Oct 21, 2016
So... I'm writing a book about the adventures of my 7th great grandfather, Captain Ethel Keeney (1755-1837), and reached out the Mystic Seaport Maritime Museum for help locating records of vessels registered under his name... Within 24 hours, the National Archives at Boston emails me a copy of a vessel inspection document for a Sloop named 'Laura,' dated 1794, which was filled out by the customs inspector in Newport, Rhode Island, and filed with the customs house in New Haven. The master's name is Ethel Keeney. The cargo? 22 hogsheads of Rum from St. Maarten. I wonder how many barrels his crew drank along the voyage... and who's Laura?! #yohoho #saltyashell #captainkeeney #derbyconnecticut #nationalarchives #ancientfamiliesofnewengland