Thomas H. Smith (pilot boat)

The Thomas H. Smith, or T. H. Smith, was a 19th-century Sandy Hook pilot boat built for the New York pilots around 1820. She helped transport maritime pilots between inbound or outbound ships coming into the New York Harbor. In 1857, she went ashore and sank six miles from Barnegat.

19th Century Watercolor painting of the American Pilot Boat Thomas H. Smith, No. 6., ca. 1814.
History
United States
Name: Thomas H. Smith
Namesake: Thomas H. Smith
Owner: New York Pilots
Operator: Owen Callanan
In service: about 1820
Out of service: August 31, 1857
Homeport: New York
Status: Sank
General characteristics
Class and type: Schooner
Propulsion: sails
Sail plan: Schooner-rigged

Construction and service

The Pilot boat Thomas H. Smith, was reported as early as November 23, 1820, when she reported that the ship America, from Calcutta, was stranded a few miles from Sandy Hook, and had washed up.[1]

On January 28, 1822, the pilot boat Thomas H. Smith, was on a cruise off Sandy Hook, where she helped vessels in need of assistance. She supplied vessels with fresh provisions, and brought the passengers into town, from the ship Cotton Plant, from Savannah, that was anchored near Prince's Bay.[2]

On March 26, 1827, the pilot boat Thomas H. Smith, brought to the city a skiff with two exhausted African American men, ten miles outside Sandy Hook. They had run away from Middletown, N. J., with the intention of coming to New York.[3]

In 1840, there were only eight pilot boats in the New York fleet. They were the Phantom, No. 1; Washington, No. 2; New York No. 3; Jacob Bell, No. 4; Blossom, No. 5; T. H. Smith, No. 6; John E. Davidson, No. 7; and the Virginia, No. 8.[4]

On December 14, 1840, Owen Callanan, of the pilot boat T. H. Smith, along with other pilots from the port of New York, stated that they had never been employed by J. D. Stevenson and no compensation has been offered or demanded.[5]

On February 8, 1846, the pilot boat Thomas H. Smith, rescued a small boat containing three exhausted men by bringing them on board the Smith. They had left Gibbet Island on a fishing party and were caught in a storm.[6]

End of service

On August 31, 1857, the pilot boat Thomas H. Smith, went ashore six miles from Barnegat, and was broken in pieces. The crew was rescued and brought back to the city.[7]

See also

References
  1. "New York, Nov. 23". The National Gazette. Philadelphia, Pennsylvania. 24 Nov 1820. p. 3. Retrieved 2021-02-01.
  2. "Evnning Post". The Evening Post. New York, New York. 28 Jan 1822. p. 2. Retrieved 2021-02-01.
  3. "For The United States Gazette". The United States Gazette. Philadelphia, Pennsylvania. 27 Mar 1827. p. 4. Retrieved 2021-02-01.
  4. "A New Pilot Schooner". The New York City Herald. New York New York. 22 Jan 1840. p. 2. Retrieved 2021-01-09.
  5. "To the Public". New York Daily Herald. New York, New York. 16 Dec 1840. p. 2.
  6. "Fortunate Rescue". New York Daily Herald. New York, New York. 10 Feb 1846. p. 4. Retrieved 2021-02-01.
  7. "The Losss of the Pilot Boat Thomas H. Smith". New-York Tribune. New York, New York. 31 Aug 1857. p. 3. Retrieved 2021-02-01.
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