LIBBEY, (Libby) Charles Douglas
LIBBEY, [Libby] Charles Douglas (1833-1878), Massachusetts-born sea captain who married Santa Barbara native Mary Refugio de Jesus Garcia Pico (1845-1930) on November 12, 1860. They had ten children, two boys and eight girls, two of whom were born on Santa Cruz Island. Third child, Mary Jane Libbey, was born on the east end of the island on July 9, 1865, and fourth child, Isidora, was born on the west end of the island on April 16, 1867. Captain Charles D. Libbey ran the schooner Surprise, and his two sons, Charles F. and Clarence J. both became men of the sea. When a bout of heavy drinking caused Libbey “to lose his last [schooner] trip” on October 25, 1878, he committed suicide at age 45 by taking two ounces of laudanum he claimed he bought for “some women over on the island.” According to his obituary: “It appears that he has been in the habit of taking occasional sprees.” The Libbeys lived at 200 Gray Avenue in Santa Barbara where the Captain’s widow, Mary, died on October 12, 1930 at age 85.
1. Isabella Virginia (1862-1944) = Ernest Pfleging; = [1907] Charles Byron Flint (1870-1946)
2. Charles Franklin (1863-1956) = [1885] Ella Maud Kimes (1866-1955)
3. Mary Jane (1865-1955) = [1883] Jacob M. Pfleging (1847-1916)
4. Isadora (1867-1925) = Louis Flint
5. Adella C. (1870-1941) = [1910] George Mullenary
6. Christina (1871-1881)
7. Clarence Joseph (1872-1928) = Mary Alice Malone (d. 1915)
8. Eugenia (1875-1949) = Andrew Nebbia (1868-1952)
9. Alice Frances (1878-1880) died of diptheria
10. Josephine Margaret “Josie” (1885-1955) = [1903] Hilary B. Paul; = Walden = Sherman
In the News~
August 10, 1872 [SBT]: “Born. Libbey—in Santa Barbara August 2, 1872, the wife of C. Libbey, of a son.”
October 26, 1873 [SBDMT]: “Captain Libbey started out with his sloop on Friday morning last up the coast, and returned in four hours, catching on the trip four hundred pounds of fish. His sloop is new decked over and is ready to take out fishing parties.”
November 1, 1873 [SBSWT]: “Captain Libbey started out with his sloop on Friday morning last up the coast and returned in four hours, catching on the trip four hundred pounds of fish. His sloop is now decked over and is ready to take out fishing parties.”
November 8, 1873 [SBSWT]: “The Hassler reached port Friday evening at 8 o’clock from a cruise around the islands of Santa Cruz, Santa Rosa and San Miguel. At 10 yesterday morning she sailed up the coast to take soundings in the vicinity of Dos Pueblos, where a sunken rock, distant 2 miles from shore, is said to be. She returned last evening, having made search for the rock reported by Captain Libbey—it appears that the rock was located years ago and on all late editions of government charts.”
November 15, 1873 [SBDP]: “We noticed a fish which was caught by Captain Libbey, several days ago, that weighed two hundred and fifty pounds. And now again comes the Captain with another fish of the same kind (black bass) weighing four hundred pounds.”
October 26, 1878 [SBDI]: “Suicide. Charles Libbey, for some time past captain of the schooner Surprise, committed suicide last night by taking laudanum. It appears that he had been drinking heavily of late, which caused him to lose his last trip, and he appeared to fear the loss of his situation. This so preyed upon his mind that he yesterday told several of his friends that he was going to take his life, but nothing was thought of it, as he was in company with his brother-in-law, who is here from the city on a visit. On his road home he called in at the Champion Drug store with a prescription and asked for a small vial of laudanum for some woman over on the island. As he was well-known, they gave him a two ounce vial, which he took home with him. After being home a short time, he went out in the yard and swallowed the entire contents of the vial. Soon after, the family made a discovery of what he had done. The little boy was dispatched in haste for Dr. Bates, who arrived and worked with the patient until about 11 o’clock when he died. It appeared that he had been the habit of taking occasional sprees, and when in this condition always seemed bent upon taking the life of someone, and twice before attempted his own in the same way. He leaves a large family, consisting of a wife and nine children. A coroner’s inquest was held on the body this morning and a verdict rendered in accordance with the fact.”
