The Nehemiah Gibson


The Barque Nehemiah Gibson was built in September of 1868 and launched on Wednesday, September 16 of that year in East Boston. It was built by Curtis and Smith and was owned by Nehemiah Gibson. It had 2 decks and was made of Oak and Yellow Pine with Copper and Iron fastenings. It was a medium ship with dimensions of 147x32x19; a draft of 20 feet and a weight of 741 tons. 

Masters:

  • Captain Adam S. Smalley (1869-1874)
  • Captain Daniel Bradford (1876-1882)
  • Captain Fred C. Bailey (1882-1890)
  • Captain Ezra B. Risley (1891-1893)

Nehemiah Gibson sold the ship to Sylvanus Smith about 1881. 

The Nehemiah Gibson was lost off the coast of Brazil in 1892. 


An Article about the launch of the Nehemiah Gibson in 1868 from East Boston.

The Launch of the Nehemiah Gibson

An article about the wreck of the Nehemiah Gibson in 1892 off Brazil.

Shipwrecked And Robbed - Experiences of the Nehemiah Gibson's Crew on the Brazilian Coast from the Bangor [Maine] Daily Whig And Courier - 04 August 1892

The Nehemiah Gibson by unknown

Painting of the Barque Nehemiah Gibson under full sail. Maybe from one of the trips to Hong Kong.


Painting of the Barque Nehemiah Gibson Unknown Date Artist.jpg

Image provided by Captain Walker a descendant of Captain Fred Bailey one of the Masters of the ship.

Thank you Captain Walker for sharing and preserving this history of the ship!

The Nehemiah Gibson by G.F. Gregory

In 1869 - G.F. (George Frederick) Gregory painted a set of watercolors of the Bark Nehemiah Gibson. One was of the American Barque under full sails in calm waters and a second with shortened sails in a gale (two Gouache/Watercolour pictures – a pair) – each 41 x 58 cm – signed, inscribed "Melbourne" and dated – good condition - American Collection.

(from http://www.fineartemporium.com/se-Gregory-GF.htm)

Painting of the Nehemiah Gibson by G.F. Gregory

 

The Nehemiah Gibson by unknown

Bark Nehemiah Gibson in Hong Kong Harbor, c. 1875.

Painting of the Barque Nehemiah Gibson sailing in Australian Waters done by G F Gregory

This image is from https://duxburyhistory.org/women_at_sea/helen-may-peterson-bailey

which is a page dedicated to Helen May Peterson Bailey who married Captain Fred C. Bailey with whom she sailed on the Nehemiah Gibson.

The Nehemiah Gibson in Australian waters

Here is a picture of the bow of the Nehemiah Gibson in port in Australia in the late 1800s.

https://collections.slsa.sa.gov.au/find/Nehemiah+Gibson

 

 

 

The Log


American Lloyd's Register of American and Foreign Shipping

from Mystic Seaport Museum

https://research.mysticseaport.org/indexes/ship-registers

https://research.mysticseaport.org/ships/?post_type=mystic_items


Lloyds

Lloyds

Newspaper Articles

The following is a list of references found in various Australian Newspapers (trove.nla.gov.au).

Link to a list of Nehemiah Gibson related articles in various Australian Newspapers - http://trove.nla.gov.au/list?id=47937

February 26, 1869 - The Nehemiah Gibson arrived at Melbourne from Boston

[BY ELECTRIC TELEGRAPH.] NEWCASTLE. (1869, February 27). Empire (Sydney, NSW : 1850 - 1875), p. 2. Retrieved November 30, 2013, from http://nla.gov.au/nla.news-article60832367

 LATEST NEWS.
(BY ELECTRIC TELEGRAPH.)
(PER Greville's Telegraphic Company,
Reuter's Agents.)
Queenscliff, This Day.
Arrived - Allahabad, ship from Liver-
pool; Victor, American bq; Nehemiah
Gibson, American bq, from Boston ; Ot-
tawa, bq, from Calcutta, for orders.

April 6, 1869 - The Nehemiah Gibson arrived at Newcastle from Melbourne.

SHIPPING AND WEATHER INTELLIGENCE. (1869, April 8). The Maitland Mercury & Hunter River General Advertiser (NSW : 1843 - 1893), p. 3. Retrieved November 30, 2013, from http://nla.gov.au/nla.news-article18736220

[BY ELECTRIC TELEGRAPH. NEWCASTLE. (1869, April 7). Empire (Sydney, NSW : 1850 - 1875), p. 2. Retrieved November 30, 2013, from http://nla.gov.au/nla.news-article60833535

 

April 6, 1869 - Advertisement in the newspaper declaring that the Captain (Smalley) will not be responsible for debts incurred by the crew while the ship is in port.

Advertising. (1869, April 13). The Newcastle Chronicle (NSW : 1866 - 1876), p. 1. Retrieved December 2, 2013, from http://nla.gov.au/nla.news-article111160501

 

April 21, 1869 - The Nehemiah Gibson was charging a rate of 32s 6d [s=Shillings and d=Pennies].

RATES OF FREIGHTS AND CHARTERS. (1869, April 21). Empire (Sydney, NSW : 1850 - 1875), p. 3. Retrieved November 30, 2013, from http://nla.gov.au/nla.news-article60833930

 

April 23, 1869 - The Nehemiah Gibson left for San Francisco from Newcastle with 1070 tons of coal.

DEPARTURES FROM NEWCASTLE. (1869, May 19). Empire (Sydney, NSW : 1850 - 1875), p. 3. Retrieved November 30, 2013, from http://nla.gov.au/nla.news-article60834740

SHIPPING AND WEATHER INTELLIGENCE. (1869, April 24). The Maitland Mercury & Hunter River General Advertiser (NSW : 1843 - 1893), p. 3. Retrieved November 30, 2013, from http://nla.gov.au/nla.news-article18736617

 

July 4, 1869 - The Nehemiah Gibson arrived in San Francisco from Newcastle - it took her 72 days to make the trip.

SHIPPING. (1869, September 14). Empire (Sydney, NSW : 1850 - 1875), p. 2. Retrieved December 1, 2013, from http://nla.gov.au/nla.news-article60894870

 

September 2, 1871 - The Barque Nehemiah Gibson was loading it's ship in New York and was heading for Adelaide, Melbourne, Dunedin

NEW YORK. (1871, October 20). The Sydney Morning Herald (NSW : 1842 - 1954), p. 4. Retrieved December 1, 2013, from http://nla.gov.au/nla.news-article13246862

 

September 24, 1871 - The Nehemiah Gibson was to set sail on Sept. 24, 1871

"A telegram dated New York, September 11, published by the News of the World, says: The Australian freight market remains quiet, there being few orders for goods received by late mails, except for kerosine, shipments of which are quite large for the season. The barque Nehemiah Gibson, to sail on the 24th, has engaged 8000 cases kerosine, in addition to the amount heretofore reported; also, 100 packages of tobacco"

Commercial Intelligence. (1871, October 28). The Queenslander (Brisbane, Qld. : 1866 - 1939), p. 4. Retrieved December 1, 2013, from http://nla.gov.au/nla.news-article27268219

 

September 26, 1871 - "The Nehemiah Gibson left New York for Melbourne on the 26th September. She has 7,000 cases oil for Adelaide, 9,500 cases for Melbourne ; also 389 cases tobacco, 1,000 cases maizena, and 88,000ft. lumber."

ARRIVAL OF THE CALIFORNIAN MAIL. (1871, November 14). The Argus (Melbourne, Vic. : 1848 - 1957), p. 6. Retrieved December 1, 2013, from http://nla.gov.au/nla.news-article5856978

 

January 24, 1872 - The Barque Nehemiah Gibson arrived in QueensCliff, Australia from New York City.

From The Sydney Morning Herald - January 25, 1872 - Page 7.

Found on http://trove.nla.gov.au

Additional information about Queenscliff Australia - http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Queenscliff,_Victoria

 

January 25, 1872 - The Barque Nehemiah Gibson arrived in Melbourne, Victoria,

Australia from New York City.

From The South Australian Advertiser - January 26, 1872 - Page 5.

Found on http://trove.nla.gov.au

 

June 14, 1872 - The Barque Nehemiah Gibson arrived in Hongkong from Newcastle.

From The Sydney Morning Herald - August 28, 1872 - Page 4.

Found on http://trove.nla.gov.au

 

February 11, 1875 - The Barque Nehemiah Gibson is projected to depart for Brisbane (from Syndey)

From The Syndey Morning Hearld - February 11, 1875 - Page 4.

Found on http://trove.nla.gov.au

 

February 14, 1875 - The Barque Nehemiah Gibson departed for Brisbane (from Syndey)

From The Syndey Morning Hearld - February 15, 1875 - Page 4.

Found on http://trove.nla.gov.au

 

June 15, 1878 - The Barque Nehemiah Gibson is projected to depart for Syndey from Adelaide

From The Syndey Morning Hearld - June 21, 1878 - Page 4.

Found on http://trove.nla.gov.au

 

July 27, 1878 - The Barque Nehemiah Gibson rec'd clearance to leave Syndey for Adelaide. (Captain Bradford)

From The Syndey Morning Hearld - July 27, 1878 - Page 4.

Found on http://trove.nla.gov.au

 

July 30, 1878 - The Barque Nehemiah Gibson is projected to depart for Adelaide (from Syndey)

From The Syndey Morning Hearld - July 30, 1878 - Page 4.

Found on http://trove.nla.gov.au

 

September 5, 1878 - [Electric Telegraph] The Barque Nehemiah Gibson arrived in Adelaide from Syndey.

From The Syndey Morning Hearld - September 6, 1878 - Page 4.

Found on http://trove.nla.gov.au

 

December 12, 1878 - The Barque Nehemiah Gibson was cleared for departure to Singapore via Newcastle

From The Syndey Morning Hearld - December 13, 1878 - Page 4.

Found on http://trove.nla.gov.au

 

December 13, 1878 - The Barque Nehemiah Gibson is projected to depart for Newcastle (from Syndey)

From The Syndey Morning Hearld - December 13, 1878 - Page 4.

Found on http://trove.nla.gov.au

 

January 4, 1879 - The Barque Nehemiah Gibson arrived in Hong Kong from Newcastle

From The South Australian Register - April 4, 1879 - Page 5.

From The South Australian Advertiser - April 4, 1879 - Page 5.

Found on http://trove.nla.gov.au

 

September 16, 1885 - The Barque Nehemiah Gibson arrived in Hongkong via Cooktown from New Castle (June 22)

From The South Australian Advertiser - October 21, 1885 - Page 4.

From The Syndey Morning Hearld - October 21, 1885 - Page 8.

Found on http://trove.nla.gov.au

 

The Nehemiah Gibson in Australia Waters - 17 December 1874

http://marinersandships.com.au/1874/12/043neh.htm

The Nehemiah Gibson in Australia Waters - 24 June 1878

http://marinersandships.com.au/1878/06/086neb.htm

The Nehemiah Gibson in Australia Waters - 11 November 1878

http://marinersandships.com.au/1878/11/035neh.htm


References: 

1 Mystic Seaport Museum

https://research.mysticseaport.org/indexes/ship-registers

https://research.mysticseaport.org/ships/?post_type=mystic_items