The vessel documentation from the Customhouse in Pittsburgh, PA is maintained by the National Archives and Records Administration – Record Group 41. The books containing the Certificate of Enrollment documentation are much like the large deed references found in your local county courthouses. The books are fragile. The documentation is handwritten.
Certificate of Enrollment for the str Golden State (National Archives Vol 6634 cert no 129)
This image taken with my Droid Pro gives a good feel for the condition of the artifacts from our history.
On the left of the page under the sailing ship is the enrollment number (129), the type of record (Permanent), Where Surrendered (Pittsburgh), Date of Surrender (1 day of September 1852), and Cause of Surrender (the expiration of license and change of ownership). Under the Enrollment title, the primary owner of the vessel is listed (Joseph M Calhoon) who has sworn an oath after which the partners are listed. The vessel is named with its port of call (Golden State of Pittsburgh). The place of build (McKeesport, PA) was listed as it appeared on another Certificate of Enrollment or a Certificate of Admeasurement. The vessel dimensions were noted and her measurement in tons. The vessel is described as a (steam boat) has (transom stern) and (cabin deck). Finally the same named person (Joseph M Calhoon) who has agreed with the written information and the site and date of this testimony were listed. On some pages the name of the scribe is listed on the left column under the Cause of Surrender.
The following table lists the key information gleaned from the actual page of the vessel documentation.
Str Golden State
| Owners/Partners | Share | Vol: | 6634 |
| Joseph MC Calhoon | 3/8 | Enroll No : | 129 |
| Martin Lyon | 1/8 | Cert Date: | 1 Sep 1852 |
| Thomas Oliver | 1/8 | Cert Type:: | Admeasurement |
| William Rea | 1/16 | Build Locn: | McKeesport, PA |
| George McBride | 1/16 | Build Date: | 1852 |
| Hugh Martin | 1/16 | ||
| William Noble | 1/8 | ||
| David McNeal | 1/16 |
I have been reading every page of each volume because I have found Georgetown names listed as partners on boats not identified in my inherited materials. Not all the vessels registered are steamboats. I have also read about keel boats and canal barges.
As time permits, I intend to review all of the volumes from the port of Pittsburgh. Four down – forty-five to go.
Copyright © 2012 Francis W Nash
All Rights Reserved
Tags: georgetown, ohio river steamboats