| He went to sea in 1848 (aged 12) in the fishing vessel Colchester. He served in the brig Valpraiso. In South America he joined the ship Red Gauntlet bound for San Francisco, arriving in 1856. He worked on the Sacramento River for a year. He went to Puget Sound on the bark Ella Francis. He served in the Bark Sarah Warren but left her in San Francisco. He then joined the brig George Emery. In 1859 he arrived on the BC coast after learning about the Fraser River gold rush. With a Mr. Jay he operated a logging operation on Discovery Island 1862-1863 and they built the schooner Discovery in 1863. (He was qualified as a Master Mariner.) He commanded the Discovery and then the Black Diamond. He commanded the Emma, his first steam vessel, later the Grappler. He was the owner-Master of the Beaver in 1874-75. He commanded the Maude in 1879. He served as Master in the CP Navigation Co. in 1883 of the Yosemite, Charmer, Islander and Princess Victoria. He was appointed as a British Columbia Marine Pilot. He was buried in Ross Bay Cemetery in Victoria BC. |
