Woodward's 1818 sea serpent off Cape Ann

In May 1818 the master of a Hingham schooner swore a statement that he and his crew watched a huge sea creature for hours.

The schooner Armament of Hingham had Joseph Woodward as master, and he made his statement at Hingham on 12 May 1818, and the Essex Patriot reprinted it on 16 May. He was sailing home from Penobscot when, at 2 o'clock in the afternoon, he saw something on the water that looked as large as a long boat.

The New-England Palladium of 12 May gave a short report of the same voyage, naming the vessel Adamant. It said the crew saw a sea serpent about 12 leagues east of Cape Ann, with a length put at over 100 feet, which often lifted its head well clear of the water. The Palladium said it stayed close to the ship for around five hours, looked as large around as a barrel, and appeared irritated when a shot was fired at it. Depositions were being prepared at Hingham for publication in Boston.