The Schooners

In this post, I will share what is known about the schooners my grandfather sailed.  This is the type of vessel my grandparents lived on with their two youngest children.  We do not yet know which one they were on at the time of Granny's diary.

Among the schooners sailed by Captain George were the Levi B. Phillips, the Thomas B. Schall, and Columbia F.C.  These were built in the mid- to late 1800's, and served Chesapeake and Atlantic shipping interests until the 1940's, when two events rendered them obsolete.  The first event was an evolution in the Bay area transportation industry itself.  By the 1940's, the Chesapeake and rivers of the Tidewater had been spanned by bridges, and over-the-road trucks had surpassed watercraft as a means of transportation.  Giant freighters and also become a more economical means to transport freight.  Second, with the outbreak of World War II, German U-boats plied the Atlantic coast, creating a demand for wooden-hulled freight vessels small enough to escape detection in the Caribbean trade.  So at a time when demand for schooners was on the decline in the Chesapeake, there was increased demand in the Caribbean, and many of the schooners were sold south.  This is what happened to all three of these schooners described here.

The Levi B Phillips was built by the Joseph Brooks shipyard at Madison, on the Little Choptank River, Maryland, Eastern Shore.  (Source:  "My Years Before the Mast:  Memoirs of Chesapeake Bay Waterman William T. Hooper".)  During World War II, she was sold to the Peter Paul Candy Company to haul coconuts from Central America to Florida.  She was later converted to power and sold to Honduran interests in 1946.

Levi B. Phillips

Columbia F. C. (Fishing Club) was built in 1874 in Mundy Point, Virginia, and owned there by the Courtney family.  She was sold around 1946 to Captain Tom Henry Ruark of Deltaville, Virginia, who sold her to Cuban interests in 1948.

Columbia F.C. (Robert H. Burgess photo)

The Thomas B. Schall Company was the largest fruit packing company in Baltimore.  Levi B. Phillips and Kate Darlington (mentioned several times in Granny's diary) were both in the pineapple trade, a 1200 mile trip to the West Indies.  The four-month pineapple season began in April.   However, it is known that Captain George sailed only within the confines of the Chesapeake.  So while he sailed Levi B. Phillips, it was not on the West Indies runs.  Presumably it was during the other eight months of the year, the "non-pineapple" months.

Schooner Thomas B. Schall was built in 1882 by Thomas McCosker in Baltimore.  In this photo, dated 31 August 1938, Captain George is at the wheel.  She is leaving Curtis Bay, Baltimore, with a load of fertilizer.

Thomas B. Schall, Curtis Bay, 1938

This is one year after Granny's diary, and because of the relatively small living quarters on the Schall, it is unlikely that this is the schooner on which Granny lived and wrote.  The Thomas B. Schall met a sad ending.  She also was sold south, in 1942, and was lost in the Caribbean on 14 December 1942 with all hands, and is believed to have been sunk by a German mine.

Thomas B. Schall, with sails furled.

Thomas B. Schall in Chesapeake Bay, north of Windmill Point.

Granny's diary: complete and in its original form

Journal of Annie Swann Dungan

1937 – 1938

Jan. 3, 1937

Sunday.  Rained here some this morning.  ??? selver(?) all day.George went and got a paper this evening.  Claring off about night.

Jan. 4

Monday.  Started to work on the boat.  I washed baby clothes.  Capt. Bernie(?) took dinner with us.  Hauled out on cradle.  Finished and came down this evening.

Jan. 5

Tuesday.  It is cloudy today.  I washed some of our clothes.  Working on boat yet.  Heard from Elizabeth through Charlie Hughes.  Won’t get through here today. 

Jan. 6

Wednesday.  Working on kitchen today.  I finished washing.  Capt. Bern(?) took dinner with us.  Alfred Corbman(?) and wife came and set to bedtime with us. 

Jan. 7

Thursday.  Cloudy and raining some this morning.  We fixed our stove and put lock on door.  George went up street and got some medicine for Bernard’s feet. 

Jan. 8

Friday.  Cloudy and foggy in hopes to get finished but did not.  George went and got his hair cut and ice cream for us.  Katharine May is eight months today.  Stands up by chairs and has two teeth. 

Jan. 9

Saturday.  Sun shining bright and warm.  Got through here at 2:30.  Went down off Sparrow’s Point and anchored for the night.  Katharine May is sick.

Jan. 10

Sunday.  Got under way early this morning.  Cloudy and raining some.  Wind NE.  Anchored in Patuxtent(?) at 3pm Sunday evening. 

Jan. 11

Monday.  Left Patuxent early this morning.  Cloudy and fair wind.  Sailed all day.  Anchored at Carter’s Creek for the night. 

Jan. 12

Tuesday.  Left Carter’s Creek this morning and got here about 8:30 (note:  later reference indicates they were at Millenbeck).  Not doing anything on us today.  Bernard is 21 months old today.  It is raining some here now.  George got some oysters this morning.  I washed out the children’s clothes.  Mr. Middleton came down here.  (Note:  Mr. Middleton was a broker who bought lumber.)  Heard from Elizabeth today. 

Jan. 13

Wednesday.  Started to load lumber this evening.  Moved 2 (?) for steamer.  Clarence left this evening.  Washed today.  Blowing gale of wind. 

Jan. 14

Thursday.  Foggy this morning.  Loading lumber.  I washed for children.  Cleared off and turned warm.  Blowing SW.  Loaded until dark. 

Jan. 15

Friday.  Thick cloudy this morning.  Worked until 11:00.  Started to rain.  Poured down.  Had to move for steamer.  Stopped work after dinner. 

Jan. 16

Saturday.  Wind NW.  Clear and pretty.  Took on right much lumber.  Washed up all the clothes.  Cooked dinner and supper. 

Jan. 17

Sunday.  Cloudy today.  Started to rain this morning.  Mr. Davenport and child came down this morning.  Hilda, Ilva, Covel, Stafford, and Papa came after dinner.  Left about 3:15.  Pouring down rain.  We left the wharf for the steamer and stayed all night anchored out. 

Jan. 18

Monday.  Today was warm.  Went into the wharf but did not bring any lumber.  I made a cake this evening.  George went to store tonight. 

Jan. 19

Tuesday.  Raining here today.  Wind NE.  Did not work any on us.  George went shore.  Heard from Elizabeth (note:  she was staying with Cousin Mildred Dawson, going to school). 

Jan. 20

Wednesday.  Cloudy.  Rained all night last night.  Didn’t load any today.  Still raining.

Jan. 21

Thursday.  Wind SW today.  Still cloudy and rainy.  George went out and got oysters.  Still anchored out from wharf.  Came out here Monday.

Jan. 22

Friday.  Went into wharf this evening and it was partly clear.  Did not rain any today. 

Jan. 23

Saturday.  We started to load two loads lumber before it started to rain.  Took on some after dinner and had to quit on the account of rain.  Got a letter from Elizabeth also catalogues. 

Jan. 24

Sunday.  Rained hard here all day.  Lonely.  No one came around to see us.  Got a Times-Dispatch this morning.  Moved from the wharf back out into stream. 

Jan. 25

Monday.  Misty here today.  Came back to wharf after the steamboat left. 

Jan 26

Tuesday.  Cloudy here today loading lumber.  Hailed just little bit but loaded until dark.  Got letter from Edelyn (possibly Edelyn Dawson, who ran a store at Lodge). 

Jan 27

Wednesday.  Loading lumber today.  Partly clear, wind blowing hard. 

Jan 28

Thursday.  Loading lumber today.  Thick cloudy.  I washed and dried our clothes by the fire.  Loaded until dark.  May has two upper teeth. 

Jan. 29

Friday.  Rained some here today.  Not loading, only what was left on wharf.  Moved for the steamer after dinner. 

Jan. 30

Saturday.  Cloudy and cold today.  Finished loading lumber.  Had a letter from Elizabeth.  Left Millenbeck and anchored off Carter’s Creek for the night.  Larkern(?) came around today. 

Jan. 31

Sunday.  Left Carter’s Creek this morning.  Came on to rain and has rained all day.  We anchored under West Land.  Sick today.

Feb. 1

Monday.  Cloudy first thing this morning.  Got underway and left about 11:00.  Cleared off during the day.  Got up to Smith’s Point, wind came down, went back to Fleeton.  Rolled all night. 

(missing pages)

Feb. 6

Saturday.  Wind came to southern.  Warm.  All left for Baltimore.  I washed and am drying by the fire.  Got up to fort and anchored until daylight. 

Feb. 7

Sunday.  Came in pier early this morning.  Thick, foggy, and cold.  Kate Darlington came in after us.  Brownstone late this evening.  Note:  these were names of boats.

Feb. 8

Monday.  Started to unload boat.  Won’t get unloaded.  Misting rain today.  Mr. and Mrs. Harrison came over.  Stayed until dark. 

Feb. 9

Tuesday.  Finished at Sparrow’s Point and left about 2:00.  Got so thick could not go any further.  Anchored and rung bell (note:  because of the fog).

Feb. 10

Wednesday.  Got underway.  Wind NW.  Beat to Baltimore.  Started to unload lumber.  Got letter from Elizabeth. 

Feb. 11

Thursday.  Finished unloading and left Baltimore after dinner.  I went up to Broadway this morning.   Sun set on us at ??? anchored there for the night.

Feb. 12

Friday.  Got underway early this morning and beat to Annapolis. 

Feb. 13

Saturday.  We are still anchored in here.  I washed for babies.  George and I went ashore after dinner.  Capt. Tom Tyler went with us.  Kate Darlington came in late this evening. 

Feb. 14

Sunday. This morning is thick foggy in here.  Capt. Harriss came over.  Wind came down.  We left 11:30 for Rappahannock.  St. Valentine’s Day.  Anchored at Windmill 2:00 Monday morning. 

Feb. 15

Monday.  Got underway at Windmill and got up to Millenbeck.  Anchored out. 

Feb. 16

Tuesday.  Came into wharf this morning.  I went home.  Snowed that night.

Feb 17.

Wednesday.  I went up to Cousin Mildred’s this morning.  Saw Millian (Dawson) and family.  Went over to Mrs. Woodhall’s, had supper too. 

Feb. 18

Thursday.  Washed today.  Children poorly.  Elizabeth is home with me. 

Feb. 19

Friday.  Rained today.  Elizabeth gone to school.  Henrietta (Woodhull) came over this morning.  Stayed all day.  Took supper.  Marie (Woodhull) and Alice (Lackey) too.

Feb. 20

Saturday.  Went over home this morning with Bus (Monroe Lackey).  Finished packing up.  Henrietta came over.  We made a cake.

Feb. 21

Sunday.  Came down here today.  Wind blowing hard.  Storm tonight we won’t forget. 

Feb. 22

Monday.  Trying to get yawl up.  Loaded this evening.  Sent yawl to Carter’s Creek to get fixed. 

Feb. 23

Tuesday.  Loaded all day today.  Cloudy and cold.  I sent for Katharine May’s shoes. 

Feb. 24

Wednesday.  Snowed all day, didn’t get any lumber today.  George and men ??? yawl up.  Heard from Elizabeth.

Feb. 25

Thursday.  Laying out in stream.  Did not get any lumber today.  Snowed this evening then cleared off.  May’s shoes came today.  I washed for children.  Bernard is sick today.

Feb. 26

Friday.  Clear and cold today.  Trying to get into wharf to load some lumber.  Started to load at 4:00.  Worked until dark.

Feb. 27

Saturday.  Thick cloudy.  I was sick with cold.  Loaded lumber until about 4:00.  Cleared off pretty.

Feb. 28

Sunday.  Snowed all morning.  Cleared off.  We made ice cream.  Had lot of company.

Mar. 1

Monday.  Snow mostly melted loading on deck now.  Clear today.

Mar. 2

Tuesday.  Sun shining pretty today.  ?Iderman? came aboard today.

Mar. 3

Wednesday.  Finished loading and left Millenbeck today about 5 o’clock.  Sailed all night.

Mar. 4

Thursday.  Sun came up on us between No Pt. (Point No Point) and Cedar Pt.    Sailed all day, wind SW.  In company with Schrs. (schooners) John R. P. Moore, Clarence Hall, and Minnie T. Phillips.  All went to Annapolis except us.  Anchored above new Baltimore Light when wind came down. 

Mar. 5

Friday.  Got underway early and beat up with wind NW.  Got to Sparrows Pt. about 12 o’clock.  Did not work any on us.  Katherine May has five teeth.

Mar. 6

Saturday.  Started and finished on us about 11 o’clock but could not get out of dock.  George went to Baltimore from here. 

Mar. 7

Sunday.  Left Sparrows Pt. early this morning.  Came to Baltimore, had duck for dinner.  Martin Lackey and Mitchell H(ughes) had dinner with us.  Went to Tilley’s last night.

Mar. 8

Monday.  Unloading here today.  Went to iron wharf late this evening.  Mrs. Webber and Tilley came over spent until bedtime.

Mar. 9

Tuesday.  Finished unloading today.  Went up Broadway with George.  Heard from Elizabeth today.  ? Insurance due 16 April.

Mar. 10

Wednesday.  Lay at iron wharf all day.  Wind blowing too hard to go to Fort Covington.  Herbert and others came.  I went to Broadway and got sisters Easter baskets.  Went to coal pier late in evening.  Herbert (Garner?) spent night.

Mar. 11

Thursday.  Load coal today.  Laid at pier all day.  Herman (Rice?, one of the crewmen) went uptown this evening. 

Mar. 12

Friday.  Left Fort Covington early today.  Made Annapolis.  Laid here all night.  Herman went ashore and got Balt. Paper. 

Mar. 13

Saturday.  Thick foggy.  Still in Annapolis.  Snowed today.

Mar. 14

Sunday.  Left Annapolis this morning.  Thick and rainy all day.  Fair wind and anchored off St. George’s Island about 8 pm.

Mar. 15

Monday.  Got underway early this morning with wind NW and beat up to St. Mary’s.  Got there about 12:30.  Started to snow and hail until dark.  Gloria Watts came aboard for a while.

Mar. 16

Tuesday.  Started to unload this morning.  Blowing a gale of wind. 

Mar. 17

Wednesday.  Finished unloading coal today at five o’clock but are going to stay here tonight. 

Mar. 18

Thursday.   Left St. Mary’s this morning.  Fell calm and drifted until twelve o’clock.  Then breezed up.  Sailed to Windmill Point and anchored. 

Mar. 19

Friday.  Left here this morning.  Pushed all day until nine o’clock.  Anchored below Tappahannock. 

Mar. 20

Saturday.  Came through Tappahannock bridge about eight o’clock.  Got to Carter’s (Wharf) about eleven o’clock.  Didn’t get to Wharf until late Saturday evening.  Rained and is thick foggie (foggy).  Opie came after Herman. (Opie Jewell was a crewman.) 

Mar. 21

Sunday.  Sun shining pretty all day.  George and I stayed aboard all day. 

Mar. 22

Monday.  Started to load this morning.  I washed today.  Clear and pretty.

Mar. 23

Tuesday.  I washed again today.  We went to Warsaw tonight. 

Mar. 24

Wednesday.  I was sick with headache today.  George and (H?  maybe Herman?) went to Warsaw.  Raining some today. 

Mar. 25

Thursday.  Opie started to cook today.  We went to see Elizabeth today.  Mrs. Dawson died today.  (Elizabeth stayed with cousin Mildred Dawson.  This Mrs. Dawson who died may have been Mildred’s mother-in-law.)

Mar. 26

Good Friday.  Clear today.  Wind blowing hard. 

Mar. 27

Saturday.  Finished loading lumber today about two o’clock.  Left Carter’s (Wharf) and anchored in Carter’s Creek at night. 

Mar. 28

Sunday.  Easter Sunday.  Still anchored in Rappahannock.  And wind blowing hard. 

Mar. 29

Monday.  I washed today.  Blowing hard.  Left Carter’s and anchored at Westland little before sunset.  George and Herman gone to store. 

Mar. 30

Tuesday.  Left here this morning.  Drifted all day and night. 

Mar. 31

Wednesday.  Sun came up on us at Cedar Point.  Calm and drifting all day.

Apr. 1

Thursday.  Cool day.  Still under way.  Pushing with yawl.  Got to Baltimore tonight at eleven o’clock. 

Apr. 2

Friday.  Unloading some lumber today this morning.  Did not work any this evening.  Bunk came to see the children. 

Apr. 3

Saturday.  Unloaded this evening.  Did not get all off deck. 

Apr. 4

Sunday.  I went down to Mrs. Webber’s and got the duck.  We stayed aboard all day.

Apr. 5

Monday.  Went down to Bowie Smith’s (Bowie Smith Lumber Company).  Unloaded some.  Raining all evening. 

Apr. 6

Tuesday.  Unloading again this morning.  Did not get out today.

Apr. 7

Wednesday.  At last, finished.  And I went uptown.  Left this evening anchored under Rock Creek.

Apr. 8

Thursday.  May is eleven months old.  Has six teeth.  Can stand alone.  Anchored in Annapolis.  Thick and rainy. 

Apr. 9

Friday.  Still in Annapolis.  Herman and I went ashore.  Left here about night with fair wind.  Anchored at ten o’clock under No Point (Point No Point).

Apr. 10

Saturday.  Left No Point early this morning.  Beat all day.  Anchored off Ragged Point at sunset.

Apr. 11

Sunday.  Left Ragged Point this morning.  Got in Nomini at twelve o’clock.  Snowed today. 

Apr. 12

Monday.  Bernard’s birthday.  Loading lumber.  Had lemonade and cake. 

Apr. 13

Tuesday.  Loading lumber all day.  Sunshine.

Apr. 14

Wednesday.  Washed for the children and George.  Got Bernard’s overalls.  Cloudy.

Apr. 15

Thursday.  Loading lumber all day.

Apr. 16

Friday.  Loading lumber.  Got letter from Elizabeth. 

Apr. 17

Saturday.  Loading lumber until 8:30.  Too dark to finish.

Apr. 18

Sunday.  Finished loading this morning.  Tide too low to leave.

Apr. 19

Monday.  Left wharf this morning.  Got ashore on Point. 

Apr. 20

Tuesday.  Still ashore and trying to get off.

Apr. 21

Wednesday.  Got off shore this morning.  I came home tonight.

Apr. 22

Thursday.  I washed over to Henrietta’s this morning.

June 4

Friday.  We moved some things over here today. 

June 5

Saturday.  Moved over here today.  Mahalia, Buss (Monroe Lackey), and Baby helped me. 

June 6

Sunday.  Went to see Mrs. (Novella) Headley and Millian (Dawson).

June 7

Monday.  Washed all day.  Mable Clark came home with Elizabeth. 

June 8

Tuesday.  May was one year old today (if this is Aunt May, she meant one year and one month old;  May was born May 8, 1936).  

June 9

Wednesday.  Heard from George.  Sent ten dollars.  Loading cases (empty cans) in Baltimore.  Mabel was down here. 

June 10

Thursday.  We went over to Mrs. Headley’s.  School closed today. 

June 11.

Friday.   Alice (Lackey), Marie (Woodhall), Henrietta (Woodhall), Albert (Chambers?) were here today.  Rainy. 

June 12.

Saturday.  Got ready to go see Daddy (George).  Hot today.  He was not up there. 

June 13

Sunday.  Buss and Haily Bell (Mahalia) here to dinner.  Helen and family here that evening for few minutes. 

June 14

Monday.  Went up to Nomini to  meet George.  Mr. (Carl) Woodhall took me. 

June 15

Tuesday.  Went to McGuire’s (Wharf) and got to Wharf late this evening.  Had some crabs tonight.  Sam ate with us. 

June 16

Wednesday.  Unloading cases.

June 17

Thursday.  Unloading cases.

June 18

Friday.  Unloading cases.  Stopped for storm.

June 19

Saturday.  Finished unloading cases here today.

June 20

Sunday.  At Nomini all day.

June 21

Monday.  Left Nomini.  Anchored in Coan that night.  Fished.  Had crabs.

June 22.

Tuesday.  Left Coan and went to Bolder’s  (Boller’s?) Light.  Anchored.  George and Cecil went ashore at Sharps, got crackers and cheese. 

June 23

Wednesday.  Left Bolder’s Light this a.m.  Went through bridge at 12:30.  Hot, very little air.  Shoving with yawl. 

June 24

Thursday.  Got to Carter’s Wharf this evening at 3:30.

June 25

Friday.  George went to Peed’s (Store) and called Galliger.  Did not start loading any lumber today.

June 26

Saturday.  Bought car today.  All went to Warsaw tonight.  Went to Mr. Middleton’s with George and Doris and Henry (?).

June 27

Sunday.  All went to Wakefield this evening and then to McGuire’s and Warsaw.  (?) went over to see Marie.  Took supper.  Storm came up. (moving ?)

June 28

Monday.  Went to store with George and children. 

June 29

Tuesday.  Raining today.  Washed and went to Warsaw that evening and went over to Bill’s.  Got tomatoes.

June 30

Wednesday.  Loading lumber until 12:00.  Went to McGuire’s and took Chester’s meat. 

July 1

Thursday.  Went to Mr. Carpenter’s and stayed until bedtime.

July 2

Friday.  Went to Mr. (Beale) Middleton’s for George. 

July 3

Saturday.  George and I went to store (Peed’s) and got some groceries.  Went to McGuire’s this evening.  Got crabs.

July 4

Sunday.  Left George at Carter’s and came home.  Went to Grand Pap’s.  Storm came up. 

July 5

Monday.  Went to Village to get title for car.

July 6

Tuesday.  Went to Heathsville and got license.  Went to see Helen (Rowe).

July 7

Wednesday.  Washed today for children.  Elizabeth gone swimming.

July 8.

Thursday.  May is 14 months old today.  Henrietta W (Woodhull) came over today.  Helen and family here tonight. 

July 9

Friday.  Hot today.  Washed and ironed today.  Elizabeth gone swimming.

July 10

Saturday.  Mrs. Turner (George Turner’s mother?) died this morning.  I washed and ironed. 

July 11

Sunday.  Went to Mrs. Turner’s funeral at Henderson’s (United Methodist Church) this evening.

July 12

Monday.  Picked blackberries and canned them.  Went to Lizzie’s after(boat?).

July 13

Tuesday.  Pick Aunt Lola some berries.  Went to Helen’s.  Elizabeth went swimming.

Cradle:  railway

Yawl:  type of boat

About this blog: the diary of Annie Swann Dungan, wife of Capt. George Dungan, written while living aboard a Chesapeake schooner in 1937

My grandmother, Annie Swann Dungan, was, quite simply, an amazing woman.  Born on a farm in Northumberland County, Virginia, in 1900, she married my grandfather, Captain George Dungan, a commercial sailor by trade.  Grandaddy Dungan sailed schooners, and later, diesel-powered vessels, on Chesapeake Bay and its tributaries until his death in 1962.  For a period of time in 1937, Granny, along with their two youngest children, lived aboard a schooner with my grandfather and crew.  One of those children was my father; the other, my Aunt May.  During this time, Granny kept a diary.

Now bear in mind, this was no luxury liner.  It was a working boat, a sailing vessel that hauled freight up and down the Bay.  Grandaddy Dungan captained several schooners during his lifetime, and we don't know exactly which one they lived aboard during the time of Granny's diary.  Perhaps it was the Thomas B. Scholl, the Mattie F. Dean, or the Levi B. Phillips, all schooners that he worked aboard at various times.  We hope to identify this particular vessel by cross-referencing events in Granny's diary with local newspaper accounts.  Regardless, Granny's home at that time consisted of a two-masted sailing vessel, less than one hundred feet in length, loaded almost constantly with cargo both above and below deck, exposed to the elements, and shared with the crew.  Here, she cooked, cleaned, and took care of the children -- both of whom were under the age of two.  This, to me, is simply mind-boggling.

Granny's diary begins January 3, 1937, and ends July 13 of the same year.  While most of the entries are brief, the details of life aboard a working vessel are fascinating and sometimes poignant.  I have transcribed her journal, and will attempt to add context and supporting details where possible in this blog. My hope is that my cousins, many of whom are too you young to remember Granny, may come to know her and appreciate her through her diary.  She was truly a remarkable woman.  I also hope that anyone else interested in Chesapeake Bay / Northern Neck / Virginia / nautical history may find this account useful.