the holes. Instead of fighting under the ice against the current to get out of the same hole, he struck out for one about four rods further down the river and to the sur- prise of all came out safely. During the latter part of his life he followed the trade of a comb-maker, making the combs from cattle's horns, which he sawed into shape, then put between two pieces of board, and under a heavy weight, until they were straight. The first American vessel that ever circum- navigated the globe was built by JJames Briggs at Hobart's Landing in 1773. This was the ship " COLUMBIA," which also explored the Columbia River in Oregon, which was named after the vessel. She was the first vessel from this country to visit the northwest coast. In 1787, which year she was registered at Boston, a silver medal, size 27, was struck off by her owners at Boston. The engraving below correctly represents one of the original medals.
BY
U
J.BARRELL
CO
N.
S.BROWN, C.BULFINCH.
J.DARBY, C.HATCH,
COMMAN
CK.
FOR THE PAC
J.M.PINTARD.
AT BOSTON
1787.
In the Boston Museum of Fine Arts is a wonderful feather cloak, which was brought from the Hawaiian Islands by the "Columbia," during one of her first voyages. It fell to Benja- min JJoy, a part owner, as his share of the venture. He has descendants in Groton, Mass. There are but three or four of these cloaks now in existance, and their value is enormous. The feathers, which are less than an inch long are taken from the under part of the wing of the Oo, a bird found only on Hawaii. They are sometimes called Mamo feathers and are now worth more than $1.00 apiece, only two or four being found on each
299
FIRST AMERICAN VESSEL TO DOUBLE CAPE HORN.
bird. A small lei, or necklace, is valued at $500. That every resident of Scituate may become familiar with the history of one of the most famous American ships ever built, and which Scituate men had the honor of building, the author has culled from Greenhow's History of California and Oregon, published many years ago, and other books bearing on this subject a most complete history of the "Columbia." Tradition says the Washington " was built at North River; but there have been no records found to prove at what yard or place she was built. Charles T. Torrey, in his book entitled "Home or the Pilgrims' Faith Revived,"* writes, as follows: "For more than fifteen miles, our southern border rests on the winding banks of a river famed for its excellent fisheries and still more for its ship-build- ing. Here our carpenters launched the first American vessel that ever doubled the stormy Cape Horn and coasted the western shores of our continent. She was manned, in part, tradition says-by our townspeople."
After the recognition of the Independence of the United States the citizens resumed the whale and seal fisheries around Cape Horn, which they had carried on before the Revolution, and also engaged in direct trade with India and China ; in the. latter countries, however, they labored under great disad- vantage's from the inferiority in the value of the articles car- ried'out in exchange for those brought back by them. Conse- quently they were obliged to take out large quantities of specie to buy goods in order to obtain full homeward cargoes. With a view of obviating this inequality, some merchants of Boston, in 1787, formed an association for the purpose of combining the fur trade of the North Pacific with the China trade, as attempted by King George's Sound Company of London. In prosecution of this scheme the ship "COLUMBIA," of 220 tons, and the sloop " WASHINGTON," of 90 tons, sometimes referred to as the " Lady Washington," were fitted out at Boston, in the summer of 1787, and laden with blankets, knives, iron bars, copper pans and other articles proper for the trade with the Indians on the Northwest coast. The " Columbia " was commanded by John Kendrick, to whom was intrusted the direction of the expedition, with Joseph Ingra- ham as first mate. The master of the "Washington " was Robert Gray. They were provided with sea-letters, pass-ports
See Chapter, Miscellaneous Yards, Scituate.
300
FIRST AMERICAN VESSEL ON THE N. W. COAST.
from the state of Massachusetts, and they received letters from the Spanish Minister Plenipotentiary in the United States, recommending them to the attention of the authorities of his nation on the Pacific coast. Moreover, they carried out for distribution among the natives a number of small copper coins, then recently issued by the State of Massachusetts, and like- wise medals of copper struck expressly for the purpose. The vessels sailed together from Boston on the 30th of September, 1787. They proceeded to the Cape de Verde Islands, and thence to Falkland Islands, in each of which places they pro- cured refreshments, and in Jan., 1788, they doubled Cape Horn, immediately after which they were separated during a violent gale. The "Washington," continuing her course through the Pacific, made the Northwest coast in Aug., 1788, near the 46th degree of latitude where she was in danger of destruction, having grounded while attempting to enter an opening which was most probably the mouth of the river afterwards named by Gray, the "Columbia." She was also attacked there by the savages, who killed one of her men and wounded the mate, but she escaped without further injury, and, on the 17th of Sep- tember, reached Nootka Sound where the foreign vessels " Felice" and "Iphigenia " were lying. Meares, in his Jour- nal, writes, on Sept. 17, 1788: "A sail was seen in offing. A long-boat was immediately sent to her assistance, which, instead of the British vessel we expected, conveyed into the sound a Sloop named the Washington,' from Boston in New England, of about 100 tons burthen. Mr. Gray, the master, informed us that he had sailed in company with his consort, the 'Columbia,' a ship of 300 tons, in the month of August, 1787, being equipped under the patronage of Congress to examine the coast of America and open up a fur trade between New England and here, and provide funds for their China ships. That he expected the 'Columbia' if she was safe every day to join her at Nootka." The "Columbia" did not enter the Sound until some days afterward; she had been seriously injured in the storm which separated her from her consort and Kendrick was obliged in consequence, in May, 1788, to put into the harbor of the Island of Juan Fernandez, where he was received with great kindness and aided in refitting his vessel by Don Blas Gonzales, the Commandant of the Spanish garri- son. Repairs having been completed, the "Columbia," continued her voyage and arrived, without further accident, at Nootka Sound, which had been selected as the place of rendezvous, in
301
SHIP "COLUMBIA" ON THE N. W. COAST.
October. After her departure from the Island of Juan Fer- nandez the Commandant communicated the circumstances of her putting in there and refitting by a despatch to his imme- diate superior, the Captain General of Chili, who thereupon recalled Gonzales from the island, and placed him in arrest, addressing at the same time a report on the subject with a request for instructions to the Viceroy of Peru. The Viceroy, after consulting with his official and legal adviser, replied to the Captain General at length on the subject, and expressed his surprise and displeasure at the misconduct of the Commandant of Juan Fernandez in allowing the strange ship to leave the harbor instead of seizing her and her crew, as he should have known that, by the Royal Ordinance of November, 1692, every foreign vessel found in those seas without a license from the Court of Spain was to be tried as an enemy, even though belonging to a friend or ally of the King, because no other nation had, or ought to have, in those seas any territories making it necessary for its vessels to pass around Cape Horn or through Magellan's Strait. In so serious a light did the Viceroy regard the matter that a ship was sent from Callao to track or intercept the "Columbia." The authorities on the coast of Peru and Chili were specially enjoined to be vigilant and in case any foreign vessel should appear in the vicinity to seize her; and the whole affair was made known by a despatch to the Viceroy of Mexico, in order that similar precautions might be adopted on his part. The unfortunate Commandant Gon- zales was cashiered for his remissness, and he subsequently addressed a petition to the government of the United States for its intercession with his Sovereign. Thus were half of the Spanish dominions in America thrown into alarm and agitation by the appearance of a trading ship from the United States on the Pacific. The "Columbia" and "Washington " spent the winter in Nootka Sound where the " Columbia " also lay during the following summer. On the 28th of April, 1789, the ves- sel "North West America " left Nootka Sound for a short trading trip along the coast. The "Washington " about the same time departed on a similar expedition. The "Iphige- nia," lying at Friendly Cove, and the "Columbia," at Maw- hinna, were the only vessels in Nootka Sound, on the 6th of May, when the Spanish Commander Martinez arrived there in the corvette "Princesa" to take possession of the country for his sovereign. Martinez immediately communicated his inten- tions to the other vessels and examined their papers ; he
302
SHIP "COLUMBIA" AT NOOTKA SOUND.
apparently met with no opposition, and there was good feeling between all, Martinez supplying them with articles they were in need of, and accepting bills drawn upon the owners of the vessels in payment. At the end of a week another Spanish vessel, the "San Carlos," arrived, and, on May 15th, the following day, Martinez invited Viana, the Captain, and Doug- las, the supercargo of the "Iphigenia " to come on board his ship, when he told them they were prisoners, and their vessel was to be seized. "I enquired," says Douglas in his Journal, "the cause of his not taking the 'Washington' sloop, as he had orders from the King of Spain to take every vessel he met on the coast. He gave me no satisfactory answer, but told me my papers were bad ; that they mentioned I was to take all Eng- lish, Russian and Spanish vessels that were inferior force to mine, and send their crews to Macao, there to be tried for their lives as pirates." While they were removing the charts, papers and instruments to the ships of war, and preparations were being begun for sending her as a prize to San Blas, Martinez altered his intention and proposed to release the "Iphigenia" and her crew on conditions that her officers would sign a declaration to the effect that she had been kindly treated and not interrupted during her stay at Nootka. This being refused, other arrange- ments were afterwards made, in consequence of which a declara- tion was signed by the officers of the "Iphigenia " and her crew were liberated on the 26th of May. Gray, Captain of the "Washington," and Ingraham, mate of the "Columbia," were both at Nootka during the occurrences of these affairs. The " Argonant" was seized, also the sloop "Princess Royal" and the sch. "North West America," whose officers and crew with some of those of the "Argonaut" and " Princess Royal " were placed on board the "Columbia " to be carried as passengers to China, 100 sea-otter skins found in the " Princess Royal," being allowed in payment of their wages and transpor- tatiou. The " Columbia" had remained in the Sound ever since her first arrival there in Oct., 1788, while the "Washington " was engaged in trading along the coast north and south. The officers of these vessels were thus witnesses of nearly all the occurrences at Nootka during the summer of 1789. That Gray and Kendrick profited by the quarrels between the two parties is probable, but no evidence has been adduced that they on any occasion took unfair advantage of either, though it is also probable that their feelings were rather in favor of the Spaniards, by whom they were treated with courtesy and kind-
THE UNITED STATES FLAG WAS CARRIED AROUND - 303
ness, while the British were at that time objects of hatred and ridicule. Capt. Kendrick often acted as mediator between the Spanish and other ships at Nootka, and it was through his influence that an amicable settlement was reached between Martinez and the officers of the "Iphigenia." While trading, in June, 1789, Gray in the " Washington " explored the whole east coast of Queen Charlotte's Island which had never before been visited by the people of any civilized nation. He called it Wash- ington Island. In a subsequent excursion in Nootka Sound Gray entered an opening between the 48th and 49th parallels, which had been found by Berkeley in 1787, and was supposed to be the mouth of the strait of Juan de Fuca. Through this opening Gray sailed, as he informed Vancouver in 1792, fifty miles in an east-south-east direction and found the passage five leagues wide. Gray then returned to the Pacific, and on his way to Nootka Sound he met the "Columbia" which had just left the sound with officers and crew of the "North West America" on board as passengers for China. It was best agreed between the two Captains that Kendrick should take command of the sloop and remain on the coast while Gray in the "Columbia " shoukl carry to Canton all the furs which had been collected by both vessels. This was accordingly done and Gray arrived at Macao, in Dec., 1789, with the "North West America's" passengers and officers who communicated the news of the capture of that vessel and the " Argonaut " and " Princess Royal" by the Spaniards. The owners immediately determined to apply to the British Government for redress. On her way to Canton the "Columbia " touched at the Hawaiian Islands for refreshment and provisions. On the 6th of Decem- ber, Gray arrived at Canton where he sold his furs and in exchange took a cargo of tea, valued at $60,000, with which he entered Boston on the 9th or 10th of Aug., 1790, via Cape of Good Hope, having carried the flag of the United States for the first time around the world. On going into the Harbor of Boston the "Columbia " fired a Federal salute as she passed the Castle and another on coming to her moorings. It was doubt- ful if her destination was generally known when she went away, but the announcement of her achievements in "The Fed- eralist " had filled the community with enthusiasm and the wharves were crowded with people who gave her a hearty wel- come on her return. Kendrick immediately, on parting with the "Columbia," proceeded in the " Washington " to the Straits of Fuca through which he passed in its whole length. Thus it
304
- THE WORLD FOR FIRST TIME, BY SHIP "COLUMBIA."
appears that the passage of the "Washington" through the strait, as reported by Meares, took place under Kendrick after Gray had quitted the command of that sloop. Descriptions, given by Kendrick, of what he had seen, correspond exactly with the geography of that part of the American coast. Under these circumstances and others, Kendrick is to be con- sidered as the first person belonging to a civilized nation who sailed through the Straits of Fuca after its discovery by the " Greek Pilot," in 1592. The ship " Columbia " returned to Bos- ton on the 10th of August, 1790, as has already been mentioned, but the cargo of Chinese articles brought by her was insuffi- cient to cover the expenses of her voyage, and her owners were so little satisfied with these results that some of them sold out their shares to the others, who, determining to persevere in the enterprise, refitted the "Columbia " for a new voyage of the same kind. Before her departure, however, the brig "Hope," of 70 tons, which had also been equipped for the North Pacific trade, sailed from Boston under the command of Joseph Ingra- ham, the former mate of the "Columbia," and these vessels were followed by the " Hancock " under Cart. Crowel ; the " Jeffer- son" under Capt. Roberts, likewise from Boston, and the " Margaret," under Capt. Magee, from New York. Capt. Kendrick in the " Washington," which had been altered into a brig, arrived at Macao while the "Hope" was lying there in 1791. He had been engaged since 1789 in various speculations, one of which was the collection and transportation to China of the odoriferous wood, called sandal, from the tropical islands of the Pacific, mainly the Hawaiian Islands, and which was and is in great demand throughout the Celestial Empire. Vancouver pronounced this scheme chimerical, but experience has proved that it was founded on just calculations and has been prosecuted with advantage ever since. Another of Kendrick's specula- tions has not hitherto produced any fruit. He purchased, in the summer of 1791, from Maquinna, Wieanish and other chiefs several large tracts of land near Nootka Sound, for which he obtained deeds duly marked by those personages and wit- nessed by the officers and men of the "Washington." Attempts were made by the owners of that vessel to sell these lands at London in 1793, but without success. Applications have since been addressed by the legal representatives of the owners and of Kendrick to the Government of the United States for a con- firmation of the title. The circular addressed by the owners for the sale of this land was written in four languages, and was as follows :
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