Joseph Despeaux

The ship FATHER AND SONS was built by Joseph Despeaux in 1812 in his shipyard at Fells Point, Baltimore, Maryland. She was 84’ 6” in length, 25’ 2” in breadth and 15’ 8” in depth. She was of 242 tons by carpenter's measurement and of 269 70/95 tons by customs house measurement. She had two decks, three masts and was of sharp build.

The accounts, from 20 June 1810 to 1 March 1813, for the supplies, equipment and labor used in her construction, amounted to $ 1,011.92.

She made a voyage from Baltimore to Havana, Cuba about 25 April 1815 with William Danielson (Davidson) as master. On her return, about 22 June 1815, she loaded at least one hundred bags of coffee.

About 19 September 1815, she sailed from Baltimore to New Orleans, Louisiana, with Cornelius Driscoll as master, with a general and assorted cargo, ten passengers, three children, two servants and forty slaves accompanied by five children.

A letter from Despeaux's agent at New Orleans states that the mate of this ship was never sober while in port and, further, that, while Captain Driscoll may be a competent seaman, he is very poor as a businessman. The amount of freight loaded for Le Havre was 6,780.66.

This voyage continued towards Le Havre, France, ending in shipwreck at the mouth of that harbor. All of this is fully recounted in the statement of protest by Captain Driscoll, which is appended as translated from French by F.E. Chatard, A.D.

Letters from Despeaux's agents at Le Havre state that the vessel was not salvageable but was sold, the hull for 7,400 francs and the rigging for 8,300 francs. The cargo was saved but sustained some damage.