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PARKER VEIN COAL COMPANY


In 1854, the newly formed HB Cromwell & Co. purchased the New York, Baltimore and Alexandria Steamship Company also know as the Parker Vein Fleet of ten small wooden screw steamships. The Parker Vein Co had all ten of those steamers built in 1853 to transport coal to New York from Baltimore.

Unfortunately, it was discovered that Parker Vein, which had been organized a few years previous for the purpose of developing the mine, had flooded the market with an issue of stock much in excess of its capital. In order to stay solvent, he Parker Vein Company was forced to sell all ten steamers. These vessels were continued in the New York and Baltimore trade by HB Cromwell & Co, but as business did not necessitate the use of the whole fleet in this trade, Cromwell decide to place some of the vessels on other routes.



Built in 1853 by Hillman & Streaker, Philadelphia PA
10 wooden hulled three-masted steampowered steamships
460 gross tons, 163 x 25 x 11.7
built for the Parker Vein Coal Company
All vessels (Parke Vein Fleet) are all built after the same model.
163ft long overall; 157 at keel; width 25 ft; depth of hold 11 feet,
with 7 feet between decks, speed 10.5 knots per hour,
and a consumption of fuel of 9 or 10 tons per day.

Caledonia* (1853)
George's Creek* (1853) sold at auction in 1861
Jackson* (1853)
Locust Point* (1853) sold at auction in 1861
Mount Savage* (1853)
Parker Vein* (1853)
Piedmont* (1853)
Thomas Swan* (1853) sold at auction in 1861
Totten* (1853) sold at auction in 1861
Westernport* (1853)

Cromwell renamed steamers as he put new engines and boilers in them. That adds to the confusion as to what ships Cromwell actually owned.

Parker Vein (1853) / Atlanta (1857)
Mount Savage (1853) / Memphis (1857)
Totten (1853) / Chesapeake (1857)
Parkersburg (1854)
Patapsco (1858) sold at auction in 1861
Potomac (1858) sold at auction in 1861
Potomski (1860)

Cromwell sold four of those Parker Vein steamers to the US Navy in 1858.

Caledonia (1853) / USS Mohawk (1859) / Alliance (1864)
Mount Savage (1853) / Memphis (1857) / Mystic (1859)
Parker Vein (1853) / Atlanta (1857) / Sumpter (1859)
Westernport (1853) / USS Wyandotte (1859)


Copyright 2004 Bill Medford
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