Early Voyages

Records at the Massachusetts State Archives indicate that in November 1707, Benjamin Edwards was master and part owner of a the Briganteen Larke. This 45 ton vessel was built in Boston in 1706. Its other owners were from the island of Nevis in the Caribbean. In 1708, Benjamin was master of the Briganteen Sarah, a 40 ton vessel built at Lynn in the Province of the Massachusetts Bay. In 1709, he was master of the 35 ton sloop Adventure, and returned aboard her from Suriname in 1710. In 1711, Captain Edwards was master of the ship Sarah, a 60 ton vessel built in Boston that same year.

The Sarah (1711-1717)

Below are the known voyages of the ship Sarah along with information on her destination, cargo, and crew (when available). This information was located in colonial shipping records obtained from various sources noted below.

January 1711 Sailed for St. Christophers* (Caribbean)
"Outward Bound Benjamin Edwards Ship Sarah for St. Christophers." Source: Boston News-Letter December 31, 1710-January 7, 1711. *"St. Christopher's Island" is modern day St. Kitts. It lies 46 miles west of Antigua in the Caribbean. (It is possible that this was the 40 ton Brig. Sarah.)

June 1712 Sailed for Lisbon (Portugal)
"The "Sarah" of Boston, plantation-built ship, 65 tons with 5 men, registered at Boston on 15th December 1712 (1711/12) cleared out on - June (1712/13) under Benja. Edwards, master, bound for Lixbone (Lisbon), carrying 1700 qtls of fish." Source - MHS / Shipping Records: Public Record Office, London.

March 1713 Returned from Bay Campeche (Mexico)
In the year 1713/14. "The ship "Sarah" of Boston came from Bay Campeache under Benjamin Edwards, master, entered on 17th March carrying 100 tons of logwood." Source - MHS / Shipping Records: Public Record Office, London. "Entered Inwards Benjamin Edwards Ship Sarah from Campeche." Source: Boston News-Letter March 8-15 1713/14.

April 1713 Sailed for London (England)
"Outward Bound Benjamin Edwards Ship Sarah for London." Source: Boston News-Letter April 12-19, 1713/14. "Cleared Outwards Benjamin Edwards for London." Source: Boston News-Letter April 26-May 3, 1713/14.

April 1714 Sailed for Leghorn* (Italy)
"Outward Bound Benjamin Edwards Ship Sarah for Leghorn." Source: Boston News-Letter March 28-April 4, 1714. *The port of Leghorn is known today as Livorno (Tuscany's second-largest city).

During the return voyage, Captain Edwards likely stopped in London, staying for a time on business while the Sarah and her cargo were brought back to Boston by his second in command. Captain Edwards returned to Boston as a passenger aboard the ship Elizabeth Gally (see below).

June 1715 Returned from London (as a passenger)
In the year 1716 (1715/16): "June 6, John Slocomb the Ship Eliza from London, with Henry Caswell a Mercht and Benja. Edwards a Marriner." Source - Filby's Passenger Index. "Entered Inwards John Slocum Ship Elizabeth Gally from London." Source: Boston News-Letter June 4-11, 1715/16.

December 1715 Sailed for Barbados (Caribbean)
"The "Sarah" of Boston, plantation-built ship, 60 tons with 9 men, registered at Boston on 13th August 1716 (1715/16), entered out on 14th December (1715/16) under Benjamin Edwards master, bound for Barbados, carrying 20 hhds of fish, 8 bls of oil, and 40 m. of lumber." Source - MHS / Shipping Records: Public Record Office, London. "Cleared Outwards Benj. Edwards for Barbadoes." Source: Boston News-Letter December 10-17, 1715/16.

April 1717 Returned from Saltertuda*
"Entered Inwards Benj. Edwards from Saltertuda." Source: Boston News-Letter April 15-22, 1717. * "Salt Tortuga" was a Seventeenth-century English name for Isla la Tortuga, an island off the northern shores of present day Venezuela.

June 1717 Sailed for Barbados (Caribbean)
"Outward Bound Benj. Edwards for Barbadoes." Source: Boston News-Letter June 17-21, 1717.

Voyages of the Greyhound

Back To Timeline