Title:
The Delaware Ship and Boat Building Industry,
1830-19404: An Historic Context
Dean A. Doerrfeld with
David L. Ames
Bernard L..H erman
Rebecca J. Siders
Center for Historic Architecture and Engineering
College of Urban Affairs and Public Policy
University of Delaware
Newark, Delaware
July 1994
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Excerpts below
Page 14
By 1860 the state's shipbuilding industry expanded considerably. Although Wilmington
continued
to lead the state in the production of vessels, new ship yards appeared
in Broadkiln and Cedar Creek hundreds. A total of twelve ship yards
produced vessels worth over $637,000, making
shipbuilding second only
to flour milling in the state's economy. In addition to the actual ship
yards, the construction of vessels supported numerous ancillary
industries All located within Wilmington and clustered near the
confluence of the Brandywine and Christina Rivers, two shipsmiths, a
sailmaker, a mast and spar maker, a block and pump maker, and an
upholsterer of "Car and Steam Boat Furnishings" manufactured the
finished materials needed in the construction of vessels.
Both
Harlan & Hollingsworth and Pusey & Jones listed themselves as
producers of iron steam boats as well as machinists and manufacturers of
engines and boilers. Outside of New Castle County, Noah Magee, Samuel
Martin, and William G Prettyman operated yards on the Broadkiln River
and each produced a single schooner.
Along the Mispillion, James N. Deputy erected two schooners, and H.D. Deputy
and William A. Scribner built a single schooner each. Each of the
vessels constructed in lower Delaware sold for $9,000. Prices for
vessels launched in the Wilmington area ranged from $7,000 to $15,000
but presumably varied considerably in size. Wages of ship yard workers
appeared fairly consistent throughout the state. The specialized skills
of the sailmakers employed by the firm of Weaver & Femenick demanded
slightly more than average yard workers and each received about $50
monthly. Workers in the well established firms of E. & C Moore or
William Thatcher could expect to earn from $35 to $40 monthly. Ship yard
workers in Sussex County earned an average of $39 monthly regardless
of which yard employed them.
Page 202
Lebanon--Ships over 20 Tons
Ships with identified builder (Master Carpenter):
Henry Deputy - 1887
Page 205
Little Creek--Ships over 20 Tons
Ships with identified builder (Master Carpenter).:
H. C. Deputy - 1872
Page 213
Cedar Creek Hundred--Sussex County
James N. Deputy,
Shipbuilder: $8000 invested; raw materials--200,000 feet lumber worth
$4000, 10 tons iron worth $750; 20 employees w/$39 monthly wages;
products--2 schooners worth $18,000.
H.D. Deputy,
Shipbuilder: $4000 invested; raw materials--100,000 feet lumber worth
$4000, 5 tons iron worth $375; 10 employees w/$39 monthly wages;
products--1 schooners worth $9,000.
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