BILL OF SALE SCHOONER CLEOPATRA'S BARGE BUILT 1830

AUTHENTIC BILL OF SALE CLEOPTRA'S BARGE Dated 25 July 1843

Presented is the original Bill of Sale, approximately 10" W x 16 1/2" T, of the Schooner Cleopatra's Barge of Dennis, MA dated June 25, 1843. It is printed below in its entirety so that the names of both the consortium of sellers and the buyer, Barnabas Baker, Jr. of Dennis, MA, and all other pertinent details can be interpreted from this listing.     The original Cleopatra's Barge was America's first deep water sailing yacht having crossed the Atlantic on an early voyage. She was a 192 tonn hermaphrodite brig, 83 feet long, 22-foot beam, square stern, two decks. Built by shipmaster George Crowninshield Jr. in nearby Salem, MA in 1816, she was designed for pleasure at a cost of $100000.00 compared to the $4000.00 of a merchant vessel of similar size. Her fittings and decorations were suggestive of a small palace. The gaily painted and meant-to-be-noticed vessel was enjoyed for only one transatlantic voyage before the owner's death on board. In 1820, she was sold to King Kamehameha II of Hawaii, renamed Pride of Hawaii, and served as the Royal Hawaiian yacht. Four years later, the vessel grounded on a reef in Hanalei Bay, island of Kauai, and sank.   Likely, there is no connection between these two vessels other than there both hailing from Massachusetts around the same time, but the name alone makes this a worthwhile and historic collectable. CONDITION:  Excellent overall condition. The paper is creased as it was stored folded for years. It is somewhat brittle and has that tan and faded look of old penmanship. The printing is sharp and clear and the signatures are well defined, but in some cases difficult to make out because of the highly stylized penmanship.  The paper is slightly irregular in dimensions and the printing and written words have a slight slant. There are a couple of small holes, and short tears along the top edge. The document has been recently framed using archival mounting procedures and has an important and pleasing look.

THE DOCUMENT:

To all People to whom this present Bill of Sale shall come,  Barnabas Baker Jr of Dennis, Mass. Send Greetings, Know Ye, that the said Barnabas Baker Jr. for and in the consideration of the sum of Twelve Hundred Dollars to me in hand well and truly paid, at or before the ensealing and delivery of these presents by Ebenezer Wheelden Jr, Wm. Snow Nathan Nickerson Avery L Nichols, & Almond Rogers all of  Orrington, Maine the receipt whereof I do hereby  acknowledge, and  am therewith fully and entirely satisfied and contented, have granted, bargained and sold, and by these presents do grant, bargain and sell, unto the said Ebenezer Wheelden Jr. and others above named, all the Hull or body of the good Sch. Cleopatra’s Barge together with all and singular her Boats, Sails, Tackle, Apparel and Furniture.

 

    … now at So. Orrington and Registered at the Port of New York the Certificate of whose Registry is as follows, viz.

 

“In pursuance of an Act of the Congress of the United States of America, entitled “An Act concerning the registering and recording of ships or vessels,”  Orin Lewis of Dennis  State of Massachusetts 

 

Having taken and subscribed the Oath required by the said Act; and having sworn that Barnabas Baker Jr. of said place is the

 

Only owner of the ship or vessel called the Cleopatra’s Barge of Dennis whereof said Orin Lewis is at present Master, and is the citizen of the United States, as he hath sworn and that the said ship or vessel was built at North Hampton County State Virginia in the year (1830  Eighteen Hundred Thirty as per Enrolememnt No. 138 issued at the Port of Barnstable on 19^th September  1840 now cancelled, before proceeding on a foreign voyage

 

Having  certified that said ship or vessel has one deck and two masts and that her length is sixty nine feet four inches

Her  breadth twenty six feet six inches

Her depth seven feet six inches

And that she measures Ninety Two 28/95th tons:

And that she is a Schooner has a square stern and  a billet head;  and the said Orin Lewis having agreed to the description and admeasurement above specified, and sufficient security having been given according to the said Act, the said Schooner has been duly Registered at the Port of New York

 

Given under Our hand and seal at the Port of New York this fourteenth day of June in the year one thousand eight hundred and forty three

 

To have and to hold the said granted and bargained Schooner and premises, with the appurtenances, unto the said Ebenezer Wheelden Jr and other above named their heirs, executors, administrators or assigns, to their  only proper use, benefit and behoof forever.   And I the said Barnabas Baker Jr  do avouch my self to be the true and lawful owner of the said Schooner Cleopatra’s Barge and her appurtenances, and have in my self full power, good rights and lawful authority to dispose of the said Schooner and her appurtenances,  in manner as aforesaid.  And furthermore, I the said Barnabas Baker Jr. do hereby covenant and agree to warrant and defend the said Schooner and appurtenances against the lawful claims and demands of all persons whatsoever, unto them the said Ebenezer Wheelden Jr. and others

 

In Witness Whereof, I the said have hereunto set my hand and seal the Twenty Fifth day of July in the year of our Lord one thousand eight hundred and forth three

 

Signed, sealed and Delivered in the presence of

 

………. Rogers                              Barnabas Baker Jr

Eliza Wheelden                               by his attorney

                                                      Joseph Baker 4th

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