February 13, 2025February 13, 2025
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Romantics at Sea

Capt. Joseph A. Titcomb, Capt. Fordyce B. Perkins, and Silas H. Perkins, who all ran the Perkins Coal Wharf in Dock Square had much in common. First and foremost, they were all related, either by blood or marriage to each other and to the family who built and occupied the Nott House now owned by the Kennebunkport Historical Society.

They also all sailed aboard the Saco-built ship Mount Washington to places like India, China, and the Philippines. Capt. Titcomb was her master from 1868, a year after she was launched, until 1874, when he handed her command over to Capt. Fordyce B. Perkins. Six years later, Fordyce’s son Silas H Perkins was born at sea aboard the ship Mount Washington enroute to China and the Sandwich Islands. (now known as Hawaii)

But tomorrow is Valentines Day!

I would be remiss not to mention what romantic prose all three of these Kennebunkport salts committed to paper. Silas H. Perkins published three poetry volumes. My favorite of his love poems, Laughter and Love and You (1927), appears with the photograph of the house he grew up in, the Oliver Walker House at the corner of Pleasant and Green Streets.

Capt. Fordyce Perkins kept a log while he commanded the ship Mount Washington. He also wrote beautifully to his beloved wife in a separate journal most every day when she was not with him. To his children, including Sile, he wrote the story of his happy childhood in Kennebunkport and of his many adventures at sea. Transcriptions of some of his letters and journal pages were donated to the Kennebunkport Historical Society. Members can request PDFs.

Capt. Joseph A. Titcomb also kept a log aboard the ship Mount Washington. The last 14 pages of his 1871 volume are full of romantic poetry in his hand about missing his wife, “the pearl of that old-fashioned Village.” Descendant Janet Goedecke, who transcribed and donated some of her transcriptions to the Kennebunkport Historical Society, suggested he may have copied rather than composed some of them.

I’m so grateful for the love some of you have shown me and my stories this year. I love you back!

Happy Valentines Day!

#kennebunkport

Capt. Joseph A. Titcomb also kept a log aboard the ship Mount Washington. The last 14 pages of his 1871 volume are full of romantic poetry in his hand about missing his wife, “the pearl of that old-fashioned Village.” Here she is at their home at Union and Cross Streets.
The Ship Mount Washington, upon which these three poetic gentlemen sailed to China, India Liverpool, Valparaiso, was 184 feet long 37 feet wide and drew 191/2 feet of water.
Silas H. Perkins published three poetry volumes. He was born at sea but grew up in the Oliver Walker House at the corner of Pleasant and Green Streets. This is the back view of the house. Notice in the c1896 picture the columns of the house that was later moved from the Village Green to South Street.
Capt. Fordyce Perkins kept a log while he commanded the ship Mount Washington. He also wrote beautifully to his beloved wife in a separate journal most every day when she was not with him. To his children, including Sile, he wrote the story of his happy childhood in Kennebunkport and of his many adventures at sea. Transcriptions of some of his letters and journal pages were donated to the Kennebunkport Historical Society. Members can request PDFs.

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