NORTH SHORE BREEZE 9 
Origin of the Schooner 
A Gloucester Production—Lo- 
cality of Origin Can Be Visited. 
By MARY TAYLOR FALT. 
The neat and graceful eraft by the name of 
schooner, which now is known to all the maritime na- 
tions of the earth, is of North Shore origin and the pro- 
duction of Gloucester’s noted early settler, Capt. An- 
drew Robinson. Prior to 1713, the small craft used 
for coasting, fishing and trading voyages were known 
as shallops, sloops, pinnaces, barks and ketches, but 
concerning the masts, spars, rigging and sails of these 
vissels the facts are meagre. Capt. Robinson was ever 
ov the alert for improvement in marine design and it 
was he who gave a new name to our marine vocabulary 
and a new rig to the commerce of the world. 
The tradition of the launching of the schooner and 
the derivation of her name is told in the following way: 
The vessel was built by Capt. Robinson on a spot near 
vhat was known as the wharf property of the late Sam- 
vel G. Wonson at East Gloucester adjoining the Hast 
Gloucester ferry landing, which still exists and can be 
seen by tourists. Here ont this water front site which 
Capt. Robinson owned, the schooner was masted and 
rigged as the modern schooner and during her launching 
a bystander eried out, ‘‘Oh! how she scoons.’’ Robinson 
instantly replied, ‘‘A scooner let her be’’ and dashed 
a bottle of liquor against her bow, a modern method of 
christening sailing and steam craft. 
No marine directory, no commercial record, no 
merchant’s inventory of a date prior to 1713 can be 
discovered which contains the word ‘‘scooner’’ (schoon- 
er); therefore, it is acceded to be an historical fact, 
that the tirst vessel of this class had its origin in 
Gloucester. 
It is nearly certain that before this time no vessel 
was known to carry two trapeziform sails suspended 
by gaffs and stretched out below by booms. After she 
was masted and rigged in this peculiar manner, to the 
early Gloucester settlers she became the type of a class 
and came into common use. 
Now the world has been convinced of the schooner’s 
conveniences over other vessels and is indicative of the 
obligation of mankind to Capt. Andrew Robinson’s in- 
ventive genius. 
The life of the designer of the schooner will also 
prove of interest. He was the seeond son of Abraham 
Robinson, the latter by traditionary account of the most 
respectable character, affirming that he was a son of 
Rey. John Robinson of Pilgrim fame. His son, Andrew, 
‘-was' one of the most remarkable men that Gloucester 
ever produced.’’ He was a passionate hunter and at the 
age of twenty-one received a grant of land near his 
father’s house at East Gloucester, on which he built the 
‘‘oreat house.’? Nearby was his wharf upon which he 
built and from which was launched in 17138 the strange 
craft, the ‘‘scooner,’’ which secured him more than 
Iccal renown. He was also a navigator and showed 
ereat courage and sagacity in his capture of Indians. 
Tor his services in the French and Indian war, he was 
reimbursed by the General Court in 1730 by a grant of 
300 acres of ‘‘the unappropriated land of the Provinee’’ 
Mine Hill, Worcester County. 
The last public service of Capt. Robinson was the 
laying out of a fort and truck house at St. George’s 
River, Maine. This was an important work and his 
bravery and knowledge of the Indian character proved 
him the most suitable person to superintend its. con- 
siruction as was testified by Gov. Shirley. Before its 
completion, he was taken ill with lung fever and during 
his short illness was eared for by one of his nine 
caughters. [lis remains were deposited in a corner of 
tie fort. The site of the old fort was near what was 
known as Gen. Knox mansion in Thomaston, Maine. 
Through the marriage of Capt. Andrew Robinson and 
Rebeecea Ingersoll, December 7, 1704, the union resulted 
iit nine daughters and one son. His granddaughter, 
Rebecca Smith married Samuel Webber, one of the 
piesidents of Harvard college. Another granddaughter 
was the wife of George W. Sargent, son of Gov. Win- 
throp Sargent, from whom the Boston and Philadelphia 
Seurgents trace their ancestry. 
Lake-Croft Inn. 
Located in the center of the 
North Shore woods, on the edge of 
the beautiful Chebacco Lake, Lake- 
Croft Inn offers many attractions to 
the visitor to the North Shore, as is 
evidenced by the large numbers 
who drive or motor there daily. 
The broiled chicken dinners served 
at this popular place are the best to 
be found anywhere. Broiled chick- 
en dinners always taste good to the 
motorist, after a long ride, but at 
Lake-Croft they always taste better 
than anywhere else. So many of the 
wood drives end at Lake-Croft, 
drives that are closed to automobiles 
—motorists should remember that 
Dethe TaatandTe se. Ged Giid, ce Ace 
the only auto roads are from the 
electric car line on the Hamilton- 
Essex line, and the new Water 
Works road from Manchester, <A 
very pleasing innovation at the Inn 
this season is the glassed-in piazza, 
with table capacity for 100. Here 
on the cool veranda, shaded by the 
tall pines, and always fanned by a 
cool breeze from the lake, one may 
sit for hours and drink in the charm- 
ing scenery. Many North Shore 
people patronize the Inn daily. 
‘““What helped you over the great 
obstacles of life?’’ was asked a suc- 
cessful man, ‘‘The other obstacles,’’ 
he replied, 
