America (1897)
{{short description|Boston Pilot boat}}
{{for|the yacht|America (yacht)}}
{{for|the New York pilot boat|America (pilot boat)}}
{{Infobox sailboat specifications
|image = America, No. 1.png
|caption = Boston Pilot Boat America, No. 1, photograph by Nathaniel Stebbins.
|Hide header =
|owner = James H. Reid Sr.
|crew = Bruce B. McLean, James H. Reid Jr.
|location = United States
|name = America
|christened =
|line drawing = Profile of the America.png
|line caption = Profile of the America, drawn from the lines by the designer Thomas F. McManus.
|builder = John Bishop
|designer = Thomas F. McManus
|original cost =
|year = April 19, 1897
|construction = White oak
|role = Pilot boat
|class = Schooner
|hull weight = 97-tons TM
|loh = {{convert|85|ft|0|in|m|abbr=on}}
|loa = {{convert|101 |ft|0|in|m|abbr=on}}
|beam = {{convert|23|ft|0|in|m|abbr=on}}
|draft = {{convert|12|ft|6|in|m|abbr=on}}
|keelweight = {{convert|10|ft|6|in|m|abbr=on}}
|keel type = Iron
|mast length = {{convert|79|m|ft|abbr=on}} Mainmast
|rig other = {{convert|40|m|ft|abbr=on}} Topmast
|sailplan=
|complement=
|armament=
|notes=
}}
The America, No. 1 was a 19th-century American pilot boat built in 1897 for Captain James H. Reid Sr. of Boston and designed by Boston designer Thomas F. McManus. The Boston America did not resemble her famous namesake, yacht America, rather she was designed with a fishing schooner "Indian header" bow. After serving 21 years in the Boston Pilots' Association, the America was sold to David W. Simpson of Boston in 1918.
Construction and service
On January 18, 1897, the iron keel for the pilot boat America weighting six tons, was taken by a six-horse team to John Bishop's shipyard at Vincent's point, in Gloucester, Massachusetts.{{cite news|url=https://www.newspapers.com/clip/76675802/iron-keel/ |title=Gloucester. |work=The Boston Globe |place=Boston, Massachusetts |date=18 Jan 1897 |page=3|access-date=2021-04-28}}
On February 28, 1897, Boston's new pilot boat America was on the stocks at the John Bishop's shipyard. She was designed by Thomas F. McManus of Boston for Captain James H. Reid Sr. of Boston. Reid was the principal owner and formally of the pilot boat Florence.{{cite news|url=https://www.newspapers.com/clip/76676121/new-america/ |title=New Pilot Boat, America. Designed by Thomas F. McManus of This City for Capt James H. Reid. |work=The Boston Globe |place=Boston, Massachusetts |date=28 Feb 1897 |page=16|access-date=2021-04-28}}{{cite news|url=https://www.newspapers.com/clip/70607305/america/ |work=Boston Post |place=Boston, Massachusetts |date=9 Mar 1897|title=Along The Water Front. |page=6|access-date=2021-02-14}} She had the new design from which other boats tested their speed.{{cite book|last1=Dunne|first1=W. M. P.|last2=Patrick|first2=William Matthew|date=1934 |title=Thomas F. McManus and the American fishing schooners: an Irish-American success story|url=https://archive.org/details/thomasmcmanusame00wmdu/page/184/mode/1up?q=%22pilot+boat+America%22 |publisher=Mystic, Conn., Mystic Seaport Museum |page=185}}
On April 19, 1897, America was launched from the shipyard of John Bishop of Gloucester. Pilots James H. Reid Jr. and Captain Bruce B. McLean were assigned to the new boat. She went on her trial trip down the Boston Harbor on May 19, 1897, with 50 guests. Her dimensions were 101 feet overall, 85 feet length on waterline, 23 foot beam, depth of hold 10 feet 6 inches. She was built of white oak frame planking and fastened with galvanized iron and bolts and spikes below the waterline.{{cite news|url=https://www.newspapers.com/clip/70606158/trial-trip/ |title=Worked Well On Trial Trip. The Pilot Boat America No. 1 given a "Limbering Up" Today. |work=The Boston Globe |place=Boston, Massachusetts |date=1898-02-27 |access-date=2020-08-24}}
The Boston America did not resemble her famous namesake, rather she was designed with a fishing schooner 'Indian head' bow.
{{cite book |last=Cunliffe |first=Tom |date= 2001|title= Pilots, The World Of Pilotage Under Sail and Oar|url=https://books.google.com/books?id=VNsGi3nmuaQC&q=Lillie
|location=Brooklin, Maine |publisher=WoodenBoat |isbn=9780937822692|page=135}}
On July 8, 1897, the pilot-boat America was in the Fisherman's Race against the fishing schooner James S. Steele. The race went along Long Island. The America beat the James S. Steele by three minutes. Pilot Bruce McLean took the place of Captain James Reid who was on the battleship USS Massachusetts.{{cite news |url=https://www.newspapers.com/clip/76688900/fishermans-race/ |title=Easily Beat Fisherman, Pilot Boat America Showed Her Stern to the Steele. |work=The Boston Daily Globe |place=Boston, Massachusetts |date=1897-07-08|access-date=2020-10-14}} In December, of the same year, Captain Reid of America, No. 1, won another Fisherman's Race against pilot-boat No. 2 and the schooner Harry L. Belden.{{cite news |url=https://www.newspapers.com/clip/76689373/fishermans-race/ |title=Flying Fisherman. New Design by Thomas F. McManus, Designer of the Jas S. Steele. |work=The Boston Sunday Globe |place=Boston, Massachusetts |date=1897-12-12|access-date=2020-10-14}}
On April 1, 1898, the Boston pilot-boat America rescued the crew of the Nova Scotia vessel Genius, 18 miles off the Boston Light. The rescued men were transferred from the America to the pilot-boat Hesper, No. 5.{{cite news |url=https://www.newspapers.com/clip/74959305/rescue/|title=Crew of Sch Genius Had a Close Call |work=The Boston Globe |place=Boston, Massachusetts |date=1898-04-01|access-date=2020-10-14}}
In 1900, Boston had seven pilots boats in commission. The America was Boston's pilot schooner number one. The other Boston boats included, the Liberty, No. 3; Adams, No. 4; Hesper, No. 5; Varuna, No. 6; Minerva, No. 7; and Sylph, No 8.{{cite news|url=https://www.newspapers.com/clip/30471525/boston-pilotscapt-franklin-b-wellock/ |title=Boston's Pilot System |work=The Boston Globe |place=Boston, Massachusetts |date=29 Apr 1900|page=32|access-date=2021-02-14}}
On January 20, 1902, Pilot Benny Nelson, of the pilot boat America No. 1, brought in a Dominion Line steamer New England.{{cite news |url=https://www.newspapers.com/image/68953694/?terms=%22Benny%2BNelson%22%2B%22pilot%2Bboat%2BAmerica%22|title=Along The Water Front |work=Boston Post |place=Boston, Massachusetts |date=1902-01-20|access-date=2020-09-01}}
On August 22, 1901, pilot Joseph W. Colby of the pilot boat America, No. 1, brought into Long Wharf the fruit steamer Admiral Schley through a thick fog 140 miles from the South Shoal lightship.{{cite news |url=https://www.newspapers.com/clip/76690158/fruit-steamer/ |title=Along The Water Front |work=Boston Post |place=Boston, Massachusetts |date=1901-08-22|access-date=2020-10-14}}
The pilot boat America No. 1, was used as a lightship station boat. Captain James Reid boarded the Warren liner Sagamore, from the America station boat on November 3, 1901.{{cite news |url=https://www.newspapers.com/image/74468551/?terms=%22lightship%20station%20boat%22&match=1|title=Along The Water Front |work=Boston Post |place=Boston, Massachusetts |date=1901-11-03|page=11|access-date=2020-10-14}}
When the Boston pilots reorganized in 1901, down to five boats, the pilot-boat America was one of the boats that continued in the service. Captain Reid was with the America, and piloted the last vessel under the old system.
{{cite book |last=Eastman |first=Ralph M. |date=1956|title=Pilots and pilot boats of Boston Harbor|url=https://archive.org/details/pilotspilotboats00east/page/60/mode/2up?q=Reid|location=Boston, Massachusetts |publisher=Second Bank-State Street Trust Company |page=60}}
On April 29, 1902, Boston pilot-boat America, No. 1, carried the ashes of Captain Franklin Fowler, encased in a small rosewood box, at the National Dock wharf, East Boston. Captain James H. Reid was in attendance on the deck of the America during the memorial.{{cite news|url=https://www.newspapers.com/clip/25098542/the-boston-globe/ |work=The Boston Globe |place=Boston, Massachusetts |date=1902-04-29|title=Throwing The Ashes Of Capt Frank Fowler's Remains Into The Water |access-date=2020-08-11}}
End of service
On December 29, 1918, after serving 21 years in the Boston Pilots' Association, the America was sold to David W. Simpson of Boston. The America had been laid up at the National Dock for the past 2 years.{{cite news|url=https://www.newspapers.com/clip/76690418/sale/ |title=Port Of Poston. |work=The Boston Globe |place=Boston, Massachusetts |date=1918-12-29|page=3|access-date=2020-10-14}}
Gallery
File:James H. Reid.jpg| Owner Captain James H. Reid
File:Bruce Boutlier McLean.png| Boston Pilot Captain Bruce Boutlier McLean
File:Pilot Boat America No. 1.jpg| Boston Pilot Boat America
See also
References
{{Reflist|30em}}
{{Authority control}}
{{commons category}}
{{List of Northeastern U. S. Pilot Boats|state=collapsed}}
{{DEFAULTSORT:America}}
Category:Individual sailing vessels
Category:Schooners of the United States
Category:Service vessels of the United States