In 1836, James P. Allaire, John Haggerty, and Charles Morgan planned to add two steamers to their line of ships running under the name of the New York and Charleston Steam Packet Company.

After some delays, the partners launched the New York and the SS Home early in 1837 to carry passengers and cargo, including US Mail.

[1] The Home was a large and fast coastal steamer which provided accommodations for 120 passengers and could make the trip between New York and Charleston in 64 hours.

Their inspection failed to detect a water leak in the machinery, which caused and engine failure when the Home faced a storm near Cape Hatteras, North Carolina.

On Saturday, 7 October 1837, Home left New York City for Charleston, South Carolina, with about 90 passengers and 40 crew aboard.