The story behind Sons and Daughters of the Ocean
A Commentary By Chapter
I love commentaries. As much as I like the movie Gettysburg, I equally enjoy watching the commentary – especially since it is shorter than the movie. I love learning about the history behind the story I just watched. There is obviously a lot of information and background that movies can’t cover. Commentaries often provide so much more information and cater to the craving I have to learn as much as I can about something I’m interested in.
I also love the commentaries on the Simpson’s DVD’s. They not only tell you how the episode was inspired but also the things that were added in reference to other things or put in just for laughs – something I can relate to.
So, I thought I’d provide a bit of a commentary to Sons and Daughters of the Ocean. I almost didn’t do this because I wanted people to be able to enjoy the story and the characters apart from what inspired the plot or the people involved. But, I also wanted to be able to provide those interested in some of the back-story – and let them in on the laughs they might be missing.
Introduction
Two key pieces of information to reveal right up front is that Brooks Harbor is basically Brooksville, Maine. The Harbor in the story is Smith Cove. That would mean Tillson’s Harbor is Castine. The name Tillson’s comes from a street in Rockland where my grandfather once owned a business.
The introduction here is basically a history of Brooks Harbor using some of Brooksville’s own history. Most of the information in the introduction is true. Names were changes and information was tinkered with a bit but the origin of the town of Brooks Harbor isn’t all that different than how the town of Brooksville was actually established.
Many of the families written about here are based on ancestors of mine in Brooksville. My great, great grandfather George V. Mills settled in Brooksville in the early 1830’s. He first married into the Farnham family and then the Wasson’s. His children married into the Tapley or, as in the case of my great grandfather, the Douglass family. I’m also connected to the Jones family. That linked me with many of the prominent shipbuilding and merchant mariner history in that town. So, the Watson’s, Dyer’s, Fuller’s, Jones’s and Farner’s are all based those families.
Another little secret is that you can tell what music I may have been listening to during the writing of this book. If I needed a name of a character or a vessel I’d often look for it in the music playing at that moment. The first example in the book is Captain Josiah Haynes. He gets his name from Warren Haynes.
Chapter's 1 and 2
This part of the story is based on the real death of my great grandfather’s sister, Mary. The details of her death can be found in George Wasson’s Sailing Days on the Penobscot or various histories about the town of Brooksville.
By the way, the ship Darkwind is named for a Saw Doctors song.
Chapter 3
There’s a story in Wasson’s book about a winter gathering of mariners in which a vessel is dreamed up, planned out and all but built and insured in one evening. This chapter builds on that premise and provides more background info that is also based upon real history.
The Bigwakeag River is basically the Bagaduce, which runs between Castine and Brooksville. I almost used its Indian name, Majorbigwaduce but altered it, using the name of the river (Weskeag) in South Thomaston.
The Edwin McLain comes from singer Edwin McCain while Simon Timmins came from the Timmins members of the Cowboy Junkies.
Chapter 4
Sammy Jones’ character is loosely based on a young boy named Wasson Jones. All I know of him is how he died and the promise he made with his father about going to sea.
The story mentioned in the chapter about the Augustus is based on a true story. A ship called the Augustus Gott sank and the survivors nearly had to resort to cannibalism. In fact, one sailor had already been chosen to be the victim (lunch) when rescue arrived. In my great grandfather’s copy of George Wasson’s book, he has a sizeable X penciled in next to the details about this ship. I don’t know why. I concluded that he wasn’t likely on that vessel but who knows.
The name of the ship Astoria must come from a song, but I can’t recall it. But I can’t think how else I’d come up with that name. Captain Sedgwick’s named comes from the town near Brooksville.
Chapter 5 Albert Miller is based a bit on my great grandfather, Albert R. Mills I know very little about him and his personality etc. I know some of his history and that is it. I know he went to sea around 1871 and is said to have sailed around the world three times in about 20 years. From that, the character and tale of Albert Miller evolved.
Chapter 6
The walk Albert takes in this chapter is one I’ve taken myself on the former family farm on Mills Point in West Brooksville. It is now a property worth in the 2 million dollar range and owned by the family of one of Disney World’s original designers, or so I’m told.
Austin Fuller is based on a peer of my great grandfather’s named Angier Tapley. They sailed together and went into the United States Lighthouse Service together.
Chapter 7
Sarah Dyer is based on my great grandmother, Sarah Douglass. I know absolutely nothing about her other than her historical information. I have a few photos of her and have the Douglass family bible. The Douglass’s did own a store in Brooksville, and Joseph Douglass was one of the more prominent members of the community.
In real life, his youngest daughter, Lizzie, died at a very young age. That didn’t happen to the Lizzie in my story. I liked her character too much.
Chapter's 8-10
The death of Joseph Dyer is based on the actual death of Joseph Douglass. I have information about his death from a diary entry written by a Ruby Farnham. So, I stuck to that time frame and many of the same details.
Doctor McKennitt gets his name from singer Loreena McKennitt.
Now the preacher in the story is named Richard True. It seems pretty appropriate that a minister’s name is True, but if I recall, it was purely an accident. I don’t quite remember, but I think I likely first introduced that character during the basketball tournament playoffs and got his name from a local basketball coach.
In most instances in which the minister is quoting scripture or preaching, I utilized my father’s archives. Being a minister and having saved most of his sermons and files. I have all my Dad’s notes. So when I needed a particular scripture verse for a certain subject, occasion or whatever, my Dad’s notes had them all listed. I even borrowed one of his sermons that way (thanks Dad). There were times, however, that I had to write it myself and channel the true preacher’s kid in me.
Chapter 12
The vessels Mystery and Rendezvous likely came from songs but I don’t recall which. Rendezvous is likely from the John Wetton song. Mystery could be from any number of tunes.
The funny thing is that years later, a report came out on the news that hinted that fumes from the old copper mines in Brooksville might have polluted the air in Castine. Hmm.
Chapter 17
My great grandfather’s brother did actually fight at Gettysburg and was in the 20th Maine. He was a transfer from the 2nd Maine and stayed with the 20th until the end of the war.
The senior George Miller in the story is based on my great, great grandfather. I have limited historical data on him and have one or two pictures. I did write this character with him in mind because it seemed like he was an intense, quiet and serious man. That part about his morning prayer’s being powerful was true, according to one of his grandchildren. Of course, I couldn’t make him too serious and gave him a bit of a sense of humor, which I think he probably had.
Chapter 18
The ship Angelyne gets its name from a Jayhawk’s song.
The Fuller family is based on the well-known Tapley’s of Brooksville. I have a great deal of info on their history thanks to a book put together by Patricia Boudreau.
Chapter 19
Frankton is actually the town of Franklin in Eastern Maine. Apparently one of the Wasson’s had ownership in the Scammon lumber mill there. The Hesperus, the vessel written about in Henry Wadsworth Longfellow’s poem, was built in Franklin.
Chapter 20
This chapter is a perfect example as to why I’m doing this commentary. Because there’s some details behind the story here that you might be interested in.
First of all, the Sail Loft was actually the name of the Wasson’s business in Brooksville. I don’t know much about it but it appears numerous times in various property transactions.
The toast that is featured in this chapter, and from which the title of the book comes from, is a traditional toast. It was one I was able to be part of, which is how I ended up using it.
After my first sail on the Victory Chimes, a few friends that I met that week went out for drinks with members of the crew that evening. After a few rounds of Guinness (and talk of getting tattoos), one of the members of the crew, who is now the first mate, offered up a toast and used that very toast. When I first started writing this story, I had another title. It was something like “Following the Sea”, which I thought was really lame and boring. I wanted something else and the toast came to mind. It turned out to fit well with the characters but also summed up the entire premise of the novel. Thanks Michael. I owe you a Guinness or two or three.
Chapter 21
There’s a key moment in this chapter and if anyone actually catches it, kudos to their knowledge of maritime superstition. Late in the chapter as Captain Jones and his wife begin to leave the dock, Lucy turns around and peers out to sea and watches her son’s ship sail out of view. This may seem like a fairly mundane detail but belief was that it was bad luck to watch a ship sail out of view.
Chapter 22
I went back and added to this chapter a bit and beefed it up with Albert getting tutored about the sail rigging. This information actually stems from a discussion I overheard on the Victory Chimes when a member of the crew commented about how many different lines there were on the vessel and that the crew needed to know each one and what it’s purpose was. Then the detail of Sammy hauling sails comes straight from watching many schooner crews and passengers like myself haul sails.
This is also the chapter in which Peter Griffin appears. Griff gets his name from Patty Griffin. His character was somewhat based on the role the character of Buster Kilrain had in The Killer Angels. From what I can recall from the movie commentary, Buster was the only character that was not real in the movie. The same kind of goes for Griff. He’s one of the few characters in this book that isn’t based on an actual person.
This chapter also mentions the Marcus Porter, which was sunk by the Alabama. My great grandfather’s brother-in-law, Robert Tapley, was the captain of the actual Mark Potter, which was sunk by the conferederate raider. I have a ship model of that vessel built by the grandfather.
Chapter 23
The tale of Sammy climbing up the mast to clear debris is based upon an actual trip up to the flag that one of the crew members had to make on the Chimes on my first sail. Her name was Bailey. We were out in some good breeze in Penobscot Bay when the flag atop a mast had torn. Bailey was sent up to clear it, much like Sammy. All the passengers watched in amazement as Bailey made the journey up the ratlines, amidst a gusty wind and leaning vessel. We’ve seen crew members go up while at anchor in a harbor, but this was one of the few times we’ve seen someone do it while under sail. It was Bailey’s first try under those conditions as well. She was a bit nervous but earned high praise from all aboard after her successful mission. The description of Sammy standing proudly on the deck with the shredded piece of flag in hand is actually the picture I have of Bailey after her daring climb.
Chapter 28
Poor Portly. This part of the story was a late addition as well. I wanted some kind of example of death occurring on one of Captain Fuller’s ships, proving he wasn’t immune of such fate. The character of Portly was based on a story I heard on the Victory Chimes about a crew member. He was described as a red-headed Homer Simpson. He actually fell off the ladder in similar fashion as Portly, but he managed to resurface and was fine. He only sailed for part of the season that year and had moved on from the crew by the time my sail came in September.
Chapter 29
I couldn’t resist using “Old Harry”. That was an experession of my Dad’s.
Chapter 30
The real Lizzie actually did take piano lesions. I have a letter sent from her piano teacher about Lizzie’s lessons from sometime in the 1860’s.
Chapter 31
Cook John Henry Orton makes a brief appearance. I think this is his only mention in the book. His surname likely comes from English singer Beth Orton.
Chapter 34
The whole notion of shipping a single organ down to Florida may seem a bit far-fetched, but this is based on an actual occurrence. I read a reflection by a Brooksville native about his years at sea. He mentions that one of his
journey’s they loaded an organ and transported it.
Chapter 42
This chapter talks about George Miller handling the estate of Joseph Dyer. This is pretty much what happened in my family history. When my great, great grandfather Joseph Douglass died suddenly, George V. Mills not only settled the estate, because Douglass had no will, but also became the guardian for the younger daughters, including Sarah Douglass, who was my great grandmother.
Chapter 44
The meetinghouse is based on the church in Brooksville that my ancestors helped establish. The one that still stands is small church with rock hard pews. It is where my great grandmother was baptized. The church is right up the road from my great grandfather’s house.
Chapter 45
The three-masted vessel David Wasson was lost in hurricane force winds and was toppled by rogue waves, according to various accounts.
Chapter 46
This whole storyline about Joshua Jones and the flag is based on the true actions of Wasson Jones’ father, who raised a flag, intending only to bring it in after his son returned from sea. This whole chapter is based on the true story about his parents and that flag.
Chapter 51
I’ve seen a photo of the school in Brooksville from the 1890’s or so. It is likely that my grandfather is in the picture somewhere, but that is where the idea came about the class picture. I don’t have a lesson book of the real Mary Mills, but I have a certificate given to my great grandmother signed by Mary (Mills) Tapley.
Chapter 55
The dream about Sarah, Lizzie and Mary is based on dreams of my own. I’ve sometimes had dreams that are so vivid that when I awake and recall what they were it is as if they were real. I sometimes have to remind myself that those things didn’t actually happen and that they were just dreams.
Chapter 57
This whole scenario featuring potential pirates and the subsequent use of carpet tacks is also based on a true story. As I wrote it, I wondered how believable it all really is and contemplated changing it, but deep down, I knew it actually had happened. The account of Brooks Grindle, of Brooksville, chronicles his experience with the pirates and tacks. He mentions that a number of local Brooksville men were aboard this trip. So it very well could have been that my great grandfather was on board for this adventure as well, but I can’t confirm it.
Chapter 61
In the book, the cove that the Angelyne is anchored in is a full ocean apart from Brooks Harbor, but in reality, it’s on the other side of an island. Brooks Harbor is actually Smith Cove in Brooksville. The island that the crew members peer around to view the pirate ship is based upon the island that makes up the cove near Holbrook Island. You can look across the small beach that extends across from the island to the mainland and see Smith Cove on the other side.
Chapter 63
Abner Shindell’s farm gets its name from singer/songwriter Richard Shindell.
Chapter 66
Albert mentions his great grandfather Eli. This is a link to my second novel, Sea of Liberty, which chronicles the experiences of Eli Miller, the privateer.
Chapter 74
Thanks Dad. When you’re writing a novel that happens to have numerous scenes that take place in church, you need good church material. My Dad happened to leave that all for me. So whenever I needed a particular piece of scripture or whatever for a particular topic, I could rummage through my father’s archives and books to find just the right words. In this chapter, I needed an actual sermon. Rather than bother to make one up, I borrowed one – from Dad. I went looking through his collections of sermons I have inherited and found this one. It worked perfectly. This sermon not only spoke to the community of faith in Brooks Harbor but also drew the parallel of raising one’s family faith through generations, much like the overall premise of the book. This chapter may actually hint at the real meaning of this story than any other part of the book. Maybe someday I’ll reveal what that true meaning is or let some English Lit class figure it out. Just a hint, following the sea is a bit allegorical to following something else.
Chapter 75
Albert discusses going smelt fishing. This is something my great grandfather actually did on the river. His diary from 1883 mentions him returning home around Christmas time from sailing along the East Coast. He writes about building a shack and taking it out on the river to smelt fish.
Chapter 76
The proprtery transaction mentioned here actually took place. The Douglass’s bought property from the Wasson’s for that price. I have all the real estate transactions for the Douglass and Wasson families.
Chapter 77
The sun set that is written about here is based on a one of the most gorgeous dusk’s I’ve seen. It was while anchored at Swan’s Island on the Chimes. We were looking back across toward Blue Hill Bay and witnessed one of the most spectacular sunsets you could imagine.
Chapter 83
The whole story about Hattie and Levi’s late arrival is based upon the real tale of my great grandmother’s brother in-law. The diary of Ruby Farnham, Levi’s mother, chronicles the disappearance of Levi and his struggles to arrive home after a trip.
Chapter 84
The dreams about Mary are also based on my own dreams. Quite often after my father’s dead, I had many dreams of him. He was ailing in a few of them but primarily healthy in all the others. Ironically, I’ve had fewer of those since I finished this book. But he appears in my dreams every so often still.
Chapter 85
The plot line of Levi is based on the true account written by his mother, Ruby Farnham, a Brooksville resident. She writes about her son-in-law being late arriving home from a short trip at sea. After a few anxious days, he finally returned and tells a tale of braving storms and rigging failure on the vessel.
Chapter 90
The piss-in-the-boot-test comes from a story told to us by Michael Stevens, the first mate on the Victory Chimes. He would often say when deciding to hire prospective crew members that he’d piss in a boot and tell them to insert their foot. If they had enough sense to dump the boot out, he figured they could be taught to sail. If they didn’t, there was little hope for them. I’m not sure whether he actually used this method or not, but it makes a good story.
Chapter 92
Following the wreck of the David Wasson, the crew eventually received passage to England. There, some of them caught a ride back to Brooksville on the Hattie Tapley. I believe my great grandfather was on the Hattie Tapley at that time.
Chapter 103
The setting for this chapter is taken from an actual day on the Victory Chimes. We sailed out of Bass Harbor and out toward Frenchboro before making our way along the southern part of Swan’s Island. It was a gorgeous sail filled with a whale sighting and a visit from a small bird that grabbed hold of the rigging and held on for the ride. We could see the grandeur of the mountains of Mount Desert Island as well as the Camden Hills in one glorious panoramic view.
Chapter 104
This chapter was actually written on the Victory Chimes, describing the end of a day’s sail that took us into the actual cove that this story is based upon. We sailed to the mouth of the Eggemoggin Reach and then in toward Castine before tacking to starboard toward Smith Cove.
Chapter 107
This chapter was also written on a beautiful night in Smith Cove. There was a pinkish glow to the night and there was music playing across the river in Castine. It was so quiet and peaceful in Smith Cove; I sat on deck and scribbled out this chapter.
Chapter 108
This chapter chronicles some of the life changes that followed in my great grandfather’s life after leaving the sea. We don’t really know his reasoning for leaving for the lighthouse service. One theory is that George Tapley retired from the sea in the 1890’s and that my great grandfather decided to seek a career move at the same time. We know my great grandfather had sailed with Captain Tapley. I wonder if maybe the captain’s retirement played a factor in his future. Also, one of his sailing peers, Angier Tapley, had taken a job in the lighthouse service. That might have provided my great grandfather the opportunity to follow him to the lighthouse service.