Little information could be found about Edward. He was issued a Seamen’s Protection Certificate (#85) in New London CT on November 28, 1835. The certificate recites that he was then 21 years of age and born “Salem ?”. Based on this information, he would have been born about 1814. The crew list of the ship on which he served as master (BENGAL) lists his name but no age. Crew lists for two ships on which he served as crew member (WABASH and IRIS) show his age at the date of sailing indicating that he was born about 1814-1815. No information could be located about his parentage, any marriage, or the date of his death.
Edward served as master of only one ship, BENGAL (AS0968). Its home port was New London. It was ship-rigged, 304 tons, length 101’, built in Salem MA in 1816. It was rebuilt in 1856, renamed NORTH WEST and renumbered as AS2659. Starbuck adds the comment “Added 1844 from Salem”. AOWV shows four prior voyages of BENGAL, all with Salem MA as home port. With Edward in command it sailed from New London May 21, 1844 for the So. Atlantic and returned on March 9, 1847. Dennis Wood Abstract #2-067. Thomas Fitch II was the agent. AV01733.
Prior to his service on BENGAL, Edward served as crew member on four voyages on three ships: WABASH (AS2572) for its 1831-1832 and 1833-1836 voyages, PALLADIUM (AS2137) for its 1832-1833 voyage, and IRIS (AS1659) for its 1841-1844 voyage. New London was home port for these ships.
Sources used: see sidebar and sources cited in text.
George Shaw
American Institute for Maritime Studies
Mystic Seaport Museum
August 2025