SS Home
Encyclopedia
The SS Home was a steam packet ship
built in 1836 and sunk in 1837 and commanded by Captain Carleton White.
The Home was built for Mr. James B. Allaire, of New York City
, a ship of 537 tons (487,158 kg), 220 feet (67 m) long and with a beam of 22 feet (7 m), propelled by two paddle-wheels mounted amidship. Like other ships of its day, the Home had masts, sails, and rigging as well.
On Saturday, 7 October 1837 the Home set out from New York City bound for Charleston
, South Carolina
with about 90 passengers and 40 crew on board. The Home had only made two voyages to Charleston prior to this voyage. The Home struck a sandbar off the New Jersey
coast. Unaware of the extent of the damage, her captain proceeded on schedule to Charleston when it encountered the 1837 Racer's Storm
and started taking on water as she rounded Cape Hatteras
. She was put aground to ride out the developing storm. Before rescue operations could be effected the next day, the Home was torn to pieces by the surf and 90 lives were lost.
The Home had been originally constructed for river trade, but converted into a passenger liner. The ship’s interior was paneled in deep mahogany
and cherry wood with skylights, saloon
s, and luxurious passenger quarters.
A total of $
115,000 had been spent converting the Home for ocean voyages but it was equipped with only three lifeboat
s and two life preservers. The Home was insured for only $35,000.
Packet ship
A "packet ship" was originally a vessel employed to carry post office mail packets to and from British embassies, colonies and outposts. In sea transport, a packet service is a regular, scheduled service, carrying freight and passengers...
built in 1836 and sunk in 1837 and commanded by Captain Carleton White.
The Home was built for Mr. James B. Allaire, of New York City
New York City
New York is the most populous city in the United States and the center of the New York Metropolitan Area, one of the most populous metropolitan areas in the world. New York exerts a significant impact upon global commerce, finance, media, art, fashion, research, technology, education, and...
, a ship of 537 tons (487,158 kg), 220 feet (67 m) long and with a beam of 22 feet (7 m), propelled by two paddle-wheels mounted amidship. Like other ships of its day, the Home had masts, sails, and rigging as well.
On Saturday, 7 October 1837 the Home set out from New York City bound for Charleston
Charleston, South Carolina
Charleston is the second largest city in the U.S. state of South Carolina. It was made the county seat of Charleston County in 1901 when Charleston County was founded. The city's original name was Charles Towne in 1670, and it moved to its present location from a location on the west bank of the...
, South Carolina
South Carolina
South Carolina is a state in the Deep South of the United States that borders Georgia to the south, North Carolina to the north, and the Atlantic Ocean to the east. Originally part of the Province of Carolina, the Province of South Carolina was one of the 13 colonies that declared independence...
with about 90 passengers and 40 crew on board. The Home had only made two voyages to Charleston prior to this voyage. The Home struck a sandbar off the New Jersey
New Jersey
New Jersey is a state in the Northeastern and Middle Atlantic regions of the United States. , its population was 8,791,894. It is bordered on the north and east by the state of New York, on the southeast and south by the Atlantic Ocean, on the west by Pennsylvania and on the southwest by Delaware...
coast. Unaware of the extent of the damage, her captain proceeded on schedule to Charleston when it encountered the 1837 Racer's Storm
1837 Racer's Storm
The 1837 Racer's Storm was one of the most powerful and destructive hurricanes in the 19th century, causing heavy damage to many cities on its 2,000+ mile path...
and started taking on water as she rounded Cape Hatteras
Cape Hatteras
Cape Hatteras is a cape on the coast of North Carolina. It is the point that protrudes the farthest to the southeast along the northeast-to-southwest line of the Atlantic coast of North America...
. She was put aground to ride out the developing storm. Before rescue operations could be effected the next day, the Home was torn to pieces by the surf and 90 lives were lost.
The Home had been originally constructed for river trade, but converted into a passenger liner. The ship’s interior was paneled in deep mahogany
Mahogany
The name mahogany is used when referring to numerous varieties of dark-colored hardwood. It is a native American word originally used for the wood of the species Swietenia mahagoni, known as West Indian or Cuban mahogany....
and cherry wood with skylights, saloon
State room
A state room in a large European mansion is usually one of a suite of very grand rooms which were designed to impress. The term was most widely used in the 17th and 18th centuries. They were the most lavishly decorated in the house and contained the finest works of art...
s, and luxurious passenger quarters.
A total of $
United States dollar
The United States dollar , also referred to as the American dollar, is the official currency of the United States of America. It is divided into 100 smaller units called cents or pennies....
115,000 had been spent converting the Home for ocean voyages but it was equipped with only three lifeboat
Lifeboat (shipboard)
A lifeboat is a small, rigid or inflatable watercraft carried for emergency evacuation in the event of a disaster aboard ship. In the military, a lifeboat may be referred to as a whaleboat, dinghy, or gig. The ship's tenders of cruise ships often double as lifeboats. Recreational sailors sometimes...
s and two life preservers. The Home was insured for only $35,000.
Notable passengers
- The Hardy Croom family of TallahasseeTallahassee, FloridaTallahassee is the capital of the U.S. state of Florida. It is the county seat and only incorporated municipality in Leon County, and is the 128th largest city in the United States. Tallahassee became the capital of Florida, then the Florida Territory, in 1824. In 2010, the population recorded by...
, FloridaFloridaFlorida is a state in the southeastern United States, located on the nation's Atlantic and Gulf coasts. It is bordered to the west by the Gulf of Mexico, to the north by Alabama and Georgia and to the east by the Atlantic Ocean. With a population of 18,801,310 as measured by the 2010 census, it...
. Hardy Croom established one of Tallahassee's premier cotton plantations called Goodwood PlantationGoodwood PlantationGoodwood Plantation was a medium sized cotton plantation of about 1,675 acres in central Leon County, Florida, established by Hardy Bryan Croom. It is located at 1500 Miccosukee Road. The plantation was added to the U.S...
. - Oliver H. PrinceOliver H. PrinceOliver Hillhouse Prince was a United States Senator from Georgia.Born in Montville, Connecticut in 1787, he completed preparatory studies, and moved to Georgia in 1796 with his parents, who settled in Washington, Wilkes County. He engaged in newspaper work, and studied law, gaining admission to...
and wife Mary Prince. Oliver was on the Board of Trustees of the University of GeorgiaUniversity of GeorgiaThe University of Georgia is a public research university located in Athens, Georgia, United States. Founded in 1785, it is the oldest and largest of the state's institutions of higher learning and is one of multiple schools to claim the title of the oldest public university in the United States...
and had been a United States Senator from GeorgiaGeorgia (U.S. state)Georgia is a state located in the southeastern United States. It was established in 1732, the last of the original Thirteen Colonies. The state is named after King George II of Great Britain. Georgia was the fourth state to ratify the United States Constitution, on January 2, 1788...
as well as Georgia State SenatorGeorgia SenateThe Georgia State Senate is the upper house of the Georgia General Assembly .-Composition:According to the state constitution of 1983, this body is to be composed of no more than 56 members elected for two-year terms. Current state law provides for 56 members...
.