Bones found on New Jersey beaches identified as belonging to a 19th-century ship captain en route to Philadelphia.

Skeletal remains that have washed ashore on various beaches in South Jersey since 1995 have been identified as belonging to a 19th-century ship captain who met his demise while navigating a schooner bound for Philadelphia. This identification marks a significant conclusion to a mystery that has persisted for nearly three decades.

The remains are recognized as those of Henry Goodsell, a 29-year-old captain who tragically lost his life during the wreck of the Oriental off the coast of Brigantine in December 1844. At that time, the Oriental was transporting approximately 60 tons of marble intended for the construction of Girard College.

The initial discovery of Goodsell’s remains occurred in 1995 when a skull was found on a beach in Longport, Atlantic County. Subsequent bones were located in Margate in 1999 and further remains washed up in Ocean City, Cape May County, in 2013. Due to their scattered nature, the remains were colloquially referred to as “Scattered Man John Doe,” a label that remained until now as investigators struggled to ascertain the identity of the deceased.

In a concerted effort to solve this historical cold case, the New Jersey State Police collaborated with the Ramapo College Investigative Genetic Genealogy Center in Mahwah in 2023. The center sent a sample of the remains to a forensic lab, which uploaded genetic data into genealogy databases for further investigation.

Through diligent research, students at the genealogy center established ancestral connections to Goodsell dating back to the 1600s in Connecticut. While investigating reported shipwrecks along the New Jersey coast, they discovered accounts of the Oriental’s demise in historical newspapers, including the York Democratic Press and the Boston Daily Bee.

Reports indicated that the Oriental had embarked on its journey from Connecticut to Philadelphia in December 1844. The vessel was manned by five crew members when it began to take on water and ultimately sank approximately one mile from the Brigantine Shoal, resulting in the loss of all lives aboard.

The precise date of the shipwreck is documented as December 4, 1844. To date, the remains of only one crew member, identified as John Keith, were recovered following the incident, as reported in period publications.

While the impact of the shipwreck on the ongoing construction of Girard College—set to open in 1848—remains unclear, records show that the work continued actively even shortly after the tragedy.

In a pivotal breakthrough, New Jersey authorities collected a genetic sample from a great-great-grandchild of Goodsell in March 2023. By early April, the identity of Goodsell was confirmed, effectively resolving what is now recognized as one of the oldest cold cases solved through the innovative application of investigative genetic genealogy.

The resolution of Goodsell’s case is seen as a poignant reminder of the challenges law enforcement faces in identifying human remains. Officials emphasize the commitment to ensuring that every case upholds the promise that no one will be forgotten, and that families receive the answers they seek.

The efforts of the students not only distinguished Goodsell’s identity but also highlighted a crucial chapter in local history, showcasing the power of genetic genealogy techniques in addressing complex cold cases. The collaboration between Ramapo College and the New Jersey State Police stands as a testament to the effectiveness of merging new technology with traditional investigative practices in the pursuit of justice and closure.

With the Ramapo College genealogy center having engaged in approximately 92 cases, this development reinforces the center’s role in bridging the past with the present, including previous successes such as the identification of Maria Quinones Garcia’s remains discovered in New Jersey in 2017.

This story exemplifies the intersection of academia and law enforcement, demonstrating the potential of genetic research in solving longstanding mysteries.

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