Joseph Henderson (pilot)
| Joseph Henderson | |
|---|---|
 Captain Joseph Henderson ca. 1880 |
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| Born | Joseph Henderson September 9, 1826 Charleston, South Carolina |
| Died | October 7, 1890 |
| Residence | Brooklyn, New York |
| Nationality | American |
| Occupation | American harbor pilot |
| Religion | Episcopal |
| Spouse | Angelina Annetta Weaver |
| Children | 6 |
Joseph Henderson (born September 9, 1826) was an early American harbor pilot. He was well known for being one of the oldest and wealthiest pilots in the New York Sandy Hook service.[1]
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[edit] Early life
Joseph Henderson was born in Charleston, South Carolina.[2] According to the 1880 Federal Census, Henderson's father and mother were also born in South Carolina. At sixteen, Henderson left Charleston to find passage to New York as a cabin boy on a ship traveling to New York City.
Joseph Henderson married Angelina Annetta Weaver in New York City on February 11, 1849 at the Baptist Tabernacle Church in New York City.[3] They had six children: Sarah R., Maurice D., Joseph Jr., Mary Ann, Angelina A., and Alexander D..
[edit] Sandy Hook pilot
Captain Henderson was a notable Sandy Hook pilot in the New York Harbor and along the Atlantic Coast during the Civil War. When Henderson was twenty, he took out his first pilot papers and became adept in all branches of piloting. By the age of twenty-one, he was captain of his own schooner and a New York and Sandy Hook pilot. In 1853, Joseph Henderson was listed as one of the pilots and owners of the pilot boat Elwood Walter, No. 7, belonging to the Merchant Pilot Association. The pilot boat was named after the president of the Mercantile Insurance Company, and was built by Mr. Edward T. Williams, of Greenpoint, Brooklyn.[4]
During the civil war Henderson was a pilot on the transports USS Arago (1861) and USS Fulton (1862), running from Newport News, Virginia to Port Royal, South Carolina.[5]
On October 18, 1872, Captain Joseph Henderson spoke at a meeting of the Board of Commissioners of Pilots about how he and his boat Pet, No. 9, rescued the crew of the brig Emily.[6]
In 1883, Joseph Henderson was called upon as an expert seaman to determine the height of the water span of the Brooklyn Bridge.[7]
On June 20, 1885, Joseph Henderson was expressly selected to escort the French Steamer Isère, laden with the Statue of Liberty into the New York Harbor to Bedloe's Island. This event and Pilot Henderson's appearance was printed in the New York Times: "Old Pilot Henderson, who jumped from the skylight down on the quarter deck of the Isère."[8]
On May 8, 1887, Pilot Joseph Henderson was listed in a United States Supreme Court libel for a collision between the American barkentine Freda A. Willey and the British steamship Martello. The suit said "Henderson has been a New York and Sandy Hook pilot for nearly forty-two years."[9]
In 1888, Henderson was on board the pilot boat America, No. 21 during the Great Blizzard of 1888, when the vessel rode out the storm off Shinnecock Light.
On August 23, 1890, Joseph Henderson piloted the USS Baltimore (C-3) to the ocean with the remains of John Ericsson for the funeral in Stockholm on September 14, 1890.[10]
[edit] Death
On October 4, 1890 (Saturday), Henderson left home in good health and sailed to Sandy Hook on board his pilot boat American, No. 21. He became ill and was brought home to New York. On October 8, Joseph Henderson died (64) at his family home at 633 Willoughby Avenue, Brooklyn, New York. The Brooklyn Eagle newspaper carried a front-page article titled: "Captain Joseph Henderson Dead - An Old Pilot and a Long Resident of Brooklyn Passes Away".[11] Joseph was buried in the Green-Wood Cemetery at 500 25th Street in Brooklyn, New York at the family lot #13244 in section 8. The Rev. Dr. Morrison of St. Matthew’s Episcopal Church conducted the funeral services at the family home on 633 Willoughby Avenue.
In 1929, Charles Edward Russell published the book, "From Sandy Hook to 62°", which is about the Sandy Hook pilots including references to Captain Joseph Henderson.[12]
[edit] References
- ^ Death of an Old Pilot, The New York Evening Post. October 8, 1890.
- ^ 1865 New York State Census and 1878 U.S. Passport Applications.
- ^ The New York Herald, February 13, 1849
- ^ The New York Times, May 16, 1853, pg. 3.
- ^ The Eevening World, Extra 2 O'clock Newspaper, October 9, 1890.
- ^ Nov 5, 1872; ProQuest Historical Newspapers The New York Times, pg. 2.
- ^ The Brooklyn Daily Eagle, October 9, 1890, pg 1.
- ^ ProQuest Historical Newspapers The New York Times, pg. 1.
- ^ THE MARTELLO v. THE WILLEY, 153 U.S. 64 (1894).
- ^ The New York Evening Post, 1890.
- ^ Brooklyn Daily Eagle, pg. 1.
- ^ From Sandy Hook to 62°", Charles Edward Russell, published by Century Co., New York, pg. 148-153.
[edit] External links
- "Joseph Henderson". Henderson Family Tree. http://www.hendersonfamilytree.com/Joseph.html.
