Albert O Betts (abt. 1815 - 1884)

Born about 1815 in Saint John, St. John, New Brunswick, Canada [uncertain]

Ancestors

Descendants

Died 30 Apr 1884 at about age 69 in Saint John, St. John, New Brunswick, Canada

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Biography

Albert was born circa 1815 in either Nova Scotia (based on some census records) or Saint John, New Brunswick (based on his obituary). He was a son of Hiram Betts and a grandson of United Empire Loyalist Dr. Azor Betts, an army surgeon.

He married Jane F. Purdy. They settled in Saint John, New Brunswick where Albert became a successful Master Mariner in the port city, the first to obtain a first class certificate from the Liverpool Board.^[1]

In 1840, he was Captain of a barque named "Clarence" which was based at the Port of Saint John.^[2]

In 1848, a major find of gold started what became known as the California Gold Rush. On August 18, 1849 an advertisement appeared in thee Courier, and a number of local Captains answered the invitation to sail to California. Captain Albert Betts was among a group of ships that left a few weeks later on September 25 to find fortune.^[3]

Circa 1850, he was Captain of a Schooner named "Clairmount." Loaded with Gold, his ship capsized in Panama while navigating the Chagres River and he nearly drowned losing some of the valuable cargo and mail. He arrived back in Saint John from that adventure in January of 1851.^[4]

In 1878, he was surveyor of shipping at Saint John.^[5] In that same year, he was also a Captain of a ship named "Themis." which sailed across the Atlantic from Liverpool where his son had just been appointed a surveyor of shipping.^[6]

Captain Albert Betts passed away on April 30, 1884 in Saint John at the age of 68.^[1]

Known Children

• Annie Louise (Betts) Hegan 1852-1943 m. George B. Hegan. Lived in Saint John.
• John Betts circa 1849-? Was living in Portland, Oregon engaged in business with his brother Albert in 1884.
• Albert Betts circa 1842-? Was living in Portland, Oregon engaged in business with his brother John in 1884.
• Capt. Henry E. Betts, was appointed Surveyor of American and Foreign Shipping at Liverpool, England in 1878. Was later a Lieutenant in the British Naval Reserve and a Marine Inspector.
• Second daughter mentioned in obituary

Census Records

• 1871 Census, Saint John, New Brunswick

Sources

1. ↑ ^{1.0 1.1} Death Announcement, 'The Daily Telegraph', May 2, 1884. Transcribed in Johnson, Daniel Vital Statistics From New Brunswick Newspapers, Vol 61 No 927
2. ↑ Marriage Announcement, New Brunswick Courier, Jan 4, 1840. Transcribed in Johnson, Daniel Vital Statistics From New Brunswick Newspapers, Vol 8 No 941
3. ↑ Old California Days (Historical Article), Progress, Sept 29, 1888. Transcribed in Johnson, Daniel Vital Statistics From New Brunswick Newspapers, Vol 71 No 320
4. ↑ Return of Albert Betts to Saint John, New Brunswick Courier, Jan 4, 1851. Transcribed in Johnson, Daniel Vital Statistics From New Brunswick Newspapers, Vol 13 No 836
5. ↑ [https://archives.gnb.ca/Search/NewspaperVitalStats/Details.aspx?culture=en-CA&guid=2D69DDE1-C957-47DB-A7CA-30665B0F5B4B Henry Betts appointed Surveyor, Saint John Globe, July 24, 1878. Transcribed in Johnson, Daniel Vital Statistics From New Brunswick Newspapers, Vol 45 No 731
6. ↑ Arrival of Themis, The Morning Freeman, March 12, 1870. Transcribed in Johnson, Daniel Vital Statistics From New Brunswick Newspapers, Vol 28 No 765