Ship Oneida

Ship Oneida

Marie Edouard Adam, signed, 1877

In 1866, the William McGilvery yard in Searsport, with Marlboro Packard as master builder, built Oneida. McGilvery owned her until 1879. Other Searsport residents then bought her.

According to account books in the Museum's archives, Oneida sailed to India, France, Peru, Australia, England and other countries, carrying a variety of cargoes, including coal, lumber and guano. She was commanded by a number of Searsport men, including Captains Oscar Gilman Eaton, Frank McGilvery and Benjamin Carver. One intriguing expense under Carver's command in Singapore is listed as "Police and jail fees ... $15."

Oscar Eaton became her new captain in 1876 and must have commissioned the painting of his new command when sailing into Le Havre in 1877. The painting descended in his family.

In 1888, San Francisco owners bought Oneida and put her in the Alaska salmon trade. Her voyages included transporting Chinese workers to the Pacific coast. Oneida was wrecked in 1890 striking a ledge off the Alaskan coast. Her crew was saved but 77 of the workers aboard drowned.