It has been far too long since my last post. Trust me – it is not due to lack information.
Today ( Thu 2 Aug 2012), I spent the afternoon and early evening at the National Archives in DC. I am always amazed with the info I collect. Today I reviewed the Certificates of Enrollment records (Record Group 41) from 16 Mar 1846 through 24 Dec 1849 (Volumes 6629-6632). Some details about three steamboats in which my Georgetown guys were either principal owners or partners came into my knowledge. And fourteen (14) keel boats built by Georgetown rivermen.
Only thirty-two volumes to go to complete my research on certificates of enrollment. Sixteen books have been reviewed even though I have that uneasy feeling the I have missed important data, and so should redo them. By the way, since I last viewed the Vessel File (Record Group 92), I have discovered, I have doubled the number of known steamboats from Georgetown. One more day, or two, for the vessel file ?!?
One example of a terrific new find is the str New England. Until today, I had never seen any info in my inherited boxes to relate the str New England to Georgetown steamboat men. And, as you well know, I do stretch the thinest threads without shame.
According to Capt Way, the original principle owner and master of the str New England was Capt Samuel B Page. Capt Way also described the vessel as a sidewheeler, yet the Cert of Enrollment declared her wheel position at the stern. The str New England was a flagship departing Pittsburgh with soldiers bound for the Mexican War.
In Mar 1847, the str New England was purchased by Capt George W Ebert who operated the sidewheeler between Pittsburgh and Wheeling till 1849.
Str New England
| Owners and Partners | Share | Vol: | 6629 |
| Geo W Ebert | Enroll No : | 26 | |
| Jacob Poe | Cert Date: | 3 Mar 1847 | |
| Andrew Poe | Cert Type:: | Enrollment 180 | |
| Thomas Poe | Build Locn: | Pittsburgh, PA | |
| Wm J Kountz | Build Date: | 1844 | |
| David Wilkins | Master | GW Ebert |
Check out the owners of the str New England in 1847. Geo W Ebert was my great great grandfather; Jacob, Andrew and Thomas Poe were brothers and my great great granduncles. During the Civil War, William J Kountz declared that Gen US Grant was a “glorious drunk” who should be court marshalled. Grant arrested William J Kountz who was in charge of procuring river transportation for the war effort in the western theater. I do not know the relationship of David Wilkins to my Georgetown steamboat men.
No doubt that these Georgetown men were touched by history.
Copyright © 2012 Francis W Nash
All Rights Reserved
Tags: capt george w ebert, capt thomas w poe, civil war transports, gen us grant, jacob poe, william j kountz