• Home
  • About Us
    • News
    • Contact Us
    • Job Openings
    • Board of Directors
    • GUESTBOOK
  • History
    • Adventure’s History
    • Restoration
    • Gloucester Fishing Industry
    • Dory Fishing Gear
    • Skippy!
  • Education
    • Learn the Science in Sailing
    • The Art of the Sea
    • History & Culture
    • Teacher Resources
    • Student Resources
    • Maritime Links
  • Support Us
    • Membership
    • Donate
    • Captains Circle
    • Planned Giving
    • Volunteer
    • Sponsors
  • Calendar
  • Sailing & Events
    • Charter Adventure
    • Public Sails
    • FAQ

History

 

Gloucester Fishing Industry—1600s

historical timeline of the fishing industry in gloucester

 

Through early 1600€™s — Native Americans fished along the shore

1605–1606 —€“ Samuel de Champlain named Cape Ann “Cape aux Isles”€ and Gloucester Harbor “€œBeauport”€

1614 — Capt. John Smith named area Tragabigzanda, but the name was changed to Cape Ann by Prince Charles in honor of his mother

1623 — Gloucester settled by a company from Dorchester, England, and built fishing stages or wharves near Half Moon Beach, Stage Fort Park

1623 — Early colonists fished from wherries and dried the fish on flakes —€“ took 4–10 days

  — Then later fished from shallops, sloops, pinnaces, barks

1625 — Governor Roger Conant settled disagreement over fishing stages between Pilgrims led by Miles Standish and the crew of the Friendship led by Capt. Hewes.

1626 — large group of settlers led by Conant leave Gloucester and settle in Naumkeag (Salem)

1629 — Fort built at Stage Fort Park

1642 — Gloucester incorporated as a town, mostly in the Riverdale area, with a meeting house and a canal built and named after builder Rev. Richard Blynman

1643 — 1st record of a ship built by William Stevens in Gloucester

1675 — ketches with masts then Grand Bankers used for fishing further out to sea.

  — First wharves and boat-building industry was in Annisquam and Wheeler’€™s Point where the first permanent settlements were

1690 —€“ 1st commercial fishery founded by John Babson

1700s

  • HISTORY
  • Adventure’s History
    • Dory Fishing 1926-1953
    • Windjamming 1954-1988
    • National Historic Landmark 1988-present
  • Restoration
  • Gloucester Fishing Industry
    • 1600€™s
    • 1700€™s
    • 1800s
    • 1900€™s
  • Dory Fishing Gear
  • Skippy!


Thank You to our Partners

View More

National Trust of Historic Preservation Mass Humanities MassDevelopment Preserve America North Shore Chamber-Commerce Massachusetts Cultural Council Tall Ships America  Gloucester 400 Sp_EssexNat_2x

 

HOME | ABOUT US | HISTORY | EDUCATION | SUPPORT US | EVENTS | PRIVATE EVENTS | GUEST BOOK

Sign up for our email

Docked at: Maritime Gloucester Harriet Webster Pier, 23 Harbor Loop, Gloucester, MA
Mail to: The Gloucester Adventure, Inc., PO Box 1306, Gloucester, MA 01931
Office: Fitz Henry Lane House, 4 Harbor Loop, Gloucester, MA
Email: info@schooner-adventure.org | Phone: 978-281-8079
Copyright © The Gloucester Adventure, Inc | Header Photo © Cheryl Briscoe | Skippy Illustration © Rusty Kinnunen