Josiah Perkins Creesy

Burial Location: Seaview Avenue Lot 1358, Grave 1

Josiah Perkins Creesy Jr., was born in Marblehead Massachusetts on March 23, 1814. The last name had numerous spellings: Cressey, Cressy, were just two of these. Even he sometimes spelled his surname in different ways!

He went to sea as a young boy, as was common at that time. Because promotion was rapid, he was commanding a ship by the time he was twenty-three. He had several fast runs from China, which gave him the reputation of being a successful “driver.” The Grinnell, Minturn and Company of New York gave him the command of their clipper ship, the Flying Cloud which had been built at East Boston by Donald McKay. She left New York for San Francisco on her maiden voyage, on June 2, 1851, just seven weeks after she was launched. On board was Eleanor Prentiss Creesy, Josiah’s wife who would serve as navigator.

Since they were pursuing a record, speed was all important. Only three days out at sea, three spars floated away, the mainmast cracked a week later, sails were torn to bits. Repairs were made without losing any speed. Just before noon on August 31, the ship was anchored in San Francisco. The voyage had been completed in eight-nine days and twenty-one hours, breaking all previous records.

Leaving San Francisco, the ship continued on to China to trade for tea. Returning to New York the following April after a ninety four day run around the coast of Africa. In 1854, another voyage was made to San Francisco, taking thirteen hours less than the previous one.

Retiring in 1855 to a farm in Salem, he resumed duty during the Civil War. He was made a volunteer acting lieutenant on August 2, 1861 and took command of the ship Ino. Having been in command for so many years, reporting to a commanding officer proved difficult for him. Early in 1862, when his squadron commander ordered him to release two Confederate prisoners, Creesy replied “I positively decline to give these men up”, and sailed away. Creesy was dismissed from service on July 18, 1862. He died June 5, 1871.

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Photo: Find a Grave.

Sources Consulted:

• Family Search.
• Find a Grave.
• World Biographical Encyclopedia.