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East Rock Park, New Haven Connecticut, Oil on Board, circa 19th Century, Artist Unknown
Parson Albee was born in Maine and shipped when he was about 24 years old. He would serve 40 years in the merchant trade traveling between Europe and the East Indies. Parson would serve on both sail and steam vessels. Parson was last at sea as First Mate in 1865 but had served as Captain on previous ships. Parson’s last residence was in New Haven, Connecticut, where he worked in a factory. Parson would enter Sailors’ Snug Harbor in April of 1872, and reside at the Harbor for 16 years, ten months, and twenty-six days, dying March 26, 1889. Parson would leave behind a wife and two children. Albee Parson is buried in Plot 5, Row 7, grave 15, of Sailors’ Snug Harbor Cemetery, which gives him a grave number of 1568.
Print of Ship Mercury - "SCHOOL SHIP 'MERCURY.' A Half Tone Print Prepared in 1872 - Hart Island NY
The last ship that Parson Albee served on in 1865 was the merchant Ship, Mercury. In 1869 a merchant Ship, Mercury, was converted into The Nautical Reform School Ship "Mercury at Heart Island, NY. The NY Legislators passed laws to create a Nautical School on Heart Island. The Ship Mercury would be used to train the boys in maritime skills. The ship is described as a two-decked, three-masted mercantile vessel. The lower deck was used for goods and lumber, while the upper deck was devoted to stores and a galley. There was a large engine on the upper deck for cooking and steam heating the ship through steam pipes.
Playing Domonos - Les Joueurs de Dominos (La Partie de dominos au café de la Régence - Mutual Art
When Parson Albee died, among his positions was a box of Dominos. A request to Captain Gustavus D. S. Trask from Parson Albee’s son verifies this. “Personal effects requested by me” ( Daniel Albee – Son of Parson Albee) include a “ clock, bible, a box of Dominos, brush, a package of paper, belonging to my deceased Father ( Parson Albee Registration Page). Dominos in the 1800s were played like rolling dice. Twenty-one of the Domino tiles represents all possible throws on two dice. The remaining tiles were zeros. Dominos, or bones as they were called, were widely played in coffee houses and taverns in the 19th century (University library in North Potomac, Maryland).