Joseph Henderson (Pilot)

Joseph Henderson
Captain Joseph Henderson ca. 1880
Born	Joseph Henderson September 9, 1826 Charleston, South Carolina
Died	October 7, 1890 (1890-10-08) (aged 64) Brooklyn, New York
Nationality	American
Occupation	American harbor pilot
Net worth	$US 100,000 (October 1890)
Spouse(s)	Angelina Annetta Weaver
Children	Sarah R. Henderson Maurice D. Henderson Joseph Henderson Jr. Mary Ann Henderson Angelina A. Henderson Alexander D. Henderson

Captain Joseph Henderson (September 9, 1826 - October 7, 1890) was an early American harbor pilot who guided large vessels in and out of the New York harbor. He was a legendary figure in the 1880s, well known for being one of the oldest and wealthiest of the Sandy Hook Pilots, which operated in what is now the Port of New York and New Jersey. He was recognized to all the large steamship owners as one of the most experienced and trustworthy New York pilots.

Joseph Henderson was born in Charleston, South Carolina. According to the 1880 Federal Census, Henderson's father and mother were born in South Carolina. At sixteen (1842), Henderson left Charleston to find passage to New York as a cabin boy on a ship traveling to New York City. It was written in the New York Herald newspaper that "some men on South street remember him in 1845 as a pilot of some standing even then."

Henderson married Angelina Annetta Weaver on February 11, 1849 at the Baptist Tabernacle Church, near Chatham Square, in New York City. The marriage announcement appeared in the New York Herald Newspaper. They had six children: Sarah R., Maurice D., Joseph Jr., Mary Ann, Angelina A., and Alexander D. Henderson (businessman).

Henderson was a notable Sandy Hook pilot in the New York Harbor and along the Atlantic Coast during the American Civil War. South Street (Manhattan) is a street in New York City that was the center of the city's shipping industry. When Henderson was twenty (1846), he took out his first pilot papers with the Board of Commissioners of Pilots of the state of New York. He became adept in all branches of piloting.

Henderson was listed in the 1848 Doggett's New York City directory as a seaman at 325 Front Street, New York City. He owned several pilot ships in the Sandy Hook service. By the age of twenty-one, he was captain of his own Schooner and a New York and Sandy Hook pilot. He spent over 45 years as a New York pilot and was in more boat accidents than any other pilots.

On September 13, 1853, Henderson was listed as one of the pilots and owners of the pilot boat Elwood Walter, No. 7, belonging to the Merchant Pilot Association. The pilot boat was named after the president of the Mercantile Insurance Company, and was built by Mr. Edward T. Williams, of Greenpoint, Brooklyn.