History, Music, Movies and More!
Looking for entertainment, education, or just plain fun?
Connections: The Sag Harbor Whaling Museum and the Southampton History Museum
Captain Bishop of the Thames
Hopefully you’ve been enjoying the adventures of George E. Smith and his fellow crew mates aboard the Sag Harbor whaling ship Thames, found in another section of our virtual museum. While the SHWHM holds the logbook of the voyage, the SHM has in their collection a photograph of Captain Bishop, seen here.
Stephen Gould, a volunteer at the SHM, as done some research Captain Bishop and the ship Thames, and shares his discoveries below. Thank you Stephen!
At 31-years of age, James Bishop was already a seasoned whaler. His first voyage, at the age of 24, was on the ship Ann with his cousin, John Bishop, Jr., in 1836. That voyage was the first of three he made with John on the Ann, the last voyage completed in 1839. When James returned from sea, he courted and then married Phebe Corwith on May 15, 1841. Two years later, the whaling life called James back to the sea, this time on the ship-rigged Thames II, under the command of Captain Jeremiah Hedges. Captain Hedges was also an experienced sailor, with six previous voyages, the last two as Captain of the Thames II. The Thames II was the second ship named Thames to sail from Sag Harbor. The first Thames, built in Essex, Connecticut in 1818, had a long career and was captained by several Sag Harbor captains, including David Hand and Huntting Cooper. After at least twelve whaling expeditions, she was scuttled in Sag Harbor in 1838 and used as a breakwater. Her remains were discovered in 1968 and her keel timbers have been re-assembled at Mystic Seaport. The Thames II (at 414 tons, slightly larger than the first Thames) was built in 1828. Her first two whaling voyages (in 1839 and 1841) were under the command of Jeremiah Hedges and her 1843-46 voyage was initially under the command of Captain Hedges. Early in the voyage, as the Thames II sailed south along the African coast, Captain Hedges became ill and had to be left behind in Simons Town (near Cape Town), South Africa. As First Mate, James Bishop took command for the rest of the voyage. Unfortunately, this voyage proved to be the Thames II’s least successful. Expecting better results, Captain Bishop took the Thames II out again, leaving Sag Harbor in 1846. During the voyage, Captain Bishop also became ill and First Mate William Payne took over command. Upon completion of her voyage, Captain Payne took the ship to San Francisco, where the ship’s cargo and the ship itself were sold. While tied-up in San Francisco, the Thames II probably became part of a “ghost fleet” that was sunk and buried under what is now the city’s financial district. After this last voyage Captain Bishop returned home to his wife and took up farming in Southampton. Unfortunately he and Phebe had no children and sadly, Phebe died in 1851. He married again in 1853, this time to Theadosia French and they had two sons. James’ bad luck in marriage continued and the 37 year old Theoadosia died in April 1864. James found love a third time with Jane Howell and she became his third wife. James died in 1890 at age 77 and he is buried in the North End Cemetery, Southampton.
To see more of the Southampton History Museum’s collection, go to https://www.southamptonhistory.org.
Film: Sag Harbor, U.S.A.
Evidently made for the U.S. Army in 1950, the tone of this short film seems to be a holdover from World War Two, and opens with the narrator wondering how Japan thinks about industry in America. As an example, it explores a little company called “Sag Harbor Industries.”
About 10 minutes long, if you stick with the film until the 8:30 mark, you might just see a certain museum. [NOTE: The rules have changed since 1950 - when visiting, please do not touch or play in the whaleboat!]
Its propaganda or educational merits aside, it’s fascinating to see how “old” Sag Harbor has changed in the last 70 years – and how much of it hasn’t!
Film: Courtesy National Archives
Stephen Sanfilippo. Courtesy photo.
Music: Maritime Folk Song
Stephen SanfilippoStephen Sanfilippo plays a medley of two traditional mid-19th century tunes: “Blow Ye Winds in the Morning” and “The E-Ri-E Canal.” This was recorded at an event co-sponsored by Long Island Traditions and the Oyster Bay Historical Society. Video courtesy Long Island Traditions.Music: Maritime Folk Song
Stephen SanfilippoStephen Sanfilippo plays a medley of two traditional mid-19th century tunes: “Blow Ye Winds in the Morning” and “The E-Ri-E Canal.” This was recorded at an event co-sponsored by Long Island Traditions and the Oyster Bay Historical Society. Video courtesy Long Island Traditions.Music: Maritime Folk Song
Stephen Sanfilippo
Stephen Sanfilippo plays a medley of two traditional mid-19th century tunes: “Blow Ye Winds in the Morning” and “The E-Ri-E Canal.” This was recorded at an event co-sponsored by Long Island Traditions and the Oyster Bay Historical Society. Video courtesy Long Island Traditions.
NOW AVAILABLE:
“As Long As The Seas Do Roll” – Stephen’s sings traditional maritime folk songs with 5-string banjo, guitar, harmonica, and Anglo concertina accompaniment.
To order, please send $12 for the first compact disc, $6 for each additional disc [cash or check/U.S. Currency] to:
Stephen Sanfilippo
145 Hope Lane
Southold, NY 11971-2507
Please Include Your Mailing Address.