The Sick And The Destitute Seaman.

I have read a lot of reports on ships being captured and their ship taken to a foreign, ports where some of the crew would be set free and have to defend for themselves, with nothing but the clothes on their backs. I know a lot of seamen from the American made it back, but how? Many would catch another ship and work for they fair back home. But I wondered about those that were to sick or couldn’t find a ship, so how did they make it back home.

I found that there was a law passed on July 16, 1798, that made it possible for any merchant seamen to go before the United States consul in any foreign country and ask for help to get back home. At first this law was for the merchant seaman, who would have to show they were Americans and to sick, or destitute to find work on a ship as to work they way home. Then on March 2, 1799, this law was extended to all navy and marine seamen. Now I won’t into all the ins out outs of the law, but for those of you who want to know how this was paid for, it was paid for by a tax on all seamen when they entered the port of New York, this I understand was the port of entry into the United States, all merchant seaman were taxed 25, cents per man, per month, and all navy men and marines were taxes 10, cents per man, per month. This tax was put into a government fund.

However this page is not about the seaman but the ships that took them home. I know there are a lot of families looking for ancestor that was a masters of a ( merchant ) ship or the name of it, or they may know both but don’t what part of the sea or what year, for this reason this page may be a great help to them. The years cover here will be 1818-1820.

Note. This information comes from the Department of Commerce and Navigation, 1815-1823, Volume 2, p. 620.

1818.

1. Randall McDonald, master of the brig Sally, two seamen from Amsterdam-$20.

2. James Birkett, master of the ship Liverpool Packet, two seamen from Liverpool to Philadelphia-$20.

3. James & Thomas H. Perkins, owners of the brig Adriana, one seaman from Gibraltar to Boston-$10.

4. William Prior, master of the ship Francis, one seaman from Amsterdam to Philadelphia-$10.

Note. The United States would not pay no more the ten dollars per man.

5. John B. Murray & son, owners of the brig Alfred, two seamen, from Leghorn to New York-$20.

6. Jacob Shuster, master of the ship Oliver Ellsworth, from London to Petersburg-$10.

7. Aaron Foyles, master of the brig James Monroe, one seaman from Cadiz to Georgetown-$10.

8. Samuel Emery, master of the brig Rebecca, two seamen from St. Pierre to Boston-$20.

9. John A. Parker, owner of the ship Mercator, three seamen from Bristol to Boston-$30.

10. Richard Soule, master of the brig Adriana, one seamen from Antwerp to Boston-$10.

11. Taylor & Talbott, owners of brig Dlophin, one seaman from Gottenberg to Providence-$10.

12. Tobias Lord, owner of the brig Confidence, eight seamen from Martinique to Boston-$80.

13. Wilson Sawyer, owner of the Schooner Providence, fourteen seamen from St. Jago de Cuba to Charleston-$140.

14. William Goodwin, master of the brig Julia & Mary, six seamen from Cadiz to Elizabeth City-$60.

15. B. W. Rogers, owners of the ship Chauncey, nine seamen from Bristol to New York-$90.

16. Abraham Bunkear, master of the ship Richard & Margaret, five seamen Bristol to New York-$50.

17. John Davenport, owner of brig Ruby, three seamen from Martinique to Boston-$30.

18. John Graves, master of the brig Swanwick, four seamen from Antwerp and Cork to Philadelphia-$30.

19. William Markley, master of the brig Cumberland, one seaman from St. Thomas to Alexandria-$10.

20. George Rollins, master of the Schooner Revenge, two seamen from St. Thomas to Norfolk-$20.

21. John Hilliard, master of the ship Iris, four seamen from Gottenberg to Boston-$40.

22. L. D. Morant, master & owner of the Schooner Fish, Twelve seamen from Campeachy to New Orleans including stores-$304.63

23. William C. Nye, master of the brig Indian Chief, two seamen from Lisbon to New Bedford-$20.

24. George Copeland, master of the Schooner Country’s Wonder; Zephaniah Butler, master of the Sloop Morning Star; and William Day, master of the ship Coromandel, three seamen from St. Thomas and Liverpool to Philadelphia-$30.

25. Loring Cunningham, & Co., owners of the brig Buelah, one seamen from Leghorn to Boston-$10.

26. Alexander Rutherford, master of the Schooner Emeline, two seamen from St. Thomas to Georgetown D. C.-$20.

27. Captains, Cromwell, Murphy, Watson, Chandler, Hart, Storer and Burroughs
Masters of unknown Ships seventeen seamen from Sunday places to Balitmore-$170.

28. Joseph Seward, master of the ship Constitution one seamen from London to Norfolk-$10.

29. Stephen Singleton, for the board medical aid &c. of a seamen at the Island of Teneriffe-$20. Also master of the brig Edward three seamen from Liverpool to Philadelphia-$30.

30. Thomas Ryan, master of the Schooner Mermaid two seamen from St. Thomas to Boston-$20.

31. William Fales, six seamen from Martinique, Bristol to Bristol Rhode Island and New York-$60.

32. Ripley Center and Co., owners of the ship Athens four seamen from Nantes and New York-$40.

33. Samuel Train, owner of the brig Hazard one seamen from Cape de Verd Islands to Boston-$10.

34. Charles Hall, master of the ship Importer One seamen from Liverpool to Boston-$10.

35. Captains, Pitt, Gibbs, Mortimer, Hancock, Harding, Harris and Briscoe masters of unknown vessels nineteen seamen from Sunday places to Baltimore-$190.

36. Joseph Marquand, four seamen from Gibraltar and Cadiz to Newburyport-$40.

37. George W. Karthus & Co. owners of the ship Philip seven seamen from Hamburgh to Baltimore-$70.

38. P. A. Guestier, owner of the ship Ea. Six seamen from Bordeaux to Baltimore-$60.

39. J. Jordan, master of the Schooner Two Sisters one seamen from Martinique to Boston-$10.

40. Thomas B. Wales, owner of the brig Boston two seamen from Cadiz to Boston-$20.

41. William R. Russell, master of the Schooner Ann two seamen from Martinique to Boston-$20.

42. John H. Callaghan, master of the brig Elizabeth one seaman from Rotterdam to Norfolk-$10.

43. George W. Steinhaure, master of the ship Brandt one seamen from Rochelle To Philadelphia-$10.

44. John Holland, owner of the brig Ant two seamen from Cork to Boston-$20.

45. Charles Winslow, master of the brig Alexander one seaman from Cork to Norfolk-$10.

46. N. Bristol, master of the ship Niagara three seamen from Lisbon to Tappahannock-$30.

47. James Dixon, master of the ship Suspense and Benjamin Bartholomew’s master of the brig Ocean two seamen from Cork and Leghorn to Philadelphia-$20.

48. Edward Rumney, master of the Schooner Adeline one seamen from Gibraltar To Alexandria-$10.

49. Aaron C. White, master of the brig General Gates twelve seamen from Bonavista to New Bedford-$120.

50. Morris Adams, master of the ship Elizabeth one seamen form Havre to Philadelphia-$10.

51. James Spalding, master of the ship Bristol Trader two seamen from Bristol to Boston-$20.

52. Elijah Beall, master of the brig Calypso for passage, clothing and provisions of three seamen from St Croix to Boston-$60.

53. Henry H. Kennedy, master of the brig Wilmot one seamen from Rotterdam to Philadelphia-$10.

54. William Furlong, master of the brig Mary ten seamen from St. Bartholomew’s to Baltimore-$100.

55. William Haille, master of the Sloop First Attempt four seamen from Aux Cayes to Baltimore-$40.

56. John Campbell, master of the brig Mary two seamen from Bristol to Philadelphia-$20.

57. Eleazer Gay, master of the Catharine two seamen from Bristol to Boston-$20.

58. John Ward, master of the brig Commerce two seamen from Liverpool and Cadiz To Newburyport-$20.

59. Ingersoll & Dodd. Owners of the brig Golden Grove one seaman from Lisbon to Boston.

60. John Baxter, master of the ship William one seaman from Lisbon to Alexandria-$10.

61. Samuel Perry, master of the brig John Burgoyne one seaman from leghorn to Philadelphia-$10.

62. James Pitts, master of the Schooner Freetown one seaman from Lisbon to Boston-$10.

63. Oliver Hilliard, master of the Schooner Alert one seamen from St. Thomas to New York-$10.

64. Samuel Eames, master of the brig Sally one seamen from Lisbon to Boston-$10.

65. Abraham Pastorious, master of the brig Rising Sun one seamen from Gibraltar to Philadelphia-$10.

66. Nathaniel Corey, master of the brig Frederick two seamen from Gibraltar to Philadelphia-$10.

67. Thomas Kittson, master of the brig Florenzo one seamen from Cadiz to Philadelphia-$10.

68. Lewis Haven & Co. owners of the Schooner Dover one seamen from Rotterdam to Philadelphia-$10.

1819.

69. Seth Allen, master of the brig Leader one seaman from Antwerp to New York-$10.

70. Lawrence Crawford, master of the ship Bristol Trader one seaman from Bristol to Boston-$10.

71. John Odam, master of the ship Cumberland two seamen from Liverpool to Norfolk and the other from Lisbon to Philadelphia-$20.

72. John Stinman, master of the Schooner Mars one seaman from Port au Prince to New York-$10.

73. Robert B. Edes, master of the ship Sally Ann one seaman from Smyrna To Boston-$10.

74. Beverly Chew, collector of the customs at New Orleans eleven seamen from Cadiz, Lisbon, Gibraltar, Bristol and New Orleans.

75. Bendedict Dayton, master of the Schooner Tassell one seaman from Lisbon to Newport.

76. Elijah Bangs, master of the Schooner Sail or Boy one seaman from Rotterdam to Philadelphia-$10.

77. Charles & Peter Wirgmsn, owners of the ship Leda two seamen from St. Ubes to Baltimore-$20.

78. Ammi R. Smith, master of the brig Plant two seamen from Hamburgh to New York-$20.

79. William Blackmar, master of the brig Hazard two seamen from Cape de Verd Islands to Boston-$20.

80. Stephen Singleton, master of the ship Ruth one seaman from Portugal to Philadelphia-$10.

81. Alexander Semmes, master of the Schooner James Madison eight seamen from Bermuda to Norfolk-$80.

82. George Campbell, master of the brig Packet one seaman from Portugal to Newburyport-$10.

83. Ezekiel Carmen, master of the Big Olive three seamen from Antwerp to New York-$30.
84. William Kempton, master of the brig Wanderer one seaman from Malaga to Boston-$10.

85. Clement Martin, master of the brig Transit three seamen from Hamburgh to New York-$30.

86. William Warner, master of the brig Despatch two seamen from Lisbon to Boston-$20.

87. George Banks, collector of the port of Tappahannock three seamen from Lisbon to Tappahannock-$30.

88. Lewis Hinchman, master of the brig Sally two seamen from Hamburgh to New Orleans-$20.

89. David Low Jr., master of the brig Garland three seamen from St. Petersburg to Boston-$30.

90. Luther Lincoln, master of the Schooner America two seamen from Martinique and Gibraltar to Boston-$20.

91. Joseph Marquand, collector of the customs at Newburyport two seamen from Cronstadt to Newburyport-$20.

92. Jonas Jones, master of the brig Indian Chief two seamen from Santa Cruz to New York-$20.

93. Richard Gorward, master of the ship Magnet one seaman from Marseilles to Philadelphia-$10.

94. Henry Fuller master of the brig Juno two seamen from Pernambuco to Philadelphia-$20.

95. Joshua Orme, master of the brig Swift one seaman from Rio de Janeiro to New York-$10.

96. Joseph Warner, master of the brig Manufactor one seaman from Hamburgh to Philadelphia-$10.

97. Thomas Buckley, master of the Schooner Wasp four seamen from Porto Rico to Baltimore-$40.

98. Nathaniel Winson Jr., master of the Schooner Elizabeth and Mary one seaman from Rotterdam to Boston-$10.

99. Robert Hamilton, master of the Schooner Independence four seamen from St. Thomas to Baltimore-$40.

100. J. Covington, master of the brig Minerva one seaman from Marseilles to Baltimore-$10.

101. Adam Baush, master of the brig Free Ocean two seamen from Leghorn to Philadelphia-$20

102. A Atwood, master of the ship Sarah one seaman from Copenhagen to Boston-$10.

103. John Hamilton, master of the brig Fame one seaman from Malaga to New York-$10.

1820.

104. Thomas Boyle, master of the brig Eros six seaman from St. Bartholomew’s to Baltimore-$60.

105. James Phillips, master of the brig Amazon two seamen from St. Bartholomew’s to Baltimore-$20.

106. Richard Motley, master of the Schooner Washington three seamen from St. Croix to Boston-$30.

107. Andrew Southworth, master of the brig William Howland three seamen from Gibraltar to New York-$30.

108. James Spillman, master of the Schooner Emily two seamen from St. Jago de Cuba to Alexandria-$20.

109. John Collyer, master of the brig Horace two seamen from Antwerp to New Orleans-$20.

110. John Forrester, owner of the ship Ten Brothers two seamen from Antwerp to salem-$20.

111. G. R. Dowdall, mater of brig James one seaman from Bristol to New York-$10.

112. Joseph Howe, master of the brig Two Brothers two seamen from Nantes and Rotterdam to Boston-$20.

113. Adams & Amory, owners of the brig Syren eight seamen from Mocha to Boston-$80.

114. John Franciscus, owner of the brig Francis & Johnson two seamen from St. Eustatia to Baltimore-$20.

115. John Dodge, owner of the brig Becket one seamen from Buenus Ayres to Salem-$10.

116. Asahel Arnold, master of the ship Lucy Ann one seaman from Bordeaux to Charleston-$10.

117. James B. Lincoln, master of the ship Ann one seaman from Petersburg-$10.

118. Winthrop Luce, master of the brig Henrico one seaman from Netherlands to Boston-$10.

119. Elias Elwell Jr., master of the brig Fanny one seaman from Bergen to Gloucester-$10.

120. John Burgess Jr., master of the Schooner Dolphin two seamen from Bonavista to Plymouth Massachusetts-$20.

121. John Willett, owner of the Schooner Wasp four seamen from Proto Rico to Baltimore-$40.

122. Charles W. Karthus & Co., owners of the brig Temperance one from Lisbon to Baltimore-$10.

123. Henry Curtis, master of the ship Columbia three seamen from Bristol to New Haven-$30.

125. William Davis Jr., owner of the Schooner Grampus one seamen from Lisbon to Plymouth-$10.

126. Thomas Lunt, master of the ship Martha one seaman from St. Ubes to Portsmouth-$10.

127. William Williams, master of the brig Elizabeth three seamen from Leghorn to Petersburg-$30.

128. Nathaniel Mayhew, master of the brig Quill one seaman from Palermo to Boston-$10.

129. John Wootten, master of the Schooner Major Croghan one seaman from Rotterdam to Norfolk-$10.

130. Isaac Isaacs, master of the brig Farmer’s Fancy two seamen from Leghorn to Philadelphia-$20.

131. Stephen Smith, master of the ship William Penn one seaman from Amsterdam to Baltimore-$10.

132. E. Harris, master of the brig Harriet one seamen from St. Ubes to New York-$10.

133. Philip Besson, master of the brig Dido three seamen from Cadiz to Salem-$30.

134. William Gray, masters of the brigs Hope, Bee and Traveller four seamen from Cronstadt Lisbon and Amsterdam to Boston, New York and Baltimore-$40.

135. John Dillaway, late master of the brig Traveller one seaman from St. Thomas to Petersburg-$10.

136. Charles Wirgman, owner of the ship Dumfries two seamen from St. Ubes to Baltimore-$20.

137. Daniel Kurtz, master of the ship Columbia two seamen from Leghorn to Philadelphia-$20.

138. John Powell, master of the Schooner Sampson Two seamen from Aux Cayes to Baltimore-$20.