Person:John Wardwell (21)

In Stockton, ME at 1880 census. Living at 83 Park Street in Rockland at 1910 census. In Rockland again at 1920.

"The new vessel in the yard of H.N. Bean, of Camden, will be ready for launching about the middle of next month. A crew of fifteen men in charge of Master Builder J.J. Wardwell, are now finishing the top. The vessel is 1,250 tons, with four masts of handsome Oregon pine, with all modern improvements. The model, which is a handsome one, was made by Daniel Campbell." --Bangor Daily Whig and Courier, 07 November 1894

"There are 80 names on the payroll at the shipyard of H.M. Bean, Camden, at present, and probably will be more in the spring. Some of the finest schooners ever built in Maine have been built in Capt. Bean's yard at Camden. For eleven years, J.J. Wardwell has been the foreman or master builder there, not only designing and modelling every vessel, but taking entire charge of the building of same. Mr. Wardwell has been in a shipyard all his life. He commenced when he was 14 years of age, and after learning all the details of the business, at the age of 20 began to build vessels and for 26 years, he has been a master builder. His first vessel was built in 1873, and since that time some 29 vessels have been built under his supervision. He will have the honor of designing, modelling and building the first six-master in the world. He designs and models some vessels for other parties, aside from Capt. Bean." -Bangor Daily Whig and Courier, 09 February 1900.

"The first six-masted schooner ever built came out of the Holly M. Bean Yard in Camden, Maine. They constructed her where Wayfarer Marine Corporation now stores boats in its Bean Yard. Mr. George W. Wells was the largest financial backer of the vessel, which was said to cost $120,000. John Wardwell, known as a successful designer and master builder, designed it in 1899. Mr. Wardwell had been born in Penobscot, and moved to Stockton in 1864, becoming foreman later in the N.G. Hitchborn yard. Twenty-one years later, he moved to Camden and became Master Builder in the H.M. Bean Yard for 13 years. The year they launched the George W. Wells, he moved on to Rockland to be the Master Builder in the Cobb-Butler yard. From The Camden Herald on Aug. 14, 1900: "Ten thousand persons saw the launching this afternoon of the mammoth six-master, George W. Wells, the largest schooner in the world. The launching was witnesses by one of the largest crowds which ever gathered for such an event. Among the unique features of the occasion was the christening ceremony, which was performed by Miss May Wells, who scattered white roses upon the bow of the vessel as she started down the ways, and at the same time let loose a flock of white pigeons. Miss Wells is the daughter of the man for whom the vessel was named." -http://camden.villagesoup.com/opinions/GuestCols.cfm?StoryID=2049

First Commodore of the Rockland Community Yacht Club in 1927.

"JOHN J. WARDWELL Master Shipbuilder, Designed First 6-Master Schooner

Rockland, Me., Oct. 8- John J. Wardwell, retired master shipbuilder who superintended construction of more than eighty wooden ships, among them the first six-masted schooner ever built, died last night at the age of 91. Son of a shipmaster and shipbuilder, Mr. Wardwell learned at the age of 14 to wield the broadaxe and adze of the shipbuilder and when he was 21 built his first ship. The George W. Wells, which Mr. Wardwell designed as well as built, was not only the first six-master but at the time of her launching in 1900 the largest wooden ship afloat. She was lost on Hatteras Shoal." -New York Times 09 October 1943

1. ↑ New York Times 09 October 1943.
2. ↑ New York Times 09 October 1943.