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Three Become One: Birth of the U.S. Coast Guard

Three Become One: Birth of the U.S. Coast Guard

by | Sep 17, 2024 | History

Three Become One: Birth of the U.S. Coast Guard U.S. REVENUE CUTTER SERVICE Established by an Act of Congress on August 4, 1790, authorizing the construction and equipment of cutters to enforce the collection of customs and tonnage duties, the Revenue Cutter Service...
Coffin Stream Assemblage and Abenaki Arrival

Coffin Stream Assemblage and Abenaki Arrival

by | Sep 17, 2024 | History

Coffin Stream Assemblage and Abenaki Arrival Archaeological excavations in Newburyport, along the Merrimack (Molodemak in Abenaki), unearthed an Archaic period assemblage confirming thousands of years of occupation. Near the confluence of the Molodemak and Coffin...
Shipbuilding in Newburyport

Shipbuilding in Newburyport

by | Sep 10, 2024 | History

Shipbuilding in Newburyport Newburyport was geographically well-suited to become one of America’s premier early ship building centers. The town’s location along the Merrimack River provided access to the forests of New Hampshire and Maine, where hardwood for ship...
Shipbuilder Donald McKay

Shipbuilder Donald McKay

by | Sep 10, 2024 | History

Shipbuilder Donald McKay Nova Scotian Donald McKay began working as a shipbuilder in New York, in the late 1820s. There, he met and married Albenia Boole, the eldest daughter in a family of shipbuilders. She taught McKay algebra, trigonometry, and drafting skills,...
Newburyport’s Black Sailors

Newburyport’s Black Sailors

by | Sep 10, 2024 | History

Newburyport’s Black Sailors Throughout the 18th century, Newburyport merchants participated in the “triangular trade”, importing West Indian molasses, and exporting rum made from it. By the mid-18th century, while purchasing slaves in Massachusetts was illegal,...
Newburyport’s Many Shipyards

Newburyport’s Many Shipyards

by | Sep 10, 2024 | History

Newburyport Shipyards The first wharf in the town of Newbury was built by Capt. Paul White, in 1655, near the foot of Greenleaf’s lane – now State Street Newburyport. Subsequently, others were granted liberty to build wharves in that vicinity, and a...