Capt. Hugh McCulloch

     Capt. Hugh McCulloch was born on 8 May 1773 in Arundel, York County, Maine.^3,7 He was the son of Adam McCulloch and Louisa Brown.^3,4,5,6 He was baptized on 21 May 1773 in Church of Christ, Arundel.⁸ He married Abial Perkins, daughter of Thomas Perkins Jr. and Susannah Hovey, on 10 April 1794 in Church of Christ, Arundel, York County, Maine. They ran away to marry because both set of parents thought they were too young.^9,10,11 He died on 1 November 1830 in Kennebunk, York County, Maine, at age 57.¹²
     
     Capt. Hugh McCulloch was to be known as the most spirited and courageous man of his period, entering into trade and navigation on a large scale. He built many vessels and acquired property rapidly, soon becoming known as the richest man in Kennebunk. Between 1801 and 1822, he was known as the principal owner of at least 17 vessels. These were all built at the McCulloch shipyards, just above Durrell's Bridge at the Landing. In 1811 two large ships, one called the Rubicon (408 tons) and an unnamed vessel (479 tons), were built by Hugh McCulloch.

     Unfortunately, trade ceased during the War of 1812 and blighted all the prospects of the ship owners. One of the two most recent ships of Hugh's lay at the bridge during the war and rotted; the other went to sea and did not return. Times again resembled those of the Revolutionary War. The coast was lined with British men-of-war and privateers. Frequently the flames arising from coasting vessels, which had fallen into the hands of the enemy, could be seen up the river.

     In the summer of 1812, as the news of the war spread, American vessels came home to port. One of these, the Advance, was unusual in that it sailed home from Liverpool and became the only vessel of record ever to bring in a full cargo of European goods, including earthenware, umbrellas, trunks, leather gloves, silks, muslins, calicoes, jewelry, etc. Traditionally, the goods received from the West Indies were sugar, molasses, coffee, and rum. Of nine consignees, only two were local, one of them being Hugh.

     In 1815, when news of the Treaty of Ghent, which ended the war, reached southern Maine, there was a rush to reactivate salvageable ships and to build anew. Hugh built four vessels, the most in any one year, including a ship of 439 tons named Sabine. No vessel exceeding this tonnage was built on the river until after 1820. Although the bulk of his shipbuilding was done at the Landing, Hugh and Abial first settled back at the harbor in Cape Porpoise after their marriage in 1794 because both families were opposed to their marrying so young.

     Along with Hugh's shipbuilding, Abial brewed drinks for the sailors and townspeople. Both occupations became very profitable. Due to their success, Hugh was able to buy a house at the Landing and move back close to the family home, where he joined his father in their shipping enterprise. He continued to own property at Cape Porpoise, including Goat, Green and Folly islands. In 1834, Goat Island at the entrance of Cape Porpoise harbor, was given to the U.S. government and a light house was erected on it, which is still standing today.

     For years, since the War of 1812, Hugh was distraught with tragedy and poor health. Another incident occurred while Thomas was at Harvard. His father was sending out one of his ships with a full load of lumber and merchandise for the West Indies. It had hardly passed beyond the mouth of the Kennebunk River when a sudden squall of unusual intensity threw it against the reefs (of St. Anne's Point, marked with a stone chapel)) wrecking it completely. Hugh had witnessed it from the land and helped to save the crew. The entire load, though, was lost. One of his friends tried to console him by saying he had a son at Harvard who was worth a dozen of such ships. Little did he know that within a short time Thomas would die.

     Hugh's early death was undoubetedly hastened by financial and personal losses. Despite this, he continued to hold onto his "Christian faith and trusted in an overruling Providence for a merciful deliverance from his distresses. His widow would eventually leave Kennebunk for Fort Wayne, where she died on 24 Sep 1856.¹³