New Bedford in Bristol County, Massachusetts — The American Northeast (New England)
Captain Paul Cuffe
New Bedford Whaling National Historical Park
| | National Park Service, U.S. Department of the Interior | |
Photographed by Byron Hooks, August 31, 2014
1. Captain Paul Cuffe Marker
Paul Cuffe (1759-1817) was a sea captain, merchant, philanthropist, community leader, civil rights advocate and abolitionist. The son of an African father and Native American mother, Cuffe was born on the island of Cuttyhunk, off the coast of New Bedford. Proficient in mathematics and navigation, he worked his way up to ship owner and Captain. He founded one of the first integrated schools in America in Westport, petitioned the Commonwealth of Massachusetts for voting rights for people of color, and led efforts to resettle African-Americans in Africa. Together with his two sons-in-law, Paul Cuffe operated Cuffe & Howards, A West Indian import store nearby at the Four Corners ( corner of Union Street and Water Street) in New Bedford.
[Caption:]
Cuffes vessel Traveler is pictured between two Atlantic coastlines, New Englands and Africas. This image first appeared with a silhouette of Captain Cuffe in the Liverpool Mercury paper in 1811, and was reprinted in an 1850 Quaker or anti-slavery monthly entitled The Non-Slaveholder.
Erected by National Park Service, U.S. Department of the Interior.
Topics. This historical marker is listed in these topic lists: Abolition & Underground RR
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Location. 41° 38.075′ N, 70° 55.398′ W. Marker is in New Bedford, Massachusetts, in Bristol County. It is on Union Street near 1st Street, on the right when traveling west. Located in the Captain Paul Cuffe Park. Touch for map. Marker is in this post office area: New Bedford MA 02740, United States of America. Touch for directions.
Regionally, this marker is in the South Coast. It is also in the American Northeast and in New England. Globally, it is in the North Atlantic Region, North America, the Western Hemisphere, the Western World, and the Anglosphere. Historically, it finds itself in what was once one of the original Thirteen Colonies.
Other nearby markers. At least 8 other markers are within walking distance of this marker: A different marker also named Captain Paul Cuffe (here, next to this marker); Twentieth-Century Whaling (a few steps from this marker); Trial by Fire (a few steps from this marker); Paul Cuffee (a few steps from this marker); Making Room-Johnny Cake Hill (a few steps from this marker); A Tribute of Respect to Enterprising Whalemen (within shouting distance of this marker); The Seamen's Bethel (within shouting distance of this marker); Viking (within shouting distance of this marker). Touch for a list and map of all markers in New Bedford.
Photographed by Byron Hooks, August 31, 2014
2. Captain Paul Cuffe and Trail by Fire Markers
Photographed by Dale K. Benington, July 30, 2015
3. Captain Paul Cuffe Marker
View of the marker looking east along Union Street.
Photographed by Byron Hooks, August 31, 2014
4. Captain Paul Cuffe Park
Photographed by Dale K. Benington, July 30, 2015
5. Captain Paul Cuffe Park
View of the construction presently taking place at Captain Paul Cuffe Park.
Credits. This page was last revised on August 9, 2025. It was originally submitted on September 26, 2014, by Byron Hooks of Sandy Springs, Georgia. This page has been viewed 831 times since then and 15 times this year. Photos: 1, 2. submitted on September 26, 2014, by Byron Hooks of Sandy Springs, Georgia. 3. submitted on August 3, 2015, by Dale K. Benington of Toledo, Ohio. 4. submitted on September 26, 2014, by Byron Hooks of Sandy Springs, Georgia. 5. submitted on August 3, 2015, by Dale K. Benington of Toledo, Ohio. • Bill Pfingsten was the editor who published this page.
