Packet Patrick Henry

Voyage June 23 - July 27, 1847

 

The New York Daily Tribune reports:

The packet ship PATRICK HENRY, [Joseph Clement] Delano, master, arrived at New York on 27 July 1847, from Liverpool 23 June, with merchandise and 19 cabin and 300 steerage passengers, to Grinnell, Minturn & Co.  "July 2, lat 49 15, lon 23 16, exchanged signals with ship Samuel Hicks, Bunker, hence, for Liverpool;  7th, lat 44 03, lon 39 15, passed Br[itish] bark Emigrant of Cork bound East;  14th, lat 42 20, lon 54 40, passed a ship steering West with a cross in her foretopsail."

 

The New York Herald reports:

Maritime Herald, Port of New York, July 28, Arrived. “Packet ship Patrick Henry, Delano, from Liverpool, 23^rd June, with Grinnell, Minturn &  Co.    25^th instant off Nantucket Shoals, saw packet ship Hottinguer, Bursley, hence for Liverpool. The P.H. has been 26 days westward of the Banks. In lat 43 13, lon 39 10, passed Br bark Emigrant, bound east.”

 

Passengers Arrived.

LIVERPOOL—Ship Patrick Henry—Captain H Tuckett and lady, G Ward, Mr Baker, Mr Ellison, Mr Allendier, Miss Jordin, Mr Fowler, Messrs Morgan, Culbertson, McGlashan, Ashton, Connell, Miss Hey, Miss Lator, Master Ward, Mr Atkinson, Mr Abraham, and 288 in the steerage.

 

Arrival of Strangers in New York.

July 27 

Astor House. Capt. Delano-ship Patrick Henry

 

Other occurrences July 27: Passengers Arrived. London-Ship Westminster; Londonderry-Brig Phillip Hone; Rio Janeiro-Ship Firmeza; Charleston-Steamship Southerner. “Ship Rosicuis, for Liverpool, remains at achor at SW spit.”

 

Foreign Importations.

LIVERPOOL—Ship Patrick Henry—32 cse mdse J Gihon & c—8 cks J Gill—100 bxs tin J M Bruce & son—11 bales Cameron & Bland—38 Beals, Bush & co—3 J A Underwood—16 Riggs, Jenkins & co—2 J & J Stewart & co—8 T Jones & co—1 Wickham & Hutchinson—1 Parmalee, Rogers & co—1 J W Harris—1 Smith, Torrey & co—3 H Farsham & co—15 W Redmond—18 bdls iron J S Bruce—302 bars D W Wilson & co—5 ca J Falconer & co—17 H Blackburn—1 N Ludlam—8 Nevius & co—1 J Brown—1 Russell & Marsh—1 T Lownds—13 J Robinson & co—13 Godfry, Pattison & co—2 C J Brown & co—5 Walker & Bros—5 Smith, Thurgar & co—7 W M Titus—1 F S & S A Martin—6 cs 2 bales Hughes, Ward & co—1 cs G Hastings & co—1 A Armstrong & son—3 D Haddon & son—9 ca 3 bales Paton & co—7 cs M J Duffey—120 bars iron 303 bdls Jo D M Wilson—712 bars 61 bdls Rogers, Ketchum& co—2 cases J Ryle—2 H Jessup—7 J Hudson—1 cask R S Stanton—1 E R Mann—50 Wight, Sturgis & Shaw—3 J Stewart & co—1 J W P Lewis—37 bdls steel 1 cask E Clark & co—41 Graydon & Swanwick—3 J Graydon—100 tons lead 1 box 1 pel D Coldon—63 cs 2 bs Reiss, Bros & co—2 cks Walshy & Mallory—1 cs 2 cks Coffin, Bradley & co—15 ca 1 bale McCall & Strong—7 cs 2 bs C Buckingham—2 C W Field & co—5 Lee & Case—1 Adriance, Strang & co—3 ca 3 bs A R Eno—1 cs W M Loomis & co—4 bs F S & D Lathrop—20 cs 1 bale D Oakey & co—27 ca J & J Stowart & co—1 Elliman & Bros—37 do 2 bs Butterfield, Bros & co—1 G Hollman—14 A Mitchell & co—27 cs 2 bs Huot Bros—18 Watt & Sherman—11 W Benjamin—1 Stanton & Barnes—2 cks F Leisse—9 ca Stanton, Kaapp & Woodruff—1 Blackwell, Whetmore & co—1 Manning & Pritchard—1 G Hunt—19 cs F Marriot & son—737 bars iron E Atwater—73 ca S Cooks—10 cs Wolfe & Gillispie—347 bxs Wight, Sturges & Shaw—1 cks F Tomes & son—1 Barton & co—23 cs Sands, Fuller & co—6 E S Clark—35 R L Crook—1 Ludwig, Goldschmidt & co—186 bars 160 bdls iron E Clark & co—3 bdls F Hart & co—9 W B Bond—2 G Pierce & co—19 W Stevens—1 S & L Holmes—1 S Rosevelt—A S Stewart—15 Watts & Sherman—7 Benkard & Hutton—1 Bramnall, Abernathy & co—6 C W Churchman—3 L & V Kirby—1 J Conklin & co—1 Van Dusen, Jagger & co—13 Hall Bros & co—1 ck 1 cs H T Cooper—16 ca H Sheldon & co—1 M Thomas & co—1 W S Martin—2 T Lowndes—3 Spaulding, Thomas & co—3 Newstedt & Burnell—1 bdl 1 cs Hurlbut, Switzer & co—729 bars 400 bdls iron Kemeys, Sampson & co—1297 bars J H Abeel & co—383 bdls do Bleecker & Oothout—1 Lockhart, Gibens & co—27 cs 17 bdbls Phelps, Chittendon & Bliss—7 cs I bbl H Irvin—61 cs 354 bxs tin Phelps, Dodge & co—16 cs J C Petrio—2 F S Winston—2 bbls H Andrews—2 do Maitland, Phelps & co—1 J R Jaffray & sons—1 W H Smith & co—J N Alcot—2 R Ewing—3 cs 1 bbl J Kelly—11 cs 1 bale Russell & Marsh—11 ca Bancroft, Beaver & co—10 Atwater, Gould & co—5 do 1 bbl Halstead, Hains & co—36 Wight, Large & Lattemar—3 W Bradford & co—1 L B Curtis—10 do 1 bale Greenway, Henry & Smith—2 C Cope—1 Lewis & Farrman—1 Riuchards, Bassett & co—1 A Aruald—3 J Lefferts & co—4 G Taylor & sons—7 Clark, Southworth & co—9 Bancroft, Beaver & co—1 Brown, Seaver & Dunbar—1 Benedict & Rockwell—2 Jackson & Underhill—3 J B Worrell & son—5 A M & W N Strong—4 Austin, Shears & co—1 A H Mallory—2 bbls R N Timson & co—3 G W Betts—4 cs Mellvaine & Williams—3 Davis & Jones—5 J T Jones & co—1 bale 1 cs Van Duzen Jagger & co—3 Field & Merritt—3 do 2 bales Allen, Hazen & co—3 cs 2 bales Adriance, Straug & co—3 H Bayli—25 Robbins, Hill & co—3 Bramhall, Abernethy & Collins—4 Updyke & Hall—75 bdls bags Grinnell, Minturn & co—2 bales 4 cs Stone, Swan & co—6 E J Brown & co—18 bales Watton, Johnson & co—226 cs 8 bales 2 crates 78 pkgs to order.[1]

 

The PATRICK HENRY was a 3-masted, square-rigged sailing ship built at New York by Brown & Bell in 1839, and registered at New York on 6 November 1839.  880/905 tons (old/new measurement);  159 ft x 34 ft 10 in x 21 ft 10 in (length x beam x depth of hold);  2 decks;  draft 18 ft.  Ownership

(1851):  Henry Grinnell (3/16), Moses H. Grinnell and Robert B. Minturn (8/16), Capt. Sheldon G. Hubbard (1/16), Capt. Joseph Rogers (2/16), Capt. Joseph C. Delano (2/16).  She sailed in Grinnell, Minturn & Co's Blue Swallowtail Line of packets between New York and Liverpool from 1839 until

1852, during which period her westward passages averaged 34 days, her shortest passage being 22 days, her longest 46 days. In 1852, she was transferred to Grinnell, Minturn & Co's Red Swallowtail Line of packets between New York and London, in which she sailed until she was "sold British" in 1864;  during this time her westbound passages averaged 32 days, her shortest passage being 26 days, her longest 41 days. [2]

 

 

Captain Joseph Clement Delano Sr., Esq.
9 Jan 1796 - 16 Oct 1886

 

The master of the PATRICK HENRY on the above passage was Joseph Clement Delano (1796-1886), born in New Bedford, whose paternal uncle was great grandfather of President Franklin Delano Roosevelt. 

 

Delano began his packet service in the London Red Swallowtail Line, as master of the COLUMBIA, in

1826; in 1830, he established westbound speed record of 15 days, 18 hours from Portsmouth to Sandy Hook, a record that stood for 16 years. In 1833, he transferred to the Liverpool Blue Swallowtail Line, first as master of the ROSCOE, and from 1839 of the PATRICK HENRY.

 

He retired from the sea in about 1848 (although he commanded the PATRICK HENRY on one passage in 1849), and returned to New Bedford, where he had in 1847 become one of the original directors of Wamsutta Mills, first cotton mills established at New Bedford by Joseph Grinnell.  He later became president of the New Bedford Port Society. 

 

He was a favorite with the passengers (seasoned travelers often chose the vessel on which they sailed by the name of the master), distinguished for his urbanity as well as for fast passages.[3]

 

“A fine figure he was,” remembers Captain Nye, “mutton chop whiskers, a closely cropped beard and mustache, a white stock at his throat, and often a Panama type hat. His suit, in summer, was of Shantung silk from China. He sat on his sorrel horse straight as a ramrod, holding in one hand a Shantung silk umbrella lined with green. Rain or shine, the umbrella was up to protect him from the weather. Everyday, barring blizzards, Captain Delano would trot down to the little tavern; remain outside on his horse until the tavern keeper brought him his customary rum. Delano would hold the drink in one hand and the umbrella in the other, and after finishing his liquor, would pay for it and trot off on his sorrel, still clutching the open green-lined umbrella.”[4]

 

Protected by waist high bulkheads painted green on the inside, the PATRICK HENRY and ships of its class had clear decks save for “the stern where, wheel in hand and binnacle containing the compass before him, stands the helmsman. Forward are two hatches for cargo with the ship's boat on top. Around the boat stand our future meals-- a milk cow, pigs, ducks, hens and sheep!

 

We know that 'Tween decks,' at the bow, is the forecastle. In the center section, if there is no fine freight, huddle steerage passengers. It is not a happy sight to look down on them because there, crowded in a common dormitory for 38 days, each cooks his fast dwindling supply of food.

 

If our ship has one bath, it is in the cabin section. The steerage passengers' bath at best may be a bucket of icy seawater, dashed over them on deck. Perhaps the plague breaks out and no Doctor is on board. The ship's Captain does what he can but that is little. Below is the usual hold for bulkier freight.”

 

Toward the ship's stern is a stairway leading down to the 'Tween Decks.' A great halt forty feet long spreads out before us. Here are handsome mahogany tables with sofas on each side, carved pillars, sometimes mahogany, sometimes cream colored ornamented with gold.

 

Rich crimson or gold and white draperies catch the eye. On either side are staterooms, each about eight feet square, with latticed window and door, the upper half of which also is latticed to admit air. Bird's- eye maple woodwork inlaid with curiously grained woods is polished to satiny finish.[5]

 

Links

Article, 1833

Ships mentioned: packets Roscoe, Patrick Henry, and Queen of the West, Grinnell, Minturn & Co's Red Swallowtail Line

http://www.delanoye.org/Primary/Newcomen.html

 

J C Delano Letters, 1812-1818

http://www.delanoye.org/JCD/

 

 

VOYAGES OF THE PACKET PATRICK HENRY

LIVERPOOL TO NEW YORK (except where noted; bolded are ISTG passenger lists)

 

Arrival Date Captain

1. 2/1/1840                 DELANO, JOSEPH C
2. 5/27/1840               DELANO, JOSEPH C
3. 9/27/1840               DELANO, JOSEPH C
4. 1/16/1841               DELANO, JOSEPH C
5. 5/24/1841               DELANO, JOSEPH C
6. 9/24/1841               DELANO, JOSEPH C
7. 2/3/1842                 DELANO, JOSEPH C
8. 5/28/1842               DELANO, JOSEPH C
9. 9/24/1842               DELANO, JOSEPH C
10. 2/4/1843                 DELANO, JOSEPH C
11. 5/23/1843               DELANO, JOSEPH C
12. 9/22/1843               DELANO, JOSEPH C
13. 1/25/1844               DELANO, JOSEPH C
14. 5/27/1844               DELANO, JOSEPH C
15. 9/16/1844               DELANO, JOSEPH C
16. 1/9/1845                 DELANO, JOSEPH C
17. 4/24/1845               DELANO, JOSEPH C
18. 8/21/1845               DELANO, JOSEPH C
19. 12/26/1845             DELANO, JOHN A
20. 4/25/1846               DELANO, JOHN A
21. 7/31/1846               DELANO, JOHN A
22. 11/20/1846           DELANO, JOHN A
23. 4/5/1847                 DELANO, JOSEPH C
24. 7/27/1847             DELANO, JOSEPH C
25. 12/1/1847               DELANO, JOSEPH C
26. 4/3/1848                 DELANO, JOSEPH C
27. 7/24/1848               DELANO, JOHN A
28. 11/20/1848             DELANO, JOHN A
29. 3/31/1849               DELANO, JOHN A
30. 8/8/1849                 DELANO, JOSEPH C
31. 12/5/1849               GORDON, ROBERT
32. 4/8/1850                 GORDON, ROBERT
33. 7/24/1850               GORDON, ROBERT
34. 8/8/1850                 HEWES, WILLIAM             BELFAST
35. 11/6/1850               GORDON, ROBERT
36. 3/26/1856               OWEN, PETER                     LONDON
37. 8/22/1856               GIFFORD, THOMAS H      LONDON
38. 11/3/1851             MULLAND, J E                    LONDON
39. 12/12/1863           ROBINSON, HENRY

List courtesy of Peg and John Faludi

 

By Michael Carolan

mcarolan@charter.net

c. 2005