Franklin was born in Stonington CT on May 26, 1811. He was the son of Zebulon (1780-1838) and Catherine (1788-1840) Hancox. Franklin married twice: Frances Emeline (sometimes known as Emeline) Noyes (4/18/1819 – 6/5/1875) on May 21,1843 and, presumably after her death, Mary Browne (12/1/1834 – 12/21/1897). Franklin and Frances had five daughters: Emeline (1844 – 11/1/1875); Sarah (3/16/1848 – ); Helen (2/13/1850 – 9/15/1851); Jennie (6/27/1852 – 10/9/1874); and Mary (1/1/1856 – 3/20/1883). Census reports for 1860, 1870 and 1880 show the family living in Stonington. Frances is shown as Emeline in the 1870 report; by the 1880 report Frances/Emeline has died and Mary is listed as Franklin’s wife. Franklin’s last recorded voyage ended in 1851, perhaps explaining why his occupation is shown as “farmer” rather than “sailor” or “mariner” in these census reports. Franklin died in Stonington on November 21, 1886. He and Frances are buried in Evergreen Cemetery in Stonington, sharing a common gravestone showing her name as Emeline. The New London Day (11/23/1886) described him as “one of the best and bravest of the old line of whaling captains and his sea service made for him an honorable record and handsome competency”. It noted his anguish at being survived by only one of his daughters (Sarah).
AOWV shows Franklin served as master for two whaling voyages on one ship with New London as home port. However, both Colby and Starbuck record Stonington as CALEDONIA’s home port, and Decker, recording only New London home-port ships, does not list CALEDONIA.
CALEDONIA (AS1024): (ship, 445 tons, length 112 ft., built in Philadelphia PA in 1809). CALEDONIA sailed on July 6, 1839, destination not known, and returned on March 23, 1842. Six months later, on September 16, 1841, it sailed for New Zealand and returned on April 25, 1843. Dennis Wood Abstract 1-120 reports on both voyages. Charles P. Williams was the agent for both voyages. AV02183 and AV02184.
Franklin served as master for three whaling voyages on three ships with Stonington as home port: REBECCA GROVES (AS2270) for its 1837 voyage to Patagonia; CALUMET (AS1026) for its 1843-1846 voyage; and BETSEY WILLIAMS (AS0074) for its 1849-1851 voyage.
He served as member of the crew for three whaling voyages on two ships, home port Stonington: ACASTA (AS0814) for its 1831-1832 and 1833-1834 voyages and FRANCIS (AS1830) for its 1830 voyage.
Sources used: see sidebar and sources cited in text.
George Shaw
American Institute for Maritime Studies
Mystic Seaport Museum
December 2025