I recently came across this 1955 photo of Portsmouth Island native, Henry Pigott (1896-1971), from the Mike Riddick Photo Collection. Henry poled his skiff out into Pamlico Sound every day to meet the mailboat. He retrieved mail and passengers, and gave the captain out-going mail and a list of items Portsmouth Islanders wished to have from Ocracoke.
When Henry Pigott died, the other two residents of Portsmouth moved off the island.
Our latest Ocracoke Newsletter
is about the Unionist North Carolina State Government established at
Hatteras in 1861. You can read all about it here:
http://www.villagecraftsmen.com/news092114.htm.
When one enlarges the above image it is magical. Now who is Mr. Riddick? , please tell us. Is he a photographer or does he collects images of North Carolina? I did google his name and well, there are plenty of other famous people with that name to have many Google entries!
ReplyDeleteMike Gillis Riddick (1938-1998) was an island resident who compiled Ocracoke images & articles in several scrapbooks. He also took photographs of the island and its people. I am almost certain he made this image.
DeleteMike was a direct descendant of William Howard, Sr. and John Williams, colonial owners of Ocracoke Island.
DeleteIn the lower left corner I see a railing of a larger boat. I can't imagine bringing his skiff right up to a larger boat with a larger wake! I assume they cut the engine and allowed him to approach? Is Mr. Pigott's boat all wooden? Is my memory correct that the last two residents of Portsmouth were elderly ladies? As always, thanks for the magical history.
ReplyDeleteThat is the railing of the mailboat "Dolphin," Ansley O'Neal, captain. The mailboat always stopped to transfer mail and passengers. Henry's skiff is all wooden. When Henry died Marian Gray Babb and Elma Dixon, who were elderly, moved away from the island.
DeleteI wonder what ever happened to Mr. Pigott's boat. That would be great to have in any OBX museum. I am sure it is lost beyond decay.
ReplyDeleteMy Dad was fortunate to meet Henry Pigott on Portsmouth in the late 50's 1958 I think; Anyway's, Dad took a color photo of Mr Pigott leaning against a dock piling looking out on the Marsh. Our ocracoke cottage has the photo on the wall for our family and guests to enjoy.
ReplyDeleteI have read about Mr. Pigott over the years. He really loved that island deeply...to have stayed on after just about everyone else had left. He and the 2 ladies must have had a deep sense of connectedness to the land, the sea and their way of life that they just could not live without. It's a love story in many ways.
ReplyDeleteNJ Reader