James O. Curtis
Encyclopedia
James Otis Curtis was an American shipbuilder who built ships in Medford, Massachusetts
(up the Mystic River
from Boston
). He built wooden ships that were either powered by sail or by screw and steam.
, including the first Clipper Ship built in Medford, the Shooting Star, and the largest ship and clipper ship ever built at Medford the Ocean Express:
* 1851 Shooting Star, 903 tons Old Measurement (extreme clipper
)
* 1851 Telegraph, 1078 tons Old Measurement (extreme clipper)
* 1851 Antelope of Boston
, 587 tons Old Measurement (medium clipper)
* 1852 Onward
, 874 tons Old Measurement (extreme clipper)
* 1852 Whirlwind, 960 tons Old Measurement (extreme clipper)
* 1852 Star Of The Union, 1057 tons Old Measurement (extreme clipper)
* 1853 George Peabody, 1397 tons Old Measurement (medium clipper)
* 1853 Competitor (renamed Lorelei), 871 tons Old Measurement (medium clipper)
* 1853 Wild Ranger, 1044 tons Old Measurement (medium clipper)
* 1853 Eagle Wing, 1174 tons Old Measurement (extreme clipper)
* 1854 Ocean Express, 1697 tons Old Measurement (medium clipper)
* 1854 Ocean Telegraph
(renamed Light Brigade in 1863), 1495 tons Old Measurement (extreme clipper)
* 1855 Good Hope, 1295 tons Old Measurement (medium clipper)
* 1856 Silver Star, 1195 tons Old Measurement (medium clipper)
* 1856 Flying Mist, 1183 tons Old Measurement (medium clipper)
* 1856 Young Turk, 350 tons Old Measurement (medium clipper)
* 1857 Wild Gazelle, 490 tons Old Measurement (medium clipper barque)
* 1858 Industry, 1106 tons Old Measurement (medium clipper)
Shipbuilding was one of the two big businesses at Medford
in the mid-19th century. Thatcher Magoun's
shipyard, where James Otis Curtis did his apprenticeship, was the oldest and largest of the 10 yards, and remained so even after Thatcher's retirement in 1836. In 1845 one-quarter of all shipwrights in Massachusetts were employed in the Medford shipyards. The yards clustered along 1 mile of the Mystic River
riverfront, and James' yard was between Union and Swan Streets. The yards drew upon the ready supply of local timber until the local woods were depleted. Ships were then built from timber cut down and floated south from the hardwood forests of New Hampshire. Each ship was built from fifteen or more species of wood carefully pieced together where the special properties of each would do the most good.
James was the first child and eldest son of James and Desire (Otis) Curtis. He was born on November 1, 1804 at Scituate, Massachusetts
. In 1820, at the age of 15, he went to Medford to begin an apprenticeship as a shipwright at the shipyard of Mr. Thatcher Magoun. In 1834 the firm of Curtis and Co. was formed together with Paul Curtis
. In the 5 years from 1834 to 1839 they were to build 9 vessels. In 1836 they took over the yard of Thatcher Magoun to whom they had both been apprenticed, relinquishing the yard to others after their partnership dissolved in 1839. Carrying on business on his own James then built another 78 vessels in the next 30 years until retiring from shipbuilding in 1869. Paul also continued building ships on his own at Medford until 1852 when he moved his shipyard to East Boston. Even though both James and the elder Paul shared a surname, and were both born in Scituate, they were not closely related and no link has been found between their families.
The last ship built in Medford, the Pilgrim, was launched in 1873. Just 4 years earlier James had retired from shipbuilding after the launching of the last ship that he built in 1869, but he was still very much involved in his local community.
A civic-minded gentleman James took great interest in schools including acting as a school commissioner. In 1877 he donated to Medford it's only school-bell (in the tower of the Curtis school that had been built in 1877 and named after him), that formerly did service in his shipyard where it formerly rang at the opening and closing hours of daily labor. He also was involved in the Medford Branch Railway, and served as a member of the Spot Pond
water commission which supplied Medford's water. James was to serve the town of Medford in many capacities. He was the moderator of town meetings for 3 years, a selectman for 7 years, an ardent temperance worker, an assessor for 2 years, and in 1836 for 1 year a representative to the Massachusetts General Court
. He was a trustee of Tufts College
(now Tufts University) from 1856, and had been president of the Monument National Bank of Charlestown from 1871.
James' first wife Adeline Wait Curtis who he had married in 1826 had died in 1858, and they had two children: George in 1827 and Mary Genette in 1831.
James died on Monday Mar. 3, 1890 in the house which he built at the corner of Main and Royall Streets at Medford leaving a widow, his second wife who he had married in 1859.
Medford, Massachusetts
Medford is a city in Middlesex County, Massachusetts, in the United States, on the Mystic River, five miles northwest of downtown Boston. In the 2010 U.S. Census, Medford's population was 56,173...
(up the Mystic River
Mystic River
The Mystic River is a river in Massachusetts, in the United States. Its name derives from the Wampanoag word "muhs-uhtuq", which translates to "big river." In an Algonquian language, "Missi-Tuk" means "a great river whose waters are driven by waves", alluding to the natural tidal nature of the...
from Boston
Boston
Boston is the capital of and largest city in Massachusetts, and is one of the oldest cities in the United States. The largest city in New England, Boston is regarded as the unofficial "Capital of New England" for its economic and cultural impact on the entire New England region. The city proper had...
). He built wooden ships that were either powered by sail or by screw and steam.
Background
Included in the vessels built by James Otis Curtis were at least 18 American Clipper ShipsClipper
A clipper was a very fast sailing ship of the 19th century that had three or more masts and a square rig. They were generally narrow for their length, could carry limited bulk freight, small by later 19th century standards, and had a large total sail area...
, including the first Clipper Ship built in Medford, the Shooting Star, and the largest ship and clipper ship ever built at Medford the Ocean Express:
* 1851 Shooting Star, 903 tons Old Measurement (extreme clipper
Extreme clipper
An extreme clipper is a clipper designed to sacrifice cargo capacity for speed. They had a bow lengthened above the water, a drawing out and sharpening of the forward body, and the greatest breadth further aft. Extreme clippers were built in the period 1845 to 1855.-Medium and extreme clippers:From...
)
* 1851 Telegraph, 1078 tons Old Measurement (extreme clipper)
* 1851 Antelope of Boston
Antelope of Boston
Antelope was a medium clipper built in 1851 near Boston, in Medford, MA. She sailed in the San Francisco, China, and Far East trades. She was known for her fine finish work and for her crew’s escape from pirates...
, 587 tons Old Measurement (medium clipper)
* 1852 Onward
USS Onward (1852)
The first USS Onward was a clipper in the United States Navy.Onward was launched 3 July 1852 by James O. Curtis at Medford, Massachusetts, for Reed, Wade, and Co., of Boston, Massachusetts, and operated in the merchant service between New York City, Boston, and San Francisco, California. Purchased...
, 874 tons Old Measurement (extreme clipper)
* 1852 Whirlwind, 960 tons Old Measurement (extreme clipper)
* 1852 Star Of The Union, 1057 tons Old Measurement (extreme clipper)
* 1853 George Peabody, 1397 tons Old Measurement (medium clipper)
* 1853 Competitor (renamed Lorelei), 871 tons Old Measurement (medium clipper)
* 1853 Wild Ranger, 1044 tons Old Measurement (medium clipper)
* 1853 Eagle Wing, 1174 tons Old Measurement (extreme clipper)
* 1854 Ocean Express, 1697 tons Old Measurement (medium clipper)
* 1854 Ocean Telegraph
Ocean Telegraph / Light Brigade (clipper)
The Ocean Telegraph was an American clipper ship. Built in 1854 for the run between New York and San Francisco, she was later sold and renamed the Light Brigade in 1863...
(renamed Light Brigade in 1863), 1495 tons Old Measurement (extreme clipper)
* 1855 Good Hope, 1295 tons Old Measurement (medium clipper)
* 1856 Silver Star, 1195 tons Old Measurement (medium clipper)
* 1856 Flying Mist, 1183 tons Old Measurement (medium clipper)
* 1856 Young Turk, 350 tons Old Measurement (medium clipper)
* 1857 Wild Gazelle, 490 tons Old Measurement (medium clipper barque)
* 1858 Industry, 1106 tons Old Measurement (medium clipper)
Shipbuilding was one of the two big businesses at Medford
Medford, Massachusetts
Medford is a city in Middlesex County, Massachusetts, in the United States, on the Mystic River, five miles northwest of downtown Boston. In the 2010 U.S. Census, Medford's population was 56,173...
in the mid-19th century. Thatcher Magoun's
Thatcher Magoun (clipper)
The Thatcher Magoun, an extreme clipper launched in 1855, was named after Medford's great shipbuilder, Thatcher Magoun, who died the year that she was launched.-Construction:...
shipyard, where James Otis Curtis did his apprenticeship, was the oldest and largest of the 10 yards, and remained so even after Thatcher's retirement in 1836. In 1845 one-quarter of all shipwrights in Massachusetts were employed in the Medford shipyards. The yards clustered along 1 mile of the Mystic River
Mystic River
The Mystic River is a river in Massachusetts, in the United States. Its name derives from the Wampanoag word "muhs-uhtuq", which translates to "big river." In an Algonquian language, "Missi-Tuk" means "a great river whose waters are driven by waves", alluding to the natural tidal nature of the...
riverfront, and James' yard was between Union and Swan Streets. The yards drew upon the ready supply of local timber until the local woods were depleted. Ships were then built from timber cut down and floated south from the hardwood forests of New Hampshire. Each ship was built from fifteen or more species of wood carefully pieced together where the special properties of each would do the most good.
James was the first child and eldest son of James and Desire (Otis) Curtis. He was born on November 1, 1804 at Scituate, Massachusetts
Scituate, Massachusetts
Scituate is a seacoast town in Plymouth County, Massachusetts, United States, on the South Shore, midway between Boston and Plymouth. The population was 18,133 at the 2010 census....
. In 1820, at the age of 15, he went to Medford to begin an apprenticeship as a shipwright at the shipyard of Mr. Thatcher Magoun. In 1834 the firm of Curtis and Co. was formed together with Paul Curtis
Paul Curtis (shipbuilder)
Paul Curtis was an American shipbuilder who built ships in Medford, Massachusetts .-Background:Shipbuilding was one of the two big businesses at Medford in the mid-19th century...
. In the 5 years from 1834 to 1839 they were to build 9 vessels. In 1836 they took over the yard of Thatcher Magoun to whom they had both been apprenticed, relinquishing the yard to others after their partnership dissolved in 1839. Carrying on business on his own James then built another 78 vessels in the next 30 years until retiring from shipbuilding in 1869. Paul also continued building ships on his own at Medford until 1852 when he moved his shipyard to East Boston. Even though both James and the elder Paul shared a surname, and were both born in Scituate, they were not closely related and no link has been found between their families.
The last ship built in Medford, the Pilgrim, was launched in 1873. Just 4 years earlier James had retired from shipbuilding after the launching of the last ship that he built in 1869, but he was still very much involved in his local community.
A civic-minded gentleman James took great interest in schools including acting as a school commissioner. In 1877 he donated to Medford it's only school-bell (in the tower of the Curtis school that had been built in 1877 and named after him), that formerly did service in his shipyard where it formerly rang at the opening and closing hours of daily labor. He also was involved in the Medford Branch Railway, and served as a member of the Spot Pond
Middlesex Fells Reservation
Middlesex Fells Reservation, often referred to simply as the Fells, is a Massachusetts state park located in Malden, Medford, Melrose, Stoneham, and Winchester...
water commission which supplied Medford's water. James was to serve the town of Medford in many capacities. He was the moderator of town meetings for 3 years, a selectman for 7 years, an ardent temperance worker, an assessor for 2 years, and in 1836 for 1 year a representative to the Massachusetts General Court
Massachusetts General Court
The Massachusetts General Court is the state legislature of the Commonwealth of Massachusetts. The name "General Court" is a hold-over from the Colonial Era, when this body also sat in judgment of judicial appeals cases...
. He was a trustee of Tufts College
Tufts University
Tufts University is a private research university located in Medford/Somerville, near Boston, Massachusetts. It is organized into ten schools, including two undergraduate programs and eight graduate divisions, on four campuses in Massachusetts and on the eastern border of France...
(now Tufts University) from 1856, and had been president of the Monument National Bank of Charlestown from 1871.
James' first wife Adeline Wait Curtis who he had married in 1826 had died in 1858, and they had two children: George in 1827 and Mary Genette in 1831.
James died on Monday Mar. 3, 1890 in the house which he built at the corner of Main and Royall Streets at Medford leaving a widow, his second wife who he had married in 1859.