Who Was Mary Powell?
Black and white photo of a portrait of Mary Ludlow Powell. Donald C. Ringwald Collection, Hudson River Maritime Museum.
Mary Powell was a real person who was alive for part of the steamboat Mary Powell’s tenure. Mary Ludlow Powell was the wife of Newburgh businessman Thomas Powell. Born in 1785, she died in December, 1867 at the age of 82. Her daughter Frances married Homer Ramsdell, who became a steamboat magnate in his own right.
Thomas Powell had been part-owner in the steamboat named after himself, the Thomas Powell. When former Thomas Powell captain Absalom Anderson decided to build a new steamboat, he likely named it Mary Powell, both as an honor to the family and also to stay connected to the Powell steamboat name, as he had helped give the Thomas Powell such a good reputation.
Mary Ludlow Powell did ride on the steamboat Mary Powell on many occasions early in the steamboat’s career, and she was always treated as an honored guest.