Voyages: 1831 and 1845
Ship: Coriolanus and Mattakeesett
Elizabeth Winsor was the daughter of shipbuilder Nathaniel Winsor, Jr. and Hannah Loring. She was raised in the grand Federal-era mansion at 479 Washington Street, Duxbury (today, the Duxbury Rural & Historical Society’s headquarters). Three of her brothers became successful master mariners; her sister-in-law, Mary Ann F. Weston Winsor, also appears on this list. In 1830, Elizabeth married Capt. Erastus Sampson (1808-1885). Shortly after their marriage, they set sail on a “honeymoon” cruise aboard the Coriolanus, a ship built by Erastus’ father, Levi Sampson.
A portrait of the ship, painted in 1831, shows a woman on the deck and is currently on display at the Nathaniel Winsor, Jr. House.
The Sampsons had three children and eventually owned the home at 479 Washington Street. Elizabeth went to sea with her husband at least once more. In a letter dated 1845, written by Sally Freeman Dawes to her husband, Capt. Josephus Dawes, Sally wrote, “two Duxbury ladys started for New Orleans this morning to go to sea with there husbands Elexander Wadsworths wife and Capt Rastus Sampson wife…”
After her husband retired from the sea and became an agent for the Winsor family’s steamship line, Elizabeth and her family moved to 63 Rutland Street in the South End of Boston, visiting Duxbury during the summer months. She died in Boston in 1885 and is buried in Mayflower Cemetery, Duxbury.
Sources:
Dawes Family Collection, DAL.MSS.004, Drew Archival Library
Portrait of Coriolanus. Duxbury Rural & Historical Society
