Hello!
I am writing a poem about the Gloucester Fisherman’s Memorial, and I have located on the web an excerpt from some Gloucester 1879 newspaper that reports (on 12/24/1879) the loss of the schooner I’m writing about. I am trying to determine which newspaper originally published this excerpt.
The website notes that its sources include Gloucester Telegraph, the Cape Ann Advertiser, and the Gloucester Daily Times, but it does not specify the particular source for each excerpt. It appears the Gloucester Telegraph ceased publication before 1879, and an initial look at Gloucester Times does not yield anything.
I’m curious if you might have any ideas or leads?
This is the link to the excerpt: https://www.downtosea.com/1876-1900/harveyc.htm
(I was a grad student living in Beverly in 2019-2020, and made weekend trips to Gloucester where I was inspired to start this poem. I’m a New England native (born/raised in New Haven CT; my parents now live on Cape Cod) but have transplanted to St. Louis MO. This poem (and others) keeps me close to my roots.)
Thank you!
Bryan Pannill
Good Morning Gloucester 
Hello Bryan:
In my copy of Proctor’s “Fishermen’s Own Book – 1882” – Pg 77, George noted of 1879:
“This was the most disastrous year ever experienced in the Gloucester fisheries, so far as loss of life is concerned, although the number of vessels lost was less than in 1873. In 1879, 249 Gloucester fishermen sailed from port never to return. Th number of vessels lost was 29.”
and on page 80:
“Sch. HARVEY C. MACKAY, 64.77 tons, owned by William Parsons, 2d, & Co., lost on a Bank codfishing trip in October. Value, $3,595 ; insurance, $3,071. Crew list—Frank Nolan, master; George Holly, W. H. Bartlett, William Higgins, Charles W. Hunt, Everett Campbell, Augustus Campbell, Frank Crowell, Frank Hobbs, and a young man named Morton.” – the names don’t align 100% with the webpage you cited, but I’d tend to go with Proctor’s account.
The ship was listed in the 1878 Gloucester ship directory I have and the numbers and details match up.
Good luck,
Tommy Carbone – author of the historical fiction novel “Avenging the Edward A. Horton,” the schooner with several ballads written and one wicked-cool, recent rendition done by the Mallett Brothers Band.
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Gloucester’s Sawyer Free Library added a Digital Heritage Collection that focuses on Gloucester History. See: https://omeka-s.noblenet.org/s/gloucester/page/welcome The librarian in charge of local history would be a great resource.
You might also contact The Archives of Gloucester : https://www.gloucester-ma.gov/72/Archives – It is a volunteer organizations overseen by some knowledgeable volunteers. Best of luck!
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Hello Bryan:
In my copy of Proctor’s “Fishermen’s Own Book – 1882” – Pg 77, George noted of 1879:
“This was the most disastrous year ever experienced in the Gloucester fisheries, so far as loss of life is concerned, although the number of vessels lost was less than in 1873. In 1879, 249 Gloucester fishermen sailed from port never to return. Th number of vessels lost was 29.”
and on page 80:
“Sch. HARVEY C. MACKAY, 64.77 tons, owned by William Parsons, 2d, & Co., lost on a Bank codfishing trip in October. Value, $3,595 ; insurance, $3,071. Crew list—Frank Nolan, master; George Holly, W. H. Bartlett, William Higgins, Charles W. Hunt, Everett Campbell, Augustus Campbell, Frank Crowell, Frank Hobbs, and a young man named Morton.” – the names don’t align 100% with the webpage you cited, but I’d tend to go with Proctor’s account.
The ship was listed in the 1878 Gloucester ship directory I have and the numbers and details match up.
Good luck,
Tommy Carbone – author of the historical fiction novel “Avenging the Edward A. Horton,” the schooner with several ballads written and one wicked-cool, recent rendition done by the Mallett Brothers Band.
LikeLike