Powhattan (1837)
| History | |
|---|---|
| United States | |
| Launched: | 1837 |
| In service: | February 2, 1837 |
| Fate: | Wrecked April 16, 1854 |
| General characteristics | |
| Type: | Three Masted |
| Tons burthen: | 598 7/95 |
| Length: | 132' 10" |
| Beam: | 31' 7" |
| Propulsion: | Sail |
| Sail plan: | Square Rigged |
The Powhattan or Powhatan was a United States ship that is best remembered as one of the worst New Jersey shipwrecks in terms of loss of life. The number of victims varies according to sources between 200 and 365.
The Powhattan was an emigrant ship transport of 598 tons gross. It was registered as a new vessel on February 2, 1837 with W. Graham as owner and D. Griffith as master (captain). The ship was built in Baltimore, Maryland in 1836–1837 and made several trips across the Atlantic from England, France and the Netherlands to the ports of Baltimore and New York .
About the first of March 1854, the Powhattan sailed from the port of Le Havre, France destined for New York City. It was carrying more than 200 German emigrants. After encountering a storm off the New Jersey coast it went aground about 5:00 p.m. on April 15, 1854 on the shoals near Beach Haven, New Jersey, (Latitude 39 33 00 North −74 13 00 West ), about six miles south of the Harvey Cedars Lifesaving Station. The ship remained afloat until the following day, April 16, 1854 whereupon it broke apart resulting in the deaths of the entire crew and passengers. At the time of the accident, the ship was commanded by Captain James Meyers (or Myers) of Baltimore. The victims washed onto the beach as far south as Atlantic City, where they were buried in three cemeteries. Fifty-four were interred in a mass grave at Smithville Methodist Church and 45 were buried in Absecon. The majority of the bodies, about 140, washed ashore at Peahala on Long Beach Island. These victims were buried in pauper's graves in the Baptist cemetery in nearby Manahawkin.The cemetery now includes "The Unknown from the Sea" monument erected by the State of New Jersey in 1904 honoring all the victims of the Powhattan shipwreck [7] [8].) The Powhattan disaster served as an impetus for the purchase of the site for the Absecon Light house later in 1854. [9] [10]
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