Voyage: 1854
Ship: Telegraph
Frances Norton was born at Holmes Hole, now called Vineyard Haven, on the island of Martha’s Vineyard, the daughter of Freeman Norton and Polly Holmes. She was the second wife of Capt. Kimball Harlow, marrying him in 1843. Capt. Harlow built a house for Frances at 17 Linden Lane, Duxbury, MA. In 1854, Lydia voyaged aboard the clipper ship, Telegraph. An unfortunate incident occurred three days out of Boston when the Telegraph collided with another vessel and was dismasted.
At the end of his career, Capt. Harlow was the captain of the clipper, Kingfisher. Upon reaching England, he was deemed insane, and his Duxbury neighbor, Capt. David Cushman took command of the vessel.
Frances had three children with Kimball Harlow: Lydia Francis Harlow (married Frank Wadsworth – see Beulah Holmes Wadsworth in this list), Kimball F. Harlow (b. 1847), and William Osborn Harlow (b. 1852). At least one or more of these children were likely onboard the Telegraph.
After Capt. Harlow died in 1862, Frances married Alfred Sampson, Jr. (brother of Mary France Sampson Beadle in this list). Together they had one child, Alfred Norton Sampson (b. 1869). She died in 1909 in the home of her son. She is buried in Mayflower Cemetery in Duxbury, MA.
Sources:
Knoblock, Glen A. The American Clipper Ship, 1845-1920: A comprehensive history, with a listing of builders and their ships. Jefferson, NC: McFarland and Co: Jefferson, NC.
