View of Norfolk From the Marine Hospital – Original Author: Edward Sachse, The Mariners' Museum, Newport News, VA.
James McAllister first shipped when he was around 12 years old. James worked four years on British Merchant Ships and 44 years on American Merchant Ships. James was born in Scotland but made his home in New York. He was married to a Mrs. J. McAllister, and they had a daughter, Mary McGuire.
The privateers CHASSEUR, Pride of Balitmore - Painting by Patrick O’Brien, National Parks Service
James had his first impression of American Seamen at war when he was on board the Brig Christine, a British Merchant Ship in 1814. James was apprenticed to this ship. The Christine would be captured by the Privateer Lawrence, which held a letter of Marque from Maryland and originally hailed out of the port of Baltimore. The Privateer Lawrence was notorious for tracking British and American Shipping and taking prizes. On January 25, 1813, the privateer Lawrence brought 8 prize ships out of 13 that she captured into the port of New York. There were 106 prisoners, of whom 15 were brought to New York. The prizes added to 3000 tons plus a quantity of English goods (Coggeshall, 320). When Christine, James’s ship, was taken to Norfolk, Virginia, in 1814, James would remain in America sailing under the US Flag for the rest of his years as a sailor (James McAllister Registration Page).
The last ship that James would sail on was the Brig Erie. James was Captain of this ship in 1858. There is a record of the Brig Erie in 1856 moving cargo and an immigrant passenger from Black River, Jamaica, to the Port of New York. The Ship is rated at 180 tons (Immigrant Ships Transcribers Guild). In general, these brigs were anywhere between 80 and 120 feet. These Brigs were two-masted, square-rigged vessels (Fitz Henry Lane).
James McAllister would enter Sailors Snug Harbor in 1858. James would remain at the Harbor for 18 years, dying at 78 years old. James left his daughter Mary with his wife’s gold watch and 25 dollars. James is buried at Snug Harbor Cemetery Plot 3, Row 2, Grave 13. This gives him a grave number of 964; see cemetery map.