Shipbuilder and merchant Ezra Weston II

private signal or fleet flag of weston firm. coincidentally identical flag of netherlands.

e. weston & son became diverse operation included large ropewalk on weston s property on powder point. 1,000 foot long structure produced cordage weston vessels , became lucrative component of enterprise westons supplied rigging of duxbury s major shipbuilders shipyards in boston. in 1812, westons built sailcloth mill in millbrook section of duxbury. owned blacksmith shop , tar kiln , employed large workforce of carpenters, laborers, stevedores , mariners. westons able supply virtually own raw material needed build sailing vessels. westons built numerous smaller vessels, including schooners fishing , coastal trade. however, weston s best known vessels large brigs , ships traded in northern atlantic , mediterranean.

when father died in 1822, ezra ii inherited firm , returned earlier name of e. weston. inherited father s nickname of king caesar. ezra ii dramatically increased scope of firm s activities after father s death. evidenced sharp increase in shipbuilding , international trade, ezra ii had more ambitious goals, broader vision firm, , managerial skills achieve success. weston transferred of firm s administrative , financial activities boston on course of 1820s, representing 1 of first major operational changes after father s death. firm first occupied counting rooms on boston s long wharf. when commercial wharf completed in 1835, became home of boston s successful firms. weston firm occupied offices on commercial wharf 1835 until firm closed in 1857. firm continued operate shipyard, mill, ropewalk, , wharf in duxbury; however, fleet increasingly used boston home port, particularly weston built larger vessels unable return duxbury after launch.

weston expanded firm s operations hiring talented, young master carpenter, samuel hall, superintend shipyard. hall built of finest vessels in weston fleet , helped weston firm earn reputation. oversaw weston shipyard ten years until, in 1837, established own shipyard in east boston. hall went on build famous clipperships including surprise.

in 1834, weston established large shipyard on bluefish river in duxbury known ten acre yard. largest vessels of weston fleet built there, , had capacity simultaneous construction of 2 vessels. when samuel hall left weston s employment, local master carpenter named samuel cushing took on superintendent of ten acre yard , built vessels there until yard ceased operation in 1843.

by 1830s, weston firm shipping large cargoes of cotton ports in southern united states, including new orleans , mobile textile mills in liverpool, england. largest ships of weston fleet, launched in late 1830s , 1840s, designed ship cotton.

weston died in 1842 , 3 sons, gershom bradford weston, alden bradford weston, , ezra weston iv, inherited firm equal partners. renamed e. weston & sons. brothers ceased shipbuilding continued operate remaining vessels of weston fleet in merchant trade 15 years. vessels aged, gradually sold them off, typically owners of whaling fleets. several weston vessels served decades whalers operating out of new bedford. firm ceased operation on december 31, 1857.