Carolina Ships in Bottles - Handcrafted by Jim "Goose" GoodwinCarolina Ships in Bottles - Not only a piece of art, but a piece of history
Revolutionary; 1812 and Coast Guard

The MERCURY: Price: 1/2 gallon bottle w/ lighthouse: $180
1/2 gal. jug w/ stand $200
 
 

The Mercury

The Mercury
   
MERCURY - 1806-1820
75 FT. on deck, 6-8 cannons, 29 crew, Ocracoke Station.
This ship was used in Dreamworks's Movie The Lovely Bones. It was the main ship in bottle used by Mark Walhberg & Saoirse Ronan.

Built in Ocracoke, NC. In the Revenue Service till 1807 when she was placed in the navy. On July 11, 1813, Capt'n William H. Wallace sighted British Admiral Cockburn’s invasion flotilla off Ocracoke Bar. Wallace collected Portsmouth's Custom money, bonds, and Agent Thomsa Singelton and outsailed 3 British ships to successfully warn New Bern. Admiral Cockburn retired since the surprise was thwarted. Mercury return to Revenue Service after 1814 and was retired/sold out of service in 1820. Similar vessels include Snap Dragon and Saucy Jack.


The Privateer SAUCY JACK: Price: 1/2 gal. bottle w/ lighthouse: $165
1/2 gal jug w/ stand: $180
 
  The Privateer Saucy Jack
   
Length = 90 ft., Displaced 170 tons, 7-13 guns
The Charleston-based privateer was launched with fanfare on Aug. 6, 1812 by the Pritchard and Shrewbury yard on the Cooper River under Capt. Thos. Jervey. After one cruise with 3 captured vessels, Capt. Peter Sicard took command for the second cruise where 4 vessels were captured. In Sept., 1812, Sicard brought two prizes (captured vessels) into St. Mary?s, GA, and then went to Charleston. In Charleston he left the Jack and command was given to Capt. John Chazal in April, 1813 who stayed with her until the war?s end in Jan., 1815.

The Saucy Jack and Chazal were right for each other, for during several cruise they captured 5 ships, 4 brigs, 7 schooners, and 2 sloops. Savannah was a safe haven for the Jack and her prizes. While there on Sept. 20, 1814, the Jack?s fore mast was struck by lightening and the bolt exited out the stern. After repairs, she returned on Nov 28th with another prize. She returned to Charleston on New Year?s Eve. News of the peace reached Charleston in Feb., 1815 and the Jack became a merchant. Her captures, engagements with foreign ships, and narrow escapes were unparalleled with any Southern privateer.


Otway Burns' SNAP DRAGON:
Price: 1/2 gal. bottle w/ lighthouse: $165
1/2 gal jug w/ stand: $180
 
  Otway Burns' Snap Dragon
 

 
85 ft. on deck, 25-100 crew, originally the ZEPHYR. Preeminent 1812 Beaufort, NC based privateer captained by Otway Burns. His 3 Atlantic coast cruises captured 42 ships valued at $4-million and defeated British ships of equal size. In one engagement sail marker needles were fired from the cannons when iron shot was depleted. Burns retired and was a state legislature. Burnsville, NC is named for him. The Snap Dragon, under William Graham, was captured off Nova Scotia on her 4th cruise. She became a British privateer and later a British Merchant.


The Mysterious Privateer Schooner PATRIOT: Price: $155.00 
 
  The Mysterious Privateer Schooner Patriot
  1/2 gal.
Left Georgetown, SC for NY on 12/30/1812 with Theodosia Burr Alston, wife of SC Gov. John Alston and daughter of former VP and famed duelist Aaron Burr. At age 29, Theodosia was one of the most gifted gentle-women of the time. She was in ill health from the loss of her only child and the events of her father, who had been on trial for treason for attempting to start a new country in Texas and Mexico. Past due in early 1813, a search was instigated by both father and husband. Their inquest went as far as Nassau, yet bypassed the Outer Banks.

They presumed the Patriot to be lost at sea. In 1833, a pirate made a deathbed confession saying that the Patriot had been boarded, passengers killed, and vessel set adrift. Other reports state that the deserted vessel ran aground 2 miles south of Nags Head, NC. The Patriot's fate is still a mystery. Georgetown Lighthouse: 87 ft. tall, built in 1812.


The Galley GOVERNOR WILLIAMS: Price: $150.00 
 
  The Galley Governor Williams
  1/2 gal.
Length: 52 ft, Beam: 15 ft, Depth: 5.5 ft, 1-24 lb bow gun

During the Quasi-War with France, Congress authorized the building of ten lateen-rigged galleys to protect the Southern coast. Built in 1798 at Wilmington, N.C., she was transferred to the Revenue Service in 1802 and used as a surveying vessel. While stationed at Ocracoke, she was lost in a storm in 1806. Similar vessels include The South Carolina.

Ocracoke Light: built 1823, 75 ft tall.


U.S. Coast Guard Barque EAGLE: Price: $200.00 
 
  U.S. Coast Guard Barque Eagle
  1.5 Litre wine bottle
Length = 266 ft., Width= 40 ft.,
Draft = 17 ft., Sail Area = 22,245 sq.ft.

Built in 1936 in Hamburg, Germany as the training ship Horst Wessel, with Sister ships: the Gorch Fock, the Sagres and the Mircea. She was included in reparations paid to the U.S. following WW II. President Kennedy had the USCG chevron installed on her. She is a sail training ship for the USCG and is based in New London, Ct. Seventh U.S. ship to bear the name EAGLE.

Shown here with Eagle coming into Old Inlet, N.C. and off Hatteras Inlet.

The Privateer Brig FAIR AMERICAN of South Carolina:
Price: 1/2 gal. bottle w/ lighthouse: $145
1/2 gal jug w/ stand: $185
 
 

The Privateer Brig Fair American of South Carolina
1/2 gal. bottle w/ lighthouse

The Privateer Brig Fair American of South Carolina
Length = 68 ft, Beam, 24 ft, 14-16 guns

Taken into the South Carolina Navy in 1777 and patrolled of the SC/NC/GA waters. In early 1778, she left Charleston with 4 ships under Capt. Nicholas Biddle to cruise for British ships in the West Indies.  In 1780, she was captained by Stephen Decatur--father of 1812 War naval hero of the same name. Under Decatur’s command she captured 4 vessels. Command went to Charles Morgan in early 1780 which he held till wars end.  Morgan, accompanied by other privateers, made numerous captures off the SC coast.