James Llewellyn Smith

From Wikipedia, the free encyclopedia
James L. Smith
J. L. Smith.jpg
Captain James L. Smith, Boston Pilot.
Born(1850-05-22)May 22, 1850
Boston, Massachusetts, US
DiedOctober 1, 1906(1906-10-01) (aged 56)
Arlington, Massachusetts, US
NationalityAmerican
OccupationMaritime pilot
Spouse(s)Julia Kelly, Annie Christina Nye
Children1

James Llewellyn Smith (May 22 1850 – October 1, 1906) was a 19th-century American Boston maritime pilot. During his pilot service he served on the pilot boats Florence, Lillie, Hesper, and Varuna,. Smith was one of the oldest Boston pilots and was in the Boston pilot service for 25 years. He died on March 3, 1818, in Provincetown, Massachusetts.

Early life[]

James L. Smith was born in Bremen, Maine on November 22, 1850. His parents were Captain James Smith (1818-1878) and Catherine Richards (1828-1856). Smith was married to Julia Kelly on April 21, 1873 and to his second wife, Annie Christina Nye on July 6, 1879. Smith and Annie had one child.[1]

Career[]

Smith went to sea with his father when he was fourteen. His father was Master of the boat. They stayed at sea for a number of years before returning home.[2]

In 1869, he was joined the Boston Pilots' Association and was assigned the pilot boat Florence, No. 6, which was built in 1867 by Dennison J. Lawlor. The vessel had a reputation for being fast under sail.[2]

By 1876, he was transferred to the pilot boat Lillie, No. 8, which was constructed by Pierce, Montgomery & Howard from a half-model made by naval architect Dennison J. Lawlor of Chelsea, Massachusetts. Smith was the boatkeeper on the Lillie for five years. In December 1880, Smith received his commission as a pilot on the Lillie.[2]

Varuna, pilot boat.

Smith then moved to the pilot boat Hesper, No. 5, when she was built in October 1884. the Hesper was designed by Dennison J. Lawlor and built by the Howard & Montgomery shipyard in Chelsea.[2] On January 2, 1897, Captain Smith was on the Hesper when he brought in the Wilson Line steamer Chicago from Hull, England. He brought in the same ship, the same day the previous year in 1896. He stayed as a pilot on the Hesper until 1898.[3]

On June 22, 1899, Smith escorted the USS Massachusetts from the pilot boat Varuna, No. 4. When he was to board the USS New York, he slipped and fell climbing the ladder to the ship. This accident confined him to his house for six weeks.[4] The last boat he was attached to was the pilot boat Varuna. In December 1905, he retired from pilot service due to illness.[5]

On April 17, 1904, Captain Smith was listed in the Boston Globe along with 34 Boston pilots that were in the Boston Pilots' Association.[6]

Death[]

Captain Smith died, at age 55, at his home on October 1, 1906 in Arlington, Massachusetts. Funeral services were held at the Forest Hills' chapel at the Forest Hills Cemetery on October 4th.[7] A large group of family, pilots and shipping men attended.[5] 20 pilots followed the casket to the cemetery. Rev C. A. Littlefield officiated at the funeral. Pallbearers were from Smith's crew on the pilot boat Varuna, No. 4, which were Roswell Woodbury, Clifford McField, Thomas McLaughlin, and Harry Peterson. Those that attended were Boston pilot commissioner, Captain John C. Ross, Boston pilots, Captain William V. Abbott, Captain James Murdock, Captain Watson S. Dolliver, Captain Bruce McLean, Captain F. C. Lefray, and Captain George W. Lawlor.[8]

See also[]

References[]

  1. ^ "1900 US Census: Littleton, Middlesex, Massachusetts; Roll: 659; Page: 4A; Enumeration District: 0771; FHL microfilm: 1240659". Ancestry.com. Retrieved 2021-04-09.
  2. ^ a b c d "Boston Pilots. Men Who Are Familiar With the Harbor". The Boston Globe. Boston, Massachusetts. 22 Sep 1889. p. 24. Retrieved 2021-02-17.
  3. ^ "Along The Water Front". Boston Post. Boston, Massachusetts. 2 Jan 1897. p. 1. Retrieved 2021-04-29.
  4. ^ "Boston Pilots. Men Who Are Familiar With the Harbor". The Boston Globe. Boston, Massachusetts. 22 Jun 1899. p. 6. Retrieved 2021-04-29.
  5. ^ a b "Water Front Items". The Boston Globe. Boston, Massachusetts. 4 Oct 1906. p. 13. Retrieved 2021-04-29.
  6. ^ "Men Who Know The Way For Vessels In Boston Harbor As Well As Beaten Paths". The Boston Globe. Boston, Massachusetts. 17 Apr 1904. p. 55. Retrieved 2021-04-29.
  7. ^ "SMITH". The Boston Globe. Boston, Massachusetts. 3 Oct 1906. p. 13. Retrieved 2021-04-09.
  8. ^ "Capt J. L. Smith Buried. Twenty Pilots with Bared Heads Furnished Funeral Escort For Their Dead Comrade". The Boston Globe. Boston, Massachusetts. 5 Oct 1906. p. 16. Retrieved 2021-04-29.
Retrieved from ""