It has been said that the first vessel built in Biddeford was a sloop built for Lord Pepperrell at Biddeford Pool in 1696, but this is not verified. The first official record of a vessel built in Biddeford was the schooner "John", built in 1806. She was 83 tons and 66 feet long; the builder is unknown. After this time shipbuilding on both sides of the river was brisk.
