Our Seafaring Ancestors

I guess it stands to reason that, surrounded by the sea, many of our early ancestors made their living on the bounding main.  To date, I have discovered 74 early family members who Captained their own ships.  Here are some of their stories.

Captain James Beattie Hill (5th cousin, twice removed)

USS Finland - 1919

On August 5, 1919, the great ocean transport ship, "Finland", sailed into New York harbour - its flag at half mast in respect for their Commander, James Beattie Hill.  As he would have wished Captain Hill, died suddenly on the bridge of his beloved ship. Born in Great Village, Nova Scotia in 1863, James married Annie Esther Spencer of Londonderry.  The couple had four children including twin daughters.

The Finland had a company of nearly 3700 and was used during World War One as a troup transport, where in 17 trips it carried some 60,000 troups without the loss of a single man.

The officers of the Finland accompanied his remains to the Hill home in Great Village and participated in James' funeral.

Captain John Geddes 3rd (1st cousin 4 times removed)

Avon River near Windsor, Hants, Nova Scotia

Captain John  was born in 1820 at Highland Village and married Isabella Urquhart.  They had 10 children.  John was the nephew of our great great grandmother, Esther Cooke

John owned his own little ship which was built at Highland Village, Nova Scotia.

In the early to mid 1880s, much of the travel between villages in coastal Nova Scotia was done on the water and John made regular trips from Five Islands to Windsor carrying fish, produce and other agricultural products to the larger town.  In November 1871, he set sail with a cargo of dressed pork and beef which he planned to trade for some Christmas treats for his family.

The Bay of Fundy is famous for its amazing high tides and, near the mouth of the Avon River, close to Windsor, Captain John's little vessel was wrecked a mile or so offshore.  A heavy winter storm prevented the transport of the remains back to Five Islands and so the victims of the accident were buried in the churchyard at Chivaree, near the Noel Shore where the bodies were recovered.

Although Isabella, Captain John's wife remarried, she insisted on being called Isabella Geddes until the day she died.

Captain David Chisholm (1st cousin, 5 times removed.) & (3rd cousin, 4 times removed)

Portaupique Beach
Cemetery

David, the son of William Chisholm and Mary Cooke was born in 1808 in Londonderry, Nova Scotia and although he spent over 40 years at sea, found time to sire 9 children with his wife, Mary Yuill.  His obituary tells you much about the man, himself:





"A GREEN OLD AGE

Mr. David Chisholm, of Mount Pleasant, Great Village, is one of Colchester's veterans, who is remarkably smart in his old age. he lives with his daughter, Mrs. Robert Elliott, and has lately been visiting for two or three months with another daughter, Mrs. Daniel McLaughlin, Pleasant Hills, Economy. He is 87 years of age, having been born Dec. 15th, 1808. 

His conversation about past events is most interesting; and his memory of the many exciting events of the long ago, is truly remarkable. With almost minute detail can he describe the "happenings" of 70 and even 80 years ago. 

Mr. Chisholm followed a sea-faring life for over 40 years, and with the exception of a little rheumatism, he is now a wonderfully preserved man. He reads without glasses, and though once a great slave to tobacco, has overcome the habit, and is now master of the situation in this respect. His wife was a daughter of the late John Yuill, of Lower Truro.

The 'News' wishes this aged veteran many years yet of continued good health and happiness. [Truro Daily News - Jan 6 1896]"

David is buried in the Portaupique Beach Cemetery on the shore of the Bay of Fundy.