Zerah was born on October 15, 1807, location not known. No information was found about his parents. He married Adaline Tinker, born on May 10, 1806. Census reports for New London over four decades show Zerah alternately as “mariner” and “fisherman”. The census reports show Zerah and Adaline with several children, eight in 1850, seven in 1860, three in 1870, and one in 1880. Zerah died on January 18, 1882 in Waterford CT. He and Adaline, who died on March 13, 1889, are buried in Jordan Cemetery in Waterford. Find A Grave for Zerah records four children: Horace, Clarice (Strickland), Sarah (Williams), and Richard, perhaps those that survived him.
Zerah makes a brief appearance in AOWV, serving as master of only one voyage on one ship, and that one with New London as home port: EMMA ALBERTSON (AS1295), (schooner, 76 tons, length 60 ft., built in New London in 1849). She sailed on January 21, 1851, return date not shown. Both AOWV and Decker list the destination of the voyage as “shore whaler”, the meaning of which is not clear to the author; Colby does not include a destination. Starbuck does not list any ship with that name. AV04419.
New London Crew Lists does not record Zerah as having served as crew member on a New London ship.
Sources used: see sidebar and sources cited in text.
George Shaw
American Institute for Maritime Studies
Mystic Seaport Museum
April 2026