Mathew’s Deck Boat Peggy Marks Her First 100 Years with a Painting by John Barber

Mathews-built deck boat, Peggy, will mark her first 100-years in 2025. As part of the commemoration, Mathews Maritime Foundation has commissioned renowned artist John Barber to depict Peggy at work, off New Point Comfort light.

Built by Harry Hudgins in the William West yard, Peggy was named after the daughter of the owner, Walter Burroughs of New Point. Walter and his brother-in-law Raymond Hudgins employed Peggy in the pound net fishery until Raymond’s death in the 1930s. Captain Walter was soon joined by his son Richard and in the 1950s had the boat decked over and shifted into the crab fisheries. In 1946 the bottom was replaced by noted local builder Alton Smith.

In 1961 Peggy was sold to Ed Grinnell of New Point and she was re-configured for pound fishing again. Captain Ed would eventually return to crab dredging when that fishery became more profitable and he continued to work Peggy for 40 more years until finally and reluctantly selling her in 2001.

Kim and Gretchen Granberry had seen Peggy on the local waters and had long been fans. Kim called Captain Ed once a year for eight years until Ed was ready to part ways with what had become a member of the family.

The Granberry’s converted Peggy to a live-aboard vessel and cruised her around the Chesapeake and from Maine to the Caribbean. They kept Peggy in her original working configuration as much as practical, preserving the lines of this locally designed and built working craft.

In 2008 the Granberry’s donated Peggy to the Mathews Maritime Foundation. A major rebuild was undertaken under the guidance of Eric Hedberg who directed a team of enthusiastic volunteers. Most of the work was performed at the Gwynn’s Island boatyard and railway that was the former home of noted boatbuilder and author Gilbert Klingel. The decks, pilothouse and motor were replaced and now Peggy was restored to her working configuration.

Always regarded as a “fast” boat, Peggy frequently took time off from fishing to jump into both organized and informal workboat races. This happened again recently at the 2024 boat docking contest at Williams Wharf, with Peggy taking third place! Peggy is now employed as Mathew’s roving maritime ambassador, exhibiting local know-how, resilience and spirit up and down the Bay at maritime festivals and events in ports such as Yorktown, Portsmouth, Urbanna, St. Michaels, Chestertown, Tangier and Cape Charles, among others.

Raffle tickets for the original will be sold beginning in January 2025 and a drawing will be held at her Centennial celebration at Horn Harbor in September. Proceeds of the raffle will go towards maintaining Peggy into her second 100-years! Go to the Mathews Maritime Foundation website for details: https://www.mathewsmaritime.com/

Article published online in the Gloucester-Mathews Gazette-Journal on Jan. 15, 2025.

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