The N.E.D. gives examples 1765, 1766, 1770, 1775, all from Massachusetts. Moses Lowell was a famous boat-builder at Salisbury, Mass., and these boats were apparently called after him. A correspondent of Notes ana Queries, 6 S. xi. 433, says that “A ‘Moses boat’ is one built of a sufficient capacity to take from the beach and ship a single hogshead of sugar, used in the West Indies in places without the convenience of a wharf.”
1766. Taken up at Dorchester Neck, a Moses boat.—Boston-Gazette, Dec. 22.
1767. Went adrift, a Moses Boat, 14 Feet Keel, with no stern Sheets, and no Paint on her.—Boston Post-Boy, Sept. 28.
1767. A Moses Boat about 14 feet long.—Advt., Mass. Gazette, Oct. 23.
1769. Lost, a small old Moses Boat, about 15 feet long.—Id., Jan. 30.
1770. A Moses Boat, 16 feet, almost new, painted red.—Boston-Gazette, April 23.
1786. A caulker-built boat, with a Moses keel, about 13 or 14 feet long.—Advt., Maryland Journal, May 19.
1786. A strong, well-built Moses-Boat for sale.—Id., June 9.
1812. On Saturday was picked up, on Dorchester Flats, a small Moses boat.—Advt., Boston-Gazette, Oct. 26, Suppl.
