HMCo #194p Jean

"[1897-05-10] Mon 10: ... Setting up frames for #184 [sic; this might be #194p Jean].
[1897-05-19] Wed 19: ... Began planking #194 [Jean].
[1897-06-02] Wed 2: As[sistan]t Se[cre]t[ar]y Roosevelt here with Capt. Converse & then turned over #194 [Jean].
[1897-06-29] Tue 29: ... Put engine in #194 [Jean]. ...
[1897-07-19] Mon 19: Launched st[eame]r #194 'Jean'.
[1897-07-20] Tue 20: Had trial of #194 [Jean] in p.m., making 19-3/4 m[iles] in one hour & delivered her afterwards." (Source: Herreshoff, Nathanael G. Diary, 1897. Manuscript (excerpts). Herreshoff Marine Museum Collection.)

"BOSTON, May 1 [1897]. --- ... Two other steamers of about the same size [as Katrina #189p] are under construction in the shops, and will soon be launched. One is for Charles G. Emery of Ogdensburg [Nina #193p], for use among the Thousand Islands, and the other for T. A. Gillespie [Jean #194p], for use in the same waters. The Gillespie boat is intended, however, for more speed, and is only 12 feet beam on 100 feet water line, and will make eighteen or twenty miles an hour. ..." (Source: Anon. "Trial of the Cockatoo." New York Times, May 2, 1897, p. 4.)

"Steamer (194) Jean, steam yacht, of [blank].
Built at Bristol, RI, by Herreshoff Manufacturing Co.
19.40 tons; 71.8 ft. x 10.5 ft. x 5.6 ft. [Register length x breadth x depth.]
One deck, no mast, overhanging head, overhanging stern.
Surveyed and measured, June 26, 1897." (Source: U.S. Customs Department, Bristol, R.I. Custom House Record Book, 1870s to 1904 (Collection of the Herreshoff Marine Museum), s.v. Jean.)

"[License issued to vessel under 20 tons. Pos. 123:]
Jean, steam yacht, of Bristol.
Built at Bristol, 1897.
19.40 tons; 71.8 ft. x 10.5 ft. x 5.6 ft. [Register length x breadth x depth.]
No specifications shown.
Lic[ensed] ([as] yacht) July 16, 1897. Owner: Herreshoff Manufacturing Company of Bristol. Master: N. G. Herreshoff.
Surrendered [license] July 16, 1898 at Cape Vincent. ([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. Jean.)

"Newport, R.I., July 20, 1897. ... The 78-foot steam yacht Jean arrived tonight from Bristol. She was launched from the Herreshoff works yesterday, and was given her trial this afternoon, making 20 miles an hour, and within 28 hours of launching was delivered to T. A. Gillespie of Pittsburg, Pa., who will use her at Basswood Island, N. Y." (Source: Anon. "Mr Morgan Wins the Duryea Cup." Boston Herald, July 21, 1897, p. 10.)

"The Herreshoffs have just accomplished two interesting feats, which go to show how by constant practice chance is made surety. In former days, when a speedy boat was intended it sometimes was speedy and more often was not; while an especially fast plan could not be reproduced. But today speed in a boat is guaranteed as readily as is the right construction of a house. As if to go yet another step in progress the firm up the river now constructs a boat, and so sure is it of meeting requirements that it does not even take the trouble to run the engines until the bearings are worn down, which is an engineering surprise for many. Before being put to their crucial test the boats are run barely long enough to see that all connections are right, and then full power is called for.
Two weeks ago [sic, i.e. on June 28, 1897] a 100-foot yacht for the St. Lawrence river was launched, and on the first day steam was raised in her boilers she reeled off 15 7/8 knots on her official trial. She was constructed for C G Emory, and was named the Nina [#193p]. Last Friday evening [July 23, 1897] yacht Jean [#194p], a 78-footer, arrived here, having been launched the previous Monday [July 19, 1897], tried and accepted, and delivered Friday, and is now on her way to the Thousand Islands in charge of her owner, Thomas A Gillespie. She is built to show some speed in that locality, and yesterday reeled off twenty three, while the contract called for two less. The firm has constructed something like twenty new yachts this season, and has about three hundred men now at work.
Many persons have turned in their old yachts when receiving new ones, and in consequence the firm is the owner of quite a navy. Torpedo boats Nos. 15 and 16 [#191p Talbot and #192p Gwin] are now well plated in, but will not be launched for some weeks yet --- Newport Journal, July 24 [1897]." (Source: Anon. "At The Herreshoff Yard. Quick As Well As Accurate Work In Turning Out Boats." Newport Journal, July 24, 1897. Reprinted in: Bristol Phoenix, July 27, 1897, p. 1.)

"Frontenac, N.Y. August 24 [1901] --- Of the numerous steam vessels, both public and private which are daily seen plying the waters of the St. Lawrence River, the best models and the ones which elicit the most praise are the property of prominent New Yorkers summering in the Thousand Island region. ...
Above Thousand Island Park is the summer residence of T. A. Gillespie, the Pittsburg contractor, who has one of the fastest Herreshoff yachts on the river, to which has been given the name Jean in honor of his daughter. This swift vessel is often seen in the vicinity of Thousand Island Park, the home of the Lotus Seeker [#171p], and many a brush is had between these two Herreshoff models.
Another fast boat, is the Stroller [#209p], owned by G. T. Rafferty of Pittsburg. The home of this little race horse is Isle Imperial, near Alexandria Bay. She is said to have made, on her maiden trip, something far better than 22 miles an hour. ... " (Source: Anon. "Steam Yachting on St. Lawrence River. Many Speedy Brooklyn Boats. St Lawrence River Squadron is Probably the finest Inland Fleet in the World." Brooklyn Daily Eagle, August 25, 1901, p. 11.)

"Clayton, N.Y., Aug. 29 [1903]. --- The steam yacht Stroller [#209p], belonging to Gilbert Rafferty of Pittsburg, this afternoon won the great race in which the Jean [#194p], belonging to Thomas A. Gillespie of Pittsburgh and the Now Then [#142p], belonging to Commodore Lewis Luckenbach of New York, also took part, the latter two finishing second and third, respectively.
The race was over a course of a little more than twenty miles, being from Alexandria Bay to Dark Island and return. The trophy was a silver loving cup, valued at $500, presented by Mr. Rafferty, as Commodore of the Thousand Islands Yacht Yacht Club. At the clubhouse, on Welcome Island, this evening Mr. Rafferty was presented with the cup.
The course was covered by the Stroller in fifty-three minutes, which was regarded as good time, considering the heavy wind and the high sea that was rolling. The Jean was a mile behind the Stroller at the finish, and the Now Then was two miles behind the Jean. The boats in the race were all Herreshoff models. Mr. Rafferty was so delighted with the result of the contest that he presented each of the men on his boat with a check for $200." (Source: Anon. "Stroller Wins Yacht Race. In the Event at Clayton Rafferty's Boat Comes in First." New York Times, August 30, 1903, p. 2.)

"One of the notable new craft of the year in New York waters is the steam yacht Sisilina [#194p], owned by one of the Sterns, of the great New York dry goods firm. She is to be seen moving about local waters in the swiftest fashion, and her usual anchorage is the Columbia Yacht Club, foot of 86th Street [in New York City]. It is whispered that Sisilina, which was built by Herreshofi, has an avowed purpose --- to lower the colors of the Jean [#194p], owned by T. A. Gillespie, of Pittsburg. Jean is the pride of the St. Lawrence. She is a 71-foot steam yacht, also built by Herreshoff, and is good, they say, for 25 miles an hour. This year Sisilina, so it is said, intends to dispute premier honors of the St. Lawrence with Jean. Sisilina, by the way, has certain lines which indicate that she might furnish a very excellent model for a large-sized motor yacht. (Source: Anon. "Sisilina." Motor Boat, 1906, [p. 40?].)

"The Jean was one of those distinctive, fast Herreshoff Steam Yachts that graced the waters of the Upper St. Lawrence during the early years of the Century. Others of her kind were the Now Then [#142p], Stroller [#209p], Lotus Seeker [#171p] and Clover [#209p]. All were capable of speeds of approximately 20 M.P.H.
Mr. Thomas A. Gillespie of New York City owned the Jean the greater part of the time. His Summer home was on Basswood Island, between Grenell Island and the Main Channel of the River. Her Home Port was Clayton, New York and her Port of Registry, New York City. We believe that the yacht last operated in 1931. She had been purchased by Mr. William H. Gibson of the Gibson Art Company, Cincinnati, Ohio. His Summer residence, then known as Cinavo Lodge, still stands at the upper side of the entrance to Brown's Bay on Wellesley Island.
The Jean was designed by Mr. Nathaniel G. Herreshoff and built by the Herreshoff Manufacturing Company at Bristol, Rhode Island in 1897. Construction was of wood. Her specifications were as follow: Net Tons, 19; Gross Tons, 28; Overall Length, 77' 6"; Waterline Length, 70'; Beam, 10' 6"; Depth, 5' 7"; Draft, 4'. Her powerplant was a Herreshoff 3-Cylinder Triple Expansion Steam Engine, 6 1/4", 10", and 16" of bore and 9" of stroke. She had one Water Tube Boiler, likewise a product of the Herreshoff concern. Her Registration Number was 77266.
Two outstanding Clayton men who eventually became associated with the sight-seeing boat business here were Captains of the Jean. They were Gordon Wilson and Herbert Consaul. Captain Wilson built a Steamboat, the Mabel, which resembled the Jean.
In 1934, the yacht was owned by the Gilbert Boat Works of Brockville, Ontario, Canada. Her documentation had been discontinued. We have been unable to learn the disposition of the Jean by this company.
References:
Lloyd's Register of American Yachts, 1913, 1920 and 1934." (Source: Mercier, Gilbart B. Pleasure Yachts of the Thousand Islands. Clayton, New York, 1981, s.v. "Jean".)

"N/A"

"[Item Description:] Blueprint general arrangement plan with plan view and inboard profile titled 'Steamer Length Overall 75[corrected with pencil to 76]ft. Length waterline 71[corrected to 72]ft. 6in. Beam 10ft 6in. Draft 3ft. Herreshoff Mfg. Co. Bristol, R.I. ... Feb[ruary] 16, 1897. Possibly a preliminary plan for #194p Jean." (Source: Herreshoff Manufacturing Co. (creator). Blueprint. Halsey C. Herreshoff Collection at the Herreshoff Marine Museum Acc. 2004.0001.0056. WRDT08, Folder 6, formerly MRDE10. 1897-02-16.)
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"[Item Description:] Two sets of penciled pantograph hull sections with, displacement curve, pinpricks and calculations titled 'LITTLE SOVEREIGN [#244p]. 1904. ? [Note the question mark.]'. One set with notes '72 w.l. 78 overall[?] Feb 28 JEAN [#194p]' and displacement calculations showing a total of 424cuft = 27300lbs = 12.2 gross tons. The other set with notes '72 w.l. 76 overall[?] Feb 27 and displacement calculations showing a total of 474cuft = 30550lbs = 13.69 gross tons. (Possibly NGH was using Model 430 for JEAN as a starting point for the design of LITTLE SOVEREIGN. Or are both sets of pantograph hull sections from the same model for JEAN and the reference to SISILINA is in error as suggested by the question mark? The two sets of sections are remarkably similar and appear to show a model that has been altered.) " (Source: Herreshoff, N.G. (creator). Pantograph Hull Sections. Halsey C. Herreshoff Collection at the Herreshoff Marine Museum Item MRDE04_00450. Folder [no #]. (1897 or 1904)-02-27.)
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"[Item Transcription:] Handwritten (in ink and pencil) trials booklet 'Herreshoff Mfg. Co. Experiments & Trial Trips. 1890. N.G. Herreshoff'. Relevant contents:
§45: #194p JEAN Trial Run (1897-07-20)." (Source: Herreshoff, N.G. (creator). Trials Booklet. Halsey C. Herreshoff Collection at the Herreshoff Marine Museum Item MRDE07_02260. Folder [no #]. 1890-01 to 1898-08.)
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:] Penciled preliminary general arrangement plan with plan view and inboard profile of a steam yacht reminiscent of #194p JEAN (which had already been built by the time this plan was drawn, suggesting that the plan is a preliminary for a newly proposed steam yacht). Titled '75ft. 71 1/2ft. w.l. 10ft beam. HMCo. Scale 1/4. Feb[ruary] 16, [18]99'." (Source: Herreshoff, N.G. (creator). Penciled General Arrangement Plan. Halsey C. Herreshoff Collection at the Herreshoff Marine Museum Acc. 2004.0001.0493. WRDT08, Folder 39, formerly MRDE10. 1899-02-16.)
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"N/A"

"[Item Description:] Penciled general arrangement plan with plan view and inboard profile titled '82ft [LOA] 77ft w.l.' The plan looks like an elongated version of #194p JEAN and may have been made as a preliminary sketch for #249p SISILINA which was from JEAN's model but longer than what is stated on this plan. Undated, SISILINA was designed in October 1905." (Source: Herreshoff, N.G. (creator). Penciled General Arrangement Plan. Halsey C. Herreshoff Collection at the Herreshoff Marine Museum Acc. 2004.0001.0494. WRDT08, Folder 39, formerly MRDE10. No date (1905-10 ??).)
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"[Item Description:] Four handwritten (in ink) pages with tabulated data listing 'Shop No', 'Name', '[Tons] Gross' and '[Tons] Net' for a total of 100 HMCo-built boats and classes. Tonnage data is usually precise to two digits behind the decimal. Random comparisons suggest source of tonnage data to be official Custom House data. Boats mentioned are: #664s, #663s, #625s, #665s, #634s, #658s, #657s, #646s, #641s, #617s, #626s Class, #624s, #621s, #616s, #619s, #590s, #591s, #586s, #592 Class, #618s, #605s, #578s, #560s Class, #580s, #553s, #551s, #552s, #546s, #541s, #545s, #538s, #534s, #533s, #532s, #529s, #534s, #530s, #531s, #435s, #437s, #452s, #499s, #429s, #426s, #424s, #481s, #422s, #417s, #414s, #451s, #215p, #213p, #222p, #235p, #230p, #229p, #236p, #224p, #244p, #247p, #249p, #231p, #232p, #228p, #252p, #250p, #251p, #248p, #168p, #164p, #118p, #142p, #174p, #173p, #194p, #189p, #193p, #183p, #178p, #179p, #181p, #182p, #175p, #163p, #148p, #149p, #172p, #155p, #170p, #186p, #188p, #206p, #207p, #205p, #208p, #209p, #210p, #211p, #212p, #216p. Undated (the latest boat listed, WINSOME, was launched in 1907)." (Source: Herreshoff, N.G. (?) (creator). Handwritten List. Halsey C. Herreshoff Collection at the Herreshoff Marine Museum Item MRDE06_00220. Folder [no #]. No date (1907 or later).)
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Note: This list of archival documents contains in an unedited form any and all which mention #194p Jean even if just in a cursory way. Permission to digitize, transcribe and display is gratefully acknowledged.

• Jean (HMCo-made index card)
• Jean (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: Jean
Type: Steam
Length: 77'2"
Owner: Gillespie

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

• Jean
• 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: Jean
Type: 77' 6" steam
Owner: T. A. Gillespie
Year: 1897
Row No.: 318

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: 1897
E/P/S: P
No.: 194
Name: Jean
OA: 77' 2"
LW: 71' 6"

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.

"Steam engine rating 285hp from undated (1903 or later) diagram by N. G. Herreshoff titled 'Marine Engine. Weights and Prices' in the Halsey C. Herreshoff Collection at the Herreshoff Marine Museum." (Source: van der Linde, Claas. March 24, 2019.)

"Marine Engine of Open Type. 6 1/4 & 10 & 16 x 9, 610[rpm], 285[hp]. [Note:] 2100lbs [in pencil]." (Source: Herreshoff, N. G. Handwritten List of HMCo-Made Steam Engines. Halsey C. Herreshoff Collection at the Herreshoff Marine Museum, MRDED1_00220. Undated, between 1903 and 1918.)

"In the absence of better available data displacement was estimated by using the figure for Gross Register Tons (28.53) from the 1902 Manning's American Yacht List (Net Register Tons were reported as 19.4) 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.