From the voice of Capt. Pendleton of Searsport
Capt. Phineas Pendleton, I am.
Born in 1780 as the 11 th child of Peleg and Ann Park Pendleton. I married Nancy Gilmore in 1805 at Searsport, Maine. Together we raised 6 sons and 6 daughters. The year I married is also the year that at 25 years of age I became captain of the sea-going Sloop ALEXANDER. In 1812 I was to be the captain of the Schooner BELFAST. I am proud to have been a Master Mariner for more than 30 years, retiring from the sea at age 60, turning to farming until my death at a ripe old age of 92.
How I loved the sea! Often I chose to leave our home in the hands of a caretaker and to take my family to sea with me — as was the norm for many of my fellow Searsport captains. By the way, my residence was built onto the home of my parents at the foot of Pendleton Road in Searsport. My children often built their homes on our family land.
On one of our “family” voyages to Cardiff, Wales I became heartily interested in the Hereford cattle which I oft observed grazing the green fields there. I purchased a yearling bull named Kimroe and a yearling heifer named Kitty as part of my return trip cargo. To ensure offspring from Kitty and Kimroe, I also employed the services of a Hereford cattle expert who joined us on the crossing. These were, after all, the first long-horned “Perfection” Hereford cattle ever brought to America!This new endeavor proved to be very successful.
I was 32 years of age during the War of 1812,a war fought over the Merchant Marine. The British were seizing our American ships on the high sea and our captured men were then being forced to join the British navy or merchant navy. During the war I moved my family inland from the Penobscot Bay for their safety. Some of the time I protected our home (which remained unharmed). Part of the time I served as a Captain, with my ship, in the 2 nd Regiment Infantry, 1 st Brigade, 10 th Division, Massachusetts Militia, serving from Belfast, Maine. I was captured by a British privateer, my ship, the Schooner Belfast, was confiscated, and I was taken to Halifax, Nova Scotia, as a prisoner, from where I was later freed.
Phineas Pendleton II
My son, Phineas Pendleton, II, was also a sea captain. Phineas Jr. married Wealthy Carver and gave me 10 grandchildren; 2 of whom died young, 8 of whom became either sea captains themselves or married sea captains! Proud to say, Phin, Jr., amassed a great fortune!
As I was getting up in years, another son, Capt. Benjamin Franklin Pendleton knew how I fretted about being buried in the ground when I died. So, he had an above-ground vault built in what is now known as Bowditch Cemetery in Searsport. I must divulge that I was quite taken with my last resting place, oft remarking that it would make “a fine potato cellar!”
As I was getting up in years, another son, Capt. Benjamin Franklin Pendleton knew how I fretted about being buried in the ground when I died. So, he had an above-ground vault built in what is now known as Bowditch Cemetery in Searsport. I must divulge that I was quite taken with my last resting place, oft remarking that it would make “a fine potato cellar!” Penobscot Marine Museum Penobscot Marine Museum
Maine’s Oldest Maritime Museum. Voyage into the past with changing exhibitions, permanent collections and a museum store