We’d like to honor William C. J. Kirkwood from Boston, Massachusetts who journeyed aboard the Huntress ship. Dating back to 1850, William was a greenhand who worked tirelessly along with his fellow crewmates as the Huntress was trekking her way back home from a three year whaling voyage in the Pacific Ocean. It was on February 10th of that very same year, just along Cape Horn when tragedy struck. William was located on the ship’s rigging when he lost his footing and sadly fell overboard. Unfortunately no one aboard the Huntress was able to rescue William from the perilous waves and the twenty-five year old drowned. Upon returning to New Bedford, those aboard the Huntress erected a cenotaph in William C. J. Kirkwood’s name where to this very day he is remembered as one of the many brave souls who risked everything for his community.
William Kirkwood
