ed Lydia Bicknell (1817-1908) on June 10, 1838 in Griswold CT. They had several children, the oldest, James Waterman Buddington (1839-1928), was also a whaling master of ships with New London as home port (AM0711). After the death of Lydia, James married Julia Stoddard Woodward (1842-1926) on December 13, 1860 in Groton. They also had several children. James died on December 23, 1908 in Staten Island, NY and is buried in Starr Burying Ground in Groton.
James was master of six voyages on four ships with New London as home port.But before coming master, he shipped aboard a whaler at age 17 and turned down being a master at age 21. He got his first command at age 21.
WILLIAM C. NYE (AS0684): (ship, 389 tons, built in Mattapoisett MA by Benjamin Barstow & Company in 1833, burned on June 6, 1865 by SHENANDOAH in the Bering Straits, the crew taken aboard the GENERAL PIKE). She sailed in September 1841 for the Pacific, returned in September 1843. AV15629. She sailed again on October 30, 1843 for the NW Coast and returned on February 5, 1846. AV15630. N. & W.W. Billings was the agent for both voyages.
AMARET (AS0851): (brig, built Robbinston ME in 1849, lost in the Cumberland Straits in 1866). She sailed on July 15, 1853 to the Davis Straits, returned on August 29, 1854. Perkins & Smith was the agent. AV00728.
GEORGE HENRY (AS1456): (bark, 308 tons, built in Waldoboro ME in 1841, wrecked in the Hudson Straits on July 17, 1863). She sailed on May 29, 1855 for the Davis Straits. Dennis Wood Abstract 3-642 explains what happened: “Capt. B. being on board of the British discovery ship ”Resolute” picked up adrift in Davis Straits, Quayle Master”. Starbuck’s has this version: “fell in with the abandoned English discovery ship Resolute and carried her into New London”.James left GEORGE HENRY in command of the mate, John T Quayle (AM3979), while he boarded RESOLUTE, and both ships returned to New London. Decker lists Capt. Quayle (spelled Quaile) as the initial master. AV05684. She sailed again on May 21, 1856 for the Davis Straits and returned on September 17, 1857. James’s son, James W., served on the crew of this voyage. AV05686. Perkins & Smith was the agent for both voyages.
ERA (AS0712): (schooner, 134 tons, built in Boston MA in 1847, lost in the St. Pierre, Miquelon Islands in July 1902). She sailed on May 2, 1876 for the Hudson Straits, returned in October of that year. Starbuck does not show this voyage. Havens, Williams & Co. was the agent. AV04565.
It is interesting to note that James took his ships to the whaling and sealing grounds off the northern islands of Canada instead of taking the much longer voyages to the more frequented Pacfiic whaling grounds that required a trip around Cape Horn or the Cape of Good Hope.
James was master of CORNELIA (AS1157), home port Mystic CT, for her July1858-May 1860 voyage to Heard Island. Charles Mallory was the agent. Decker does not list this voyage. AV03375.
In later years James served in several capacities on several types of ships, including serving as first mate on SARAH W. HUNT under the command of his son, James W., on a sealing voyage in 1887 to the South Shetland Islands. His last voyage was in 1891 when he was in his mid-‘70’s.
Colby’s For Oil and Buggy Whips devotes several pages of his book to James’s life and experiences at sea. The above description of some of the basic facts of his life does not do justice to this interesting man. Of particular significance revolves around his rescue of the British ship RESOLUTE. As Colby (p. 81-2) describes in more detail, the U.S. bought the ship, restored her (“put her in first class condition” according to James), and then gave her to Great Britain as a sign of friendship. She arrived Portsmouth (England) in 1856 where Queen Victoria greeted her. From those timbers was built a desk (table) that the Queen presented to President Hayes in 1880 “as a memorial of the courtesy and loving kindness, which dedicated the offer of the gift of the Resolute.” The desk has remained in the White House in Washington ever since for use by presidents and is now in the president’s office. This was a fitting tribute to James for his heroism in rescuing her.
Sources used: see sidebar and sources cited in text. Also, Edward E.R. Wood, Jr. The Ports of Old Rochester.
George Shaw (Mystic Seaport Museum) June 2024