Ariel Patterson (pilot boat)

Ariel Patterson shipbuilding advertisement, 1865.

After the capture of many of the New York pilot boats during the American Civil War, the building of new pilot boats became necessary. The New York pilot-boat Ariel Patterson, No. 12, was launched on 23 November 1864 by the Ariel Patterson shipyard at the foot of North Third Street, Brooklyn, New York. The Ariel Patterson, was named in honor of the shipbuilder Ariel Patterson, founder of the shipyard.[1][2]

The Patterson was formerly named the Christianberg. She was the oldest pilot-boat in the service.[3] Sandy Hook pilot Camille Lavand and Captain Jacob Britton, were pilots on the pilot-boat Christianberg.[4][5]

The Patterson was registered with Record of American and Foreign Shipping, from 1879 to 1885. Her owners were the New York Pilots, belonging to the port of New York. Pilot John W. Stanton was the ship Captain. Her dimensions were 75 ft. in length; 28 ft. breadth of beam; 7 ft. in depth; and 54-tons burthen.[6][7] The boat number "12" was painted in black on her mainsail to distinguish her from other pilot-boats.

On 5 March 1883, the pilot-boat Ariel Patterson, No. 12, was run down and sank off Sea Bright, New Jersey, by the steamer Commonwealth. Pilot John Campbell, of Staten Island, went down with the ship. His body, was found off Cape Henlopen.[8] The rest of the crew were resuced by the Commonwealth and brought to port.[9] The Ariel Patterson, was owned by a company of New York pilots, including Eugene H. Sulivan, John Convin, Sr., John Convin, Jr. and John W. Stanton. The boat was worth $10,000 and was insured.[10]

The Ariel Patterson, was raised and purchased by the Coast Wrecking Company.[3] She was lifted by the use of tugs and pontoons. The Patterson was then towed to Gowanus, Brooklyn.[11]

Ariel Patterson, (September 1807 – 23 April 1877) was a 19th-century American shipbuilder. He was a well-known resident of Brooklyn, New York and had a good reputation with his work as a shipbuilder. He was born in Brockville, Canada. At sixteen, he moved to New York and learned the trade of shipbuilder. He later became a member of the firm Perine, Patterson, and Stack in Williamsburg, Brooklyn, at the foot of North Second and North Sixth Streets. There they constructed the celebrated steamer Ericson, which had the first Hot air engine invented by John Ericsson. Patterson also built the three-masted side-wheel SS Yankee Blade, one of the first steamships to trade between to New York and San Francisco. He did all of the woodwork in the USS Dictator.

His funeral took place at his son's residence in Brooklyn. He was buried at the Evergreens Cemetery in Brooklyn.[12]

• List of Northeastern U. S. Pilot Boats