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The Fleets
Merchants & Miners Transportation
Co.
Founded in Baltimore in 1852 to operate a cargo and passenger
steamship line between Baltimore and Boston, Mass. The service initally
operated with two wooden hulled side wheelers, but in 1859 built two
iron hulled steamers to augment services and extended services to call
at Providence, Rhode Island. Services were disrupted by the American
Civil War, but resumed in 1864. After a period of decline after the war,
the company slowly recovered and by 1869 were able to order a new ship.
Further ships were built in the 1870s
and in 1876 the Baltimore & Savannah SS Co. was purchased which allowed the company
to enter the cotton trade between Savannah, Charleston and New York. The company
expanded in the 1880s and added several new ports of call including Newport News
and Norfolk to their routes. In 1900 a Philadelphia - Savannah service was started
and in 1907 the Winsor Line of Philadelphia was purchased with their fleet of
seven steamers. A new route between Baltimore and Jacksonville commenced in 1909
and in 1920 a service was initiated to Havana, Cuba, but this was discontinued
after about a year. A service to Nassau, Bahamas started in 1939, but on the
entry of the United Stated into World War II in 1941, most of the company's ships
were requisitioned for war duty. Limited services continued, but after the war,
it was not considered financially viable to re-purchase ships which had been
sold to the Government or to build new ships and in 1948 it was decided to cease
trading. The company was officially liquidated in 1952.
Many thanks to Ted Finch for his assistance in collecting this data.
The following list was extracted from various sources. This is not an
all inclusive list but should only be used as a guide. If you would like
to know more about a vessel, visit the Ship
Descriptions (onsite) or Immigrant
Ship web site.
Fleet:
Vessel |
Built |
Years in Service |
Tons |
Alleghany (1) |
1881 |
1898 chartered to US Army, 1907 converted to freighter,
1915 sold to Cuyamel Fruit Co. renamed
Copan. |
2,014 |
Alleghany (2) |
1923 |
1941 requisitioned by US Government renamed American Seafarer. |
5,486 |
America |
1863 |
1869 purchased from Wakeman, Gookin & Co, 1879 traded to
Harlan & Hollingsworth toward new steamer, sold to Central Vermont
R.R. |
781 |
Aries |
1862 |
built in England as blockade runner, 1863 captured
by USS STETTIN, renamed USS Aries for US Navy. 1907 purchased with
Winsor Line, 1908 scrapped. |
na |
Benjamin Deford |
1859 |
1861 chartered to War Dep't, 1864 sold to War
Dep't, 1865 sold to Empire Line renamed San Jacinto. |
1,100 |
Berkshire (1) |
1881 |
1898 chartered to US Army, 1918 sold to American Star Line. |
2,014 |
Berkshire (2) |
1923 |
1942 requisitioned by US Government renamed American Engineer. |
5,486 |
Blackstone |
1868 |
1869 purchased from George Appold, 1889 sold to George Rooney
converted to barge. |
1,147 |
Chatham (1) |
1884 |
1898 sold to US Navy renamed USS Vulcan, 1899 repurchased
reverted to Chatham, 1910 stranded at entrance to St. Johns River,
Florida, scrapped. |
2,729 |
Chatham (2) |
1926 |
1941 requisitioned by US Government, 1942 torpedoed and
sunk in Belle Isle Strait. |
5,649 |
Cretan |
1882 |
1907 purchased with Winsor Line, 1927 scrapped. |
2,351 |
Decatur H. Miller |
1879 |
1898 chartered to US Army, 1903 lengthened
and renamed Merrimack, 1926 scrapped. |
2,296 |
Dorchester (1) |
1889 |
1927 scrapped. |
2,535 |
Dorchester (2) |
1926 |
1941 requisitioned by US Government, 1942 torpedoed and
sunk in North Atlantic; loss of 675 lives. |
5,649 |
Essex |
1890 |
1941 sold to White Pearl Shipping Co., wrecked near Block
Island. |
3,018 |
Fairfax (1) |
1891 |
1898 wrecked Cuttyhunk Island, Buzzards Bay. |
2,551 |
Fairfax (2) |
1926 |
1941 requisitioned by War Shipping Administration, 1946
sold to China renamed Chung Hsing. |
5,649 |
Frederick |
|
1904 see Hudson 1874. |
|
Fung Shuey |
1864 |
1864 sold for a New York - New Orleans service. |
1,004 |
George Appold |
1864 |
1889 wrecked Montauk Point, NY. |
1,370 |
Gloucester |
1893 |
1936 scrapped. |
2,541 |
Grecian |
1900 |
1907 purchased with Winsor Line, 1932 sunk in collision
with s/s CITY OF CHATTANOOGA off Block Island. |
2,827 |
Howard |
1895 |
1942 sold to United Fruit Co.,
Honduran flag. |
3,581 |
Hudson |
1874 |
1900 purchased from Cromwell Line,
1904 renamed Frederick, 1910 laid up, 1915 sold to United States
SS Co. |
1,872 |
Indian |
1890 |
1907 purchased with Winsor Line, 1928 scrapped. |
2,110 |
Irwin |
1918 |
ex- Santa Cecilia, 1936 purchased from Panama Mail SS Co.,
renamed Irwin, 1941 requisitioned by US Army as troop transport renamed
John L. Clem, later hospital ship, 1948 scrapped. |
4,900 |
Itasca |
|
1896 see William Crane 1871 |
|
Johns Hopkins |
1873 |
1889 burned at Baltimore, wreck sold and rebuilt as schooner
barge Alabama. |
1,470 |
Joseph Whitney |
1854 |
1861 chartered to War
Department renamed McClellan, 1867 returned to M & M but retained
name, 1888 sold to Thames River Towing Co., converted to barge.
|
1,003 |
Juniata |
1897 |
1942 sold to United Fruit Co.,
Honduran flag. |
3,464 |
Kent |
1918 |
ex- Santa Teresa, 1936 purchased from Panama Mail SS Co.,
renamed Kent, 1941 requisitioned by US Army as troop transport renamed
Ernest Hinds. 1942 became USS Kent, 1942 reverted to Ernest Hinds,
1957 scrapped. |
4,858 |
Kershaw |
1899 |
1920 burned and capsized at Baltimore, salved and converted
to freighter, 1928 sunk in collision with s/s PRESIDENT GARFIELD
in Martha's Vineyard Sound. |
2,599 |
Lexington (1) |
1877 |
ex- City of Macon, 1902 purchased from Savannah Line renamed
Lexington, 1918 sold to Northern Transportation Co. |
2,092 |
Lexington (2) |
1920 |
ex- Lake Fandango, 1933 purchased from US Shipping Board renamed
Lexington, 1941 sold to Norlasco SS Co., renamed Norlantic, 1942
torpedoed and sunk off Bonaire. |
2,606 |
McClellan |
|
1867 see Joseph Whitney 1854. |
|
Merrimack (1) |
|
1903 see Decatur H. Miller 1879. |
|
Merrimack (2) |
1920 |
ex- Lake Floris, 1933 purchased from US Army Corps of Engineers
who had been using her for Mississippi flood control work renamed
Merrimack, 1942 requisitioned by War Shipping Admin, 1942 torpedoed
and sunk off Mexico. |
2,606 |
Nantucket |
1919 |
ex- Fargo, 1933 purchased from US Shipping Board renamed Nantucket,
1942 requisitioned by War Shipping Admin., 1946 sold to China Merchants
S.N. Co., renamed Hai Hsiang. |
2,606 |
New Orleans |
1872 |
1899 purchased from H. B. Cromwell & Co., 1915 sold to Boca
Grande SS Co. |
1,564 |
Ontario |
1904 |
1941 sold to United Fruit Co.,
Honduran flag. |
3,099 |
Parthian |
1887 |
1907 purchased with Winsor Line, 1917 sold to Pennsylvania
Sugar Co. |
1,683 |
Persian |
1882 |
1907 purchased with Winsor Line, 1928 scrapped. |
2,677 |
Powhatan |
1894 |
ex- Resolute, 1902 purchased from US Army renamed Powhatan,
1916 sunk in collision with tanker TELENA in Chesapeake Bay, 1917
salved and sold to McCormick & Co. |
2,898 |
Providence |
1920 |
ex- Lake Furnas, 1929 purchased from US Shipping Board renamed
Providence, 1942 sold to North Atlantic & Gulf SS Co., renamed Norindies. |
2,677 |
Quantico (1) |
1882 |
ex- Chattahochee, 1909 purchased from Savannah Line, 1927
scrapped. |
2,676 |
Quantico (2) |
1919 |
ex- Lake Flitch, 1933 purchased from US Army Corps of Engineers
who had been using her for Mississippi flood control work renamed
Quantico, 1942 chartered to Norgulf renamed Norlavore, went missing
(probably torpedoed) after passing Cape Henry. |
2,713 |
Roanoke |
1919 |
ex- Lake Glasco, 1932 purchased from US Shipping Board renamed
Roanoke, 1942 requisitioned by War Shipping Admin., 1945 torpedoed
and sunk in Irish Sea. |
2,606 |
S. R. Spalding |
1859 |
1861 chartered to War Dep't, 1864 sold to War
Dep't, 1865 sold to Empire Line renamed San Salvador. |
1,100 |
Saragossa |
1863 |
1876 purchased from Baltimore & Savannah SS Co., 1886 sold
to J. E. Bell, Baltimore. |
778 |
Somerset |
|
1928 see Suwannee 1911. |
|
State of Texas |
1874 |
1898 purchased from Mallory SS Co., 1905 sold to Seaboard
Transportation Co., NY, converted to schooner barge renamed Idaho. |
1,736 |
Suwannee |
1911 |
1917 sold to Savannah Line renamed
City of Rome, 1928 sold to Sunnyland SS Co., renamed Veramar, 1928
repurchased by M & M renamed Somerset, 1938 scrapped. |
3,648 |
Tuscan |
1907 |
1907 purchased with Winsor Line, 1917 sold to Munson SS
Line, 1922 repurchased by M & M, 1937 scrapped. |
2,415 |
Upshur |
1919 |
ex- Lake Getaway, 1925 purchased from US Shipping Board renamed
Upshur, 1941 requisitioned by War Shipping Administration, 1945 torpedoed
and sunk in Irish Sea. |
2,637 |
Volusia |
1920 |
ex- Lake Glaucus, 1925 purchased from US Shipping Board renamed
Volusia, 1941 chartered to Norgulf renamed Norlindo, 1942 torpedoed
and sunk off Dry Tortugas. |
2,686 |
William Crane |
1871 |
1896 renamed Itasca, 1915 sold to McIntyre Lumber & Export
Co, Mobile. |
1,416 |
William Jenkins |
1855 |
1861 burned at Savannah. |
1,011 |
William Kennedy |
1864 |
1885 broke shaft and sank off North Carolina. |
974 |
William Lawrence |
1869 |
1899 wrecked Port Royal Shoals, South Carolina. |
1,049 |
Wyoming |
1919 |
ex- Lake Galata, 1926 purchased from US Shipping Board renamed
Wyoming, 1941 chartered to Norgulf renamed Norlandia, 1942 torpedoed
and sunk off Dominican Republic. |
2,689 |
York (1) |
1918 |
ex- Lake Helen, 1925 purchased from Consolidated Nav. Corp.,
Baltimore, 1929 sold to Norway renamed Skogvik.
|
1,198 |
York (2) |
1920 |
ex- Lake Gatun, 1929 purchased from US Shipping Board renamed
York, 1941 chartered to Norgulf renamed Norvana, 1942 sold to Norgulf,
torpedoed and sunk off Cape Hatteras. |
2,677 |
|
|
Tugboats |
|
Vessel |
Built |
Years in Service |
Tons |
Apollo |
1895 |
1949 sold to Moran Towing Co., renamed Ned
Moran. |
105 |
Isis |
1915 |
1930 sold to Loveland Co, Philadelphia. |
64 |
Mary |
1896 |
1939 presumed scrapped. |
85 |
Nonpareil |
1917 |
1920 sold. |
167 |
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Last updated: February 03, 2005 and maintained by
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