Posted on April 28, 2008 by Greg Stone
The following is a list of masters on whaling vessels out of Westport Point. Many of these individuals lived in Westport. Allen Allen, David E. Allen, George E. Allen, Hezekiah Allen, John Milk Allen, Timothy C. Baker, Daniel Ball, Charles Barker, John E. Barns Beebe, John A. Beebe, George W. Bennett, A. Blake, Davis Active […]
Continue ReadingPosted on April 28, 2008 by Greg Stone
Navigating Westport harbor was not an easy feat for many of the whaleships, particularly the larger vessels. Isaac Macomber on board the Mattapoisett describes his experience attempting to enter the harbor in 1851: “Found ourselves aground 30 yards from the ½ mile rock and directly to windward after heaving, hauling and pulling, got her head […]
Continue ReadingPosted on April 27, 2008 by Greg Stone
[House at 2043 Main Road] The Howland brothers owned three cooper shops where they made oil casks. One resident recalls how they performed an exceptional feat by replacing one stave in a barrel that remained filled with oil. “They’d roll it so the rotted stave was on top and somehow hold the barrel together with […]
Continue ReadingPosted on April 27, 2008 by Greg Stone
[Photo courtesy of the NBWM ] Isaac Cory built this store in the late 1820’s in order to move the expanding business from his home at 2039 Main Road. It was central to the commercial life of Westport Point. The store was on the first floor, a milliner’s and tailor shop were on the second, […]
Continue ReadingPosted on April 27, 2008 by Greg Stone
[Cory House – Photo by Jon Alden.] Three generations of the leading Westport Point merchant family, the Corys, made this house their home. Isaac Cory, Isaac Cory, Jr. and Alexander Hamilton Cory built ships, managed whaling and fishing voyages and served as general merchandisers of the area. They are best remembered for their ship, the […]
Continue ReadingPosted on April 27, 2008 by Greg Stone
“…I got baptized handsome in the following manner without ceremony. We raised whales and lowered away and the boat that I was in soon got fast and as soon as Tripp struck the whale he struck our boat and stove her and then by way of proving his regard for us beyond a doubt he […]
Continue ReadingPosted on April 27, 2008 by Greg Stone
Young Albert was but a lad of 17 when he left Westport on the Mexico on April 12, 1844. He returned in August of 1845. (The image here was taken in 1863.) The youthful Albert’s early entries into his journal mention that he manned the mastheads and washed off the decks, ordinary duties of the […]
Continue ReadingPosted on April 27, 2008 by Greg Stone
[Ambrotype of Albert Augustus Gifford, WHS] The handsome gentleman in 19th century attire pictured here is Albert Augustus Gifford. He is the man who kept the whaling journal while on the Bark President. The journal is now in the collection of Westport Historical Society. Albert was neither the captain nor the first mate on the […]
Continue ReadingPosted on April 27, 2008 by Greg Stone
[Drawing of the Harbinger courtesy of the NBWM] This colorful drawing adorns the cover of a logbook of a voyage on the Harbinger. The same logbook records multiple desertions of the crew, a common occurrence, although not always to the extent shown here. Boredom, discomfort, cruelty and violence onboard or the temptations of paradise were […]
Continue ReadingPosted on April 27, 2008 by Greg Stone
[Crew list for 1805 whaling voyage courtesy of NBWM] The first officially recorded whaling voyage from Westport Point is that of the sloop Union in 1775, Thomas Case master. This document lists the crew of the Union in 1805 making a 6 month voyage to the North Atlantic, Jonathan Mayhew master. One of the last […]
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