Samuel Mulford, Alongshore Whaler 5 



might be in the actual work of killing a whale 

 and preparing the products for market, some of 

 them would shirk their tours of duty on lookout. 

 Shirking roused the anger of those who did not 

 shirk, and therefore, to preserve peace in the 

 community, it was necessary to give some one 

 authority "to call out ye town to loke for Whale." 



To this delicate and thankless task "Good- 

 man" John Mulford was called in 1651. It may 

 be noted also that he was chosen to serve as 

 magistrate during the same year. 



It has seemed important to give these facts 

 about the whaler settlers of Long Island, partly 

 to set forth something of the character of their 

 work, but chiefly because "Goodman" John Mul- 

 ford was the father of Samuel Mulford, who was 

 not only the most notable whaler of his day, but 

 a patriot of the colonial period, whose work has 

 never received the attention it has merited. 



Samuel was six years old when, in 1651, his 

 father was authorized to "call out ye town to 

 loke for Whale. " In connection with his career 

 it will be interesting to consider a peculiar feature 

 of the work of the whalers among whom he was 



