The Malcom Brothers on Sea and Land

As I wrote yesterday, the brothers John and Daniel Malcom both became mariners in the middle of the eighteenth century. Here are some of their experiences in the 1750s.

From the 30 Oct 1752 New-York Evening-Post:

HALIFAX, October 14.

On Sunday last a fishing Schooner brought in here Capt. Daniel Malcom and his Men belonging to the Sloop Charming Nancy, from Cork to this Place, whose Cargo consisted chiefly of Sea Coal and Butter, which was cast away at a Place call’d Ship-Harbour, to the Eastward of this Place, where she had put in to avoid the Storm which happen’d on Sunday 7-night [i.e., a week ago]:

She parted her Cables & drove on a Ledge of Rocks, where she stove to pieces in a very little Time; the Men sav’d their Lives by getting on the Rocks, where they tarried 5 Days living upon Butter and Boil’d Dulse (a sort of Sea-Weed) and Cramberrys, which they also boil’d and eat with Butter (without Bread or Meat) ’till they met with said Scooner [sic]; during which Time they sav’d 150 Firkins of Butter and some other Things from the Wreck, which are bro’t in here:

Just before the Vessel struck the Rocks the Captain had put Sixty Guineas into a Purse in order to save them with himself, but upon her striking he jump’d upon Deck and left the Purse and Guineas upon the Table in the Cabbin, which also are lost without any Hopes of Recovery.

Daniel Malcom was undaunted, however. In the 8 Nov 1753 Boston News-Letter he started to advertise “Good Irish BUTTER by the Firkin” for sale at his house on Fish Street. That continued to be his main (public) offering until 1768.

As for older brother John Malcolm, Frank W. C. Hersey wrote: “Litigation was Captain John’s favorite pastime while on shore.”

There might be many stories lurking in the court archives, but the one Hersey told was about a 60-ton sloop called the Sally and Polly. John owned three-eighths of this ship, and Daniel presumably owned the rest. That vessel was lost at sea in 1755 on its way from North Carolina to Cork. (I’ve looked for a newspaper report on this ship with no success.)

Only then did John discover his share of the ship hadn’t been insured. He insisted Daniel had promised to provide coverage.

The two brothers started to take legal action against each other. John swore out writs against Daniel for a total of £155. Daniel responded with a writ for £70.

Finally on 31 July the sheriff of Suffolk County, Benjamin Pollard, sat the Malcoms down and helped them settle their dispute before they wore the constables ragged delivering legal papers.

TOMORROW: The Malcoms go to war (and not with each other).