Alanson was born in Southampton NY in 1823. A family tree on Ancestry.com, information not verified, states that his father and mother were Francis (1789-1875) and Nancy (Hubbard) (1793-1889). The Brooklyn Evening Star (11/22/1848) reports Alanson’s marriage to Martha E. Robinson in Southampton. The family tree reports a son John born in 1849. Alanson was issued a U.S. Citizenship Affidavit of U.S.-born Seamen in New York NY on October 8, 1840, reciting his age as 18. The 1850 census for Southold NY records the family then consisting of Alanson (25) “seaman”, Martha (age 25), and John (age 1). Alanson’s gravestone in Greenhill Cemetery in Greenport NY, shown in Find A Grave, features a bas relief carved anchor at the top and the following engraving: “Capt. Alanson Fournier April 16, 1853 age 29 yrs 7 mo”.
Alanson served as master for two voyages on two ships with New London CT as home port:
STONINGTON (AS2437): (ship, 350 tons, 103’, built in Stonington in 1827, broken up in 1848). It sailed on September 9, 1843 for the NW Coast with George W. Hamley (AS2390) as original master. He left the ship, to be replaced by Alanson under unusual circumstances, as described below. Dennis Wood Abstract #2-616 makes no mention of a change of masters. Williams & Barnes was the agent. AV13487.
VESPER (AS2557): (ship, 321 tons, length 111’, built in Newbury MA in 1827, condemned and sold in Hilo HI on April 1, 1861). It sailed in 1849 for the NW Coast and returned on March 25, 1851. Dennis Wood Abstract 2-216. Williams & Barnes was also the agent for this voyage. AV15128.
The only entries about Alanson on AOWV concern the two voyages above. New London Crew Lists records only one entry for Alanson, sailing on VESPER as master.
The logbook for STONINGTON‘s voyage (held by Mystic Seaport Museum) records the incident relating to the change of command. On February 28, 1846, Alanson became second mate when the prior second mate left the ship. A year later, on February 27-28, 1847 George and some crew (logbook) or passengers (WSL 11/5/1847- see below) went ashore while the ship was at anchor off San Blas, Mexico. While there they were taken prisoner by Mexicans. Alanson, taking charge in George’s absence, learned that the Mexicans were outfitting four gunboats to capture the ship. Fearing for the safety of the ship and crew, Alanson sailed STONINGTON the next day, leaving behind George and the others. WSL (7/27/1847) reports: “May 12th … ship Stonington, NL, 75 days from San Blas for Chile. Her Captain had been made prisoner by the Mexicans at San Blas, but was subsequently released and sailed for the United States”. WSL continued to show George as master until the issue of August 31 when it began showing Alanson as master until it returned to port (WSL 10/5/1847). Its issue of November 5 reports that George arrived home “Saturday last” aboard a ship from Guayquil to Baltimore. It relates that “[w]hile landing some passengers from his ship at San Blas, in March last, he was detained by the authorities on shore, and vessel sailed without him.” Alanson’s period as master was short in any case, from late February to late September.
Sources used: see sidebar and sources cited in text. Several issues of Whalemen’s Shipping List (WSL).
George Shaw
American Institute for Maritime Studies
Mystic Seaport Museum
September 2025