Tim Garrity and Jaylene Roths talk about one of the worst cases of mutiny and mass murder in American maritime history, on board the Berwind, captained by Edwin Rumill of Pretty Marsh. This fascinating story includes Rumill’s history on MDI, conditions on board the Berwind, what happened on that fateful day, and the course of events after the “mutineers” were captured.
In Garrity’s article in “Chebacco: The Maritime Edition,” he writes, “Of all the stories we tell about Mount Desert Island’s histories, the Berwind mutiny is one of the lesser knowns, appearing rarely in published work or media produced for the tourist trade. The subject’s obscurity is surprising since the episode illustrates so well the hardships endured by mariners and their families at home. The tale of the Berwind is also rare among Mount Desert Island stories in that it features men of color, whose lives at sea were especially difficult and became more so if they fell into the hands of the criminal justice system.”
Jaylene Roths has spent decades studying the fall out of the mutiny on Captain Rumill’s family living on MDI. His widow and children struggled to piece together a life and income in the absence of Captain Rumill, and Roths’ work interviewing descendants provides unique insight into their strength and resiliency.
Sponsored by the Mount Desert Island Historical Society, Great Harbor Maritime Museum, and Northeast Harbor Library. Free and Open to the public.
Due to space limitations, registration is recommended for in-person attendance. Click here to register for a seat: https://nehlibrary.libcal.com/event/10643899
To join virtually, please log into Zoom at 6pm HERE
About Our Guests
Tim Garrity was executive director and historian of the Mount Desert Island Historical Society from 2010 to 2020. He and his wife, Lynn, reside in Blue Hill. He is Chair of the Advisory Board for the Clement and Linda McGillicuddy Humanities Center at the University of Maine and a volunteer for the Blue Hill Heritage Trust.
Jaylene Roths was the first executive director of the MDI Historical Society. She has a Master’s Degree in History from the University of Maine with a focus on maritime history. Growing up on Mount Desert Island her passion for history was nurtured walking in the woods discovering old foundations, rock walls, and cemeteries. Currently Jaylene teaches middle school social studies at Conners Emerson in Bar Harbor. She encourages students to be curious, ask questions, be solution oriented, and to think about how our past informs who we are as individuals and as a community. She also works as a costume designer for local theater companies and enjoys sewing period clothing. She lives in Bar Harbor with her husband and two daughters.