Elisha was born on September 30. 1820 either in Lebanon CT and Preston CT. Christopher ( – 1857) and Hannah Perry ( – 1832) Hull, identified as parents of Elisha’s brother Charles (AM2771), presumably were Elisha’s parents as well. He married Sarah Ann Hull, born October 15, 1825, of Norwich CT on June 28, 1854. They had two children: Idella (Adams) (4/13/1855 – 7/16/1888) and Isadora (Lathrop) (8/9/1858 – 1/5/1884). The 1870 census for Norwich CT records Elisha (age 49, “farmer”), Sarah (age 45), Idella (age 15), and Isadora (age 11). Elisha died on August 12, 1877 in Salem MA and is buried in Yantic Cemetery in Norwich. Sarah died on February 10, 1887. Sarah and their two daughters are also buried in Yantic Cemetery.
Prior to beginning his service as a master of a whaling ship, Elisha served as a member of the crew for three voyages on three ships, all with New London as home port: AVIS (AS0943) for its 1841-1842 voyage, COLUMBUS (AS1125) for its 1843-1846 voyage, and GEORGIA (AS1468) for its 1846-1848 voyage. Elisha’s brother Charles was master of GEORGIA for that voyage. On October 13, 1843, the day before COLUMBUS sailed, Elisha was issued Seamans Protection Certificate #59 showing him born in Preston CT and then age 23.
With his crew experience behind him and his Seamans Protection Certificate in his pocket, Elisha began his career as master, serving in that capacity for two voyages on one ship, home port New London:
CATHARINE (AS1054): (ship, 384 tons, length 107 ft., built in Rochester MA in 1831, burned by SHENANDOAH in Bering Strait on June 26, 1865; the crew was rescued by GENERAL PIKE (AS0235)). CATHARINE sailed on June 9, 1859 and returned on April 20, 1854, then sailed on November 21, 1854 and returned on November 22, 1857. The N. Pacific was the destination for both voyages. Dennis Wood Abstract #2-149 for the 1850 voyage, #3-535 for the 1854 voyage. Thomas Fitch II was the agent for both voyages. AV02465 and AV02466.
Elisha’s service as master was not without its issues. As reported in the Charleston SC Courier (12/29/1857, p. 2), Elisha and his mate William Chappell were charged with “cruelty to the seamen” and “refusing [crew] proper food, … unusual, improper and abandoning one of his men. The crew of the ship appeared in evidence against the officers, and detailed with great minuteness and in vivid language, a course of fiendish barbarities”. The Norwich CT Aurora (1/2/1858, p. 2) provides more details of the testimony. The Hartford Evening Press (1/21/1858, p. 2) continues the story, interjected with editorial comments: “Though the testimony [before the U.S. Commissioner] was not fully elicited, quite enough was given” to justify ordering Elisha to give a $4000 bond to appear at trial … “and to awaken universal indignation against the inhuman captain. It is so seldom that one of these cruel captains, altogether too numerous among American sailors, receives justice”. The article reports that Elisha’s counsel was prepared to admit the testimony given, but two of the crew said “that the story was not half told then”. The article opined that the case would not get to trial because “Capt. Hull can afford to pay $4000 [about $160,000 in 2026 dollars] than to spend a few years in prison”. Two crew members who sued Elisha “for terrible beatings inflicted on them” settled the cases for $500 and $350. The author was unable whether the case continued or Elisha settled.
Sources used: see sidebar and sources cited in text.
George Shaw
American Institute for Maritime Studies
Mystic Seaport Museum
May 2026