Mayflower II Fuller Shallop to sail to Padanaram

On most days of the year, the Mayflower II Fuller Shallop is docked in Plymouth, but in mid-August it will be setting sail for a journey from Westport to Nantucket, pit stopping in Padanaram Harbor on Monday, Aug. 17.

This journey, which follows the path of blockade runners during the Revolutionary War, will focus specifically on Paul Cuffe, a Black and Wampanoag man who was born in Cuttyhunk in 1759 and lived in Old Dartmouth, including what is now the Russells Mills Historic District.

During the Revolutionary War, Paul Cuffe and other blockade runners would sail between the mainland and Nantucket, delivering supplies and food to the island residents who were cut off due to the British blockade.

“The fact that there’s been a lot of attention given to Paul Cuffe and the history there, I think that’s really critically important because there’ll be people everywhere who’ll say, ‘I never heard of him before’ and when you think about it, it’s a pretty extraordinary story,” said Sue Guiducci, who helped organize the Dartmouth events.

The Fuller Shallop is a replica of the boat brought aboard the Mayflower, which the pilgrims would assemble when they wanted to go out on additional explorations and determine if an area would be a good place to settle. 

The Mayflower II Fuller Shallop and the William Underwood — a sardine carrier — will approach the dock at the Appongansett Landing at 9 a.m. and at 10 a.m. the Dartmouth Community Band will perform, welcoming the boats into the harbor.

The boats will be in Padanaram Harbor until 2 p.m., and people will be allowed to go onto the ship and speak with its captain and crew members. 

On land, there will be a number of activities organized by local groups like the Dartmouth Preservation Heritage Trust and the Dartmouth Cultural Center and there will be reenactors demonstrating and playing colonial-era games.

Beginning at 11:30 a.m., people will also have the opportunity to watch the music video “Paul Cuffe is Me” and “Cuffe: Taxed,” a short film that tells the story of one of Paul Cuffe’s journeys as a blockade runner. The film screening will include an introduction and Q&A with Director Anita Allison and Tyson Brown, who plays Paul Cuffe in the film.

At 2 p.m., the Fuller Shallop will depart and dock at Cuttyhunk Island before eventually arriving in Nantucket.

Guiducci said this event will give people the opportunity to see the Fuller Shallop without having to drive up to Plymouth and to “get up close to see it.”

“Here nobody’s really going to have to travel anywhere other than the landing,” she said.