ATLANTIC COUNTY, N.J. – After more than 30 years and bones washing ashore on multiple New Jersey beaches, one of the state’s oldest mysteries has finally been solved: the remains belong to Henry Goodsell, a 29-year-old schooner captain who perished in a shipwreck in 1844.
The Oriental, a Connecticut-based ship carrying 60 tons of marble for Philadelphia’s Girard College, sank less than a mile from Brigantine Shoal. All five crew members died, including Captain Goodsell. But it wasn’t until recently that the identity of the remains was confirmed.
The breakthrough came from a collaborative investigation launched in 2023 by the New Jersey State Police (NJSP) and the Investigative Genetic Genealogy Center at Ramapo College. Using modern DNA technology and historical detective work, students uncovered newspaper clippings from December 1844 detailing the wreck.
Bones had been discovered across several decades:
- 1995: Skull found in Longport
- 1999: Additional remains in Margate
- 2013: Bones recovered in Ocean City
On March 7, 2025, state police collected DNA from a great-great-grandchild of Goodsell. By April 8, the identification was confirmed.
“This identification is a powerful reminder of our unwavering commitment to resolving cases, no matter how old,” said Colonel Patrick J. Callahan, Superintendent of NJSP.
Officials hailed the achievement as one of the oldest cold case identifications using investigative genetic genealogy.
Cape May County Prosecutor Jeffrey Sutherland called the discovery a “fascinating piece of local history” and praised the combination of science and traditional detective work for making it possible.
Though the exact cause of death remains unknown, officials emphasized the importance of bringing closure to families — even centuries later.
