Posts Tagged ‘capt thomas w poe’

National Archives Trip 5

Sunday, September 16th, 2012

Last Thursday (6 Sep 2012), I spent another afternoon and early evening at the National Archives in DC.  I reviewed the Certificates of Enrollment records (Record Group 41) from 3 Jan 1859 through 23 Dec 1862 (Volumes 6641-6644).  Sadly, volumes 6643 and 6644 were water damaged.  Their condition was disastrous.  For many entries the ink was completely washed out and incomprehensible.  I know not whether a conservator could recover the data.  In addition to the ruined volumes, there was no volume for the year 1862.  This catastrophe is a dreadful loss because the time frame extends through the period of the Civil War when approximately fifty percent of the civilian steamboats impressed or chartered for service on the western rivers by the US Army Quartermaster were built in the Pittsburgh region. 

 

Enrollment Record in Volume 6643 (F Nash 6 Sep 2012)

Enrollment Record in Volume 6643 (F Nash 6 Sep 2012)

 

Enrollment Record from Volume 6644 (Fnash 6 Sep 2012)

Enrollment Record from Volume 6644 (Fnash 6 Sep 2012)

On a more positive note, I found two (2) new keel boats built by  Georgetown rivermen.  The last of these unexpected discoveries was built by HW Laughlin in Industry, PA and registered on 1 May 1861.  This discovery should dispel some illusions that keel boats were quickly displaced by the technological superior steamboats.  Low water was the spur of necessity that favored the keel boat to this late date.

 

Only twenty-eight volumes of the Certificates of Enrollment for Pittsburgh to review before my National Archives research will be complete.  That said, since I last viewed the Vessel File (Record Group 92), I have discovered that I have doubled the number of steamboats from Georgetown.  In addition to the Vessel File, I was pointed to the Index of Claims for the Army Quartermaster.  There was an index entry for Thomas S Calhoon (str Horizon), but none for Thomas Poe or Jacob Poe (str Clara Poe).   If time permits, I will also review the Preliminary Inventory of the Textual Records of the office of the Quartermaster general – Part 1 Vessel records. 

The National Archives is a fascinating place to explore rare and monumental artifacts.

 

 

 

Copyright © 2012 Francis W Nash
All Rights Reserved

National Archives Trip 4

Friday, August 3rd, 2012

 

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

National Archives 3 May

Sunday, May 6th, 2012

Another day, another four Certificate of Enrollment books.  I reviewed volumes 6637-6640 dating from 1 Jan 1855 to 31 Dec 1857 finding another steamboat with a connection to Georgetown, PA.  Buried in the enrollment owners and partners listing were Jacob Poe, Thomas Poe, and George W Ebert.  Together they had a 1/6 interest in the str Grand Turk.  

 

Str Grand Turk

 

Owners and Partners Share Vol: 6637
AB Gallatin 1/3 Enroll No : 169
(Jacob Poe, Thom Poe & GW Ebert) 1/6 Cert Date: 23 Oct 1855
H Miller 1/16 Cert Type:: Enrollment 135
Jas Matthews 1/16 Build Locn: McKeesport, PA
Wm Evans 2/16 Build Date: 1854
Ed E Jones 1/16    
James Jones 2/16    
Sam Berry 1/16    
       

 

It is unknown whether the principal owner, AB Gallatin, was a relative of the famed politician Albert Gallatin who was a US Representative in western PA at the time of the Whiskey Rebellion and later served as Secretary of the Treasury during the Jefferson administration.  During his time as secretary, Albert Gallatin helped plan the Lewis and Clark Expedition. 

 

The other names I do not recognize.

 

Findings like this new boat are the reason that I scan every page of every volume.  No doubt I will miss some clues, but I hope to catch more than I miss.

 

 

 

Copyright © 2012 Francis W Nash
All Rights Reserved

Census Data Analysis

Sunday, April 22nd, 2012

Sometime ago, I reviewed the Georgetown census data for 1860 and 1870 to determine whether the steamboat men of Georgetown prospered from their Civil War contracts.  According to the census data, the steamboat captains had accumulated the greatest wealth of any residents of Georgetown.  Comparing the value of real and personal property of the 1860 and 1870 data, showed that the relative position of the captains changed little.  Thomas Poe amassed more wealth than his older brothers, Jacob and Adam.  Their brother-in-law, George W Ebert, was in last place in the 1860 census.  However, only  George W Ebert’s wealth increased between 1860 and 1870.  The wealth of the Poe brothers, Thomas, Jacob, and Adam, decreased by 30-45%. 

The census analysis is available on the page Census Data Analysis.

 

 

 

Copyright © 2012 Francis W Nash
All Rights Reserved

The Wreck of the str Fearless.

Monday, April 2nd, 2012

The Army Corp of Engineers Kansas City District published map of the Missouri River in Dec 2000 that shows the changing of the river channel over the last century.  This map is a composite of a map used by Capt HM Chittenden in 1897 and a more recent river channel map.  For historians, the map is interesting because it identified the approximate locations of steamboats wrecks.  Capt HM Chittenden located the sites in 1897.  From his historical research prior to 1962, Dr EB Trail also identified the sites of the same steamboat wrecks.  Their findings differ. 

Kansas City District Corp of Engineers dated Dec 2000

Kansas City District Corp of Engineers dated Dec 2000

 

For me the map is interesting because the site of the wreck of the str Fearless was identified.  The str Fearless was operated by Capt Thomas W Poe for a short time before his death.  Although he died in 31 Dec 1881 aboard the str Fearless on his way to Pittsburgh and the steamer sank eight months later on 26 Aug 1882, his spirit lived on in the courts.  The legal case regarding the property loss was finally decided by the Supreme Court of Missouri in Oct 1887. 

 

 

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

Civil War Transports

Sunday, March 11th, 2012

A page, Civil War Transports, has been added to tell the story of the civilian steamboat men from Georgetown who served their country during the Civil War. None achieved much renown during their lifetimes.

 

 

 

Copyright © 2012 Francis W Nash
All Rights Reserved


CivWar150 19 Feb 1862

Saturday, February 18th, 2012

 

                                       Pittsburgh, PA,

                                     Feb 19th, 1862

 

                         I desire that the captains of the following
                         steamers be placed on record for the patriotic
                         and liberal (volunteering) of their services and
                         boats, without renumeration, to proceed
                         immediately to the Cumberland River to
                         relieve the sick and wounded soldiers:
                         Rocket, Capt Wolf; Clara Poe, Capt Poe,
                         Horizon, Capt Stockdale; Emma, Capt
                         Maratta; Westmorland, Capt Evans;
                         Sir William Wallace, Capt Hugh
                         Campbell.

                            B. C. Sawyer, Jr., Mayor 

 

One hundred-fifty years ago, the mayor of Pittsburgh acknowledged the patriotic service of six steamboat captains.  These captains with their boats, without pay, steamed to Tennessee to transport wounded and sick soldiers to Louisville and St Louis.  Captains Thomas W Poe and Jackman T Stockdale were Georgetown steamboat men.   Three of these six boats including the two from Georgetown were destroyed during the war: str Clara Poe, str Horizon, and str Emma.

 

 

Copyright © 2012 Francis W Nash
All Rights Reserved


Unidentified Steamboat Men

Friday, January 27th, 2012

I have loaded some photos of steamboat men from Georgetown, PA. My problem ― I am unable to identify them. To date, I have not been able to identify Capt Adam Poe, Capt Thomas W Poe, Capt George W Ebert, Capt Standish Peppard, Capt Jackman T Stockdale, and many other old family steamboat men ― Calhoons, Lyons, Kinseys, etc.  Have a look.

 

 

Copyright © 2012 Francis W Nash
All Rights Reserved

Lives Remembered

Saturday, December 31st, 2011

One-hundred-thirty years ago today, Thomas W Poe died (31 Dec 1881) while on a trip from St Louis to Pittsburgh aboard the str Fearless.  In 1880, Capt Thomas W Poe bought the str Fearless to transport grain between Kansas City and St Louis. 

 

The str Fearless was a large heavy-draft Mississippi River stern-wheel tow boat built in Pittsburg PA in 1865 according to Benjamin M Laughlin.  It was 160 x 30′ rated at 395 tons with two engines (20″x8′) and five boilers (26′ x 40″)- with a working steam pressure of 150lbs.   When it sank on August 26, 1882 in the Missouri River about 40 miles from its mouth near Lower Bonhomme Island, the boat was owned by the Kansas City Barge Line.  The captain of the boat at the time it sank is unknown.

 

Happy New year.

 

 

Copyright © 2011 Francis W Nash
All Rights Reserved