- The Halifax Herald
Tue, Feb 15, 1887 ·Page 4
DEATH OF CAPT. FRED. CURRY.
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One of Hants County's Most Famous Sea Captains and Shipbuilders.
(From the Windsor Tribune.)
By the death of Capt. Frederick Curry, Hants county has lost one of its most enterprising and wealthy shipowners. Capt. Fred, as he was generally termed by his numerous friends, was a son of Thomas Curry, who was a tenant of the Bayfield estate then owned by the father of the late Col. Butler. He was born in 1812. Several years ago the Capt purchased from the Butler estate for $20,000 the farm on which he was born. He was one of a family of eight children, seven sons and one daughter. His brother, Capt. Thomas Curry, of Windsor, also a ship owner, the father of the present liberal candidate for Hants, was also very successful in his business and died in 1874.
Captain Fred was one of the most wealthy men in the county, being estimated to be worth over $300,000, all of which he made by his own pluck and energy. Besides his vessels he was a large owner of bank stock, also owned extensively in the Halifax sugar refinery, cotton factory, besides being a large owner of real estate. His only two surviving brothers are Edward Curry, farmer, who resides near Windsor and for several years has been blind from cataract, and James Curry also a farmer. Capt. Fred Curry married the daughter of Nicholas Mosher, of Avondale, shipbuilder. His family consists of three sons, Capt. Nicholas, Frederick and Rufus, and one daughter Mary, the wife of Rev. C.M. Tyler, Weslyan minister, now stationed at Maitland. The captain from an early age followed the sea. After his marriage he resided at Avondale. He retired from the sea about thirty years ago and has since that time been engaged in shipbuilding, and built some of the finest vessels that ever sailed the ocean. We have been informed that the first vessel Capt. Curry commanded was the brig Ready Rhino, owned by James Fletcher of Wentworth. This was about the year 1841. After that he sailed in the employ of Capt. John Duncan, and afterwards for Bennett Smith. The names of some of the vessels Capt. Curry was master of in those days were the brigs Mars and Alpine, barque Levant, ship Humber, and ship Squando, all being well known vessels and profitable. The names of some of the vessels he has built and owned the past 25 years are ship Juno, barque Simcoe, barque Venus, ship Summer, ship Joseph, ship Arklow, ship Tuscar, ship Algoma. Capt Curry was a man of fine physique, being over six feet in height and stout in proportion, of attractive appearance and manner. He bore the weight of age lightly, although 75 years old one would not take him to be 65. Perhaps no Nova Scotian sea captain was better known in shipping circles in Liverpool, London and New York, as since his retirement from sea, he occasionally visited those ports where by his genial manner he made hosts of warm friends. Capt. Curry was a liberal in politics and took rather an active part. In 1871 he contested the county with the late W.D. Lawrence of Maitland, in opposition to Messrs. Allison and McDougall, for a seat in the local legislature, but was unsuccessful. Capt. Curry came to Windsor the middle of December to be near his medical adviser. Previous to that he had been complaining of ill health. The disease partook of a gangrenous form involving the whole of the right foot. The disease remained stationary until February 1st, when symptoms of blood poisoning manifested themselves, and from that date he rapidly grew worse, and on Thursday evening he calmly passed away, surrounded by his wife and family. During his illness Dr. Gossip, his physician, held several consultations with Dr.'s Black, Weeks, Parker and Farrell, but all medical skill could do was to no avail. Capt. Curry was a gentleman known to all in this community and much respected. He possessed many good qualities, both as a business man and a citizen, and leaves a blank in business circles not easily filled.
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The Halifax Herald
Mon, Mar 07, 1887 ·Page 3
CAPT. FRED CURRY'S WILL.
The will of the late Capt. Frederick Curry, of Avondale, was probated a few days ago. Following are the principal bequests: To his wife Sarah Jane Curry, the homestead at Avondale, all the plate and household effects, for her own sole use, and the sum of $1,000 per annum for her life time, the principal set apart for this purpose on the demise of his wife to be divided equally among his children. To his son Nicholas Curry a lot of land and premises and two lots of dyke land at Avondale, together with the interest on the sum of $20,000. To his son Frederick Curry, the house and lot of land at Avondale, also the property in Windsor known as the Hall estate, also four acres of dyke land in Windsor, also the sum of $20,000.
To his daughter Mrs. Tyler, the sum of $20,000.
To his brother Edward Curry, the sum of $100 per annum during his life.
To his brother James Curry, the sum of $100 per annum durying hi life.
To his sons Nicholas and Frederick, one half of the schooner now building at Avondale, which he directs to be completed by the estate.
To his grandchildren, the sum of fifteen hundred dollars.
To his son Rufus Curry, all the rest and residue of real estate and property including the Martock estate, Windsor, and all the real estate not herebefore mentioned, all the ships, shipping, mortgages, stocks, etc.
The will is dated December 30th, 1886, and the executors are his wife and sons, Rufus and Frederick. The inventory of the estate is $180,000.
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1812 - 1887 (74 years)