Sea Stories in Stone
James Trott (1818-1888)
Riverside, Woolwich
A Seafaring Man
As suited a "seafaring" man, the body of the Capt. James H. Trott was returned to Bath via the Star of the East, a twice-weekly steamer from Boston. Raised a farmer's son in Woolwich, by age 25 he had gone to sea, and some time in the 1850s he married a young lady from Louisianna.
As noted in his obituary "Capt. Trott followed the sea in former times and was a master mariner for many years. He owned a nice farm in Woolwich, where he lived chiefly, but he did live in Bath some years..." In 1870 the Trotts were in Bath with their five children (ages one to 12) and one domestic named Fannie.
As captain, his homeport was Bath and among his commands were four Bath-built barks: the Clifton, the Lincoln, the Luzon and the Hellespont. He also commanded the Richmond bark Burlington.
Later in his obituary, we discover that the good times did not last. "Capt. Trott was once a man of some wealth, but losses in later years leave his family with little beside the farm, which has been unoccupied since they moved to Boston about one year ago...The deceased was a man whom it was a pleasure to know, and was respected by all. "
In his last will and testament, dated May 3rd, 1884, he named his wife Helen as his sole beneficiary, and awarded each of his six children $5 each. Capt. Trott's monument in Woolwich's Riverside cemetery demonstrates both his career on the sea and his financial condition. The over six foot tall obelisk was fabricated of white zinc in New Britain, Connecticut, by the Monumental Bronze Company, makers of affordable memorials.
CAPT. JAMES H. TROTT.
A Former Bath Resident Dies in Boston
A small funeral party gathered at the New Church, Bath , this morning and services were conducted by Rev. S.F. Dike, D.D., over the remains of Capt. James H. Trott, who died of paralysis in Boston last Thursday, August 23d, about 70 years old. The body was brought here on the Star of the East this morning, and after the funeral ceremonies at the church it was taken to Woolwich, his old home, for burial. Capt. Trott followed the sea in former times and was a master mariner for many years.
He owned a nice farm in Woolwich, where he lived chiefly, but he did live in Bath some years, in the house on High Street which has since been removed to give place to the new house built by Geo. A. Field nearly opposite Granite Street, and now owned and occupied by Frank A. Palmer. The old house was moved away in sections which were rebuilt into tenements in other localities. The deceased was a man whom it was a pleasure to know, and was respected by all. He was a member of the New Church, and he and his family always were prominent in church matters. Mrs. Trott and five children survive him.
The children are, Mary who lives in Brunswick, Nellie who has a position in Boston, Alvira, a young girl, Henry who carries on a farm in Woolwich, and Lincoln, a seafaring man. Capt. Trott was once a man of some wealth, but losses in late years leave his family with little beside the farm, which has been unoccupied since they moved to Boston about one year ago. It is early to say what may be Mrs. Trott's plans for the future, but she will porbably return to Boston and live with her daughter Nellie.
Bath Daily Times, August 25, 1888
Sources: Bath Daily Times, August 25, 1888; US Census: 1850, 1870, 1880;
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