Captain Daniel William Dexter & The Emma Payzant
The Emma Payzant was a vessel of about 840 tons built by James Mosher in Avondale. It was launched in November, 1873. Godfrey Payzant of Windsor was its first owner and Daniel William Dexter (1834-1895) was its Captain for its first seventeen years. Like other ship owners in the area, Payzant also made his money investing in the bank of Windsor, the cotton mill, insurance, gas, and groceries. Payzant passed away in 1896.
Captain Dexter often made three trips across the Atlantic per year, including winter trips, which were very cold and strained the mariners. Captain Dexter’s wife, Sarah Jemima Mosher (1842 - 1929), and their daughters, Rachel "Pauline" Dexter (born in Weymouth, Massachusetts 1870-1951) and Mabel Rose (born in Avondale 1872-1956), sometimes accompanied the Captain on his voyages.
Our museum has a logbook of the Emma Payzant from the year of its launch (1873). A collection of Lloyd's weekly shipping Index provides additional information on the Emma Payzant, with Captain Dexter at the helm, beginning in 1883. This log predates the Lloyd's shipping records by ten years. Ports of call in 1883 included Clyde, St. John, Horton Bluff, Windsor, Parrsboro, Garston, and Liverpool leaving for New York. 1885 stops included Liverpool and three trips between New York, Dunkirk. In 1886 there were two trips between Dunkirk and Philadelphia, a voyage from Dunkirk to New York with a stop-over at North Sydney, and a journey from New York to Antwerp and back.
In 1891 while in Philadelphia, the Emma Payzant discharged a small portion of her cargo, had its rudder removed and top sides caulked, before proceeding to Dunkirk in January 1892. 1893 voyages included Belfast to New York to Brunswick to Dublin to Sydney. In 1893, the Emma Payzant was sold in Belfast.
In August 1894 Dexter was scheduled to captain the ship but the captain was changed to Captain Waycott. In 1895 a trip from Lubbock to Havana was scheduled. Captain Dexter passed away in 1895.
In August 1894 Dexter was scheduled to captain the ship but the captain was changed to Captain Waycott. In 1895 a trip from Lubbock to Havana was scheduled. Captain Dexter passed away in 1895.
Mabel Rose Dexter (born in Avondale 1872-1956), was the daughter of Captain Daniel William Dexter (1834-1895) and Sarah Jemima Mosher (1842-1929). Mabel, her mother and her sister, Rachel "Pauline" Dexter (born in Weymouth, Massachusetts 1870-1951), often accompanied Captain Dexter on his voyages. Mabel Rose’s doll’s cradle and portrait are on display at the museum. She can be seen as part of the family grouping in the stern of the Emma Payzant’s ship’s portrait, on display in the museum.
Mabel married William Isaac Withrow of Stanley (1871 - 1941) and had the following eight children; Olga Zella (1895 - 1981), Greta Luska (1899 - 1991), Emilie Grant (1906 - 1998), Melbourne Vaughn (1897 - 1968), Viva Armine (1901 - 1996), Cortland Myers (1910 - 1912), Volney West (1904 - 1995), and Phillip Carmen (1916 - 1988).
“This project has been made possible in part by the Documentary Heritage Communities Program offered by Library and Archives Canada / Ce projet a été rendu possible en partie grâce au Programme pour les collectivités du patrimoine documentaire offert par Bibliothèque et Archives Canada.”
