Blessing of the Bay
Encyclopedia
Blessing of the Bay was the second oceangoing, non-fishing vessel built in what is now the United States, preceded only by the Virginia
, in 1607.
or a pinnace, built largely of locust
. According to John R. Spears, Blessing of the Bay was not a bark except as the term was used to designate any sailing vessel at the time. He also stated that she had one mast. William H. Clark calls the Blessing of the Bay "primarily a trading vessel, but armed and designed to fight." He also stated, "she was high-bowed with one mast. [However, one source describes her as having two masts.]
The ship was built for John Winthrop
at Mistick (now Medford, Massachusetts
), by Robert Molton and other shipwrights sent to New England
in 1629 by the Massachusetts Bay Company, and was launched July 4, 1631 under the command of Anthony Dike.
She went to sea August 31, 1631, and carried on a coastal trade as far south as the Dutch settlement of New Amsterdam
(New York City). "She traded regularly along the entire New England coast and around Cape Cod and Long Island and with the Dutch on Manhattan Island. She carried to the Dutch salt from sea water, maple sugar
, and probably clapboards
, in exchange for molasses, sugar from the West Indies, and the spices and tea that the Dutch ships brought from the East via Amsterdam." Hall says that she sailed to "Long Island and other settled localities."
On November 21, 1632, according to Perley's History of Salem, Governor Winthrop
called a council with Captain Neal of Portsmouth N.H. to use the Blessing of the Bay to apprehend the pirate Dixie Bull
, but unfavorable weather conditions prevented their pursuit.
Virginia (pinnace)
The Virginia was a pinnace built in 1607-08 by colonists at the Popham Colony. She was the first English-built ship in what is now Maine and possibly in all of the English-colonized areas of North America....
, in 1607.
Construction
The Blessing of the Bay was a thirty-ton barqueBarque
A barque, barc, or bark is a type of sailing vessel with three or more masts.- History of the term :The word barque appears to have come from the Greek word baris, a term for an Egyptian boat. This entered Latin as barca, which gave rise to the Italian barca, Spanish barco, and the French barge and...
or a pinnace, built largely of locust
Locust tree
Locust tree can mean:* Any of a number of tree species in the genera Gleditsia or Robinia* Honey locust, a leguminous tree with pods having a sweet, edible pulp* Black locust, a leguminous tree with toxic pods but useful for making honey...
. According to John R. Spears, Blessing of the Bay was not a bark except as the term was used to designate any sailing vessel at the time. He also stated that she had one mast. William H. Clark calls the Blessing of the Bay "primarily a trading vessel, but armed and designed to fight." He also stated, "she was high-bowed with one mast. [However, one source describes her as having two masts.]
The ship was built for John Winthrop
John Winthrop
John Winthrop was a wealthy English Puritan lawyer, and one of the leading figures in the founding of the Massachusetts Bay Colony, the first major settlement in New England after Plymouth Colony. Winthrop led the first large wave of migrants from England in 1630, and served as governor for 12 of...
at Mistick (now Medford, Massachusetts
Medford, Massachusetts
Medford is a city in Middlesex County, Massachusetts, in the United States, on the Mystic River, five miles northwest of downtown Boston. In the 2010 U.S. Census, Medford's population was 56,173...
), by Robert Molton and other shipwrights sent to New England
New England
New England is a region in the northeastern corner of the United States consisting of the six states of Maine, New Hampshire, Vermont, Massachusetts, Rhode Island, and Connecticut...
in 1629 by the Massachusetts Bay Company, and was launched July 4, 1631 under the command of Anthony Dike.
Coastal voyages to New Amsterdam
Blessing of the Bay was built "for the use of the Massachusetts Colony at the insistence of Governor Winthrop, and was finished under his eye, the object being to open communication with the Dutch at the mouth of the Hudson and to trade to various parts of the coast."She went to sea August 31, 1631, and carried on a coastal trade as far south as the Dutch settlement of New Amsterdam
New Amsterdam
New Amsterdam was a 17th-century Dutch colonial settlement that served as the capital of New Netherland. It later became New York City....
(New York City). "She traded regularly along the entire New England coast and around Cape Cod and Long Island and with the Dutch on Manhattan Island. She carried to the Dutch salt from sea water, maple sugar
Maple sugar
Maple sugar is a traditional sweetener in the northeastern United States and Canada, prepared from the sap of the sugar maple tree.-Preparation:...
, and probably clapboards
Clapboard (architecture)
Clapboard, also known as bevel siding or lap siding or weather-board , is a board used typically for exterior horizontal siding that has one edge thicker than the other and where the board above laps over the one below...
, in exchange for molasses, sugar from the West Indies, and the spices and tea that the Dutch ships brought from the East via Amsterdam." Hall says that she sailed to "Long Island and other settled localities."
On November 21, 1632, according to Perley's History of Salem, Governor Winthrop
John Winthrop
John Winthrop was a wealthy English Puritan lawyer, and one of the leading figures in the founding of the Massachusetts Bay Colony, the first major settlement in New England after Plymouth Colony. Winthrop led the first large wave of migrants from England in 1630, and served as governor for 12 of...
called a council with Captain Neal of Portsmouth N.H. to use the Blessing of the Bay to apprehend the pirate Dixie Bull
Dixie Bull
Dixie Bull [or Dixey Bull] was an English sea captain, and the first pirate known to prey on shipping off the New England coast, especially Maine. A native of London, he came to Boston in 1631 and started sailing the Maine coast with a small vessel, trading with the Indians...
, but unfavorable weather conditions prevented their pursuit.