Capt. Gibbs is largely a mystery. No record could be found of his first name or other identifying information. AOWV records only his last name, making a search of genealogical sites not possible.
He makes a single cameo appearance in AOWV records and that is as replacement master on one voyage on one ship with New London as home port:
ANN MARIA (AS2180): (ship, 368 tons, 106 ft., built in Philadelphia PA in 1810, lost off St. Paul’s Island, Alaska, in August 1842). ANN MARIA sailed on December 11, 1826 for the Brazil Banks, returning on April 22, 1828. Robert E. Smith (AM4543) was the master at the beginning of the voyage. Capt. Gibbs replaced him when Robert left the ship under unknown circumstances. Capt. Gibbs’s name does not appear on the crew list for this voyage nor, without a first name, could he be found in New London Crew Lists. No other identifying information could be located.
As an aside, later that year (1828) Robert, the master of ANN MARIA, left for his next voyage, this time as master of CALEDONIA (AS1024). In her History of New London, Francis Caulkins writes (p. 643) that “[Robert] was unfortunately drowned in the Pacific Ocean, being drawn overboard by a whale, to which he had just made fast with his harpoon and line, Dec. 28, 1828”. A sad ending to a career at sea.
Absent further identifying information, the story of Capt. Gibbs must remain a mystery.
Sources used: see sidebar and sources cited in text.
George Shaw
American Institute for Maritime Studies
Mystic Seaport Museum
November 2025