PUFFER, Josiah Prentice

Other Events and Attributes:

• Ref#: 262
• _COLOR: 11

Notes:

Died of smallpox in New York harbor, was buried on Staten Island. He went to sea. The following account was written by his father:
"November 14, 1835, Josiah P. Puffer sailed for the first time on board the Tam O'Shanter to the West Indies (London-Jamaica). April 19, 1836, he sailed on the Willow (?) to the Grand Banks, Capt. James Needham, and then down into the British Dominion. The same Fall, he started away with Capt. Josiah Gorum and went to Savannah and then Newburyport (?) and back to Savannah and then to lesser ports (?), then to New York and Boston and home and stayed 10 days. He then sailed from Boston in the ship Levant to Batavia and from Batavia to Lintin (?) and from Linton to Batavia, from Batavia to Canton, Canton to Melville Island (LA) and to the Philippine Islands and from there to St. Helena and after passage of 148 days arrived in New York and then shipped on board the ship Yazoo for New Orleans, and back to New York and Boston. Then stayed at home a fortnight and sailed in the Plato to Charleston, SC, and then shipped on board the ship Layfayette for New York and back to Charleston and then shipped as second mate for the brig Arabeau for Liverpool, Eng., and back to Charleston and Boston and then shipped in the brig Tyke(?) as second mate again for Savannah an here I am among the mosquitos up to my eyes. Making in all that I can recollect 32 ports that he has been to in short space of four years and ten months, 13 days." (It is possible that this is copied from a letter of Josiah P. Puffer).
His death was announced in the following letter to his father:
"Dear Brother:
I am sorry to be obliged to communicate the sad news of your son's death. In looking over the papers, I saw it and have cut it out and send it to you. I do not know any of the particulars more than you. He had considerable money in his chest, but has a month's wages in advance and I should think that there was nothing due to him. As to his clothes, I should not think it would be safe to have them brought on, for if he died of any contagious disorder, it would be exposing your family for the same. I hope you will be resigned to your loss and think it is all for the best. In haste, A. Johnson."