George W. Gates Collection

Manuscripts Collection 153

Overview of the Collection
Repository: G. W. Blunt White Library, Mystic Seaport
Creator: Gates, George W., 1825-1898.
Title: George W. Gates Collection
Dates: 1847-1898
Extent: ca. 1200 pieces
Abstract: Correspondence, ships’ bills, discursements, port papers, and other records, from Gates’s commands of the ships WILLIAM H. WHARTON, NATIONAL GUARD, TWILIGHT I, TWILIGHT II, the bark GALVESTON, and the steamer NEVADA; together with letters written by his wife Julia.
Identification: Coll. 153

Biography of George W. Gates

George W. Gates, son of Zebadiah and Mercy (Denison) Gates, was born April 13, 1825 in the Groton, Connecticut. He spent his childhood on the family farm, and at 20 years old chose a sea-faring life. What follows is Capt. Gates’ personal description of his career.

“Left the old homestead September 20th, 1845, proceeded to New York by way of the Stonington Steam-boat. There I joined the brig MATAMORA as common sailor, under command of my brother Capt. Gurdon Gates, Isiah D. Bunce chief mate; the first voyage was from New York to Key West and St. Marks and return to New York – the second voyage was from New York to Apalachicola and return to New York, where we arrived in the month of March, 1846. Here I left the brig and came home and worked on the farm for my father until the following September, 1846, when I again joined the brig MATAMORA, this time under command of Capt. Isiah D. Bunce, (brother Gurdon being sick and unable to go.) Sailed on a voyage from New York to Key West and St. Marks. We reached Key West safely, but was there overtaken by the famous hurricane of October 6, 1846. The brig was dismantled (dismasted?) and driven ashore after parting one chain. The cargo was taken out of the brig in Lighters, but the brig was not floating again until the following February 1847, when my brother Gurdon came from New York with new spars and sails and resumed command of the brig, loading cargo for New Orleans. From here made a voyage to Galveston and return to New Orleans, (this was my first time in Galveston.) In New Orleans we took in a load of corn at a rate of freight of thirty pence or sixty cents per bushel for Bantry Bay on the South-west coast of Ireland, which was an unusual large freight. This was the year of the great Irish Famine in 1847. Capt. Thomas Eldredge was in command on this voyage, (my brother Gurdon being sick) Joshua Cameron was first mate, Geo. W. Gates second mate. After discharging cargo here, took in ballast and sailed direct for Mystic, where we arrived in the month of August.

The next vessel I sailed in was the bark MONTAUK as second mate, Gurdon Gates Captain. This vessel was built in Mystic by Irons and Grinnell – sailed in ths vessel three years, the last year as 1st mate until the summer of 1850, when I joined the ship Wm. H. WHARTON as 1st Officer, Gurdon Gates Captain. This ship was built by S. Gildersleeve & Son on the Connecticut River; was in this ship two years as mate and five years as Master – altogether seven years. The last four years continually between Galveston and Liverpool and other European ports. I left this ship in 1857 to take charge of the new ship NATIONAL GUARD, 1084 tons, built by S. Gildersleeve & Son on the Connecticut River. Sailed in this ship three years between Galveston and European ports, when this vessel was sold to the United States Government in 1860, at the breaking out of the war of the Rebellion.

In March, 1862, I took charge of the ship TWILLIGHT NO. 1 made one voyage to San Francisco and return to New York in February 1863.

In September, 1864 took charge of the NEVADA, built in Mystic, by Maxson Fish & Co. and owned by Wakeman, Gorking & Dickinson of New York, was in the transport service of the U.S. Government until the close of the war in April, 1865.

Was in command of the steamer GEORGIA from August, 1865 until March, 1866. Made two voyages, one to Galveston and one to Mobile. This steamer GEORGIA was a Confederate Privateer, captured by the U.S. Government in the last year of the war and put under the U.S. flag, she was built at Dunbarten, on the River Clyde, Scotland.

Was in command of bark GALVESTON, Charles Mallory owner, from October 1866 to August 1867. Was in command of steamer GENERAL SEDGWICK and steamer EUTERPE from December, 1867 to Jul 1870, and ran the “Mallory Line” between New York and Galveston and New Orleans.

In August 1870 took command of ship TWILIGHT No. 2 owned by Charles Mallory & Sons, was in this ship seven years, until 1877, and sailed from New York to San Francisco and Liverpool. I left this ship in August, 1877, which ended my sea-faring life.”

Capt. George Gates died in Mystic, Connecticut in 1898.

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Restrictions

Restrictions on Access

Available for use in the Manuscripts Division

Restrictions on Use

Various copying restriction apply. Guidelines are available from the Manuscripts Division.

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Index Terms

This collection is indexed under the following headings in the catalog of the G. W. Blunt White Library. Researchers desiring materials about related topics, persons or places should search the catalog using these headings.

Persons:

Gates, Julia–Correspondence

Corporate Bodies (Including Vessels):

Galveston (Bark)
National Guard (Ship)
Nevada (Steamer)
Twilight I (Ship)
Twilight II (Ship)
William H. Wharton (Ship)

Subjects:

Shipmasters’ spouses–Connecticut–Groton–Correspondence
Shipping

Document Types:

Ship’s papers

Occupations:

Shipmasters–Connecticut–Groton

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Administrative Information

Preferred Citation

Coll. 153, Manuscripts Collection, G. W. Blunt White Library, Mystic Seaport Museum, Inc.

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Indexes

Index to Personal and Corporate Names
NOTE: The fraction(s) indicate the Box and Folder numbers where that particular reference can be found. For example, the researcher will find information about A. Lyons & Co. in Box 1, Folder 11 of the collection.
A. Lyons & Co. 1/11
Allen, ? (Commodore) 1/6
Ashley, George (Capt.) 1/4
Baring Brothers 1/4, 1/10
Barkley, Perkins & Company 1/3
Brand, ? (Capt.) 1/6, 1/9
Brazos, ? (Capt.) 1/13
Briggs, ? (Capt.) 1/10
Brooks Brothers 1/6
Browne, Latham & Rogers 1/1
Browne, Shipley Co. 1/3, 1/4
C.H. Mallory Co. 1/5, 1/6, 1/7, 1/8, 1/9, 1/10, 1/11, 1/12
Caspari, Ammon & Co. 1/11
Crane, Buehlint (Capt.) 1/4
DeSilva, ? (Artist) 1/4
E.E. Morgan’s Sons 1/5, 1/8, 1/9
E.J. Hart & Co. 1/1
Edward Larve & Co. 1/1
Eldridge, ? (Capt.) 1/4
Ellis, ? (Capt.) 1/4
Fish, Horatio vol. 5
Frummer, ? (Capt.) 1/6
Gates, G. Gurdon 1/6
Gates, Isaac D. 1/2, vol 5
George A. Fosdick & Co. 1/5, 1/6
George Wright & Co. 1/3
Gildersleeve, Henry 1/3
Gildersleeve, S. 1/3
Gorden, ? (Capt.) 1/6
Green, John (Capt.) 1/13
Grisar & Marsily 1/4
H. Jump & Sons 1/11
Hayden, ? (Capt.) 1/8
Hendley, William 1/1, 1/2, 1/4, 1/6
Heneer, Jo (Capt.) 1/13
Herriman, Warmington & Company 1/11
Holloway, George E. (Capt.) 1/10, 1/11
Holmes, Richard (Capt.) 1/6, 1/13
Horn, ? (Capt.) 1/6
Howes, ? (Capt.) 1/13
J.D. Fish Co. 1/10, 1/11, 1/13, 1/14
J.H. Brower & Co. 1/1, 1/2, 1/3, 1/4
J.S. Dolliver & Co. 1/6
Jeffrys & Sons 1/3
Johnson, ? (Capt.) 1/4, 1/6
Kountz Brothers 1/9, 1/11
Kustel, ? (Capt.) 4/12
Lincoln, ? (Capt.) 1/2
M. Condray & Co. 1/6
Mallory, B.E. 1/4
Mallory, George 1/13
Mallory, Henry R. 1/8
Morrish, T.R. (Capt.) 4/11
Muecke, Vietor Co. 1/11
Nicholson, I.Y. (Capt.) 1/6
Nottebohm Brothers 1/1
Oakly, George W. (Capt.) 1/13
Penington, ? (Capt.) 1/13
Peter Wright & Sons 1/3
Prescott Grate & Co. 1/5
Rathbone & Company 1/8, 1/10, 1/11
Robert Rogers & Co. 1/8
Rogers & Caldon 1/3
Rowland, ? (Capt.) 1/6
Sawyer, ? (Capt.) 1/13
Scott & Co. 1/6
Sleight, John S. 1/2, 1/5
Smith, ? (Capt.) 1/3
Spicer, ? (Capt.) 1/13
Spiner, Joe (Capt.) 1/16
Tribbles, ? (Capt.) 1/13
W. Clave & Co. 1/5
Wainwright Bros. 1/11
Whitlock & Punnett 1/1
Woolf, Thomas (Capt.) 1/13
Zwilchenbart & Co. 1/2

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Index to Vessel Names
NOTE: The fraction(s) indicate the Box and Folder numbers where that particular reference can be found. For example, the researcher will find information about the vessel A.M. SMALL in Box 1, Folder 9 of the collection.
A.M. SMALL 1/9
ANNA 1/12
ASIA 1/3
BLACK HAWK 1/4
BRAZOS 1/8, 1/9, 1/13
BRIDGEPORT 1/13
CANADA 1/2
CAVELTOR 1/12
CHALLENGER 1/15
CITY OF DALLAS 1/13
CITY OF WACO 1/13
COLD STREAM 1/8
CORNELIA 1/15
CREMORNE 1/6, 1/8
DAUNTLESS 1/10
ELWELL 1/12
EUTERPE 1/13, 2/8
FEARLESS vol. 3
FOUTANA BOUND 1/10
GALVESTON 1/13, 2/7, 4/11
GENERAL McCALLUM 1/9
GILDERSLEEVE 1/4
GOVERNOR MORTON 1/10
HARVESTOR 4/12
HENRY REED 1/10
HIGHLAND LIGHT 1/12
HUMBOLDT 1/12
J.W. CLIDE 1/13
JEREMIAH THOMPSON 1/11, 1/12
METROPOLIS 1/13
NATIONAL GUARD 1/2, 1/3, 1/4, 2/5
NORTHERN LIGHT 1/11, 1/13
OCCIDENTAL 1/12
P. ROWLAND 1/13
P.N. BLANCHARD 1/12
REAPER 1/12
S.H. KUHN 1/4
SABINE 1/8, 1/13
SALT SPRINGS 3/1
SARAH 3/1
SEMINOLE 1/6
SILAS FISH 1/13
SMULL 1/11, 1/13
SON OF THE SEAS 1/6
SONORA 2/6
SUWELL 1/8
TRAVIS 1/3, 1/4
TRIUMPHANT 4/14
TWILIGHT 1/5, 1/6, 1/7, 1/8, 1/9, 1/10, 1/11, 1/12, 1/13, 1/15, 2/6, 3/1, 3/2, 3/3, 3/4, 3/5, 3/6, 3/7, 3/8, 3/9, 3/10, 4, 4/1, 4/2, 4/3, 4/4, 4/5, 4/11, 4/18, 5, 6, 7, 8, 9, 10, 11, 12, 13, 14, 15, 16, vol 3
VANOLINDA 3/1
VICTOR 1/5
VIDOR 1/10
WILLIAM H. WHARTON 1/1, 1/2, 1/4, 2/1, 2/2, 2/3, 2/4, 4/11, vol 1

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Detailed Description of the Collection

The following section contains a detailed listing of the materials in the collection.

 

Correspondence; 1853-1880
Box Folder
1 1 Correspondence; 1853-1854
2 Correspondence; 1855-1857
3 Correspondence; 1858
4 Correspondence; 1859-1862
5 Correspondence; 1870
6 Correspondence; 1871
7 Correspondence; 1872
8 Correspondence; 1873
9 Correspondence; 1874
10 Correspondence; 1875
11 Correspondence; 1876
12 Correspondence; 1877
13 Correspondence between George W. and brother Gurdon Gates; 1861-1877
14 Letters and payments received from J. D. Fish; 1863-1880
15 Correspondence, unidentified; undated
Ship disbursements, documentation, bills, etc., and Capt. Gates accounts at various ports; 1853-1869
Box Folder
2 1 Ship WILLIAM H. WHARTON; Galveston, Antwerp, New Orleans, and Havre; 1853-1869
2 Ship WILLIAM H. WHARTON; Galveston and Liverpool; 1855
3 Ship WILLIAM H. WHARTON; Galveston and Liverpool; 1856
4 Ship WILLIAM H. WHARTON; Liverpool, Galveston, New York; 1857 Feb-Jul
5 Ship NATIONAL GUARD; Liverpool, Galveston; 1858 Jun-1860 Aug
6 Ship TWILLIGHT (1st); New York, San Francisco; 1862 Mar-Oct
7 Bark GALVESTON; New York, Nassau, Galveston; 1866 Nov-1867 Mar
8 Steamer EUTERPE; New York, Key West, Galveston; 1868 Apr-1869 Mar
Ship TWILIGHT (2nd); documentation, disbursements, bills, etc., and Capt. Gates account at various ports; 1870-1877
Box Folder
3 1 Ship TWILIGHT and Capt. Gates, New York and Bristol; 1870
2 Ship TWILIGHT and Capt. Gates, New Orleans, Liverpool, and New York; 1871 Jan-Jul
3 Ship TWILIGHT and Capt. Gates, San Francisco, Calcutta; 1872 Jan-Jun
4 Ship TWILIGHT and Capt. Gates, San Francisco; 1873 May-Jun
5 Ship TWILIGHT and Capt. Gates, Liverpool; 1873 Nov
6 Ship TWILIGHT and Capt. Gates, San Francisco; 1874 Jul-Nov
7 Ship TWILIGHT and Capt. Gates, Liverpool; 1875 Mar-Apr
8 Ship TWILIGHT and Capt. Gates, San Francisco; 1875 Dec-1876 Jan
9 Ship TWILIGHT and Capt. Gates, Liverpool; 1876 May-Jul
10 Ship TWILIGHT and Capt. Gates, San Francisco; 1876 Dec-1877 Jul
Miscellaneous material relative to Ship TWILIGHT and to Capt. G. W. Gates; 185-1877
Box Folder
4 1 Ship TWILIGHT, registration certificate, San Francisco; 1868 Dec 9
2 Ship TWILIGHT, cargo receipts; 1870
3 Ship TWILIGHT, chandlery order blanks; 1874-1875
4 Ship TWILIGHT, sailing card; undated
5 Ship TWILIGHT, Capt. Gates bills for voyages 3-5; ca. 1872-1876
6 Capt. Gates, miscellaneous bills; 1858, 1864, 1869 Nov-Dec
7 “The American Emigrant Passenger Law,” pamplet; 1855
8 “Suggestions to Masters of Vessels and List of Agents for Vessels and Cargoes in Distress,” booklet; 1868
9 Freight/record booklet; ca. 1870
10 Harbor Laws and Regulations of the Port of San Francisco, booklet; 1874
11 Charter Parities; 1854-1877
12 “Sailing Directions for finding Rosa Island, Gulf of California, as given by Capt. Kustel of the Sch. HARVESTER; undated
13 Abstract log, unidenified ship, New York to San Francisco; undated
14 Abstract log, Ship TRIUMPHANT, New York to San Francisco; undated
15 Ship store list, Clark, Scott & Co., San Francisco, booklet; undated
16 Nautical Almanac; 1864-1874
17 Business cards; undated
18 Unindentified bills, receipts, brochures, pamphlets, accounts, etc.; undated
Envelopes; ca. 1853-1880
Box Folder
5 1 Envelopes; undated
2 Envelopes; undated
3 Envelopes; undated
4 Envelopes for ship’s papers; undated
5 Envelopes for ship’s papers; undated
Volumes; 1857-1877
Volume
1 Journal Ship WILLIAM H. WHARTON; 1857 Jan-Jun
Volume
2 Journal, unidentified vessel; 1861 Jan-May
Volume
3 Journal, Ship TWILIGHT (1); 1862 Mar-Nov
Volume
4 Journal, Ship TWILIGHT (2); 1877 Mar-Jun
Volume
5 Capt. G. W. Gates, personal account book/record book; 1862-1869
Volume
6 Ship TWILIGHT (2); crew account book; 1870-1872
Volume
7 Ship TWILIGHT (2); Capt. Gates “Slop Book”; ca. 1872-1877
Volume
8 Ship TWILIGHT (2); “accounts from San Francisco at Liverpool”; 1875-1877
Volume
9 Ship TWILIGHT (2); Cargo book; ca. 1870
Volume
10 Ship TWILIGHT (2); Cargo book; 1870 Aug
Volume
11 Ship TWILIGHT (2); Cargo book; 1870 Aug
Volume
12 Ship TWILIGHT (2); Cargo book; (ca 1871) Apr
Volume
13 Ship TWILIGHT (2); “Measurement book”; 1872 May
Volume
14 Ship TWILIGHT (2); Cargo book; 1873 May-Jun
Volume
15 Ship TWILIGHT (2); Cargo book; ca. 1876
Volume
16 Ship TWILIGHT (2); “Weight book” (cargo); 1876 Jun
Volume
17 Capt. G. W. Gates, receipt book, Liverpool; 1876 Jun-Jul
Volume
18 Unidentifed volume of computations; undated

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