Beginning some time before 1814 Barker Turner, who later built at the "Brick Kilns" (on the other side of the river in what is now Pembroke) and "Bridge" yards, occupied the Fox Hill yard.  Between 1815 and 1820 he built on his own, or in partnership with others, 11 ships at Fox Hill Shipyard, including the first recorded ship from here, the schooner "Orient."

An incident is related of a certain Mr. Nye of Pembroke, who, while Mr. Turner was building at this yard, would come across the river at night and "hook" rum from a jug that Mr. Turner used to keep in his chest.  Finally two men were set to watch and after Mr. Nye had taken a good drink and filled up his flask they seized him.  Sometime afterward Mr. Nye suddenly died from the effects of an overdose of liquor, taken through a straw through a barrel.