Plough Boy Journals  Whalesite

LOUIS MONTO

(1806-1881)

A CHRONOLOGY

August 13, 1806 – Lewis was born in Boston to Joseph Monto (1779-1812) and Mary Temple Decoster Barrett (1786-1839).

September 1812 – Joseph Monto, Lewis' father died on the island of Guadaloupe. News of his death reached Boston in March 1813.

"Taken in by bank cashier, whale ship owner and oil manufacturer, Philip H. Folger (March 7, 1792 – March 30, 1865) of Nantucket.

Residence: "On Nantucket age 10 to age 18,"

September 5, 1818 – Death of Susan Starbuck Folger, wife of Philip H. Folger and mother of George Howland Folger (1816-1892)

Marriage of Philip H. Folger to Sarah Hussey, sister of Valentine Hussey (1783-1855) and mother of Sarah H. Folger (1820-1850). Years later Lewis would name his first child an eldest daughter Sarah Folger.

August 12, 1819 – Whaling ship Essex sailed on its fatal voyage to the Pacific. Philip H. Folger was possibly one of the ship's owners.

July 18, 1820 – Birth of Sarah H. Folger (d. November 2, 1850)

In the 1820 United States Census, Philip H. Folger's household was enumerated with 6 persons:

Dec 1, 1820 – The ship Equator, Elisha Folger master, returns from a two year cruise in the Pacific Ocean. With the New Bedford Ship Balaena, Edmund Gardner master, they became the first American whaling vessels to visit the Sandwich Islands (Hawaii).

June 11, 1821 – Return to Nantucket of Owen Chase, 1st Mate of the Essex

Lewis Monto's Seaman's Certificate.

June 2, 1823 – Lewis Monto registers as an American Seaman in Nantucket

Monday, June 23, 1823 – Sailed on whaling cruise to the coast of Brazil on the ship Indus: "Monday – Sailed Ship Indus, Joy, Coast of Brazil, whaling."   (Nantucket Inquirer, 06-24-1823)

This would prove to be final voyage of the Indus. The master of Indus was Samuel Joy.  Joy had been the first mate on the Essex prior to the voyage when it was destroyed by a whale. His brother, Matthew, was the second mate on the Essex on its final voyage and died in one of the boats in January 1821.

Friday, May 21, 1824 – The Indus returned from its whaling cruise: "Nantucket 21st. inst. ship Indus, Joy, from Brazil Bank with a full cargo of oil"   (New Bedford Mercury, 05-28-1824)

The Indus returned with 1,500 bbls. whale oil

September 17, 1824 – It is assumed that Lewis next sailed on a whaling cruise to the Pacific ocean in the ship Plough Boy, William Chadwick, master. Nathan Chase was First Mate on this voyage.

Fall, 1825 – The Plough Boy visited "St. Francisco" in New Albion (San Francisco, California)

March 3, 1827 – The Plough Boy returned from its whaling cruise with 2,615 bbls. sperm oil.

June 23, 1827 – Sailed on whaling cruise to the Pacific ocean as a cooper on the ship Plough Boy, Nathan Chase, master. The earlier of his two surviving journals document this voyage.

Portrait of Captain Nathan Chase in the Whaling Museum, Nantucket.

Mid July – At the Western Islands (i.e. Azores)

September – At Cape Horn

October 26 – At Massafuera, Juan Fernandez Islands

December 1, 1827 – Gammed with the Loper of Nantucket, Obed Starbuck, master. Obed Starbuck was the brother of Philip H. Folger's second wife, Susan Starbuck.  Obed Starbuck was in command of the Hero in 1821 when it brought news of the tragedy of the Essex and the fate of its survivors. Some say Obed Starbuck was the model for the character Starbuck in Melville's Moby Dick.

December 3, 1827 – Payta, Peru.

March 11, 1828 – "at day light saw Owhyhee & Mowhee 2 of the Sandwich Islands".  The Plough Boy had killed 19 whales by this point in their voyage.

March 12, 1828 – "at 6 PM came to Anchor in Carracooes Bay (Kealakekua Bay" This is where Captain cook was killed while on his third voyage in 1779, almost exactly 49 years before this visit by the Plough Boy.

March 18, 1828 – "at day light Oahu in sight at 10 AM under Dimond Hill"

March 27, 1828 – "towed in the Phoenix Rambler & French Corvette."  The French vessel was the La Bayonnaise under the command of Louis Legoarant de Tromelin. It was enroute to Vanikoro to search for the remains of the French exploration ships of La Perouse. Twenty years later, as an Admiral, Tromelin captured the fort a Honolulu as a punitive act.

Sunday, March 30, 1828 – "at 3 PM the Parthain of Boston came to Anchor 158 days from Boston with Missionaries on board" –- Lewis witnessed the arrival of the third contingent of American missionaries that arrived on the Parthian. Even after six months on board without having touched land, these new arrivals were not allowed to land until Monday because of strict missionary-imposed laws about working on the Sabbath.

April 1, 1828 – Left Honolulu for the Japan Grounds.

October 10, 1828 – Raised the Sandwich Islands. The Plough Boy had killed a total of 41 whales by the time it returned to Honolulu.

December 3, 1829 – Witnessed the departure of the Sandwich Island Brig Tamaahmaah under the command of Governor Boki, "bound to the Feegee Islands". If this was the brig seen on the morning of December 24 near Fanning's Island, then this was the last sight of the ill-fated vessel that was lost at sea with a tremendous loss of life.

February 7, 1830 – Anchored in "Taloo Harbour" on the Island of Eimeo [Moorea] in the Society Islands.

February 20, 1830 – Hurricane damages the Plough Boy's rudder requiring a boats crew to row twenty miles to Tahiti to have the pintles repaired./p>

July 16, 1830 – Returned on the ship Plough Boy from its whaling cruise with 2,522 bbls. sperm oil.

1830 United States Census – Lewis Monto living in Nantucket

October 16, 1830 – Sailed on whaling cruise to the Pacific ocean as third mate on the ship Plough Boy, Nathan Chase, master.

October 16, 1830 – "Strong gales from the West South West at 8 AM got under way from Tarpaulin Cove"

February 7, 1831 – "came to anchor in Coquimbo"

February 9, 1831 – "the Kent of London Capt Loton came to Anchor". Thomas Beale on board as the Kent's surgeon.

February 15, 1831 – "Capt Chase went up to the City" (See Thomas Beale's Natural History of the Sperm Whale (London: 1839), p.208 for Beale's account of this excursion!)

April 29, 1831 – At Karakakoa Bay, Island of Hawaii

May 7, 1831 – "at 2 PM came to Anchor at Oahu Bar"

October 6, 1831 – "Bound Towards The Sandwich Islands ... at 1 PM saw Whales lowered three boats Larboard & Waist struck and got loose again at 4 PM Waist boat struck the Whale hove his jaw all into the boat stove the boat and broke Mr Briggs Legg left the Whale spouting blood lost him & the boat sett the legg made the signal fore the other Ship which came down she proved to be the Pusy Hall of London Doctor ______ came onboard and dressed it"

October 7, 1831 – "at 4 PM Doctor ______ came onboard Middle part sett him onboard his Ship Latter part Mr Jay went on board and got the Doctor who having examined the Leg pronounced it to be in A state of mortification it being the request of Mr Briggs to have it taken off which we all acquiesed in we got ready"

October 8, 1831 – "Fore part fine weather ind East heading North North East took off his right Legg above the knee between the hours of 12 and 1 AM Latter part fine weather"

November 5, 1831 – "Anchored at Honolulu Bar"

December 4, 1831 – Left Oahu for Central Pacific

December 1831 – "Passage Towards The Kingsmills Group"

January 11, 1832 – "at 5 PM raised Hope Island [Arorae, Kiribati]"

January 21, 1832 – "made the Islands of St Augustine and Shersons [Moriapepe & Nanumea, Tuvalu]"

February 13, 1832 – "Roaches Island [Tamana, Kiribati]"

February 28, 1832 – "Ocean Island [Nauru]"

March 3, 1832 – "Pleasant Island [Ocean Island, Kiribati]"

March 11, 1832 – "running for Strongs Islands [Kosrae, Federated States of Micronesia]"

March 16, 1832 – "Ascension Island [Pohnpei, Federated States of Micronesia]"

March 30, 1832 – "Ladrone Islands ... Guam"

April 18, 1832 – "Tinian and Cipan" [Tinian & Saipan, Northern Mariana Islands]

May 4, 1832 – "at 8 AM raised South Island [Sulphur Islands/Iwo Jima]"

May 5, 1832 – "South Island bearing South West and Middle Island ahead bearing North West ... North Island in sight bearing North North West [Sulphur Islands/Iwo Jima]"

May 14, 1832 – "Bonin Islands"[Ogasawara Islands, Japan]

October 21, 1832 – "Oahu bar"

January 7, 1833 – "Anchored at Cape St. Lucas"

March 1833 – In the Galapagos Islands

March 21, 1833 – "Anchored at Post Office Bay, Charles Island"

April 9, 1833 – "discharged Mr Jay"

April 19, 1833 – "shifted quarters" (Lewis promoted to 2d mate)

July 31, 1833 – At Pitcairns Island

August 2, 1833 – "took our departure from Pitcairns"

August 18, 1833 – "A Gale kept off before it North East under close reefed Main topsail and Foresail at 10 AM it blowed so heavy ... fear of loosing it kept her before it 6 hands at the helm"

September 8, 1833 – "came to Anchor at Talcahuano"

October 14, 1833 – "Left Talcahuano"

November 15, 1833 – "Saw "Islands of Ice" (i.e. Icebergs) off Cape Horn

Mar 5, 1834 – Returned as second mate on the ship Plough Boy from its whaling cruise with 1,741 bbls. sperm oil.

July 22, 1834 – Presumed to have sailed on whaling cruise to the Pacific Ocean on ship Plough Boy, Moses Brown, Master. While no information has been discovered to prove that Lewis was on this voyage, it is known that during the span of the cruise, letters were being held for him at the post office in Nantucket.

April 18, 1837 – Mutiny and massacre on board the Plough Boy in the Bay of Islands, New Zealand. Three New Zealand natives killed two of the crew and injured three others before escaping in one of the boats.(Inquirer (Nantucket), 03-16-1889)

March 24, 1838 – Returned on the ship Plough Boy from whaling cruise with 1,811 bbls. sperm oil and 471 bbls. whale oil. "Arr at Holmes' Hole, 24th. ship Ploughboy, Brown, Coast of Chili, via Pernambuco, 1900 bbls sp. 500 wh. oil. . . . " (Salem Gazette, 03-30-1838, Volume  XVI, Issue 26, Page: [3])

July 21, 1839 – Lewis' mother, Mary Temple Decoster Monto Bursiel died in Boston. At the time of her death she was a resident of the House of Industry. She was buried at the South Boston Farm Cemetery.

October 14, 1839 – Married Mary Norris Cook (1821-1902) in Boston. Mary N. Cook's family was from West Sandwich, on Cape Cod.

"Louis Monto, cooper,  h. rear 79 Purchase" (Stimpson's Boston Directory . . ., 1840, p. 300)

Lewis Monto lived at 79 Purchase Street in Boston. On this 1855 map that location is shown with the red mark.

"Louis Monto, cooper,  h. rear 79 Purchase" (Stimpson's Boston Directory . . . ., 1842, p. 345)

March 2, 1842 – Lewis' first child and first daughter, Sarah Folger Monto (d. 1925) was born. Sarah Folger Monto was probably named for the third wife of Philip H. Folger, Sarah Hussey Folger.

October 17, 1843 – Mary Barrett Monto, Lewis' second child and second daughter was born. She was later a teacher at Brighton's Harvard School.  In 1876 she married Mark Alphonso Waterhouse (7/3/1843 - 10/16/1897, a Boston merchant.  Mary was named for Lewis' mother – Mary Temple Decoster  Barrett.

In or around 1844, after Lewis entered in a partnership with Zibeon Southard in the firm Zibeon Southard & Co., the Monto family moved to Broadway, in South Boston – a location near the firm's oil factory which was as the corner of B and Second Street.  Broadway was a street parallel and between Third and Fourth streets.

"Monto Louis (Zibeon Southard & Co)  h. Broadway" (Stimpson's Boston Directory, 1844. p.385)

Zibeon Southard & Co – oil factory at 2d st. near B st.

January 19, 1845 – Lewis third child and third daughter, Hannah M. Monto  was born.

September 22, 1845 – Copartnership of Zibeon Southard and Louis Monto in the firm of Z. Southard & Co. was dissolved by mutual consent. The copartnership of Zibeon Southard, Marshall Kingman, and Louis Monto was formed for the firm of Southard, Kingman & Co. "for the manufacture and sale of Sperm and Whale Oil, Sperm Candles and Soap " (Boston Daily Atlas,  09-29-1845, p. [3)

November 1, 1846 – Lewis' first son and fourth child, George Howland Monto (d. 2/12/1886) was born in South Boston.

Lewis was a partner in the firm of Southard, Kingman & Co.  This company advertised that they were "Manufacturers and Dealers in sperm and whale oil, sperm candles, oil soap, &c."  Their factory was at the corner of B and Second streets in South Boston. (The Boston Daily Atlas, Nov. 26, 1846, p.3)

The co-partnership of Southard, Kingman and Monto was dissolved by mid-1847.  The firm's name changed to Z. Southard & Co.  Its two partners were Zibeon Southard and Louis Monto.

This advertisement appeared in a number of issues of the Boston Daily Atlas in 1847.

At the time the company's oil factory was at the "corner of B and Second streets, South Boston", Lewis and his family lived on Broadway – a street parallel to and between Third and Fourth streets.

July, 1847 – Z. Southard & Co. moved their office from 36 Broad Street to 27 Broad Street – "nearly opposite."

About this time, the Z. Southard & Co.'s oil factory was located at Blake's Court, in Boston. Lewis and his family moved from South Boston to a residence on Canton Street – near the factory.

"Monto Louis (Z. Southard & Co.), house 17 Canton"  (Boston Directory … 1848-9, by George Adams, 1848, p.196)

In the same directory Lewis' brother-in-law, William B. Peacock, also a cooper, was living at 3 Blake's Court.  Peacock was the husband of Elizabeth Bursiel, Lewis' half-sister.

This detail from an 1838 map of Boston shows Canton Street, where Lewis lived. Nearby on Blake's Court, the Southard Oil factory was located.

"Monto Louis (Z. Southard & Co.), house 17 Canton"  (Boston Directory … July, 1848 to July, 1850 …. Boston, George Adams, 1849, p.210)

August 26, 1849 – Lewis' second son and fifth child, Louis Monto, Jr. (8/26/1849, was born in Boston [17 W. Canton] )

September 8, 1849 – Lewis' third daughter, Hannah M. Monto, died at 4 years, 8 months, of typhoid fever. She was buried in St. Matthew's Cemetery.

"Monto Louis (Z. Southard & Co.), h. 17 Canton" (Boston Directory for the year commencing July, 1850, George Adams, 1850, p.241)

United States Federal Census: Enumerated on September 14, 1850 in Boston, Ward 11, County of Suffolk, State of Massachusetts.

The Monto family moved from 17 Canton to 72 Canton in Boston.

"Monto, Louis (Z. Southard & Co.), h. 72 W. Canton" (The Boston Directory for the year 1851 . . ., Boston, George Adams, 1851, p. 176)

February 14, 1851 – Lewis' third son and sixth child, Joseph Monto (d.1925) was born in Boston. Home was at 72 Canton St.

"Monto, Louis (Z. Southard & Co.), h. 72 W. Canton" (The Boston Directory for the year 1852 . . . , Boston, George Adams, 1852, p. 181)

November 11, 1852 – Lewis fourth son and seventh child, Thomas Frank Monto (d. 1900) was born.

Lewis submits questions on "potato rot" – reported in A Synopsis of the several communications on the cause and cure of the potato rot; received by the executive of Massachusetts. Prepared and published under the authority of the legislature, by Amasa Walker, Secretary of the Commonwealth. Boston: Dutton & Wentworth, State Printers, 1852, p.20.

Sometime in 1852 the partnership of Zibeon Southard and Lewis Monto was dissolved as a new firm was created with the partners being Zibeon Southard, Lewis Monto, and Horace W. Herbert. The name of the new firm was Southard, Herbert & Co. Herbert was a lard oil and candle manufacturer with a factory at the corner of Centre and Everett streets in north Brighton/Allston.

The two red marks on the 1856 map above show the location of "Hubbard's Oil" factory. It's possible Hubbard has been mistakenly used instead of Herbert whose factory had been at this location for almost ten years. The green mark shows the location of Lewis Monto's house at 165 Everett Street.

April 16, 1853 – "FIRE THIS MORNING – The alarm soon after 7 o'clock this morning was caused by a fire in the upper stores of building Nos. 27,29 and 31 Broad street, occupied by Southard, Herbert & Co., dealers in oil, and Hurd & Bowers, dealers in wool, whose stocks were badly damaged . . . . (Daily Evening Transcript, 04-16-1853, p. [2])

Lewis and family moved to a house on Everett Street, just north of Centre Street [later Lincoln Ave.] in the Allston area of Brighton in 1854.  When street numbers were assigned this address became 165 Everett Street.

November 17, 1854 – Lewis' fifth son and eighth child, Frederick R. Monto (d. 1931), was born in Brighton.

"Monto, Louis (Southard, Hebert [sic], & Co.), house at [Brighton"  (Boston Directory for the year 1855, …. Boston: Geo. Adams, July 1, 1855, p. 214)

November 14, 1855 – Death of Horace W. Herbert, at Cambridgeport. Herbert was one of the three partners of Southard, Herbert & Co. ( BostonDaily Atlas, Nov. 19, 1855, p. [2])

Following Herbert's death, a notice was published to say that the firm would continue business under the same name with Southard and Monto as partners. [see Boston Courier, Dec. 3, 1855, p.2: "Dissolution. The firm of Southard, Herbert & Co, was dissolved on the 14^th ult, by the death of H. W. Herbert. The outstanding accounts of the late firm will be liquidated by the surviving partners, who will continue the business under the same name as herertofore, at 27 Broad street.  Zibeon Southard, Louis Monto.  Boston, December 3, 1855."

 "Monto, Louis (Southard, Herbert, & Co.), house at Brighton" (Boston Directory for the year 1856… Boston: George Adams, July 1, 1856)

August 13, 1856 – Lewis' fourth daughter and ninth child, Stella S. B. Monto (d.  11/20/1857) was born in Brighton.

"Monto, Louis (Southard, Herbert, & Co.), 27 Broad, [h. at Brighton"   (Boston Directory for the year 1857 .... Boston: George Adams, July 1, 1857 p. 250)

November 20, 1857 – Lewis' daughter, Stella B. Monto dies at 14 months, 24 days of "Hooping cough, dysentery".

"Monto, Louis (Southard, Herbert, & Co.), 27 Broad, [h. at Brighton" (Boston Directory for the year 1858, … Boston: Adams, Sampson & Co., July 1, 1858, p.260)

Southard, Herbert & Co. cash receipt for a sale to the Town of Concord in February 1860. Both Zibeon Southard and Lewis Monto's names appear on the receipt.

 "Monto Louis (Southard, Herbert, & Co.), 27 Broad, house at Brighton. (Boston Directory, …for the year commencing July 1, 1861. Boston: Adams, Sampson, & Company, 1861, p. 315)

"Monto Louis (Southard, Herbert & Co.) 27 Broad, house at Brighton" (The Boston Directory … for the year commencing July 1, 1862. Boston: Adams, Sampson, & Company, 1862, p.289)

December 26, 1862 – Lewis' sixth son and tenth child, Walter Homer Monto (d.1932) was born in Brighton.

Southard, Herbert & Co. display ad in the annual city directory. Source: The Boston Directory, embracing the City Record, a General Directory of the Citizens, and a Business Directory, for the year Commencing July 1, 1862. Boston: Adams, Sampson, & Company, 1862.

April 30, 1863 – Lewis Monto retires from Southard, Herbert & Co. ending a more than 20 year partnership with Zibeon Southard.

November 9, 1867 – Zibeon Southard, Lewis' long-time partner in the oil manufacturing business, dies in Jacksonville, Florida. Southard was born in Lyme, New Hampshire on September 2, 1809.

"By ALBERT HOWE, AUCTIONEER – sale at public auction Thursday May 7, 1868 of Southard, Herbert & Co. ... in Brighton …." (Boston Daily Journal, 04-18-1868, page [3].)

May 7, 1868 – Auction of Oil factory at Brighton.  This factory, situated on the Boston & Albany Railroad line, was near the Monto family home on Everett Street in Allston. Originally it was owned by Southard, Herbert & Co. and Lewis was the managing partner.

At the time of the sale, Lewis was no longer associated with the company.

"Monto Louis, foreman, 11 Foster's wharf, house at Allston" (The Boston Directory, … for the year commencing July 1, 1869. Boston: Sampson, Davenport, & Company, 1869 p. 289)

 Occupying this address was William B. Haseltine & Co., a lard and stearine oil manufacturer.

Location of Lewis' home (blue mark) and workplace (red mark) on Everett Street in the Alston section of Brighton, Massachusetts.

1875 Directory of Boston shows the following employed members of the Monto family:

Undated photograph of Lewis Monto.

Saturday, February 16, 1878 – Lewis' house at 165 Everett Street, Allston, burned in a fire.  The loss was given as $5,500.  (Worcester Daily Spy, Feb 18, 1878, p.4)

The same census shows that with the exception of Joseph and Frederick, who were living in Portland, Connecticut, the remaining children of Lewis and Mary were living nearby:  Sarah and her husband lived next door at 171 Everett; Mary and her husband lived on Everett Place;  George lived on Lincoln with his wife's family; and Louis Jr. and his wife lived on Adams Street.

March 22, 1881 – Lewis Monto dies in Brighton, age 75.

Lewis Monto's grave marker in Evergreen Cemetery, Boston. Here his name is spelled 'Louis' on the marker.

March 25, 1881 – Monto's obituary appears in the Brighton Register, and on April 2 in the Inquirer and Mirror (Nantucket)

      Obituary. – Louis Monto, who died at his residence on Everett street, on Tuesday last, at the ripe old age of 74 years, 7 months and 9 days, was born in Boston. When about ten years old, his father having died, he went to Nantucket, and was taken into the family of Philip H. Folger, who at that time was cashier of the bank at that place. He remained with Mr. Folger until he was eighteen years of age, when he shipped as cooper on the whaleship "Indus." He followed the sea for several years, visiting nearly every quarter of the globe, rising from one position to another, until he became first mate. Among the heirlooms which he has left behind him, it is interesting to notice the journals which he kept of his different voyages on the "Indus" and "Ploughboy," which two vessels were the only ones on which he ever sailed. Mr. Monto abandoned the whaling business in 1842 and engaged in the manufacture of oil. He came to Brighton in 1853 and was a partner in the firm of Z. Southard & Co., afterward Southard, Herbert & Co. His death was caused by heart disease, and since his last attack, some eight weeks ago, he has been unable to lie down, and died sitting, in bis chair. The funeral took place at his late residence, on Thursday afternoon, and was largely attended by relations and friends. Rev. H. A. Stevens conducted the services, and the body was taken to Evergreen cemetery for burial. – Brighton Register, 25th ult.

      Inquirer and Mirror (Nantucket), April 2, 1881, p.2.

Monto Place – from 240 Lincoln street, near Everett street, northerly, in Brighton, is named after the family – A Record of the Streets, Alleys, Places, Etc. in the City of Boston by Boston (Mass.) Street laying-out dept, Boston (Mass.) Published by City of Boston Printing Dept., 1910. p.318

Plough Boy Journals  Whalesite