CAPT. CHARLES THOMAS MEGEE

CAPTAIN CHARLES THOMAS MEGEE

MILTON, DELAWARE

1854 - 1931

Charles Thomas Megee was born 11 November 1854 in Indian River Hundred, Sussex

county, Delaware to Patience Kellum and Noah Wiltbank Megee. Noah was a Broadkill

River ship carpenter.

At the age of 23, he was made master of the three masted schooner, “Charles A Coulomb”that was built in the Broad Kill shipyards and was to make voyage to Algeria. It was notunusual for a seaman of this age to be in command but was a bit out of the ordinary to have him make a transatlantic voyage on a first command. Only the 15 year old cabin boy was youngerof his crew.

July of 1878, Megee sailed past Cape Henlopen bound for the Mediterranean, arriving

Oran. Algeria after a 35 day voyage on August 16., reporting a good trip with but one severe

'blow'. He was not fancy with the Mediterranean as it was very treacherous, but, he being

confident that every course he steered was the right one.

After off loading his cargo at Oran, they set sail for Cadiz in Spain. Took on a cargo of saltfor Gloucester, New England and left for home September 25. Arriving at Delaware

Breakwater on November 18. Just why he put in Delaware Breakwater was a bit of mystery

when headed to New England, but he let it be known that two months before this voyage he

had married 21 year old Cecilia Baynum Clifton of Lewes. The marriage was in Sussex

county, on 15 May 1878. On November 23 he left Lewes for Gloucester and arrived safe on November 30.

The Oran voyage was not Megee's first transatlantic voyage as earlier he sailed as mate to a weatherbitten seadog, age 58, with 30 years of seafaring , Captain Henry C. Hudson, on

the “Heather” a three masted schooner, also Broadkill built, bound for Vianna de Castello,

Portugal out of Philadelphia. Heather left the capes on February 10. A midwinter Atlantic

crossing was a much more tougher job than one in July and August.

The first part of the trip was uneventful on calm seas, but, as they neared the Azores they hit

a gale force storm. Megee was injured while reeling in the foresail, suffering a broken jaw.

He was sidelined about a week with the jaw but did not have permanent damage to his face.

The gale worked it's way to a hurricane a damaged the rigging so the rest of the trip sailed

under bare poles. Upon arrival at the Portuguese coast they found the inlet to Vianna de

Castello barred by sand so a wait of several days for a high tide was necessary.

The port town was ancient and had a shipyard which Megee visited and was impressed by

the ceremonies and visitors to the different phases of ship building Megee had always had

a curiosity to cross the ocean and visit Europe which was now satisfied. He was anxious to

get back to Sussex County.

Abstract of Wilmington Morning News, W. Emerso Wilson column, 27 April 1968 by

Harrison H. 04/27/18.