Hiram was born in Groton CT on April 3, 1803, son of Nathaniel (1775-1837) and Eunice (Denison) (1772-1832) Clift. He married Mary Esther Crary (1813-1856) on January 1, 1852 in Stonington CT. The 1870 census for Knox in Albany County NY lists Hiram’s occupation as “farmer”. No record was found of any children. He died on November 15, 1874 in Knox and is buried in the Knox Cemetery. The NY death records confirms the date, shows his occupation as “sea captain”, and records his death due to heart disease. The gravestone (seen in Find A Grave) recites “Capt. Hiram Clift born April 3, 1803 died Nov. 15, 1874.” Note, there is another Hiram Clift with similar dates living in western NY.
AOWV lists Hiram as master of four and possibly five voyages on four ships with New London as home port. Some of the information about the master, ships, and dates of voyages is questionable or inconsistent with other information.
MONTGOMERY (AS1972): (schooner, but CT Ship Database shows thatthe only schooner with that name was built in 1834, after MONTGOMERY’s 1832-1833 voyage; another ship by that name is a sloop built in Brookhaven NY in 1824). It sailed in 1832 for the So. Atlantic and returned in September 1833. E.M. Frink was the agent. AV10030. Colby does not show this voyage under Hiram’s name; Decker and Starbuck show the master as “Cliff.” AOWV adds to the confusion by showing “Clift” as a separate master, AM1067. Note that the dates of this voyage conflict with the dates for the first voyage of McDONOUGHbelow.
McDONOUGH (AS1912); (schooner, 124 tons, length 72’, built in Glastonbury CT in 1826). It sailed in 1832, returned in September 1834. Starbuck does not show a master for this voyage. The New-London Gazette and General Advertiser (9/3/1834) notes in its Arrived column: “Aug. 30. Schooner McDonough, Hiram Clift, from Falkland Islands”. AV09485. It sailed again in 1834, returned in 1835. Decker and Starbuck do not show this voyage. Colby shows this ship on his list of fur sealing ships, and AOWV codes it for fur sealing. AV09486.
OSPRAY (AS2120): (brig, 153 tons). It sailed on August 11, 1835 for the Falkland Islands, returned in August 4, 1836. Starbuck shows the master as “Clift.” Colby shows this ship on his list of fur sealing ships, and AOWV codes it for fur sealing. W.M. Frink was the agent. AV11081. Mystic Seaport Museum holds the logbook for this voyage.
IRIS (AS1659): (brig, 245, 92’, built in Kittery ME in 1823). It sailed on November 9, 1836 for the Falklands Islands, returned in 1838. Decker does not show a master for this voyage; Starbuck does not show this voyage. Frink, Chew & Co. was the agent. AV07128. Mystic Seaport Museum holds the logbook for this voyage.
Hiram was master of five voyages on three ships with Mystic CT as home port: TAMPICO (AS2716) for its 1840-1841 voyage; SHEPHERDESS (AS2385) for its 1842-1844 and 1844-1847 voyages; HUDSON (AS0293) for its 1848-1952 and 1852-1854voyages.
Sources used: see sidebar and sources cited in text.
George Shaw
American Institute for Maritime Studies
Mystic Seaport Museum
January 2025