Voyage: 1875
Ship: Fred Eugene
Sophia Walker Smalley (1838-1907) was the daughter of Capt. Isaiah and Emily (Wadsworth) Walker. She married Capt. Adam Smalley of Maine in 1857 and went to sea in 1875 aboard Fred Eugene.
Capt. Smalley came to some recognition based on his dream: one night, he was awakened on board the Fred Eugene by a premonition that a crew nearby was in distress. He awakened a second time and, convinced there was truth to it, ordered his crew to change direction. They came on the Sparkenhoe, and its crew was, indeed, in distress. Capt. Smalley’s heroic efforts received nationwide acclaim.
The Smalleys had two children, both of whom died in infancy. During their later married years, Capt. Smalley lived in the Sailor’s Snug Harbor in Richmond, NY. Sophia lived with her brother. She died in 1909 at age 69.
