Porter Family of Great Lakes Mariners
and
W. H. Gilcher Disaster 1892

Nathaniel Porter, born 1801 in the North of Ireland, emigrated to this country in 1816 first settling in West Springfield, MA.  It was there that he married Clarissa Kneeland.  They left Massachusetts for Ohio, settling first in Elyria, then in Black River Twp. Together they had 8 children, 5 sons and three daughters.  The five sons took to the Great Lakes and became sailors, Captains, Masters, and Owners.

The 5 Porter brothers are:

James Porter  Obituary
born 1833 in Elyria, Lorain Co., Ohio - died 27 Nov 1915, Lorain, Ohio

Samuel Porter
b. 17 Jul 1836, in Black River, Lorain Co., Ohio   d. 22 Dec 1918, Grand Rapids, Kent Co., Michigan

Edward Kneeland Porter 
born 28 Jul 1838, Lorain Ohio  d. Oct 28, 1892 aboard the W. H. Gilcher
      Disaster of  W. H. Gilcher in news articles  pg. 1  pg. 2

Alexander Porter  Obituary  Biography  Obituary
born 15 Mar 1843, Lorain Co Ohio  d. 4 Jan 1919, Lorain Co., Ohio

Julian Porter  Obituary
born 17 Mar 1846, Lorain Co Ohio  d. 15 Jun 1916, Lorain Co., Ohio

Collection donated by Maureen Smith copyright © 2002