Very little could be found about Edward. Stonington CT Vital Records shows the birth of Edward Denison Pendleton Dewey, son of “Mercy”, on June 9, 1809. New London Marriage Records show the marriage of Edward P. Dewey and Nancy L. Bailey (1802-1860) on May18, 1832 in New London. Edward’s age as shown on New London Crew Lists is consistent with his birth about 1809. No other information could be located about him.
Edward served on the crew and then as master of one ship, home port New London:
SPARK (AS2409): (schooner, probably the one built in Waterford CT in 1825, 60 tons, length 60’, shown in Connecticut Ship Database as engaged in “coastal trade”).
The registration records for SPARK at Mystic Seaport Museum show three voyages: (1) sailed in 1829 with Gurdon Allyn (AS0120) as master and Edward as a member of the crew; (2) sailed in 1831 with Edward as master; and (3) sailed in 1833 with Edward as master. New London Crew Lists shows three voyages consistent with this information.
AOWV shows information about the 1829 and 1833 voyages consistent with the registration records and shows by # that both were for sealing. AOWV does not record the 1831 voyage.
Neither Starbuck nor Decker makes any mention of SPARK. Colby lists Dewey as master of the 1831 and 1833 voyages on his lists for sealing voyages but does not mention the 1829 voyage.
Sources used: see sidebar and sources cited in text.
George Shaw
American Institute for Maritime Studies
Mystic Seaport Museum
March 2025