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Subject: [GenConnecticut-L] The Phantom Ship of Capt Turner of Lynn, MA & New Haven, CT
Date: Sun, 3 Jun 2001 23:16:35 EDT
History of Lynn, Massachusetts
Capt Turner of Lynn, Mass and New Haven, CT. ~ famous legend regarding
the sailing of the ship they had built which was never heard of again until
it came sailing into CT where many many witnesses saw the ship, the crew,
the captain and then it went up in smoke...a phantom! Read the poem by
Henry Wadsworth Longfellow. This "mirage" was recorded in many town
histories.
In 1639, Capt. Turner, in connection with Rev. Mr. Daven-
port and four others, at New Haven, was appointed to have
the disposing of all house lotts, yet undisposed of about this
towne, to such persons as they shall judge meete for the good
of the plantation ; and that none come to dwell as planters here
without their consent and allowance, whether they come in by
purchase or otherwise." In 1640, Capt. Turner, as agent for
New Haven, made a large purchase of lands on both sides of the
Delaware river - sufficient for a number of plantations. The
purchase was made chiefly with a view to trade, though the
establishment of Puritan churches was an object. Trading
houses were erected, and nearly fifty families sent out. In all
fundamental matters the Delaware colonies were to be under
the jurisdiction of New Haven. In the same year he made the
purchase of the Indian territory of Rippowams - Stamford -
as noted by Mr. Lewis, partly of Penns and partly of Wascussue,
another chief. He gave for the whole, twelve coats, twelve
hoes, twelve hatchets, twelve knives, two kettles, and four
fathom of white wampum." In a sale to the people of Wethers-
field, a while after, the tract was valued at thirty pounds ster-
ling.
In a list, made in 1643, giving the names of a hundred and
twenty-two New Haven planters, with the number of their fam-
ilies -including only parents and children - and the value of
their estates, the family of Capt. Turner is put down at seven,
and his estate at 800 pds, the latter being as high as any on the
list, with the exception of ten. But the land speculations of New
Haven do not seem to
p.130 ANNALS OF LYNN - 1630.
have turned out in any degree profitable. The Delaware trade
was not successful; and the Dutch were troublesome at Stam-
ford. And she seems literally to have struck a vein of ill-fortune,
in which she was destined to struggle for some time. It was
under a desperate effort to retrieve ber fortunes, that the planters
sent to Rhode Island and had a ship of a hundred and fifty tons
built, hoping to open a profitable foreign trade. By joining
their means, the planters were able to freight her in a satisfac-
tory manner. Capt. Turner, with five others of the principal
men embarked, and she sailed from New Haven in January,
1647. Nothing was ever heard either of the vessel or any on
board, unless the apparition which appeared in the harbor, the
next June, immediately after a great thunder storm - the re-
nowned phantom ship be regarded as tidings. Capt. Turner,
had kept alive his friendship for the people of Lynn, and while
New Haven's heart was sad," there were many here to mourn
his fate.
THE PHANTOM SHIP
By Henry Wadsworth Longfellow
In Mather's Magnalia Christi,
Of the old colonial time,
May be found in prose the legend
That is here set down in rhyme.
A ship sailed from New Haven,
And the keen and frosty airs,
That filled her sails in parting
Were heavy with good men's prayers.
"O Lord! If it be thy pleasure"-
Thus prayed the old divine-
"To bury our friends in the ocean,
Take them, for they are thine!"
But Master Lamberton muttered,
And under his breath said he,
"This ship is so crank and walty
I fear our grave she will be!"
And the ships that came from England
When the winter months were gone,
Brought no tidings of this vessel!
Nor of Master Lamberton.
This put the people to praying
That the Lord would let them hear
What in his greater wisdom
He had done to friends so dear.
And at last our prayers were answered:
It was in the month of June
An hour before sunset
Of a windy afternoon.
When, steadily steering landward,
A ship was seen below,
And they knew it was Lamberton, Master,
Who sailed so long ago.
On she came with a cloud of canvas,
Right against the wind that blew,
Until the eye could distinguish
The faces of the crew.
Then fell her straining top mast,
Hanging tangled in the shrouds,
And her sails were loosened and lifted,
And blown away like clouds.
And the masts, with all their rigging,
Fell slowly, one by one,
And the hulk dialated and vanished,
As a sea-mist in the sun!
And the people who saw thus marvel
Each said unto his friend,
That this was the mould of thier vessel,
And thus her tragic end.
And the pastor of the village
Gave thanks to God in Prayer,
That, to quiet their troubled spirits,
He had sent this Ship of Air.
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