(Chapter flow:)
ITS ORIGIN AND TOWN LIMITS
TOWN LIMITS
GROWTH, CHANGE OF NAME, ETC.
MERCANTILE ASPECT
MANUFACTURING
TRADES ETC.
SHIPPING INTERESTS
EASTERN SHORE STEAMBOAT CO.
SHIP BUILDING ETC.
HOTELS, LIVERY STABLES, ETC.
PHYSICIANS
LAWYERS
POST OFFICE
PRINTING OFFICES
SOCIAL ASPECT, ETC.
MORAL ASPECT
TEMPERANCE CAUSE
SCHOOLS
CHURCHES
Note: In duplicating this material for publishing on The Pocomoke Public Eye we have made minor adjustments to correct some of the spelling, punctuation, etc. We believe the errors were not in Rev. Murray's original writing but occurred in the process of formatting the material to a digital format for viewing online.
SHIPPING INTERESTS.
The shipping trade was quite an extensive business in
the early history of New Town, though it was mostly on
the coast and to the West Indies. There were as many
vessels then, probably, as there are now sailing from New
Town, but of a different character. They were generally
of smaller capacity, were sharp built, holding a draft of
seven or eight feet of water, and were commanded by
captain and mate, and a regular crew before the mast.
These vessels would carry white oak, barrel and hogs-
head staves to the West Indies, which were sold for
remunerative prices, and on their homeward voyage
would bring molasses, sugar, coffee, West India rum,
tropical fruits and hard cash.
The Bay trade consisted of pine plank, sawed by hand
with the whipsaw, staves and laths which were riven,
cypress shingles, coopers ware and what corn could be
spared from home consumption, flaxseed, dried fruit,
feathers, rags, etc.
We have now eight large vessels sailing from Pocomoke
City which are engaged exclusively in the bay trade. One
and sometimes two steamboats plying between here and
the city and the railroad running daily to all parts north,
by which facilities we have daily access to all the cities,
doing an annual shipping business aggregating probably
the round sum of $500,000. It will, no doubt, be of
interest to the reader to see the names of those who were
probably their fathers and brothers, and who chose the life
of a sailor, recorded here.
I record from memory the following names of those who
were captains sailing from this place from 1820 to 1882
inclusive: Captains John W. Long, Fleet Shelton, Harry
Long, John Sturgis, James Riggin, Hezekiah Dorman,
Jacob Riggin, Parker Copes, Harry Burch, Herod Scott,
William H. Veasey, Samuel Fields, Steven Purnell, York
Baily, James H. Young, Thomas N. Williams, Robert
Henry, Isaac N. Veasey, William F. Veasey, Littleton N.
B. Long, Elijah Taylor, L. Thomas Williams, James T.
Young, John H. Clark, Thomas J. Veasey, Thomas Brit-
tingham and George Bailey, and no doubt there were
others whose names have escaped my memory. Some of
these were regular Tars, while others were engaged in the
bay trade. As I have already given a sketch of the history
of several of those I have named, there is one other man,
a sketch of whose history I desire to record, and that is
Captain Littleton N. B. Long who, when but a boy, left
his father's house, and this his native place, and went to
the City of Baltimore, and from there he engaged in a
seafaring life. Friendless and penniless, with nothing to
depend on but his native talent and energy with which to
make his mark. The sequel shows how well he did it.
Whether he engaged as cabin boy or not on board the
ship or brig I am not able to say, but one thing I can
say, he had a bright intellect and was ambitious to make a
man of himself. Obedient and industrious, he soon won
the sympathy and favor of the officers, and as circum-
stances would permit, with their instructions, he studied
navigation.
While a young man he took command of a ship; in a
short time after this he became owner or part owner of a
ship and continued in this relation for several years. He
finally retired from a seafaring life and purchased a farm
in Talbot County, Md., where he is living in independ-
ence and comfort, at the probable age of 55 years.
All honor to the New Town boys who thus make men
of themselves.
EASTERN SHORE STEAMBOAT CO.
The Eastern Shore Steamboat Company of Baltimore
being a very important factor in the commercial life of
Pocomoke City, it is but simple justice that a record of
its doings should have a prominent place in this History.
The Eastern Shore Steamboat Company of Baltimore
was incorporated September 16, 1869. The incorporators
were Samuel Harlan, Jr., John T. Gause and Nathaniel
R. Benson, of Wilmington, Del., Philip R. Clark, of
Baltimore, George R. Dennis and John W. Crisfield, of
Somerset County. Md., and W. J. S. Clarke, of Worcester
County, Md.
The capital stock of the Company at its organization
amounted to $160,000, with two steamers. At the present
period, 1882, the company owns three steamers, which
are running to the Eastern Shore, so that daily communi-
cation from the peninsula is had by one or other of its
steamers with the City of Baltimore. The Company has
now in course of building a much larger steamer, which is
to be named the Eastern Shore.
The Officers of the Company are: Samuel Harlan, Jr.,
President; J. T. Gause, Vice-President; N. R. Benson, J.
Upshur Dennis, John W. Crisfield, W. J. S. Clarke and P.
R. Clark, Directors; W. Thomson, Superintendent; P.
R. Clark, General Agent.
The names of the Steamers are, respectively: Steamer
Tangier, Captain S. H. Wilson; Steamer Helen, Captain
L. J. Smith; Steamer Maggie, Captain George A.
Raynor.
These steamers are superseding, in a great measure, the
sail vessels in carrying the produce of the Eastern Shore
to Baltimore. While they have first-class accommodation
for passengers in their saloons, state-rooms and cabins,
and the viands upon their tables are selected from the
best city markets.
The writer having traveled on all of these steamers can
say that the officers are polite and obliging, and passengers
may be sure of being treated as ladies and gentlemen.
Our youthful readers cannot realize the advantages of
steamboat travel to the same extent that some of us can,
whose memory goes back to the time when there was no
steamboat plying between Pocomoke City and Baltimore,
and when it would require, at certain seasons of the year,
two weeks or more for a sail vessel to make a trip from
Pocomoke City to Baltimore and return.
Whereas with the present facilities of travel the trip can
be made in thirty-nine hours, and gives you eleven hours
of that time to attend to business in the city. With these
facts before us we can see clearly that progress is march-
ing onward.
CONTINUES NEXT SATURDAY HERE AT THE POCOMOKE PUBLIC EYE.
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