Joseph A. Nickerson Jr. - Chatham Sea Captains in the Age of Sail

Jeff Eldredges painting, a portion of which appears on the cover, illustrates an event in author Joe Nickersons life, when out fishing with his father off Pollack Rip Lightship, a classic schooner came sailing out of the fog. Joe grew up hearing the tales of Chathams sea captains from his fathers knee. As a member of Chathams founding family, young Joe knew many of the sea captains who sailed into the 20th Century.

Published by The History Press

Charleston, SC 29403

www.historypress.net

Copyright 2008 by Joseph A. Nickerson Jr. and Geraldine D. Nickerson

All rights reserved

Cover: A three-masted schooner emerges from the fog off Chatham, making her way south in this portion of a painting by Jeff Eldredge. Joseph A. Nickerson Jr. Collection.

First published 2008

e-book edition 2013

ISBN 978.1.62584.461.3

Library of Congress Cataloging-in-Publication Data

Nickerson, Joseph A., Jr.

Chatham sea captains in the age of sail / Joseph A. Nickerson Jr. and Geraldine D. Nickerson ; edited by Janet Daly.

p. cm.

Includes bibliographical references and index.

print edition ISBN-13: 978-1-59629-431-8 (alk. paper)

1. Ship captains--Massachusetts--Chatham--Biography. 2. Navigation--Massachusetts--Chatham--History. 3. Chatham (Mass.)--Biography. I. Nickerson, Geraldine D. II. Daly, Janet. III. Title.

VK139.N53 2008

387.5092274492--dc22

2007046896

Notice: The information in this book is true and complete to the best of our knowledge. It is offered without guarantee on the part of the author or The History Press. The author and The History Press disclaim all liability in connection with the use of this book.

All rights reserved. No part of this book may be reproduced or transmitted in any form whatsoever without prior written permission from the publisher except in the case of brief quotations embodied in critical articles and reviews.

This book honors the memory of A. Louise Wentworth Nickerson for her untiring dedication in documenting the lives of Chathams sea captains.

CONTENTS

FOREWORD

Chatham Sea Captains in the Age of Sail could only have been created by someone who has spent nearly his entire life studying, researching and collecting every available archive that relates to the history of Chathamin this instance, that someone is Joseph Atkins Nickerson Jr. While many of the descendants of William Nickerson, the founder of Chatham, have an intense interest in the history of the town and its people, fewif anyhave dedicated so many years to learning everything possible about it.

It is because of the depth and breadth of this interest that Joe began, along with his first wife Louise more than thirty-five years ago, to collect letters, diaries, logbooks, newspaper articles and any other material relating to the sea captains of Chatham. With the encouragement and assistance of his present wife Geraldine, Joe devoted the past several years to reviewing, selecting and organizing the particular documents that have become the body of this magnificent work.

The result of those labors is this lively, readable, intriguing and fascinating account of the experiences of some of the sea captains represented in the Nickersonss wealth of documents. To read this book is the closest we in the twenty-first century can ever come to sailing the seas in the age of sail. We become acquainted with not only the grueling labors and the hardships faced by those who ply the seas, but also with the ingenuity and courage required of them. Moreover we come to understand the involvement of their families, whether waiting patientlyyet often fearfullyat home, or bracing the seas to be at the side of their men.

In this unique book we are given so many firsthand accounts of those experiences that we feel almost as if we know intimately the captains, their families and their crews. Beyond that, we learn about their social conditions and mores, as well as about their interaction with other societies throughout the world from their accounts of visits to Europe, South America, the South Seas, the Orient and Australia.

The Chatham Historical Society is indebted to Joe and Gerry Nickerson for making this superb work available to all who are interested in the history of our town and its people. It is indeed a valuable and important addition to the available accounts of our heritage.

Spencer Y. Grey

Chairman, Chatham Historical Society

ACKNOWLEDGEMENTS

Our book stems from thirty-five years of researchyears of intensive, single-minded activity on the part of Joe and his first wife, Louise. They sought information about Chatham master mariners, sea captains and even lesser mariners in libraries, vital records and old newspapers of the time, as well as through recollections of old-timers and their own contemporaries who remembered some of the old sea captains and their families. Their search took them to every available source on Cape Cod, in New England and beyond.

Chatham Sea Captains in the Age of Sail relies on the above research, but it is not intended to be an account of all the mariners who ever called Chatham their home. Rather, we wish to introduce you to a number of the more interesting shipmasters, who represent so many others. We hope these profiles will make them, and the age of sail, come alive today.

Joes sons, Joseph III and Steven, gave us valuable suggestions as to the content. Steven, Kenney, Robert and Peter guided me in my indoctrination into the briar patch of the computer world.

We also thank Joes daughters, Donna and Wendy, and the many friends who have encouraged and reassured us along the way.

First and foremost has been Spencer Y. Grey, longtime enthusiast for all things historical, who has been supportive of this project from its very beginning.

Rob Carlisle was generous with his time and advice at the outset of this writing.

Florine and Dwight Myer gave valuable assistance with research at the Atwood House Museum.

We extend our thanks to Mrs. James Hardy for photographs and to Robert Hardy for logs of his great-grandfather, Josiah Hardy.

The greatest assist, without which this project could never have seen the light of day, has been given us by Janet M. Daly, our editor and friend. It is her enthusiasm, expertise and her generous sharing of time and energy that have made this material into a book. Without Janet, we might still just be hoping to see these words in print!

Geraldine D. Nickerson

North Chatham, Massachusetts

October 2007

INTRODUCTION

Shipowners and merchants sought Chatham sea captains for their superior seamanship, integrity, resourcefulness and dependability. Their reputation went far beyond Cape Cod. The son of one eminent Boston owner/merchant is quoted thus:

When we still owned ships, so far as possible, we chose Chatham or Cape men as masters. The choice was based upon the confidence and belief in the character and ability of the men.

Fledgling sea captains grew up in a village where going to sea was a way of life. They learned respect for the sea as a force to be reckoned with, in good weather or badas the treacherous shoals surrounding Chathams harbors taught them only too well. The sea was both foe and ally. To meet the foe was the challenge; to sail her waters and return home as true masters was the force that drove them to excellence.