The Thomas F. Bayard was registered as a pilot Schooner with the Record of American and Foreign Shipping from 1881 to 1900. Her ship owners were Philadelphia Pilots; built in 1880 at Brooklyn, Long Island; and her hailing port was the Port of Philadelphia. Her dimensions were 94 ft. in length; 21.4 ft. breadth of beam; 13 ft. depth of hold; and 70-tons Tonnage. The sail number "2" was painted in black on her mainsail to distinguish her from other pilot-boats.
