paddlesteamers.info  :  The Internet's leading website for Side-Wheeled Paddle Steamers 

Chesapeake Bay including Potomac River and Washington DC (USA)
Chesapeake is a large bay with numerous creeks and rivers leading into it. It is effevtively the outlet to the sea of the Susquehanna River and the major city of Baltimore MD lies close to the head of the Bay. The largest other river leading into the bay is the Potomac, on which Washington DC stands. Norfolk VA stands close to the narrow bay entrance. Paddle steamers also served from Virginia state capital Richmond on the James River. Prior to the establishment of railways, steamers were the only means of communication between remote communities and with the major cities. Services were increasingly adapted to make connections with railways as they developed, but long-distance overnight services between Baltimore and Norfolk survived well into the motor car era along with a limited number of excursion routes, particularly to the highly-popular Tolchester Beach across the upper Bay opposite Baltimore.

Paddle Steamer operation dates back to 1813 with Captain Edward Trippe's vessel Chesapeake, running as far up the Elk River as possible to get close to the Delaware River for onward travel to Philadelphia. In Chesapeake Bay itself, Captain Weems inagurated a service in 1817 with the paddler Surprise. The Weems Line was established in 1827 and became the Weems Steamboat Company as the business expanded rapidly and eventually overcame various competitors.  The company itself was part of a major consolidation of steamboat lines under railway ownership in 1904 which included the Chester River Steamboat Company. Consolidation proceeded in various stages until almost all former railway-owned steamboats came under the control of the Baltimore & Eastern Railroad, a subdivision of the larger Pennsylvania Railroad. 

By 1900, long-distance overnight services from Baltimore MD to Norfolk VA were the domain of screw steamers. The last paddle steamers of the Baltimore Steam Packet Company, known as the Bay Line, had been sold off and their last new paddler, Virginia, was to follow during the course of the year. A new company, marketing itself as the New Bay Line, had just been established to take on the "Old" Bay Line with new screw steamers and competition raged until the two companies merged in 1941 as a result of the consolidation of their railroad company owners. Other operators servicing smaller communities around the bay persisted with paddle steamers and new night-boats continued to be built by other companies up until 1912.

Passenger Paddle Steamers Registered as at 30th June 1900

At Baltimore

Kitty Knight 1860 25516
Louise 1864 15347
Forest City 1865 10609
Sue 1867 23471
Maggie 1869 90013
Thomas L Worthley18699926
Helen 1871 95094
St Marys 1872 24908
Tangier 1875 145049
Nanticoke1875125863
BS Ford 1877 3045
Enoch Pratt1878135378
Virginia * 1879 25955
Annapolis 1883 106693
Eastern Shore 1883 135672
Westmoreland 1883 80995
Emma A Ford 1884 135806
Joppa 1885 76576
Emma Giles 1887 135926
Avalon 1888 106543
Richmond 1890 100862
Pocomoke 1891 150516
Lancaster1892141217
Sassafras 1893 116539
Tivoli 1894 145678
Queen Anne 1899 20624
* Virginia sold out of the area in 1900

At Annapolis

G J Seufferle 1891 106904

At Washington DC

Kent 1854 14012
Belle Haven 1857 19980
Samuel J Pentz 1859 22097
TV Arrowsmith 1860 24359
George Leary 1864 10045
River Queen 1864 21455
Jane Moseley 1873 77537
Harry Randall 1875 75798
Wakefield 1885 81065
Charles Macalester 1890 126621

At New York City - but sailing locally for the Old Dominion Line

Accomack                                  1877105686
Luray    1882140524
Mobjack     189992955


At Newport News VA

Louise 1863 12826

At Petersburg VA

SA McCall 1863 22814

At Richmond VA

Ariel 1858 970
Pocahontas 1893 150628



Baltimore Registered Companies

Baltimore & Eastern Railroad  (Part of the Pennsylvania Railroad)

- Delaware, Maryland & Virginia Railroad
                - Weems Line
                - Chester River Steamboat Co
                - Queen Anne's Ferry & Equipment Co

- Baltimore, Chesapeake & Atlantic
                - Maryland Steamboat Co
                - Eastern Shore Steamboat Co

Tolchester Steamboat Company
Tochester Beach Improvement Company

Captain George Brown
Rock Creek Steamboat Company
Queenstown & Love Point Transportation & Development Company
Baltimore & Philadelphia Steamboat Company
Baltimore Steam Packet Company

Weems Line  Bought by the Delaware, Maryland & Virginia Railroad Co in 1904
The main services of the Weems Line were from Baltimore to landings on the Patuxent, Potomac and Rappahannock Rivers

Westmoreland (1883-1925) later Love Point
080995
Built in 1883 at Baltimore MD
Wood  199.3 x 32.3 ft  846 GT
Coverted to excursion boat Love Point in 1909 after loss of Love Point (ex- Emma A Ford).
Scrapped 1925


St Marys (1889-1907)
024908
Wood  196.2 x 30.9 ft  688 GT   
Constructed from the recovery of fire-damaged elements of Theodore Weems (1872)
Sold and later lost to fire in 1907


Richmond (1890-1901)
100862
Built in 1890 at Baltimore MD
Wood  205 x 56.2 ft  865 GT 
Burned at Fredricksburg in 1901


Lancaster (1892-1924)
141217
Built in 1892 at Sparrow's Point MD
Steel  205.4 x 50.1 ft  919 GT 
Sold to the New York, Albany & Western Steamship Company. Abandoned 1928

Sue (1895-1904)
023471  
Built in 1867 at Wilmington DE
Iron   175.1 x 27 ft   688 GT
Originally buil tfor the Eastern Steamboat Company she had several owners in a short space of time
Acquired by the Weems Line in 1896 on the takeover of the Maryland & Virginia SB Co
Sold in 1904 to the Delaware River Navigation Company and renamed Bristol
Survived until 1923

Middlesex (1902-1930)
093331
Built in 1902 at Philadelphia PA
Steel  200 x 86 ft  1197  GT
Sold for service at Boston MA for the Nantasket Beach Steamboat Company and renamed Plymouth
Later transferred to New York City as Manhattan for the Sound Steamship Lines
Lost to fire at Tottenville NY in 1939


Note : Mason L Weems 1881-1890  was sold for use on the Hudson River for the Romer & Tramper Line and became William F Romer
In 1990, the line had been taken over by the Central Hudson Steamboat Company.


Chester River Steamboat Co  Bought by the Delaware, Maryland & Virginia Railroad Co in 1904
Through a process of acquisitions, The Chester River Steamboat Company came to dominate steamboat services on the Chester River.

BS Ford  (1877-1928)
003045
Built in 1877 at Wilmington DE
Iron  164.5 x 27.2 ft  417 GT
Converted to a barge




Emma A Ford (1884-1909) later Love Point
135806
Built in 1884 at Wilmington DE
Iron  180 x 30 ft   533 GT  
Burned in 1904. Rebuilt and renamed Love Point in 1905.
Destroyed by fire in 1909



Note : George Law and Chester (renamed National Park) remained in operation at Camden NJ on the Delaware River in 1900


Queen Anne's Ferry and Equipment Company   Bought by the D, M & V Railroad Co in 1904
Established in 1894, the Queen Anne's Railroad ran from Queenstown MD on the east bank of Chesapeake Bay across to Dover DE on Delaware Bay. A ferry link was provided to Baltimore from Queenstown but shortened when the line was extended to Love Point at northern end of Kent Island in 1902. Screw steamer Endeavor was followed by paddle steamer Queen Anne and screw steamer Queen Caroline.

Queen Anne (1889-1906)
020624
Built in 1899 at Baltimore MD
Steel  203.3 x 52 ft  651 GT
Transferred to Washington DC registration for the Chesapeake & Potomac Steamboat Company


Above : Queen Anne at Old Point Comfort, a military fort but surrounded by resort hotels


Delaware, Maryland & Virginia Railroad Co   (New-build paddle steamer)
The railway came increasingly under the contol of the Pennsylvania Railway, with Penn trains operating a number of services and taking total control in the 1920s. Once under Pennsylvania Railway control alongside the Baltimore, Chesapeake and Atlantic, the compined sub-division became the Baltimore & Eastern Railroad

Three Rivers (1910-1920)
207131
Built in 1910 at Sparrow's Point MD
Steel  180 x 36 ft  1110 GT
Potomac services
Sold to the Baltimore, Chesapeake & Atlantic Railway Company
Lost to fire off Cove Point in 1924

 

Baltimore, Chesapeake & Atlantic Railway Company   
The railway was formed in 1894 and purchased  the Maryland Steamboat Company, the Eastern Shore Steamboat Company and the Choptank Steamboat Company to provide steamboat connections. They operated a service from Baltimore to Cambridge and the Choptank River terminating at Denton and also to the Nanticoke and Wicomico Rivers. In 1902 it came under the majority ownership of the Pennsylvania Railroad although operated under its old name. The buisiness hit financial trouble and the Wicomico route was abandoned in 1929, Avalon and Joppa sold and the company fell into bankruptcy shortly afterwards although it reemerged as a wholly-owned division of the Pennsylvania Railway and was consolidated with the Maryland, Delaware & Virginia Railroad into the Penn's Baltimore & Eastern Railroad subsidiary.

ex- Maryland Steamboat Company :


Enoch Pratt (1878-
135371
Built in 1878 at Baltimore MD
Iron  155.4 x 48 ft  571 GT

Ida (1881-1904)
100281
Built in 1881 at Wilmington DE
Iron  190 x 54.6 ft  765 GT
Sold for further service at on the River Hudson for the New York & Saugerties Evening Line
Finally withdrawn in 1937 and scrapped in 1937

Joppa (1885-1929)
076576
Built in 1885 at Wilmington DE
Iron  190 x 34.1 ft  607 GT
Sold to the Victor Lynn Transportation Co and her hull converted to a diesel/screw freight ship and renamed City of Salisbury
After further sale she was used by the US navy in 1945 as a minelayer before being sold for use in Mexico  

Avalon (1888-1929)
106543
Built in 1888 at Wilmington DE
Iron  191 x 31 ft  600 GT
Sold to Captain George Brown for the transportation of visitors to his Brown's Grove amusement park
Renamed Federal Hill in 1937 and converted to a barge in 1941




ex- Eastern Shore Steamboat Company


Maggie (1869-1915)
090013
Built in 1869 at Wilmington De
Iron  164 x 28 ft  606 GT
Reserve steamer from 1892

  
Helen  (1871-1915)
095094
Built in 1871 at Wilmington DE
Iron  150 x 28 ft  550 GT
Reserve steamer after 1892


Tangier  (1875-1903)
145049
Built in 1875 at Wilmington DE
Iron  169.9 x 29 ft  680 GT
Converted to a freight carrier and later a barge


Eastern Shore  
135672
Built in 1883 at Wilmington DE
Iron  176 x 35 ft  791 GT
Sold in 1932 to the Baltimore, Crisfield & Onnanock
Converted to a diesel screw freight ship in 1937


Pocomoke   (1881-1929)
150516
Built in 1881 at Wilmington DE
Iron  170 x 33 ft  656 GT
Converted to a barge


Purchases by the Baltimore, Chesapeake & Atlantic Railway

Tivoli  (1894-1915)
145678
Built in 1894 at Sparrow's Point MD
Steel  175.5 x 53.9 ft  704 GT
Lost to fire

Nanticoke (1899-1904)
125363
Built in 1875 in Wilmington DE
Iron  150 x 28.5 ft  458 GT  
Formerly Chowan, registered at Baltimore MD and serving on the Albermarle Sound
Purchased by the Maryland Steamboat Company in 1890
Renamed Nanticoke in 1899 after sale to the Nanticoke Steamboat Company, serving the Nanticoke River off Chesapeake Bay
Bought for service at Keyport NJ in 1903 when there were problems serving the town from New York. The ship proved unsuitable.
Moved to a new registration at Norfolk VA in 1904 but returned to the Albermarle Sound and Chowan River

New-build by the Baltimore, Chesapeake & Atlantic Railway

Maryland  (1902-1915)
093287
Built in 1902 at Wilmington DE
Steel  180 x 34 ft  817 GT
Lost to fire


Virginia  (1903-1929)
161945
Built in 1903 at Sparrow's Point MD
Steel  181 x 32.4 ft  868 GT
1929 Baltimore & Virginia Steamboat Company
1932 Western Shore Freight Line


Talbot (1912-1937)
210704
Built in 1912 at Sparrow's Point MD
Steel  192 x 36.2 ft   1090 GT
Sold in 1937 to the New York and Keansburg Steamboat Company and renamed City of New York


Dorchester (1912-
210650
Built in 1912 at Sparrow's Point MD
Steel  192 x 36.2 ft  1085 GT
Sold to the Maryland, Delaware & Virginia Railway




Second-hand Purchases

Old Point Comfort (1908-
155122
Built in 1886 at Wilmington DE
Iron  173 x 31 ft  480 GT
Originally built for the New York, Philadelphia & Norfolk Railroad's ferry crossing from Cape Charles to Norfolk VA




Tolchester Steamboat Company  

Tolchester Beach lies directly across the upper Chesapeake Bay from the city of Baltimore and was a highly-popular destination for day trips. The Steamboat Company was established in 1877 using the paddle steamer Pilot Boy and it soon expanded its operations to other destinations and also absorbed several other established small steamboat operators.  By 1900, they were running services to Betterton and down the bay to Annapolis and onwards to the Little Choptank River. The failing company, which had contracted to serve Tochester beach only, was bought out in 1936 and under new ownership became the Tolchester Line

The fleet in 1900 (Tolchester 1889-1899 had recently been transferred to the Myers Excursion and Transportation Company of New York) 


Louise (1885-1924)
015347   JCMW
Built in 1864 at Wilmington DE
Iron  231.7 x 33 ft   1023 GT
Originally operated on the Gulf of Mexico
Bought by the Richmond, York River and Chesapeake Railroad Company for their night service from Baltimore
Moved to the Tolchester Beach Company in 1885 and rebuilt for day service
Sold to TH Franklin of New York in 1925 and renamed Express
Transferred to the Boston, New York & Southern Steamship Company
Sank in 1933 when under conversion to become a floating restaurant
 

Emma Giles (1887-1936)
135926
Built in 1887 at Baltimore MD
Wood  178 x 30.5 ft  549 GT
Converted to a barge



Kitty Knight (1889-
025516
Built in 1860 at Preenpoint NY
Wood  136 x 27 ft   236 GT
ex- Van Corlear the Trumpeter of the Sassafras River Steamboat Company


Annapolis (1889-  
106693
Built in 1889 at Baltimore MD
Iron  202.5 x 65.2 ft  877 GT


Sassafras (1892-1936, later Annapolis)
116539
Built in 1892 at Baltimore MD
Composite (iron frame / wood plating)  174 x 28 ft  485 GT
Originally with the Sassafras River Steamboat Company
Renamed Annapolis in 1901
Converted to carry cars to Tolchester Beach in 1924
Damaged by fire at Baltimore in 1936
Converted to a barge in 1940


Tolchester (1933-1941)
115633
Built in 1878 at Wilmington DE
Iron   250 x 38 ft  1098 GT
ex- St Johns
Ran for an unsuccessful season between Baltimore and Norfolk in 1920
ex- Bombay of TH Franklin at New York
Returned to the Tolchester service in 1933 and renamed Tolchester
Destroyed by fire at Baltimore in 1941



Bear Mountain  (1943-
081809
Built in 1902 at Wilmington DE
Steel  243.3 x 36.9 ft   1310 GT
Operated on Long Island Sound for the New England Steamship Company as William G Payne
Renamed Bridgeport in 1906
Renamed Highlander in 1915
Sold to Daniel F McAllister in 1924 for excursions on the River Hudson and renamed Bear Mountain
Sold to the Delaware-Hudson Steamship Company (Mandalay Line) of New York in 1938 for services beterrn Coney Island, New York City and Bear Mountain
Sold in 1943 for service from Baltimore to Tolchester Beach

Tolchester Beach Improvement Company
The Tolchester Beach Improvement Company, a separate but related identity to the tochester beach Steamboat Company, was established in 1887 to develop the resort at Tolchester. It had title to the ferry Express.

Express (1925-1940)
110780
Built in 1888 at Baltimore MD
Steel  225.2 x 61 ft  1592 GT
Built as Staten Island Ferry Robert Garrett in New York
Renamed Stapleton in 1905 once she moved off the Staten Island run
Came to the Tolchester Beach Improvement Company as Express in 1925
Laid up in 1937 and after sale in 1940 was converted for use as a barge


Captain George Brown
Captain Brown steamers provided transportation to Brown's Grove amusement park, at the time the only genuine fun park and the only resort served by a steamboat which was open to African American citizens. Brown, an African-American, had arrived in Baltimore in 1893 ad became a successful businessman. He died in 1935 and in 1938 his resort sufferered a devastating fire and closed.

Starlight  (1915-1931)
013185   HLJB
Built in 1866 in Jersey City NJ
Wood  193 x 30 ft  495 GT   Beam engine 44 x 120 in by Murphy, McCurdy & Warden of New York NY
Built as John Sylvester for day service between Norfolk VA and Richmond VA
Later on the Delaware River the used for excursion work in the New York area
In 1900 was registered at New York City
Moved to Bridgeport CT in 1903
Became Starlight in 1915 sailing for George W Brown at Baltimore and survived until 1931




Avalon (1929-1938)
106543
Built in 1888 at Wilmington DE
Iron  191 x 31 ft  600 GT
Built for the Maryland Steamboat Company (Baltimore, Chesapeake & Atlantic Railway from 1894)
Sold to Captain George Brown for the transportation of visitors to his Brown's Grove amusement park
Renamed Federal Hill in 1937 and converted to a barge in 1941



Rock Creek Steamboat Co  1894-1906

Thomas L Wortherley (1894-1906)
009926
Built in 1869 at Wilmington DE
Wood  135 x 24.8 ft  263 GT    Beam engine 26 x 108 in
Built for Captain Jacob Brock as Florence
Purchased by the DeBary Merchants Line in 1881 and transferred to Jacksonville FL and renamed Anita
In 1890 she was operating between Boston MA and Nahant
In 1891 she ran between New Jersey, New York and Brooklyn for Joseph Hartman of Newark NJ
In 1894 she was sold and renamed Thomas L Wortherley
Seized later in 1894 and sold by the US Marshall, the ship was re-registered in Baltimore for the Rock Creek Steamboat Co 
Wrecked in 1906 and rebuilt as a houseboat


Queenstown & Love Point Transportation and Development Company  (1908-1912)
Paddle Steamer Dreamland later managed by John C Bosley

Dreamland (1908-1925)
110352
Built in 1878 at Wilmington DE
Iron  272.9 x 37 ft  1285  GT
Originally Republic for the Delaware River Navigation Company
Renamed Cape May for the 1903 season, based on the Delaware River, sailing between Philadelphia and Cape May
Renamed Dreamland in 1904
In 1904 ran for the Central Railroad Company of New Jersey on a short-lived service between their terminal at Jersey City and Coney Island
Registration transferred to Baltimore MD in 1908 to sail for the Queenstown & Love Point Transportation and Development Company
She sailed between Baltimore and Chesapeake Beach from 1912 to 1925 and was scrapped in 1926


Baltimore & Philadelphia Steamboat Co

Carmania  (1916-1919)
092729
Built in 1896 at Newport News VA
Steel  175 x 26 ft  321 GT
Originally Tlacotalpam sailing in Mexico
Sold for use in Mobile AL. Rammed a dock killed 50 people. Renamed Margaret
Registered at New Haven CT in 1900 and later at New York but sailed for the Henry Plant railroad, shippingand hotel empire out of Tampa Bay FL
1914-15 at Louisville KY as excursion ship for Harry Means and ran for Louisville & Jeffersonville Ferry Co. Renamed Carmania
1916-1919  Baltimore & Philadelphia SB Co and sailedon the Elk River to Elkton
1920 New York registration
Foundered at Fall River in 1924


Baltimore Steam Packet Company  (Bay Line, later marketed as the Old Bay Line)
The Old Bay Line owned a total of 15 paddle steamers at various times, buying three in to establish its business in 1840 and subsequently buying new or nearly new ships until 1879 when they made thair last paddle steamer purchase, the Virginia. The line which ran night-boats between Baltimore and Norfolk VA had been railway-controlled since 1851 and wholly owned by the Richmond, Fredricksburg & Potomac Railroad from 1901. They continued to add ever-larger screw steamers to their fleet. The service was long-lasting. The Washington DC to Norfolk VA route was finally abandoned in 1957 and the Baltimore to Norfolk route in 1962 on the winding-up of the company.

A number of the company's paddle steamers remained in service with other operators :
Georgeanna (1860-1869) was sold to the Potomac Steamboat Company for its Washington to Norfolk service. The ship was still in service in the New York City area in 1900.
Carolina found further service in Canada
Virginia remained on the register in 1900 although it was out of service. It found further service in Canada as Tadousac

Virginia (1879-1900)
025955
Built in 1879 at Wilmington DE
Wood  251 x 34.7 ft   990 GT
Out of service in 1900. Sold in 1903 to the Richelieu & Ontario Navigation Co of Canada and renamed Tadousac




Annapolis Registered Paddle Steamers

Mr George J Suefferle
Mr Suefferle owned the Paddle Steamer George J Suefferle until 1902 when it was sold to Boston interests and rebuilt as screw steamer Severn for service on the Severn River.  It had been used locally in Annapolis to ferry customers to Buena Vista Park

George J Suefferle (1891-1902)
106904
Built in 1891 at Baltimore MD
Wood 72.4 x 28.6 ft  100 GT
ex- Alfred Cooper
Sold and rebuilt as screw steamer Severn



Claiborne-Annapolis Ferry
Services ran between 1919 and 1952. In 1930 the a second service was introduced from Matapeake to Annapolis, making for a much shorter crossing. In 1938, the Claiborne departure terminated at Romancoke, requiring passengers to change vessels with a short journey along Kent Island required. Most of the traffic was now motor cars, so Governor Emerson E Harrington was withdrawn. The company had been adding double-ended ferries to its fleet since 1929.

Governor Emerson C Harrington  (1919-1938)
145885
Built in 1901 at Newburgh NY
Steel  201.5 x 332.2 ft  875 GT
ex- Thomas Patten of the New York & Long Branch Steamboat Company (Patten Line)
Bought in 1919 by the Claiborne-Appapolis Ferry Co to inugurate their new service and renamed Governor Emerson C Harrington
Sold in 1938 for use as a floating restaurant and hotel at Pokomoke City MD, surviving until 1949



General Lincoln (1921-1923)
130125   JTFJ
Built in 1878 at Chelsea MA
Iron  160 x 28.2 ft  308 GT
Formerly Nahant
Bought  the Nantasket Bay Steamboat Company
Sold to the Boston, Nahant & Pines Steamboat Company in 1905
Bought by McAllister Navigation Co of New York
Bought in 1921 for service on the Claiborne-Annapolis Ferry
Sold in 1923 to Patrick Gannon at Baltimore and renamed Indian Head



Majestic  (1923-1927)
096688
Built in 1903 at Elizabeth NJ
Steel  201.8 x 30 ft  717 GT
Originally  Happy Day registered at New York
Registration transferred to Newark NJ in 1908 for George C Weidenmayer and renamed Majestic
Converted to carry cars on the Claiborne-Annapolis from 1923
Sank in Baltimore harbour in 1927


 

Washington Registered Paddle Steamers

Potomac River Line  later the Washington & Potomac Steamboat Co
Bought in 1906 by the Chesapeake & Potomac Steamboat Co 

Established by Ephraim S Randall in 1870, the company ran a large number of steamers on local services on the Potomac River until 1922. 

Paddle Steamers operated in 1900


Wakefield
081065
Built in 1885 at Wilmington DE
Wood  160.8 x 28.1 ft  571  GT
Acquired in 1895 from the Washington Steamboat Company



TV Arrowsmith
024359  HRVM
Built in 1860 at Keyport NJ
Wood  201 x 28.5 ft  527 GT
Acquired in 1895 from the Washington Steamboat Company

Kent  (1900-
014012
Built in 1854 at Baltimore
Wood  155.7 x 24.8 ft  406 GT
Individual Enterprise Line
Maryland Steamboat Company
Moved to Washngton in 1900

Harry Randall
075798
Built in 1875 at camden NJ
Wood  170.6 x 29.3 ft  496 GT
ex- John W Thompson
later Capital City

Samuel J Pentz
022097  HQML
Built in 1859 at Greenpoint NY
Wood  188.2 x 29 ft  546 GT
Formerly Long Island  and USQMD Long Island

General J A Dumont
086521
Built in 1862 at Williamsburg NY
Wood   145 x 26 ft  309 GT
ex- James S Freeborn  ex- USS Nasemond  ex- USRC  William H Crawford



Paddle Steamers acquired in the twentieth century


Queen Anne (1906-
020624
Built in 1899 at Baltimore MD
Steel  203.3 x 52 ft  651 GT
Built for the Queenstown to Baltimore ferry for the Queen Anne's Railroad
Transferred to Washington DC registration for the Chesapeake & Potomac Steamboat Company



Majestic (1920-1929)
096688
Built in 1903 at Elizabeth NJ
ex- Happy Day sailing at New York
Renamed Majestic in 1908 and registration transferred to Newark NJ
Patrolled the Potomac for the US Navy at the end of 1918
Registration transferred to Washington DC in 1920
Served until 1929


The Jane Moseley Steamboat Company
later use by
Freedman's Transportation and Land Development Company
Independent Steamboat and Barge Company
The complicated story of the paddle steamer Jane Moseley is entwined in the racial politics of the era which involved effective segregation of races, exploitation of emerging African-American businessmen in the southern states of the USA and also found in the national capital, Washington DC. The ship was owned by white Baltimore-based  Isaac Tibbert's Jane Moseley Steamboat Company. In 1896 the National Steamboat Company bought land to develop resorts for the use of African-Americans and the ship to transport passengers there from Wahington. The terms of the purchase contract resulted in its repossession and the collapse of the business.  In 1902 the Freedman's Transportation & Land Improvement Company bought the ship despite the poor terms offered to the African-American concern, with the same result and amidst great controversy over the role of the prominent African-American businessman Lewis Jefferson. In June 1904 the boat was once again under Jefferson's control Steamboat & Barge Company was established to serve Jefferson's own new Wahington Park amusement park, again, for use byAfrican-Americans. The company added River Queen to its fleet in 1905 aand after the loss of River Queen, Angler.

Jane Moseley
075537  JMWK
Built in 1873 at Brooklyn NY
Wood  200 x 32 ft  800 GT
Sold in 1911 and renamed Minerva. Sailed for George C Weidenmayer at Newark NJ




River Queen (1905-1911)
021455   HQJS
Built in 1864 at Keyport NJ
Wood 181.1 x 28.5 ft   578 GT
Moved to the Potomac in 1893 from the New Bedford, Martha's Vineyard & Nantucket Steamboat Company
Sold to the Mount Vernon & Marshall Hall Steamboat Company
Sold in 1905 to the Independent Steamboat & Barge Co of Washington DC, an African-American owned venture
Sailed to the newly-opened Washington Park, developed by the "Independent" Company
Lost to fire in 8th July 1911 at Washington DC



Angler (1912-1916)
091079  
Built in 1878 at Wilmington DE
Iron  166.5 x 28 ft  409 GT
ex- Mary Morgan
Angler from 1889 to 1915
Sold to the Independent Steamboat & Barge Co at Washington DC in 1912
1916 renamed  WL Davis and operated for Gilbert C Bensinger as an excursion ship on the Potomac River
Renamed E Madison Hall in 1917
Appears to have operated until the mid-1930s and was converted to a diesel screw freight ship




Mount Vernon & Marshall Hall Steamboat Company
In 1889 the steamboat company purchased the Marshall family's private estate and developed it as an amusement park. They had built the Charles Macalester, which ran two daily services from Washington DC, with an additional evening service in the summer, to the park and also the nearby Mount Vernon, home of the first US President, George Washington. The amusement park was demolished in 1980.

Charles Macalester (1890-1930)
126621
Built in 1890 at Wilmington DE
Iron  195 x 30 ft  624 GT



River Queen (1893-1905)
021455   HQJS
Built in 1864 at Keyport NJ
Wood 181.1 x 28.5 ft   578 GT
Moved to the Potomac in 1893 from the New Bedford, Martha's Vineyard & Nantucket Steamboat Company
Sold to the Mount Vernon & Marshall Hall Steamboat Company
Sold in 1905 to the Independent Steamboat & Barge Co of Washington DC, an African-American owned venture
Sailed to the newly-opened Washington Park, developed by the "Independent" Company
Lost to fire in 8th July 1911 at Washington DC




Old Dominion Steamship Co      (Registered at New York)
Ran sea going vessels between Norfolk VA and New York NT with smaller vesssels on connecting services to ports in Virginia. It eventually became absorbed into the Eastern Steamship Company

 Accomack  (1877-1910)
105686
Built in 1877 at Brooklyn NY
Iron  136.8 x 25.5 ft   434 GT  
Built for the Old Dominion Steamship Company's local connection services to Norfolk VA
Bought by the Keansburg Steamboat Company in 1910




Luray (1882-1914)
140524
Built in 1882 at Brooklyn NY
Wood  156 x 28 ft  423 GT



Mobjack (1899-1922)
092955   KPFQ 
Built in 1899 at Newburgh NY
Steel   180.2 x 28.7 ft   610 Gt  352 NT   KPFQ
Purchased in 1922 by the Keansburg Steamboat Company



New-build in the twentieth century

Hampton (1901-1910)
096543
Built in 1901 at Elizabeth NJ
Steel   181.7 x 29.5 ft   580 GT  
Originally Hampton of the Old Dominion Steamship Company
Renamed Smithfield in 1910 for the Newport News & Norfolk Steamship Co
Purchased in 1922 by the Keansburg Steamboat Company
Ran aground on 15th September 1944



Potomac River Line (Benjamin Wills)

Potomac (1930-1948)
105908
Built by Harlan & Hollingsworth, Wilmington DE. Engine by W&A  Fletcher of Hoboken    Three funnels abreast
Iron 314  x 40 ft   1415 GT
Built for the Hudson River Day Line
Significantly rebuilt in 1882. Lengthened by 30 feet, second deck extended to the bow. Smaller wheels fitted with feathering mechanism, with "old syle" paddle boxes removed
Sold and later renamed Potomac, sailing for private owner Benjamin Wills on the Potomac River  until 1948
Engines and paddle wheel preserved at the Mariners Museum, Newport News VA :  


Above : By 1880, day steamers were increasing in size and taking on a more modern appearance. Albany is seen leaving New York City in 1884 when just four years old. In the background is one of the "Night" boats with stateroom accommodation. The three funnels located athwartships was a more traditional arrangement indicating three boilers lying side by side.  

Paddle Steamer Belle Haven

Belle Haven
019980
Built in 1857 at Wilmington DE
Wood  161.5 x 47.2 ft  362 GT
ex-Pilot Boy
Operating in Delaware Bay
Bought by the Totchester Beach Steamboat Company in 1877 to inaugurate their new service


WH Thomas

George Leary
010045   HGWC
Built in 1864 at Brooklyn NY
Wood  237 x 33 ft   810 GT
Potomac Steamboat Company
Sold in 1891 to the newly established Norfolk & Washington Steamboat Company as reserve steamer
Sold in 1895 to WH Thomas as principal owner

Norfolk & Washington Steamboat Company  

Established in 1890 to offer an improved service between the two cities and inaugurated their service with two large new screw steamers. Paddle Steamer George Leary was bought  as a reserve steamer and retained until 1895. The company built a new paddle steamer to help handle the crowds expected at the 1907 Jamestown Exhibition and ran her on a daytime service from Washington to Norfolk.

Jamestown  (1906-1909)
203188
Built in 1906 at Newport News VA
Steel  252.8 x 32.3 ft  1337  GT
Sold in 1909 to British / Argentinian interests are renamed Colonia


Norfolk Registered Paddle Steamers
None registered at the port in 1900
Paddle Steamers Registered after 1900


Belle Horton (1901-1906, later Pine Beach)
003149
Built in 1881 at Athens NY
Wood  135.6 x 25.5 ft  291 GT
Owned by the Citizens Line of Troy on the River Hudson
Used for excursions and as a tender to their large night-liners
Registered in Bridgeport CT in 1900 and Norfolk VA in 1901
Aailed on the James River
Renamed Pine Beach in 1905
Lost to fire in 1906

Nanticoke (1904-
125363
Built in 1875 in Wilmington DE
Iron  150 x 28.5 ft  458 GT  
Formerly Chowan, registered at Baltimore MD and serving on the Albermarle Sound
Purchased by the Maryland Steamboat Company in 1890
Renamed Nanticoke in 1899 after sale to the Nanticoke Steamboat Company, serving the Nanticoke River off Chesapeake Bay
Bought for service at Keyport NJ in 1903 when there were problems serving the town from New York. The ship proved unsuitable.
Moved to a new registration at Norfolk VA in 1904 but returned to the Albermarle Sound and Chowan River

Newport News Registered Paddle Steamer

Louise
012826    HKTJ
Built in 1863 at Keyport NJ
Wood  173 x 26.6 ft  409 GT
ex- John Romer
Bought by the newly established Greenwich & Rye Steamboat Company on Long Island Sound in 1866
Sold in 1868 to the Boston & Higham Steamboat Company
In 1885 she was registered to JJ Callaghan as superintendent at Newport News and remained so until 1907
Final registration was at 30th June 1906



Petersburg Registered Paddle Steamer

SA McCall
022814
Built in 1863 at Boston MA
Wood  132.5 x 22 ft  207 GT
Formerly USQM GW Thomas
ex- US Lighthouse tender Dandelion
ex- Sunbeam


Above : USLH Geranium, a sister ship of Dandelion, buil tin the same year

Richmond Registered Paddle Steamers

Ariel
000970
Built in 1858 at Wilmington DE
Iron  180.9 x 29 ft   493 GT    Beam engine  40 x 108 in ex- William Whildin (1845)
An early eample of the use of iron for a paddle steamer hull
Served on the Delaware River until 1878


Pocahontas (1893-1922)
150628
Built in 1893 at Wilmington DE
Steel  193 x 33 ft   814 GT
Used as a day excursion boat from Norfolk along the James River
Sold to the Keansburg Steamboat Company of New Jersey in 1922
Survived until 1939




Go to

Great Lakes  (USA)

Hudson River

New York City, Coney Island and Northern New Jersey Coast

Long Island Sound and North Eastern Seaboard

Delaware River

Chesapeake Bay

South East Coast and Gulf of Mexico

Lakes Champlain, George, Cayuga and Winnepesaukee 

Mississippi River System 

Pacific seaboard (USA)

Canada

Return to
USA & Canada
Historical Database