She helped transport New Jersey maritime pilots between inbound or outbound ships coming into the New York Harbor.

[1][2] The Edward E. Barrett was registered with the Record of American and Foreign Shipping from 1884 to 1900 to Captain William W. Black as master and the N. J.

[4] On December 30, 1892, the pilot boat Edward E. Barrett came into port after struggling with bad weather.

She drifted for seven days in bad weather that turned into a hurricane about 500 miles until she saw the steamer Pomeranian.

[7][6]: 380 On February 24, 1895, the Democrat and Chronicle ran a feature article about the life and peril by pilots who guide ocean liners into port.

[8] On June 22, 1897, the pilot boat Edward E. Barrett saluted the new steam pilot-boat New York on her trial trip down the Narrows.

[9] On January 2, 1901, the pilot boat Edward E. Barrett was struck by the Morgan Line steamer El Monte outside Sandy Hook.