Oyster sloop NELLIE

oyster sloop

WATERCRAFT
USA, NY, Long Island, Smithtown; USA, NY, Long Island; Long Island Sound
1891
LOA 32 ft. 7 in.; beam 12 ft. 9 in.

Oyster sloop NELLIE A. RYLE, known as "NELLIE"; built at Smithtown, Long Island, New York, 1891; Official No. 130578.

Nellie is a 36-foot oyster sloop believed to have been built in 1891 by Captain Franklin Darling Hawkins along the Nissequogue River in Smithtown, Long Island, New York. Although earlier speculation dated its construction to 1818, recent documentation—including vessel registration records and archival research—strongly supports the 1891 origin. Originally used for shellfishing and coastal trade, Nellie was part of the vibrant oyster industry in Long Island Sound. It passed through multiple owners, including the Ryle family of Connecticut, and underwent key modifications, such as its conversion from sail to gas power in 1913. Over the decades, it was registered in various ports and adapted to evolving maritime technologies, including the installation of a Palmer gas engine. Despite these changes, Nellie retained its characteristic design and served actively in oyster harvesting until its preservation began in the mid-20th century.
Gifted to the Mystic Seaport Museum in 1964, Nellie has since undergone extensive restorations to return it to its original sailing configuration. Preservation efforts led by groups such as the Friends of Nellie and SPONAR have ensured the vessel’s survival and historical integrity. The current restoration, which includes work on its rigging and a replacement of its keel, aims to once again set the sloop under sail. Though not the oldest surviving oyster vessel—Priscilla holds that distinction—Nellie remains one of the few of its kind still afloat. As part of Mystic Seaport’s collection, it serves as an educational and cultural artifact, embodying the evolution of the oyster industry and maritime craftsmanship. Its story connects past to present, preserving a tangible link to the working waterfronts of Long Island and southern New England.

Nellie’s Past Owners:

1891 – 1898: Franklin Darling Hawkins (b. 1847- d. 1933) of Smithtown, Long Island, NY. Coastal Trading
1898 – 1900: Josiah M. Stamps (1853 – 1930) of Central Islip, Long Island, NY. Coastal Trading
1900 – 1938: John Ryle (1854 – 1938), Stamford, Conn. Coastal Trading, Oystering, and Mackerel. (Passed away aboard Nellie – Long Island Sound Pilot and one of the leading oyster growers in Conn for more than 50 years NYT Nov. 27, 1938)
1913 – CONVERTED TO GAS ENGINE. 1938 – NOTED 8 B.H.P.
1939 – 1961: James Ryle, Southfield Point, Stamford, Conn.
1944 – ENGINE NOTED AS 30 B.H.P.
1961: Henry W. Ventulett (1928 – 1996) of Bridgeport, Conn.
1961 – 1964: John L. Stone (1929 – 2010) of Westport, Conn.
1964 – present: Mystic Seaport Museum, Mystic, Conn.

1964.1551