"Brig Isalam, (of Eastport,) Shackford, 25 ds fm Grand Key, salt, to P I Nevius & Sons. The I has been 14 days North of Capt Hatteras, with strong N gales." (New-York daily tribune., December 03, 1846, Image 3)
The Brig Islam (believe the name of the Brig was spelled incorrectly in this newspaper article) was one of many ships owned by Jacob Shackford around 1846-1847[i].
Jacob's son, Captain Geo W Shackford had sailed the brig from Turks Island on July 25, 1846[ii]and was it's Captain from Liverpool to Philadelphia on May 24, 1847[iii] While it is not 100% certain that he also was the Captain in December 1846, it is very likely that he was the captain delivering salt from Grand Key to the P I Nevius distributor company in New York. By Nov 1847, the Brig Islam had a new Captain.
George W Shackford (1823-????), Jacob5, John4, SAMUEL3, JOSHUA 2, WILLIAM1 was the third great grandson of William (1641-1720) [the capitals in the ancestry reflect a connection to my personal SHACKFORD ancestors].His father, grandfather, and great-grandfather were all sea captains as were many of his cousins.
George W Shackford was born Dec 7, 1823[iv]in Eastport, Maine, the eighth child of Jacob Shackford (1790-1869) and Eliza Pearce (1794-1869). He received his US Seaman's Protection Certificate in Philadelphia when he was 18 years old.[v] His certificate states that he was 5 foot six inches, was of light complexion, and had light brown hair. At this time I only know of the sailing ventures listed above. When he wasn't sailing, George may have lived with his parents as he is listed in their family in both the 1850[vi]and 1860[vii]censuses. Both listings reflect his occupation as shipmaster. I haven't found his death certificate but believe he died in 1863 at the age of 39. Kilby's book Eastport and Passamaquoddy mentions "Captain, died unmarried."[viii]
I'd love to know more about George's life -- what was it like to be a sea captain at such a young age? Where else did he sail besides Grand Turk, Grand Key, and Liverpool? What education did have before being the captain of this brig? Did he keep any diaries or documents of his travels? Was his brig ever chased by pirates?
If you know anything else about George W Shackford, please share it!
[i] Porter, Joseph W, The Bangor Historical Magazine, Volume 2 (Google eBook), 1887, p. 153
[ii] http://www.cimorelli.com/cgi-bin/magellanscripts/ship_dates_volume.asp?ShipName=Islam, WEB site accessed Jan 14, 2013
[iii] Immigrant Ships Transcribers Guild, http://www.immigrantships.net/v12/1800v12/islam18470524.html, reviewed Jan 14, 2013
[iv] Maine, Births and Christenings, 1739-1900," index, FamilySearch (https://familysearch.org/pal:/MM9.1.1/FWB5-P5L : accessed 16 Jan 2013), George Shackford, 07 Dec 1823; citing reference , FHL microfilm 10840
[v] National Archives and Records Administration (NARA); Washington, D.C.; Proofs of Citizenship Used to Apply for Seamen's Certificates for the Port of Philadelphia, Pennsylvania, 1792-1901
[vi] Year: 1850; Census Place: Eastport, Washington, Maine; Roll: M432_273; Page: 251A; Image: 480, family number 444
[vii] Year: 1860; Census Place: Eastport, Washington, Maine; Roll: M653_455; Page: 723; Image: 501; Family History Library Film: 803455
[viii]Kilby, William Henry, Eastport and Passamaquoddy, (Eastport, Moose Island, Maine, 1982, Reprinted by Waterfront Research Committee), p. 450