Herreshoff #186001es Sprite

"[1889-11-26] Tue 26: [Brother?] James unrigged Sprite [#186001es]. ...
[1927-10-12] Wed 12: ... At 7-10 Sidney towed Useful [#190402es] to Pt. Pleasant, and Sprite [#186001es] was taken and brought over and landed on my lawn. All done by 8-40. ...
[1927-10-21] Fri 21: ... Moved 'Sprite [#186001es] over close to S[outh] side [of] clothesyard.
[1927-12-31] Sat 31: ... At work on making little model of Sprite [#186001es] that was built in 1859-60 by my father & John, and launched June 28, 1860.
[1928-01-01] Sun 1: ... I finished up model of Sprite [#186001es] I have been making.
[1928-01-16] Mon 16: ... At work on model [for #186001es Sprite].
[1928-08-19] Sun 19: ... Measured off lines of 'Sprite' [#186001es], now 68 years old, so I can make [a] model.
[1928-12-14] Fri 14: ... At work on model of Sprite [#186001es] and fixing Water Lily's [#982s] shrouds [in] a.m. ..." (Source: Herreshoff, Nathanael G. Diary, 1889. Manuscript (excerpts). Herreshoff Marine Museum Collection. Herreshoff, Nathanael G. Diary, 1927 to 1928. Manuscript (excerpts). Diary access courtesy of Halsey C. Herreshoff.)

"Sprite [#186001es]: 20ft 3in Length on deck. 20ft 3in Length on water. 8ft 7in Breadth extreme. 2ft 7in Depth. 3 1/8in Deadrise per foot. 6ft Width of stern. 10 1/2in Sheer. 3ft Freeboard [at] stern. 1ft 6in Freeboard [at] lowest place. 1ft 4in Centreboard length. 6ft 6in Centreboard from woodends. 8ft 7in Centre of mast from woodends. 1ft 2 1/2in Bowsprit out board. No gafftopsail. No jibtopsail." (Source: Herreshoff, N.G. and/or other Herreshoff family members. Handwritten table listing early Herreshoff-built boats and their dimensions up to 1870. No date (1870 or later). Halsey C. Herreshoff Collection at the Herreshoff Marine Museum, MRDE03.)

"The Providence Journal contained recently the following interview with N. G. Herreshoff, the Bristol yacht designer:
' Nat G. Herreshoff, the designer of the Herreshoff Manufacturing Company, was at the office of the company. ... All attempts to get the designer to say something more on these points were unsuccessful. But about the future of yacht designing and yacht owning he had a word to say. He was asked what would probably be the tendency of the building of another season.
' 'I don't know, and nobody does, I believe. Men buy yachts as they want them, and 'evolutions' only come when a man buys a boat he likes and several of his friends follow him. We've got a boat that was built here thirty-two years ago, the cat Sprite. She sailed in the Bristol race Memorial Day [1892] and won a prize. After all we haven't got so very far ahead in the last few years. ..." (Source: Anon. "Mr. Herreshoff Interviewed." New York Times, June 7, 1892, p. 3.)

"F. W. Wilson assistant Editor Ap-27, [19]26. ... The notable designs by John B. Herreshoff were Sprite 1860-61 built by himself and father and is now [1926] preserved in the Ford Museum at Dearborn, Mi. This boat was the fastest in Narragansett Bay and probably anywhere along the coast. Kelpie, 1864 - Sadie 1867 and Orion 1869. Ianthe 1870 and Fostine [sic, i.e. Faustine] 1873." (Source: Mystic Seaport Museum, L. Francis Herreshoff Collection, Box 16, Folder 13: Letter from N. G. Herreshoff to F. W. Wilson, Assistant Editor of the National Cyclopedia of American Biography, April 27, 1926.)

"Coconut Grove Feb 10 1926. {1926/02/10} N. G. Herreshoff Bristol, R. I. Dear Francis, ... My first experiance in racing was in fall of 1860. when I sailed "Sprite" in a race in Providence. She was entered against 3 other larger boats. the best of which was the "Planet" 25', built by Davis + Childs. Sprite 20' came in close to the stern of the Planet. Time allowance was then reckned at 6 seconds per ft per mile. for that class. and measurment was. extreme length [p6] on water line + length at sheer line to wood ends' of sheer strake (division sign) 2 - This was the accepted measurment in Narragansett Bay at this period. with generally 10 sec per ft per mile allowance in boats under 20', 8 sec - in boats 20' to 25' and 6 sec in larger ones. Sprite was easily the fastest and best cat boat in Narragansett Bay. and even when 25 years old, she was an even match for Uncle Charles 1st Alice. which was a foot longer. and was making a clean record in her racing. - having 9 first prizes in 8 races sailed. Sprite was re-fastined that year with brass screws. but she was still sailing with her original sail. She then belonged to your Uncle James. In 1855 your Uncle James built the 20' catboat "Mist", which prooved very fast, and the best till Sprite came out. It is interesting to note, that in 1861, the two boats had several trials. in which Sprite beat. It was then contended Sprite had a better rig, which was lower and broader than Mists. To prove it they changed rigs -- masts & all. -- Then Sprite beat Mist very much more, - which should have upset the then prevailing idea that a low rig is best, but it didnot. Sprite was launched June 28, 1860 -- the day that the "Great Eastern" arrived in this country. Early in August Sprite & Julia III. made a cruise to New York to see Great Eastern. and when at Hoboken we anchored close to two minature yachts. about 20' long completely rig, which prooved to be, one a scale model of 'Maria' as she then was. the other, of Maria lengthened and changed to schooner rig. which old Com. John C. Stevens was experminting with to see if the change w'ld make her faster. The changes were made the following year. Your father, Nathanael G. Herreshoff." (Source: Mystic Seaport Museum, L. Francis Herreshoff Collection, Box 17, Folder 2: Letter from N. G. Herreshoff to L. F. Herreshoff.)

"In the fall of 1859, John decided to have a larger boat, and SPRITE was planned and modeled by my father and John together. I, at the age of eleven and a half, did all the drawing and figuring for the full sized molds. The boat was built by my father and John in the 'Old Tannery' after being started by Mr. William Allen Manchester, who died in the fall of 1859.
SPRITE. Launched June 28, 1860. 20' long, about 9' beam, centerboard, about a ton of inside ballast (old grate bars) and 5 or 6 cwt. of shifting weights, part lead. Centerboard 6'6" long and forward end 8' 10" from outside of stem. The mast is stepped quite near the stem and the boom [is] very long. [She] has a bulkhead [that is] supposed to be watertight about amidships from the stem and from that there is a cabin trunk or house. The ash coaming 7" high begins at the house and circles around 10" from the stern. SPRITE [SPRITE is currently on display at the Herreshoff Marine Museum] was very fast and easily the fastest sailer in the Bay. But she was a brute to steer, due principally to the very long boom and wide and weak rudder. When only a few weeks old, she made a cruise to New York in company of my father's JULIA (3rd). The crew on SPRITE was John B. H[erreshoff], George B. de Marini and self. On JULIA, my father (C[harles] F. H[erreshoff], James B. H[erreshoff], Lewis H[erreshoff], and Henry Slocum, taken as pilot. The run was made in 27 hours, in fog and light southerly to Watch Hill and brisk northwesterly during the night from New London to New York. The trip was especially made to see the steamship "GREAT EASTERN." She was anchored in the North River, but we could not get on board. We stayed over two nights at Hoboken. Our trip home was made in 26 hours in a brisk south wind. The latter part of the summer, SPRITE had her first race. It was from Jerry Angell's "Clamhouse," an old stern wheel steamer moored a little south of Fields Point, and twice around a course down the river, in a moderate northwest breeze. There were two 24' boats of Ben Appleton, the 25' PLANET of Davis and Childs, and SPRITE. Our crew was John, Lewis, Benjamin Appleton, and myself as helmsman (at 12 years). PLANET (25') beat us a little, but we won easily on time allowance. SPRITE was going much of the time in three long seasons. The longer cruises were to New Haven, Block Island, Vineyard Haven, and Clinton, Conn." (Source: Herreshoff, N. G. "Boats and Yachts that I have been Especially Interested in by Sailing and Some of Which I Have Owned." Bristol, April 1932. In: Pinheiro, Carlton J. (ed.). Recollections and Other Writings by Nathanael G. Herreshoff. Bristol, 1998, p. 99-100.)

"In the fall of 1859, John thought he wanted a larger boat, and he, with my father's help and advice, made a very perfectly formed model for a twenty foot boat which was destined to be named SPRITE [SPRITE is on exhibit at the Herreshoff Marine Museum]. At the age of eleven and one-half, I had the job of cutting templates to fit the model, and from these, drawing out sections where frames (not timbers) were to be, and measuring them and [drawing] profile[s] from the model at one-twelfth its size.
I also remember well going to Fall River (Massachusetts) in METEOR, with John, and walking out to a sawmill that was near a cedar swamp some three or four miles east of Fall River and ordering the cedar boards to be sawed for planking etc. There was a stiff nor'wester that day and we got thoroughly wet both ways. This cedar was delivered in Bristol by the steamer BRADFORD DURFEE and was of excellent quality.
A trip in METEOR was made to Warren (Rhode Island) and we brought back from the shipyard there some oak for the centerboard logs on [METEOR's] deck and [more oak for] the keel in tow. We borrowed my brother Charles' twenty-two foot cat boat YANKEE to go to Wickford to get oak for timbers and sheerstrakes etc. This must have been in October.
William Allen Manchester, an old boat builder of the town, and a fine workman, consented to help John to build SPRITE. He started with the keel, and had the centerboard logs and posts ready to assemble when he died from a heart attack. This was quite a shock to John and me.
After a while, my father consented to help John build the boat, and the work Mr. Manchester had done in his own shop on Constitution Street, near Thames Street, was moved to the "Old Tannery," across from my father's house.
SPRITE was set up in the west part over the floor that was partitioned off and heated as already described. Her growth was slow, but the work in her was very carefully done and the material was of the best. In the spring, Thomas J. Thurston, another old boat builder, assisted for a while. The town's famous old sailmaker, Jonathan Alger, made her [main]sail and light jib. The sail was of hard woven Colt's Duck 8 oz., 22 inches, with one middle bight sewn. Jonathan Waldron, the town's blacksmith, forged the block straps and other parts from copper and the anchor from iron. My father made the block shells and John turned the sheaves from lignum-vitae. John and my father did nearly the entire work, and I helped a little between school hours.
The boat was completed and launched June 28th 1860 - the day the steamer GREAT EASTERN arrived in this country - and she was rigged and tried just at dusk that day. John laid up all the running rigging etc. of cotton - spinning up cotton twine for the purpose.
SPRITE proved to be the fastest boat in Narragansett Bay anywhere near her size. She was 20' 3" on deck, 20'4" w.l., 8'9" beam, and 2'9" deep. [Her] sail area was about 450 square feet. Spars: Mast about 31 feet and 7 1/2 inches diameter, Boom 26 feet and gaff 12 feet.
A bowsprit seven or eight feet long could be shipped on for a light jib to be used in reaching. [The] ballast consisted of broken up grate bars, snugly stowed between floor timbers and below footing of 1000 or 1200 pounds weight and between 450 or 500 pounds in iron and lead weights that could be shifted to windward. These were in quite constant use when sailing, if there was a breeze. They were padded and covered with canvas, with canvas strap handles and painted straw color, [the] same as deck and cockpit.
In those old days, it was the rule to keep all paint work clean and smooth. A small boat coming alongside must never touch the side of our sailboats for fear of leaving a mark; and no stranger is allowed on deck or inside that may have steel points in their heels until after being ground off smooth. No one could enter a boat without first sponging off the soles of their shoes with a damp sponge, and the sails were kept perfectly clean and white by a good deal of care.
SPRITE'S first cruise away from home waters was to New York in company of my father's boat, JULIA, in the latter part of July [see original text for much more detail]. ...
Although SPRITE was forever having scraps with JULIA and other fast cat boats, and nearly always came out ahead, her first real race over a course for a prize occurred the following fall, when one was given by the Providence boatmen. The race was to start from the "Clam House," already described, and Jerry Angell was to be judge. The entries were PLANET, twenty-five feet, belonging to Davis and Childs and favored to be the fastest in the Providence River and two boats belonging to Benjamin Appleton of about twenty-two or twenty-three feet. One [was called] LURLINE, [and] both boats with reputation, and SPRITE, twenty feet. There was a fresh to moderate or light N.W. breeze. The race was twice around, a course first to Great Bed Shoal middle buoy and then to Green Jacket Shoal, starting and ending at the "Clam House." Green Jacket Shoal was formally about a quarter of a mile below Fox Point on [the] east side. PLANET got a little lead while the wind continued fresh, but in the last part, SPRITE gained on PLANET and finished close astern and so won on time allowance quite easily. The two Appleton boats were quite a distance astern. ...
The two following years, SPRITE was used a great deal, and I think there were but few days in the season between May 10 and November 10 she was not underway, and made several cruises out of the Bay. I can recall one to New Haven - having John, Stanton Chesebro [Ebenezer Stanton Cobb Chesebrough (Born 1841-Died 1875). Married Caroline Herreshoff] and myself [see original text for much more detail]. ...
John had now gotten a cruising fever on and decided he must have a larger boat that was more fit for cruising. John sold SPRITE to a Mr. Reynolds, who lived near Quonset Point. I had become quite attached to SPRITE and grieved at her parting." (Source: Herreshoff, N. G. "The Old Tannery and My Brother John." Written July 28, 1933. In: Pinheiro, Carlton J. (ed.). Recollections and Other Writings by Nathanael G. Herreshoff. Bristol, 1998, p. 10-12, 13-15.)

"In the fall [of 1859], John felt he wanted a larger boat and he, with our father's assistance, made the model for a twenty foot boat. Some of the last sails in METEOR were to get material for the new boat. A trip [was made] to a Warren shipyard for oak, and we actually took home some pieces, one or two on deck and a piece in tow, but this over-rigged boat was entirely unfit and unsafe for such work. A trip to Wickford was made to order oak for timbers, knees, etc., which was brought home in Cousin John Francis' twenty foot boat GOVERNOR, which John had borrowed for the purpose, and this must have been the second time I had charge of steering a boat larger than METEOR, the first time being described in recovering the stolen JULIA. About the last sail in METEOR was to Fall River to order cedar for planking and deck. It must have been in late October and a very brisk nor'wester [was] blowing and METEOR had [a] double reef[ed] sail. We got to Fall River wet through and chilled. We then walked three miles or more, way beyond the Watuppa Pond toward New Bedford, and off on a side road to [the] south, where we found the saw mill and ordered the cedar, which was delivered to the Steamer BRADFORD DURFEE, to be put off at Bristol. This walk dried us off. I don't remember if we had anything to eat, but probably took a light lunch with us. The walk back to Fall River and another thorough wetting going home, was quite enough of a day for me.
After the model had been approved, I was given [the responsibility of] the first step toward the construction of the boat - that of fitting templates over the model where molds were to be. From these and the shape of [the] back of the model, I made sharp pencil drawings and measured off at [the] scale of one inch to the foot. In this, I was instructed by my brother John and my father. I thus began my instruction in naval architecture at [the] age of eleven and one-half years. John, at this time, was only eighteen and one-half years, and for one without sight, [this accomplishment] was remarkable. The actual work in boatbuilding was begun by William Allen Manchester, Sr., (then, what appeared to us, an old man, but probably about sixty) in his own workshop near the foot of Constitution Street, and just around the corner from his own house on Thames Street. He had only worked a few days and had partly formed the keel and centerboard logs when he died of a heart attack. It was a great shock to John and me one rainy morning in early November, when we went to the shop and were told he died the night before.
Later in November, the work Mr. Manchester had done was removed to the 'Old Tannery' and the boat [was] built by my father and John, with Thomas Thurston helping a while in the spring. Thus SPRITE was built, and she was launched and rigged [on] the 28th of June, 1860, the day the steamer GREAT EASTERN arrived in New York.
SPRITE proved a very fast boat and was the fastest in the Bay, but she had a bad sail plan and would have been decidedly better and faster in the catboat races had she had a better rig. Her boom was very long and it swung very low and [was] a menace to all on board when tacking, besides being dangerous by catching in the water when reefed, and making her steer very hard in a breeze. The sail was of the famous Colt duck and very close and hard and inelastic. [It] set very well when the outboard end of the boom did not spring up and spoil it.
A very interesting set of trials was made in sailing SPRITE against MIST, a twenty foot catboat that James designed and had built in 1855, and proved herself the fastest in the Bay before SPRITE was built. James had borrowed her from her owner and brought her to Bristol for the trial. In the first tests, SPRITE was only a little faster than MIST.
One day, over a hot discussion at dinner, they agreed to change rigs, MIST's rig being higher and narrower and nearer the prevailing proportions. Masts and the entire rig were swapped and to the surprise of most everyone, SPRITE, with MIST's sails, proved very much faster. Even this would not convince John of his faulty sail plan. As a matter of fact, it has taken about fifty years and through a period in which sail area was not a factor to convert the public to narrower and higher sails [than] what their grandfathers used.
In the first summer, a cruise to New York was made especially to see the steamship GREAT EASTERN [Largest paddle wheel steamer-692 feet]. SPRITE was in company of JULIA. The former's crew was John, Dr. George C. de Marini and myself. The latter's crew [was] my father, James, Lewis, and Henry Slocum; the latter being taken to pilot us through Hell Gate, as he had been there. The funny happening was SPRITE was ahead when we got there and I was steering and continued to [steer] all down [the] East River, JULIA following, and the pilot didn't know we had passed Hell Gate.
The run going from Newport to [the] Battery was made in about twenty-eight hours, continuous each way. Later in the season, SPRITE sailed her first race in which I steered, then twelve and one-half years, and won handsomely. The next year [1861], a cruise to Vineyard Haven (then called Holmes Hole) was made and there was a regatta in Bristol in which SPRITE was ruled out for not properly turning a mark, but ahead in her class. A cruise was made to New Haven, having John, Stanton Chesebrough and myself. Later in the season, another cruise [was made] to Block Island.
The third season, SPRITE was kept going nearly every day, as she had been in the former summers.
I think there were two races in which she won, as well as beating the larger class of catboats. A cruise was [made] to and around Shelter Island in company of JULIA, and later, one 'up sound' in company of PLANET, having Dexter Stone and William Hammond on board. We went as far as Clinton, Connecticut. Only John and I were in SPRITE, but she nearly always led PLANET, a twenty-five foot boat and the fastest in Providence.
By the end of 1862, John thought he wanted a larger boat to do more cruising. So SPRITE was sold to a Mr. Reynolds of Wickford, and a twenty-seven foot overall cabin sloop [Kelpie] was started and built ..." (Source: Herreshoff, N. G. "Some of the Boats I Have Sailed In." Written 1934. In: Pinheiro, Carlton J. (ed.). Recollections and Other Writings by Nathanael G. Herreshoff. Bristol, 1998, p. 40-43.)

"Since friend Stephens mentions Gloriana as being the product of a former marine engineer and conveys the impression that she was his original design of a racing yacht, I think it would be fair to state that I sailed my brother John's boat Sprite and won against the fastest and best sailed boats in the bay when 12 1/2 years old and that I began designing boats and yachts for my brother to build when I was 16. I also sailed my brother John's yachts in races in New York Bay from 1863 to 1871 and nearly always won, which is something the New Yorkers do not like to remember." (Source: Herreshoff, Nathanael G. Discussion of W. P. Stephens' "Yacht Measurement - Origin and Development." In: SNAME (The Society Of Naval Architects And Marine Engineers). Transactions. Volume 43, 1935, p. 34-36. New York, 1936.)

"August 31 1935
Dear Mr. Stephens -
... After sailing three seasons in METEOR John wanted a larger boat, and he sold her for nearly enough to buy material for a larger boat - 20 ft., which my father and John modeled and built in winter of 1859-60; and under their direction I had the job of getting sections from the model and of tabulating expanded measurements for the moulds, also making drawing for sail plan. SPRITE was launched June 28, 1860 - the day the then-great Steamer arrived in New York.
About a month later JULIA (3rd) & SPRITE made a pilgrimage to New York -principally to see the GREAT EASTERN.23 Leaving home one Monday about sunset, we stayed overnight in Newport, leaving there next morning about 6 in a dense fog and light air - took a northwesterly about sunset at Bartletts Reef LV [light vessel] and passed down East River at 10 a.m. Wednesday. Anchored at Hoboken close to Com. Stevens' miniature yachts, one of exact model of MARIA at 1/4th or 1/5th size, and the other the contemplated lengthened and re-rigged as schooner MARIA. Stayed two days to see the G-E and New York and passed Friday night at dock in East River abreast Blackwells Island. Left next morning at 6 and soon took a fresh southerly and so home at 8 o'clock next morning (Sunday) 26 hours from New York. Some of a trip for 20' & 21 1/2' boats. SPRITE was a very fast boat and was easily the fastest in Narragansett Bay. In her I sailed and won my first race at 12 1/2 years age. Even when 25 or 30 years old and we thought we were building much faster boats, my brother James acquired her after being laid up many years, and gave us a real surprise. She was given to Mr. Ford some years ago to place her in his Museum at Dearborn and I suppose she can be seen there. ...
Very truly yours,
Nathanael Greene Herreshoff
Sept. 15 1935." (Source: Letter 13. From N. G. Herreshoff to W. P. Stephens, dated August 31, 1935 to September 15, 1935. In: Herreshoff, Nathanael Greene and William Picard Stephens. "Their Last Letters 1930-1938." Annotated by John W. Streeter. Bristol, R. I., ca. 1999, p. 67-80.)

"April 16, 1937
Dear Mr. Stephens-
... In 1859 John thought he wanted a larger sailboat. So with our father's aid the model for SPRITE was made and I at 11 1/2 was shown how to take off sections and make lists of full size measurements. After 3 seasons in which SPRITE proved invincible in all races in Narragansett Bay John aspired to having a larger craft fit for longer cruises and KELPIE 27 1/2 o.a. 25 ft. w.l. was built in the winter of 1862-3 in the Old Tannery, as was SPRITE. To gather material for SPRITE I went with John in the little METEOR, for oak, to the Warren Shipyard, coming back with a dangerous deck load and some in tow. For cedar to be sawed for planking, to Fall River, and walking about 1/3 way to New Bedford to a saw mill. This was a windy nor-wester day, and METEOR reefed, wet us through both ways. The clothing dried on as we walked. This was a hard day for me.
For the fine "Wickford oak" used for timbers, hoops, block shells, etc, we made two trips to Wickford in a larger borrowed boat. Material for KELPIE was gathered much in the same way, by trips in SPRITE and a larger boat.
Our father & John built SPRITE with my little help after school hours. For KELPIE, a Newport boat-builder named Joe Southwick was hired - and SPRITE'S builders helped. The success of KELPIE, as a cruiser & racer gave John his first order, (QUI VIVE [II] from Tom Clapham) and he started business. ...
With kindest regards,
Sincerely,
Nathanael G. Herreshoff" (Source: Letter 29. From N. G. Herreshoff to W. P. Stephens, dated April 16, 1937. In: Herreshoff, Nathanael Greene and William Picard Stephens. "Their Last Letters 1930-1938." Annotated by John W. Streeter. Bristol, R. I., ca. 1999, p. 177-180.)

"The next sailboat the Herreshoffs built was 'Sprite,' and I will give you some notes on her written by Captain Nat.
'In fall of 1859 John decided to have a larger boat and 'Sprite' was planned and modeled by my father & John, together, and I, at age of 11 1/2 did all the drawing and figuring for the full size moulds. The boat was built by my father and John in the Old Tannery after being begun by Mr. Wm. Allen Manchester who died in fall of 1859.
Launched June 28, 1860. 20' long, about 9' beam. Centre-board, about 1/2 ton of inside ballast (old grate bars) and 5 or 6 cwt. of shifting weights, part lead. Centre-board 6' 6' long and forward end 8' 10' from outside of stem. The mast is stepped quite near the stem, and boom very long. Has a bulkhead supposed to be water tight about amidships --- from that there is a cabin trunk or house. The ash coaming 4' high begins at the house, and circles around 13' from the stern.
'Sprite' was very fast, and easily the fastest sailer in the Bay. But she was a brute to steer, due principally to the very long boom, wide and weak rudder.
When only a few weeks old she made a cruise to New York in company of my father's 'Julia' (3rd). The crew on 'Sprite' was John B., Georg C. D'Marini & self. On 'Julia,' my father, (E. F. H.) James B. H., Lewis H. and Henry Slocum taken as pilot. The run was made in 27 hours in fog & light s. wind to Watch Hill, and brisk N.W. during night from New London to New York. The trip was specially made to see the steamship 'Great Eastern.' She was anchored in North River, but we could not get on board. We stayed over two nights at Hoboken. Our trip home was made in 26 hours in a brisk south wind.
The latter part of summer 'Sprite' had her first race. It was from Jerry Angels' Clamhouse --- an old stern-wheel steamer moored a little north of Fields Pt. and twice around a course down the river in moderate n.w. breeze. There were two 24' boats of Ben. Appleton, the 'Planet,' 25 ft. of Davis & Childs, and 'Sprite.' Our crew was John, Lewis, Benjamin, Appleton, and myself as helmsman, (at 12 years). 'Planet' 25' beat us a little, but we won easily on time allowance.'
'Sprite' was going much of the time in three long seasons. The longer cruises were to New Haven, Block Island, Vineyard Haven & Clinton, Conn." (Source: Herreshoff, L. Francis. The Wizard of Bristol. The Life and Achievements of Nathanael Greene Herreshoff, together with An Account of Some of the Yachts he Designed. New York, 1953, p. 44-45.)

"The yachts or boats modeled by J. B. are as follows:
'Sprite,' 1860-62. 20' O.A., 9' beam. Built by himself and his father and now preserved in the Ford Museum at Dearborn, Michigan." (Source: Herreshoff, L. Francis. The Wizard of Bristol. The Life and Achievements of Nathanael Greene Herreshoff, together with An Account of Some of the Yachts he Designed. New York, 1953, p. 57.)

"... Launching of Sprite.
It was Sprite, a twenty-foot catboat; designed by Mr. Herreshoff in cooperation with John and aided by suggestions from the other grown-up sons: In its construction probably every one of the boys had a hand, even to Julian, who was, however, too young, to be of material assistance. Sprite, proved to be a boat ot remarkable speed, beating all rivals in the vicinity, and, when raced at Boston and New York acquitted itself with equal glory. Young Nat, having outgrown his small boats, and being now 13 years old, was considered competent to handle a boat of Sprite's class, and handle it he did, wonderfully and well. Thus it was but natural that, when the sale of Sprite occasioned disappointment to his brothers, it proved a source of deep grief to Nat. It was soon bought back by James, however, who used it for many years, until at last it was stowed away on the shore at Point Pleasant, where it still lies. ..." (Source: Herreshoff, Grace. "Inborn Love of the Sea. Hereditary Characteristics of the Herreshoffs." Chicago Daily Tribune, December 16, 1900, p. 16.)

"Bristol, R. I. Dec 4 [1909] --- ... The old racing sloop Sprite, which Nat Herreshoff designed and built more than 37 years ago, and which made such sensational finishes in wins in the early 70s, was uncovered for inspection recently at Pappoosesquaw, where she has been laid up for many years. She was found to be in fair condition, though not as good as that of the power boat Julia [#187004es], owned by the late Charles F. Herreshoff when recently taken out on the marine railway for inspection. The Sprite was the wonder of all boats of that size, something like 19 feet in length, many years ago, and was the first racing craft in which Nat Herreshoff demonstrated his ability as a skipper." (Source: Anon. "Bristol Notes." Boston Globe, December 5, 1909, p. 38.)

"... John [B. Herreshoff] set up a workshop and turned out several boats. One of them, the catboat Sprite, beat everything in sight and is still going in Narragansett Bay, although more than 69 years old. ..." (Source: Robbins, James. "Building of Yachts Stirs Old Bristol." New York Times, March 9, 1930, p. 165.)

"The little catboat Sprite, built at Bristol 71 years ago and believed to be the oldest existing craft made by the Herreshoff brothers who later developed the Herreshoff Company in that town, is being sent to Henry Ford for his museum at Dearborn, where it will be preserved as a relic.
Whether the boat was sold or presented to Mr. Ford by Nathanael G. Herreshoff, on whose lawn in Bristol it has been set up for the last seven or eight years, has not been made known. 'Mr. Nat' and Mrs. Herreshoff are in the South and employes of the firm, acting under his orders, put the Sprite on a truck Saturday afternoon for the trip to New York where it will be shipped to Dearborn.
Sprite is probably the oldest Herreshoff-built boat in existence, and is the second boat known to have been built by either of the brothers who, later, developed the Herreshoff Company.
Prior to 1855, when the older brother, John B. Herreshoff, was stricken with blindness, his first small boat was partially constructed. After a month or two of despondency, the 14-year-old boy took a new grip in life and went to work to finish the boat, his father assisting him. After a few years, he wanted a larger boat so, with the help of his father and brother, he built the Sprite in 1859.
She was 20 feet long and the fastest boat of her size on Narragansett Bay. One of the yachting magazines a few years ago said of her: "She is still in existence and her sweet lines put many of the modern boats to shame.'
Sprite gave way to a still larger boat in 1862, probably sold, but in the absence of 'Mr. Nat,' just what became of her cannot be stated.
Eight or 10 years ago, Nathanael G.Herreshoff, who had continued the yacht building enterprise after his brother's death, resurrected her and put her out on the lawn of his home, freshly painted and restored, at least in appearance, to her original condition.
The general impression at Bristol is that the transfer is an act of courtesy by one of the pioneers in the development of yachting to another pioneer in the mass production of automobiles." (Source: Anon. "Herreshoff Boat on Way to Ford. Craft Built 71 Years Ago to Be Preserved as Relic at Dearborn Museum." Providence Journal Bulletin, April 28, 1930, p. ?.)

"There was shipped on Saturday last [April 26, 1930], from this town by motor truck, to New York, with its ultimate destination, Dearborn, Michigan, the hull of the 20-foot catboat Sprite, which has for about 10 years stood on the lawn of the home of Capt Nathaniel G Herreshoff, on the south side of Walley street. The boat has been carefully protected since it was placed close to the home of Capt Herreshoff and every year fresh coats of paint were applied for its preservation as it stood there a reminder of the early days of the Herreshoffs as boat builders and of the great changes that has been developed in the lines of boats during the 71 years that have elapsed since Sprite took to the water.
Sprite was presented to Henry Ford by Capt Herreshoff, it is understood, and the auto manufacturer is to place it in his museum in Dearborn, where it will serve to show to present and future generations a model of the late 18S0's, far different from those of boats of today, but particularly noted in their days as among the fastest on Narragansett Bay. The Herreshoff boat shops were started by John B Herreshoff in the early 1860's and one of the early boats was the Qui Vive [#186407es], which was regarded as a fast sailer. The Sprite was among the other well known fast boats of the times. There was much sentiment connected with the placing of the boat on Capt. N. G. Herreshoff's grounds, and in order that the boat which was, evidently, near to the heart and mind of the world's greatest yacht designer of his time, might be well cared for, he has placed it where it will be cared for, for many many years to come. The building and successful sailing of Sprite was, in reality, the beginning of the famous Herreshoff Company, whose fame as yacht builders is universally known, and, as such, will be preserved and exhibited." (Source: Anon. "Old Herreshoff Boat Will Be Preserved. Catboat Sprite, Built in 1859, Started Saturday On Journey to Dearborn, Mich., Where It Will Be Placed In Museum of Henry Ford." Bristol Phoenix, April 29, 1930, p. 1.)

"1930. ... Nobody but N. G. Herreshoff and Henry Ford ever knew whether it was a sale or a gift, but the little cat-boat Sprite, built 71 years before and for eight of nine years an ornament on the Herreshoff lawn at Bristol, was crated and shipped to Detroit. Mr. Ford wanted the boat for his museum. ..." (Source: Davis, Jeff. Yachting in Narragansett Bay. Providence, 1946, p. 49.)

"[Photo caption.] The catboat Sprite, believed to be the oldest boat built in Rhode Island and the second-oldest boat built in New England, returned home yesterday. She was built on the shore of Poppasquash Point by the Herreshoft family 120 years ago. Above, Halsey Herreshoff eases the treasure into the Herreshoff Marine Museum on Burnside St." (Source: Anon. "Home Again." Bristol Phoenix, April 5, 1979, p. 1.)

"SPRITE RETURNS HOME TO BRISTOL
On April 3, 1979, Halsey C. Herreshoff and Carlton J. Pinheiro brought the Herreshoff catboat SPRITE to the Herreshoff Marine Museum from the Henry Ford Museum in Detroit, Michigan where it had been on display for almost fifty years. Built in 1859, the SPRITE is the second boat built by the famous brothers and the oldest Herreshoff boat known to exist. Because the great Cup Defenders which were built here were scrapped years ago, the SPRITE is probably the greatest single historical acquisition that the Museum could make. The vessel, which is in excellent condition, will be the focal point of a newly arranged display when the Museum opens in May for the 1979 season.
Although his first boat, the METEOR, had been a success, John B. Herreshoff, 19 and blind since the age of 14, decided to build a larger boat in the fall of 1859. The SPRITE was planned and modeled by young John and his father, Charles F. Herreshoff, in September, 1859. Nathanael G. Herreshoff, at the age of 11 1/2, did all the drawings and figuring for the full sized moulds. He was later to call this . . . 'the first of what became my life's work.'
William Manchester, a local carpenter, who had a boatbuilding shop on Constitution Street near Thames, was engaged to help with the construction, and J. B. was superintendent. Unfortunately Manchester died of a heart attack just after he had started the keel and had the centerboard logs and posts ready to assemble. Mr. C. F. Herreshoff, understanding the shock of the two boys, consented to help build the boat. SPRITE was then moved to the 'Old Tannery' on Hope Street near Burnside across from the family home.
The work proceeded slowly and carefully and only the best of materials were used. Thomas J. Thurston, another old boatbuilder assisted in construction, the famous old Bristol sailmaker Jonathan Alger made her sail, and Jonathan Waldron, the town's blacksmith, made forgings. Young N. G. Herreshoff did much of the drawing as work proceeded, but modestly noted, 'John and my father did nearly the entire work and I helped a little between school hours,'
SPRITE was launched on June 28, 1860. 'She was rigged and tried just at dusk that day,' stated Captain Nat in his Journal, noting that 'John laid up all the running rigging etc. of cotton --- spinning up cotton twine for the purpose.'
The completion of SPRITE had been rushed in order that the boys might sail her to New York to see the GREAT EASTERN after her maiden voyage from Southampton, England. Many Americans, including the young Herreshoffs, were fascinated by this huge steel vessel, whose 693 feet could carry 4,000 passengers. (Twice as many as the QUEEN MARY.) Her 11,000 horsepower engines turned two fifty-eight foot paddle wheels and a twenty-four foot propeller, the largest any ship has ever carried. The six masts carried 6,500 yards of sail.
Late in July, 1860, young John B. and Nathanael G. Herreshoff, accompanied by Dr. George D'Marini, a local yachtsman, left Bristol in the SPRITE to view the GREAT EASTERN which had already docked in New York. Their father, Charles F., accompanied by his other sons, Lewis and James, and Henry Slocum as pilot, sailed the family catboat JULIA on this cruise. Pilot Slocum had been hired to guide both boats through the treacherous 'Hell Gate' of the East River. SPRITE got there first with a delighted twelve year old Nat at the tiller and he steered through, leaving the disgruntled pilot astern.
Arriving in New York to view the four block long GREAT EASTERN, they joined other boats circling the iron monster. The Bristol boys had a grand time and spellbound young Nat described everything he could to his blind brother.
Referring to this trip in a letter to the Ford Museum dated July 5, 1930, Captain Nat said that the voyage was 'for the express purpose of seeing the GREAT EASTERN, and I had my first experience in navigation. The trip in going to New York was made in twenty-eight hours, and in returning twenty-seven hours, and no stop was made either way. Very good time for a twenty-foot boat to cover one hundred seventy-five miles. In the Fall of the same year, SPRITE won her first race easily and she won all she entered in later years.
As originally built, SPRITE did not have the outside lead ballast that is now on her keel. That was put on in 1891, as an experiment. Originally she was ballasted with about one-half ton of scrap iron stowed low down, under cabin and cockpit floors, and four hundred pounds of ballast to shift to windward when tacking, which was the custom in those days. This shifting ballast was partly fifty-six pound weights of iron and partly lead weights, all covered in canvas with strap handles, and painted.
I remember well how my back and arms would ache in steering her, and often in reaching my brother John had to assist me. In sailing to windward, my brother John could sail her as well as anyone, even without sight.'
In 1866, the GREAT EASTERN would lay the first transatlantic cable and secure a place in history. Before the end of the century, however, she was scrapped. It is a great irony that the little wooden catboat SPRITE, built to carry some young Bristol boys on an adventure to view a great iron ship, has survived.
SPRITE was sailed in Narragansett Bay for many years and had an enviable record racing against larger boats built by established yards. Her racing record was a great advertisement when John B. established his boatyard in 1863. When his younger brother Nat joined him as partner in 1879, the team who had built the little SPRITE, was in business to make yachting history and to put Bristol, Rhode Island on the map.
Until 1929, SPRITE was owned by members of the Herreshoff family. She was then turned over to Henry Ford for display in his new Dearborn Museum. Now on loan from Dearborn, the SPRITE is 20'2" overall with 8'10" beam.
The trip to return her to Bristol was made in three days, with two days travel time and one day spent loading the SPRITE and viewing exhibits at the Henry Ford Museum and Greenfield Village. A trailer had been loaned by the Mystic Seaport Museum. East Bay residents who assisted with the acquisition and its placement here include Gus Sousa, John and Tony Arruda, Fred Dick, Seth B. Paull, John Velleca and Mrs. Dawne J. Pinheiro." (Source: Pinheiro, Carlton. "Sprite Returns Home to Bristol" In: Herreshoff Marine Museum Chonicle, Spring 1979, p. 1-2.)

"... James B. Herreshoff, John and Nathaniel's oldest brother, was the last owner of the catboat Sprite. In 1929 Nathaniel, then in his early eighties, offered the catboat --- the oldest Herreshoff boat still in existence --- to the Henry Ford Museum for safekeeping; it arrived in Dearborn the following year. ..." (Source: Bryan, Ford R. "Henry's Attic: Some Fascinating Gifts to Henry Ford and His Museum." Detroit, 1995, p. 180.)

"The Herreshoffs had owned Sprite for some seventy years when a transfer of title was arranged through James B. Herreshoff of New York, who was her owner at the time. ... Subsequently, for a half-century, Sprite, refurbished in appearance, was exhibited at the Ford Museum's Deerfield Village, Michigan, site. She returned to Bristol in 1979 and can now be seen in the Herreshoff Marine Museum.
As Sprite is by far the oldest extant Herreshoff-built boat, her history is worth recording. In the fall of 1859 the Herreshoffs started Sprite as a family project. She was modeled by JBH and his father, Charles, with the full-sized frame patterns laid out from the half model by NGH, who was eleven-and-a-half years old. JBH and NGH scouted out and brought back the wood from which Sprite was to be built themselves, sailing to various Narragansett Bay mills and even towing some of it home behind JBH's 12-foot catboat Meteor. 'Material was of the best, and the work was carefully done,' NGH remembered in his later years, 'and Sprite was launched the following June --- rigged and tried out the same day.' In her, a month or so later, the Herreshoff boys --- in company with their father in his own catboat Julia --- set out for New York to see Brunei's awesome steamship Great Eastern.
NGH and JBH were together in Sprite for the next three or four seasons, sailing nearly every day between May and November with young NGH at the helm, racing often and with ever-increasing success. Sprite was rigged with a single mast way forward and a single gaff sail of 450 square feet. By rigging a temporary bowsprit, a light-weather jib could be set. Although there is some outside ballast showing on the keel in this photograph, Sprite originally carried her ballast (1,000-1,200 pounds of it) as cast-iron weights under the floorboards, with another 400-500 pounds divided among sandbags that could be placed along the windward rail. Although NGH claims she was a brute to steer with her long boom and wide rudder, he also reports that Sprite proved to be the fastest boat of her size on all of Narragansett Bay. ..." (Source: Bray, Maynard and Carlton Pinheiro. Herreshoff of Bristol. Brooklin, Maine, 1989, p. 173.)

"[Item Description:] Handwritten (in ink and pencil) table providing what amounts to be the earliest Herreshoff construction record with detailed dimensional data (Name, Owner, Length on deck, Length on water, Breadth extreme, Depth, Deadrise per foot, Width of stern, Sheer, Freeboard at bow, stern and lowest place, Centreboard length, Centreboard from woodends, Centre of mast from woodends, Bowsprit out board, Mainsail foot, hoist, head, leech, and area, Foresail foot, hoist, head, leech, and area, Jib foot, hoist, leech, and area, Gafftopsail foot, luff, leech, and area, Fore-gafftopsail foot, luff, leech, and area, Jibtopsail foot, hoist, leech, and area and Notes ) for Julia [#185602es], Sprite [#186001es], Kelpie 1st [#186301es], Magic [#186404es], Toad [#186411es], Prudence [#186406es], Patience [#186405es], Hope [#186402es], Faith [#186401es], Qui Vive [#186407es], Kelpie 2nd [#186403es], Teazer [#186410es], Secret [#186408es], Fish Boats [#186505es, #186506es, #186507es, #186508es, #186509es, #186510es, #186511es, #186512es], Fish Boats [#186513es, #186514es, #186515es, #186516es, #186517es, #186518es], Fanchon [#186501es], Angie [#186503es], Haidee [#186604es], Ariel [#186601es], Psyche [#186605es], Fannie 1st [#186603es], Violet [#186606es], Fish Boats [#186607es, #186608es], Fish Boats [#186609es, #186610es, #186611es, #186612es, #186613es, #186614es], Lively Whale [later Daisy ???] [#186707es ???], Fannie 2nd [#186702es], Hartford [later Polly ???] [#186703es ???], Sadie [#186704es], Clytie [#186701es], Waterfall [N/A], Bristol [#186801es], Ione [#187003es], Poppasquash [#186502es], Etta [N/A], Oysterboats [#186710es, #186711es], Spring Green [#186709es], Pellican [#186708es], Henrietta [N/A], Meteor [N/A], Fatter[?] [N/A], Annie Moies [#1p], Charlotte [#186803es], Annie [#186905es], Hildegard [#186808es], Thetis [#186705es], Clio [#187101es], Fleetwing [N/A], White Straw[?] [N/A], [Mignone] [#186904es], Fish Boats [square stern, 1868] [N/A], Sadie [#N/A (dupl. listing)], Fannie [N/A], Bunsby [#186802es], Orion [#186903es], Breeze [N/A], Nimbus [#186805es], Alice [crossed out, this MIGHT be Bessie] [#187001es], Viking [#187008es], [Ianthe] [#187002es], [Surf] [#187007es], [Georgie Miller] [#187011es], and [Pink] [#187010es]. Undated, the latest vessel on the list was built in 1870." (Source: Herreshoff, N.G. (?) (creator) or other Herreshoff family members (?) (creator). Construction Record. Halsey C. Herreshoff Collection at the Herreshoff Marine Museum Item MRDE03_01410. Folder [no #]. No date (ca 1870).)
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"[Item Description:] Newspaper clipping from an unknown newspaper, penciled date Sept 13, 1881, titled 'The Sailing Regatta. A Great Day for Yachtsmen and Lovers of Aquatic Sports', reporting about the regatta at Rocky Point round the Plum Beach Point or around Hope Island for third-class boats, some of the boats mentioned were Jos. True's SPRITE [unclear if #186001es], C. F. Herreshoff's JULIA [#187004es], and C. F. Herreshoff's ALICE [#188004es] [Note: the regatta took place on Sept 13, 1881, but the newspaper was published Sept 14, 1881]." (Source: Halsey C. Herreshoff Collection at the Herreshoff Marine Museum Item MR_28670. Newspaper Clipping. Subject Files, Folder 18, formerly 126. 1881-09-14.)
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"[Item Description:] Clipping from an unknown newspaper [Providence Journal?], titled 'Providence and Vicinity. Regatta off Pawtuxet', among the participants were the winning C. F. Herreshoff with the 21.04ft catboat ALICE [#188004es or #188201es?] and J. B. Herreshoff with the 20.03ft catboat SPRIGHT [sic, i.e. #186001es SPRITE], labeled in pencil 'Aug 30, 1886'." (Source: Providence Journal (?) (creator). Newspaper Clipping. Halsey C. Herreshoff Collection at the Herreshoff Marine Museum Item MR_28800. Subject Files, Folder 18, formerly 126. 1886-08-30.)
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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:
§5: Race for Cat Boats between #187004es JULIA IV, #188004es ALICE, #186001es SPRITE and #188210es NORA [?]. 'Prize awarded to ALICE.' (1884-04-07)." (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

"[Item Description:] Penciled dimensioned half-breadth plan labeled 'SPRITE [#186001es] Overall 20ft 5in' and lead ballast section labeled 'THISTLE [#1078s] 75ft 0in w.l. Ext. draft 13ft 3 1/2in, Draft at [blank] 11ft 10in, Length of keel for blocking …'. On recto of envelope from The Shepard Stores, Providence to NGH." (Source: Herreshoff Manufacturing Co. (creator). Penciled Sketch. Halsey C. Herreshoff Collection at the Herreshoff Marine Museum Item MRDE02_04380. Folder [no #]. No date (1928 ?).)
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"[Item Description:] Penciled pantograph hull sections (full sections) on 'N.G. Herreshoff, Bristol, R.I.' stationery titled 'Copy of SPRITE [#186001es] (1860). Made Jan[uar]y 1928. Scale 3/4in. Sections at 2/10 - 4/10 - 6/10 & 8/10 w.l. of 20ft 3in'. With tabulated weight study marked 'Approximate data' arriving at a total weight of 5300lbs. With calculations marked 'Knockabout rig' to determine righting arm and righting moment. With calculations arriving at a displacement of 84.0cuft = 5360lbs incl. keel. With 'Note. In winter of 1928-29 I made an accurate model of Sprite [Model 1], and this one was cut over for a narrower boat'. On verso a penciled sailplan with outboard profile showing two rig configurations: SPRITE's original gaff sloop rig (420sqft) and a standard jib and marconi mainsail rig (jib 90sqft, mainsail 334sqft, total 424sqft). With calculations to determine weight of original rig and knockabout rig." (Source: Herreshoff, N.G. (creator). Pantograph Hull Sections. Halsey C. Herreshoff Collection at the Herreshoff Marine Museum Item MRDE15_01180. Folder [no #]. 1928-01.)
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"[Item Description:] Penciled diagram with four displacement curves marked 'SPRITE [#186001es ?]', 'GZSOBog[?]', '20ft w.l. 24[ft] o.a.' and '19ft w.l. 19ft 9in o.a.'. Untitled, no further notes, undated (filed with other 1929 material). (Might the 20ft w.l. 24ft o.a. boat related to the design from a model made on January 20, 1928? See MRDE02_03720 and MRDE15_01200.)" (Source: Herreshoff, N.G. (creator). Diagram. Halsey C. Herreshoff Collection at the Herreshoff Marine Museum Item MRDE15_01290. Folder [no #]. No date (1928-01-20 ???).)
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"[Item Description:] Penciled general arrangement plan with profile, plan view and sections titled 'SPRITE [#186001es]. Launched June 28th, 1860. Lines taken off boat by N.G.H. Aug. 19, 1928. Model made from these lines in Jan 1929 at Coconut Grove'." (Source: Herreshoff, N.G. (creator). Penciled General Arrangement Plan. Halsey C. Herreshoff Collection at the Herreshoff Marine Museum Item MRDE02_05130. Folder [no #]. 1928-08-19.)
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"[Item Description:] Penciled undated dimensioned sketch with half-breadth plan and profile of an undidentified small boat that is apparently 20ft 2 1/2in long and 9ft wide. Is this possibly the sketch made by NGH when he measured SPRITE [#186001es] on August 28, 1928? On verso of envelope from D. van Nostrand Company, Inc. to NGH." (Source: Herreshoff Manufacturing Co. (creator). Penciled Sketch. Halsey C. Herreshoff Collection at the Herreshoff Marine Museum Item MRDE02_04320. Folder [no #]. No date (1928-08-28 ???).)
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"[Item Description:] Inked and penciled sailplan titled 'SPRITE [#186001es]. Built by Chas. F. Herreshoff, Esq and John B. Herreshoff. Winter of 1859-60. Sail plan partly by Record and Partly by Memory of N.G. Herreshoff. July 30'. (See also 2004.0001.00031 and 2004.0001.00032). On verso penciled notes and drawings titled 'Proposed machine shop improvements. Ground plan w/ scale. July 24, 1896'." (Source: Herreshoff, N. G. (creator). Inked and Penciled Sailplan. Halsey C. Herreshoff Collection at the Herreshoff Marine Museum Acc. 2004.0001.0276. Model Room, Folder 25, formerly MRDE09. 1930-07 and 1896-07-24.)

"[Item Description:] Blueprint dimensioned sailplan with profile titled 'SPRITE [#186001es]. Built by Chas. F. Herreshoff, Esq and John B. Herreshoff. Winter of 1859-60. Sail plan partly by record and partly by memory of N.G. Herreshoff. July 1930'." (Source: Herreshoff, N.G. (creator). Blueprint Sailplan. Halsey C. Herreshoff Collection at the Herreshoff Marine Museum Acc. 2004.0001.0031. WRDT08, Folder 4, formerly MRDE09. 1930-07.)
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"[Item Description:] Blueprint dimensioned sailplan with profile titled 'SPRITE [#186001es]. Built by Chas. F. Herreshoff, Esq and John B. Herreshoff. Winter of 1859-60. Sail plan partly by record and partly by memory of N.G. Herreshoff. July 1930'." (Source: Herreshoff, N.G. (creator). Blueprint Sailplan. Halsey C. Herreshoff Collection at the Herreshoff Marine Museum Acc. 2004.0001.0032. WRDT08, Folder 4, formerly MRDE09. 1930-07.)
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"[Item Description:] Photostat of letter from NGH to Gerrish Smith (SNAME), early reminiscences, #186001es SPRITE was given to Henry Ford's museum about 7 years ago, #187106es SHADOW, Burgess friendship, devised 1867 Boston Y.C. time allowance tables when 18 years old, discussion of Paper to be read by W. P. Stephens at SNAME meeting on May 28, 1934 [sic, i.e. 1935] [Note: NGH comments were published together with Stephens paper in SNAME Transactions for 1935 and in appendix of 'NGH - WPS. Their Last Letters'], cover letter dated May 26, 1935" (Source: Herreshoff, N.G. Letter to Smith, H. Gerrish (SNAME). Herreshoff Marine Museum Collection Acc. 86.36. HMM Library Rare Books Room (Various), Folder [no #]. 1935-05-26.)
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"[Item Transcription:] It is with some reluctance I am forwarding at your request an old man's remembrances of local sailing yachts as a discussion of Stephens paper to be read on the 28th inst. I cannot see think[?] my penning[?] would be of interest to the present generation which at this time has so many perplexing problems to confront, but might fill a few omissions Mr. Stephens has made in compiling his interesting paper.
To a very few who may be history minded in[sic, i.e. it] might be of interest that my brother John's boat SPRITE [#186001es] which he and my father --- both amateurs --- built with their own hands and I sailed in my first race, was given to Mr. Ford about 7 years ago to go into his museum of antiques at Dearborn, Mich., and I suppose she can be seen there. As my brother John had not his sight, I was taught when at 11 years of age to transfer the sections from SPRITE's model to paper and make measurements for enlargement, also I conceived and worked out the table of time allowance for the Boston Yacht Club, when I was 18 years of age.
[With note:] Rough penciling for letter to accompany discussion which Mr. Smith [SNAME] has asked for." (Source: Herreshoff, N.G. Letter to Smith, H. Gerrish (SNAME). Halsey C. Herreshoff Collection at the Herreshoff Marine Museum Item MR_74280. Measuring and Measurement Rules (Box 2), Folder B2F11, formerly MRDE15. 1935-05-26.)
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Note: This list of archival documents contains in an unedited form any and all which mention #186001es Sprite even if just in a cursory way. Permission to digitize, transcribe and display is gratefully acknowledged.

• Grayson, Stan. Herreshoff Catboats. The Roots of a Boatbuilding Dynasty." Wooden Boat #289, November/December 2022, p. 58-67. (1,855 kB)
  Document is copyrighted: Yes. Detailed, well-written story about Herreshoff catboats, from early boats such as Sprite and the four Julias which were all built before the founding off the Herreshoff Manufacturing Company to the numerous small catboats like Dandelion and Bluebell, many of which were delivered to Boston yachtsmen and most of which were also built before the founding of HMCo to the later, often very extreme and rule-beating catboats such as Wanda. With some minor errors, not all Julias were keelboats, Dexter Stone was from Philadelphia and not just a local yachtsman, Peri was not built for W. Starling Burgess, and Bluebell was built for Ed. Burgess with no proof that this was Edward Burgess.

• Sprite
• 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: Sprite
Type: 20' the second boat J. B. [Herreshoff] built
Owner: J. B. Herreshoff
Year: 1860
Row No.: 650

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.

"Acquired in 1995 by the Herreshoff Marine Museum from the Henry Ford Museum." (Source: van der Linde, Claas. March 8, 2012.)

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