Pusey and Jones Company, Shipbuilders (1848-1956)


(Photo courtesy of Hagley Museum Library, Wilmington, Delaware)

New Orleans under construction at Pusey & Jones (1872)

In 1848, Joshua L. Pusey and John Jones formed a partnership which later became the the Pusey and Jones Company. They had very little money, but an abundance of confidence. They opened their small Wilmington plant ready for any and all general machine shop work. During those early years, many marine engines and boilers were built by Pusey and Jones to be installed in wooden steamers built by other shipbuilding firms. Then in 1851, Edward Betts and Joshua Seal, who were operating an iron foundry in Wilmington, purchased an interest in the business. The name of the company then became Betts, Pusey, Jones and Seal. Now the company was ready to be in the shipbuilding business. The first iron sailing ship to be built in the United States was successfully built and launched by the men of Pusey and Jones in 1854. While preparations for laying the keel were already under way at the shipbuilding yards of the company, rumors of its building had fired the imaginations of all those who heard of it. Skeptics were quick to laugh at the mere thought of such a project. They quickly pointed out that sailing vessels had always been made of sound oak timbers and hand hewn planking. "Iron would sink as soon as it touched the water", the "so-called" experts stated flatly. The day of the launching of the "Mahlon Betts", the sailing schooner with an iron hull, became a day of almost national importance. Dignitaries from many walks of life journeyed to the Pusey and Jones shipbuilding yards to witness this unheard of attempt. The sober shaking of heads was a common sight among the crowds that spilled across the yards and clambered up on scaffold rigging to catch a better glimpse of the pending event. As the keel blocks were knocked our under the blows of sledges, the huge, iron-hulled vessel lumbered stern first down the ways and slid into the water with a gushing roar that set up huge waves. Then cheers swept the crowd. The "Mahlon Betts" floated majestically in the waters of the Christina River. It was a monumental tribute to the men who had believed it possible, and had carried that idea through to completion. Pusey and Jones marine engineers now had concrete evidence that a body capable of displacing its own weight in water could float anywhere, regardless of whether it was made of iron or wood.



SHIPS BUILT BY PUSEY & JONES:

Vessel HULL# BUILT TYPE Length-Breadth-Depth TONS
Oldin # 1 1851 Wood-Sidewheel 120 x 22 x 6
Spray # 2 1852 Wood-Sidewheel 120 x 22 x 6
James Porter # 3 1852 Wood-Sidewheel 120 x 22 x 6
Flora McDonald # 4 1853 Iron-Sidewheel 120 x 22 x 6 150T
U.S. Treat # 5 1853 Wood-Propeller 80 x 17 x 8
Caledonia # 6 1854 Iron-Propeller 90 x 18 x 6 200T
Marlon Betts # 7 1854 Iron-hulled Schooner unknown
Queen # 8 1854 wooden side-wheeler 125 x 26 x 8
J W Bass # 9 1854 Propeller 100 x 20 x 8
Diamond State #10 1854 Propeller 115 x 22 x 8
Robi Waterman #11 1856 Iron Propeller 137 x 26 x 8 400T
J L Pusey #12 1857 Iron Propeller 75 x 16 x 7
Southern Star #13 1858 Wood Propeller 180 x 28 x 10
Delaware #14 1858 Iron Propeller 79 x 18 x 8
Rapidan #15 1858 Iron Propeller 77 x 18 x 8
Tuscaeoea #16 1859 Iron Propeller 115 x 19 x 8
Mary #17 1859 Iron Propeller 68 x 16 x 6
Mount Vernon #18 1859 Iron Propeller 180 x 29 x 16
Monticello #19 1859 Iron Propeller 180 x 29 x 16
E O Sewell #20 1859 Iron Sidewheel 80 x 16 x 5
E Chamberlain #21 1860 Iron Propeller 90 x 16 x 8
J F Starr #22 1860 Iron Propeller 80 x 17 x 8
A P Huet #23 1860 Iron Sternwheel 100 x 17 x 4
General Foures #24 1861 Wood Propeller 120 x 22 x 6
James Peterway #25 1861 Wood Sidewheel 115 x 19 x 5
Capi Lee #26 1861 Wood Sidewheel 75 x 18 x 5
unknown #27 1861 unknown unknown
unknown #28 1861 unknown unknown
Joseph Baker #29 1862 Wood Propeller 70 x 16 x 6
Junita #30 1862 Wood Propeller 200 x 32 x 16
Geo Washington #31 1862 Wood Propeller 210 x 32 x 17
Geo Cromwell #32 1862 Wood Propeller 210 x 32 x 17
Boston #33 1862 Wood Propeller 80 x 16 x 6
J K Kirkman #34 1862 Wood-Propeller 76 x 18 x 6
Empire #35 1862 Wood-Propeller 180 x 26 x 8
Fankee #36 1863 Wood propeller 180 x 30 x 16
Wyalusing #37 1863 Wood-Propeller 250 x 33 x 12
Mingo #38 1863 Iron-Propeller 250 x 33 x 12
Delaware #39 1863 Wood Propeller 75 x 16 x 7
Tamaulipas #40 1863 Iron-Sidewheel 160 x 34 x 6
Tappahannock #41 1863 Wood Propeller 150 x 28 x 10
Pontiac #42 1863 Wood Propeller 92 x 19 x 8
Wawaset #43 1863 Wood Sidewheel 125 x 28 x 7
Ella #44 1863 Wood Propeller 60 x 15 x 5
Chesapeake #45 1863 Iron Propeller 76 x 16 x 7
Gov Curtin #46 1863 Wood Propeller 80 x 17 x 8
Alice #47 1863 Wood Propeller 120 x 22 x 10
Francis #48 1863 Wood unknown 130 x 24 x 10
S Cloud #49 1863 Wood Sidewheel 150 x 26 x 10 120T
Christiana #50 1863 Wood Propeller 110 x 22 x 9
Pilgrim #51 1864 Iron unknown 119 x 21 x 8
Stanton #52 1864 Wood unknown 175 x 18 x 10
Wells #53 1864 Iron unknown 175 x 18 x 10
Foote #54 1864 Woodunknown 175 x 18 x 10
Porter #55 1864 unknown 175 x 18 x 10
unknown #56 1864 unknown unknown
Columbia #57 1864 unknown unknown
Anne #58 1864 Wood Sidewheel 120 x 22 x 6
Katie Wise #59 1865 Wood Sidewheel 120 x 22 x 6
Juan Modento #60 1865 Wood Sidewheel 120 x 22 x 6
Two Boys #61 1865 Wood Sidewheel 120 x 22 x 6 110T
CS Mardee #62 1865 Wood Sidewheel 120 x 22 x 6 150T
ZB Vance #63 1866 Wood Sidewheel 120 x 22 x 6 150T
Gov Worth #64 1866 Wood Sidewheel 120 x 22 x 6 150T
Sophia Esperelda #65 1866 Wood-Sidewheel 120 x 22 x 6 100T
Fairona #66 1866 Wood-Sidewheel 120 x 22 x 6 80T
Falcon #67 1866 Wood-Sidewheel 120 x 22 x 6
Guayas #68 1866 Iron-Sidewheel 120 x 22 x 6 90T
Basa #69 1866 Iron-Sidewheel 65 x 18 x 5
OS North State #70 1866 Iron sternwheel 45 x 9 x 4
unknown #71 1854 canoe 45 x 9 x 8
Bay Ridge #72 1866 Wood-Sidewheel 120 x 22 x 6
Katie #73 1866 Wood Sidewheel 120 x 22 x 6 280T
Argus #74 1867 Wood Sidewheel 120 x 22 x 6
Coquette #75 1867 Wood Sidewheel 120 x 22 x 6
Brunette #76 1867 Iron Propeller 133 x 23 x 5 500T
Guama #77 1867 Wood Sidewheel 120 x 22 x 6 200T
Moju #78 1867 Wood Sidewheel 120 x 22 x 6 200T
Fanita #79 1867 Iron Propeller 163 x 26 x 9
Florence #80 1867 Wood Sidewheel 120 x 22 x 6
Anajas #81 1867 Iron Sidewheel 155 x 26 x 8 300T
D Murchison #82 1869 Iron Sternwheel 120 x 20 x 5 150T
Tambo #83 1869 Iron Sidewheel 138 x 28 x 7
Nutrias #84 1869 Iron Sidewheel 136 x 23 x 6 160T
North State #85 1870 Wood Sidewheel 120 x 22 x 6
Tambo #86 1870 Wood Sidewheel 120 x 22 x 6
Rosa #87 1870 Wood Sidewheel 120 x 22 x 6
Amazonas #88 1870 Wood Sidewheel 120 x 22 x 6
Mamore #89 1870 Wood Sidewheel 130 x 25 x 6
Rio Branco #90 1870 Iron Sidewheeler 130 x 25 x 6 200T
Grant #91 1871 Iron Propeller 148 x 25 x 10 500T
AD Bache #92 1871 Wood Sidewheel 120 x 22 x 6
Water Boat Peru #93 1871 Wood Sidewheel 120 x 22 x 6
San Fernandez #94 1871 Wood Sidewheel 120 x 22 x 6
Joa Augusto #95 1871 Wood Sidewheel 120 x 22 x 6 380T
Leon #96 1871 Wood Sidewheel 120 x 22 x 6 30T
Estella #97 1871 Wood Sidewheel 120 x 22 x 6 30T
Miranda #98 1871 Wood Sidewheel 120 x 22 x 6 30T
Quadra #99 1871 Wood Sidewheel 120 x 22 x 6 30T
Fortelesa #100 1871 Iron Sidewheel 130 x 23 x 8 250T
New Orleans #101 1871 Iron Propeller 249 x 33 x 27 1600
Pulaski #102 1871 Wood Sidewheel 120 x 22 x 6
Texera and Ruiz #103 1871 Wood Sidewheel 120 x 22 x 6
Mario #104 1872 Wood Sidewheel 120 x 22 x 6 90T
Wrightsville #105 1872 Wood Sidewheel 120 x 22 x 6 100T
Cora Staples #106 1872 Wood Propeller 106 x 22 x 10
Andira #107 1872 Wood Sidewheel 120 x 22 x 6 400T
Maggie #108 1872 Wood Sidewheel 120 x 22 x 6 30T
Victor #109 1872 Wood Sidewheel 120 x 22 x 6 30T
hull only #110 1872 Wood Sidewheel 120 x 22 x 6
Knickerbocker #111 1873 Iron Propeller 256 x 33 x 27 1800T
Isabella #112 1873 Iron Propeller 40 x 10 x 5 40T
Quito #113 1873 Wood Sidewheel 70 x 17 x 6 70T
Arjan #114 1873 Wood Sidewheel 160 x 26 x 8 400T
Barao de Deff #115 1873 Iron sidewheeler 120 x 22 x 6 220T
Juria #116 1873 Iron Sidewheel 150 x 26 x 8
Hudson #117 1873 Iron propeller 280 x 34 x 26 2000T
Alert #118 1874 Wood Propeller 105 x 22 x 7
El Uribante #119 1874 Iron Sidewheel 130 x 25 x 6 300T
Eaglet #120 1874 Wood Propeller 159 x 23 x 8
Monarch #121 1875 Wood Propeller 110 x 27 x 13
Francia Elena #122 1875 Iron sternwheeler 156 x 30 x 6 800T
Defiance #123 1875 Wood Propeller 161 x 23 x 8
Tacoma #124 1875 Wood propeller 132 x 23 x 14
Guayaquil #125 1876 Iron sidewheel 90 x 17 x 6 200T
unknown #126 1875 Iron Propeller 50 x 12 x 5
Hamilton #127 1876 Wood launch 45 x 11 x 5
Launch #128 1876 Wood Sidewheel 30 x 7 x 3
Newark #129 1876 Wood sidewheeler 292 x 40 x 10
Arapix #130 1876 Iron Sidewheel 140 x 23 x 8 220T
Columbia #131 1876 Iron sidewheel 104 x 7 x 6 130T
Wide West #132 1876 Wood Sternwheel 216 x 39 x 9
Gene Narimo #133 1877 Iron Propeller 75 x 17 x 8 100T
Gene Maza #134 1877 Iron Propeller 75 x 17 x 8 100T
Tocantins #135 1877 Iron Sidewheel 146 x 23 x 8
Don Juan #136 1877 Iron sidewheel 60 x 17 x 5 80T
Chimborazo #137 1877 Iron Sidewheel 90 x 18 x 6 190T
unknown #138 1877 Iron sidewheel 60 x 12 x 4 2000T
Victor #139 1877 Iron sidewheel 65 x 16 x 5
Gen Padilla #140 1877 Iron Propeller 75 x 17 x 8 180T
El Progress #141 1877 Iron Sidewheel 150 x 28 x 7 350T
Tho & Clyde #142 1878 Iron Sidewheel 210 x 30 x 9 680T
unknown #143 1878 Iron sidewheel 150 x 30 x 6
Fronteca #144 1878 Iron Propeller 100 x 18 x 8
Cabarien #145 1878 Wood side wheel 130 x 22 x 8
El Liberator #146 1878 Iron Propeller 45 x 11 x 5 90T
unknown #147 1879 Iron dredge 60 x 22 x 5
Caqueta #148 1879 Iron sidewheel 120 x 24 x 6
Yolinia #149 1879 Steel stern wheel 100 x 24 x 4 200T
Brigantine #150 1879 Steel sternwheel 60 x 15 x 3
Hor de Mayo #151 1879 Iron sheathed propeller 120 x 20 x 11
Olnedo #152 1879 Iron Propeller 90 x 18 x 6
Fish Hawk #153 1879 Iron sheathed twin screw 147 x 27 x 11 400T
HB Plant #154 1879 Iron Sidewheel 136 x 24 x 7
Meteor #155 1879 Iron Propeller 95 x 18 x 9
Mexico #156 1879 Iron Propeller 128 x 22 x 10
unknown #157 1879 Iron side wheel 80 x 9 x 4
El Once #158 1879 Steel stern wheel 120 x 24 x 4 220T
unknown #159 1879 Steel sternwheel 40 x 10 x 3
No 48 #160 1880 Iron sheathed light ship 111 x 26 x 12
unknown #161 1880 Iron sidewheel 60 x 12 x 4
unknown #162 1880 Iron sidewheel 80 x 17 x 5
Trombetab #163 1880 Iron side wheel 160 x 25 x 9 480T
Tapajos #164 1880 Iron sidewheel 160 x 27 x 9 490T
unknown #165 1880 Iron framed lighter 58 x 28 x 6 190T
San Andres Turtle #166 1880 Iron side wheel 128 x 23 x 8 2000T
Victor #167 1880 Iron propeller 30 x 7 x 5
Trombetab #168 1880 Iron Lighter 40 x 18 x 4 180T



In the field of shipbuilding, starting back in 1851, ships of many types, weight, and design were launched from the shipyards at Pusey and Jones. Pusey & Jones became the largest builder of ships on the east coast of that time. From the early sidewheel gunboats used during the Civil War, to the steamers which still ply the river waters of several South American countries, to the sleek palatial yachts still cruising through the Caribbean, Pusey and Jones built ships that frequently made the news. During World War I and World War II, the shipbuilding facilities of Pusey and Jones established peak records in turning our cargo vessels for the US Government.



The New Orleans and her Sisterships


Steamship New Orleans
(Photo courtesy of Hagley Museum Library, Wilmington, Delaware)

Built 1872: 1564 gross tons, 1017 net tons, 240 x 33 x 26.9
Iron hulled, two-masted, steam-powered, schooner built by Pusey and Jones Shipbuilders
(Hull #101) was built for H B Cromwell Company (later the Cromwell Steamship Lines)
Single cylinder condensing engine (Engine #350) 48" diameter, 60" stroke, Two boilers
 

Steamship Knickerbocker
(Photo courtesy of Hagley Museum Library, Wilmington, Delaware)

Built in 1873: 1642 gross tons, 1140 net tons, 256 x 33.6 x 25.3
Iron hulled two-masted, steam-powered schooner built by Pusey and Jones Shipbuilders
(Hull #111) was built for Clark & Seaman (The Cromwell Steamship Line)
Single cylinder condensing engine (Engine #380), 44" diameter, 72" stroke, Four boilers


Steamship Hudson
(Photo courtesy of Hagley Museum Library, Wilmington, Delaware)

Built in 1874: 1182 gross tons, 1309 net tons, 280 x 34.4 x 25.9
Iron hulled two-masted steampowered schooner built by Pusey and Jones Shipbuilders
(Hull #117), built for Clark & Seaman (The Cromwell Steamship Line)
Single cylinder condensing engine (Engine #410), 48" diameter, 72 stroke"



Copyright 2003 Bill Medford
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