Historic Pelham Blog Archive
August 25, 2006

350TH ANNIVERSARY CELEBRATION BOOK:  "THOMAS PELL AND THE LEGEND OF THE PELL TREATY OAK" -- $11.95 (PROCEEDS AFTER PRINTING COSTS WILL GO TO BARTOW-PELL MANSION MUSEUM).  CLICK HERE TO BROWSE BEFORE YOU BUY! LEARN MORE.

For years I have puzzled over the unfootnoted references in Pelliana suggesting that Thomas Pell, often referred to as the First Lord of the Manor of Pelham, traded tobacco along the east coast in the mid-17th century. I have reviewed many, many resources trying to understand the origins of such assertions.

Now, I believe, I understand those assertions. Today's Historic Pelham Blog posting transcribes a reference that appeared in a book published in 1857 that supports the assertions that appear in the Pell Family publication entitled Pelliana.  A footnote in the book entitled "Records of the Colony and Plantation of New Haven, from 1638 to 1649" reads as follows:

"Will of Nathaniel Draper made the 25th of the 2d month 1467 [ed. note, typographical error, should be 1647] . . . Gives to Phillip Galpine; all of the tobacco I have aboard of the barke [barque] Faulcon. Said Phillip to receive all his wages due to him from Thomas Pell for 'his service in this barke. -- Acquits Elias Parkman of a bill of £3. 6. 4. except 20s that he gives to Henry Rotherford. Witness, Arthur Branch.

Affidavit of Arthur Branch before Mr. Edward Hopkins at Seabrooke the 1st of November 1647, that he witnessed the above will aboard the barke Faulcon, of New Haven, then riding near Rikatan in Virginia."

Source: Records of the Colony and Plantation of New Haven, from 1638 to 1649, p. 335, n.* (New Haven, CT: 1857) (available via Google Books).

From this reference it appears that in about 1647 Thomas Pell owned or oversaw a barque named "Faulcon" out of New Haven. (Faulcon is a dated spelling for the term "Falcon".) A barque (or bark) is a sailing vessel with three or more masts, square-rigged on all but the aftermost mast which is fore-and-aft-rigged. The Barque, it seems, carried at least tobacco and traveled as far south as Virginia.

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posted by Blake A. Bell @ 4:58 AM Comment

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