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Contact: John Miller at john.miller2@hotmail.com or Amy Powers, Director CruiseMaine
7th Generation of Wadsworth Family Continues Tradition of Great Service at
Maine’s Oldest Business Located in Historic Eastport S. L. Wadsworth & Son of Eastport, known as both the Nation’s oldest ship chandlery and Maine’s oldest retail business, has just entered its third century of operation. Founded in 1818 by Samuel Wadsworth, the business continues to be operated by the 6th generation of the same family that has called Eastport home since the beginning of the 19th century. The year was 1818 and James Monroe was President. George Washington had died less than 20 years before and Abe Lincoln was a young boy of nine. Former Presidents Thomas Jefferson and John Adams were exchanging elaborate letters in their retirement. It was the year that Congress voted to increase the number of stars on the flag from 15 to 20 and ice cream had just been invented. It was 21 years before Abner Doubleday would invent the national game of baseball. America was discovering the taste sensation of sarsaparilla and you could purchase prime ocean front property in Maine for a pound of tea. Wadsworth’s founder, Samuel Wadsworth had been engaged in other related
business in Eastport since 1812, when it was occupied by British troops.
Samuel was the son of General Peleg Wadsworth, aide to George Washington
during the Revolution and representative to Congress for the District of
Maine for 14 years. Samuel’s sister was the mother of poet Henry Wadsworth Samuel Wadsworth remained active with the business until 1864 when he
retired and turned operations over to the next generation. The sixth
generation of Wadsworths continues to serve the sixth generation of
customers. S. L. Wadsworth & Son has been in continuous operation for almost For over 300 years the Wadsworth family has been an integral part of the founding and building of America. The clan is descended from two of the pilgrims that arrived on the ship Lyon. The Grandparents of the present generation were dear friends of Franklin and Eleanor Roosevelt who were also customers of S. L. Wadsworth & Son. Two US Naval Vessels were named for members of the Wadsworth family, and the mother and grandmother of the present 6th and 7th generations christened the USS Peleg Wadsworth launched at South Portland in 1943. Located on the waterfront in the center of Eastport's old Downtown Historic
District, people no longer come in to purchase harpoons or whale oil, but
they do come for the same quality of service and product that has been
offered for the past 188 years. They also come for the history and nostalgia
that comes with passing through the front door. Today they leave with marine
items, hardware, nautical gifts and a fresh memory of speaking with the
present generation of Wadsworths… a direct link to the founding of America
and one of our nation’s greatest and most beloved poets.
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The CruiseMaine Coalition in partnership with the Maine Port Authority and the communities of Bangor, Belfast, Boothbay Harbor, Bar Harbor, Bucksport, Camden, Eastport, Freeport, Kennebunk-Kennebunkport, Portland, Rockland and several Associate Members including Chase Leavitt & Co., Discover New England, Down East Magazine, FlyBangor, GetEtched, Maine & Co., Maine Office of Tourism, Maine Tourism Association, Maine Department of Transportation, Penobscot Bay & River Pilot’s Association, and the Washington County Commissioner’s Office works to promote these communities to the travel trade, travel media and cruise industry as attractive cruise destinations. We also provide the relative community and business support necessary for these areas to become and remain viable, productive cruise destinations while promoting cultural preservation and responsible tourism.
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