Born in Beverly, MA 29 March 1795, Nathaniel Webber enlisted as a boy in the war of 1812 and served in the Massachusetts militia, achieving the rank of Sargeant. His parents died when he was a boy and he lived with a cousin who treated him badly, so he ran away to sea, so the legend goes. He was the captain of or sailed on the ships Tradewind, Washington, President, Mary Melville, Diadem and Triton, brig Brilliant, brig Wishicon, brig Armadillo, Tartar, Osprey traveling all over the world. He served on the privateer Favorite during the War of 1812. He captained the Tradewind (designed by Jacob Bell) to a record 103 day voyage from New York to San Francisco in the 1850's, competing against the famous Donald McKay designed Flying Cloud. When it burned, he found another ship due to seaman's superstition and it eventually sank in years later. His daughter, Jeannie and husband Oliver Ketcham Sammis, were possibly married aboard ship, but haven't been able to substantiate this. His wife, Sarah Frances Mayer, was born in England and apparently reportedly christened in Westminster Abbey, but no record exists. Their marriage certificate says they were married 16 March 1824 in St. Andrew by the Wardrobe, a part of London. His death certificate says he was born in Beverly, Massachusetts, occupation sea captain, lived in Brooklyn, NY 30 years, living at #48 Hunter St., 7th ward, cause of death chronic diarrhea, existing for 12 months before death.
Born in Beverly, MA 29 March 1795, Nathaniel Webber enlisted as a boy in the war of 1812 and served in the Massachusetts militia, achieving the rank of Sargeant. His parents died when he was a boy and he lived with a cousin who treated him badly, so he ran away to sea, so the legend goes. He was the captain of or sailed on the ships Tradewind, Washington, President, Mary Melville, Diadem and Triton, brig Brilliant, brig Wishicon, brig Armadillo, Tartar, Osprey traveling all over the world. He served on the privateer Favorite during the War of 1812. He captained the Tradewind (designed by Jacob Bell) to a record 103 day voyage from New York to San Francisco in the 1850's, competing against the famous Donald McKay designed Flying Cloud. When it burned, he found another ship due to seaman's superstition and it eventually sank in years later. His daughter, Jeannie and husband Oliver Ketcham Sammis, were possibly married aboard ship, but haven't been able to substantiate this. His wife, Sarah Frances Mayer, was born in England and apparently reportedly christened in Westminster Abbey, but no record exists. Their marriage certificate says they were married 16 March 1824 in St. Andrew by the Wardrobe, a part of London. His death certificate says he was born in Beverly, Massachusetts, occupation sea captain, lived in Brooklyn, NY 30 years, living at #48 Hunter St., 7th ward, cause of death chronic diarrhea, existing for 12 months before death.
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