Sidney, unlike other members of his whaling family, consistently had a single “d” in his last name. He was born in Groton on September 16, 1823, son of Alonzo (1799-1881) and Hannah (Conkling) (1797-1856) Budington. He married Sarah H. Knowles (born July 29, 1821)on February 7, 1850. They had two children, Victoria (1852-January 25, 1878) and Florence (1853-1933). At age 28, Sidney was issued Seamen’s Protection Certificate #349 in London, the certificate showing him as 5’ 8” in height with a dark complexion. Decennial census reports from 1850 – 1880 show the family living in Groton. The occupations shown in the reports as the years passed – “sailor”, “mariner”, ship-master”, and “seaman” – reflect the arc of his career at sea. Sidney died on June 13, 1888, Sarah on August 7, 1889, both in Groton. They are buried in Starr Burying Ground in Groton (their headstone is available on Find a Grave).
Colby’s For Oil and Buddy Whips says (p. 95) that Sidney’s first sea voyage was on the 7/1840-6/1841 voyage of JULIUS CAESAR (AS1737) to the Pacific. The crew list for that voyage (dated July 24, 1840) shows him as a member of the crew. New London Crew Lists show Sidney serving on the crew of WILLIAM C. NYE (AS0684) under the command of his uncle, James M. Buddington (AM0710), on her 10/1841-9/1843 and 10/1843-2/1846 voyages.
Colby says that Sidney served on the crew of MINERVA SMYTH (AS0410, home port New Bedford) for her 1844-1845 voyage and FRANKLIN (AS1406, see below) for her 1846-1849 voyage, but the crew lists for neither of those voyages shows his name as a crew member. He then joined the crew of McLELLAN (AS1913) for her 1850-1853 voyage during which she was crushed in the ice in David Straits in June 1852. AV09496.
AOWV and Colby show that Sidney served as master of at least ten voyages on five ships with a home port in New London:
GEORGIANA (AS1470): (brig, 190 tons, lost in 1868). She sailed in July,1853, returned in October 1854 (AV05760); sailed again on April 11, 1855, returned September 25, 1856 (AV05761); sailed again on April 11, 1857, returned December 8, 1857 (AV05762); and finally sailed on June 1, 1858, returned on December 9, 1859 (AV05763). All of these voyages were to the Davis Straits. Perkins & Smith was the agents for the first three voyages; Williams & Haven was the agent for the last voyage. Dennis Wood Abstract 3-549 notes the last voyage “going to winter”.
GEORGE HENRY (AS1456): (bark, 307 tons, built in Waldoboro ME in 1841, registration surrendered in October 1863, vessel lost). She sailed on May 30, 1860 for the Davis Straits, returned September 13, 1862. Joining this voyage was Charles Francis Hall, noted explorer who was searching for the lost British ships TERROR and EREBUS, and as interpreters two Inuit known as Joe and Hannah. Sidney brought Joe and Hannah back to Groton where they settled for several years. Williams & Haven was the agent. AV05687.
FRANKLIN (AS1406): (99 tons, built Eastport ME 1833). She sailed in 1863, returned in 1864 (AV05252); she sailed again on April 25, 1865 for Hudson Bay, returned September 17, 1866 (AV05253); and sailed on May 2, 1867 to Cumberland Inlet, returned September 19, 1868 (AV05254). Richard Chappell was agent for these voyages.
ODD FELLOWS (AS2079): (bark, 239 tons, built in Sag Harbor NY in 1850). She sailed on July 23, 1869 for Cumberland Inlet. Dennis Wood Abstract 4-308 describes what happened: “Bark Old Fellows a total loss, struck going out to day, and floundered by the wrecking, nothing saved for the owners”. The wreck occurred on coast of Newfoundland in August 1869.
CONCORDIA (AS1140): (bark, 265 tons, built in Charleston MA in 1826). She sailed in 1870, and according to Colby (p. 100) she returned without whale oil or bone. AV03199).
Following these voyages, Sidney became sailing master and ice pilot of the former tug POLARIS for Arctic explorations (not whaling) with Charles Hall.
During his many voyages in the Arctic, Sidney learned the Inuit language and befriended many Inuits, including Joe and Hannah, and brought several to the United States. Colby devotes much of a chapter (p. 95-102) to his friendship with the Inuits, his relationships with them, and their experiences away from their native land.
Sources used: see sidebar and sources cited in text. The photo of Sidney (ca. 1871) is owned by Mystic Seaport Museum (#39.1310).
George Shaw (Mystic Seaport Museum) July 2024