AOWV shows that Robert served as master on one voyage on one ship with New London as its home port:
IRIS (AS1659): (bark, 245 tons, length 92’, built in Kittery ME in 1823, sold to Boston in 1859). It sailed November 8, 1841 to the So. Atlantic and Brazil Banks, returned May 9, 1844. Frink, Chew & Co, was the agent. The records in Colby, Decker, and Starbuck are consistent with this information. AV07129.
Robert also served as master of three other ships from other home ports:
HANNIBAL (AS1530, home port Sag Harbor NY) for its 1836 voyage,departing on July 8, returning on April 15, 1837;
ALEXANDER MANSFIELD (AS0835, home port Hudson NY) for its 1837 voyage, departing on June 25, and returning on March 21,1839, and its 1839 voyage, departing on July 24, no return date shown. Starbuck (from which these dates are taken) records that MANSFIELD was condemned in Tahiti in August 1840 and “Sent oil home”; and
FRANCE (AS1391, home port Sag Harbor NY) for its 1838 voyage, departing July 16, returning on August 17, 1841. John Egbert Howell (AM2695), the initial master for the 1838 voyage of FRANCE, died at sea on July 22, 1840, apparently killed by a whale. Robert was the replacement master.
.The dates of the second voyage of MANSFIELD conflict with the dates of the voyage of FRANCE yet Robert was on both. With Capt. Howell as master, FRANCE sailed on July 16, 1838, midway during the first voyage of MANSFIELD. While still master of FRANCE, Capt. Howell died on July 22, 1840, just prior to MANSFIELD being condemned in August of that year during its second voyage.
There is a possible explanation of how Robert served on both ships. Both ships were at Tahiti about the same time, July-August 1840. Dennis Wood Abstract #1-529, reporting on FRANCE’s voyage, provides relevant information: “At Tahiti in August or September … 400 Bbls taken on freight from Ship Alex. Mansfield.” No mention is made of the death of Capt. Howell or of Robert replacing him. When MANSFIELD was condemned, Robert, its master, was essentially out of a job. He was available and apparently was tapped to jump ships to succeed Capt. Howell of FRANCE to complete the remainder of its voyage. As replacement master for Capt. Howell, he broughtFRANCE home with its own cargo and as well as the oil transferred from MANSFIELD. FRANCE returned home in August 17, 1841.
Sources used: see sidebar and sources cited in text.
George Shaw
American Institute for Maritime Studies
Mystic Seaport Museum
March 2025