HMCo #83p Nereid

"Nereid, steam yacht, of Bristol.
Built at Bristol, RI, by Herreshoff Manufacturing Co., 1882.
34.30 tons; 72.6 ft. x 13 ft. x 6 ft. [Register length x breadth x depth.]
One deck, no mast, plain head, rond stern.
Surveyed and measured, April, 1882." (Source: U.S. Customs Department, Bristol, R.I. Custom House Record Book, 1870s to 1904 (Collection of the Herreshoff Marine Museum), s.v. Nereid.)

"... The first vessel delivered this season was the pleasure yacht Nereid, built for J. C. Smith, of Utica, N.Y., he having a summer residence in the Thousand Islands in the St. Lawrence. The Nereid is 76 feet long by 124 feet wide. Her saloon is finished with polished cherry and mahogany, with two state rooms and retiring room opening from it. The pilot house is very large and commodious for a yacht of her size, and is also finished in cherry and mahogany. The kitchen and store rooms are forward, as also are the accommodations for the crew. Her machinery consists of an inverted, compound, condensing engine of 100 I. H. P., having cylinders of 8" and 14" x 14". The boiler is on the Herreshoff coil system, and has a grate of 58 inches in diameter. The maximum speed of the Nereid is 15 miles an hour, her average consumption of fuel about 120 pounds an hour, with capacity for steaming 1000 miles without replenishing the stock of coal.
The Nereid is well adapted for cruising on our coast or lakes, and is, in all respects, a seaworthy and comfortable craft in all weathers. ..." (Source: Anon. "Steam Yacht Building In Rhode Island. The Herreshoff Manufacturing Company And Its Operations." The Mechanical Engineer, September 2, 1882, p. 55.)

"George A. Back [sp?] of Poughkeepsie, N. Y, has bought from Mr. Smith of Syracuse the Herreshoff steam-yacht Nereid, 78ft. long by 14ft. beam, the stated price being $10,000 [sp?]." (Source: Anon. "Aquatic." November 24, 1883, p. 593.)

"The steam yacht Marina [#105p], a composite built craft of 21.34 tons register, has been purchased by Mr. George A. Beck, of this city. The Marina was a new yacht this spring and built by the Herreshoff Manufacturing Company, of Bristol, B. I., which firm has taken the Nereid [#83p] in exchange for her, it said." (Source: Anon. "Yachting Notes." New York Herald, September 4, 1884, p. ?)

"... The steam yacht Nereid, Herreshofff, Boston Y. C. has been enlarged in the cabin and other improvements have been made for fall cruising." (Source: Anon. "Yachting Notes." New York Herald, September 21, 1884, p. ?)

"[Abstract of register or enrollment. Pos. 673:]
Nereid, steam yacht, of Bristol.
Built at Bristol, 1882.
34.30 tons; 72.6 ft. x 13 ft. x 6 ft. [Register length x breadth x depth.]
One deck, [blank] mast, plain head [bow].
Enr[olled] and Lic[ensed] ([as] yacht) Apr. 12, 1882. Owner: Herreshoff Manufacturing Company of Bristol. Master: A. C. Duclon.
Surrendered [license] Nov. 21, 1883 at.New York, N.Y. ([Record at:] C[ustom] H[ouse, Providence]).
[License issued to vessel under 20 tons. Pos. 190:]
Nereid, steam yacht, of Bristol.
Built at Bristol, 1882.
34.30 gross tons, 17.15 net tons; 72.6 ft. x 13 ft. x 6 ft. [Register length x breadth x depth.]
No specifications shown.
Previously enrolled Apr. 12, 1882 at Bristol.
Lic[ensed] ([as] yacht) Sept. 8, 1884. Owner: Herreshoff Manufacturing Company of Bristol. Master: [blank].
Surrendered [license] May 21, 1885 at New London, Conn. ([Record at:] C[ustom] H[ouse, Providence])." (Source: Survey of Federal Archives, Work Projects Administration. Ships Documents of Rhode Island. Bristol. Ship Registers and Enrollments of the Port of Bristol - Warren Rhode Island, 1941, s.v. Nereid.)

"The steam yacht Nereid, built by the Herreshoff Manufacturing Co., was sold to a gentleman at Norwich, Conn., and sailed for that place a few days since." (Source: Anon. "Local Affairs." Bristol Phoenix, November 29, 1884, p. 2.)

"... The Herreshoff Company, at Bristol, R. I., has sold Mr. George A. Beck's steam yacht Nereid to Mr. F. L. Osgood, Norwich, Conn. The Nereid is 76 ft. over all, 72 ft. on water-line, 12 ft. 6 in. beam, 6 ft. 3 in. deep, and draws 4 ft. 6 in. of water. She is fitted with a compound inverted engine, with cylinders 8 in. and 14 in. in diameter, and 14 in. stroke of piston. She was built at Bristol, R. I., in 1882. ..." (Source: Anon. "Yachting." Spirit of the Times, December 13, 1884, p. ?)

"Mr. George A. Beck sold the steam-yacht Nereid, December 1st [1885], to Mr. F. L. Osgood, of Norwich, Conn. She was built at Bristol, R.I., in 1882; is 76 feet over all, 72 feet water-line, 12 1/2 feet beam, and draws 4 1/2 feet; has compound inverted engines, cylinders 8 and 14 inches, with 14-inch stroke." (Source: Anon. "Yachting." Outing, February 1885, p. 397.)

"THE HERRESHOFF WORKS AT BRISTOL. ... Of late years [the Herreshoffs] have turned their attention to steam and have given to the engineering world the Herreshoff engine and coil boiler. The list of steam yachts is a long one, including some of the fastest afloat, Leila [#40p], Aida [#92p ex-Permelia], Permelia [sic, double-counted, #92p], Ossabaw [#101p], (No. 100) [#100p Permelia], Gleam [#65p], Marina [#105p], Orienta [#89p], Nereid [#83p], Magnolia [#104p], Camilla [#72p], Dolphin [#54p], Xantho [#99p], Juliet [#78p], Sinbad [#49p]. ..." (Source: Anon. (W. P. Stephens). "The Herreshoff Works at Bristol." Forest and Stream, April 16, 1885, p. 236, 237.)

"The following is a list of the steam yachts built by the Herreshoff Manufacturing Company of Bristol, R.I: ... Nereid, built 1882, for Jay C. Smith, Utica, N.Y. Length, 76 feet; breadth, 12 feet 6 inches; depth, 6 feet 3 inches; draught, 4 feet 6 inches; speed, 14 miles per hour. ..." (Source: Jaffray, Edward S. "American Steam Yachting." Outing, April 1886, p. 23-25.)

"... The steam yacht Nereid, Charles F. Adee, will go into commission shortly. The Nereid has been laid up at Seabury's yard for several years. She is now in the hands of the workmen and is being thoroughly overhauled above and below and from stem to stern. ... [Note: A few weeks later, on August 21, 1895, Nereid would be wrecked in Woods Hole. She was subsequently repaired.]" (Source: Anon. "News of the Yachts." New York Tribune, May 12, 1895, p. 3.)

"Wood's Holl [sic], Aug. 23 [1895]. --- Steam yacht Nereid of New York, chartered by L. J. Busbee of Glen Cove, L. I., while on its way from New Bedford to Vineyard Haven, struck a rock in passing through the channel between Naushon and the mainland today.
The handsome steamer listed, then pounded again upon the rocks, the blow breaking a hole in the bottom, through which the water poured, putting out the fires.
In a very short time the yacht filled and sank.
The Nereid signalled for assistance to steamer Gay Head, which was passing, but for some reason the signal was not noticed.
The U S fish commission boat put off and rendered great assistance in taking Mr. Busbee, his wife and two daughters from the deck when the water had risen to within a foot of where they were standing.
The women were not frightened but apparently very cool. They were taken ashore and the steamer was towed into Little harbor.
Divers will patch the bottom; then it will be towed to New Bedford for repairs.
The can buoy was under water, caused by the rough sea and high tide, and the captain lost his reckoning." (Source: Anon. "Yacht Went Down. Nereid Struck a Rock off Naushon. Passengers Rescued Just in the Nick of Time. Great Hole Broken in the Yacht's Bottom. On Way from New-Bedford to Vineyard Haven. Can Buoy Submerged and Captain Lost his Reckoning." Boston Daily Globe, August 24, 1895, p. 4.)

"COTTAGE CITY, Mass., Aug. 24 [1895]. --- Steam yacht Nereid, New-York, which went ashore yesterday on Red Ledge, in Wood's Holl passage, and shortly after sunk, is now on the beach in Little Harbor, with a diver working on her hull. Her rudder is gone, and all the blades of her propeller were broken by contact with the ledge. The injuries to the yacht's bottom consist of two holes, opened when the condenser pipe flanges were torn away from the planks. The diver has patched the holes, and the steam lighter Mayln is pumping out the hull. All the furnishings of the yacht are badly damaged by water, which was flush with the cabin trunk. As the craft rests on the beach her stern is under water, while the water line at the bow shows several inches above the surface. The Nereid will be towed to New-Bedford, where she will go on the ways for repairs. She will be floated Sunday [August 25, 1895] morning." (Source: Anon. "Injuries to the Nereid." New York Times, August 25, 1895, p. 6.)

"COTTAGE CITY, Mass., Aug. 26 [1895]. --- ... The steam yacht Nereid, sunk at Wood's Holl, has been towed to New-Bedford for repairs." (Source: Anon. "Yachts Reported." New York Times, Aug 27, 1895, p. 6.)

"Cambridge, Md., June 13 [1897]. --- The steam yacht Nereid, owned by Richard A. Johnson, of Washington, and commanded by Capt. Cornelius Johnson, arrived here last night. The guests on board are Harrison Johnson, Albinus Johnson, E. S. Johnson, President of the Citizens' National Bank of Washington; V. Baldwin Johnson, L. G. Hine, ex-Commissioner of the District of Columbia, and W. D. Rudy. ...
The yacht Nereid is of the Herreshoff build, eighty-one feet in length over all, and has a speed of eighteen miles an hour. She is handsomely fitted up in all her compartments and is one of the prettiest pleasure boats ever run here." (Source: Anon. "Yacht Nereid At Cambridge. Five Brothers Johnson and Other Citizens of Washington Enjoying a Cruise." Washington Post, June 14, 1897, p. 3.)

"Registry and Rig Information
Vessel Name: NEREID
Nationality: U.S.
Official Number: 130220
Rig: Steam Yacht
Dimensions and Tonnage
Length: 76.50
Width: 13.00
Depth: 6.00
Masts: 0
Gross Tonnage: 34.30
Net Tonnage: 17.15
Hull Material: Wood
Vessel History
Rebuilds: Tonnage change, 1903 (76.5 x 13 x 6; 36 gross - 19 net). Measures change, 1912 (89.25 x 13 x 6).
History:
Disposition: Sold British in 1923; ultimate disposition unknown.
Build Information
Builder:
Place Built: Bristol, RI
Year Built: 1882." (Source: Bowling Green State University (publisher). Great Lakes Vessels Online Index, s.v. "Nereid." http://greatlakes.bgsu.edu/vessel/view/005184, retrieved June 2, 2015.)

"N/A"

"[Item Description:] Casting sketch notebook (original copy) [Titled Nathl G. Herreshoffp, Bristol R.I.; 1882, mostly signed by N.G.H.; material and item orders relating to steamers #81p, #82p, #83p, #88p, #89p, #90p, #91p, #92p, #95p, #98p, stock for new boat shop]." (Source: Herreshoff, N.G. (creator). Notebook. MIT Museum, Hart Nautical Collections, Haffenreffer-Herreshoff Collection Item HH.6.120-10. Box HAFH.6.4B, Folder Casting Record Books Sketch and Order Book 1882 NGH. 1882.)
① ② ③ ④ ⑤ ⑥ ⑦ ⑧ ⑨ ⑩ ⑪ ⑫ ⑬ ⑭ ⑮ ⑯ ⑰ ⑱ ⑲ ⑳ ㉑ ㉒ ㉓ ㉔ ㉕ ㉖ ㉗ ㉘ ㉙ ㉚ ㉛ ㉜ ㉝ ㉞ ㉟ ㊱ ㊲ ㊳ ㊴ ㊵ ㊶ ㊷ ㊸ ㊹ ㊺ ㊻ ㊼ ㊽ ㊾ ㊿
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"[Item Description:] Ink on paper diagram titled 'Curves from Cards and data taken June 24th 1881'. With explanations 'Curves in ink. Steamer #74 [149]. English Vidette Boat. Pitch of Screw 3.5. Dia of Screw 36in' and 'Red curves. Steamer #75 150]. Dia. of Screw 36in. Pitch of Screw 52in'. X-axis is labeled 'Speed in knots' (with units from 1 to 13) and y-axis is not labeled with left side showing units from 1 to 15 and right side showing units from 10 to 250 (apparently pounds per square inch steam pressure). With plots labeled 'Total St[eam] Pr[essure], 'Horse Power', 'Rev[olution]s', and 'Slip' for #74p and #75p. Plus additional plots in separate area of the diagram labeled 'NEREID [#83p], total steam [pressure] (cutoff at 6in)', 'DIDO [#79p] total steam [pressure]', 'NEREID revol[utions]', 'DIDO revolutions', 'Slip' and 'Slip'. Undated (NEREID was delivered April 13, 1882.)" (Source: Herreshoff, N.G. (?) (creator). Diagram. Halsey C. Herreshoff Collection at the Herreshoff Marine Museum Item MRDE04_08970. Folder [no #]. No date (1882-04 ??).)
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"[Item Transcription:] Handwritten (in ink and pencil) trials booklet titled 'HMCo. Experiments. 1882'. Relevant contents:
§4: #83p NEREID Trial Run best mean speed 12.25kn (1882-04-11)." (Source: Herreshoff, N.G. (creator). Trials Booklet. Halsey C. Herreshoff Collection at the Herreshoff Marine Museum Item MRDE07_02860. Folder [no #]. 1881-06 to 1883-03.)
① ② ③ ④ ⑤ ⑥ ⑦ ⑧ ⑨ ⑩ ⑪ ⑫ ⑬ ⑭ ⑮ ⑯ ⑰ ⑱ ⑲ ⑳ ㉑ ㉒ ㉓

"[Item Description:] Penciled compass deviation / compensation notes titled 'St[eame]r NEREID. [#83p] Sept[ember] 17th, 1884. Ritchie Compass no. 14029." (Source: Herreshoff, N. G. (creator). Compass Deviation Note. Halsey C. Herreshoff Collection at the Herreshoff Marine Museum Item MRDE05_01210. Folder [no #]. 1884-09-17.)
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"[Item Description:] Penciled diagram of what appear to be compass deviation curves and plots for 'NEREID [#83p] 1884' and 'STILETTO [#118p] June 14th, 1886'." (Source: Herreshoff, N. G. (creator). Diagram. Halsey C. Herreshoff Collection at the Herreshoff Marine Museum Item WRDT08_06470. Folder 45. 1886-06-14.)
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"[Item Transcription:] Handwritten (in ink and pencil) experiments and trials booklet titled 'Herreshoff Mfg. Co. Experiments 1884 to 1889. N.G. Herreshoff'. Relevant contents:
§6: #83p NEREID To Providence & Return (1884-11-15)." (Source: Herreshoff, N.G. (creator). Trials Booklet. Halsey C. Herreshoff Collection at the Herreshoff Marine Museum Item MRDE07_03520. Folder [no #]. 1884-05 to 1890-05.)
① ② ③ ④ ⑤ ⑥ ⑦ ⑧ ⑨ ⑩ ⑪ ⑫ ⑬ ⑭ ⑮ ⑯ ⑰ ⑱ ⑲ ⑳ ㉑ ㉒ ㉓ ㉔ ㉕ ㉖ ㉗ ㉘ ㉙ ㉚ ㉛ ㉜ ㉝ ㉞ ㉟ ㊱ ㊲ ㊳ ㊴ ㊵ ㊶ ㊷ ㊸

Note: This list of archival documents contains in an unedited form any and all which mention #83p Nereid even if just in a cursory way. Permission to digitize, transcribe and display is gratefully acknowledged.

• Nereid (HMCo-made index card)
• Nereid (MIT Museum-made index card)
• Note: The vessel index cards comprise two sets of a total of some 3200 cards about vessels built by HMCo, with dimensions and information regarding drawings, later or former vessel names, and owners. They were compiled from HMCo's early days until 1920 and added to in later decades, apparently by Hart Nautical curator William A. Baker and his successors. While HMCo seems to have used only one set of index cards, all sorted by name and, where no name was available, by number, later users at MIT apparently divided them into two sets of cards, one sorted by vessel name, the other by vessel number and greatly expanded the number of cards. Original HMCo cards are usually lined and almost always punched with a hole at bottom center while later cards usually have no hole, are unlined, and often carry substantially less information. All cards are held by the Francis Russell Hart Nautical Collections of the MIT Museum in Cambridge, Mass.

Name: Nareid [sic, i.e. Nereid]
Type: Steam
Length: 76'
Owner: Gray, Col. I. J.

Source: Herreshoff Manufacturing Company. "A Partial List of Herreshoff Clients." In: Herreshoff Manufacturing Company. Herreshoff Yachts. Bristol, Rhode Island, ca. 1931.

• Nereid
• Note: The L. Francis Herreshoff index cards comprise a set of some 1200 cards about vessels built by HMCo, with dimensions and / or ownership information. Apparently compiled in the early 1930s, for later HMCo-built boats like the Fishers Island 23s or the Northeast Harbor 30s are not included. Added to in later decades, apparently by L. F. Herreshoff as well as his long-time secretary Muriel Vaughn and others. Also 46 cards of L. F. Herreshoff-designed vessels. The original set of index cards is held by the Herreshoff Marine Museum and permission to display is gratefully acknowledged.

Name: Nereid
Type: 76' steam
Owner: Col. I. J. Gray
Year: 1882
Row No.: 473

Source: Herreshoff, L. Francis. "Partial List of Herreshoff-Built Boats." In: Herreshoff, L. Francis. Capt. Nat Herreshoff. The Wizard of Bristol. New York, 1953, p. 325-343.

Year: 1882
E/P/S: P
No.: 083
Name: Nereid
OA: 76'

Source: Vermilya, Peter and Maynard Bray. "Transcription of the HMCo. Construction Record." Unpublished database, ca. 2000.

Note: The transcription of the HMCo Construction Record by Peter Vermilya and Maynard Bray was performed independently (and earlier) than that by Claas van der Linde. A comparison of the two transcriptions can be particularly useful in those many cases where the handwriting in the Construction Record is difficult to decipher.

"Nereid was apparently lengthened in 1912 and fitted with a clipper bow complete with bowsprit." (Source: van der Linde, Claas. June 2, 2015.)

"In the absence of better available data displacement was estimated by using the figure for Gross Register Tons (34.3) from the 1896 Manning's American Yacht List (New Measurement Tons were reported as 34.3 by the 1885 Olsen's American Yacht List) and converting to lbs by dividing through 2000 (short tons). Note that this figure can only be a rough estimate because register tons as reported in Yacht Registers correlate only loosely with actual displacement figures." (Source: van der Linde, Claas. March 17, 2015.)

Note: Research notes contain information about a vessel that is often random and unedited but has been deemed useful for future research.