Jacob S Ellis
Jacob S. Ellis
Born(1820-10-25)October 25, 1820
Rossville, Staten Island, New York City, US
DiedAugust 28, 1902(1902-08-28) (aged 81)
Tottenville, Staten Island, US
OccupationShipbuilder
SpouseSarah R. Hazen
Children3

Jacob Samson Ellis (October 25, 1820 – July 8, 1902), was a 19th-century prominent shipbuilder in Tottenville, Staten Island. He had a large successful shipyard business for over thirty years, with a reputation for his skill in designing vessels. Ellis died in Tottenville in 1902. His son, Hampton C. Ellis, continued with the shipyard constructing boats through the 1920s.

Early life

Jacob S. Ellis was born on October 25, 1820 Rossville, Staten Island, New York City, on the island's South Shore. He was the son of Cornelius Ellis (1798-1831) and Belisha Butler (1799-1888). Ellis was brought up and educated on Staten Island. He married Sarah R. Hazen (1827-1904) on May 4, 1848 and had three children.[1] Jacob's brother, Cornelius C. Ellis (1825-1905) was a tugboat captain and Harbourmaster for New York City.[2]

Career

Jacob's son Hampton C. Ellis

He learned the shipbuilding trade of at Webb's shipyard in New York. In 1850, he moved to Belleville, New Jersey where he built freight schooners until 1861 when he returned to Staten Island and purchased the shipyard that became known as "J. S. Ellis & Son". He had a large successful business for over thirty years. His son, Hampton C. Ellis (1856-1928), went into partnership with his father when he was twenty-five years old and became a junior member of the firm.[3]

In 1857, Jacob S. Ellis established a shipyard in Tottenville between Main and Tyreel Streets in Tottenville, Staten Island. The shipyard was Tottenville's first shipyard and continued through the 1920s. The town of Tottenville made "Ellis Street" his namesake.[2] It was called the Jacob S. Ellis & Son or just "J. S. Ellis" shipyard. At this shipyard, he built most of his vessels including ships, steamships, brigs and pilot boats (see list below). By 1912, the shipyard employed 18 men.[4] The shipyard had a reputation for the designing fine vessels.

William H. Starbuck

Pilot boat William H. Starbuck.

The pilot boat William H. Starbuck was launched from the J. S. Ellis & Son shipyard on May 30, 1886. About a thousand people witnessed the launching, including William H. Starbuck, Captain Josiah Johnson of the Edmund Blunt, No. 2, James Hawkins of pilot-boat No. 4, as well as others. She was named after William H. Starbuck, a railroad financier, who paid for the cabin and presented the colours, including the signal flags. The Starbuck was modelled after Hempton Ellis and her lines were drawn by Howard I. Chapelle.[5][6]

Joseph F. Loubat

Pilot schooner Joseph F. Loubat off Amagansett, New York.

The Sandy Hook pilot boat Joseph F. Loubat (1880) was built and launched from the Jacob S. Ellis's shipyard. The Staten Island Railway brought a large number of pilots and their families to Tottenville to participate in the launch. Ellis supervised the launch. She was built at an expense of $13,000, for co-ownership with Electus Comfort, W. J. Barry, James McCarthy, and Maurice J. Mariga. Her length was 88 feet, breadth of beam 21 feet, depth of hold is 9 feet and 150 tones.[7]

The schooner Harry Knowlton was built in 1890 by the Jacob Ellis & Son shipyard. She hit the steamboat Larchmont on February 11, 1907 near Providence, Rhode Island. After being blown ashore, the crew of the Knowlton abandoned the wrecked boat.[8]

List of boats

Jacob S. Ellis & Son built the following boats (1834-1907):

  • Benjamin Franklin (1834) steamship[9]
  • Thomas D. Harrison pilot boat[10]
  • Joseph F. Loubat (1880) pilot boat
  • William H. Starbuck (1886) pilot boat
  • Charles Runyan tug[3]
  • Rambler tug[3]
  • E. E. Heipershausen (1894) tug[11]
  • Joseph Peene, Jr. tug[3]
  • D. S. Dalzell (1912) tug[12]
  • Nettie brig
  • Robert Dillon brig[3]
  • John Zittolosen bark[3]
  • Luola Merchison schooner[3]
  • E. S. Porrel schooner[3]
  • Sunny South schooner[3]
  • Harry Knowlton (1890) schooner[3]
  • A. C. Lyon (1865) schooner[13]
  • Oliver Schofield schooner[3]
  • Helen A. Hoyt schooner[3]
  • Unnamed Oyster boats (1905) 85-feet oyster boats[14]
  • Teddo San (1907) for Walter Murray Bleling[15]
  • Unnamed Tugs (1907) for Standard Oil Company and Limond, McKensie Co.[16]

Death

Jacob S. Ellis died, at age 81, on July 8, 1902 at his residence in Staten Island, New York City.[17] He was buried at the Bethel Methodist Churchyard in Tottenville.

After Jacob's death, his son, Hampton C. Ellis, continued with the shipyard constructing boats through the 1920s.[14]

See also

References

  1. ↑ "New York State Census, 1875". FamilySearch. Retrieved 2021-05-25.
  2. 1 2 "Tottenville Historical Society" (PDF). www.tottenvillehistory.com. Retrieved 2021-05-24.
  3. 1 2 3 4 5 6 7 8 9 10 11 12 "Prominent men of Staten Island". A.Y. Hubbell. New York. 1893. p. 182. Retrieved 2021-05-25.
  4. ↑ "NYRichmo Books Online First Annual Industrial Directory, Register of Factories, 1912". richmond.nygenweb.net. New York State. 1912. Retrieved 2021-05-25.
  5. ↑ "She Looks Like A Racer. Launching Of The New Pilot Boat William H. Starbuck". The New York Times. New York, New York. 1886-05-30. Retrieved 2020-09-08.
  6. ↑ Cunliffe, Tom (2001). Pilots, The World Of Pilotage Under Sail and Oar. Brooklin, Maine: WoodenBoat. p. 73. ISBN 9780937822692.
  7. ↑ Loubat, Joseph Florimond (1887). A yachtsman's scrap book: or, The ups and downs of yacht racing. New York: Brentano Brothers. p. 268.
  8. ↑ "Harry Knowlton (Schooner 1890-1907)". catalogs.marinersmuseum.org. Baltimore, Maryland. 1890. Retrieved 2021-05-24.
  9. ↑ "Steamship by Antonio Jacobsen". Retrieved May 25, 2021.
  10. ↑ "Record of American and Foreign Shipping 1884". Mystic Seaport Museum. New York. Retrieved 2021-05-25.
  11. ↑ "Tugboat - E. Heipershausen".
  12. ↑ "New Tugboat Launched". Retrieved May 25, 2021.
  13. ↑ "Launch". Retrieved May 25, 2021.
  14. 1 2 "At Ellis Yard". Retrieved May 25, 2021.
  15. ↑ "First Entry for Power Boat Race". Retrieved May 25, 2021.
  16. ↑ "To Launch Two Boats". Retrieved May 25, 2021.
  17. ↑ "New York, New York City Municipal Deaths, 1795-1949". FamilySearch. Retrieved 2021-05-25.
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