Herreshoff #186802es Bunsby

"There will be launched from the yard of Mr. John B. Herreshoff on Saturday morning, April 11th [1868], at quarter past 11 o'clock, a steam yacht [#1p Annie Moies] built for Samuel Shove, Esq. of Pawtucket. Also, a sailing yacht [#186803es Charlotte], forty-feet in length, built for Messrs. Binney & Goddard of Providence.
There will be another launch from the same yard, on Monday [April 13, 1868] or Tuesday following the above, of a yacht [#186802es Bunsby] forty-five feet in length." (Source: Anon. "To Be Launched." Bristol Phoenix, April 4, 1868, p. 2.)

"In the yard and shops of Mr. John B. Herreshoff, where some thirty men are employed, there have been turned out within the last few weeks, completely fitted for use, four sailboats of about six tons each; while a fifth craft of the same dimensions is now nearly finished, beside a large number of small craft --- row boats --- have been built during the same time.
There has also been altered and refitted at this yard a sloop yacht [#186802es Bunsby] of thirty tons, for Messrs. Pope & Cook, of the Hoboken Yacht Club; the sloop yacht Nimbus [#186805es] belonging to Captain William Peat, of the Atlantic Yacht Club, of Brooklyn, N. Y., has been refitted and painted; the sloop yacht Fanny [not built by Herreshoff], belonging to J. C. Bach, Esq., of New York, thirty-five tons burthen, has been rebuilt and received an entire new suit of spars, sails and rigging; the steam yacht Annie Moies [#1p], belonging to Hon. Samuel Shove, of Pawtucket, has been overhauled, refitted and painted, preparatory for the season. ..." (Source: Anon. "Yacht and Boat Building." Bristol Phoenix, June 12, 1869, p. 2.)

"Editor Forest and Stream:
The yacht Nepenthe, recently lengthened aft, above the load line, and fitted with iron on the keel outside, has just returned from Atlantic City. Capt. Williams reports her greatly improved and now entirely safe at sea. Judging from the press of canvas he was successfuly carrying yesterday as he passed us, bound to Philadelphia, assures me that he has not exaggerated the weatherly qualities of this modernized yacht. R.G.W.
(Nepenthe is 42ft. load line, 15ft. beam, and 4ft. deep. The successful application of outside ballast to this sloop of shoal hold will encourage additional experiments with light drafts which may be the means of making safe boats out of the large fleet of traps still in existence.) [Note: This latter comment was quite certainly made by yachting editor and cutter advocate C. P. Kunhardt.]" (Source: Anon. (R.G.W.) "Outside Ballast A Success." Forest And Stream, June 15, 1882, P. 396.)

"NEPENTHE.
Nepenthe is a centerboard sloop, formerly called Bunsby. Was designed by J. B. Herreshoff and built by the Herreshoff M'fg Co., being launched in 1869. She is owned by Josiah J. George, Davies Murdock and E. Bradley Jones. Was rebuilt and lengthened in 1876 and again in 1891. She hails from Baltimore and sails with the Baltimore Yacht Club.
CODE SIGNAL LETTERS, K. D. H. S.
Official number, 130,348.
DIMENSIONS.
Length over all, 43 feet.
Length load waterline, 42 feet.
Depth, 5 feet 4 inches.
Draft, 5 feet 4 inches.
Beam, 15 feet." (Source: Mott, Henry Augustus. Yachts and Yachtsmen of America. New York, 1894, p. 589.)

"To the sloop Katonah, owned by Messrs William Whitridge Williams and his brother, Dudley Williams, belongs the cup presented by Vice-Commodore Pembroke M, Womble, of the Baltimore Yacht Club. In the second race with Mr. Frank T. Redwood's sloop Nepenthe, the Katonah carried off the honors yesterday for the second time. ...
Captain Walters, of the Nepenthe, said that the performance of his craft was her best since he has been sailing master. 'But,' said he, 'There is no use pitting a 35 [sic, i.e. 32] year-old racer against a 3-year-old.' He regarded the race as fairly and prettily won by the Katonah. ... [Note: Nepethe had been the champion of the Baltimore Yacht Club for several years prior to this regatta.]" (Source: Anon. "Hurrah For Katonah. Good Yacht Nepenthe Lost." Baltimore Sun, June 8, 1900, p. 6.)

"The sloop yacht Nepenthe, owned by Messrs. Frank T. Redwood and Harry B. Gilpin, which was badly damaged during the squall Wednesday [July 30, 1902] evening at her anchorage in Curtis bay by the schooner Edward E. Briery, of Bath, Me., drifting against her, may be repaired as soon as the underwriters pass upon her. The loss of bowsprit and mast and having had deck torn up, causing the yacht to leak, would indicate that the repairs will be very extensive.
The Nepenthe is 33 years old, having been built in Bristol, R. I., in 1869.
Her owners yesterday libeled the schooner in the United States District Court to recover $2,000. It is alleged that the collision was caused by the fact that the schooner was not securely moored, in consequence of which she dragged her anchor. Blakistone & Blakistone are attorneys for the libellists." (Source: Anon. "Nepenthe Needs Extensive Repairs." Baltimore Sun, August 8, 1902, p. 11.)

"The sloop yacht Nepenthe, which was badly damaged last week at the Baltimore Yacht Club anchorage by the schooner Edward E. Briry dragging her anchors in a squall, was towed to Skinner's shipyard yesterday to be repaired." (Source: Anon. "Port Paragraphs." Baltimore Sun, August 12, 1902, p. 11.)

"A decree signed yesterday by Judge Morris, in the United States District Court, awards Frank T. Redwood and Harry B. Gilpin $482.80 for the damage sustained by their sloop yacht Nepenthe in a collision with the schooner Edward W. Briery. Each side is to pay one-half the costs. The collision occurred off the Baltimore Yacht Club's shove at Curtis Bay during a heavy wind, the schooner drifting from her anchorage." (Source: Anon. "Decree in Collision Case." Baltimore Sun, December 13, 1902, p. 10.)

"The houseboat that John built will leave its moorings in Colgate creek this morning for her initial trip down the bay. There is probably no craft in the Chesapeake bay that is so thoroughly identified with the history of yachting in Maryland, inasmuch as she is the old champion sailing sloop yacht Nepenthe, for a number of years enrolled among the squadron of the Baltimore Yacht Club and having sailed in many contests among the various regattas from New York to Florida. Originally built a great many years ago by the Herreshoffs and later owned and sailed by Josiah George, E. Bradley Jones and Frank Redwood, of Baltimore, she finally passed into the hands of John Hiltz and was converted by him from his own designs into probably what is the most complete power houseboat in Southern waters. Her power equipment consists of a 45-horsepower Clifton engine and a direct connected electric generator set with Carlisle & & Finch nine-inch projector.
Of the original hull nothing remains but her keel and a few streaks of planking on the starboard side and a fewer number of streaks on the port. She has been raised three feet on the freeboard, a man-of-war stern replaces the yacht lines of the stern, and she has new timbers throughout. Because of her record and old association and connection with yachting the old name Nepenthe has been retained.
The system of lighting is such that there are no dark spots in the yacht. It is possible to sit in the saloon and see both stem and stern.
The engine room, which also affords sleeping accommodations for two persons and and a toilet, is lighted by plate-glass sash extending from the pilot-house floor to the deck, giving an engine room as bright as day and exceptionally well ventilated. By a ladder access is immediately afforded from the pilot house to the engine room and by doors in bulkhead at forward end to the saloon. The engine room is finished in yellow pine and hard oil, is 13 feet in length and has headroom of 8 feet 8 inches.
The saloon is finished in quartered Flemish oak and is trimmed in gold, with French plate mirrors at every available point. The table will accommodate 14 persons. There are sleeping accommodations for four. A buffet is located at the forward end of the saloon, and is perhaps one of the handsomest and best equipped compartments of similar kind on any yacht in Baltimore. The saloon is 14 by 14 feet.
Immediately aft of the saloon on the port side is located the galley. It has headroom five feet seven inches and contains running water, a large range, dish racks, a table four by four feet and icebox two by four feet, with a capacity of 300 pounds of ice, and every possible convenience for broiling and baking, and all exceptionally well lighted and ventilated.
At the outer port side, adjoining the galley, is the companionway and lockers, and aft of the galley in lazarette are located water and compressed-air tanks and facilities for stowage of fishing rods and other paraphernalia.
On the upper deck is located the pilot house, finished in rosewood and mahogany. It contains one berth and a chart table 6 feet by 32 inches and signal color rack containing a full set of the United States Naval Code, marine telegraph and steering geer of the latest approved design.
Immediately aft of the pilot house are located two staterooms. Contained in each are one double and one single berth finished in mahogany and gold, two large wardrobes, life-preserver lockers and many unique facilities for the convenience of their users. These rooms are exceptionally large and so constructed as to be used independently and privately of one another, if so desired. Aft on the port side is located a large lavatory, toilet and other conveniences.
A power launch 16 by 6 feet will be carried in a cradle on top of the house from starboard davits. A second tender will be carried on the port davits.
Exceptionally large deck facilities are offered both fore and aft. Spruce pine decking is used throughout. The exterior of the house is made of quartered oak. Beveled French plate glass is used in all the windows and mirrors, of which there are an unlimited number. Aloft are carried two spars, with the usual shrouds and rigging, and the Nepenthe will probably be equipped later with small three-cornered sails for use on appropriate occasions.
The power installations were made under the personal supervision of E. D. Loane, Jr., of the Loane-Hiltz Engineering Company." (Source: Anon. "A Complete Houseboat. Mr. Hiltz Starts Today For Trip On Remodeled Yacht Nepenthe." Baltimore Sun, July 22, 1906, p. 10.)

"[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:] Printed advertising leaflet and pricelist titled 'Reed's Patent Steering Apparatus manufactured by Whittier Machine Company. Over 5000 in Actual Use. We have placed them on the following First Class Yachts: BEDOUIN, BRUNHILDE, CLIO, CONSTELLATION, CORONET, FANNIE, FORTUNA, GLANCE, GRACIE, HALCYON, LANCER, MADELAINE, MAGIC, MARGUERRITE, MERLIN, METEOR, MIRANDA, MYSTIC, NANON, NEPENTHE [#186802es], NIRVANA, OENONE, PRISCILLA, REPUBLIC, SEA FOX, SHAMROCK, SPERANZA, TAROLINTA, TITANIA, YAMPA. ... Formerly Manufactured by Boston Machine Company'. Stamped in red 'For Sale by Niles Tool Works, Room 44, Bell Telephone Building, Boston, Mass.'. Undated (filed with other material from the 1890s)." (Source: Niles Tools Works (creator). Printed Leaflet. Halsey C. Herreshoff Collection at the Herreshoff Marine Museum Item MRDE15_01890. Folder [no #]. No date (1890s ?).)
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Note: This list of archival documents contains in an unedited form any and all which mention #186802es Bunsby even if just in a cursory way. Permission to digitize, transcribe and display is gratefully acknowledged.

• Bunsby
• Nepenthe ex-Bunsby
• 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: Nepenthe
Type: 42' aux. sloop
Owner: George P. Slade
Year: 1868
Row No.: 472

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.

"Owned by Dexter Stone in 1884 according to a note on the back of the Nepenthe photo at HMM. The American Yacht List of 1884 lists as owner D. S. Stone et al and a homeport of Philadelphia. Nepenthe was still listed in the 1906 Lloyd's Register, now owned by W. K. Thomas, homeported in Baltimore and fitted with a gas engine." (Source: van der Linde, Claas. December 14, 2008.)

"Mystic Seaport Museum holds an oil painting of Bunsby, dated 1871, and signed by J. W. Pirsson, which was published as plate 41 in Altonaer Museum in Hamburg (publ.), Amerikanische Schiffsbilder, Hamburg, 1976. The accompanying text notes Bunsby to have been built in 1867 by J. B. Herreshoff and states that nothing is known about the painter, James W. Pirsson. Research suggests Pirsson to have been a New Yorker architect who was well known for the creation of some of the city's finest buildings of the Gilded Age, together with his partner Philip Gengembre Hubert (Source: Wikipedia contributors, 'James W. Pirsson,' Wikipedia, The Free Encyclopedia, http://en.wikipedia.org/w/index.php?title=James_W._Pirsson&oldid=343578761, retrieved May 18, 2010.) Further research shows the Bunsby to have been owned by Messrs. Hutton, Pope and Cook in June 1872 with F. M. [Francis Morris?] Pirsson to have been 'the very fortunate recipient of the unlimited hospitality of the owners of the Bunsby and as such considered ... one of her crew. (Source: Pirsson, F. M. 'Ownership of the Yacht Bunsby.' Spirit of the Times, June 8, 1872, p. 266.) One may speculate that J. W. Pirsson, the creator of the Bunsby oil painting was a relative of Bunsby's regular crew member F. M. Pirsson." (Source: van der Linde, Claas. May 18, 2010.)

"See also: Papers of the yacht BUNSBY designed by John B. Herreshoff of Bristol, R.I., and owned by James E. Pope and E.M. Cork of New York, N.Y., including contract for construction, specifications, ship and sail plans, and accounts, one with Thomas H. Hutton. Bunsby Papers, at: Mystic Seaport Museum, G. W. Blunt White Library, 2nd Floor Vault, Call Number VFM 554. Bristol, R. I., 1868-1869." (Source: van der Linde, Claas. March 31, 2014.)

"In the absence of better available data displacement was estimated by using the figure for New Measurement Tons (16.6) from the 1881 Olsen's American Yacht List (Old Measurement Tons were reported as 28 by the 1872 Fox Yachting Annual) 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.