John was born on December 1, 1801 in New London. No information could be found about his parents. He married Martha L…[last name not shown in marriage record] on January 1,1851 in New London. She was born in New London on September 25, 1801. They had four children: Elizabeth (1827-1847), Martha (later Champlin) (1832-1851), Marion (1837-1849), and Columbia (the spelling of her name on her gravestone), 1839 – 11/4/1850). The 1850 census for New London records the family: John (47, “mariner”), Martha (46), Martha (18) and Columbia (12), Elizabeth and Marion having died before this census. The two remaining children died within the next two years. John died in Caloos [?] City CA on December 12, 1851 of disease of the heart (New London Weekly Chronicle, 3/5/1852). What took John to California where he died was not discovered. Was the loss of his four children before they reached age 21 a factor? Did Martha accompany him to CA? Martha is recorded as resigning in New London in its 1874 New London city directory. She died there on May 1, 1878. John, Martha, and Columbia are buried in Cedar Grove Cemetery in New London, in adjacent gravestones, his gravestone showing him as “Capt.”.
John showed interest in a career at sea at an early age by acquiring a Seamans Protection Certificate in New London on February 27, 1813. The documentation for certificate #5484 shows him as age 12 and measuring 4’ 10” in height. Quoting from Colby (p. 6) writing about the early days of whaling from New London, “These early vessels were virtual training schools for future whaling captains. Aboard Pizzaro for her 1821 voyage were [22] men…[eight of whom] eventually became masters: [including] John L. Harris…”. No record was found of his experience at sea prior to becoming a master.
John served as master for five voyages on two ships with New London as their home port.
PACIFIC (AS2779): (schooner, 79 ft., built in Stonington CT). John sailed as master on four voyages: (i) 1838 to the So. Atlantic, no return date shown. (ii) November 8, 1839 to the Indian Ocean, returned February 4, 1841, (iii) March 19, 1841 to the So Atl., returned on April 29, 1842, and (iv) 1842-1844, no dates found. PACIFIC was condemned in Cape Town on January 1844, thus ending voyage (iv). PACIFIC sailed as tender to CHELSEA (AS1097) for voyages (i) and (ii). Dennis Wood Abstract 1-563 reports for voyages (ii), (iii) and (iv). Starbuck does not show voyages (i) and (iv). Colby does not show voyage (iii). Haven & Smith was the agent for the first three voyages. AV11160-AV11163).
CERES (AS1060): (bark, 176 tons, 85 ft., built in Duxbury MA in 1858). CERES sailed on October 12, 1844 for the NW coast and was condemned in Rio de Janeiro in 1847. Wood Abstract 2-155 records: “A letter from Rio reports her arrival there about the 1st of September in distress”, continuing to describe disposition of the cargo by sale or shipping home, the ship to be sold the cargo once was discharged. Weaver & Rogers was the agent. AV02509.
John’s last two voyages ended with both ships being condemned. Not a happy ending for a master.
Sources used: see sidebar and sources cited in text.
George Shaw
American Institute for Maritime Studies
Mystic Seaport Museum
January 2026