The sources are divided on the correct spelling of Andrew’s last name. AOWV records it without the middle “i”. Starbuck likewise lists Gardner. Colby, Decker, and Peterson show the last name with the middle “i”. The crew lists referred to below are likewise divided in the spelling of his last name. The author will follow AOWV spelling.
The crew lists for numerous voyages on at least four ships over a period of 12 years all showing consistently show that Andrew was born about 1830. Several show Brooklyn NY as his birth place while some record him born in New London. The crew lists are also inconsistent in showing his last name, with or without an “i”. Many of the spelling differences in his last name could be attributed indistinct handwriting. The author was unable to find any other information about Andrew and any family that could with confidence apply to him, perhaps in part because of inconsistent spelling of his last name and two different possible birth places.
Andrew was master of one voyage on one ship with New London as home port:
S. B. HOWES (AS2325): (schooner, 101 tons, length 75 ft., built in Mystic CT in 1853). S. B. HOWES sailed for Hudson Bay and Cumberland Inlet on July 7, 1870. None of the sources show the ship’s return date. This vessel was lost in Cumberland Inlet in 1873. AV12687.
Colby’s article about Capt. John Spicer (AM4626) adds relevant information about S. B. HOWE’s return that unfortunately do not clarify whether the ship’s lossbrought about the end of the 1870 voyage. In 1871 John took CONCORDIA (AS1140) to Cumberland Inlet to bring back cargoes collected by S. B. HOWES and another ship. AOWV records CONCORDIA sailing on April 25, 1871 and returning on November 9, 1871. Colby adds, “Spicer may have stayed at Cumberland Sound, taking over command of the S. B. Howes, whose master [Andrew?] came home in the Concordia”.
Decker further confuses the issue by the following footnote to the 1870 voyage of S. B. HOWES: “Lost in Cumberland Inlet 1873; cooper lost overboard; captain [Andrew?] returned on Concordia; 500 bbls of oil on board”. To be consistent with the above information, the reported loss should have been the last event listed. That is, Andrew came back in 1871 on CONCORDIA with the oil while John (or another master) was on board when S. B. HOWES was lost in 1873.
Andrew served as a member of the crew on two voyages on two ships, both with New London as home port: GEORGE HENRY (AS1456) for its 1855, 1867-1857, and1860-1862 voyages; GEORGIANA (AS1470) for its 1858-1859 voyage; FRANKLIN (AS1406) for its 1865-1866 and 1867-1868 voyages; and ODD FELLOW (AS2079) for its 1869 voyage.
While little is known about Andrew’s life outside of his time at sea, for a period of nearly 20 years he was mostly at sea, perhaps with little time to establish a family or consistent home.
Sources used: see sidebar and sources cited in text. Peterson, Mystic Built. Questions in brackets [ ] are the author’s.
George Shaw
American Institute for Maritime Studies
Mystic Seaport Museum
October 2025