Fernandina Pilots
35' Halmatic Pilot Cutter

State Pilots
for St. Mary's Entrance and Port of Fernandina

The first Harbor Pilot for the Port of Fernandina was appointed by the King of Spain in the late 1600’s.  Information about the Fernandina Pilots is incomplete until 1837.

After George W. Latham and Samuel Cribb formed the Association of Branch Pilots in 1837—twenty-nine years later in 1866, David Cribb, son of Samuel Cribb, was made a pilot for this area, and ten years later, in 1877, George Latham, son of George W. Latham, was also made a pilot for this area.  Latham had his homes in Old Town and son George on South 5th Street #111, Fernandina. Cribbs home was on St. Mary's River.

Captain William Sharp (1819-1908), a native of England, at age 46 years was appointed a pilot for these waters in 1865.  He came to Fernandina while in the U.S. Navy and married Capt. B. McNeil’s sister.  Sharp’s home still stands on the northwest corner of San Fernando and Estrada Streets.

Captain B. McNeil (1860-1933) Was made a Pilot in 1882, age 22 years.  Capt. McNeil married Maggie Morse, granddaughter of George Latham.  McNeil’s home still stands on San Fernando Street between New and Commandant Streets.

Captain Joseph Newton (1837-1902), James (1841-1903) and William Bell (1841-1915), all natives of Smithville (later Southport, North Carolina, were Cape Fear Pilots and blockade runners during the Civil War and all settled in Fernandina (Old Town) and joined the Association of Branch Pilots for this area at the same time, 1867.  Joseph Newton’s home, on the southeast corner of Ladies and Commandant Streets, Old Town, is still standing.  Captain James Bell’s home was on the southeast corner of White and Estrada Streets.  James Bell married Martha Smith of Southport, North Carolina, Aunt of Captain William Jones and Captain Tom S. Davis and great Aunt of Captain George T. Davis.  All later Pilots for this area.  Captain William Bell’s home still stands on the northeast corner of 8th Streets, Fernandina.  Captain James Bell sold his home in Old Town to Captain Downs, also a Pilot about 1900 and moved to New Fernandina, 121 North 3rd Street, where he built the beautiful Victorian Cottage still standing, now the home of Tom and Helen O’Hagan, great-grand nephew and niece of Captain George Latham.

Captain Harry Johnson (1848-1922), a native of Germany, came to Fernandina and Old Town during the Civil War and was a member of the U.S. Navy.  In 1865 he was 17 years old when he joined the Association as Apprentice and was made a Pilot about 1868.  Harry Johnson married Captain Robert Downs sister, Margaret Downs of Cumberland Island, Georgia.  His home was on the southwest corner of Amelia and White Streets.

Captain Robert Downs (1856-1923) of Cumberland Island, Georgia was a Steamboat Captain and was made a Pilot for these waters in 1882 at the age of 25.  He married Lucreta Mann, whose brother John Mann, was Pilot Commissioner for the Port at the time.  Captain Downs was the brother-in-law of Captain Harry Johnson.  Downs home, formerly Captain James Bell’s home, still stands in Old Town, southeast corner of White and Estrada Streets.

Captain Tom B. Lassarre (1855-1939) of Brunswick, Georgia was a St. Andrews Sound Pilot at the age of 18 years.  He became a Pilot for these waters in 1878 at the age of 23.  He married Captain Joseph Newton’s sister, Katie Newton.  Lassarre’s home still stands on the southwest corner of San Fernando and Amelia Street, Old Town.

Captain Thomas Smith Davis (1867-1935), a native of Southport, North Carolina and nephew of Captain James and William Bell.  After serving an Apprenticeship with the Association, was made a Pilot for these waters in 1885 at the age of 18 years.  Home of Tom and William Jones Davis still stands on Marine Street between San Fernando and White Streets in Old Town.

Captain Ed. F. Morse (1866-1940), grandson of Captain George Latham.  After serving an Apprenticeship along with Captain Tom S. Davis, was also made a Pilot in 1885 at the age of 19 years.  He married Christine Mularky whose brother was Pilot Commissioner for Port of Fernandina.  Captain Morse’s home in Old Town and later built home at 424 North 3rd Street, Fernandina are still standing.

Captain William Jones Davis (1870-1946) was born in Southport, North Carolina and came to Old Town Fernandina at the age of 15 years.  He was the brother of Captain Tom S. Davis and nephew of Captain James Bell.  After serving an Apprenticeship on Pilot boat “Frances Elizabeth”, he as made a Pilot for these waters including St. Marys, Georgia in 1895 at the age of 24 years.  Captain William Jones Davis married Lucy Golding Starbuck, daughter of Dr. Theodore Starbuck who came to Fernandina in 1877 from Savannah to fight the worse yellow fever epidemic in the town’s history.

Captain James A. Morse (1873-1968), brother of Captain Ed Morse and grandson of Captain George Latham was born in Old Town and after serving an Apprenticeship on Pilot boat “Robert H. Cowen” was made a Pilot for these waters in 1895 at the age of 24 years.  Captain James Morse married Mattie Briggs of St. Mary’s, Georgia.

Associated Branch Pilots became Cumberland Sound Pilots Association about 1900.

Captain George T. Davis (1915-       ) and Charles B. Morse both sons of Capt. William Jones Davis and Captain James A. Morse, began an Apprenticeship with Cumberland Sound Pilots in 1933 and were both made Pilots in 1940.

Captain Charles B. Morse (1906-1988), son of James A. Morse and great-grandson of George Latham served from 1940 to 1945, after which he as a shrimp boat captain until his retirement.

Captain George T. Davis after serving an Apprenticeship which began in 1933, was made a full Branch Pilot for these waters in 1940 and with the exception of time served in U.S. Maritime Service and U.S. Navy during World War II, he continued to serve as Master Pilot and Harbor Master for the Port of Fernandina until his retirement in April of 1979.  He was also Master Pilot and Docking Master for Blue Star Shipping Company Terminal Operations for Kings Bay, Georgia from 1958 until his retirement in 1979.

Captain William H. Kavanaugh  (1952-      ) was an Apprentice Pilot from 1973 to January 1978.  He served his Apprenticeship with Cumberland Sound Pilots under the direction of Captain George T. Davis and he became a Partner on February 15, 1978.  Captain Kavanaugh became a full Branch State Pilot on November 1, 1977.

Captain John Atchinson (       )

Captain Brian J. Seuter (1967-       ) was born in New York.  He graduated Massachusetts Maritime Academy in 1990.  He worked as a ship’s officer and on tugboats until he was appointed a Pilot Deputy in September 2001.  Brian J. Seuter became a full Branch State Pilot in January 2005.