J.B & J.D. Van Deusen

J.B & J.D. Van Deusen was a 19th-century American shipbuilding company started by Joseph B. Van Deusen and James D. Van Deusen in 1865. The shipyard was in Williamsburg, Brooklyn. Some of the finest yachts, schooners and steamboats in the New York were designed and built by them. The last boat that was built at the shipyard was the schooner-yacht Mohawk in 1875, which was later renamed Eagre and transferred to the United States Navy in 1903.

J.B & J.D. Van Deusen
TypePrivate
IndustryShipbuilding
GenreWritten
FoundersJoseph B. Van Deusen, James D. Van Deusen
FateClosed
Headquarters
Williamsburg, Brooklyn
Area served
New York State
ProductsWooden-hulled steamships and other watercraft
ServicesShip repairs

History

Joseph B. Van Deusen and his brother James D. Van Deusen started the J.B & J.D. Van Deusen shipyard in 1865, at first located at the foot of 16th Street, New York, then later at Sixth Street in Williamsburg, Brooklyn near the East River. They built many notable yachts, schooners and steamboats.[1]

The Etna Iron Works produced at least a dozen engines for the Van Deusen Brothers.[2]

Joseph continued with the shipbuilding business, when his brother died in 1866, under the name Joseph B. Van Deusen.

Joseph Benoni Van Deusen

Joseph Benoni Van Deusen (June 30, 1832 – November 4, 1875), was a 19th-century New York shipbuilder. He was the son of Johannes Coude Van Deusen (1792–1838) and Electa Marks (1786–1884). He was a native of Mohawk Valley, born at Palatine Bridge, New York, on June 30, 1832. He married Mary Eleanor Dodd on January 30, 1870, in New York and had one child.[3]

At an early age, Van Deusen was interested in the construction of ships. He enjoyed building ships which he sailed on the Mohawk River, near his home. At the age of 16 years he built the wooden covered bridge, which spanned the Mohawk River between Palatine Bridge and Canajoharie, New York.[4][5]

Van Deusen came to New York City for the purpose of studying ship building at William H. Webb's Shipbuilding Academy and also with George Steers. When his studies were completed he went into the business with his brother, James DeWitt Van Deusen under the firm name of J D & J B Van Deusen, where they built many notable boats.[6]

Van Deusen was friends with publisher and Yachtsman James Gordon Bennett Jr., and banker and yachtsman Elias Cornelius Benedict. He built the first steamships used by the Fall River Line on the sound and about 30 gunboats for Spain. He was the recipient of a medal from Napoleon III for his models.[7]

In December 1866, J. B. Van Deusen of the New York Yacht Club was a judge on the Fleeting in a race between three American yachts, the Vesta (owned by Pierre Lorillard IV), the Fleetwing (owned by George and Franklin Osgood) and the Henrietta owned by Bennett. Each yachtsman put up $30,000 in the winner-take-all wager. They started off of Sandy Hook, New Jersey, on December 11, 1866, during high westerly winds and raced to The Needles, the furthest westerly point on the Isle of Wight. Bennett's Henrietta won with a time of 13 days, 21 hours, 55 minutes.[8][9]

Joseph B. Van Deusen died, at age 43, in Brooklyn, New York, on November 4, 1875. He was buried at the Palatine Bridge Cemetery, in Palatine Bridge, Montgomery County, New York.[10][6]

James DeWitt Van Deusen

James DeWitt Van Deusen (January 29, 1822 – March 8, 1866), was a 19th-century New York shipbuilder. He was born on January 29, 1822, in Palatine Bridge, Montgomery County, New York. He was the son of Johannes Gloude Van Deusen and Electa Marks. He married Angelca Ehle on February 22, 1844, in New York City and had two children.[11]

James D. Van Deusen died on March 8, 1866. He was buried at the Palatine Bridge Cemetery, in Palatine Bridge, Montgomery County, New York.[12]

List of ships

Below is a list of ships built by the J.B & J.D. Van Deusen shipyard.

Boats built by J.B & J.D. Van Deusen, 1854–66
Name Type Year Builder Tons Ordered by Intended service Description
NarragansettYacht1854J.B & J.D. Van DeusentonsH. Bedlow, of the Newport, R.INYCModeled & built by J. B. Van Deusen and Brother, N.Y.[13]
Gypsyyacht1857Joseph B Van Deusen148I. N. A. GriswoldBuilt for I. N. A. Griswold; later owned in England.[1][6]
John D. Jonespilot boat1859Joseph B Van Deusen50New York PilotsN.Y. Pilot ServiceLaunched on December 28, 1859, from the J.B & J.D. Van Deusen shipyard at the foot of Sixteenth Street, East River. The boat was built for a company of Sandy Hook pilots.[14]
William H. Aspinwall William H. Aspinwallpilot boat1861J.B & J.D. Van Deusen100Captain Walter BrewerNew York PilotsSandy Hook pilot boat for Captain Walter Brewer, built at the foot of Sixteenth Street, East River.[15]
AconcaguaSteamship1863J.B & J.D. Van DeusentonsownerNYCSteamship Aconcagua at Sixteenth Street, East River.[16]
William L. CreganScrew Schooner barge1864J.B & J.D. Van Deusen148Not knownNYCShe was lost in December 1914.[17]
  • Electra
Steamship1864J.B & J.D. Van Deusen1301Neptune Steamship Co.NYC—BostonScrapped about 1884.[18]
  • Galatea
Steamship1864J.B & J.D. Van Deusen1301Neptune Steamship Co.NYC—BostonScrapped about 1885.[18]: p157 
OceanusSteamship1864J.B & J.D. Van Deusen1301Neptune Steamship Co.NYC—BostonDestroyed by fire, 1868.[18]: 313 
DorisFreighter1864J.B & J.D. Van Deusen1360Neptune Steamship Co.NYC—BostonLast documented 1886; possibly scrapped 1898.[18]: 131 
MetisFreighter1864J.B & J.D. Van Deusen1238Neptune Steamship Co.NYC—BostonGrounded and wrecked after collision during storm near Stonington, CT, 1872; 50 killed.[18]: 253 
Thetis (Pequot)Freighter1864J.B & J.D.Van Deusen1360Neptune Steamship Co.NYC—BostonScrapped about 1910.[18]: 343 
  • Glaucus
Freighter1864J.B & J.D. Van Deusen1848Neptune Steamship Co.NYC—BostonDamaged by fire 1864, redesigned and rebuilt (as seen in photo) by Harlan & Hollingsworth. Scrapped at Boston, 1906.[18]: 181 
  • Neptune
Freighter1864J.B & J.D. Van Deusen1848Neptune Steamship Co.NYC—BostonScrapped at Boston, 1905.[18]: 283 
NereusFreighter1864J.B & J.D. Van Deusen1848Neptune Steamship Co.NYC—BostonConverted to barge, 1894; lost at sea, 1895.[18]: 285 
Alarmyacht1865J.B & J.D. Van DeusenNYCYacht for Frank Baker.[19]
Phantomschooner1865J.B & J.D. Van Deusen123Henry G. StebbinsNYCCenterboard schooner-rigged yacht 128-tons for Colonel Henry G. Stebbins.[20]
Ramblerschooner1865J.B & J.D. Van Deusen164NYCschooner, 164-tons for H. S. Fearing, at the foot of 16th Street, New York.[1]
Fleur de Lis yacht Fleur-de-Lispilot boat1865J.B & J.D. Van Deusen95NYCBuilt for Captain John S. Dickerson of the New York Yacht Club. She was bought by pilot Franklin B. Wellock and became the Boston pilot boat No. 7.[21]
Fleetwingschooner-yacht1865J.B & J.D. Van Deusen206NYCFor George A. Osgood; which sailed in the 1st ocean race against the Henrietta and Vesta.[22]
Boats built by Joseph B. Van Deusen, 1866–74
Name Type Year Builder Tons Ordered by Intended service Description
Nelly WhiteSide-wheel steamboat1866Joseph B. Van Deusen95R. Cornell WhiteBrooklyn, New YorkWrecked on August 4, 1886, after colliding with the IDA G. FARRON off Sandy Point, Chesapeake Bay, beached, and abandoned.[23]
Dauntlessyacht1866J. B. Van Deusen262Forsyth and Morgan shipyard for S. Dexter Bradford, Jr.Yacht racingBuilt in Noank, Connecticut, Bradford named her "L'Hirondelle". She was bought by James Gordon Bennett Jr., in 1867, who added 23 feet to her length and renamed her "Dauntless". He raced her for 11 years.[24][25]
pilot boat1871Joseph B. Van Deusen220New York PilotsNYCWooden centerboard schooner She was the 2nd defender of the America's Cup; Skippered by Andrew J. Comstock and designed and built for owner Franklin Osgood of the New York Yacht Club.[26]
River Belleschooner1872Joseph B. Van Deusen713.15American Steam Navigation Co.NYCShe was abandoned in 1915.[27][28]
Idealschooner yacht1873Joseph B. Van DeusentonsHugo FritschyachtingYacht for Hugo Fritsch.[6]
Florence Witherbeeschooner1873Joseph B. Van DeusenYachtingShe was a steam yacht.[29]
Ruthschooner yacht1873Joseph B. Van DeusenParties on Lake ChamplainYachtingYacht for parties on Lake Champlain.[6]
City of New Bedfordscrew schooner1874Joseph B. Van Deusen1,085New Bedford & New York Steamship Co.New Bedford, MassachusettsAntonio Jacobsen ja1005 the city of New Bedford wm For service on Long Island Sound.[30]
City Of Fitchburgscrew schooner1874Joseph B. Van Deusen1,087New Bedford & New York Steamship Co. and othersNew Bedford, Massachusetts

Sold in January 1902 to G.H. Whitcomb and renamed Surprise on May 31, 1902.[31]

Surpriseschooner1874Joseph B. Van Deusen821G.H. WhitcombFall River, MassachusettsSold in 1906 to Enterprise Transportation Co. and renamed WARREN.[32]
Warrencenterboard schooner1874Joseph B. Van DeusenEnterprise Transportation Co.Home port was Fall River, Massachusetts.Wrecked on October 8, 1907. Off register in 1909.[33]
Mohawkschooner-yacht1875Joseph B. Van DeusenCommodore William T. GarnerYacht that later served in the US Navy as USS EagreIn 1876, she capsized when a squall struck. Vice-Commodore William T. Garner, his wife and crew died in the accident. It is believed that this tragedy led to the extinction of the great centerboard schooner yachts. The Mohawk was later sold to the U.S. Navy and recommissioned as the U.S. Eagre.[34]

See also

References
  1. "Motor Boating". 64 (6). Dec 1939: 41. Retrieved 2021-06-04. {{cite journal}}: Cite journal requires |journal= (help)
  2. Swann, Leonard Alexander Jr. (1965). John Roach, Maritime Entrepreneur: the Years as Naval Contractor 1862–1886. p. 23. ISBN 978-0-405-13078-6. {{cite book}}: |work= ignored (help)
  3. "United States Census, 1870". familysearch.org. Retrieved 2021-06-04.
  4. "United States Census, 1860". FamilySearch. Retrieved 2021-02-22.
  5. "United States Census, 1860". ancestry. Retrieved 2021-06-05.
  6. "The Late Joseph B. Van Deusen. A Yachtsman Reviews The Character And Labors Of The Great Shipbuilder". New York Daily Herald. New York, New York. 16 Nov 1875. p. 4. Retrieved 2021-06-04.
  7. Van Deusen-Platt, Cherry Laura (1969). " The Genealogy of Rev W H Van Deusen. p. 26. OCLC 73101. {{cite book}}: |work= ignored (help)CS1 maint: location missing publisher (link)
  8. Thompson, Winfield M. (1902). The Lawson History of the America's Cup. Boston, Massachusetts. p. 46. ISBN 9780907069409. Retrieved 2021-06-08.{{cite book}}: CS1 maint: location missing publisher (link)
  9. Stephens, William Picard (1904). American yachting. p. 91. Retrieved 2021-06-08.
  10. "Joseph B. Van Deusen". Find a Grave. Ancestry.com. Retrieved June 8, 2021.
  11. "United States Census, 1870". familysearch.org. Retrieved 2021-06-04.
  12. "James D. Van Deusen". Find a Grave. Ancestry.com. Retrieved June 8, 2021.
  13. "Yacht Narragansett N.Y.Y.C." Retrieved 2021-06-07.
  14. "Launch". The New York Times. New York, New York. 28 Dec 1859. p. 8. Retrieved 2021-06-08.
  15. "Miscellaneous". New York Daily Herald. New York, New York. 30 Jan 1861. p. 2. Retrieved 2020-10-14.
  16. "Miscellaneous". New York Daily Herald. New York, New York. 17 May 1863. p. 8. Retrieved 2021-06-07.
  17. "William L. Cregan (Barge: 1869–1914)". marinersmuseum.org. Retrieved 2021-06-07.
  18. Heyl, Erik (1953). Early American Steamers. Vol. I. Buffalo, New York: Erik Heyl. 467 pages. OCLC 1626009 |p. 137.
  19. "The Yacht Alarm". New York Daily Herald. New York, New York. 11 Mar 1865. p. 4. Retrieved 2021-04-05.
  20. "Phantom (Yacht: 1865–1901)". catalogs.marinersmuseum.org. Retrieved 2021-04-05.
  21. "American Yacht List, Containing a Complete Register of the Yacht Clubs of the United States and British Provinces". 1874. Retrieved 2021-04-05.
  22. "Fleetwing (Yacht: 1865–1905)". catalogs.marinersmuseum.org. Retrieved 2021-04-05.
  23. "Nelly White (Side-Wheel Steamboat: 1866–1886)". catalogs.marinersmuseum.org. Retrieved 2021-06-07.
  24. "Anthony D. Blake (born 1951)". Retrieved 2021-06-07.
  25. Connecticut River Shipbuilding. Arcadia. 5 October 2020. ISBN 9781439670491. Retrieved 2021-06-07.
  26. "An Ocean Yacht". The Evening Telegraph. Philadelphia, Pennsylvania. 10 May 1871. p. 8. Retrieved 2021-06-06.
  27. "River Belle". Retrieved 2021-06-07.
  28. "River Belle (Steamship: 1872)". marinersmuseum.org. Retrieved 2021-06-07.
  29. "Local Brevities". The Brooklyn Daily Eagle. Brooklyn, New York. 30 Jun 1873. p. 4. Retrieved 2021-06-07.
  30. "City of New Bedford (Screw Schooner: 1874–1910)". marinersmuseum.org. Retrieved 2021-06-07.
  31. "Cityh of Fitchburg". Retrieved 2021-06-07.
  32. "Surprise (Screw Schooner:1902–1905)". Retrieved 2021-06-07.
  33. "Warren (Screw Schooner: 1906–1908)". Retrieved 2021-06-07.
  34. "The Biggest Yacht In the World". Nashville Union and American. Nashville, Tennessee. 13 Jun 1875. p. 2. Retrieved 2021-06-07.
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