Black on the Bay then and now - Chesapeake Quarterly Magazine

Vince Leggett (1953 - 2024) "middle" is the founder of the Blacks of the Chesapeake Bay Foundation and author of "The Chesapeake Bay Through Ebony Eyes." Credit Blacks of the Chesapeake who work to share the legacy of African-American achievement in the Bay's seafood and maritme industries, support the economic success of those industries and foster environmental preservation and conservation Capt. Earl White (1919 - 2004) "left" from Deal Island

Outstanding video-  Water's Edge: Black Watermen of the Chesapeake

There were many of our African-American residents who worked the area waters, dredged oysters, crabbed, fished and some still do. (The Star Democrat has a good newspaper article called, "Black waterman were backbone of oystering;" 2/12/1997).

Captain Kermit Travers who once captained the Skipjacks H.M Krentz and Ida May.

The Black watermen of Deal Island, Maryland, represent a centuries old maritime tradition that once formed the backbone of the Chesapeake's seafood industry. Historically, these skilled sailors, shipbuilders, and oyster harvesters—often referred to as "Black Jacks"—found a rare degree of economic independence and dignity on the water, even during the era of slavery. 

• Economic Opportunity: Oystering was one of the highest-paying jobs available to Black men in the 19th and early 20th centuries.
• Freedom and Citizenship: Black watermen were among the first African Americans to be legally recognized as citizens, often carrying "Seaman's Protection Certificates" to prove their status.
• Underground Railroad: Their expertise as navigators was critical; many used their positions to pass information or transport enslaved people to freedom.

Today, the legacy of Black watermen on Deal Island is under threat from both environmental and social factors: 

• Environmental Justice: The documentary Eroding History highlights how historical racism forced Black communities into lower-lying, flood-prone lands, which are now being lost to rising sea levels and erosion.
• Declining Numbers: While there were once hundreds of Black watermen on the Eastern Shore, their numbers have dwindled to fewer than 20 today.
• Preservation Efforts: Organizations like the Blacks of the Chesapeake Foundation work to document this history, while the John Wesley United Methodist Church on "Deal Island" remains a central site for preserving community heritage.
• African American watermen of the Chesapeake

Along the shores of the Chesapeake Bay, generations of African-American watermen built lives tied to the tides. From the late 19th century through the 20th, men and families across the Lower Delmarva Peninsula worked the waters as oystermen, crabbers, fishermen, and boatmen—forming a vital yet often overlooked part of the region’s maritime heritage.

Working aboard vessels like the Skipjack and traditional deadrise boats, these watermen harvested oysters from the Bay’s beds, tonged in the shallows, and labored through long seasons shaped by weather, markets, and the rhythms of the water. Their knowledge of currents, shoals, and harvest grounds was earned through experience and passed down through generations.

Communities throughout the Lower Eastern Shore—places like Deal Island and neighboring waterways—were home to Black watermen whose work extended beyond the boats. Families often participated in seafood processing, shucking houses, net mending, and boat maintenance, creating a culture deeply rooted in cooperation, skill, and resilience.

Despite facing segregation and limited access to resources, African-American watermen carved out livelihoods on the Chesapeake, sustaining families and preserving traditions that remain part of the Bay’s identity today. Their stories are not only about labor—but about heritage, pride, and connection to one of America’s most historic working waterways.

Today, organizations like the Blacks of the Chesapeake Foundation continue to preserve and share these histories, ensuring that the voices and contributions of Black watermen are recognized as an essential part of Chesapeake Bay culture.

The Claud W. Somers (often spelled Claude W. Somers), a 1911 Chesapeake Bay skipjack, sank on 4 March 1977 during a sudden and violent wintry gale in Hooper Strait, near Hooper Strait Light and Hooper’s Island. 

The disaster was particularly tragic because it claimed the lives of all six crew members on board, including the owner and captain, Thompson Wallace. 

Key Details of the Sinking

• Cause: The vessel was struck by a powerful squall with reported winds of up to 75 mph and waves reaching 15 feet.
• Location: It went down in about 12 to 15 feet of water in Hooper Strait, which lies between the Honga River and Tangier Sound.
• Historical Significance: Captain Thompson Wallace was one of the last Black captain-owners of a skipjack on the Chesap

Restoration and Current Status

Following the tragedy, the vessel was eventually salvaged and changed hands several times. In 1983, it was purchased by Alfred Garey Lambert, who spent 17 years restoring it. 

• Museum Display: In May 2000, it was donated to the Reedville Fishermen’s Museum in Virginia, where it remains an operational exhibit.
• Historic Registers: It is listed on the National Register of Historic Places in both Maryland (1985) and Virginia (2005).
• Current Use: The museum offers organized sails and tours, allowing visitors to see the interior and experience a working skipjack. 
• Legacy: Wallace faced significant discrimination in attempting to secure a boat before finally acquiring the Somers, a common struggle for Black watermen at the time.
• Crew: The tragic event claimed the lives of Wallace and his crew, including relatives.
• Operation: Wallace, based out of Chance, Maryland, was known for his dedication to the dredging tradition, which was in sharp decline. 

There are no public photographs of the Claud W. Somers while it was submerged following its tragic sinking on March 4, 1977. The vessel went down in relatively shallow water (approximately 12–15 feet) in Hooper Strait. 

While it was on the bottom, the primary focus of local authorities was the recovery of the bodies of Captain Thompson Wallace and his five crew members. The ship was salvaged later that year, and photos from that era typically show it either before the disaster as a working oyster boat or after it was raised and began its long road to restoration.