Joseph Henderson

Joseph Henderson (September 9, 1826 – October 7, 1890) was a 19th-century American harbor pilot who guided large vessels into and out of New York Harbor as a Sandy Hook pilot. During his long career his work included bringing the ship that carried the Statue of Liberty safely into port after its trip from Europe. Early life Henderson was born in Charleston, South Carolina. At sixteen years of age, Henderson left Charleston to find passage to New York as a cabin boy on a ship traveling there. By 1845, he was a New York pilot. Henderson married Angelina Annetta Weaver on February 11, 1849. Career Henderson was a Sandy Hook pilot in New York Harbor and along the Atlantic Coast during the American Civil War. In 1846, he took out his pilot papers with the Board of Commissioners of Pilots of the State of New York. He became adept in all branches of piloting. Henderson owned several pilot ships in the Sandy Hook service. By the age of twenty-one, he was captain of his own schooner, self-educated in seamanship, and a New York Sandy Hook pilot. He spent over 45 years as a New York pilot and was in more boat accidents than any other pilots. On September 13, 1853, he became a Branch Pilot on the pilot boat Ellwood Walter, No. 7, belonging to the New York Pilots' Association.