Posts Tagged ‘Benjamin M Laughlin’

More Georgetown Boats

Saturday, March 2nd, 2013

Thursday afternoon and Friday were fun days at The National Archives.  I reviewed eight volumes of the Certificates of Enrollment from the Customhouse Records for the Port of Pittsburgh.  The records covered the time from 1 Jan 1863 to11 Jan 1867.   Due to a gap in the records, data for the str JT Stockdale, and perhaps other boats, was not reviewed.   Although the index of volume 6645 indicated that there were certificates registered between 17 Oct 1863 and 26 Jan 1864, there is no book containing the information.  Sad.  Those records are gone forever.

 

I did find eight new steamboats and one ferry which connections to Georgetown steamboat men.  These newly indentified vessels are not listed in Capt Way’s directory.  Most of the steamers are listed in The little-Holdcamper List.  Of course, all of the boats , except str JS Cosgrave, are listed by Benjamin Mackall Laughlin in his hand written list of all steamboats built in Pittsburgh between 1811-1904.  The following table lists the boats and whether they are listed by Capt Way and Little and Holdcamper.

 

 

SteamerOwner/Master Build Year Built Location Way’s Directory Little-Holdcamper
         
Hawk Eye

George D Laughlin

1854 Pittsburgh No No
Grey Eagle

BM Laughlin

1857 West Newton No Yes
JS Cosgrave

George Calhoon

1858 Elizabeth No Yes
Webster

HW Laughlin

1860 Pittsburgh No No
Coal Bluff

GD Laughlin

1862 Bellevernon No Yes
Gypsey

HW Laughlin

1864 Cincinnati No No
JS Neil

BM Laughlin

1865 Pittsburgh No Yes
Wild Duck

George D Laughlin

1865 Brownsville No Yes
         
Driver (steam ferry)

Jesse Smith

1865 Pittsburgh No No

 

The current count of steamboats owned and operated by  Georgetown men stands at 102.  I have 24 more volumes of Certificates of Enrollment to complete my review from 5 Jan 1831 to 28 Jun 1901.  Seventy years of Georgetown steamboating.

Note:  Bellevernon is the spelling of the clerk who registered  the Cert of Enrollment for the str Coal Bluff.  Not mine!

 

 

Copyright © 2013 Francis W Nash
All Rights Reserved

Two Strs Named Yorktown

Tuesday, September 4th, 2012

I intend to refocus my attention on the core purpose of this website.  It exists to make public the journal of Nancy Ann (Poe) Ebert.  Her personal journal of the trip with her husband, Capt George W Ebert, on the upper Missouri River in 1869 was a bit of American History that I believe should be shared with river scholars.  I also want to share the stories of the steamboat men from Georgetown, PA.  The most remarkable and unique source information that I have been able to share has been the hand written book by Capt Benjamin Mackall Laughlin.  That book identified 42 steamboats built between 1832-1838 in the Pittsburgh region that were not listed by Lytle and Holdcamper.

 

To begin my renewed concentration on steamboats, a page named Str Yorktown b1853 has been loaded.  It was the second boat named Yorktown owned and operated by the Poe family.  To differentiate the two vessels, I added the build date specified on the initial Certificate of Enrollment in the title of the page.  Capt Way’s Packet Directory number was considered, as another distinguishing feature, but I preferred the build date because the Poes ran boats with duplicate names before 1848, the year Way’s Packet Directory began its list.

 

Copyright © 2012 Francis W Nash
All Rights Reserved

Georgetown Keel Boats

Sunday, April 8th, 2012

 

As I was reviewing the Certificates of Enrollments for vessels more than twenty tons from the Customhouse in Pittsburgh, I was surprised by the number of keelboats registered.  My surprise was in part due to the build dates of the keelboats.  I thought that the steamboat marked the end of the keelboat’s useful life years earlier.  I was also impressed by the size, length and breadth, of the vessels.  With little scientific or technological control of the vessel descending the Ohio River, I can only imagine the physical struggle to maneuver heavy cargo downstream in a keelboat.

 

I have only reviewed the volumes 6633-6636 of the National Archives Record Type 41.  Those volumes contain the enrollment data from 4 Jan 1850 to 30 Dec 1854.  Within that timeframe I found eleven keel boats built by Georgetown men.  The old family names, Poe, Laughlin, Dawson, and Calhoon, are all represented.  Like steamboats, keelboats were family owned with three or four partners – family members and friends.

 

The size of this sample of keel boats, from smallest to largest, follows:

 

            Length:                       100ft               114 ft
            Breadth:                     17ft                 17ft10in
            Depth:                           1ft 5in              2ft1in
            Capacity:                    27 39/95 tons  40 25/95 tons
 

 

 

 

Georgetown Keel Boats

Date:  31 Mar 2012

 

Name Original Primary Owner Locn Build Date Build
Big Foot Jacob Poe Glasgow, PA 1850
Cinderella 2 James Haslett Philis’s Island, PA 1850
Commerce Thomas Laughlin Georgetown, PA 1850
Hero G Dawson Glasgow, PA 1850
JS Porter Samuel Calhoon Industry, PA 1848
Key Stone B Dawson Christlow’s Landing, PA 1850
Martha Anderson George Laughlin Industry, PA 1854
Ocean Wave George Laughlin Georgetown, PA 1850
Osceola HW Laughlin Christlow’s Landing, PA 1853
Swan A Reed Glasgow, PA 1850
Wm Rodgers Benjamin Laughlin Industry, PA 1854

 

 

Copyright © 2012 Francis W Nash
All Rights Reserved
 

Cherry Blossoms and Steamboats

Tuesday, March 27th, 2012

I spent a couple of fun days in DC.  BTW, the cherry blossoms are over.  Sherron spent her time visiting museums and art galleries, and of course shopping in Georgetown.  Together we did make time to observe the art display, “Suprasentorial”, on the Hirshorn Museum.  And I do mean on the museum.  The work was projected on the exterior walls of the museum – the entire surface – accompanied by many versions of the song “I only have eyes for you”.  It shows dusk to midnight till the May 13.  Quite impressive with Jupiter, Venus, and the moon aligned just above the museum from the sculpture garden. 

 

While Sherron was touring, I was playing at the National Archives.  I wanted to seriously review the Certificates of Enrollment from the Navigation Customhouse of Pittsburgh, PA (National Archive Records Administration Record Group 41).  There are forty-nine (49) volumes covering the period between 5 Jan 1831 and 28 Jun 1901.  I reviewed four volumes in two days.  Do the math.  It will takes a serious commitment of time to review all the records.  Who is next the William M Lytle or Forrest R Holdcamper or Frederick Way, Jr character willing to dedicate a lifetime to compile this data from all the Customhouses into a modern data base application?  Till that person is discovered I intend to put the Pittsburgh Customhouse data related to my Georgetown guys online so it will be available in at least two places. 

 

At the National Archives, I learned some amazing stuff.  For example, Georgetown river men continued to build keel boats through 1854.  Jacob Poe built a keel boat named Big Foot in 1850.  As you probably know, his brother Adam built the str Big Foot in 1875.  The dimensions of the keel boat Big Foot were biblical.  On the Certificate of Enrollment the length was 114 ft, breadth 17 feet 3 inches, and depth 1 foot 7 inches.  Most of the Georgetown keel boats were rated between 25 and 50 tons.  I intend to add keel boat data to my Xcel spreadsheet of steamboats and tugs. 

 

In addition to the newly learned keel boat information, I discovered new  Georgetown names associated with the river business.  The Certs of Enrollment list the original owners which I intend to add to my steamer biographies.  That process too will take some time.

In sum, two days of vacation has introduced an assortment of new information and generated the energy to develop the new topics. 

 

 

 

 

 

Copyright © 2012 Francis W Nash
All Rights Reserved

A Tapestry of River History

Sunday, October 2nd, 2011

Reading the Sep 2011 volume of the S&D Reflector made me think about the wide-ranging relationships of the early steamboat men.  The names of the steamboat men and their vessels are interwoven on the tapestry of river history.  In the Sep 2011 article “Str. PENNSYLVANIA at Wheeling“, John Panhorst , Jr. described the role his second great grandfather, Capt John Simpson Klinefelter, played in the Wheeling Bridge Case.  The str Pennsylvania which Capt John Simpson Klinefelter commanded was built in Shousetown, PA in 1854.

 

Capt JS Klinefelter was also the master of the str Hibernia No 2.  It too was built in Shousetown in 1847.   After Capt JS Klineflelter’s brother, Jesse, died of cholera in 1849, Capt CW Batchelor acquired an interest in the str Hibernia No 2 and remained its master till 1852.  It was during the command of Capt CW Batchelor that the str Hibernia No 2 was damaged while steaming under the Wheeling bridge.

 

According to  the grandson of Capt Thomas S Calhoon (Dr John Ewing), Capt George Washington Ebert had an interest, either ownership in or command of, the str Hibernia* (his notation for str Hibernia No 2).  Capt George Washington Ebert was my second great grandfather.  I can not confirm his interest with a citation from Capt Way; nor do I know the years of his interest.  What I can show, in a circular way, are the relationships of some of these captains and pilots from Beaver County, PA area which in turn suggest the Ebert interest in the str Hibernia No 2 was true.

 

According to Capt Way, Capt Jacob Jay Vandergrift’s first river job was cabin boy aboard the str Bridgewater when it was commanded by  Capt George Washington Ebert. [1]  The str Bridgewater was built in 1842/43.  Later, Capt JJ Vandergrift was the master of the str John B Gordon No 2 with Capt Benjamin Mackall Laughlin serving as his clerk.  Capt Jacob Poe was the principle owner of both the str John B Gordon and str John B Gordon No 2.   Capt George Washington Ebert was married to Capt Jacob Poe’s sister with whom he shared ownership in many Poe family boats.  Capt Benjamin Mackall Laughlin also hailed from Georgetown, PA.  That evidence establishes the business relationship between Vandergrift and the Georgetown men: Ebert, Laughlin, and Poe.

 

Between 1845-1848, Capt JJ Vandergrift was the first mate on the str Prairie Bird owned by his uncle Capt John Vandergrift.  CW Batchelor and William J Kountz of Civil War fame, were pilots on the str Prairie Bird.  CW Batchelor married the daughter of John Vandergrift.  That seals the family relationship of Vandergrift and Batchelor.

 

In 1859 Capt JJ Vandergrift built the str Conestoga which served in the Civil War until it was damaged in a collision with the str Gen Price on 8 Mar 1864 near Grand Gulf, MS.  All of these named men served during the Civil War in the western theater – another link in the chain connecting their names.  Like Capt Thomas S Calhoon, Thomas W Poe, and Jacob Poe, JJ Vandergrift lost a vessel, the str Red Fox, while towing coal barges to Island No 10.  Like the other owners, he also received no indemnity from thet US government before 1895. [2]

 

In 1874, Capt Frank Y Batchelor, the brother of Capt CW Batchelor, acquired the str Mollie Ebert from Capt George Washington Ebert. The str CW Batchelor named to honor Capt CW Batchelor, was the Saturday boat in the Pittsburgh and Cincinnati Packet Line in 1892 -93.  The Pittsburgh and Cincinnati Packet Line was organized by Georgetown men: Capt Thomas S Calhoon and Capt Jackman Taylor Stockdale.  Theodore C Poe, son of Capt Jacob Poe, was the clerk of the str CW Batchelor.   That bonds the business relationships  between Batchelor and the Georgetown men: of Ebert, Calhoon, and Stockdale.

 

I recognize this analysis is a classic example of loopy logic.  But is also illustrates the rich and long-standing relationships of these steamboat men who competed for river business and yet worked together often on nothing more than a shake of hands.

 

As a key to this example, I intentionally focused on JJ Vandergrift  because other than Henry M Shreve, Jacob Jay Vandergrift is the only steamboat cabin boy, mate, pilot, or captain to be recognized on a PA Historical Marker.  Even with his long career as a steamboat man, the marker only commemorates his work as a pioneer in the transportation of petroleum and natural gas from the PA oil country in the 1870′s.  At that time it was reported that Jacob Jay Vandergrift was one of the wealthiest men in the world.

 

 

References.

 


[1]  Contemporary American Biography  Biographical Sketches of Representative Men of the Day, (Atlantic Publishing and Engraving Co, New York, 1895), p 46.

[2]   Contemporary American Biography  Biographical Sketches of Representative Men of the Day, (Atlantic Publishing and Engraving Co, New York, 1895),p 48.

More BM Laughlin Book

Saturday, August 6th, 2011

While proof reading the Benjamin Mackall Laughlin book, I learned that I had missed a steamboat owned by Adam Poe.  The missing steamboat was the str Pioneer built in 1846 in the Pittsburgh region for Capt Adam Poe.  The str Pioneer is listed in The Lytle-Holdcamper Lists, but I did not know it was owned by Adam Poe.  A note alongside the steamer name in the BM Laughlin book provided the information. 

 

BM Laughlin also provided personal information which I find fascinating.  Another example follows:

 

            Magnolia stern wheel.  I was on her quit & went home.  (Sept 28th, 1853 got married to Miss Annie Blackmore)  Went on the steamer James Park Oct 31 1853 went to St Louis from there to New Orleans got back about Christmas.  Wife died June 4th 1854 (SB James Park burnt on Mississippi 1856)     BML 

 

BM Laughlin was married three times:  Anne R Blackmore, Mary Johnstown, and Sarah M Bain. 

 

 

 

 

Re-discovered Steamers

Monday, March 28th, 2011

My comparison of The Lytle-Holdcamper List and the BM Laughlin Book of steamers built at Pittsburgh from 1811-1904 is hereby duly declared complete.  Each steamer named by BM Laughlin was searched for in The Lytle-Holdcamper List.  The comparison was conducted through the years 1811- 1840 or, by another measure, five-hundred-fifteen (515) steamboats.  The comparison has been terminated because there were no differences found in either year 1839 or 1840.  By my count, forty two (42) steamboats have been re-discovered.  Those steamboats, not listed in The Lytle-Holdcamper List, can be accessed from The BM Laughlin Rediscovered Steamboats

My search arguments in developing this report were quite generous.  As long a steamboat was listed within plus or minus two years of the BM Laughlin build date with the same name or close to the same name and built in Pittsburgh or the Pittsburgh region, a match was declared.  The rate of difference between the two lists through 1840 was still 8.16%. 

 

Names presented the greatest challenge.  For example, there are twenty (20) steamers named Delaware in The Lytle-Holdcamper List.  BM Laughlin listed two additional Delawares that did not match any of the build dates and/or places of build.  Today there are at least twenty-two steamboats named Delaware

 

Where spelling and name abbreviations were questionable, I checked a combination of names.  Str Eliza invoked checks on Elizabeth, Lizzie, Lady Elizabeth, etc.  For Str Geo Baynard, I checked “George Baynard”, “George MI Baynard”, “General George Baynard”, etc. 

 

No doubt, I have missed a few names — omitted some because of inappropriate matches and included some because of failed checks.  The raw data is available to those who can make the time to correct my work.

The Benjamin Mackall Laughlin Book

Wednesday, February 2nd, 2011

There it is.  There it absolutely and positively is.
 

                The Benjamin Mackall Laughlin Book

 

The BM Laughlin Book listing every steamboat built at Pittsburgh between 1811-1904 has been loaded for your review.  The Book has been loaded on six pages for ease of viewing.

 

                The Book Scanned p1-43
                The Book Scanned p45-85
                The Book Scanned p87-125
                The Book Scanned p127-163
                The Book Scanned p165-205
                The Book Scanned p207-294
 

Credits for the photography go to George Hellmann, a good friend.

The BM Laughlin Book

Sunday, November 7th, 2010

I am slogging through “The Book” written by BM Laughlin in 1904.  Of the first 200 steamboats listed in the BM Laughlin book, 22 are not included in The Lytle- Holdcamper List.  Boat number 200, the str Sea Gull, had an enrollment date of 16 Mar 1833.  The str Sea Gull, rated at 21 tons, was built in Warren, OH per The Lytle-Holdcamper List and its three supplements.  Per BM Laughlin it was built in Pittsburgh?!?   

 

From 1831, BM Laughlin included both the month and day of the vessel enrollment.  The Lytle- Holdcamper List provided only the year.  BM Laughlin provided “remarks” on each year’s enrollments such as on the page for 1834 “The Kittanning was not built at Pittsburgh as she was not registered in the Custom House records”.  The only Kittanning listed in the Lytle-Holdcamper List was originally the str Elizabeth built in 1839 and renamed the Kittanning on 3 Nov 1842.  

 

BM Laughlin commented numerous times that his information came from US Custom House records in Pittsburgh 1811-1904.  The National Archives maintain the records from the US Custom House in Pittsburgh from 1831 -1904.  Before that Pittsburgh was a port under the jurisdiction of New Orleans from 1807-1874 where all the records for the Ohio River and its tributaries were maintained.  Lots of overlap and gaps!  Much to understand.

 

My analysis will list the boats identified by BM Laughlin between 1811 and 1848 in an MS Excel spreadsheet.  Data from The Lytle-Holdcamper List will also be entered to enable other researchers to perform their own sorts and analysis.

The Book

Thursday, October 14th, 2010

Labor Day weekend my Aunt Frances Finley lent me a hand written book identifying every steamboat built in Pittsburgh from 1811-1904.   Its author was BM Laughlin (Benjamin M Laughlin) and it was presented on 20 Sep 1904 to his brother, RD Laughlin (Robert Dawson Laughlin).  At that time, Robert D Laughlin was a steamboat steward who lived in the home built by  Thomas W Poe.   Benjamin M Laughlin credits “Mr Snowing” of the US Custom House in Pittsburgh for collection of the data.  He also provided personal info such as

 

            “I remember the flood on February 10th 1832.”  
            “I commensed steamboating Augt 1844 sixty years ago.”
            “My first boat was the Rhode Island captain RD Dawson.”  

 

BM Laughlin Book Preface (Frances and John Finley Collection)

BM Laughlin Book Preface (Frances and John Finley Collection)

Last week I visited the National Archives in DC to do Enrollment and License research and cross check the data in the BM Laughlin book.  The archives in DC have the Certificates of Enrollment for the US Custom House in Pittsburgh from 1831 – 1901.  I am still trying to determine whether records before 1831 have been lost.  Thursday afternoon at the National Archives, I looked at nine books with enrollment records.  On Friday, I reviewed the Vessel Files in the military records for the Civil War.  More on that visit in a later post.

 

This hand written book is a real find.  It presents original source data I have not seen in any river museums and libraries that I have visited.  The book has essentially eleven distinct chapters with personal notes about some of the Georgetown boats.  As you will read, not all the data came from US Custom House records.

 

     (1)  SBs built at Pittsburgh 1811-1904
     (2)  SB Name Changes
     (3)  SBs built below  (ie Marietta, Cincinnati, Louisville, Paducah) 
     (4)  Record of High Waters in Pittsburgh
     (5)  Old Pitt Cin Packet Line
     (6)  Names of SBs Dismantled
     (7)  Diasasters
     (8)  23 Str Burnt in St Louis
     (9)  10 Str Burnt in Pittsburgh
     (10)  Names of Capt Deceased
     (11)  Names of Pilots Deceased

 I have not yet decided what to do with this data in this book.  The book is too fragile, and too thick, to scan each page.

BM Laughlin list of Pitt Cin Packet Line Steamers (Frances and John Finley Collection)

BM Laughlin list of Pitt Cin Packet Line Steamers (Frances and John Finley Collection)