New York Herald, 14 May 1856, page 8, under headlines MARITIME INTELLIGENCE / ARRIVED:
Ship Wm Stetson (of Thomaston), Jordan, Liverpool, 37 days, with mdse and 500 passengers, to Nesmith & Sons. Encountered heavy gales westward of the Banks. 3d inst, lat 40 14, lon 53 50, had a heavy gale from NE with a tremendous cross sea running; carried away maintopmast head of mainmast, mizentopmast, with head of mizenmast; also foretopgallantmast. On the 5th inst encountered another gale which blew away foretopsail and foresail; kept the vessel before the wind for 10 hours, running SSW, and was obliged to heave over tin and pig iron to ease her. On the 7th, lat 38 52 lon 65 15, signalizes clipper ship Sea Serpent, hence for San Francisco; 11th, off Montauk, took a pilot from boat Mary & Catharine. Had one birth on the passage.