AOWV lists master AM0937 only as “A.W. Clark” and provides no other identifying facts. With no first name available, there appeared little information to help identify him. In researching a crew list of a voyage of another ship (E.R. SAWYER (AS1240)) under another master, the author noticed “A.W. Clark” serving as a crew member. This crew list shows that this A.W. was born in Groton and, as of the July 13, 1864 date of the crew list, was age 30, meaning he was born about 1834. A search of Ancestry.com using that information revealed an Archibald W. Clark born in Groton, age 24 in the 1860 census for Groton, suggesting birth about 1836, and lists his occupation as “seaman.” He was the son of Willis (1810-1885) and Mary (1798-1838) Clark. His headstone on Cedar Grove Cemetery in New London (seen in Find A Grave) reads “Capt. Archibald W. Clark, died at sea, August 6, 1867, ae 31 yrs.”
A.W. was master of one ship with New London as home port:
EMMA JANE (AS1297): (schooner, 86 tons, length 82’, built in Dorchester MD in 1854. Sailed on July 6, 1867 for Desolation Island, returned April 16, 1872. A.W. is shown as initial master. AOWV shows that A.W. “left the ship” under circumstances not shown, and was succeeded by —–Rogers (AM4144) as replacement master. Decker and Colby show “A.W. Clark” as master; Starbuck does not show a master for this voyage. Dennis Wood Abstract 4-264 shows “”Rogers” as the master. Richard H. Chappell was the agent. AV04451.
Archibald’s gravestone shows that he died at sea on August 6, 1867. EMMA JANE sailed two months earlier. HIs death is consistent with “leaving the ship” two months into a nearly five year voyage. Abstract 4-264 does not mention A.W.’s death or other departure, but A.W.’s brief service may explain why the abstract shows only “Rogers” as the master.
The author is satisfied that A.W. Clark and Capt. Archibald W. Clark are one and the same and that Archibald should be the master attached to master number AM0987.
Sources used: see sidebar and sources cited in text.
George Shaw
American Institute for Maritime Studies
Mystic Seaport Museum
December 2024