Historic Nantucket, October 1982, Vol. 30 No. 2

"The 'Susan's Teeth' Mystery" by N. Parmenter and H. Spokes THE WHALING SHIP Susan sailed from Nantucket Harbor in the sum­ mer of 1826 for what was hoped to be a profitable voyage hunting in Pacific waters. She would return three years and two months later, from her maiden voyage, carrying 2,582 barrels of sperm whale oil and 121 bbls. of whale oil, a fine initial harvest for her owners — actually the most successful of her seven whaling voyages.

Built in 1826 from the sturdy oak and ash of the northeastern forests in early America, she was one of many ships which were proliferating up and down the eastern seaboard at that time, built exclusively for the dirty, dangerous job of whaling throughout the oceans of the world.

The trade would flourish until the 20th century, providing oil to light the lamps of a growing nation's homes, farms and factories. In turn, the profits would provide seed money for increased shipbuilding, tobacco and cotton production as well as funding for the expansion of railroads. The effects of the whaling industry had far reaching conse­ quences for the growth of a young country.

Among historians, researchers and collectors of the whaling era, however, this voyage also marked the beginning of a mystery which in­ flames the romance we attach to that time; for on board that day, August 21, when the Susan made ready for the open sea, was Frederick Myrick, destined to years of hard work, indescribable boredom and some notoriety. We know very little about this man or why he should be caught up in "the greasy work of whaling". Nonetheless, his life is wor­ thy of note, because it was Frederick Myrick who fashioned some­ thing of a diary of that voyage, scrimshandered into a number of the ivory teeth from the Susan's various skills. They were appropriately named the "Susan's Teeth."

In signing and dating them in a manner uncommon to the time, he unwittingly created a place in history for himself as a progenitor of the art of scrimshandering. His work and others have added im­ measurably to an understanding of our early history, and substantially to the value of collections throughout the world. For example, one piece of Myrick's work sold recently at Sothebys for $29,000.

Myrick fashioned at least seven such pieces, according to the only previous accounting contained in the Monograph "Susan's Teeth and much about Scrimshaw", Everett Crosby (1955). The author and others have commonly referred to these as the only known specimens extant.

Our own research substantiates 14 Susan's Teeth, and we believe there could be more left to surface (see Chronological Summary).

The eventual number becomes interesting when we consider that, of our verified dates, all were created between December 10,1828 and September 4, 1829, establishing them as products of a single voyage.