My ancestors were oystermen on Outer Banks.. The beds fam owned are now gone but great grandfather bought oyster bed from Mr Keeling, well known oystermen in Norfolk VA. Beds were not far from Bay Bridge Tunnel. Used to have some of the brogue. Colleagues didn’t understand how my southern accent sounded somewhat British. Thought I was imitating British accent. Nope. Just had Tidewater brogue of my ancestors. Would come out more strongly when I was nervous.
I spent my Summers on Chesapeake Bay. I remember the crab boats in the Oyster boats. I fish for crabs myself and occasional fish. My grandfather had a place on the back River across from Langley. Oyster country wonderful memories. Johnny Jett 106 year old farmer who plowed with a mule and g r e w watermelon
Most episodes of "Twentieth Century" dealt with historical events; a few episodes (usually once every fourth or fifth week,) would deal with a current issue or other subject of current interest.
I've really enjoyed this documentary. I've been researching my family history in the area, and found that many are listed in Census records as "Sailors" or Oystermen. I had hoped to see or hear some reference about the African American sailors or oystermen. Are we to presume that there weren't any?
@ Carlos Fields. Just found your note. No, there were. My relatives worked with them. On the water, every man was judged on his own merits as it was life and death sort of work. In fact, the barrier island folk were all Union during Civil War. My relatives from Hatteras of age during War fought on Union side. Same happened in parts of WNC w/ my husband’s relatives who were tobacco farmers for the most part, and migrated to mountains of NC from Celtic regions of UK. They were poor; it was a real struggle for survival as on Hatteras. People were judged on hard work and neighbors helping neighbors more so than background and skin color. Not only did my relatives harvest oysters, but they deep-sea fished as well, extremely dangerous work. If a man worked beside you, he was responsible not only for his safety but yours as well. Skin color didn’t determine worth in fishing communities on Outer Banks. My relatives helped to build school there for persons of color. That was extraordinarily unique at the time. Ironically my great grandmother was illiterate, stayed home and helped with children. She was severely burned on her legs in cooking accident as well so she never had opportunity to attend a school and never learned to read or write, but she could add figures faster than a calculator. She couldn’t sign her name, but could figure numbers. Thanks She hid the fact she wasn’t literate. I didn’t find out until her death in late 1970s.
Carlos, if your relatives made it to Outer Banks, your ppl in all likelihood worked with mine. Island society was quite different than mainland life. I was told people pooled resources as all were scratching out a living. Very tough life. One was at the mercy of the sea; no one can understand that unless one worked the sea or had close fam who did. The census records used same terminology for my kin.
Of course, this documentary reflected the prejudice of time it was made more than reality of life at sea or in coastal villages. Would be interesting to compare our research. Mine were mostly in barrier islands off NC until they migrated to Norfolk, VA, at turn of century, early 1900s. I’m the last to have known the islanders in my branch of family. They’ve all passed, and I’m the last of my generation in fam.
These days, local crab factories hire workers from Mexico to pick crabs in spite of vast unemployment within Maryland communities. Are these communities unemployable because dysfunctional cultural attitudes endemic of urban crime sprees?
Yes, there are still about a dozen skipjacks working the bay harvesting oysters in Maryland. Most only work using push boats which is allowed a few days a week. Push boats are the small boats with big engines that literally push the skipjacks around. You can see them in the video. It's very difficult these days to find a crew capable of working the sails.
No, not so much around Norfolk/ VA Beachanymore. There was toxic chemical spill that affected beds. Can’t remember exact dates, perhaps mid-80s? Took decades to clean it up. Many lost livelihoods. Now harvesting again, but small boats mostly on or around Lynnhaven.
Every small waterman's village claims they are the most experienced watermen, pick the best crabmeat, have handled the most seafood, lol. My family were watermen. My grandfather haul seined, oystered and crabbed, as well as had a farm. He saw it was dying, and it was no future in it, so My father and uncle did marine construction. My cousin was fussing with my grandfather once about how the trade was going away. My grandfather told him, you put all your eggs in one basket, you should learn to do several things. Go get a job somewhere and learn another trait. He refused to work for anyone, and now has to, being a laborer. I wished I could have done it my lifetime, but it is what it is. Pollution is the main problem. Overharvesting can hurt, but id the bay was healthy again, it would come back in no time, but that's never going to change anything....
Walter Cronkite was an avid sail boat skipper. I have no doubt he loved this episode.
My Grandfather is in this ,he owned the skipjack the El Dora, I still live on the island
I lived in MD too and now there are skipjack races.
Exciting
My ancestors were oystermen on Outer Banks.. The beds fam owned are now gone but great grandfather bought oyster bed from Mr Keeling, well known oystermen in Norfolk VA. Beds were not far from Bay Bridge Tunnel. Used to have some of the brogue. Colleagues didn’t understand how my southern accent sounded somewhat British. Thought I was imitating British accent. Nope. Just had Tidewater brogue of my ancestors. Would come out more strongly when I was nervous.
Incredible video! Thank you for posting!
I spent my Summers on Chesapeake Bay. I remember the crab boats in the Oyster boats. I fish for crabs myself and occasional fish. My grandfather had a place on the back River across from Langley. Oyster country wonderful memories. Johnny Jett 106 year old farmer who plowed with a mule and g r e w watermelon
Excellent. Many thanks.
Most episodes of "Twentieth Century" dealt with historical events; a few episodes (usually once every fourth or fifth week,) would deal with a current issue or other subject of current interest.
My grandfather owned one of the last Skip Jacks on the Chesapeake Bay
what was the name of it?
I've really enjoyed this documentary. I've been researching my family history in the area, and found that many are listed in Census records as "Sailors" or Oystermen. I had hoped to see or hear some reference about the African American sailors or oystermen. Are we to presume that there weren't any?
There where a ton of African American skipjacks. My family had a ton of Captains they were from Deal Island MD. The piracalled it Devils Island
@ Carlos Fields. Just found your note. No, there were. My relatives worked with them. On the water, every man was judged on his own merits as it was life and death sort of work. In fact, the barrier island folk were all Union during Civil War. My relatives from Hatteras of age during War fought on Union side. Same happened in parts of WNC w/ my husband’s relatives who were tobacco farmers for the most part, and migrated to mountains of NC from Celtic regions of UK. They were poor; it was a real struggle for survival as on Hatteras. People were judged on hard work and neighbors helping neighbors more so than background and skin color.
Not only did my relatives harvest oysters, but they deep-sea fished as well, extremely dangerous work. If a man worked beside you, he was responsible not only for his safety but yours as well. Skin color didn’t determine worth in fishing communities on Outer Banks. My relatives helped to build school there for persons of color. That was extraordinarily unique at the time.
Ironically my great grandmother was illiterate, stayed home and helped with children. She was severely burned on her legs in cooking accident as well so she never had opportunity to attend a school and never learned to read or write, but she could add figures faster than a calculator. She couldn’t sign her name, but could figure numbers. Thanks She hid the fact she wasn’t literate. I didn’t find out until her death in late 1970s.
Carlos, if your relatives made it to Outer Banks, your ppl in all likelihood worked with mine. Island society was quite different than mainland life. I was told people pooled resources as all were scratching out a living. Very tough life. One was at the mercy of the sea; no one can understand that unless one worked the sea or had close fam who did. The census records used same terminology for my kin.
Of course, this documentary reflected the prejudice of time it was made more than reality of life at sea or in coastal villages. Would be interesting to compare our research. Mine were mostly in barrier islands off NC until they migrated to Norfolk, VA, at turn of century, early 1900s. I’m the last to have known the islanders in my branch of family. They’ve all passed, and I’m the last of my generation in fam.
These days, local crab factories hire workers from Mexico to pick crabs in spite of vast unemployment within Maryland communities. Are these communities unemployable because dysfunctional cultural attitudes endemic of urban crime sprees?
music from the memory of a 3 year old.Along with Victory at Sea, great source of WW2 history.
As seen on CBS' Sunday night schedule at 6pm(et), for Prudential Insurance.
A Sunday evening institution for my family gathering for dinner at my maternal grandparents' home. Lassie was next.
Well, at the time, "THE TWENTIETH CENTURY" was followed by "WORLD WAR I" at 6:30....... *then,* at 7. was "LASSIE".
great video.... what year was this in ??? 1955 or 1960? jusdt wondering
Interesting sociological study.
Is oyster harvest is still by sail ?
Sadly no the skipjacks are gone only one ship is left and shes in a museum
Yes, there are still about a dozen skipjacks working the bay harvesting oysters in Maryland. Most only work using push boats which is allowed a few days a week. Push boats are the small boats with big engines that literally push the skipjacks around. You can see them in the video. It's very difficult these days to find a crew capable of working the sails.
@@PatapscoMike interesting
No, not so much around Norfolk/ VA Beachanymore. There was toxic chemical spill that affected beds. Can’t remember exact dates, perhaps mid-80s? Took decades to clean it up. Many lost livelihoods. Now harvesting again, but
small boats mostly on or around Lynnhaven.
@@southernlady5085 Thanks for the infor
Hard working men
Men are not your slaves.
Every small waterman's village claims they are the most experienced watermen, pick the best crabmeat, have handled the most seafood, lol. My family were watermen. My grandfather haul seined, oystered and crabbed, as well as had a farm. He saw it was dying, and it was no future in it, so My father and uncle did marine construction. My cousin was fussing with my grandfather once about how the trade was going away. My grandfather told him, you put all your eggs in one basket, you should learn to do several things. Go get a job somewhere and learn another trait. He refused to work for anyone, and now has to, being a laborer. I wished I could have done it my lifetime, but it is what it is. Pollution is the main problem. Overharvesting can hurt, but id the bay was healthy again, it would come back in no time, but that's never going to change anything....