Bahamian family names, owners of 219 vessels, 1868 Mercantile Navy List

by Eric Wiberg

This list of Bahamian-flagged vessels registered to Nassau is from the 1868 Mercantile Navy List, 1868, 427 pages, Her Majesty’s Stationary Office, London. This is the earliest such collection I could find online (Memorial University of Newfound online collections), but it comes close to the founding of government-subsidized mail service in the Bahamas, c.1854

Of interest will be the handful of families who control most of the shipping:  Saunders’: 23 vessels, most by number, Johnson 16, George D. Harris: 14, Adderleys: 11 ships with the most tonnage, Sawyer: 9, Eneas: 7,  Albury: 5, Gustave Renouard: 5, Roberts: 5, Thompson: 3, and so on… There are also several names which are clearly French and Spanish, or perhaps Haitian in origin, including a Duvalier.

Also of note is that, unlike the 1957 list nearly 100 years later, by far most of the owners are domiciled in Nassau, with a few in Abaco, Harbour Island, Eleuthera. Conspicuously absent are owners from islands like Mayaguana, Inagua, Ragged Island, and Bimini, though there are a few from Grand Bahama (Wilchcombe) and several from Long Cay / Fortune Island, Crooked Island.

Less than 10% are considered “large” (over 100 tons) or “very large” (over 200 tons) – the largest is an impressive 576 tons, and had an auxiliary engine. All are registered to Nassau, N.P., none to other ports in the Bahamas. Most should be considered sailboats however some are steam ships, and a few are yachts. The designation such as “yawl,” “sloop,” and “schooner” are not given.

NOTE: Excluded from this list are vessels owned or operated in foreign countries like the US, UK, Canada and Cuba, as they are not likely to have been traded inter-island in the Bahamas, as well as vessels under 10 registered tons, which was a general rule would have been too small to have carried freight and mail cargoes commercially (had to draw the line somewhere….):

Ships are presumed to be “sail” unless designated “motor” or “steam” or given horsepower.

 NAME / TONNAGE / OWNER / OWNER’S PORT

  1. Achilles, 10, William Sydney Whitehead, Nassau
  2. Active, 40, Ramon Antonio Mearndez, Nassau
  3. Adeline, 51, George D. Harris, Nassau
  4. Advance, 39, R. W. Farrington, Nassau
  5. Advance, 14, J. W. Russell, Abaco
  6. Agnes, 50, Henry Rowland Saunders, Nassau
  7. Alert, 20, John Roberts, Green Turtle Cay, Abaco
  8. Alert, 58, Henry Rowland Saunders, Nassau
  9. Alice Flora, 88, Henry R. Saunders, Nassau
  10. Alliance, 342, 90 hp, Lewis Grant Watson, Nassau [very large vessel]
  11. Alma, 43, John Josiah Turtle, Nassau
  12. Anna, 43, W. R. Saunders, Nassau
  13. Anna, 28, William R. Saunders, Nassau
  14. Annie, 26, Benjamin Bethel, Nassau
  15. Annie, Joseph Roberts, Nassau
  16. Araminta, 13, Caroline A. Anderson, Nassau
  17. Atlantic, 101, Richard P. Saunders, Nassau [large vessel]
  18. Augusta Justina, 19, W. H. Hanna, Long Bay, Crooked Island
  19. Azorian, 58, Anthony Eneas, Nassau
  20. Bahamian, 23, John Tedder, Great Harbour, Abaco
  21. Baltic, 51, Henry E. Kemp, Nassau
  22. Belinda W., 58, Thomas Williams and Company, Nassau
  23. Belle, 17, Horatio Johnson, Nassau
  24. Bertha, 31, S. O. Johnson, Nassau
  25. Bob, 72, S. Johnson, Harbour Island
  26. Brenda, 16, Byron Bode, Nassau
  27. British Empire, 70, Thomas Lloyd, Nassau
  28. British Queen, 48, Robert Henry Sawyer, Nassau
  29. Brothers, 43, J. T. Farrington, Nassau
  30. Brothers, 37, R. Russell, Great Harbour, Abaco
  31. Brothers, 52, J. C. Rude, Nassau
  32. Bull Dog, 12, Thomas Duvalier, Inagua
  33. C. J. Marshall, 45, C. J, Marshall, Nassau
  34. Carleton, 69, Robert H. Sawyer, Nassau
  35. Catherine Rebecca, 16, Tobias Saunders, Long Island
  36. Charles Anna, 68, William Fox, Nassau
  37. Charles Tunnell, 44, Walter Durbam, Nassau
  38. Chase, 20, George David Harris, Nassau
  39. Clarion, 12, Quintus Russell, Nassau
  40. Clarita, 20, William & Jeremiah Mathews, Abaco
  41. Clifton, 109, Byron Bode, Nassau [large vessel]
  42. Clipper, 16, R. Wilchcombe, Grand Bahama
  43. Commerce, 21, Joseph Stirrup, Nassau
  44. Confidence, 14, J. R. Stirrup, Nassau
  45. Coquette, 27, Rowland Saunders, Nassau
  46. Coquette, 390, Richard Squire, Nassau
  47. Cornet, 18, Joseph Robert Sturrup, Nassau
  48. D’Auvergne, 16, William H. Johnson, Nassau
  49. Dandy, 35, William H. Sears, Harbour Island
  50. Diana, 12, R. Pearce & J. T. Cox, Nassau
  51. Dolphin, 18, Joseph Stornson Grant, Nassau
  52. Don Jose, 36, Gustave Renouard, Nassau
  53. Driver, 31, Caesar McKinney, San Salvador
  54. Druid, 137, 135 hp, George Chambers, Nassau
  55. E. Beckwith, 36, A. B. Hepburn, Nassau
  56. E. Lady Balaam, 15, Charles McKinney, Eleuthera
  57. Edith, 53, Henry Sawyer, Nassau
  58. Edwin, 26, George David Harris, Nassau
  59. Edwin J. Eneas, 100, Joseph Eneas, New York
  60. Elector, 11, John William Pinder, Nassau
  61. Electric, 50, Mott Johnson, Nassau
  62. Eliza, 33, George David Harris, Nassau
  63. Eliza Catherine, 33, Isaac William Johnson, Harbour Island
  64. Elizabeth, 14, Burke Clarke, Exuma
  65. Ella, 35, Theodore Knowles, Nassau
  66. Ella Warley, 576, 500hp Edwin C. Adderley, Nassau [one of the largest, steam ship, 212′ long, built in Baltimore 1848 of wood, registered to Nassau 1861]
  67. Ellen, 11, Robert H. Sawyer, Nassau
  68. Ellen, 61, Thomas William Johnson, Harbour Island
  69. Ellen Ann, 23, Thomas Findlay, Nassau
  70. Emancipation, 11, Robert Albury, Harbour Island
  71. Emily, 77, George David Harris, Nassau
  72. Emma, 36, Joseph Eneas, New York
  73. Emulous, 31, Henry Roberts, Harbour Island
  74. Equal, 13, Samuel P. Saunders, Nassau
  75. Equator, 64, Thomas William Albury, Harbour Island
  76. Etta, 101, Gustave Renouard, Nassau [large vessel]
  77. Euphemia, 11, J. Brown, Long Cay, Crooked Island
  78. Euphemia, 10, Moses Deveaux, San Salvador
  79. Euphemia, 10 Thomas W. Findlayson, Nassau
  80. Evelina, 44, Gustave F. S.. Renouard, Nassau
  81. Excel, 51, William Saunders, Green Turtle Cay, Abaco
  82. Expeditious, 19, John Bethell, Great Harbour, Abaco
  83. Fairy, 15, Robert Edwin Rigby, Nassau
  84. Fanny & Jenny 207, 450hp, Augustus John Adderley, Nassau [very large vessel]
  85. Fear Not, 40, John Dowson Knowles, Eleuthera
  86. Flying Arrow, 19, Joseph Williams, Abaco
  87. Fly, 20 Thomas Findlay, Nassau
  88. Fly, 13, Charles J. Pearson, Nassau
  89. Forward, 16, Peter Evans, Nassau
  90. Forward, 24, Silvantus Bethel, Nassau
  91. Fruiter, 40, Thomas Johnson, Eleuthera
  92. G. J. Miller, 80, J. H. Johnson, Harbour Island
  93. Galvanic, 50, J. T. Saunders, Nassau [also appears in 1935 version?]
  94. Garibaldi, 27, Augustus John Adderley, Nassau [also owned a G. Garibaldi of only 4 tons]
  95. Georgianna, 43, Robert H. Sawyer, Nassau
  96. Gertrude, 43, George H. Eneas, Harbour Island
  97. Gipsy, 33, J. W. H. Rahming, Nassau
  98. Golden Eagle, 36, Charles Marshall, Nassau
  99. Handy, 19, William Cash, Great Harbour, Abaco
  100. Harkaway, 59, Richard Wightman Farrington
  101. Haste, 15, James C. Rude, Nassau
  102. Herald, 42, Philip Treco, Nassau
  103. Hornet, 30, William Henry Clear, Nassau
  104. Hornet, 14, Francis Mortimer, Inagua
  105. Ida, 26, Augustus John Adderly, Nassau
  106. Indus, 126, Joseph Eneas, New York [large vessel]
  107. Isabella, 26, Benjamin V. Hull, Nassau
  108. J. C. Roker, 91, Henry Rowland Saunders, Nassau
  109. Jane, 29, John Saunders, Nassau
  110. John G., 176, Robert Henry Sawyer, Nassau [very large vessel]
  111. John W., 25, Pembroke Saunders, Nassau
  112. Josephine Rosa, 30, George D. Harris, Nassau
  113. Julia, 10, William R. Saunders, Nassau
  114. Julia, 79, Gustave Renouard, Nassau
  115. Julia, 14, W. H. Curry, Nassau
  116. Julia Marshall, 47, Augustus John Adderley, Nassau
  117. Juno, 19, William H. Sears, Harbour Island
  118. Kate, 355, 320hp, Augustus J. Adderley, Nassau [very large vessel]
  119. Kate, 64, George D. Harris, Nassau
  120. Kate, 45, George Preston, Nassau
  121. La Criolla, 27, Henry R. Saunders, Nassau
  122. La Criolla, 171, W. R. Darrell, Nassau [very large vessel]
  123. Lady Bannerman, 71, J. H. Sweeting, Green Turtle Cay, Abaco
  124. Laura, 50, Augustus John Adderley, Nassau
  125. Louisa, 17, George David Harris, Nassau
  126. Louisa, 164, Alexander Johnson, Nassau
  127. Louisa, 85, James Black, Nassau
  128. Louise, 125, George David Harris, Nassau
  129. Lynx, 30, Robert Sands, Nassau
  130. Mabel, 74, Henry R. Sands, Nassau
  131. Margaret Ann, 76, Aariah Curry, Abaco
  132. Mars, 70, James Glover Bailie, Nassau
  133. Mary, 11, Thomas Walker Adderley, Nassau
  134. Mary, 12, Thomas A. Hillier, Nassau
  135. Mary, 11, Ridley Pinder, Abaco
  136. Mary Ann, 14, Thomas Kemp, Nassau
  137. Mary Ann, 15, Thomas Kemp, Nassau
  138. Mary Elizabeth, 25, Henry Scavella, Long Cay, Crooked Island
  139. Mary Jane, 41, John Cleare, Harbour Island
  140. Minnie, 37, James Black Jr,, Nassau
  141. Minnie Gordon, 322, Silvanus Bethel, Nassau [very large vessel]
  142. Minnie Knapp, 233, George Preston, Nassau [very large vessel]
  143. Miriam, 26, James Thompson, Nassau
  144. Morning Star, 42, Richard Wrightman Farrington, Nassau
  145. Nassau, 322, 300hp, Augustus John Adderley, Nassau [very large vessel]
  146. Nelia covert, 32, Matthew Lowe, Harbour Island
  147. Nile, 14, Charles T. Sands, Nassau
  148. Nina, 27, William Thomas Albury, Harbour Island
  149. Nonesuch, 45, H. C. Lightbourne, Nassau
  150. Ocean Monarch, 21, William Sydney Whitehead, Nassau
  151. Olive Branch, 11, Joseph Higgs, Harbour Island
  152. Olivia, 13, Byron Bode, Nassau
  153. Oracle, 41, John Christopher Rahming, Nassau
  154. Parliament, 116, Henry Rowland Saunders, Nassau
  155. Pathfinder, 30, J. A. M. Ward, Nassau
  156. Patriot, 29, George David Harris, Nassau
  157. Pearl, 120, Pembroke Saunders, Nassau [large vessel]
  158. Pearl, 12, S. P. Saunders & company, Nassau [the only vessel on list owned by a company]
  159. Perseverance, 13, Renouard & Bodie, Nassau [a merger between two prominent owners]
  160. Pinky, 130, Daniel S. Kelly Jr., New Orleans [large vessel]
  161. Planet, 12, Joseph W. Pinder, Nassau
  162. Polar Star, 12, Edward Wilchcombe, Grand Bahama
  163. President, 42, J. H. Symonette, Nassau
  164. Pride, 26, George D. Harris, Nassau
  165. Pride, 15, William Robert Saunders, Nassau
  166. Proceed, 10, Matthew Lowe, Abaco
  167. Providence, 50, Ramon Antonio Fernandez, Nassau
  168. Quick, 20, J. T. Russell, Great Harbour, Abaco
  169. R. S. Hood, 23, Nathaniel French, Nassau
  170. Rambler, 12, William Roberts, Abaco
  171. Ransom, 61, L. G. Thompson, Nassau
  172. Reform, 36, H. E. Johnson, Nassau
  173. Resolute, 16, Thomas Roker, Nassau
  174. Ringdove, 23, William B. Sterrett, Nassau
  175. Rosalie, 79, William H. Cleare, Harbour Island
  176. Rover, 68, Henry R. Saunders, Nassau
  177. Sarah, 40, James Thompson, Nassau
  178. Sarah Ann, 74, Alexander Johnson, Nassau
  179. Sarah Mary, 10, Samuel O. Johnson, Nassau
  180. Select, 20, William Cash Jr., Abaco
  181. Shannon, 64, Thomas W. Johnson, Harbour Island
  182. Silvanus, 59, Silvanus Bethel, Nassau
  183. Silver Lake, 246, J. S. Johnson, Nassau [very large vessel]
  184. Sue, 78, Augustus J. Adderley, Nassau
  185. Suilli, 17, Robert Henry Sawyer, Nassau
  186. Sun, 36, Benjamin V. Hall, Nassau
  187. Superb, 29, John Polhemus, Nassau
  188. Swift, 11, William R. Saunders, Nassau
  189. Sylvia, 57, Barlow & Ambrister [Armbrister?], Nassau
  190. Telfair, 27, Anthony Eneas, Nassau
  191. Teviot, 52, Byron Bode, Nassau
  192. Thomas, 62, George David Harris, Nassau
  193. Thomas L. Wragg, 796, 800hp, George David Harris, Nassau [very large vessel]
  194. Trial, 26, Henry C. Lightbourne, Nassau
  195. Trier, 12, John W. Russell, Abaco
  196. Triphena, 104, Mordecai Bethel, Eleuthera
  197. Triumph, 16, Theophilus Henry Sturrup, Nassau
  198. Tropic Wind, 64, Theodore Farrington, Long Cay, Crooked Island
  199. Try, 25, G. W. Higgs, Nassau
  200. Tweed, 47, Aaron Thurston, Nassau
  201. Unexpected, 15, John C. Kelly, Nassau
  202. Union, 23, Benjamin Harris, Harbour Island
  203. United Force, 12, J. T. Graham, Grant’s Town, Nassau
  204. Ventrosa, 67, James Roberts, Harbour Island
  205. Vesper, 26, George H. Sawyer, Harbour Island
  206. Victoria, 42, William R. Darrell, Nassau
  207. Victory, 36, Edward Francis Griffin, Eleuthera
  208. Violin, 33, Diego Loriczaz, Nassau
  209. Volant, 13, Samuel O. Johnson, Nassau
  210. W. Y. Leitch, 35, Augustus J. Adderley, Nassau
  211. Wanderer, 29, Henry Rowland Saunders, Nassau
  212. Wasp, 238, Augustus J. Adderley, Nassau [very large vessel]
  213. Water Witch, 12, W. H. Sears, Harbour Island
  214. Wesleyan, 20, William Albury, Harbour Island
  215. Wild Pigeon, 207, Robert H. Sawyer, Nassau [very large vessel]
  216. William, 57, Lewis Grant Watson, Nassau
  217. William Nicholas, 27, S. L. Kemp, Nassau
  218. Wilton, 12, W. P. Ponluot, Nassau
  219. Wonder, 10, William Albury, Harbour Island

Source: Memorial University of Newfoundland, Canada, online collections – Mercantile Navy List, 1868, 427 pages, Her Majesty’s Stationary Office, London – http://collections.mun.ca/cdm4/query.php?query=mercantile+navy+list&match=exact&searchtitles=on