New Acquisitions

The Museum has recently acquired the two images below showing Capt. Sam Collins of Essex with his wife Sadie and young friend Judith Way and the EDNA E. BROWN Capt. Collins' last vessel.

Capt Samuel Collins, Jr., decoy carver, trapper and guide was born in 1851 in Essex, "scion of generations of seamen." He was primarily engaged as both owner and captain in river and coastal shipping, but did some shipbuilding. His home was on Middle Cove.

The schooner EDNA E. BROWN, 17 tons, built 1884 in either Nyack or Bayport, NY. Collins bought and rebuilt her at his home sometime between 1926 and 1929 and "enrolled her in coasting trade as the last commercial vessel from Essex." He sold her in 1936 and retired.