The Life Of George Washington Readey • Part 2

Story and images courtesy of Lisa J. King 

As chance would have it, while he was on leave in Liverpool, George ran into his friend Capt. Lavender of Provincetown, who was looking for a crew to man his ship. At this time George hadn’t been paid yet from his trip on the Jason and had to travel to Antwerp, Belgium to collect his pay. Capt. Lavender gave him seven days to get his affairs in order, but he arrived late finding that Capt. Lavender and his schooner had set sail without him. Eventually, he was able to work his way back across the Atlantic to his home port in Provincetown, and when George ran into Capt. Lavender again on the street in Provincetown, he asked him why he was late for the boat. It is said George became very serious and would never speak of what had befallen him. He worked for a short time on a whaling ship before retiring from the sea life for good. He courted and wed Mary Williams, twice a widow, on November 24th, 1889, who was described as an attractive young widow in her younger days, that lived in a little white house at the end of a lane bordered by hollyhocks meandering off Pearl Street. When George spoke of her after her death in 1915, it was with tears in his eyes. The house he shared with Mary is where George called his home until his dying day. 

On land George worked as a general laborer, making a name for himself as the best mackerel splitter in town, “his hand was more deft than any other.” Eventually he was hired as the Town Crier serving in this capacity into his 80s and cementing his name in Provincetown lore. George was particularly well-suited for this position, with his outgoing personality and the clear, booming timbre of his voice, which made him very successful and a town favorite.

Part 3 coming soon …