USA > Maine > Lincoln County > Boothbay > The shipping days of old Boothbay from the revolution to the world war : with mention of adjacent towns > Part 29
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Leonard S. (1840-1890), son of Samuel (chap.vii), was a prominent sea- captain. His early training in fishing vessels and a native shrewdness fitted him for command at an early age. Commands: Only Son, Montebello, Old Chad, E. K. Dresser, Baracoa, N. J. Miller and others. In June 1866, returning from Western Banks in the Only Son, he was run down at night midway between Cape Sable and Monhegan; the shock of collision carried away his masts, bowsprit and rigging, and at daylight the Only Son was towed to Tusket Bay by the colliding schooner. Later he was very success- ful in W. I. trade; was the first master of the fruiter Old Chad and with her, early in 1874, made one of the quickest round voyages on record. She left Charleston at daybreak for Havana and about ten days later, includ- ing detention in port, arrived on the Charleston bar at noon, a round trip
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of 1200 miles. Six round trips, four to Baracoa, were made within four months in this fast-sailing schooner.
An incident of the Captain's career follows: At Philadelphia in 1877, from Port Antonio, he reported: 'June 2d and grd, off Cuba, I was chased by a Spanish gunboat for about three hours, but a heavy squall of lightning with wind and rain sprang up and they gave up the chase and made for a harbor.' He explained it as an aftermath of a dispute at Ponce, Puerto Rico, the fall before, when the Baracoa arrived from New York with a cargo of merchandise. For an alleged difference between his cargo and the manifest, the vessel was fined $4300 in gold and given till December 3, 1876, to pay it. The schooner was anchored under the guns of a man-of- war, but officers and crew were permitted to remain on board. Evenings American shipmasters boarded the Baracoa, expressed sympathy and ad- vised non-payment of the fine. A fortnight before the time limit expired Captain McClintock, unexpectedly to port officials, got under way and stood out to sea, followed by the warship, but eluded pursuit in the dark- ness. To help avoid seizure in future the Baracoa was renamed Eunice Mckown. Years later a newspaper referred to the escape of a B'bay schooner from Puerto Rico in 1876, which seems to have been the Baracoa. One day a heavy squall obscured sight of harbor vessels, and when it sub- sided the schooner with cables slipped was seen standing seaward, while the fort fired ineffectively at her. Seamen of foreign vessels on leave rushed to a high point of land to view the escape and when she hove to, lowered a a boat to land the custom-house officer, a big Nova Scotian mate called out: 'Three cheers for the Yankee, boys.' They were given with a will.
One of the last acts of Leonard McClintock's successful career was to take out to Pensacola a new Bath-built schooner, the Adah Hodgkins, for delivery to her owners. This he did through the great March blizzard of 1888. Fears were entertained for his safety, but good seamanship prevailed, and he arrived safely and returned home.
McCOBB, DANIEL H. (1820-1877). He sailed with Capt. Wm. S. Emerson, who considered him a capable and dependable first officer of brigs Olive Branch and Rainbow. Later Daniel commanded brigs Rio Grande and the Tempest. A native of B'bay, he died at Alna.
McCOBB, JAMES A. (1817-1895). A sailor on Texas, he later commanded Westport. After some years spent in California, James was appointed keeper of Burnt Island light in April 1868, and served until October 21 1880.
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MCDOUGALL, SIMON and SAMUEL. Brothers of the B'bay shipbuilders, they followed fishing. Simon captained Silver Moon and later was a partner in the firm of McDougall and Race. Samuel (1840-1869) was skipper of the firm's banker Nellie M. Short when she left the Western Banks for home with crew of six. On sailing in May 1869, she was spoken, but that night a heavy squall occurred, thought to have overwhelmed her.
MCINTIRE, JOSIAH K. (1834-1871). Known as 'Keen' McIntire, in his twen- ties he commanded brig Montgomery. Other commands: Annie Sargent, C. B. Jones, Ruth S. Hodgdon, Telegraph and Starlight. He died in New York of fever, and was buried with Masonic honors.
His son, Ernest L. (1865-a.1935), was a native of B'bay. In W. I. trade Ernest had Alcyone, Nellie T. Woodbury, Ethel Swift, Frances and Eliza- beth Douglass. He also commanded Carib II of New York, the Camden- built Charlotte Maxwell, in Canary Islands trade; and Balsa, a large vessel named after a very light wood grown in Central America. Captain Mc- Intire lived and died in New York.
McKowN. David captained the Julia and Martha coaster; his brother Jo- seph, of Barter's Island, had Archer and Mary Edward in bank fishing.
Samuel F. (1850-1926) in early life followed bank fishing and coasting, was mate of the John Adams, Henry J. Smith and the G. W. Jewett, Captain Blair. Later Samuel had the Jewett, and many of his voyages were to S. A. He was also first officer of steamer Salacia and of lighthouse tender Zizania. His declining years were passed as custodian of the Boston Marine Museum, well liked by numerous friends and acquaintances. Sailor-like, the Captain was clever in whiittling out toy boats and models of pinkies. Called 'Sam' Mckown, in person he was a sturdily built man of an even and sociable temperament.
In order of birth of Joseph T. Mckown's sons, Manson D. was the first master of the Josephine Swanton, for the Kimballs. Another venture proved unfortunate-his loss to the eastward of Matinicus of a large new schooner. He also constructed boats and small vessels; fore-and-after Fred A. Emerson was constructed at his yard. Henry M., better known as 'Mit' Mckown, captained Eddie Pierce and the Henry Morgenthau (Bath 1883), a superior Portland fisherman kept in fine order by her skipper, a natural- born sailor. Among many were two wintertime trips to Newfoundland for frozen herring. In coasting about 1891, he had the Fred A. Emerson for a time. Years later, living at Sailors' Snug Harbor, 'Mit' drowned. Florence M. was master of the fishing vessels Lizzie Thompson, James Dyer, Veda
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M. Mckown, boat Bonita and a steamer. Off the Jersey coast in April 1883, the Thompson collided with steamship Nacoochee and sank in a few minutes. The steamer is said to have passed near in fog; hearing cries of apparent distress (in reality, fear and curses), turned back and then col- lided. All were saved. In fishing Fred had the Eddie Pierce and the Argo of G'ter, and commanded four-master Samuel Hathaway and a wartime steamer, Lake Granger. George W. captained the large steam yacht Waturus of Philadelphia.
John and Freeman H. Mckown, brothers, were the eldest and youngest, respectively, of ten children. Captain John (1833-1915) followed the sea sixty-seven years. Freeman followed fishing with Waterwitch, which went adrift and furnished theme for a poem. For years he was widely known and attained great popularity as a carterer to picnic parties. His famous clambakes were served under the trees on the shore near his home at Oak Point. Born 1858, he died 1937, B'bay Harbor.
In order of birth of Manson D. Mckown's sons, Jason C., Leroy K., John V. and Eugene S. were shipmasters; and, with one exception, mem- bers of the Boston Marine Society. One of Jason's large schooners was run down by a steamship, off Charleston, and sank so quickly that although he was saved with his wife, their two children were lost. Leroy K. Mckown (a.1869-1909) commanded vessels at an early age. One Mckown com- manded the Jacob M. Haskell (Rockland). A fast sailer, her first trip was from N. B'bay with ice. John had the steam freighter Sea Thrush of Port- land.
Leroy's last command was the five-masted Davis Palmer (Bath 1905, by Percy and Small). With coal for Boston he sailed from Newport News in 1909. All went well at first, and the schooner was last sighted by tug Ontario, rounding Cape Cod. A storm arose, and Captain Mckown, instead of put- ting to sea, attempted to make port that night. On Christmas Day wreck- age, signal flags and the name plate of the Palmer floated ashore at Hull; she had foundered with all hands (eleven) between Harding's Ledge and the Graves.
MONTGOMERY, ANDREW REED (1813-1895). Commander of brig E. Bald- win; his last vessel was sch. Ella of Dama. He lived at E. B'bay, whence a younger brother, Samuel, shipped on the Texas.
MONTGOMERY, DANIEL (b. 1801). Skipper of pinky Jefferson, he was the eldest of a large family, and half brother of Robert, Willard and Leonard Montgomery. Early in life, said to have been with Capt. John Race in 1844,
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Willard was lost at sea. One Montgomery had sch. Grove when, in 1838, she foundered without loss of life.
Robert (1816-1882), the first master of brig Torrent, is thought to have commanded brig Montgomery and others. He and Leonard established the fishing firm of R. and L. Montgomery, which operated the clipper-built fishermen Alice C. Fox and Alice M. Gould. They and others sailed from a stand at Meadow Cove. Robert was a successful sea-captain.
Leonard (1829-a.1882). As partner with his brother in fishing he had the Alice M. Gould on a cruise in 1869, commanded the Torrent and bark Woodside. In October 1879 Captain Montgomery took command of the fine new bark Charles G. Rice (Yarmouth, Me.), owned by C. J. Walker and Co., of Portland, and placed in the Far East trade. After a few long round voyages, the Captain fell ill at Mauritius and returned home to die a month after arrival. He was a prominent shipmaster; his daughter, Eliza- beth, married Captain Alfred Race.
Adelbert (1853-1927), son of Leonard, followed the sea with his father, and about 1878 succeeded him in bark Woodside, employed largely in River Plate trade. In June 1880, she sailed from Portland in company with bark Carrie Long, both bound to Buenos Ayres; and, after sixty-six days of fair weather, arrived first. The wedding trip of Adelbert and Mary Thorpe was made in this bark; and later they made eleven round voyages to the River Plate in barks Charles R. Lewis, Ella, Celina and the Carrie Winslow, all of the last managed by R. Lewis and Co. The Captain con- tinued in the Winslow until about 1903, when he accepted the superin- tendency of the Boston Cold Storage Co., which he held the rest of his life. Captain Montgomery was a member of the Boston Marine Society.
The Carrie Winslow (Deering 1880, for J. S. Winslow) was abandoned at sea in January 1913. She is said to have been the last of numerous square-rigged vessels hailing and sailing from Portland.
MUDGE, ROBERT (1857-1926). A native of Port Hawkesbury, Cape Breton Island, he came to B'bay and followed hand-line fishing on the Grand Banks for many years. He sailed with Capt. 'Mit' Mckown, of the Henry Morgenthau; and a pleasant recollection was a landing on Sable Island for water, and a stampede of wild horses there. He was also with skippers Isaac Webber and Spurling. Of a sturdy figure, Robert had a pleasing per- sonality and was a good shipmate. He married and died at B'bay Harbor.
MURRAY, ALBERT (1850-1909). He and an older brother, Isaac, were masters of fishing steamers. During the season of 1884 steamer Fanny Sprague, Mur-
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ray, master, took about twenty whales; one sixty-four feet in length was shot off Monhegan and towed into Linekin Bay. Albert's son, Eugene .. (1875-1918), was a seafarer with his father.
MURRAY, JAMES (1772-1852) was skipper of the Ruth. He had a son, James jr. (b.1816), who commanded brig Forester (W'wich 1847); two other sons, Rufus (1812-1874) and Charles (1818-1889), who were ship- wrights, mentioned elsewhere. After constructing vessels at Calais, Charles built at Seattle and died in California. Three sons of Rufus follow:
Freeman (1848-1936) built small craft (one was slp. Yolande, winner of numerous races), directed construction of large yachts in Waukegan, worked at Tacoma and Seattle on deep-water ships, one the State of Maine; and built the largest dredge on the coast. During the late war he had charge of a shipbuilding plant in Jacksonville. Latterly he lived in Massachusetts.
Lyman S. (1849-1896) captained fishermen out of G'ter for years.
George T. (1857-1908) was chief officer with Capt. A. Montgomery of bark Woodside: also mate of the Celina, Capt. M. Adams. When he died in South America, Murray took charge, brought the schooner home and was made master. Later he commanded four-masted schooners. Captain George was a member of the Boston Marine Society.
S. NICKERSON AND SONS. This firm was the last local fish and salt company of importance to operate bankers and mackerel seiners. During a successful period of nearly a quarter of a century its fleet included the Antelope, Bertha D. Nickerson, Carlton Bell, Cora Louise, Cynosure, Dorado, Edith McIntire, Flora L. Nickerson, Frank G. Rich, General Grant, Harry A. Nickerson, Louis and Rosie, Magnolia, Mary J. Elliot, Mary S. Wonson, Mollie Porter, Natalie B. Nickerson, Perine and the We are Here. The last was doubtless the fishing vessel later mentioned in Kipling's Captains Courageous: 'We're Here o' Gloucester.'
ORNE, SILAS and THOMAS (1814-1908). Brothers, they engaged in fishing from the western harbor of B'bay. Their craft included the Abigail, Diana, George, Henry R. and the Morning Light. Thomas was skipper of the George and the Morning Light. In his later days the old gentleman was a picturesque figure wearing a tall hat, the style of the 1850's. His son Wood- bury had the Diana.
PERKINS, JOHN PATTEN (1830-1885). In his youth the master and mate of his vessel died of fever; the second mate, unskilled in navigation, was de-
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pendent on John, who refused assistance from another vessel and brought his charge safely to port. He was a capable first officer of the Baracoa, Capt. L. McClintock, brigs Hiram Abif and Rio Grande; and sailed with Capt. F. K. Reed as chief officer of the S. P. Hitchcock and the James S. Lowell, on which he died. Burial was at his native Kennebunkport.
During the Civil War Perkins enlisted in the navy, was promoted act- ing ensign in 1863 and served on the double-ended gunboat Wyalusing which, with other wooden ships, engaged in a desperate fight with the ironclad Albermarle. At the close of the war he was honorably discharged. A son, Henry S., named after a shipmate on Wyalusing, served as post- master and deputy collector of customs at Boothbay Harbor.
PINKHAM, BENJAMIN E. (1845-1917). He was the youngest son of Capt. John 2d, and in his early days followed fishing. Later Benjamin sailed as mate of fruiting vessels and rose to important commands in West Indian and South American trade. Among them were the Victor Puig, R. D. Bib- ber and the Edwin R. Hunt, the last two Bath-built in 1884 and 1892, re- spectively; his last vessel, a superior four-master constructed for his com- mand at E. B'bay, was the Eleanor F. Bartram. While bound to the Span- ish Main under another master, she was lost with all hands in a tropical storm. A very successful shipmaster, Captain Pinkham had a full figure and a pleasing personality.
PINKHAM, JOHN HENRY (1843-1922). He was a grandson of Capt. John Pinkham 2d. John H. was with Capt. John Wylie when the latter was killed by a falling mast; and, active and ambitious, he worked his way up- ward, and commanded the Nellie M. Short, Geo. Washington, Stephen G. Pinkham, Carrie Bonnell, E. A. de Hart and the Geo. H. Holden (Bath 1883). At one time he owned the Annie D. Merritt; purchased a three- master, rebuilt at E. B'bay, most probably the Ira B. Ellems, which in fog stranded on Cape Cod in 1908, either under him or his son, Victor. On re- tiring from sea the former bought the Lettie S. Reed for fishing, captained by John Blake. Captain Pinkham was stocky and of medium complexion.
He married Margaret McDougall, who accompanied him on fruiting trips in the S. G. Pinkham and other vessels. She was of great assistance to him in keeping the ship's accounts, as his schooling was slight. Their children sailed the seas with them. Northbound from South America on the three-master G. H. Holden in 1885, the wife and mother died early in life; and on a vessel at Cedar Keys early in 1887 John Henry Pinkham jr. died. His body was shipped to B'bay.
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The following Pinkhams, either in fishing or residence, were identified with Barter's Island: Frederick (1802-1888) in 1828 was skipper of the · General Armstrong; his son, Ozias (1829-1894), captained the Collector, Willie G. and the Ripley Ropes, sold to F. Orne of S'port; Will, son of Ozias, had the Cora Louise and the E. A. de Hart. Thomas and Albion were brothers, born in the 1830's; Thomas was skipper of Regalia and Al- bion commanded bark S. R. Lyman (Yarmouth, Me.). Alden (b.1829) in the 1860's was master of Cynosure and the Hannah Eldridge. Alfred H. (1841-1885) had sp. Ella, the Mabel E. Pinkham (later renamed Pearl V. Shipley), and a fine new fishing vessel, the Diploma which he soon lost. James F. (1857-1933) followed fishing and coasting and died on the island.
POOLE, JAMES C. (1845-1924). Prominent in the fisheries, he was managing owner of the Ambrose H. Knight, Caroline Vought, E. R. Nickerson, E. A. de Hart, Mary J. Elliot and the Roger Williams. A schooner bore his name. A sailmaker in early manhood, James came from Bristol.
PREBLE, EBENEZER (1809-1875). In the 'thirties he commanded the new sch. Statira (his daughter's name), also the new brig Julia Payson (Arrowsic 1847). Both hailed from Bath. A native of Cape Newagen, in the 'fifties Ebenezer lived near the old willow tree landmark.
QUIMBY. In mid-1860's Ira captained sch. Concern, for Wm. Kenniston. In the wreck of the B'bay sch. Mary on Small Point, in wintertime 1870, Ambrose and Jeremiah Quimby were drowned.
RACE. Early members of this family followed the sea in whaleships; one settled at Abbott, Maine, another at E. B'bay. A descendant of the latter was Capt. John Race (1802-1857), master of fishing pinks Andrew Jackson and Hazard, sch. Meridian of W'port, and the brig Howard, on which he died. His four sons were active as follows:
James Linekin (1825-1909). Commanded brigs Forester (W'wich 1847), and the H. G. Berry. During Civil War days he was master of a bark formerly named Fountain, renamed Claretta, and sailed under Spanish colors in South American trade. Retiring from sea, James engaged in bank fishing under the firm name of McDougall and Race; their vessels were the Alice Jane, Capitol, General Grant, Lettie S. Reed, May Queen and the Nellie M. Short. The Winona was added in 1867, but within a decade she was lost on the Nova Scotian coast; at which time the Captain himself conducted the business successfully. In person he was thickset and of medium complexion.
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John Edward (1831-1887). After the loss of the Oregon, as related, he temporarily commanded the Benjamin Reed and brig Rio Grande; sold the Village Belle in the W. Indies; and succeeded his brother Henry in the Portland bark Ada Gray. The Captain bought the Telegraph for com- mand of John Gould.
Henry Wright (1834-1891), went to sea at an early age and succeeded his brother James in command of bark Claretta. About 1868 he bought into bark Ada Gray, had the Annie Lewis (E. Deering 1874), both in S. A. trade; later in the new bark Charles R. Lewis he made an unusually quick passage from Portland to Montevideo. Captain Race left the sea for a time, but was again afloat in 1890, bound to the River Plate in bark Sarmiento; became ill, took steamer for home and died on arrival in Brooklyn. A suc- cessful shipmaster, he was buried with Masonic honors at Deering, Maine.
Hiram G. Race, the youngest brother, was master of the fishing vessels Village Belle, May Queen, and the Lettie S. Reed, built for his command.
Alfred Race was reared on the ocean for a sea career, as told in the account of the good brig H. G. Berry. In his teens he made several fishing trips: in May Queen, under his uncle Hiram; with J. Priest in pinky Alice Jane; on the new Winona, Capt M. Adams; the Capitol, Catalina, and es- caped the shipwreck of the Alice M. Gould. Well qualified by experience, he had first the H. W. Race, constructed in his native village for his command. Sold for the oyster trade, the coaster was lost on the coast of Virginia.
One winter he commanded the three-masted sch. Standard; and in 1878 bought a master's interest in brig O. B. Stillman (E. Deering 1873), man- aged by R. Lewis and Company and in S. A. trade. Later the brig was sold to Baltimore parties who, heavily insured, conspired with the new master to scuttle her in the Gulf Stream. The plot miscarried, she became a derelict, and at Bermuda augur holes were found bored in her bottom. The master was imprisoned, and owners heavily fined.
On his return from the Mediterranean in bark Charles R. Lewis, Captain Race purchased an interest in the fine White Fleet bark Woodside, his last sailing command, employed in River Plate trade. His twenty-five years' service in steam navigation is mentioned elsewhere. After selling the Enter- prise to the Eastern Steamship Company in 1912, for three years he com- manded the Catherine and the Mineola for that firm. In person the Cap- tain was slender, active and of alert mentality.
The death of Captain Alfred Race in 1936 marked the passing of one of the last shipmasters of square-rigged vessels. Born in 1851, during the
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clipper ship era, when those fast sailers rounded the stormy Horn to re- turn with California gold, or to sail for the Chinchas or the Orient, he lived to see those familiar ships and sailors pass on to oblivion, and be re- called and extolled in prose and poetry. The Captain had the qualities of command-alertness, quick decision and expert knowledge of naviga- tion. In old age he fashioned fine models of a brig, bark and a ship, reminiscent of the old days. The Elizabeth, named after his wife, is a marvel of workmanship and rig, perhaps unsurpassed on the coast of Maine in details of a miniature ship.
REED, CEPHAS. A well and favorably known shipmaster, it is said he was a cousin of S. M. Reed and somewhat younger. He is mentioned in 1846 as a youthful sailor on brig Olive Branch, Capt. W. S. Emerson. In 1860 Allen Lewis wrote, in part, to S. M. Reed, 'If you think that you must stop at home one voyage I can get Capt. Cephas Reed to take charge of the Bark [Gan-Eden]; he has lost his Brig. I think he is a good man and honest.' Captain Reed relinquished his command to Cephas, who thereafter com- manded the Gan-Eden, and while at Havana, in the summer of 1866, died and was buried there.
Cephas married Capt. John Kent's daughter Martha, an estimable woman, and lived in the Alley house on Townsend Avenue. He sailed for his father-in-law in the brig J. H. Kent. Of slight stature, Cephas had brown curly hair, a frank, open countenance, and was a dependable master and a Freemason.
REED, CHARLES (b.1805). He followed the sea with his father, Capt. Mat- thew, who in 1856 lived near Adams Pond. Charles commanded brigs Abi- gail and Niles and was the first master of the Texas. On retiring from sea he moved to Burnham, Maine, and operated a hotel until his death.
REED, FREEMAN (1815-1887). A bank fisherman, he also made winter trips before the mast in the Mary Adams and the Texas. On a long stormy pas- sage from Wiscasset, early in 1840, the Adams lost sails, boat and deck load. After discharging in Havana, he noted: 'All hands told [to] hoist molasses on the sides, fill up the casks and wash down decks, a Sunday morning job by S. M. Reed.' It was supposed to be a day of rest in port, but a zealous mate generally found something to be done; frequently the master de- cided to sail on Sunday. Later, under Capt. N. Pinkham, in a Cuban port, Freeman wrote: 'Attended divine services on board a Scotch brig and ship Canton of Bath.' Early in 1845 he shipped on the Portland brig Hogan,
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bound to Havana. On arrival she was seized for smuggling gunpowder and confiscated. Freeman and S. M. Reed owned Brilliant, a fine fishing vessel, - but in 1847 the former sold his share to the latter party. 'Freeman then had a pinky,' related Oliver G. Reed, 'and was considered a fortunate master in getting a good fare of fish.' The skipper was a son of Capt. Paul Reed 2d, and after Freeman married Martha Kennedy in 1839, they lived at the old homestead of Capt. Joseph Reed, about a quarter-mile north of the mill of pioneer Andrew Reed at Mill Cove. Two sons, Freeman and William, were shipmasters as follows:
Freeman K. (1841-1889) began his career in a fishing vessel at fourteen to aid in supporting the family, a duty he continued to the day of his death. On his first trip the boy was seasick for three weeks, but thereafter was im- mune. Other trips to the Banks followed; one with Capt. Freeman Hodg- don, another on the maiden voyage of the Annie Sargent.
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