Bark Solon Crew List - Revised

Bark Solon – Whaling Voyage of 1862–1863

Historical Note:

The journal kept by John T. Duntlin, identified as ‘First Officer on the Bark Salon,’ in fact documents the whaling voyage of the Bark Solon. Contemporary shipping records confirm that the Bark Solon, commanded by Captain D. D. Baxter, sailed from New Bedford, Massachusetts, on June 12, 1862, bound for the Atlantic Ocean. The Whalemen’s Shipping List & Merchants’ Transcript (June 17, 1862) and the American Offshore Whaling Voyages Database record this departure exactly, showing the voyage lasted until July 9, 1864.

Ranks on a Whaleship
Depending on the size of a vessel, crews ranged in size from fifteen to forty men. Each man held a role with which came specific tasks. These ranks, arranged in a rigid hierarchy, determined the authority each crew member held.

Captain/Master: Perhaps the term Master was more applicable than captain. This individual had complete control and authority over the whaleship and its operations. As one whaling captain said to his timid crew while on the whaling grounds, “I am God.”

Mates/Officers: These numbered three or four men, descending from the First Mate to the Fourth Mate. Each commanded their own whaleboat, and acted as the captain’s direct supervisors of the rest of the crew.

Boatsteerers/Harpooneers: Three to five crew members rowed the whaleboat and one threw the harpoon, hoping to latch onto the whale. This began the process of the whale hunt. They enjoyed more liberties than the average crew member.

Mechanics: These craftsmen, ranging in jobs from blacksmiths, coopers, carpenters, steward, and the cook, ranked higher than the average crewman. They performed specialized jobs onboard the vessel, and they stayed behind when the crew went out on a hunt to care for the ship.

Foremast Hands/Crewmen: The majority of the crew was made up of foremast hands. They performed daily duties of cleaning the vessel and taking turns on watch. During a hunt, these men rowed the whaleboats to their prospective prey.

Greenhands: These were first timers. Ranking the lowest of all the crew members they had a lot to learn. Most greenhands deserted their vessel before their voyage ended. People in New Bedford use the term “greenhorn” to this day.

Bark Solon — Crew List (1862)

Officers

Dennis D. Baxter (35) (1827-1889)
Captain aka Master

John T. Duntlin (34) (1828-1877)
First Mate · New Bedford

Henry C. Taber (35) (1827-1896)
Second Mate · Fairhaven

Benjamin White (27) (1835 - ?)
Third Mate · Boatsteerer · Worchester

Boatsteerers & Ship Specialists

Joseph Dexter (24) (1838 - ?)
Boatsteerer · Mattapoisett

John Crowly (Crandley) (18) (1844 - ?)
Boatsteerer · New York City

Owen Gibney (22) (Likely born in Ireland circa 1840 - Death ?)
Cooper · New York City

Samuel J. Rogers (28) (1834 - ?)
Steward ·

Portuguese / Cape Verdean Crew

Joseph Silva (Silvia)
Cook · Afro-Portuguese / Cape Verdean

Antone Cardose (Cordose)
Shipkeeper · Afro-Portuguese / Cape Verdean

John Jose
Seaman · Portuguese

Manuel Guago (Durago)
Seaman · Portuguese

Seamen

Samuel R. Weaver (26)
New York City

George H. Moore (21)
New Bedford

Charles Tucker (24)
New Bedford

James Lanton (Lawton) (21)
Royalton, VT

Thomas Moore (21)
Sutton, MA

James P. Royce (23)
Lee, MA

Simon Hitchcock (22)
Damariscotta, ME

Bradford Hathaway Jr. (18)
Assonet / Saugatuck

Phineas Moorse Sutton, MA

Crew List: Bark Solon – New Bedford Voyage, 1862–1863

Bark Solon — Crew List

“Of bark Solon, Capt. Dennis D. Baxter, which sailed from this port to-day, for the Atlantic Ocean: John T. Duntlin, New Bedford, 1st mate; Henry C. Taber, Fairhaven, 2d mate; Benj. White, New Bedford, 3d mate and boatsteerer; John Crandley, do., and Joseph Dexter, do., boatsteerers; Antone Cardose, do., shipkeeper; Samuel J. Rogers, do., steward; Joseph Silvia, do., cook; Owen Gibney, New York city, cooper; Manuel Guago, do.; Samuel P. Weaver, do.; George H. Moore, New Bedford; Chas. Tucker, do.; James Lawton, Royalston, Vt.; John Jose; Bradford Hathaway, Jr., Saugatuck; Simon Hitchcock, Damariscotta, Me.; James P. Royce, Lee; Ths. Moore, Sutton, seamen.”

Source: New Bedford Evening Standard, New Bedford, Massachusetts, 3 May 1867, shipping intelligence column.

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