Little information could be found about John or his single reported voyage.
None of the sites on AOWV that often give information or clues about dates and places of birth, marriage or death provides any information about John. Two possible John Chadwick’s were identified. John (1): New London Crew Lists records a John Champlin born in Lyme CT about 1790, a resident of New London, sailing as crew of EMMELINE departing in May of 1807, but neither AOWV, Starbuck nor Decker shows avessel by that name. AOWV and Starbuck show five ships named EMELINE, all of the first voyages began in 1819 or later, so they were different ships. John (2): A Seamen’s Protection Certificates were issued to John Henry Champlin in 1834 and 1835 in Newport RI, born in Jamestown RI about 1815 and died in 1876, but 1860 and 1870 census records show this John as a farm laborer, and all of his connections appear to have been in RI. The author concludes that neither John (1) nor John (2) is Capt. John Champlin. Absent further information being found, John’s life will remain a mystery.
John was master of one voyage on one ship with a home port in New London:
ERA (AS0712): (schooner, 188 tons, length 92’, built in Boston MA in 1847, lost St. Pierre, Miquelon Islands, July 1906). She sailed in 1870 destination not known. Decker records John as master of the voyage with showing no departure date but a return date of December 15, 1871. Starbuck records the 1869-1870 voyage of ERA but none beginning in 1870 or subsequent years. Williams & Barns were the agents. AV04564
There are no other recorded voyages with John as master or as a crew member.
Sources used: see sidebar and sources cited in text.
George Shaw (Mystic Seaport Museum) September 2024