Lorenzo was born in April 1837 (per his obituary (see below), son of Elisha and Sarah (Gard) Chipman. Groton census records for 1850 show Elisha as “sailor” then age 48, Sarah age 38, and Lorenzo age 13. Lorenzo married Jane (maiden name not found), born in 1841. Notes in Find A Grave, not always accurate or complete, lists three children: William (born January 1871), Jennie (Davison) (born October 1871, and Nancy (1874-1881). Census reports for Groton show the growth of the family, although the ages are sometimes inconsistent with ages shown in prior or later reports. The 1870 report shows Elisha as 36 (incorrect, it probably should be about 68) and “seaman whales” [or “whaler”], Jane 58, and Lorenzo 33. The 1880 report shows Lorenzo as 43 and a “sea captain”, Jane 38 and two children, Jennie 8 and Nannie (Nancy) 6. The 1900 records show Lorenzo as 62 and “fisherman”, Jane 58, and William 29 and a “silk weaver”. By 1910, Lorenzo is 72, occupation “market” in the “fish” industry, Jane is 68, and “Lorenzo Jr.” is 28 and employed as a “salesman” in “retail grocery” industry.
His obituary (The Day, New London, January 14, 1914), reporting his death the prior day, described him as “a true representative of the school of hardy sailors whose hazardous voyages in the frozen regions of the world acquainted them with perils of ice, cold and frozen seas.”
Lorenzo served as master for two voyages on two ships with New London as home port:
CONCORDIA (AS1140): (bark, 217 tons, length 94’, built in Charlestown MA in 1826, condemned and broken up in 1871). Sailed on April 25, 1871 for Cumberland Inlet, returned on November 9, 1871. Decker records John Spicer as master of this voyage. Colby does not show this voyage. Starbuck has the comment “Nothing but freight.” An explanation to Decker’s reference to John Spicer comes from Lorenzo’s obituary (see below) recording that he “took Bark Concord [CONCORDIA? ] to the frozen regions for Captain John Spicer.” William, Haven & Co. was the agent. AV03200.
ROSWELL KING (AS2313): (schooner, 135 tons, built Rochester MA in 1873, lost in Hudson Strait in 1881). Sailed on May 11, 1880 for Desolation Island, returned on April 7, 1881. C.A. Williams was the agent. AV12604.
Between these two voyages, Lorenzo served as a member of the crew on threevoyages on ships with New London or Mystic as home port: ANTELOPE (AS0029, home port New Bedford) for its 1864-1866 voyage; CHARLES COLGATE (AS1079) for its 1873-1875 voyage; and DROMO (AS2655) for its 1875-1876 and 1876-1877 voyages.
Lorenzo’s obituary mentions several voyages on which he sailed, some of which could not be verified: LEANDER (AS1781) 1856-1857 and 1858-1860 voyages, no crew lists available; TEMPEST (AS248) 1857-1861 voyage, name not on crew list; ROSWELL KING (see above), obituary says voyage under “Buddington” but he was never master of that ship; LIZZIE P. SIMMONS (AS2655), no dates, no crew list available for any voyage; STAR KING (AS0769) no dates, no crew list available for any voyage.
The Day, New London, (April 3, 1889) reports that Lorenz arrived aboard FRANCIS ALLYN (AS0758) on which he served as first mate its 1887-1889 voyage to Desolation Island and the So. Georgia Islands.
Sources used: see sidebar and sources cited in text.
George Shaw
American Institute of Maritime Studies
Mystic Seaport Museum
November 2024