Augustus Van Pelt

Augustus Van Pelt (February 2, 1817 – October 18, 1889) was a 19th-century New York Sandy Hook maritime pilot. He was one of the oldest and most famous Sandy Hook pilots. He was captain of the pilot boat Isaac Webb, for 19 years. His son, Frank P. Van Pelt was also a well-known Sandy Hook Pilot.

Augustus Van Pelt
BornFebruary 2, 1817
Richmond, New York, US
DiedOctober 18, 1889(1889-10-18) (aged 72)
Tompkinsville, Staten Island, US
NationalityAmerican
Occupationharbor pilot
SpouseElizabeth Vanderbilt
Children11

Early life

Captain Augustus Van Pelt was born in Richmond, New York, on 2 February 1817. His father was Peter Van Pelt and his mother was Catharine Van Pelt. He was married to Mary Elizabeth Vanderbilt and had eleven children.[1][2] His son, Frank P. Van Pelt was also a well-known Sandy Hook Pilot.

Career
Pilot Boat Isaac Webb.
Pilot Boat Columbia.

Van Pelt received his license as a pilot in 1841.[3] He was a pilot and part-owner of the pilot boats New York, Enchantress, Isaac Webb, and Columbia.[1]

In 1845, Van Pelt and John McGinn lead an opposition to the newly formed Board of Pilot Commissioners. Van Pelt later realized that the fight against the board was a losing one. On October 10, 1860, Van Pelt signed a statement that he was satisfied with the representation that he had received from the New York Board of Commissioners of Pilots.[4][1][5]

Van Pelt was in command of the pilot boat Isaac Webb, built for the New York Pilots' Association on October 31, 1860.[6][7] He was registered as the ship master of the Isaac Webb in the American Lloyd's Register of American and Foreign Shipping from 1861 to 1879.[8]

The pilot boat Columbia, No. 8, was built for Captain Van Pelt and other New York pilots, to take the place of the pilot boat Isaac Webb, No. 8, that went ashore in a dense fog off Point Judith, Rhode Island, in July 1879. At the launch, the christening was performed by Augustus Van Pelt's daughter, Mary Louis Van Pelt, who broke the customary bottle of champagne over the bow of the vessel. The company of captains that owned the Columbia were: Augustus Van Pelt, Benjamin Simonson, Henry E. Sequine, Stephen H. Jones, Christopher M. Wolf, and Daniel V. Jones.[9]

In November 1879, Van Pelt, Captain Walter Brewer and Captain Josiah Johnson were on a New York Board of Commissioners of Pilots committee to confer with merchants and shipowners regarding legislation of a bill to reduce the pilot fees.[10]

On December 2, 1883, the Columbia, No. 8, was run down and sank off Fire Island to the south shore of Long Island, New York, by the Guion Line steamer SS Alaska. All hands were lost in this disaster. Van Pelt was not on the Columbia, but still one of the owners.[11][12] Van Pelt filed a lawsuit in the United States district court against the steamship claiming $18,100 in damages on behalf of the widows of the men that were lost on the pilot boat.[13]

Death

Van Pelt died on October 18, 1889, in Tompkinsville, Staten Island. Funeral services were held at his home. He was buried at the Moravian Cemetery in New Dorp, Staten Island.[14][1]

See also

References
  1. "Augustus Van Pelt". The New York Times. New York, New York. 22 Oct 1889. p. 2. Retrieved 2021-02-22.
  2. "United States Census, 1870, 1880". FamilySearch. Retrieved 2021-02-22.
  3. "Honorable Company of Pilots". the New York Times. New York, New York. 12 Aug 1923. p. 15. Retrieved 2021-02-25.
  4. "The New York Pilots. To The Editor Of The Herald". New York Daily Herald. New York, New York. 10 Oct 1860. p. 2. Retrieved 2021-01-28.
  5. "Notices. Pilot Commissioner's Office-New York". New York NY Morning Courier. New York, New York. 15 Apr 1854. Retrieved 2021-02-25.
  6. "Messrs. Webb and Bell, Foot Of G Street". New York Daily Herald. New York, New York. 12 Aug 1860. p. 1. Retrieved 2021-02-24.
  7. "Eckford Webb, later Webb & Bell". Greenpoint, New York. Retrieved 2020-09-21.
  8. "Index to Ship Registers, 1861". research.mysticseaport.org. Mystic seaport. Retrieved 2020-02-23.
  9. "Launched. The New Pilot Boat Columbia, No. 8. A Description of the Vessel, The Event Witnessed by a Large Assemblage". The Brooklyn Daily Eagle. Brooklyn, New York. 1879-11-15. Retrieved 2020-09-14.
  10. "The Pilot Service. Meeting of the Conference Committee Upon Reduction of Charges". New York Daily Herald. New York, New York. 15 Nov 1879. p. 3. Retrieved 2021-07-08.
  11. "Lost Hope, Regarding Pilot Boat No. 8, of the New York Fleet". The Brooklyn Daily Eagle. Brooklyn, New York. 1883-12-05. Retrieved 2020-08-04.
  12. Allen, Edward L. (1922). Pilot Lore; From Sail to Steam, and Historical Sketches of the Various Interests Identified With the Development of the World's Greatest Port. The United New York and New Jersey Sandy Hook Pilots Benevolent Associations.
  13. "City and Suburban News". The New York Times. New York, New York. 14 Nov 1884. p. 8. Retrieved 2021-02-24.
  14. New York, Church and Civil Deaths, 1824–1962 Record Collection
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