Narrative History
Note: This narrative was written by an automated research assist, based on source materials which are generally not available to web search and normal AI processes. These include documents and photos I've collected into my local archives, and results from digital catalogs of maritime museums and periodicals shown in the tables below. Send your questions and comments to editor@sailingworkboats.es.
The schooner Levi B. Phillips appears most clearly as a hard-working bay and coastal carrier whose surviving record is unusually visual. Museum records place her repeatedly under sail, at anchor, at Baltimore piers, at Kinsale, and icebound with other Chesapeake sailing vessels in Canton Hollow. These images suggest a vessel still active and recognizable in the 1930s, long after her earlier appearances in produce traffic.
Newspaper notices give the vessel a sharper working profile. In 1898, Levi B. Phillips sailed from Baltimore for the Bahamas with Anna M. Estell to bring back pineapples despite wartime risk; the notice adds that both vessels had already made a trip that season. By 1905 the schooner was still moving produce, with one Baltimore entry placing her from Tarpon Bay with 3,500 dozen pineapples and Bridgeton notices showing her loading and departing with tomatoes in tow of the tug Progress.
The strongest cluster of notices comes from the 1907-1909 pineapple seasons. Levi B. Phillips is listed from Gregorystown with 4,810 dozen pineapples, from Bahama with pineapples, and from Egg Harbor, Bahamas, to Baltimore with a cargo for the Martin Wagner Packing Company. Captain William Bramble was credited with a fast passage of five days and eleven hours, described as the season record in the pineapple trade. A later Florida notice shows the schooner sailing back toward the Bahamas to load again, in company with other vessels engaged in the same trade.
A 1916 Norfolk port movement gives another late working trace, listing Levi B. Phillips, Tyler master, as sailed for Chincoteague. Later photographs show the vessel, or possibly the vessel, in the Patuxent River, at Baltimore, at Kinsale, and in the Dismal Swamp Canal. Taken together, the evidence sketches a schooner that moved between Chesapeake ports, the Bahamas, and the coastal trade routes, carrying fruit and vegetables while remaining part of the older sailing-vessel world visible in mid-twentieth-century Chesapeake photographs.
Timeline
Timeline content is generated by the automated research assistant. It may be truncated, fragmentary, or incomplete, and may require further evaluation.
| Date | Event |
|---|---|
| May 24, 1898 | Sailed from Baltimore for the Bahamas with Anna M. Estell to obtain pineapple cargoes despite wartime risk. |
| June 2, 1905 | Reported from Tarpon Bay with 3,500 dozen pineapples. |
| September 1905 | Loaded tomatoes at Bridgeton-area port and departed for Baltimore in tow of the tug Progress. |
| June-July 1907 | Reported from Gregorystown and Bahama with pineapple cargoes. |
| May 30, 1908 | Arrived from Egg Harbor, Bahamas, with pineapples; Captain Bramble's passage was described as a season record. |
| April 19, 1909 | Sailed from Baltimore for the Bahamas to load pineapples. |
| May 10, 1916 | Listed in Norfolk port movements as sailed for Chincoteague, Tyler master. |
| 1930s-1940 | Photographed at Baltimore, Kinsale, the Dismal Swamp Canal, the Patuxent River, and among vessels icebound in Canton Hollow. |
Footnotes
Note: Many footnotes refer to sources in ESSW archives not available through the website. Contact editor@sailingworkboats.es for more info.
- Chesapeake Bay Maritime Museum records for Levi B. Phillips, including 21 selected photographic records.
- The Washington Post, May 24, 1898, p. 1.
- The Baltimore Sun, June 2, 1905, p. 10.
- The News of Cumberland County, September 25 and 27, 1905.
- The Baltimore Sun, June 7 and July 3, 1907; The Baltimore Sun, May 30, 1908; Honolulu Star-Advertiser, June 9, 1909.
- The Florida Times-Union, April 19, 1909, p. 10.
- Ledger-Star, May 10, 1916, p. 15.
- Curated web item for Levi B. Phillips, The Slips / Facebook, selected for vessel imagery and descriptive comment.
Chesapeake Bay Maritime Museum, Curated Search Results
| Catalog # | Object Name | Title | Artist/Maker | Date Made | Place Made | Description | Full Image | CBMM Cat. Page |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 0000.1134.0036.00 | photographic prints | SCHOONER LEVI B. PHILLIPS AT ANCHOR IN THE PATUXEN | Exact 07/07/1940 - 07/07/1940 | SCHOONER LEVI B. PHILLIPS AT ANCHOR IN THE PATUXENT RIVER; From old Remarks field: NO ANCHOR CABLE VISIBLE Place: PATUXENT RIVER, MD Old Subject Fields: SAIL VESSELS, SCHOONERS | CBMM catalog page | |||
| 0000.1134.0037.00 | photographic prints | SCHOONER LEVI B. PHILLIPS AT ANCHOR IN THE PATUXEN | Exact 07/07/1940 - 07/07/1940 | SCHOONER LEVI B. PHILLIPS AT ANCHOR IN THE PATUXENT RIVER; From old Remarks field: NO ANCHOR CABLE VISIBLE Place: PATUXENT RIVER, MD Old Subject Fields: SAIL VESSELS, SCHOONERS | CBMM catalog page | |||
| 0000.1289.0149.00 | photographic prints | Kinsale Wharf, from a streamboat, with two schoone | Bodine, A. Aubrey __Photographer | Exact 08/31/1931 - 08/31/1931 | No Address __ __Kinsale __Westmoreland __West Yeocomico River __ __VA __22488 __USA | Kinsale Wharf, from a steamboat, with two schooners docked in background; at left is tthe "bald-headed" schooner Elizabeth Ann, the other is Levi B. Phillips. Two schooners named Levi B. Phillips are listed in the Merchant Vessels of the U.S. for 1931; impossible to tell which one this is. For source, see 1289.0114. | CBMM catalog page | |
| 0000.1295.1408.00 | photographic prints | Schooner Levi B. Phillips docked at Pier 6 | Exact 08/29/1933 - | Pier 6 __Pratt Street __Baltimore __ __ __Western Shore __MD | Schooner Levi B. Phillips docked at Pier 6, Pratt Street, Baltimore. Seen from starboard bow; sails furled; steamer State of Virginia in background. Lumber piled on dock at left, but only the ends are visible. For source, see 1295.0001. | CBMM catalog page | ||
| 0000.1295.1409.00 | photographic prints | Schooner Levi B. Phillips docked in Jones Falls | Exact 09/23/1933 - | Jones Falls __ __Baltimore __ __Baltimore Harbor __Western Shore __MD | Schooner Levi B. Phillips docked in Jones Falls, Baltimore. Seen from starboard bow; sails furled; may have a deckload of lumber, but too dark to be sure.. For source, see 1295.0001. | CBMM catalog page | ||
| 0000.1295.1410.00 | photographic prints | Schooner Levi B. Phillips, looking forward on deck | Exact 09/23/1933 - | Schooner Levi B. Phillips, looking forward on deck; piles of lumber on pier, and a few boards on the deck., which looks clean. For source, see 1295.0001. | CBMM catalog page | |||
| 0000.1295.1411.00 | photographic prints | Schooner Levi B. Phillips "tied up at ..wharf" | Schooner Levi B. Phillips "tied up at a Virginia wharf with the Minnie T. Phillips to her port." Sails furled on both vessels, which are seen from their starboard sides. No cargo visible. No date; no specific place. For source, see 1295.0001. | CBMM catalog page | ||||
| 0000.1295.1412.00 | photographic prints | Schooner "possibly Levi B. Phillips" under sail | Exact 07/18/1934 - | __ __ __ __Patapsco River __Western Shore __MD | "Schooner, possibly Levi B. Phillips bound down the Patapsco with a deck load of what may be empty cans." Tarpaulin covers the cargo. Light wind; jib, staysails, foresail and main set. For source, see 1295.0001. | CBMM catalog page | ||
| 0000.1295.1413.00 | photographic prints | Schooner Levi B. Phillips at a dock | Schooner Levi B. Phillips at a dock; sails furled; yawl boat on davits; seen from starboard quarter. No place, no date. For source, see 1295.0001. | CBMM catalog page | ||||
| 0000.1295.1414.00 | photographic prints | Schooner Levi B. Phillips anchored in open water | Schooner Levi B. Phillips anchored in open water; crew appears to be furling foresails; foresail and main are still set; no wind. Wine-glass-stern yawl boat on davits; vessel seen from starboard side. No place, no date. For source, see 1295.0001. | CBMM catalog page | ||||
| 0000.1295.1415.00 | photographic prints | Schooner Levi B. Phillips anchored with lumber car | Schooner Levi B. Phillips anchored near a tree-lined shore "with a cargo of lumber destined for Baltimore;" seen from port side; sails furled. No date, no place. For source, see 1295.0001. | CBMM catalog page | ||||
| 0000.1295.1572.00 | photographic prints | Schooners Levi B. Phillips & Minnie T Phillips | Range, Cir 01/01/1943 - 12/31/1943 | __ __Urbanna __Middlesex __Urbanna Harbor __Western Shore __VA | Schooners Levi T. Phillips (foreground) and Minnie T. Philllips (background) anchored at Urbanna, VA. Both seen from starboard side. Sails furled. PIer and shed in background. . For source, see 1295.0001. | CBMM catalog page | ||
| 0000.1295.3566.00 | photographic prints | Schooners anchored in Canton Hollow, with steam ov | Exact 02/09/1934 - | __ __Baltimore __ __Canton Hollow, Patapsco __Western Shore __MD | Schooners anchored in Canton Hollow, with steam over some of the water, which is caused by the "difference of temp. between water and air." Shot on " 2/9/34 coldest day since 1918" "L to R are Levi B. Phillips, Clemmie Travers, to her port H.H. Conway and Josephine Wimsatt, Chas. G. Joyce, Robert McClintock and J. A. Croswell." For source, see 1295.0001 | CBMM catalog page | ||
| 0000.1295.3567.00 | photographic prints | "Vessels icebound in Canton Hollow, Baltimore | Exact 02/11/1934 - | __ __Baltimore __ __Canton Hollow, Patapsco __Western Shore __MD | "Vessels icebound in Canton Hollow Balto. 2/11/34 l to r Clemmie Travers, J A.Croswell, Levi B. Phillips, H.H. Conway Josephine Wimsatt Robt McClintock, Chas. G. Joyce Ida Mae Russell Dehughlett"; unidentified vessel's bow at left. Note: Russell De Hughlett was a bugeye. Schooner was spelled Ida May. For source, see 1295.0001 | CBMM catalog page | ||
| 0000.1290.0365.00 | photographic prints | Schooner Levi B. Phillips | Schooner Levi B. Phillips in Dismal Swamp Canal. | CBMM catalog page | ||||
| 0000.1290.0366.00 | photographic prints | Schooner Levi B. Phillips in Dismal Swamp Canal F | Schooner Levi B. Phillips in Dismal Swamp Canal. | CBMM catalog page | ||||
| 0000.1290.0791.00 | photographic prints | Schooner levi B. Phillips ?? under sail | Schooner Levi B. Phillips?? under sail; soft. See Snediker, Chesapeake Bay Schooners, pp. 88 & 171. | CBMM catalog page | ||||
| 0000.1290.0792.00 | photographic prints | Schooner Levi B. Phillips?? under sail becalmed | Exact 07/18/1934 - | Schooner Levi B. Phillips?? under sail; becalmed in open water. See Snediker, Chesapeake Bay Schooners, pp. 88 & 171. | CBMM catalog page | |||
| 0000.1290.4056.00 | photographic prints | Betty I Conway and nine sailing vessels stuck in i | Exact 02/11/1934 - | __ __Baltimore __ __Canton Hollow __Western Shore __MD | Betty I. Conway (oil screw) and eight schooners and one bugeye icebound in Canton Hollow, Sailing vessels are shown small in the distance; names on back of print: Clemma Travers, J.A. Croswell, Levi B. Phillips, H. H. Conway Josephine Wimsatt, Robert McClintock, Chas G. Joyce, Ida Mae and bugeye Russell Wingate. | CBMM catalog page | ||
| 0000.1290.4141.00 | photographic prints | Kinsale, VA, wharf with buy boat Yeocomico | Range, Cir 01/01/1933 - 12/31/1933 | Kinsale Wharf __ __Kinsale __Westmoreland __West Yeocomico River __Western Shore __VA | Kinsale, VA, wharf, with buy boat Yeocomico, seen from port side, and two schooners Elizabeth Ann and maybe Levi B. Phillips, seen from astern. | CBMM catalog page | ||
| 0000.0923.0100.00 | photographs | SCHOONER LEVI B. PHILLIPS AT ANCHOR WITH SAILS UP; | Range,Exac 07/01/1936 - 07/31/1936 | SCHOONER LEVI B. PHILLIPS AT ANCHOR WITH SAILS UP; From old Remarks field: NEGATIVE DAMAGED Old Subject Fields: SAIL VESSELS, SCHOONERS | CBMM catalog page |
Newspapers, Curated Search Results
| State | Newspaper | Date | Location | Full-page PDF | Thumbnail | Article Summary |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Hawaii | Honolulu Star-Advertiser | Wednesday, June 9, 1909 | Honolulu, Hawaii | Open PDF |  | A Honolulu reprint of a Washington Star item identifies Levi B. Phillips as the first Baltimore pineapple-fleet vessel to return from the Bahamas that season, carrying more than 4,000 dozen pineapples under Captain William Bramble. |
| Maryland | The Baltimore Sun | Saturday, May 30, 1908 | Baltimore, Maryland | Open PDF |  | Levi B. Phillips, Captain Bramble, arrived from Egg Harbor, Bahamas, with pineapples for the Martin Wagner Packing Company; the passage of five days and eleven hours was described as a season record in the pineapple trade. |
| Maryland | The Baltimore Sun | Friday, June 7, 1907 | Baltimore, Maryland | Open PDF |  | The schooner Levi B. Phillips was listed from Gregorystown with 4,810 dozen pineapples. |
| Maryland | The Baltimore Sun | Friday, June 2, 1905 | Baltimore, Maryland | Open PDF |  | The tug Imperial brought in Levi B. Phillips from Tarpon Bay with 3,500 dozen pineapples. |
| Maryland | The Baltimore Sun | Wednesday, July 3, 1907 | Baltimore, Maryland | Open PDF |  | The tug William H. Yerkes Jr. arrived with Levi B. Phillips from Bahama with pineapples. |
| Florida | The Florida Times-Union | Monday, April 19, 1909 | Jacksonville, Florida | Open PDF |  | Levi B. Phillips and Bill Nye sailed from Baltimore for the Bahamas to load pineapples; the item notes that the crop was being shipped before it was canned on the islands. |
| New Jersey | The News of Cumberland County | Wednesday, September 27, 1905 | Bridgeton, New Jersey | Open PDF |  | The tug Progress and Levi B. Phillips were in port, with the schooner being loaded with hundreds of baskets of ripe tomatoes. |
| New Jersey | The News of Cumberland County | Monday, September 25, 1905 | Bridgeton, New Jersey | Open PDF |  | A corrected September 25, 1905 item says the large two-masted schooner Levi B. Phillips, loaded with tomatoes by Minch Brothers, left for Baltimore in tow of the tug Progress. |
| District of Columbia | The Washington Post | Tuesday, May 24, 1898 | Washington, District of Columbia | Open PDF |  | Levi B. Phillips and Anna M. Estell sailed from Baltimore for the Bahamas to secure pineapple cargoes despite the risk of Spanish capture; both vessels had already made a trip that season. |
| Virginia | Ledger-Star | Wednesday, May 10, 1916 | Norfolk, Virginia | Open PDF |  | Norfolk port movements list Levi B. Phillips, Tyler master, as sailed for Chincoteague. |
WWW, Curated Search Results
| Source | Page | Page Summary | Image / Media |
|---|---|---|---|
| facebook.com | “I am sure each one had her partisans, but to me the handsomest one of the lot was the Levi B Phillips. |  Facebook | |
| virginiachronicle.com | virginiachronicle.com | Fetch failed: HTTPError: HTTP Error 403: Forbidden | No source image identified. |
| virginiachronicle.com | virginiachronicle.com | Fetch failed: HTTPError: HTTP Error 403: Forbidden | No source image identified. |