Amasa 6 BIGELOW


16117.8       Amasa 6 BIGELOW, son of Asa 5 ( Joshua 4, Joshua 3, Joshua 2, John1 and  Rebecca (RICHARDSON) BIGELOW, was born 18 March 1778 at Brookfield, Worcester county, MA. He married (1) 03 April 1805 Ruth Richardson, born 24 August 1776, died 08 April 1825. He married (2)17 May 1826 Hannah (Lee) Harding, daughter of Gen. Samuel Lee. She was born 05 December 1791. After her death, Amasa married (3) Lucia Richardson, niece of this first wife. Amasa and family lived in New Braintree, where he died 14 January 1872.
     Concerning him, Howe's Bigelow genealogy says: "He was a man of sterling worth and unswerving integrity; gifted with a keen wit and humor that made him a pleasant companion, with an excellent judgment.. .and uncompromising rectitude.. .He was a great reader and a public-spirited man."

Children of Am asa Bigelow and his first wife Ruth Richardson, both born New Braintree, Worcester co, MA:

16117.81      Mary, b l5 July 1807;d 19 Sept 1810.

16117.82      Henry, b 28 Aug 1809;d 19 Sept 1810.

Children of Amasa Bigelow by Hannah (Lee) Harding, all born New Braintree, MA:

16117.83      Henry Harding,b 12 Feb 1829; d 16 Oct 1856 Bridgeport, CT; unm.

16117.84t     Mary Richardson, b 18 Jan 1831; d 1 Jan 1861 Galesburg, IL; m 29 Oct 1850 Rev. Charles H. Pierce. 4 children.

16117.85      George Augustus, b 13 Aug 1832; d 26 Apr 1870 Boston, MA; m 24 Oct 1858 Julia Harrington; he was a sea-faring man and a captain in the merchant service. No issue. (see below)

16117.86t     Helen Maria, b 19 Sep 1834; d ____ ; m (1)15 Feb 1854 Dr. Albert Kendall; (2)26 Apr 1866 William Mixter; (3) Thomas E. Chapin. 2 children.

Sources:
Bigelow Society,The Bigelow Family Genealogy, Vol I, pg 293;
Howe, Bigelow Family of America.


Log Notes:

     Built for Thomas B. Wales, she was 1184 tons; 193 feet long with a beam of 36 feet and draft of 25 feet. Her speed record set 1859-1860...New York to San Francisco was 167 days. The clipper ship's owners at the time Bigelow was master are noted in logs as Messrs Curtis and Peabody.
Three logbooks belonging to George A. Bigelow: one of the books is identified as Private Journal / of / Geo. A. Bigelow / from / Sept. 27th 1867. Another is labeled Private Log of Geo. A. Bigelow / Master of Ship / "Zephyr" / from / Nov. 18th 1864. The same book also contains the entry, Bark "Pursuit" / Capt. Geo. A. Bigelow / left the end of Battery Wharf / Boston / Feb. 22nd 1866 - at 1-30 P. M. / Bound for / Melbourne-Australia. One of the books contains a list of "...ships and vessels which Geo. A. Bigelow has been to sea in..." Eighteen vessels are listed, beginning with the bark "Kate Hastings" and concluding with the bark "Pursuit".
As is to be expected, most of the logs are taken up with readings, reports on weather and types of cargo. However, there are also a number of entries, some only a sentence long, which tell a great deal about life at sea and what it was like to be a ship's master. There is enlightening and exciting reading... he notes "Wife very low - & daily losing strength & flesh. Am anxious about her!" Later he is able to write, "My Wife is more comfortable today though very weak & low Rum & Whisky baths & Belladonna plaster are doing her good..." On one occasion Bigelow notes that he; had a row with Irish Stewardess - the Cook's wife..." about the quality and efficiency of her work. He notes that he insisted she do things as he directed, to which she declared, "...She would begin her work and do it just when & how it pleased her to do so..." With no one aboard to vent his frustration and anger the bemused Captain concludes his description of the incident with the heavily underlined exclamation, "I think I shall have my orders obeyed!"
It is May of 1861 before Bigelow learns that compromise was something that his fellow countrymen were unable to achieve. He receives some London newspapers from a passing ship and receives "...first news of civil war in United States..." Bigelow notes that "...The States are always making asses of themselves in the eyes of the whole world - both sides are to blame, & I hope they will both get a good drubbing & then come together again as they ought to, and be...the smartest nation on airth [sic]!!" In spite of his vexation with both sides, Bigelow's loyalty to the Union becomes obvious by 1862 when he "...Saw a small schooner who avoided me - and after passing, at long range, hauled up for Mobile. He was evidently intending to run the blockade - Wish I had a single small gun - I would have taken him any how..." On July 4, 1865 Bigelow writes "Hurrah for the Union!! Confusion, perdition and punishment to all traitors !!!!!! May they meet their reward & doom!!!" Since Bigelow was in England when the war ended in April, he must have been aware of its outcome when he entered this rather strong epithet in his personal log.
The three books are in overall good condition. The binding on the smallest book is missing along the spine, but the folios remain intact and the covers are still held on with the original linen strips. There are a few loose pages, which have newspaper clippings of interest to mariners pasted on them, and the list of Bigelow's service is also on a separate sheet of paper in the small volume. The medium volume has splits along the spine and some pages that are coming loose. It has a green label on the inside cover which reads: J. L. FAIRBANKS, / STATIONER / and / ACCOUNT BOOK MANUFACTURER / 136 Washington St., Boston. The third volume is in the best condition, with minor damage to the spine but very tight overall. Small notes have been placed between pages to mark pages containing interesting passages.


Rod Bigelow (Roger Jon12 BIGELOW)
Box 13  Chazy Lake
Dannemora, N.Y. 12929
rodbigelow@netzero.net
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