Ellsworth American. [volume] (Ellsworth, Me.) 1855-current, 1899-11-22
THE TAPLEY BOYS.
Death Causes Break In Remarkable
Family.

recently, causes break in the famous
family Of Tapey boys, eight OF whom met
together last year for the first time in
forty-seven years. During those years
they were roaming the wide seas, and
though they met each other occasionally
in some far-off nook of the world, or per-
haps at home, it WAS not until last year
that they all got within hailing distance
of the old homestead at one time. Then
it occurred to them to hold reunion,
and notable gat herring it was.
Strangely enough, though they had not
been together for fortyseven years, there
were no great distances to travel to bring
them together this time, for seven OF the
brothers still live in the same district
where they were born. This isn't saying
that they have staid in the same place
every month OF that time, for until lately
the Tapley boys were the greatest galli-
vanters that were ever raised. Their
homes were here, but you never knew
when to find one of them at home. Most
OF the time they were off on the other side
OF the globe and in different directions.
The plain fact is that besides being a
reunion of a remarkably large number Of
hearty brothers, it was a gathering of the
best master mariners that ever trod a
deck.
Eight sturdy men with history-lively,
strong and good history-traced on every
page of their lives. Each has in his time
commanded ships whose fame extends
into every part of the world They don't
go to sea any more; they don't have to.
Not that they wouldn't like to go, but the
Tapiey boys think that they would like to
scrape up a little acquaintance with
mother earth before they shuttle off this
mortal coil, and they are trying to dis
cover what it is about the land anyway
that makes so many men prefer it to the
sea.
Originally there were nine OF the Tap
ley boys, but Timothy c. died a few years
ago at the age OF seventy years Their
father was Robert Tapley, and one OF six
teen children; their mother was Sally
Stover Tapley, of Brooksvile.
Deacon Simon p. Tapley, now seventy
nine years old, is the oldest OF the
btOlHbTs, dull lUOuDH lOT ytdIs ut WIS
off ON the raging main, he did manage to
stay around long enough to give hearty
lift to his fellow men and help along the
church and every good movement that
was proposed. He went away to sea at
eleven years of age and retired from COM
mand OF ship at twenty five. He
bought a farm and built beautiful home.
He has been superintendent of the Sun
day school OF the Congregational church
for more than forty years.
Robert is seventy-tve. He went to sea
at eleven years OF age and followed it for
forty years consecutively. He COM
manded many ships and built the "Hattie
+. Tapley", which he commanded four
years, when ne retired and was succeeded
| by his brother George. He then went as
master OF the barque mark l.. Porter,
after which he retired from the sea.
Thomas is seventy-three and was more
than fifty years a sailor. Among the
many ships that he commanded was the
"Ironsdes", familiar to every navigator
of years ago.
Abraham p. is seventy. He Lives in
Hampden. He went to sea at the age of
twelve years and at nineteen was chief
mate OF one of the finest vessels out of
New York. He retired from the sea
sixteen years ago.
George II. is sixty seven. He was eight
years ill command of barque "Irousides",
ten years in command OF ship "Hattie f.
Tapleyo. He has been master also OF brig
William Moore brig "Caleb &. Bill
lings", and the big schooner "Mattie
Holmes, all sailing out of Bangor. He
tegan the seafaring life at thirteen and
sa lied for more than round half century.
Jerome p is sixty four. He didn't go
sea until he WAS fourteen, but he didn't
let up on it until last year. He finished
in the tiftieth year of his cruising. His
career was one OF many exciting chapters.
His first wreck was While commanding
the david Wasson". They fell in with
the big hurricane of 1873 on August %,
and the David WATSON" went under.
After many days atioat on Il raft the cap
tain and his crew were picked up.
A year later he was master of the brig
"Nellie Clifford, OF Brooksviile She was
blown ashore from her anchorage at
Fauchol. A passenger, Wassie Jones, of
Brooksville, was lost i'll the wreck. The
captain and crew hung to the wreckage
eight days and We're rescued. He was
sent to Montevideo, where he met, UNI
expectedly, his brother George, who was
unloading coal brought from Cardiff,
Wales. The brothers were together there
one month. Then George sailed for the
East Indies and Jerome came back home
on the little brig stephen Bishop.
John p, "Baby Jack" as he WAS called
half cen ury ago, has sailed in command
Of some of the finest vessels ailoat. He |
was on the sea he greater part OF forty |
years, but seeing that all the boys were
going back on their old love, he con-
cluded that he would follow their example |
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