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Many Saban seamen lie in cemeteries throughout the West Indies and the world with unwritten epitaphs which would have revealed the drama and the glory of the life they led roaming the world.

In an Anglican church on the island of Bequia, in the Grenadines, a plaque on the wall reads: 'In memory of Captain Richard Hassell of Saba Island'.

In a cemetery at Cayenne, French Guyana, are the graves of Claude Mardenborough and Herbert Hassell of Saba who died of yellow fever while seeking their fortune in the goldfields. Many more died at sea. The 'Maggie M. Hart', lost off Cape Hatteras on December 31st, 1902, had two Sabans on board: Edward C. Hassell and Alois Hassell, two of the many from Saba who were lost at sea.

In 1942, during World War II, 'The Sunday Chronicle' in Georgetown, Guyana, carried a story on Saba. It claimed that Prime Minister Winston Churchill had said that in World War I, the Sabans had done much smuggling for the Germans. In St. Kitts it was also believed the Dutch Windward Islanders were sympathetic to the German cause.

According to the late Elias Richardson, who served as a police officer on Saba in the nineteen-thirties, Count Von Lockner, a former German submarine Captain, visited Saba on a private yacht to look up several Captains who he had known.

On the other hand quite a few Sabans lost their lives on schooners torpedoed by the German U-boats in World War I. In one case alone my great-grandparents George Rodney Johnson and Sarah Vlaughn lost four grandsons at one time on a schooner called the 'Bessie A. Crooks', which was lost on January 26th, 1917 in the Gulf of Pernambuco, Brazil. Also lost in that incident was a certain James Hubert Every of Windwardside.

In world War II at least another 12 Sabans lost their lives on tankers torpedoed by the Germans. They are: Theophilus Wilson, lost December 31st, 1942 on Tanker 'Hermes'; John William Dunlock, torpedoed February 16th, 1942; also, Anthony Dudley Jackson; James Stewart Cornett; Walter A. Winfield; John Wilson; Darcy Kenneth Lynch; Reginald Gordon, died first half of March 1942 on British ship 'La Carriere'; James Edmund Gordon, December 1943; Carl Simmons, lost 1944 on 'Fern Castle'; Antonio Duran Woods, died on tanker 'Punta Gorda' on September 18th 1944; as well as Henry Swinton Woods.

Other old sailors were more fortunate and lived their last years in comfort in 'SNUG HARBOUR'. This was founded by a Mr. Randolph in the nineteenth century and was located on Staten Island, New York. Among those from Saba who lived and died in that institution were: Capt. John Simmons, John Michael Dinzey Simmons, Capt. Hubert Locklin Heyliger, Herman Laurence Every and Capt. Samuel Augustus Simmons Jr.

Captain George Holm at the grave of his father, George W.C. Holm in Windwardside, Saba with Mt. Scenery in the background.

As far back as records were kept on harbour statistics we can see evidence of Saban captains serving the Windward Islands and the world. A glance at the harbour records of St. Eustatius for June 1779 show the following Saban captains leaving the roadstead for other destinations: to St. Kitts, Capt. Jacob Johnson; to Saba, Capt. William Leverock; to St. Thomas, Capt. John Vanterpool; and to Guadeloupe, Capt. John Winfield.

A look at transactions in the property records of Saba between 1865 and 1872 provide us with the following names of captains:

Our Captains travelled far and wide with their schooners and there were not only direct trading links with the other West Indian Islands, but with places like New York as well.

In 1877, Capt. Solomon (Butchy Coonks) Simmons, was Captain of a schooner registered on Saba named the 'Alice'. The late Mr. Beaks Hassell of Windwardside in an interview in the nineteen thirties stated that he had travelled to New York in the year 1877 in that 'Brig' with a load of sugar and molasses from St. Kitts. They sailed first to St. Maarten where they took on some passengers and from there they went via the Gulf of Mexico. They encountered a storm in the Gulf which they survived and finally after fourteen days they arrived in New York

In his unpublished manuscript Capt. Ernest A. Johnson, tells how his uncle John Johnson instructed Capt. John Vanterpool to Shanghai him back to the West Indies in 1901 on his two-masted schooner the 'Priscilla'. The schooner loaded at Greenpoint, Long Island, where most of the Saban owned schooners used to load in the nineteenth century. Also on board was Capt. Tommy Vanterpool.

'The Esther-Anita', a two-masted schooner of 105 gross tons had a record run from New York to Saba in nine days back in 1915.

In order that our children not forger them, we thought it useful to include in this book a listing of the names of licensed captains of schooners and steamboats, who operated as such in this century. Of course, it is possible that we may have missed some names but the fate of those of those who respond to the call of the sea is such that the epitaphs of many Sabans will remain unwritten.

The name of each captain is given followed in most cases by the type of ship he was captain of, as well as other information which we have been able to obtain about some of these former islanders.

1. Solomon ('Butchy Coonks') Simmons, square riggers. He was the brother of Captain Sammy Simmons and Arthur Wallace Simmons and father of two Captains Johnny Simmons and Hilton Simmons. His second wife was from Jamaica by whom he had four daughters, one of whom was married to Captain Tom Simmons and another to Captain Dudley Simmons.

2. Johnny Simmons, Captain of sail as well as steamships; he was a captain on the American Hawaiian Line.

3. Hilton Simmons, sail and steam; was Captain of the steamer 'Owego' among others. Captain Irvin Holmes sailed with him as a young man.

4. Edmond Rudolph Simmons (1848-1916), sail, square-riggers. Lost aboard a schooner bound for St. Maarten from New York; father of Captain Will Simmons. The other Sabans who lost their lives with him were: Luddie Peterson, Rupert Dowling, Benjamin Hassell and Frank Simmons, all from St. Johns and The Bottom. The schooner belonged to the Van Romondt's of St. Maarten.

5. Will Simmons (1875-1931), captain of four-masted ships. When he was only twenty years old he already was captain of the four-masted schooner 'Andrew Adams'. When the United States bought the Virgin Islands he became the first harbourmaster and when he died in 1932 Engle Simmons, also from Saba, became harbourmaster.

6. Peter Simmons, Captain of the 'Sprague', a four-masted schooner; also Captain of steamships, brother of:

7. Donny Simmons, Captain of the 'Cobb' and American three-masted schooner. Also Captain of steamships. His father Johnny Simmons was also a Captain and owned 'Bunker Hill Cottage' where the 'Voice of Saba' is now located.

8. Earl Simmons, Captain of molasses tankers, brother of:

9. Commodore Tom Simmons was born on Saba. Like most young men of this island, he started his career at the age of sixteen on sailing ships through the West Indies and along the coast of the United States. The last episode of his eventful career has already been told in the chapter 'Sabans and the Sea', earlier in this book. But it is interesting to know that he worked his way up to second mate on schooners, and then joined the American Hawaiian Line as Quarter Master. In 1917 he went over to the Munson Steamship Line as third officer on the passenger liner 'Murio'. He later became Captain and was in command of the maiden voyage of the old 32,000 ton 'Argentina', as well as the new 22,000 ton luxury liner by the same name. The old 'Argentina', under his command, was the first troop ship to enter the ports of Australia during World War II and to stand by for D-Day in England. He was Captain of various ocean liners such as the 'Western World', the 'American Legion', the 'Southern Cross', and the 'Pan American'. He later became commodore of the Moore McCormick Line. He spent fifty-two years at sea and was awarded the highest decoration by Brazil to a foreigner.

10. Captain Cameron Dudley Simmons, July 10, 1892 - January 17, 1945. Dudley and his brother Samuel left Saba on a schooner sailing between the islands and New York. After sailing Mate on the schooner he then sailed with the American Hawaiian Line until he received his Master's license. Sailing Master on tankers and freighters, some of the vessels were the S.S. Antietam, S.S. Bulkco, S.S. E.J. Nicholas (tankers), S.S. Alamar, S.S. Cubore (freighters). Just prior to World War II Captain C.D. Simmons took the S.S. Laranaga from Boston destined for Murmask, but just east of Iceland their convoy was wolfpacked. The ship received a hit, but retained watertight integrity and went into Reykjavik for repairs. Captain Simmons went ashore and when returning to the ship on a launch was injured. He was hospitalized for approximately three months due to a severely injured foot. When the ship returned from Murmansk it put into Reykjavik for him. In July 1942 he assumed command of the S.S. William Wirt, launched with two other Liberty ships on the 4th of July. The ship loaded in Newport News, Virginia and the first of August set sail for the United Kingdom, arriving in Avonmouth, England. After discharging cargo the ship was sent to Newport, Wales to await loading for the North African invasion in November. The William Wirt was the first ship to enter a North African port in the invasion. On the next trip from Liverpool to Phillipeville, Algeria the ship was hit in an air attack, but made port and was able to discharge cargo. From Phillipeville the ship sailed to Gibraltar for repairs and then returned to the United Kingdom where a survey found the ship not fit to continue carrying cargo, so it returned to the U.S. For this he was awarded the Medal for Meritorious Service. After a short vacation Captain Simmons commanded another Liberty ship until sometime in the spring of 1944 when he became Captain of the Point Loma, a seagoing tugboat. He served on the Point Loma until his death in January 1945. He was buried in the Pacific Ocean.

11. Samuel Augustus Simmons (born 1881, died 1970), was married to a woman from Barbados. He died in Snug Harbour, Staten Island.

12. Harold Simmons. Lost at sea with his family on board around 1923. Captain of a molasses tanker which broke in two. David Johnson, another Saban on board, escaped in the mate's boat. There was still another brother of the three aforementioned captains, a third mate on a schooner who drowned off Cape Hatteras.

13. Lorenzo Simmons, Captain of Windjammers among which was the 'Minerva'.

14. Knight Simmons, Captain of the two-masted schooner 'Estelle' and others.

15. Evan Simmons, sail and also steamships. He was a Captain for the 'Red D. Line', was married twice to Saban women and died in Brooklyn.

16. Algernon Hassell, sail. Captain of a sail ship which ran between St. Croix and St. Thomas, father of:

17. Moses Hassell, born on St. Croix, sail, he was the father of:

18. Merwyn Hassell, steam. Died of appendicitis while his ship was off the coast of Italy in World War II.

19. Arthur Wallace Simmons, Captain of the five-masted schooner 'Margaret Throop', which belonged to John Eliot & Co. of New York.

20. John Vanterpool, sail. Brother of:

21. Thomas C. Vanterpool, sail.

22. Ernest Vanterpool, sail. Ernest had three sons:

23. Donald Vanterpool, sail and

24. Hubert Vanterpool, sail. Lost at sea in a hurricane. The aforementioned Vanterpool brothers trace their origins from a Dutch family that came to Saba from Spanish Town, Virgin Islands.

25. Edmond Windfield, sail, Brother of:

26. Matthew (Decka) Windfield, sail. They were the uncles of:

27. Will Leverock, sail.

28. John Leverock, sail.

29. Aubrey Leverock, sail.

30. Ben Leverock, sail and steam. He last visited Saba in June 1981. As a young boy he sailed around the West Indies on two schooners, namely the 'Nicola' and the 'Golden West 2nd'. The Captains of these schooners were Sabans. In 1924 he became 3rd officer of a steam boat. In 1940 he was promoted to Captain of the 12,000 ton steam boat 'Paul Luchenbach' and of course was Captain during World War II. When Captain of the U.S. Government owned vessel the 'Lynchburgh', and as the vessel was passing through the great Barrier Reef to the east of Australia, he sighted two life boats with men in them. He stopped his ship and rescued the survivors who were Australians; their ship had run aground. Bernard made twenty seven trips as Captain between New Guinea and Australia. He was Captain of the Luchenbach ships for eighteen years and the United States Marine shops for six years. He was Captain of about 16 different ships. Once while in command of the S.S. Gathling the under section of the shops rudder fell off six hundred miles to the East of Bermuda during the last World War. The fastest ship he was ever Captain of was 'Mexico Victory'. Her speed was twenty-two knots. Captain Leverock retired in 1964.

31. Buddy Barnes, sail. Father of:

32. Chandlis Barnes, sail.

33. Charlie Barnes, sail.

34. Robert Barnes, sail.

35. Buddy Barnes, sail. He died at sea while second mate on a six-master.

36. Willie Barnes, sail. Lost at sea in a hurricane.

37. Peter Dowling, sail and steam.

38. John William Dowling, steam. Brother of:

39. Aldrick Dowling, sail and steam. Both he and his brother died young (in their late thirties).

40. Edmond Hassell, sail.

41. Hubert Hassell, Captain of ESSO Tankers. Brother of:

42. James Hassell, freighters and:

43. Whippy Hassell, steam.

44. Ernest Alfred Johnson, sail and steam. In his book 'Life and Adventures', Captain Johnson relates for instance that he left Saba on the 'Priscilla' under Captain Vanterpool on January 20th, 1902, for Humacao, Puerto Rico, to load cattle for Guyana. Four days later he arrived in Barbados to fetch water for the cattle, where he joined the schooner 'Daisy' under the command of Matty Windfield of St. John's, and sailed the same day for St. Lucia to load a cargo of cord wood for Barbados. Later that year he joined Captain Lorenzo Simmons of The Bottom, and worked some months on the Windjammer the 'Minerva' transporting prisoners from Cayenne to Devil's Island and Maroni. It goes to show how Sabans got around.

46. James Knight Simmons, steam, Grace Lines. His last command was the S.S. 'Margarita'. He took part in D-Day and his ship was scuttled at Ohmaha Beach. He went to sea at age 13 with his father Captain Charles Simmons who died on that same trip at sea with a high fever on the way back from Guyana to Barbados. The vessel becalmed just off Saba and it was decided to bury him at sea. A breeze sprang up immediately after and within half an hour the vessel was in port at Saba. Capt. Knight is still living in New York and is the brother of:

47. Charles Reuben Simmons, born 1865, who still lives in Hell's Gate, left here as a young man for the United States. There he attended navigation school at White Hall Street in New York City. He obtained his license as second Mate, later he became First Mate, and then he obtained his Masters license. The first ship under his command was the schooner 'Mayflower', owned by Captain Tommy Vanterpool. While Quarter Master on board the 'Missouri' he was torpedoed off Genoa in the Mediterranean on April 4th 1917, and spent several days at sea before being rescued. This ship was under the command of Captain Hilton Simmons of The Bottom and belonged to the American Hawaiian Lines. Menthor Hassell of Windwardside was 1st Mate, Earl Simmons of The Bottom was Quarter-Master and Petie Johnson was also a sailor. Other shops on which he sailed were the 'Sea Breeze' and the 'Steadfast'. He was also First Mate on the five-masted 'T.N. Barnsdell', under the command of Ernest Alfred Johnson. Between 1940 and 1944 he was a pilot in Demerara.

48. Thomas Hassell, sail. Brother of:

49. Captain 'Ben' Hassell, sail, and:

50. Abraham Hassell, sail.

51. Thomas (TATER) Holm, square riggers. Uncle of Captain George Irvin Holm and Captain Ralph Holm.

52. George Irvin Holm (1891-1984). His father died in and accident with a falling stone under the cliffs at Crispeen when the Captain was only 11 years old and his brother Ralph, 9. He started sailing at age 13 on a two-masted schooner 'Mary Love', which belonged to Captain Ben Hassell and Captain Lovelock Hassell (Ben's father-in-law), as Cabin Boy. In 1906 he visited the United States for the first time. The 'Mary Love' took 22 passengers from Saba, Statia and St. Maarten and brought back the lumber to build the home of Captain Ernest Alfred Johnson on Booby Hill. In 1909 he moved to New York and started to work on sailing ships and yachts. At the age of 18, he sailed as a 'donkeyman' on the 'Prescot Palmer' sister ship to the five-masted 'Rebecca Palmer'. He obtained his 3rd mates license in 1916, in 1917 his second mates license and in 1918 that of Chief Mate, then joined the Navy as Lieutenant and sailed on a troopship to Liverpool, England. He was transferred and worked as an assistant to the port captain of Brest, France, then to a navy ship with Headquarters at Cardiff, England. After the war he became captain of a private yacht named 'Halcyon' which bater became a rum runner. In 1931 he became captain of a steamer for the Duponts (International Trading Co.), then went over to Prudential Lines as captain and remained with them until he retired. The ship was the Thomas E. Mitchell and it was used on the South American run. Captain Holm died at the age of 93. His remains were brought to Saba and a lifelong wish fulfilled when he was laid to rest next to the grave of his beloved father. His last years of retirement had been spent partly on Saba and he was very helpful to the author in verifying much of the material contained in this book. He was the brother of:

53. Ralph Holm, born 1894, began sailing at age 15 with Captain Lovelock Hassell on the 'Peerless' a two-masted schooner. In 1911 he went to the United States where he worked on tugboats and yachts. He became Captain of a yacht for 'Farrell Line'. Then he became Mate on a ship which was torpedoed during World War I off Trinidad. He drifted around in a lifeboat until he was rescued. He was also shipwreaked on a coal boat with Captain Harold Simmons of The Bottom. THe boat sank on route from Philadelphia to Boston, all were saved. He then began working as Captain of steamships for Farrell Lines until his retirement in 1946. He used to sail mostly to Europe, and took part in D-Day and went into the beach with his ship. His wife was Helen Johnson of St, Eustatius. He never had any children and died in New York.

54. Willie Witts Hassell, square riggers. Last command, barkentine 'St. Peter'. He was also Captain of the square rigger the 'R.L.T.'. He transported coffee from Brazil to New York, brother of:

55. Henry Hassell, He was Captain of the barkentine 'St. Paul' and used to sail between the Caribbean, England and the United States.

56. Lovelock Hassell, square riggers.

57. Thomas Mentor Hassell, steam, brother of:

58. Fred Hassell, sail, and

59. David Hassell, sail. He was Captain on the 'American Hawaiian Lines'.

60. Richard Hassell, sail.

61. Richard Hassell, sail.

62. James Peterson, sail. Captain of a three-masted schooner 'James Slater', brother of:

63. Josiah Peterson, sail and steam. He owned a three-masted schooner which he took out in a hurricane and was lost in the Gulf of Mexico. He was on Saba in 1912 with his American wife and took part in a masquerade. He was half-owner of the house now known as the 'Museum'. His children still live in Mississippi. A grandson who is a rock singer was recently on Saba.

64. Athelston (Attie) Peterson, steam. Last command, tanker 'Carbide Texas City'.

65. Roy Peterson, tankers, brother of Lovell. Had heart attack and died in New York subway while only in his forties. When he first went to New York he worked with Captain Irvin Holm on the steamer 'Edith' of the Bull Lines, which sailed between New York and Puerto Rico. Many other Sabans worked on that same ship.

66. Algurnel Hassell, sail. Brother of:

67. Lawrence Hassell, sail. Brother of:

68. Edwin Hassell, steam. He was the Captain on the 'American Hawaiian Lines'.

69. Edgar Hassell, sail. He was Captain of schooners which fished out of Demerara. He was a nicknamed 'Paddy'. Father of:

70. Tarold Hassell, steam. His first wife was Eustelle Wathey from St. Maarten. After her death he married Brontie Hassell from Saba. Captain of the 'Maltram' of the 'C.D. Mallory Line', also mate on the 'Bull Line'. During World War II he was Lt. Commander in the Coast Guard around New York. Was also Chief Mate on 'Western Ocean' a passenger ship and also rumrunner between the Caribbean and New York. Irvin Holm was 2nd Mate and Ainslee Peterson sailor on that same ship.

71. John Hassell, steam.

72. George Hassell, steam. Owned the house where Miss Gladys Hassell lives. His brother died with Cayenne fever. His other brother Hubert Hassell was lost at sea on his way home to be married. Captain George died in Cienfuegos, Cuba and was buried there in 1918 while yet in his forties. He was married to Hyacinth (Bo Willeie's daughter). He died from the swine flu. He was one of the first Saba Captains of steamships and to obtain a Masters license in the United States.

73. Peter Hassell, steam. He was the son of Henry Hassell, the Captain whose former dwelling house is now the main building of the Captain's Quarters Hotel. His wife was from Venezuela and he was the father of three boys and girls. He died in the United States at the age of 96.

74. Augustine Johnson. He was Captain of four-masters named 'Robert L. Baine' and 'Charles G. Endicott'. He used to transport coal and lumber from New York to Cadiz, Spain, and then return with olive oil and wine. His crew was from Saba. He was married to Clara Hassell and they had two sons. He died aged 97 in Rhode Island. The 'Charles G. Endicott' was about 300 feet long. Captain Irvin Holm in 1911 was a sailor on board. Other crew members were Wilson Johnson, cook, T.C. Vanterpool, Henry Johnson, Geroe (Wussa) Hassell, Tom Darcy as sailors and Bloomfield Hassell as engineer. At that time they were handling railroad ties from Savannah to New York. Wilson Johnson, the cook, in his later years talked about the schooner. In his whole life he had seen but one schooner worth pumping out, the 'Charles G. Endicott' and but one skipper se close to God that the oats of the ship's cook fell short of the mark. He was a Saban named Augustine Johnson. "Man above men," said Wilson:

a young god at sea, more n' six feet, black eyes, black mustache. Seven good years I sailed on the Endicott with'im. Let a gale come, and he'd neither eat nor drink. Stayed on the deck all the time walkin' 'round munchin'! Watchin' the sky, watchin' the riggin'! Watchin' the men. Tidin' fore the wind in a big mouthy sea. I flops on me face in the galley. Then I crawls out to see what's up. The deck she is ankle-deep in water, I feels' sum'thin' bunpin' me foot. Looking down I sees the skippers head a washing 'round like he is a dead-un. I grab 'im by the collar, pulls him outta the wet sea. A block she'd broken loose above, grazed his head, knocked two spokes outta the wheel, didn't hurt the men at the wheel, but the skipper's head was a sight. He open his eyes, gives me a long look and stumbles outside. Never says, how you be, where've I been or nuthin'! A few deep breaths, and pretty soon, he's walking 'round, munchin' air, watchin'.

75. Lawrence Johnson, sail. Kenneth Bolles, in his manuscript "Caribbean Interlude", describes meeting Lawrence Johnson:

As I strolled through the Rendez-Vous, I nodded at the sailor-farmers. Leaning on his hoe was mild-eyed Lawrence Johnson. Small and sturdy, he embodied the spirit of the Rendez-Vous. Acceptance of reward justly earned, the aftermath of all war... peace. He bowed me through the doorway of his past.

76. John Johnson, sail. Captain Johnny commanded the barkentine 'Annie Seymour' and carried the first Sabans to Bermuda. A certain Abraham Hassell from Hell's Gate had put into Bermuda on a whaler, and found out that there was employment available for labourers. He came back to Saba to report it. This was around the year 18880. He was the father of:

77. Harold Johnson, steam. He was also Chief Mate on 'American Hawaiian Lines'.

78. There was also another Captain Johnny Johnson of the two-masted schooner 'Julie', which transported the mail between Barbados and Guyana for many years. He died in Demerara.

Other steamship captains from Saba were:

79. David Johnson.

80. Ralph Hassell.

81. Chandis Simmons.

82. Taddy Simmons.

83. Edward Hassell

84. Moses Hassell

Other Captains of schooners, barkentines etc. from our island were:

85. Daddy Johnson, he owned fishing schooners out of Demerara. He died there and is buried there.

86. Johnny Hassell.

87. Abraham Mardenborough.

88. Aldric Hassell.

89. Austin Simmons.

90. Edgar Hassell.

91. Frank Hassell.

92. Buds Johnson.

93. Larry Hassell.

94. Herman Simmons.

95. Peter Hassell.

96. Henry Johnson.

97.Hubert Every.

98. Kenneth Johnson, he was the son of Capt. 'Daddy' Johnson. They owned four two-masted schooners which operated out of Demerara.

99. Hubert Locklin Heyliger, Captain of the four-masted barkentine 'E. Marie Brown'. He died in Snug Harbour on Staten Island, New York. He was also Master of the five-master 'Rebecca Palmer' and the four-master 'East Star Jones'.

100. Captain Edwin Rupert Simmons, son of Moses ('Pa Modie') Simmons and Clementina ('Miss Clemmie') Simmons. Born on Saba, died and buried on St. Thomas, V.I. (1943). Sailed on many steamships before becoming a Harbour Pilot in the 1920's at Charlotte Amalie, St. Thomas, V.I. Was married to Ina Vanterpool, daughter of Capt. Tommy Vanterpool. During World War II he served for 22 months on the U.S.S. F.J. Luckenback. She made her maiden voyage on 15 January 1918. From February to September 1918 she carried cargo and troops to Europe, with trips to Marseilles, St. Nazaire, Brest, etc. After the Armistice she was re-fitted to carry troops back to the U.S., and with a crew of 180 she brought back 3,000 men and 75 officers. Photos in Capt. Edwin's album show him visiting Paris in July 1919, presumably on shore liberty.

101. Captain Waldron Eugene Richard Avid Peter Simmons, was born on Saba on February 3rd 1879 and died in the U.S.A. on September 22nd 1948. He left Saba with his father, Captain Peter Simmons at the age of 14 or 15. He remained there while his father returned to Saba. However his father was lost in a storm off Cape Hatteras on the way down. He then joined the Navy at the age of 16 and took part in the Spanish American War and fought in Cuba. He was in China in the Boxer Rebellion, served in World War I and II. He remained in active duty and rose to the rank of Commander. He was based in Portsmouth, Virginia. He had a brother named Clinton who married a lady from Statia. His son, George served as Administrator of St. John in the U.S. Virgin Islands for nearly ten years.

In total Saba up to now gave birth to more than one hundred full fledged (licensed) sea captains. In this list we have include only captains with masters licenses who were captains of schooners and steamships. Saba also had many 'coasters' i.e. unlicensed captains of sloops and other small craft who also served Saba, among them in recent years the politician Matthew Levenstone who sailed mostly between Saba and St. Maarten, and Captain Rudolph Dunkin who maintained the trade between Saba and St. Kitts. There were aalso many Sabans who were navigating officers of steamships, among which are: Peter Hassell, James, Bernard and Donald Leverock (brothers), Alvin Johnson, Ralph Hassell, Clifton and Vivian Peterson (brothers), Eric Hassell, Josiah Peterson, D. Dowling, George Dowling, John Hassell, Harold Hassell, Reuben Simmons and Austin Barnes. When one talks about its population's historical association with the sea, Saba indeed stands out in the Caribbean as the cradle of captains and mariners of the Western World.

This page was last updated on 06/29/2008