Nathaniel, the father of Arcos BARNS, was born Sept. 12, 1769, and died Oct. 15, 1819. He was a mariner, doing business in the West Indies. He married Miss Nancy PENDLETON, of Westerly, R. I., in 1791. She was born July 22, 1771, and died April 30, 1835. They had four sons and four daughters. The oldest child, Nathaniel, was drowned off Lisbon, Portugal, Oct. 15, 1811, in the nineteenth year of his age, leaving no descendants. Of the remaining seven children, Acors was the oldest male heir. The subject of this sketch was born in Westerly, R. I., May 14, 1794, and died, the first of the seven, on the 18th of November, 1862.
His profession was the life of a sailor. It was not long before he owned and commanded a vessel of his own, small in dimensions but nevertheless his own. His business with his craft was trafficking along the coast from Nantucket to New York. The war of 1812 soon gave a more serious aspect to his business. The risks taken were greater and the profits larger. He was a skillful navigator and had many hairbreadth escapes. On one of his trips along the coast, availing himself of a dense fog to run by the blockading ships of the enemy, he was so unfortunate as to be becalmed in the midst of the squadron, and when the fog lifted he and his vessel were captured by the enemy. He with other prisoners were started for Halifax, Nova Scotia, but finally were put shore on the coast of Massachusetts. He returned home a worse than penniless boy, for he had not paid for his first vessel in full. Some time after this disaster he joined a vessel known as a 'row-galley," and called "Black Nose," the forward half of the boat being black and the after part white. Its armament was the old-fashioned flint-lock musket, which each man furnishing his own with ammunition. Their occupation was skirting along the coast, keeping a sharp lookout for Yankee crafts that had been captured by the enemy and recapture them if possible. They also rendered assistance to their friends when they were pursued by the enemy's boats. At the time Commodore HARDY made his famous descent upon the borough of Stonington, Aug. 9 to 12, 1814, this "row-galley" was the boat that carried the correspondence between the civil authorities of the borough and Commodore HARDY. While the boat would be waiting alongside the ship the crews of each would pass the time n exchanging tart compliments with each other. After the commencement of the bombardment the "row galley" was actively engaged in moving the inhabitants and their household goods up the Pawcatuck River to a place of safety. The result of the gallant defense of Stonington is a matter of history well known to all.
On the 25th of May, 1817, Acors BARNS married Miss Hannah DICKINS, daughter of Tristam and Martha DICKINS, née WILCOX, of Stonington. She was born June 20, 1799, and still survives her husband.
Acors BARNES came to New London April 1, 1827, with his family. He immediately entered into the employ of Maj. Thomas W. WILLIAMS, and remained with him until 1829. During the fall of 1827 he took command of the ship "Chelsea," built by Maj. WILLIAMS and his friends at Norwich, Conn., and made a voyage from New York to New Orleans and back; from New York she sailed under his command as a London packet to that place, and back to New York.
In 1829, William WILLIAMS, Jr., and Acors BARNS commenced business by fitting two ships for the whale-fishery, the "Stonington," already in the fishery, and the "Electra," a London packet, bought for the business.
From 1829 to 1832 the above-names firm had no permanent place of business, but leaded office, storage, and wharf accommodations during the time necessary to fit their ships for sea and to dispose of their cargoes. In the spring of 1832 they leased a store and office on Bank Street, and commenced a commission and general merchandising business, as was the custom of all the whaling agents (as they were styled). This year they fitted for sea the "Helvetius," "Stonington," and "Electra." The two latter ships made annual voyages until 1833, when the "Stonington" was sent on a sperm-whale voyage to the Pacific Ocean, where the "Helvetius" had been sent in 1832. This vessel was wrecked on Oahu, one of the Sandwich Islands, but her cargo of five hundred barrels of sperm oil was saved and sent home. In 1833 the first disaster befell the firm. The bark "Ruth and Mary" was lost on Block Island, as she was proceeding to sea, during a dense fog. Some of the material of the vessel, however, was saved, and a large part of the cargo.
During the time Acors BARNS was a member of the firm, from 1829 to 1858, a period of thirty years, they owned thirteen ships and barks and two brigs. Of these four were wrecked, two were condemned in foreign ports, and four were sold.
Acors BARNS had other investments enterprises than the whale-fishery. He was a prominent owner in the coasting trade, carried on by a large fleet of sloops and schooners at an early date, and afterwards by propellers. He was one of the projectors of the first propeller line that ran between New York and New London, and at a time when a propeller was looked upon as an experiment. This was in the year 1844. He lived to see sail-vessels to a great extent superseded by propellers.
He was one of the incorporators of the New London Northern Railroad Company, chartered under the name of the New London, Willimantic and Palmer Railroad Company, was elected a director on its organization, and remained in its direction until his death.
In 1852 he, with his friends became the incorporators, under the State Banking Act, of the Bank of Commerce, with a capital of one hundred and seven thousand two hundred dollars. He was elected president on its organization, and held that office until his death.
This is a condensed version from the book
"New London County, Connecticut, with Biographical Sketches" compiled by D. Hamilton Hurd, 1882, page 234
His profession was the life of a sailor. It was not long before he owned and commanded a vessel of his own, small in dimensions but nevertheless his own. His business with his craft was trafficking along the coast from Nantucket to New York. The war of 1812 soon gave a more serious aspect to his business. The risks taken were greater and the profits larger. He was a skillful navigator and had many hairbreadth escapes. On one of his trips along the coast, availing himself of a dense fog to run by the blockading ships of the enemy, he was so unfortunate as to be becalmed in the midst of the squadron, and when the fog lifted he and his vessel were captured by the enemy. He with other prisoners were started for Halifax, Nova Scotia, but finally were put shore on the coast of Massachusetts. He returned home a worse than penniless boy, for he had not paid for his first vessel in full. Some time after this disaster he joined a vessel known as a 'row-galley," and called "Black Nose," the forward half of the boat being black and the after part white. Its armament was the old-fashioned flint-lock musket, which each man furnishing his own with ammunition. Their occupation was skirting along the coast, keeping a sharp lookout for Yankee crafts that had been captured by the enemy and recapture them if possible. They also rendered assistance to their friends when they were pursued by the enemy's boats. At the time Commodore HARDY made his famous descent upon the borough of Stonington, Aug. 9 to 12, 1814, this "row-galley" was the boat that carried the correspondence between the civil authorities of the borough and Commodore HARDY. While the boat would be waiting alongside the ship the crews of each would pass the time n exchanging tart compliments with each other. After the commencement of the bombardment the "row galley" was actively engaged in moving the inhabitants and their household goods up the Pawcatuck River to a place of safety. The result of the gallant defense of Stonington is a matter of history well known to all.
On the 25th of May, 1817, Acors BARNS married Miss Hannah DICKINS, daughter of Tristam and Martha DICKINS, née WILCOX, of Stonington. She was born June 20, 1799, and still survives her husband.
Acors BARNES came to New London April 1, 1827, with his family. He immediately entered into the employ of Maj. Thomas W. WILLIAMS, and remained with him until 1829. During the fall of 1827 he took command of the ship "Chelsea," built by Maj. WILLIAMS and his friends at Norwich, Conn., and made a voyage from New York to New Orleans and back; from New York she sailed under his command as a London packet to that place, and back to New York.
In 1829, William WILLIAMS, Jr., and Acors BARNS commenced business by fitting two ships for the whale-fishery, the "Stonington," already in the fishery, and the "Electra," a London packet, bought for the business.
From 1829 to 1832 the above-names firm had no permanent place of business, but leaded office, storage, and wharf accommodations during the time necessary to fit their ships for sea and to dispose of their cargoes. In the spring of 1832 they leased a store and office on Bank Street, and commenced a commission and general merchandising business, as was the custom of all the whaling agents (as they were styled). This year they fitted for sea the "Helvetius," "Stonington," and "Electra." The two latter ships made annual voyages until 1833, when the "Stonington" was sent on a sperm-whale voyage to the Pacific Ocean, where the "Helvetius" had been sent in 1832. This vessel was wrecked on Oahu, one of the Sandwich Islands, but her cargo of five hundred barrels of sperm oil was saved and sent home. In 1833 the first disaster befell the firm. The bark "Ruth and Mary" was lost on Block Island, as she was proceeding to sea, during a dense fog. Some of the material of the vessel, however, was saved, and a large part of the cargo.
During the time Acors BARNS was a member of the firm, from 1829 to 1858, a period of thirty years, they owned thirteen ships and barks and two brigs. Of these four were wrecked, two were condemned in foreign ports, and four were sold.
Acors BARNS had other investments enterprises than the whale-fishery. He was a prominent owner in the coasting trade, carried on by a large fleet of sloops and schooners at an early date, and afterwards by propellers. He was one of the projectors of the first propeller line that ran between New York and New London, and at a time when a propeller was looked upon as an experiment. This was in the year 1844. He lived to see sail-vessels to a great extent superseded by propellers.
He was one of the incorporators of the New London Northern Railroad Company, chartered under the name of the New London, Willimantic and Palmer Railroad Company, was elected a director on its organization, and remained in its direction until his death.
In 1852 he, with his friends became the incorporators, under the State Banking Act, of the Bank of Commerce, with a capital of one hundred and seven thousand two hundred dollars. He was elected president on its organization, and held that office until his death.
This is a condensed version from the book
"New London County, Connecticut, with Biographical Sketches" compiled by D. Hamilton Hurd, 1882, page 234
Nathaniel, the father of Arcos BARNS, was born Sept. 12, 1769, and died Oct. 15, 1819. He was a mariner, doing business in the West Indies. He married Miss Nancy PENDLETON, of Westerly, R. I., in 1791. She was born July 22, 1771, and died April 30, 1835. They had four sons and four daughters. The oldest child, Nathaniel, was drowned off Lisbon, Portugal, Oct. 15, 1811, in the nineteenth year of his age, leaving no descendants. Of the remaining seven children, Acors was the oldest male heir. The subject of this sketch was born in Westerly, R. I., May 14, 1794, and died, the first of the seven, on the 18th of November, 1862.
His profession was the life of a sailor. It was not long before he owned and commanded a vessel of his own, small in dimensions but nevertheless his own. His business with his craft was trafficking along the coast from Nantucket to New York. The war of 1812 soon gave a more serious aspect to his business. The risks taken were greater and the profits larger. He was a skillful navigator and had many hairbreadth escapes. On one of his trips along the coast, availing himself of a dense fog to run by the blockading ships of the enemy, he was so unfortunate as to be becalmed in the midst of the squadron, and when the fog lifted he and his vessel were captured by the enemy. He with other prisoners were started for Halifax, Nova Scotia, but finally were put shore on the coast of Massachusetts. He returned home a worse than penniless boy, for he had not paid for his first vessel in full. Some time after this disaster he joined a vessel known as a 'row-galley," and called "Black Nose," the forward half of the boat being black and the after part white. Its armament was the old-fashioned flint-lock musket, which each man furnishing his own with ammunition. Their occupation was skirting along the coast, keeping a sharp lookout for Yankee crafts that had been captured by the enemy and recapture them if possible. They also rendered assistance to their friends when they were pursued by the enemy's boats. At the time Commodore HARDY made his famous descent upon the borough of Stonington, Aug. 9 to 12, 1814, this "row-galley" was the boat that carried the correspondence between the civil authorities of the borough and Commodore HARDY. While the boat would be waiting alongside the ship the crews of each would pass the time n exchanging tart compliments with each other. After the commencement of the bombardment the "row galley" was actively engaged in moving the inhabitants and their household goods up the Pawcatuck River to a place of safety. The result of the gallant defense of Stonington is a matter of history well known to all.
On the 25th of May, 1817, Acors BARNS married Miss Hannah DICKINS, daughter of Tristam and Martha DICKINS, née WILCOX, of Stonington. She was born June 20, 1799, and still survives her husband.
Acors BARNES came to New London April 1, 1827, with his family. He immediately entered into the employ of Maj. Thomas W. WILLIAMS, and remained with him until 1829. During the fall of 1827 he took command of the ship "Chelsea," built by Maj. WILLIAMS and his friends at Norwich, Conn., and made a voyage from New York to New Orleans and back; from New York she sailed under his command as a London packet to that place, and back to New York.
In 1829, William WILLIAMS, Jr., and Acors BARNS commenced business by fitting two ships for the whale-fishery, the "Stonington," already in the fishery, and the "Electra," a London packet, bought for the business.
From 1829 to 1832 the above-names firm had no permanent place of business, but leaded office, storage, and wharf accommodations during the time necessary to fit their ships for sea and to dispose of their cargoes. In the spring of 1832 they leased a store and office on Bank Street, and commenced a commission and general merchandising business, as was the custom of all the whaling agents (as they were styled). This year they fitted for sea the "Helvetius," "Stonington," and "Electra." The two latter ships made annual voyages until 1833, when the "Stonington" was sent on a sperm-whale voyage to the Pacific Ocean, where the "Helvetius" had been sent in 1832. This vessel was wrecked on Oahu, one of the Sandwich Islands, but her cargo of five hundred barrels of sperm oil was saved and sent home. In 1833 the first disaster befell the firm. The bark "Ruth and Mary" was lost on Block Island, as she was proceeding to sea, during a dense fog. Some of the material of the vessel, however, was saved, and a large part of the cargo.
During the time Acors BARNS was a member of the firm, from 1829 to 1858, a period of thirty years, they owned thirteen ships and barks and two brigs. Of these four were wrecked, two were condemned in foreign ports, and four were sold.
Acors BARNS had other investments enterprises than the whale-fishery. He was a prominent owner in the coasting trade, carried on by a large fleet of sloops and schooners at an early date, and afterwards by propellers. He was one of the projectors of the first propeller line that ran between New York and New London, and at a time when a propeller was looked upon as an experiment. This was in the year 1844. He lived to see sail-vessels to a great extent superseded by propellers.
He was one of the incorporators of the New London Northern Railroad Company, chartered under the name of the New London, Willimantic and Palmer Railroad Company, was elected a director on its organization, and remained in its direction until his death.
In 1852 he, with his friends became the incorporators, under the State Banking Act, of the Bank of Commerce, with a capital of one hundred and seven thousand two hundred dollars. He was elected president on its organization, and held that office until his death.
This is a condensed version from the book
"New London County, Connecticut, with Biographical Sketches" compiled by D. Hamilton Hurd, 1882, page 234
His profession was the life of a sailor. It was not long before he owned and commanded a vessel of his own, small in dimensions but nevertheless his own. His business with his craft was trafficking along the coast from Nantucket to New York. The war of 1812 soon gave a more serious aspect to his business. The risks taken were greater and the profits larger. He was a skillful navigator and had many hairbreadth escapes. On one of his trips along the coast, availing himself of a dense fog to run by the blockading ships of the enemy, he was so unfortunate as to be becalmed in the midst of the squadron, and when the fog lifted he and his vessel were captured by the enemy. He with other prisoners were started for Halifax, Nova Scotia, but finally were put shore on the coast of Massachusetts. He returned home a worse than penniless boy, for he had not paid for his first vessel in full. Some time after this disaster he joined a vessel known as a 'row-galley," and called "Black Nose," the forward half of the boat being black and the after part white. Its armament was the old-fashioned flint-lock musket, which each man furnishing his own with ammunition. Their occupation was skirting along the coast, keeping a sharp lookout for Yankee crafts that had been captured by the enemy and recapture them if possible. They also rendered assistance to their friends when they were pursued by the enemy's boats. At the time Commodore HARDY made his famous descent upon the borough of Stonington, Aug. 9 to 12, 1814, this "row-galley" was the boat that carried the correspondence between the civil authorities of the borough and Commodore HARDY. While the boat would be waiting alongside the ship the crews of each would pass the time n exchanging tart compliments with each other. After the commencement of the bombardment the "row galley" was actively engaged in moving the inhabitants and their household goods up the Pawcatuck River to a place of safety. The result of the gallant defense of Stonington is a matter of history well known to all.
On the 25th of May, 1817, Acors BARNS married Miss Hannah DICKINS, daughter of Tristam and Martha DICKINS, née WILCOX, of Stonington. She was born June 20, 1799, and still survives her husband.
Acors BARNES came to New London April 1, 1827, with his family. He immediately entered into the employ of Maj. Thomas W. WILLIAMS, and remained with him until 1829. During the fall of 1827 he took command of the ship "Chelsea," built by Maj. WILLIAMS and his friends at Norwich, Conn., and made a voyage from New York to New Orleans and back; from New York she sailed under his command as a London packet to that place, and back to New York.
In 1829, William WILLIAMS, Jr., and Acors BARNS commenced business by fitting two ships for the whale-fishery, the "Stonington," already in the fishery, and the "Electra," a London packet, bought for the business.
From 1829 to 1832 the above-names firm had no permanent place of business, but leaded office, storage, and wharf accommodations during the time necessary to fit their ships for sea and to dispose of their cargoes. In the spring of 1832 they leased a store and office on Bank Street, and commenced a commission and general merchandising business, as was the custom of all the whaling agents (as they were styled). This year they fitted for sea the "Helvetius," "Stonington," and "Electra." The two latter ships made annual voyages until 1833, when the "Stonington" was sent on a sperm-whale voyage to the Pacific Ocean, where the "Helvetius" had been sent in 1832. This vessel was wrecked on Oahu, one of the Sandwich Islands, but her cargo of five hundred barrels of sperm oil was saved and sent home. In 1833 the first disaster befell the firm. The bark "Ruth and Mary" was lost on Block Island, as she was proceeding to sea, during a dense fog. Some of the material of the vessel, however, was saved, and a large part of the cargo.
During the time Acors BARNS was a member of the firm, from 1829 to 1858, a period of thirty years, they owned thirteen ships and barks and two brigs. Of these four were wrecked, two were condemned in foreign ports, and four were sold.
Acors BARNS had other investments enterprises than the whale-fishery. He was a prominent owner in the coasting trade, carried on by a large fleet of sloops and schooners at an early date, and afterwards by propellers. He was one of the projectors of the first propeller line that ran between New York and New London, and at a time when a propeller was looked upon as an experiment. This was in the year 1844. He lived to see sail-vessels to a great extent superseded by propellers.
He was one of the incorporators of the New London Northern Railroad Company, chartered under the name of the New London, Willimantic and Palmer Railroad Company, was elected a director on its organization, and remained in its direction until his death.
In 1852 he, with his friends became the incorporators, under the State Banking Act, of the Bank of Commerce, with a capital of one hundred and seven thousand two hundred dollars. He was elected president on its organization, and held that office until his death.
This is a condensed version from the book
"New London County, Connecticut, with Biographical Sketches" compiled by D. Hamilton Hurd, 1882, page 234
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