USRC Massachusetts (1791) facts for kids
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USRC Massachusetts was one of the first ten ships, called cutters, built for the United States Revenue Cutter Service. This service was like an early version of today's Coast Guard. Even though it wasn't the very first cutter to be put into the water, it was the first one to start working.
The Story of the Massachusetts
The Massachusetts was built in Newburyport, Massachusetts by a shipbuilder named William Searle. It was designed to be a type of sailing ship called a schooner. This meant it had two tall poles, called masts, with sails that ran along the length of the ship, not across it.
The ship was put into the water for the first time on July 15, 1791. Its first captain was John Foster Williams. The crew included four officers, four regular sailors, and two cabin boys. The Massachusetts was about 60 feet (18 meters) long and 17 feet 8 inches (5.4 meters) wide. It had a shallow draft of only 7 feet 8 inches (2.3 meters), meaning it didn't sit very deep in the water.
Captain Williams decided to make the ship bigger than planned. He did this without getting permission from the service. This made the ship cost more money than they had planned for, or budgeted. But the government still accepted the Massachusetts even with the changes Williams made.
The Massachusetts had the shortest time in service compared to the other nine original cutters. It turned out to be too expensive to run and was also too slow. So, on October 9, 1792, it was sold. In 1793, a smaller, lighter ship called the Massachusetts II took its place.
Other Early Cutters
- USRC Vigilant (1791)
- USRC Active (1791)
- USRC General Green (1791)
- USRC Scammel (1791)
- USRC Argus (1791)
- USRC Virginia (1791)
- USRC Diligence (1791)
- USRC South Carolina (1791)
- USRC Eagle (1791)
