During the winter of 1956-7, Roger C. Rich and Francis “Mickey” Fahey went to Plymouth, Massachusetts to build a replica of the Pilgrim’s shallop, while at the same time a replica of the Mayflower was being built in Plymouth, England.
The shallop, 33’ long and equipped with a mainsail, a jib and oars, was the vessel that had remained with the Pilgrims in 1621 when the Mayflower sailed back to England.
My father’s brother, Robert Rich, was a friend of George Davis, owner of Plymouth Marine Railways, who had the contract. Mr. Davis, whose father and grandfather came from Washington County, claimed that Maine boat builders were the best. He subcontracted the job to my Uncle Bobby (Robert Farnsworth Rich), who then hired my father and Mickey to actually go and build the boat.” – Meredith Rich Hutchins, Newsletter of the Tremont Historical Society, Spring 2006, v9 Number 2.
Vessel Name – Pilgrim Shallop II
Class – shallop
Hull - wood
Masts - 1
Rig – mainsail & jib
Designed by – William Avery Baker
Build date - 1957
Built by – Roger Clifton Rich and Francis “Mickey” Fahey
Built at – Plymouth Marine Railways, Plymouth, Massachusetts
Built for – Plymouth Marine Railways / Plimoth Plantation Inc.
Named for – Pilgrim’s 1621 shallop
Power - sail and oars
Gross tons -
Net tons –
Capacity -
Length – 33’
