USA > Massachusetts > Bristol County > Westport > The village of Westport Point, Massachusetts > Part 2
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No better place could be afforded than this in which to study land and sea birds. The follow- ing fish are canght in these waters: Cod, mack- erel, bass, bluefish, squeteague, tautog, flounders, scup, swordfish. The shell fish are lobsters, crabs, quahogs, scallops, clams and oysters up the
BREAKERS ON HORSENECK BEACH.
صو
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WESTPORT POINT
East River. Our woods shelter fox, deer, wood- chucks, skunks, rabbits, weasels, racoons, otter (rare) and squirrel. It is interesting to note that the evergreen trees which stand in front of so many of the houses were brought by one of the sea captains from Maine when he was on a lobster cruise. On Eldridge Heights there used to be a fine hickory forest.
Wonderful it is to think that the same flowers and animals we see today knew this place when the stroke of the anvil and the creaking of the hawsers of the schooners answered the roar of the sea. Imagine how the deer and the fox sought shelter in the heart of the dunes, when on every Christmas and New Year's there were thrilling shooting matches on the old wharves. The targets were cheeses and turkeys and the fortunate marksman claimed his prize!
The whaling industry started in the vicinity of New Bedford in 1760, and soon after the settlers of Westport Point turned from cod catching on the Nantucket and Newfoundland shoals to the pursuit of larger game in much more distant parts of the sea. As early as 1806 there are records of whaling voyages, while the period between 1835 and 1857 chronicles the golden age of the whaling business. Today the trade is dead economically, but there is still an interest enwrapping the lives of those who em-
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THE VILLAGE OF
barked on long, lonely voyages, and who defied storm and perils, which has lasted through the years.
The oldest of a prosperous fleet of sloops was the Union, Thomas Case, Master, which sailed from the Point in 1775. The time came about 1831 when the sloops and schooners, such as the schooner Yankee, of Tripp's Wharf, gave up fish- ing and went, more particularly, into the carrying trade, bringing supplies of every description to fit out the whalers leaving this port. This change from fishing to freighting was gradual, and the oldest inhabitant of the town, now ninety-seven years old, remembers when large quantities of cod were to be seen drying on the flakes, or platforms of hurdles, in the lots bordering the main high- way. Salt works, on the east shore of the vil- lage, furnished the necessary material for curing.
As whaling grew the business life of the town came to be centered at the wharf. The building now used by George A. Gifford and others, was owned in 1829 by Isaac Palmer, who, besides sell- ing supplies, dispensed that beverage so favored by sailors,-namely, grog. One floor of Palmer's store was a sail loft under the partial manage- ment of Durfee, and Palmer also kept a tavern in the house now owned by Clementine F. Sowle. Another store of this same period which was doing active business in 1831 was that of May-
27
WESTPORT POINT
hew and Macomber (later). On the lower floor in a store owned by Davis, clothing and groceries were sold. Upstairs the tailoring work was car- ried on, and sewing intended for sailors' outfits was called slop-work. Opposite this establish- ment a large building was erected by Alexander H. Cory in 1841 on the site of his grandfather's store. This was for many years the chief out- fitting store and postoffice. Nooning's sail loft was on the top floor, and here sails for whaling vessels were made.
Three cooper shops, owned by the Howland brothers, supplied oil casks which the captains, at the start, filled with provisions for the voyage. One of these shops, lately removed, stood north of Cory's store, and the lot which is now William Howland's garden, was a storage place for casks of oil.
Three brigs, the Industry, Almy, and Mexico, known as the father vessels, fostered the growth of the stores, and to these belongs the credit that Westport Point became a famous whaling town.
In the shipyard east of the town landing, the schooner Kate Cory, for A. H. Cory, was built by Frank Sisson and Eli Allen. She was later made into a brig and was burned off the coast of Africa by the Confederate Alabama.
The Mermaid was another whaler built in this yard for Andrew Hicks of Westport. The small
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THE VILLAGE OF
boats carried by the whalers were made by John Sowle. The tackle for catching whales, the har- poons, lances, and blubber hooks, were all forged out in the blacksmith shop near the yard, managed at one time by Simeon Macomber and later by Darius Davis.
One of the old vessels from this port was the Amy and Paul, which, after a cod fishing career, was made into a whaling brig, sailing about 1825 with Owen Wilbur, master; Seabury, mate; Gif- ford, second mate; and Charles Ball, nine years old, steward.
The following extracts from old papers give an insight into the life of those busy days. As the first extract shows, the captain and crew signed to go awhaling in return for a "lay," or share of the cargo, varying from one-fifteenth for the captain, to one-one hundredth for a "green hand." If the voyage was to be short and con- fined to the Atlantic, the brig was called a "plum puddinger," because better food might be ex- pected than if the trip extended "Round the Horn."
1806.
Coppy of Portrage Bill, B. Hero, Saml Tobey, Master, for the Cape of Good Hope, a whaling voyage-June, 1806, viz .:-
Saml Tobey, master 1 / 15
Paul Wanier 1 / 22
BY THE ROADSIDE.
29
WESTPORT POINT
Joseph Anher 1 / 36
John Martin.
1 / 45
Isaac Hart. 1 / 38
Cornelius Taber 1 / 60
Jolın Sowle
1 / 65
William Head.
1 / 75
Lemuel Butts 1 / 78
Asa Davis. 1 / 75
Thomas Almy 1 / 68
Joseph Hart.
1 / 68
John C. Moody, cook. 1 / 70
Elkany Freeman, boy
1 / 100
815
Filed as
Shiping Paper-
Brig Hero, Saml Tobey
Cape of Good Hope-
Sailed June 16, 1806
1808.
Know all men by these presenee that I Moses Sau- cornish of Westport in the County of Bristol and State of Massachusetts, for the consideration of forty-five Dollars to me in hand paid by Isaac Cory of the Town, County and State aforesaid have bargained and sold unto him the said Isaac Cory, the one-fourth part of my share of oil and all other property that may be obtained on Board the Bark Hero, Latham Paddock, Master, now bound on a whaleing voyage to the Cape of Good Hope and elsewhere, which voyage I promise to perform.
Westport, Oet. 27th, 1808.
MOSES SAUCORNISHI.
Witness ISAAC CORY, JR.
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THE VILLAGE OF
1816. Industry.
Westport, Feb. 1, 1816.
Capt. Wm. Clark.
Sir-You having command of the Brig Industry, bound on a whaling voyage and now ready to sail, you will imbrace the first favorable opportunity to go to sea and make the best of your way for the Windward West Indie Islands and there cruse untill the tenth of April next and if you have at that time obtained three hundred barrels of oil you will make out your voyage short of the Capedevard. Otherways you will from the same 10th of April proceed for the Capedevards by the way of the Western Islands, with liberty to go on the coast of Afraca and provided you do go to the Capedevards, etc., you will not return to Westport without a full cargo of oil untill your provisions are expended.
Must recommend your keeping good order and regu- lations on board-and to be perticular in indevering to preserve the helth of the crew. Wishing you an agree- able and prosperous voyage, are yours, etc.,
ISAAC CORY & SON.
I hereby certify that the above is a true coppy of order.
WILLIAM CLARK.
1816.
In bill, to 2 whale boats, at $55.00. $110.00 J. Howland's bill, agt. Brig Industry : Feb., 1816-Outfits for whaling, first voyage, charged by Isaac Cory £6-18s .- 3d. Equal to $23.04
WIND CARVINGS IN THE SAND.
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WESTPORT POINT
Vessel valued at $5,053. Insurance was taken out in the Peace Insurance Company in Provi- dence, February 26th, 1816. Amount of premium $270. "For four thousand dollars on the Brig Industry and appartenances for a whaling voyage to the Windward West India Island, the Cape de Verd Islands and the coast of Africa for and dur- ing the term of nine calendar months, commencing on the second day of February, instant, at six o'clock A. M., and to terminate on the second day of November next at the same hour of the day unless said vessel should then be on her pas- sage to the United States, in which case the resque is to continue until her arrival at and after the same rate of premium."
1816.
Copy of shipping paper, Brig Industry, for a whaling voyage for the West Indies and else- where, Jan. 31, 1816. Sailed Friday, Feb. 2nd. Arrived Nov. 12th, 1816, Ist voyage. $5,552.82 net proceeds.
March 26th, 1816-Disberments of the Brig Industry, Wm. Clark, Master:
At Beaqua to Harbour Master fees and filling worter 5.00
To ten gallons of Black oyl change for molasses V April 10-At Martinico, when bound for Cape de
Verde, to twenty-five gallons change for sugar, plantains, and other stores and cash five dollars V
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August 20-At Iseland Sal, to three fowls for a
fresh meal , one dollar. 1.00
September 15-At St. Antonia, for Beernets, plan-
tains, fish, meat and bananoes. 7.00
At St. Vincent, when bound home, one sheep 3.00
To two goats. 4.00
To two fowls. .45
To pumkins and other such things 2.00
&c., &c., &c.
Westport, March 31, 1817-Received of Isaac Cory, eighty-three dollars towards my share of oil obtained in Brig Industry.
WILLIAM CLARK (Master).
Among the stories of the whaling life is an in- teresting account connected with one of the voyages of the "Janette." She started on a trip around Cape Horn, and after six months out had 300 barrels of oil on board. On her return after three years, she had not much more oil, but brought a wild story of adventure. The captain and three sailors, when out in a small boat had been swamped. The captain was drowned and the others went ashore on a desolate island; finally, reduced to the point of starvation, they chose one man by lot, whom they killed and ate. The two survivors were later carried to Australia by the vessel "Leonidas," which called at the island for guano.
The following story is valuable on account of its familiar setting :
SCENE OF THE OLD SHIPYARDS.
.
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WESTPORT POINT
In May, 1836, two ships which had finished load- ing at Westport Harbor, discovered whales, a cow and a calf of the hump-backed species, just outside the breakers near the Horseneck. Alfred Davis notified the people on the Point. Captains Thomas Mayhew and Edward Sowle, with others, went out in three boats and towed the whales in to the Point wharf, where the oil was tried out. While they were killing them the calf whale stove one boat and the crew were nearly drowned. This event drew a great crowd of peo- ple from the neighboring towns, who came in all kinds of vehicles to view the prizes. The oil was sold in shares. One woman bought a sailor's share for thirty dollars, and the remainder was sold in Baltimore. Two sections of backbone from these whales may be seen today just north of Joseph Cory's home.
The price of sperm whale oil at one time was $2.60 to $2.70 per gallon. When kerosene came into use the price fell to $1.28 per gallon. On January 1st, 1860, there were 1,100 barrels of sperm oil and 250 barrels of whale oil stored at Westport Point. The average price in 1859 for sperm oil was $1.3614, and whale oil sold for 481% cents.
One account tells how George L. Manchester, captain of the Bark Mattapoisett, brought John Stevens, a colored man, from Anibon Island,
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THE VILLAGE OF
which is located off the west coast of Africa. Stevens had been chosen governor of the island, but a party against him sought his life, and he swam out to Captain Manchester's vessel, the Mattapoisett, which was getting supplies there, and begged Captain Manchester to take him away. He agreed, and Stevens came to Westport Point, where he was highly respected.
On every voyage a log was kept with daily entries, and many of these record books are most thrilling and fascinating reading. As one turns the old yellow pages with the faint odor of brine still clinging to them, one can picture the clean sailed brig bound for a tussle with the sea, and, in imagination, can hear the creaking of ropes in pulleys and the yarns of the fo-castle.
The following extracts are taken at random from the log of the Bark "George and Mary," which was built at South Dartmouth in 1850, and received her name from her first captain and his wife, both of whom lived at Westport Point. After many cruises she was burned in New Bed- ford at a Fourth of July celebration.
Friday, October 26, 1855.
"These 24 hours commences with strong breezes from the W. N. W. and clear pleasant weather. At 7 A. M. weighed anchor in Westport harbor and stood out to sea and hove to under whole top-
1786229
IMPRESSIONS FROM OLD LOGBOOK STAMP.
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WESTPORT POINT
sails, jib and spank, waiting for the captain and officers. So ends these 24 hours.
Monday, April 7th, 1856.
These 24 hours begins with fine breezes and pleasant weather steering for the island. At three P. M. came to anchor in the roads of Anna Boana, and the niggers was thicker on board than crows on carrion; furled the sails and got supper; the middle and latter part much the same; I went on shore trading, all hands employed in getting wood and water. So ends these 24 hours.
Monday, July 14th, 1856.
These 24 hours begins with light breezes from E. S. E. and overcast weather, steering W. S. W. under all sail. The middle part strong breezes and pleasant weather. At daylight called all hands and commenced stowing down the oil. At eight P. M. saw the island of St. Helena, bearing W. by S., distant 60 miles. All hands employed in stowing down the oil. So ends these 24 hours.
Wednesday, September 10, 1856.
These 24 hours begins with light breezes from the southward and overcast weather, steering E. N. E. under all sail. At sunset took in sail and wore ship heading west. At half past 11 P. M. kept off N. N. W. At daylight steared N. W.
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under all sail, the latter part much the same. At half past 9 A. M. battered down the hatchways to smook for rats; saw a number of humpbacks. So ends these 24 hours.
Friday, October 3rd, 1856.
These 24 hours begins with light breezes from the W. S. W., the ship heading south by the wind. The middle part fine breezes from the W. N. W. and overcast weather, the latter part light airs from the S. S. W. and pleasant weather. At 8 A. M. lowered the boats for a humpback, struck and killed one to the larboard boat. At 10 A. M. took him long side, got up the cutting gear. So ends these 24 hours.
Wednesday, January 7th, 1857.
These 24 hours begins with strong breezes from WV. S. W. and pleasant weather, steering to the eastward under short sail. At sundown spoak the Kanawah. All hands employed in clearing away heads and cutting up blubber. The middle and latter part much the same. Saw a dead whale, lowered the larboard boat and took him along side and cut him in."
With the decline of whaling, Westport Point ceased to be a thriving, busy town. Many of the oldest houses still stand, however, as testimonials of the industry, having been derived, in the words
WHALING BARK ANDREW HICKS, Built at Westport.
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WESTPORT POINT
of a whaleman, either directly or indirectly from "under a sperm whale's flukes." In the houses are to be found old souvenirs in the shape of carved cocoanut dippers, whale's teeth, ivory stilletos, ebony canes, and embroidered China shawls which have been brought from sea.
Probably a fleet of twenty or thirty whalers was the largest of which Westport Point could boast at one time. The following lists contain the best known sloops and ships which lay, at various times, in what is now the muddock, with their bowsprits projecting over the town landing. These played their part in making this country famous for her whale fisheries.
Early Sloops and Whalers of Westport Point. 1775-Sloop Union, Thomas Case, master. 1807-Bark Hero, L. Paddock, master. 1816-Sloop Aurora. 1816-Sloop Traveller. 1816-Sloop Adventure.
1816-Brig Industry.
1820-Bank Schooner Polly and Eliza, later coaster; capsized; crew saved. 1824-Sloop Westport, Capt. Anthony Cory. 1830-Brig Mexico.
1830-Brig Almy.
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1830-Brig Thomas Winslow (lost). 1837-Brig Elizabeth, Capt. Gideon Sowle. 1839-Ship Hydaspe, Capt. Hathaway (possibly of New Bedford). 1849-Bark Theophilus Chace (lost finally). 1849-Bark Barclay.
LICENSE.
Date First Given on Old Papers. August 6, 1829 August 6, 1829
May 29, 1830
May 29, 1830
Schr. Columbia
Peleg W. Peckham
Pardon Gifford
Allin Tripp
Jonathan Mayhew Chris. Gifford
Jonathan Mayhew
Jeremh. Brightmau Allin Tripp
I. Sowle
Jonathan Mayhew Isaac Sowle
February 15, 1832
February 4, 1835
May 9th, 1836
February 22, 1842
Sloop Leader Sloop Charles Sloop Leader Sloop A. M. P. Sloop A. M. P. Schr. Columbia Sloop A. M. P.
Late Master.
Allin Tripp Gideon Davis, Jr.
Present Master. Gideon Davis, Jr. Allin Tripp
Isaac Sowle
Isaac Sowle
August 6, 1829
May 29, 1830
August 6, 1829
Sloop Fame
Peleg W. Peckham
Peleg W. Peekham
August 6, 1829
March 10, 1832
March 19, 1833
March 10, 1832
Sloop Fame
Chris. Gifford
E. Robinson Humphrey Gifford E. Robinson P. Peckham
Thos. W. Mayhew
Thos. W. Mayhew
Peleg W. Peckhanı
Jeremh. Brightman Jeremh. Brightman P. Kirby Jeremh. Brightman
39
WESTPORT POINT
Name of Vessel.
Sloop Fame
Sloop Fame
Schr. Columbia
Silas Kirby
Isaac Sowle Allin Tripp
May 29, 1830
Schr. Columbia
Sloop A. M. P.
February 15, 1832
Sloop Fame Schr. Columbia
40
LICENSES ABOVE TWENTY TONS.
Name of Vessel.
Sloop Fame
Sloop Fame
Schr. Columbia
Sehr. Columbia
Smack Sloop Franklin Edwd. B. Hazard Pardon Gifford
Sloop Fame Schr. Columbia
Isaac Sowle
Sloop Fame
Allin Tripp
Feb. 22, 1833
Sloop A. M. P.
Peleg W. Peckham Chris. Gifford
June 20, 1832
Sloop Fame
March 23, 1833 '
Sloop Leader
March 19, 1833 Sloop Charles
March 17. 1834 March, 1834 Sloop A. M. P.
Feb. 2, 1836
Sloop A. M. P.
Thos. W. Mayhew
May 9, 1836
Schr. Columbia
Feb. 22, 1842
Sloop A. M. P.
Sloop Alice
Late Master.
Allin Tripp Gideon Davis, Jr. Silas Kirby Peleg W. Peckham
Present Master. Gideon Davis, Jr. Allin Tripp Isaac Sowle
Isaac Sowle
Seabury S. Gifford Allin Tripp Jonathan Mayhew Chris. Gifford
THE VILLAGE OF
Jonathan Mayhew Jeremiah Brightman Allin Tripp
I. Sowle Jonathan Mayhew Isaac Sowle Jeremiah Brightman Jeryh. Brightman
Perry Kirby J. Brightman Samuel Brightman
Date First Given on Old Papers. July 23, 1830 July 23, 1830 Sept. 29, 1830 October 26, 1831 June 2, 1831 July 8, 1831 October 26, 1831 June 20, 1832 Nov. 8, 1832
Schr. Columbia
Peleg W. Peckham
E. Robinson Humphrey Gifford E. Robinson P. Peckham
Thos. W. Mayhew Peleg W. Peckham
April 8, 1846
Sloop Leader
A TYPICAL SANDIHILL PINE.
Date First Given on Old Papers. June 14, 1832
Feb. 16, 1833 March 12, 1836
March 5, 1836 Sept. 28, 1838
April 18, 1840
Sloop Hornet
April 18, 1840
Sloop Hornet
Bennet Wilber
Restcom Brightman
Anthony Gifford
June 1, 1846
Sloop Dorcas
Late Master.
Thos. W. Mayhew David HI. Gifford Elijah John Macomber Giles Gifford Giles Gifford
Anthony Gifford
Barney Wing
WESTPORT POINT
ENROLLMENT.
Date First Given on Old Papers. Oct. 15th, 1846
Name of Vessel. Sloop Senator
Late Master. Barney Wing
Present Master. Humphrey A. Gifford
VESSELS OVER TWENTY TONS.
Date First Given on Old Papers. Feb. 22, 1842 Feb. 29, 1842
Name of Vessel. Sloop A. M. P. Sloop A. M. P.
Late Master. Jeremh. Brightman Thos. W. Mayhew
Present Master. H. Manchester Jermh. Brightman
41
Name of Vessel.
Smack Sloop Sea Flower Sloop Smack Teason Sloop Blackfish
Sloop Teazen Sloop Caroline
Present Master. Arnold Seabury John Macomber Abel Sowle Anthony Gifford Israel Sowle Bennet Wilber
June 1, 1846
Sloop Dorcas
Date First Given on Old Papers. April 27, 1842
Feb. 22, 1842 May 27, 1834 Feb. 22, 1842 May 27, 1834 May 27, 1834
Date First Given on Old Papers. Feb. 22, 1842 Feb. 27, 1843 April 27, 1843 July 11, 1843 March 1, 1844 April 27, 1843 Feb. 20, 1845 April 16, 1845 April 16, 1845 April 8, 1846
Name of Vessel. Sloop Alice Schr. Pontiac Sloop A. M. P.
Sloop Alice Sloop A. M. P. Sloop Alice Sloop Alice
Sloop Alice
Late Master. Saml. Brightman Andrew Hicks Thos. W. Mayhew Allin Tripp Thos. W. Mayhew
Saml. Brightman William Watkins
LICENSE.
Name of Vessel.
Sloop A. M. P. Sloop A. M. P. Sloop Alice Schr. Pontiac Sloop A. M. P. Sloop Alice A. M. P. Sloop Alice Sloop Alice Sloop Alice Sloop Senator
Late Master. Jermh. Brightman Thos. W. Mayhew Saml. Brightman Andrew Hicks Thos. W. Mayhew Allin Tripp Thos. W. Mayhew
Saml. Brightman William Watkins
Present Master. Allin Tripp George Gifford Jermh. Brightman Saml. Brightman Jermh. Brightman Saml. Brightman Seabury Gifford Saml. Brightman
42
Present Master. Hercolas Manchester Jermh. Brightman Allin Tripp George Gifford Jerml. Brightman Saml. Brightman Jermh. Brightman Saml. Brightman Seabury Gifford Saml. Brightman Humphrey Gifford
THE VILLAGE OF
SENTINEL OF THE DUNES. ( Water Color Sketch.)
NAME
TONS MASTER
Rajah, bark
250
Fisher
Henry Wilcox
Sea Queen, bark
261
Marshall
Andrew Hicks
Gov. Carver, bark
180
Ives
Henry Wilcox
Harbinger, bark
262
Cornell
Alex. H. Cory
Elizabeth, bark
270
Sowle
Andrew Hicks
Manchester Resteomb Macomber
Janet, bark
194
Ricketson
JIenry Wilcox
United States, bark
217
llicks
Andrew Hicks
Sacramento, bark
218
Sowle
Alex. II. Cory
Barclay, bark
185
Tripp
Alex. II. Cory
Mexico, brig
130
Collins
Henry Wilcox Ilenry Wilcox
Job Davis
Catherwood, bark
199
Oliver
Allen
C. A. Church Andrew Hicks C. A. Church Henry Wilcox
Leonidas, brig
128
Mattapoisett, bark
150
Smith
Andrew Hicks
President, bark
180
Sea Fox, bark
246
Comery
Andrew Hicks Henry Smith John Hicks Andrew Hicks
Mermaid, bark
330
Howes
Aurora, bark
351
Marshall
Andrew Hicks C. A. Church
Keoka, bark
250
Grinnell
Kate Cory, brig
132
Tripp
A. II. Cory
SAILED
-Sept. 11, 1851 -Oct. 5, 1851
(1850)-Dec. 4, 1851 (1847) -- Dec. 1, 185] -July 17, 1852 -June 22, 1852 -June 18, 1852 -Nov. 11, 1852 -July 22, 1852 -Jan. 8, 1853 (1850)-Jan. 31, 1853
(1851)-In port (1849)-June 16, 1853 -Aug. 29, 1853 -Oct. 6, 1853 -In port. (1850)-Nov. 10, 1853 -Nov. 15, 1853 -Nov. 29, 1853 -Nov. 28, 1853 Sailing in 1850 (In port) -Dec. 2, 1853 -Aug. 6, 1855 -- Nov. 10, 1856 -Sept. 9, 1857 -Dec. 9, 1858
BOUND
N. Pacific Pacific Atlantic and Indian Pacific Atlantic Atlantic Atlantic
Atlantic and Indian Indian Atlantic Atlantic
WESTPORT POINT
Atlantic Atlantic Indian Ocean
Atlantic Pacific
Champion, bark
209
Gardner
Andrew Hicks
Pacific Pacific
Solon, bark
129
T. Winslow, bark
136
Blake
Atlantic Pacific Pacific
Atlantic Atlantic
Greyhound, bark
240
D. Franklin, bark
171
Russell
Platina, bark
266
AGENT
George and Mary, bark 165
43
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