• 
• 
• 
• 

Research Page for Barkentine Jane A. Falkinburg

 

Registration for Jane A. Falkinburg (Mystic Seaport: New York Maritime Register, 1958)

Boston Daily Evening Transcript Ship Passenger Lists Port of Boston ..... 1854

September 6, 1854 (Wednesday)
"In the Jane A. Falkinburg (Chas. A. Falkinburg, N. Winsor, Jr., and Co.), for San Francisco, Mrs. Falkinburg, (captain's wife), Mrs. C. McCleur, Mrs. Ann McCleur, Mr. Jno. McCleur, Mr. M. McCleur, and Master E. McCleur, of Fairhaven."

I found the following on the website: The Virtual Museum of the City of San Francisco.

Further exploration has revealed that the index of SF Genealogy contains reference to Jane A. Falkinburg and Charles Falkinburg. This is not an on-line resource, but merely an on-line index: http://sfgenealogy.com/sf/schellens/sff1.htm

I found the following information re the Jane A. Falkinburg (http://www.zpub.com/sf/history/lola/Bc1856.doc)

Hillman Shipyard

The Jane A. Falkinburg was buit in New Bedford by the Hillman Shipyard which was located in New Bedford, MA. The shipyard was owned by Jethro and Zachariah Hillman.

The dimensions of the vessel are listed in the Hillman Shipyard Collection

A reference found on Google Books: Chronicles of the Builders of the Commonwealth By Hubert Howe Bancroft p. 366 indicates that the California and Oregon Packet Line to Portland  owned the Jane A. Falkinburg.

The following is from an Ancestry.com querry from David Absalom re Jane A. Falkinburg:

"Capt. Charles A. FALKINBURG: Seeking any information regarding Capt. Charles A. FALKENBURG or FALKINBURG who had a clipper barkentine built in New Bedford in 1854 and sailed to San Farancisco. Although he was a native of New Jersey, he may have been master of a New Bedford vessel in 1850-1852 because the New Bedford newspapers were supposedly given notice when Capt. FALKINBURG died in 1856 at San Francisco Harbor. I believe he may have made his residence in New Bedford or thereabouts in the period 1848-1852. Perhaps he was listed local business directories."

Another posting by David Absalom

Seeking information on the barkentine Jane A. Falkinburg. Built about 1854 somewhere on the East Coast, USA by Capt. Charles Falkinburg. It was first barkentine to pass the Horn and sail Pacific waters. It was placed in East Indies trade, home port San Francisco. 1856, Capt. Falkinburg died and vessell was commanded by Thomas W. Badger of East Oakland. In 1887 she ran aground at Humboldt Bay, was feared lost but refloated and placed back in service. It continued in coastal trade and was still in service 1891.

Would like to know final disposition of vessel and any other history.

From Magellen Database

http://www.cimorelli.com/cgi-bin/magellanscripts/ship_bio1.asp?ShipName=Jane

http://www.cimorelli.com/cgi-bin/magellanscripts/

Citation: Tacoma Public Library

Jane A. Falkenberg
The Jane A. Falkenberg sailing from Honolulu to Astoria in twelve days, making a record which is still unbroken. E. W. Wright, Organization of Pacific Coast S. S. Co., Fierce Competition on Ocean Routes, Lewis & Dryden's Marine History of the Pacific Northwest. New York: Antiquarian Press, Ltd., 1961., p.255.
Citation: Tacoma Public Library

Jane A. Falkenberg (barkentine)
Lewis and Dryden's Marine History of the Pacific Northwest, p. 67. Arthur Throckmorton, Oregon Argonauts, merchant adventurers on the western front, p. 214, 301. Stranded on Clatsop Spit in 1872, Refloated. Gibbs, Pacific Graveyard, p. 170.
Citation: Tacoma Public Library

Jane A. Falkenberg (barkentine)
An important addition to the fleet in the Northwest this year was the barkentine Jane A. Falkenberg, which was bought by Capt. George Flavel. The Falkenberg had been running to the Columbia in the lumber trade, and, while Flavel was sailing his old schooner Halcyon up and down the coast, he often looked with envious eyes on the clipper that was never known to make a slow passage. Flavel had made considerable money with the Halcyon, carrying ice from Vancouver to San Francisco and bringing back Government freight. Along in the summer he made the owners of the Falkenberg such a good offer that they turned the vessel over to him. She arrived at Portland the first time in command of her new owner September 29th, with 530 tons of freight, which, according to the Oregonian, was the largest cargo that had ever been brought to Oregon. The same paper also paid a glowing tribute to Captain Flavel for his enterprise and ability as a navigator. The barkentine Jane A. Falkenberg was built at New Bedford in 1854, and came
Citation: Tacoma Public Library

Jane A. Falkenberg (steamer)
Among the fast passages of the Northwestern fleet were those of the Jane A. Falkenberg from Honolulu to Astoria in a few hours less than thirteen days. E. W. Wright, Loss of the 'Pacific,' New Transportation Companies on the Willamette and Columbia, Lewis & Dryden's Marine History of the Pacific Northwest. New York: Antiquarian Press, Ltd., 1961., p.237.
Citation: Tacoma Public Library

Jane A.falkenberg (barkentine)
American barkentine, 310 tons, stranded on Clatsop Spit in 1872. At first it was feared that she would be lost, but determined salvage efforts were rewarded, and the vessel was eventually refloated from her sandy perch. She was built at New Bedford in 1854, and came to the Pacific Coast the following year. She had clipper lines and seldom made a slow passage. Shortly after her arrival on the coast she was purchased by Captain George Flavel. James A. Gibbs, Jr. Pacific Graveyard. A narrative of the ships lost where the Columbia River meets the Pacific Ocean. Portland: Binfords and Mort, 1950, p. 153-190
Citation: Tacoma Public Library

Jane A.falkenburg
1872 Aground on Clatsop Spit. Hauled off with no danger. Don Marshall, Ship disasters, Cape Falcon to Cape Disappointment, Oregon Shipwrecks. 1984, p. 127-34.
Citation: Tacoma Public Library

Jane Falkenburg (barkentine)
November, 1899 Barkentine,137'x29.7'x 11.9'. Built at New Bedford in 1854, she came west the following year. The trip took 115 days and gave the captain an idea as to how fast she really was. She made her first trip to Manila in 39 days, beating the famous clipper Flying Fish by 7 days. Captain Falkenburg was killed in San Francisco in February, 1856 and the ship was purchased by Captain George Flavel of Astoria. In 1861 he expertly guided her in a fantastic run of 31/2 days from Astoria to San Francisco. She collided once with the Brother Jonathan on that ship's last trip on the Columbia just prior to her loss. The Jane Falkenburg was a hard-working ship and a great money-maker. On her last voyage from Port Hadlock to San Francisco, the 45 year old vessel just had to give up and quietly slip forever into the encompassing arms of the sea. Don Marshall, Missing at Sea, Oregon Shipwrecks. Portland: Binford and Mort, 1984, p. 183-186.

Mariners and ships in Australian Waters

SARAH ABIGAIL

BRIG OF SAN FRANCISCO, A. FALKINBURG, MASTER, BURTHEN 210 TONS
FROM THE PORT OF SAN FRANCISCO via TAHITI TO PORT JACKSON, NEW SOUTH WALES
26TH DECEMBER 1851

Surname	Given name	Station	Age	Of what Nation	Status	Comments
FALKINBURG	A.	MASTER			CREW	Sailed 30 Oct. & 27 Nov. 1851
17		VARIOUS		VARIOUS	CREW
13					PASSENGERS	CABIN
79					PASSENGERS	STEERAGE

 

The Sarah Abigail set sail for San Francisco from Plymouth MA. Two possibilities: (1) A. Falkinburg is C. A. Falkinburg in the last citation. (2) Charles Falkinburg purchased the Sarah Abigail and continued on to Hawaii. Look for Sarah Abigail return to Plymouth or Boston.

Other References

Abner H. Davis (an investor in the J.A. Falkinburg) (History of Bristol County, Massachusetts)

The Jane A. Falkinburg is referenced in the Sou'wester, published by the Pacific County Historical Society and Museum (issue: 6/4/64; listed in index as Jane A. Falkenburg)

Barnstable and Yarmouth, sea captains and ship owners (Documents the sailing and arrival date of the J.A. Falkenburg)

Return to Research Pages Menu

Close this window to return to Falkenburg History