1 Reply Latest reply on Feb 23, 2021 10:19 AM by Ceri McCarron

    Seeking records about Schooner Charles S

    Martin Bollinger Newbie
    Martin Bollinger Feb 13, 2021 1:46 PM

      I'm trying to track down information on a schooner by the name of Charles S.  (That's it -- nothing after the "S".)  It was operating on the Chesapeake, Potomac and Delaware rivers in the late 1850s and early 1860s carrying general cargo, including at least one specific instance of coal as cargo.  I can find no reference to this vessel in the Merchant Vessels of the United States for 1867. Perhaps it was out of service by then. It does not appear in Lloyd's Register in the 1850s, most likely because it never left coastal waters in the Mid-Atlantic area. A general search of old newspapers finds only four references (ship arrivals, clearances, departures) for the period 1858 to 1861. What I'd like to find is the date of construction, shipyard where it was built, and ultimate fate. Any help is greatly appreciated.

        • Re: Seeking records about Schooner Charles S
          Ceri McCarron Adventurer
          Ceri McCarron Expert Feb 23, 2021 10:19 AM (in response to Martin Bollinger)

          Dear Mr. Bollinger,

           

          Thank you for posting your request on History Hub!

           

          We searched the National Archives Catalog and located 10 series in the Records of the Bureau of Marine Inspection and Navigation (Record Group 41) that pertain to vessels and Baltimore during the 1850s and 1860s. For more about these records, please contact the National Archives at Washington, DC - Textual Reference (RDT1) at archives1reference@nara.gov.

           

          Several of these series were microfilmed as National Archives Microfilm Publication No. M1873:  Selected Vessel Documents Issued for Merchant Vessels at Baltimore, Maryland, 1789-1912 (11 rolls). Additional information is available on NARA’s web page titled Vessel Documents.

           

          Due to the COVID-19 pandemic and pursuant to guidance received from the Office of Management and Budget (OMB), NARA has adjusted its normal operations to balance the need of completing its mission-critical work while also adhering to the recommended social distancing for the safety of NARA staff. As a result of this re-prioritization of activities, you may experience a delay in receiving an initial acknowledgement as well as a substantive response to your reference request from RDT1. We apologize for this inconvenience and appreciate your understanding and patience.

           

          We also suggest that you contact the Historical Society of Maryland.

           

          We hope this is helpful. Best of luck with your research!