George Eldridge (1821 - 1900)

Born 27 Nov 1821 in Chatham, Barnstable, Massachusetts, United States

Ancestors

Died 23 Aug 1900 at age 78 in Chatham, Barnstable, Massachusetts, United States

Biography

George Eldridge, born in Chatham in 1821, began a maritime career as a fisherman, coaster and local pilot. During his 20s he earned the reputation of being an intrepid and skillful ship master. This part of his career came to an abrupt end when he fell from the rigging of his coastal schooner in a storm and was severely injured. During his recovery ashore he realized that his disability required him to undertake a new career. He taught himself marine surveying and decided to become a chart-maker. His decision was inspired by the severe coastal changes caused by a storm which had recently opened up a new inlet in Nauset Beach and caused some new and hazardous shoals to form. These he set out to survey from his dory. The resulting chart was an immediate success, which prompted him to continue with chart-making as a career.^[1]

His first chart, published in 1852, was the now-famous “Upside-down Chart” of Monomoy Island and the surrounding shoals that became instantly popular with local sailors and fishermen. Its publication launched his chart-making career. The enterprise that he founded was joined by his son George W. (1840-1912) and came to include, in addition to charts, pilot books and tide and current tables. ^[2]

• Residence (1850) Chatham, Barnstable , Massachusetts
• Residence (1855) Chatham, Barnstable, Massachusetts, United States
• census (28 Jun 1860) Mariner Chatham,Barnstable,Massachusetts
• census (28 JUN 1860) Chatham, Barnstable, Massachusetts
• Residence (1860) Chatham, Barnstable, Massachusetts, United States
• Residence (1865) Chatham, Barnstable, Massachusetts
• Residence (1870) Massachusetts, United States
• census (22 Aug 1870) Charts Chatham,Barnstable,Massachusetts
• census (12 Jun 1880) Hydrographer Chatham,Barnstable,Massachusetts
• Residence (1880) Chatham, Barnstable, Massachusetts, United States
• census (9 Jun 1900) Hydrographer Chatham,Barnstable,Massachusetts
• Residence (1900) Chatham Town, Chatham LSS (6) Chatham Light (23) Chatham LSS (25), Barnstable, Massachusetts, United States
• Residence (23 Aug 1900) Chatham
• Burial Chatham, Barnstable, Massachusetts, United States

• Fact: Residence (1850) Chatham, Barnstable , Massachusetts
• Fact: Residence (1855) Chatham, Barnstable, Massachusetts, United States
• Fact: census (28 Jun 1860) Mariner Chatham,Barnstable,Massachusetts
• Fact: census (28 JUN 1860) Chatham, Barnstable, Massachusetts
• Fact: Residence (1860) Chatham, Barnstable, Massachusetts, United States
• Fact: Residence (1865) Chatham, Barnstable, Massachusetts
• Fact: Residence (1870) Massachusetts, United States
• Fact: census (22 Aug 1870) Charts Chatham,Barnstable,Massachusetts
• Fact: census (12 Jun 1880) Hydrographer Chatham,Barnstable,Massachusetts
• Fact: Residence (1880) Chatham, Barnstable, Massachusetts, United States
• Fact: census (9 Jun 1900) Hydrographer Chatham,Barnstable,Massachusetts
• Fact: Residence (1900) Chatham Town, Chatham LSS (6) Chatham Light (23) Chatham LSS (25), Barnstable, Massachusetts, United States
• Fact: Residence (23 Aug 1900) Chatham
• Fact: Burial Chatham, Barnstable, Massachusetts, United States

Sources

1. ↑ http://chathamhistoricalsociety.org/collection/george-eldridges-upside-chart/
2. ↑ https://chathamhistoricalsociety.org/collection/nautical-charts/chatham-nautical-chart-initiative/

• "Family Tree," database, FamilySearch (http://familysearch.org : modified 10 August 2020, 23:01), entry for George Eldredge(PID https://familysearch.org/ark:/61903/4:1:KG4L-1WF); contributed by various users.
• https://www.findagrave.com/memorial/43860287/george-eldridge
• "Family Tree," database, FamilySearch (http://familysearch.org : modified 19 October 2018, 17:52), entry for George Eldredge(PID https://familysearch.org/ark:/61903/4:1:KG4L-1WF); contributed by various users.