Moses was born on November 1, 1826 in Groton CT. Nothing is known of his parents. Marriage records show that he married Ellen A Bailey of Groton (born 1832, “daughter of Orlando”) in Groton on July 24, 1854. The 1850 census for Montville CT lists him as age 29, “mariner”. Immediately above his name is Deborah Buddington, age 69, possibly his mother. Census records list him as living in Port Townsend WA in 1870 and San Francisco in 1875 and 1880 and describe as “mariner”, “master mariner”, or “retired sea captain”. Moses died in Groton in 1898, Ellen in 1922. They are buried in Starr Burying Ground in Groton. Their gravestone, shown in Find a Grave, shows him as “Capt.” The file for his estate in the Probate Court for the District of Groton contains his will dated March 1, 1895 leaving all of his assets to Ellen. The probate petition lists as his heirs named individuals, suggesting that he was not survived by any children.
No records could be found about ships on which may have sailed before or after his voyage on DROMO described below. He was issued Seaman’s Protection Certificate #6352 in New London when he was age 19, about five years before his voyage on DROMO. He is described in the certificate as 5’ 8” in height ith light complexion, dark hair and eyes. His name does not appear in New London Crew Lists.
Moses served as replacement master for part of one voyage on a ship with a home port in New London:
DROMO (AS1232): (ship, 307 tons, built in Plymouth MA in 1828, withdrawn and sold in 1860). She sailed on October 3, 1850 for the North Pacific under the command of Norman Starr (AM4687). The crew list for this voyage lists Moses was a member of the initial crew. Capt. Starr left the ship, to be succeeded by Moses as replacement master. There were two replacement masters after Moses left the ship, Leonard Briggs Brownson (AM0701) and H.B. Gardner (AM2102). Decker shows the master as Gardiner, Starbuck shows “_____ Starr) while Colby does not list the voyage. The circumstances of the changes of command are not disclosed. Dennis Wood Abstract 2-179 notes several visits to ports in Hawaii and at least one in California where a master may have left the ship and the command changes occurred. DROMO returned on May 2, 1854. Thomas Fitch II was agent. AV03866.
One can speculate of the circumstances leading Moses to taking residence in California for at least ten years after his voyage on DROMO. Perhaps he left DROMO during a stop in California and decided to stay there. He and Ellen married in 1854, after voyage on DROMO’s. None of the California census records mention Ellen as living with him there. They remained married, as evidenced by his 1895 will when he was back in Groton.
Sources used: see sidebar and sources cited in text.
George Shaw (Mystic Seaport Museum) June 2024