Tuesday, August 3, 2010

Ozias Bridgham, Ship Captain, born Beddington, Maine, died at sea 1917





Note: In the comments section, a reader has provided many details of the vessels that Ozias Bridgham sailed or was associated with.


Photograph of Ozias Bridgham, who was born 1 July 1860, in Beddington, Maine, the son of Wilmot and Hannah Schoppee Bridgham.    He died 26 October 1917, at sea.  This photograph was taken by the Wurst studio, 180 Sixth Avenue, New York.




As you can see, above, there is a date of November 16, 1916.  This was apparently the date that the photograph was taken.  It is not his date of death, which didn't occur until the following year, on  26 October 1917, when he was lost at sea.


The identification gives the first name as Osiah, but that is probably the way the writer heard "Ozias"


The writer also stated that Ozias was Grandma Bridgham's youngest son.  However, he actually had a younger brother, Leander, who died at just over a year in age.  


Ozias' father, Wilmot Bridgham, was born 12 November 1817, in Charleston, Maine, the son of Joseph H. and Margaret Campbell (Bradley) Bridgham.  Ozias' mother, Hannah Schoppee, was born 1 December 1820, in Jonesboro, Maine, the daughter of John and Elsie (Weston) Schoppee.


Interesting that Hannah goes back to Hannah Weston, a Revolutionary War heroine, and Anthony Schoppee, a Hessian, who was one of the 5000 or so who remained in North America after the Revolution.


Ozias Bridgham married Bertha Farnsworth in 1891.  I believe Bertha's parents were Ephraim and Mary (Hatch) Farnsworth.  Ephraim's mother, Mary Polly Schoppee, was a daughter of Anthony Schoppee, and thus a sister to the John Schoppee mentioned above, Ozias' maternal grandfather.  






Ozias and Bertha had three children that I know of: sons Earle Lawrence, Waldo Ephraim and Alfred Harris.   The latter was nicknamed "Jim", the Jim mentioned in the identification on Bertha's photograph, below.






If you have any corrections, additions or insights regarding the information presented here, please leave a comment or contact me directly.  Thanks!


For more information and photos, see the page for Ozias and Bertha Bridgham at the Maine & Maritime Canada Genealogy Network


Map of Beddington, Maine:



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Map of Jonesboro, Maine



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Thanks for stopping by!
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2 comments:

  1. I'm a distant relative of Ozias Bridgham. I have found some detailed information on the ships that Ozias was associated with:

    In 1884, O. B. Bridgham was master of a schooner, the "Dolly Varden", schooner, of Columbia Falls. Official No. 6738, Sig. let. J. L. Q. S. Built at Columbia Falls, 1872, by George S. Farnsworth, master carpenter. 108.48 tons; 84 ft. x 25.5 ft. x 7.15 ft. One deck, two masts, square stern, a billethead. It was owned by eight people. (Machias, ME: Ship Registers and Enrollments of Machias, Maine - 1780-1930, pp. 199-200, www.americanancestors.org)

    In Aug. 1888, O. B. Bridgham was made master of the schooner, "Lizzie," of Harrington, Official No. 14784, Sig. let. H. M. F. P. Built at Harrington, 1864. 105.46 tons; 77 ft, x 23 ft, x 8 ft, One deck, two Masts, square stern, a billethead. (Machias, ME: Ship Registers and Enrollments of Machias, Maine - 1780-1930, pp. 517, 520, www.americanancestors.org)

    In April, 1890, Ozias B. Bridgham of Jonesboro became master of the schooner, "Junietta," of Columbia Falls. Official No. 75631. Built at Columbia Falls, 1874, by John T. Allen, master carpenter. 86.36 gross tons, 82.04 net tons; 74.5 ft. x 23.8 ft. x 6.6 ft. One deck, two masts, elliptic stern, a billethead. (Machias, ME: Ship Registers and Enrollments of Machias, Maine - 1780-1930, pp. 471-472, www.americanancestors.org)

    From Oct, 1890, through at least Aug. 1892, O. D. [sic] Bridgham was a part owner (1/64 share) of the schooner, "Lelia Smith," of East Machias. Official No. 141065, Sig. let. K.H.N.C. Built at East Machias, 1890, by Charles J. Frye, Master carpenter. 264.21 tons; 128.3 ft. x 31.2 ft. x 10.7 ft. One deck, three masts, square stern, a billethead. (Machias, ME: Ship Registers and Enrollments of Machias, Maine - 1780-1930, pp. 503-504, www.americanancestors.org)

    In May, 1893, A. [sic] B. Bridgham was part owner (one of thirteen) of the "Fanny Flint," schooner, of Lubec. Official No. 120052, Sig. let. J. M. N. B. Built at Cutler, 1872. 176.03 tons: 101 ft. x 28.9 ft. x 8.7 ft. One deck, two masts, square stern, a billethead. In September, he became master of the ship. By Nov., 1895, he was no longer an owner. (Machias, ME: Ship Registers and Enrollments of Machias, Maine - 1780-1930, pp. 287-288, www.americanancestors.org)

    From June 1896 through May 1899, O. B. Bridgham was half owner of the schooner, "Ocean Romp," of Machias. Official No. 19116. Built at Westport, 1858, 42.07 tons; 55 ft. x 17 ft. x 7.2 ft. One deck, two masts, square stern, ex billethead. (Machias, ME: Ship Registers and Enrollments of Machias, Maine - 1780-1930, pp. 656-657, www.americanancestors.org)

    From Dec. 1899 through July 1900, O. B. Bridgham was master of the schooner, "Modoc," of Machias, Official No. 91519, Sig. let, J. W. T. H. Built at Columbia Falls, 1882, by George B. Drisko, master carpenter. 180.32 tons; 99.8 ft. x 29.4 ft. x 8,5 ft. One deck, two masts, elliptic stern, a billethead. (Machias, ME: Ship Registers and Enrollments of Machias, Maine - 1780-1930, pp. 613, 616, www.americanancestors.org)

    In 1902, O. B. Bridgham was owner and master of the "ELLEN M. MITCHELL," brig, of Machias. Official No. 135142, Sig. let. J. R. D. N. Built at Machiasport, 1875. by Hiram Seavey, master carpenter. 395.42 gross tons, 375.65 net tons; 132.7 ft. x 33 ft. x 12.5 ft. One deck, two masts, square stern, a billethead., registered at Machias on March 22, 1902. (Machias, ME: Ship Registers and Enrollments of Machias, Maine - 1780-1930, pp. 245, 247, www.americanancestors.org)

    - Joel Bridgham

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  2. Thank you for adding this valuable information! I've edited the post to include a note directing future readers to your comment.

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