Birth Born on February 17, 1833 in Upper Clements, Annapolis Co., NS Death Died on August 29, 1878 in Clementsport, Annapolis Co., NS Buried in United Church Cemetery in Clementsport, Annapolis Co., NS Marriages WOODBURY, Rachel Maria Children BALCOM, Fenwick Ingles: May 30, 1858 - October 07, 1940 Notes Occupation: Ship Captain Historical Information: The schooner Dreadnought arrived at this port last evening (29 Aug 1878), at 6 o'clock, having in tow the schooner Volant of Bear River, Nova Scotia, which had been seriously injured in a collision with an unknown vessel. The Volant bore her flag at half mast in consequence of the loss of her captain and steward. We are indebted to the mate, and a passenger for the following particulars. The Volant: Capt. (Abraham1) Balcom, left this port Thursday afternoon for Annapolis, N.S., with a small cargo of flour. The vessel is 75 tons burden and owned at Bear River. She had a crew consisting of captain, mate, steward and two men, and two passengers: one a young man, a bricklayer, bound for Halifax, and the other an Indian. About 10 P.M., when off Seguin, with lights burning, and a good look out, a large three-masted schooner was seen, bearing down on the Volant a few hundred yards distant. The strange schooner was hailed, and every effort made to avoid a collision, but in vain. The three-master, which was going at the rate of six knots an hour, struck the Volant on the starboard side, a little aft of amidships, a glancing blow, cutting down all the railing, and carrying away the mainmast and rigging. At the same time the jib boom raked the group standing at the wheel of the Volant, consisting of the captain, the Indian, and the steward, who was at the helm, knocking them overboard. The mate crawled forward on his hands and knees to the look-out in the bow, expecting every minute to be struck by the falling spar. As the vessels collided, the other hand and the bricklayer ran up from below, and the latter threw a line overboard and then jumped into the chains of the strange vessel assisting them to cut away from the wreck. Some of the stranger's crew lowered a boat and picked up the Indian and took him aboard their vessel, but as soon as the captain had cut his craft free he compelled the bricklayer and Indian to return to their own vessel, although he did not know the extent of the damage he had done, and then fled away, the only damage his vessel had received being the loss of the jib boom. The captain and steward were heard but a moment after they were knocked over-board. The captain sang out, "Keep her to," and the steward, "My God." The captain was 45 years of age and leaves a wife and two children at Annapolis. He is said to have been a fine man. The steward, George Isles, was a married man also, belonged to Bear River. After cutting away the hamper, the Volant managed to keep off shore until 10 o'clock yesterday morning when the Dreadnaught met her and towed her to Portland. It is thought the name of the three-master was the Lottie M. Kimberly, but no such name is to be found in the Records. It appeared to be an ice schooner bound to Boston. The Advertiser Portland,ME Sep 7,1878 Sources Annapolis Cemetery Records: Clementsport United Church Cemetery #147 Images Abraham & Rachel (Woodbury) Balcom