Information that appears reliable shows him born on June 5, 1814 in Montville CT. He was the son of Erastus Church (1792-1880). He married Carolyn M. Church, born 1815, in Norwich CT on April 18, 1839. They had a son, Alfred, born perhaps December 25, 1841. His memorial stone in Old Quaker Hill Cemetery in Quaker Hill (Waterford) CT (in Find A Grave) reads “Capt. Henry F. Church died at sea January 5, 1848 aged 34 years”. Carolyn was appointed administratrix of his estate. Carolyn died on January 21, 1866 in Montville. Alfred was appointed administrator of her estate.
Find A Grave contains additional information about the wives and descendants of Erastus Church, including Henry and his family, that is confusing and inconsistent and may not be accurate. That information suggests that Erastus had two wives, Nancy Ford (1792-1831) and Fitche Church (1796-1860). He had children with both wives, including Henry, but the identity of Henry’s mother is not clear. Erastus Church (AM0966) and Charles Church (AM0961) may be either full brothers or half-brothers of Henry. Before marrying Carolyn, Henry married Charlotte Moore with whom he had a daughter Eunice (1830-1908). The author was unable to verify the information in this paragraph.
Henry served as master on two voyages on two ships with New London as home port:
PEMBROKE (AS2163): (bark, 199 tons, length 84’, built in Pembroke MD in 1819). It sailed on July 12, 1841 for the Indian Ocean, returned on May 24, 1842. Joseph Lawrence was the agent. AV11377.
WILLIAM C. NYE (AS0684): (ship, 390 tons, length 111’, built in Rochester MA in 1833). It sailed on April 30, 1846 for the NW coast, returned on February 10, 1851. Henry was the master when the ship sailed. He was replaced by Samuel Rose (AM4155). Dennis Wood Abstract 2-675 records that the ship experienced two successive heavy gales that did damage to the spars, rigging and rudder, with ongoing rudder issues. The abstract continues “Rose Master at Rio March 7, 1848….Capt. Church having been killed in falling from the main yard.” Decker shows Capt. Rose as the master with no mention of Henry. N & W.W. Billings was the agent. AV15631.
Henry served as a crew member on six voyages on four ships, two with New London as home port: TAMPICO (AS2716, home port Groton MA) for its 1831-1833 voyage, the crew list showing Henry as age 19; BOSTON (AS0999, home port Norwich CT) for its 1833-1835, 1835-1837 and 1837-1841 voyages; CALEDONIA (AS1024) for its 1839-1841 voyage; and ROBERT BOWNE (AS2303) for its 1842-1845 voyage following his voyage as master of PEMBROKE
Sources used: see sidebar and sources cited in text.
George Shaw
American Institute for Maritime Studies
Mystic Seaport Museum
December 2024