Searsport Maine

The area that is now Searsport was settled in the 1750s, and was incorporated as a separate town out of adjacent towns in 1845. From the 1790s its main village was a regional shipping and shipbuilding center. At its peak in the mid-19th century it had six full-time shipyards and numerous seasonal ones, and had achieved a reputation for providing captains for many seafaring vessels. The success of these businesses and men led to the development of a significant portion of the town center's commercial buildings

Source: Wikipedia
Web Site



Searsport, Maine, was famous for its master mariners. Over 500 merchant captains came from this small coastal town in the 19th and early 20th centuries. Considering that Searsport's population was only about 2,000 people at that time, it was remarkable that so many master mariners called it home. Twenty or so families predominated: grandfathers, fathers, sons, sons-in-law, brothers, and cousins following the tradition of making their living on deep water. Often they married daughters or sisters of other captains. According to Robert B. Applebee, past Penobscot Marine Museum Historian (in Searsport Sea Captains, by Col. Frederick Black): "Searsport furnished more masters to the square mile than any other community in the United States." The "captains' book" includes, among others, multiple captains named Blanchard (16), Carver (24), Colcord (16), Curtis (12), Colson (9), Gilkey (15), Griffin (15), McGilvery (8), Merithew (8), Nichols/Nickels (40), Park (28), Pendleton (24), and many others.

Source: Penobscot Marine Museum
Web Site



Note:
This site will be set up when I have more time.
Suggestions are welcome.
alex@searsport.net