Biography of George Blunt Wendell
George Blunt Wendell (1831-1881) was born and raised in Portsmouth, New Hampshire. After his basic schooling was completed, young George was apprenticed to the counting house of Goodwin & Coues, who at that time were engaged in navigation. However, in 1847 he commenced his seafaring career as a cabin boy aboard the Ship JOHN CUMMING, and 3 years later became first mate for a voyage in the Ship JOHN HAVEN. Wendell’s first command was the Ship PISCATAQUA in 1853, after that he commanded the Ship GRANADA, and the Clippers GANGES, BENARES, and GALATEA. He was employed by William S. Bullard & Co., and later by William F. Weld & Co. of Boston. Captain Wendell commanded the respect and confidence of both employers primarily because of his successful voyages and close application to the business entrusted to his care. It was often that a ship master was found to be a thorough seaman and smart navigator, but a poor merchant. Wendell however, used his mercantile knowledge obtained in the counting house to good advantage, and his voyages usually proved profitable for the vessel’s owners and himself. George Blunt Wendell retired from the sea in 1863 and later became a partner in the Quincey Granite Works, which he controlled at the time of his death in 1881.
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.
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:
Cutler, Carl C., 1878-1966
Hinckley, F. (Frederick)
Wendell family
Wendell, A.
Corporate Bodies (Including Vessels):
Benares (Ship)
Galatea (Ship)
Ganges (Ship)
Piscataqua (Ship)
Quincy Granite Work
Sam Dale (Steamboat)
William F. Weld & Co.
William S. Bullard & Co.
Places:
Cincinnati (Ohio)–Description and travel
Mississippi River–Description and travel
New Orleans (La.)–Description and travel
Subjects:
Granite industry and trade–Massachusetts–Quincy
Inland water transportation
Shipping–Massachusetts–Boston
Shipping–New Hampshire–Portsmouth
Ships–Cargo
Ships in art
Document Types:
Accounts
Crew lists
Genealogies
Photographs
Reminiscences
Ships’ logs
Occupations:
Merchants–Massachusetts–Quincy
Shipmasters–New England
Administrative Information
Coll. 59 Manuscripts Collection, G. W. Blunt White Library, Mystic Seaport Museum, Inc.
Indexes
Detailed Description of the Collection
The following section contains a detailed listing of the materials in the collection.
Personal Correspondence; 1845-1965 | |||||||||||||
Box | Folder | ||||||||||||
1 | 1 | Family correspondence; 1845 | |||||||||||
2 | Family correspondence; 1846 | ||||||||||||
3 | Family correspondence; 1847 | ||||||||||||
4 | Family correspondence; 1848 | ||||||||||||
5 | Family correspondence; 1849 | ||||||||||||
6 | Family correspondence; 1850 | ||||||||||||
7 | Family correspondence; 1851 | ||||||||||||
8 | Family correspondence; 1852 | ||||||||||||
9 | Family correspondence; 1853 | ||||||||||||
10 | Family correspondence; 1854 | ||||||||||||
11 | Family correspondence and correspondence with friends; 1855 | ||||||||||||
12 | Family correspondence; 1856 | ||||||||||||
13 | Family correspondence; 1857 | ||||||||||||
14 | Family correspondence; 1858 | ||||||||||||
15 | Family correspondence; 1859 | ||||||||||||
16 | Family correspondence and correspondence with friends; 1860 | ||||||||||||
17 | Family correspondence; 1861 | ||||||||||||
18 | Family correspondence; 1862 | ||||||||||||
19 | Family correspondence; 1863 | ||||||||||||
20 | Family correspondence and correspondence with friends; 1864 | ||||||||||||
21 | Family correspondence; 1865 | ||||||||||||
22 | Family correspondence; undated | ||||||||||||
Business correspondence; 1853-1862 | |||||||||||||
Box | Folder | ||||||||||||
2 | 1 | Business correspondence; 1853 | |||||||||||
2 | Business correspondence; 1854 | ||||||||||||
3 | Business correspondence; 1855 | ||||||||||||
4 | Business correspondence; 1856 | ||||||||||||
5 | Business correspondence; 1857 | ||||||||||||
6 | Business correspondence; 1858 | ||||||||||||
7 | Business correspondence; 1859 | ||||||||||||
8 | Business correspondence; 1860 | ||||||||||||
9 | Business correspondence; 1861 | ||||||||||||
10 | Business correspondence; 1862 | ||||||||||||
Miscellaneous correspondence; 1856-1881 | |||||||||||||
Box | Folder | ||||||||||||
2 | 11 | Miscellaneous correspondence; 1856 | |||||||||||
12 | Miscellaneous correspondence; 1859-1865 | ||||||||||||
13 | Miscellaneous correspondence; 1866-1881 | ||||||||||||
14 | Miscellaneous correspondence; undated | ||||||||||||
Bills, accounts, photos, genealogy, etc.; ca. 1815-1900 | |||||||||||||
Box | Folder | ||||||||||||
3 | 1 | Bill of sale, Sloop GOLD COINER; 1815 | |||||||||||
2 | Photos of ship paintings; CLARISSA, BENARES, GALATEA, GANGES; 1832-1862 | ||||||||||||
3 | “Reminiscences of New Orleans, and Journey up the Mississippi and Ohio Rivers” (typed copy), by Geroge B. Wendell; 1847 | ||||||||||||
4 | Seamen’s Protection Certificates issued to G. B. Wendell; Certificate of Membership issued to G. B. Wendell by the Portsmouth (N.H.) Marine Society; 1847, 1851, 1859 | ||||||||||||
5 | Ship’s disbursements and accounts; 1847-1863 | ||||||||||||
6 | Invoices and receipts against George B. Wendell; 1848-1863 | ||||||||||||
7 | Miscellaneous accounts concerning Jacob, Jacob Jr., and George B. Wendell; 1849-1865 | ||||||||||||
8 | Notices of Houses of Refuge and Pilot Stations and Sailing Directions; 1851 | ||||||||||||
9 | Miscellaneous advertisements; 182-1860 | ||||||||||||
10 | Track Charts: PISCATAQUA, GRANADA, GANGES, BENARES, and GALATEA; 1853-1863 | ||||||||||||
11 | Photo of a painting of Ship PISCATAQUA of Boston signalling for a pilot off Sand Head (“painted by a sailor on board”); 1854 | ||||||||||||
12 | Photo of a painting of Ship GRANADA of Boston near Cape of Good Hope (“painted by a sailor on board”); 1855 | ||||||||||||
13 | Memorandum of Calcutta goods, Ship GRANADA (G. B. Wendell, master); 1855 | ||||||||||||
14 | Seamen’s Protection Certificates; 1855 | ||||||||||||
15 | Stores and chandlery lists for Ships BENARES, GALATEA and GANGES; 1855-1862 | ||||||||||||
16 | Invoices and receipts against vessels under G. B. Wendell’s command; 1855-1863 | ||||||||||||
17 | Envelopes; 1855-1936 | ||||||||||||
18 | Statements of General Average for Ship BENARES and for Ship GANGES; 1856-1857 | ||||||||||||
19 | Certificate of Apprenticeship: Henry S. Ellis to George B. Wendell, ? (Capt.) of Ship BENARES; 1857 | ||||||||||||
20 | Instructions for “Ready About”, written by George B. Wendell to Willie G. Shackford; ca. 1857-1858 | ||||||||||||
21 | Excerpts from the private logbook of Frederic Hinckley (serving under G. W. Wendell); 1858 | ||||||||||||
22 | Papers relating to a suit brought against George B. Wendell; 1859 | ||||||||||||
23 | Song, “Galatea”, written by George B. Wendell, with typed copy and letter to the New York Times, written by Arthur R. Wendell; ca. 1860; 1923 Jan 22 | ||||||||||||
24 | Bills of lading, Ship GALATEA; 1862 | ||||||||||||
25 | Shipping paper and crew list, Ship GALATEA; 1862 | ||||||||||||
26 | Advertising card, Wells Fargo & Co., Issued of the New Hampshire Gazette; 1863 Jan 31 | ||||||||||||
27 | “Early Recollections of Portsmouth, New Hampshire”, by Barney Gatz (typed copy); 1897 | ||||||||||||
28 | Rates and charges, the Hoogley Dock, Calcutta, India (printed form); undated | ||||||||||||
29 | Notebook containing navigation problems; undated | ||||||||||||
30 | Miscellaneous navigation notes and problems; undated and some 1899 | ||||||||||||
31 | Wendell family pictures, mostly George B. Wendell | ||||||||||||
32 | Miscellaneous photos; undated | ||||||||||||
33 | Photos of ship models: GALATEA, GANGES, and unidentified | ||||||||||||
34 | Miscellaneous pencil sketches, probably by George B. Wendell; undated | ||||||||||||
35 | Miscellaneous, memorabilia; undated | ||||||||||||
36 | Obituary notices of George Blunt Wendell, including the Nautical Gazette (N.Y.) and typed copies from other newspapers and periodicals; 1881 Oct | ||||||||||||
37 | Wendell family genealogy | ||||||||||||
Letters, clippings, research, etc. of F. Hinckley, A. Wendell, C. Cutler, and others, re. G. B. Wendell; 1900-1949 | |||||||||||||
Box | Folder | ||||||||||||
4 | 1 | Newspaper and periodical clippings re. Capt Frederic Hinckley, including an account of the shipwreck of Ship LIVING AGE (on which Hinckley was second mate); 1905-1907 | |||||||||||
2 | Correspondence between Frederic Hinckley (who was first mate under Capt. G. B. Wendell) and Arthur R. Wendell (son of G. B. Wendell), including several extracts from G. B. Wendell’s journals and logbooks; 1901-1938 | ||||||||||||
3 | Letter to Arthur R. Wendell, from James R. Stanwood (cousin); 1901 | ||||||||||||
4 | Letter to Arthur Wendell from Sailors’ Snug Harbor; 1902 | ||||||||||||
5 | Letter to Arthur Wendell; 1906 | ||||||||||||
6 | Letter to Arthur Wendell, from George B. Wendell Jr.; 1912 | ||||||||||||
7 | Correspondence between Arthur Wendell and the Charles F. Biele & Sons Co.; 1915 | ||||||||||||
8 | Letters from Arthur R. Wendell to the Marine Research Society; 1926 | ||||||||||||
9 | Correspondence between Arthur R. Wendell and Edward L. Tinker; and Arthur R. Wendell and C. G. Davis; 1929 | ||||||||||||
10 | Correspondence between Arthur R. Wendell and Pauline A. Pinckney; and Arthur R. Wendell and the Mariners Museum; 1940-1941 | ||||||||||||
11 | Correspondence between Arthur R. Wendell and Caroline H. and Edith G. Fabens (daughters of Capt. S. A. Fabens, master of Ship GANGES); 1943 | ||||||||||||
12 | Correspondence between Arthur R. Wendell and Carl C. Cutler (secretary of the Marine Historical Association) regarding publication of the book, George Blunt Wendell, Clipper Ship Master; 1946-1949 | ||||||||||||
13 | Typed copies of manuscript for the book, George Blunt Wendell, Clipper Ship Master (Marine Historical Ass’n Publication No. 20) | ||||||||||||
14 | Typed copies of manuscript related to above mentioned book | ||||||||||||
Volumes; 1853-1878 | |||||||||||||
Volume | |||||||||||||
1 | The Chronometer’s Companion, by J. Griffin (London, James Imray, 1837?); used by Geroge Wendell on Ship PISCATAQUA and Ship GRANADA; 1853-1854 | ||||||||||||
2 | Notebook, “Ship BENARES, George B. Wendell”, containing miscellaneous accounts and notes; ca. 1859 | ||||||||||||
3 | Notebook containing scattered notes, sketches, dimensions, memo of Calcutta goods; 1855 | ||||||||||||
4 | Copies of letters and accounts, kept by George B. Wendell; 1854-1862 | ||||||||||||
5 | Smith’s Pocket Almanac and Diary for 1858 (London, Ths. J. & J. Smith, 1857?) Contains accounts and miscellaneous memoranda of George B. Wendell, Ship GALATEA; 1860 | ||||||||||||
6 | “Rate Book of Ship GALATEA, Chronometers No’s 1704 (GBW) and 1105 (Ships)”; 1860 Feb-1861 Jan | ||||||||||||
7 | Notebook, “Ship GALATEA” containing miscellaneous accounts (both personal and re. ship), notes, prescriptions, verse, etc.; 1861-1862 | ||||||||||||
8 | “Officers & Crews Accounts” Ship BENARES,Ship GALATEA, George B. Wendell, master; 1861 | ||||||||||||
9 | “Statement of General Average” Ship BENARES, Frederic Hinckley, master; 1863 | ||||||||||||
10 | “Ship GALATEA Rate Book” containing record of ship’s chronometer; 1862 Dec-1863 Jun | ||||||||||||
11 | “Abstract Log, wind and current charts, GALATEA” (nothing written in this volume) | ||||||||||||
12 | Memoir of Jacob Wendell, of Portsmouth, N.H., by Rev. Elias Nason (Boston, David Clapp & Son, 1868) | ||||||||||||
13 | Wendell Family (genealogy), ed. by Alexander Du Bin (Philadelphia, Historiacal Pub’n Society, 1939) (with additions, probably by Arthur R. Wendell) | ||||||||||||
14 | Abstract log, Ship BENARES (George B. Wendell, master; 1857-1858 | ||||||||||||
15 | Abstract log, Ship GALATEA (George B. Wendell, master; 1861-1862 | ||||||||||||
16 | Journal kept on board Ship PISCATAQUA by George B. Wendell, master; 1853-1854 | ||||||||||||
17 | Journal kept on board Ship GRANADA by George B. Wendell, master; 1854-1855 | ||||||||||||
18 | Journal kept on board Ship GANGES by George B. Wendell, master; 1855-1857 | ||||||||||||
19 | Journal kept on board Ship BENARES by George B. Wendell, master; 1857-1859 | ||||||||||||
20 | Journal kept on board Ship BENARES by Frederic Hinckleyl, master; 1858-1859 | ||||||||||||
21 | Journal kept on board Ship GALATEA by George B. Wendell, master; 1860-1861 | ||||||||||||
22 | Manuscript copy of above volume | ||||||||||||
23 | Typed copy of Volume 22 (incomplete- personal remarks edited out) | ||||||||||||
24 | Journal kept on board Ship BENARES by Frederic Hinckleyl, master; 1861-1862 | ||||||||||||
25 | Journal kept on board Ship GALATEA by George B. Wendell, master; 1861-1862 | ||||||||||||
26 | Journal kept on board Ship GALATEA by George B. Wendell, master; 1862-1863 | ||||||||||||
27 | Letter copybook, containing letters from George B. Wendell, representing Mitchell, Wendell & Co. (Granite quarry), Quincy, Massachusetts; 1877 Jan-1878 Jul | ||||||||||||
28 | Holy Bible (New York, American Bible Society, 1851), Flyleaf inscribed: “George B. Wendell from his friend Charles B. Wilson, October 29th, 1852, New Orleans” | ||||||||||||
29 | German Lyrics, by Charles T. Brooks (Boston, Ticknor, Reed & Fields, 1853), Flyleave inscribed: “G. B. Wendell from Rev. Chas. T. Brooks, a passenger on PISCATAQUA” 1853 | ||||||||||||
30 | Three Tales, by the Countess D’Arbouville (London, Clarke, Beeton & Co., N.D.), Flyleaf inscribed: “George B. Wendell, 1858, GANGES” |