Edward was born in New London in about 1822. He was the son of Ian and Mary Chapel. Marriage records show two different marriage dates for him, both to a “Sarah”. He married Sarah Pinkham (Sarah #1) on June 10, 1846 in New London. They had a daughter Anna Waterman Chapel (1854-1899). MA marriage records show detailed information about the marriage of Edward and Sarah Baxter (Sarah #2), daughter of Sylvester and Sally Baxter of Barnstable MA, in Barnstable on April 4, 1860. Therecords for 1860 show Edward as born in New London and a resident Hudson NY at the time of the wedding. He was then 38, she 20. The records give the above names of his and her parents. His occupation is shown as “mariner”. In the column asking the number of this marriages, it shows for Edward “Second”. No record was found concerning the first Sarah, whether she died or the marriage ended for some other reason.
The 1860 census for Hudson NY records Edward (38), Sarah (20, born in MA, Sarah #2), Anna (8, born in Sandwich Islands (Hawaii)) and Kate (4). Kate’s mother was Sarah #1. The 1865 census shows Edward as “Sea Captain” and two new members of the family, Nellie (4), and Edward Jr. (6 months), Kate and the new members born in Columbia NY. By the 1870 census, there is another child, Jennie, and Edward is “grocer & liquor merchant.”
Suffolk County MA probate records show Edward’s will dated February 16, 1878. It left $100 to Anna and Kate and gave the remainder of his estate to Nellie, Jennie and Edward, reciting the “needs of the three younger children are greater and I wish to provide so that they may be suitable [sic] brought up and educated.” The will makes no mention of Sarah #2 who presumably had died before he wrote the will. No record was found of Edward’s date and place of death.
Edward served as master for two voyages on each of two ships with New London as home port:
BENJAMIN MORGAN (AS0970): (ship, 408 tons, length 112’, built in Philadelphia PA in 1826). Sailed in July 1848 for Chile and the NW Coast, returned in April 1851. AV01763. Sailed again in October 1851 for the N. Pacific, returned in September 1856. AV01764. Perkins & Smith was the agent for both voyages. Edward did not complete the second voyage, leaving the ship, timing and circumstances not known. He was succeeded as replacement master by W.J. Parsons (AM3739) who in turn left the ship, to be succeeded by Fisher Kibling (AM2988).
MONTICELLO (AS1978): (bark, 356 tons, length 105’, built in Mattapoisett MA in 1841, abandoned on September 14, 1871 off Pt. Belcher on the northwest tip of Alaska, one of 32 ships trapped by the ice and abandoned). Sailed in July 1862 to the Davis Straits, returned in October 1863. AV10045. Sailed again in June 1864 for Hudson Bay, returned in September 1865. AV10046. Richard H. Chapell was the agent for both voyages.
Edward’s first wife (Sarah #1) sailed on the second voyage of BENJAMIN MORGAN. Druett (see Sources below) records a letter dated March 19, 1854 that describes guests staying in a “commodious” house in Hilo, Hawaii belonging to “Mr. Pitman”, a U.S. official for the island. The list of guests included “Mrs. Edward A. Chapel and daughter, ship Benjamin Morgan.” Anna was born in 1854 and is recorded in the 1865 census as born in the Sandwich Islands.
Edward served as master of two voyages of NORTHERN LIGHT (AS0503), home port Fairhaven MA for its 1855-1856 and 1860-1861 voyages.
Before becoming a master, Edward served as crew member for several voyages: CHELSEA (AS1097) for its 1838-1839 voyage (Edward was 17 when it sailed, according to the crew list); ARMATA (AS0912) for its 1840-1842, 1842-1844, and 1844-1846 voyages. He was awarded a Seamen’s Protection Certificate #6491 at age 22. That record shows him as 5’ 7” in height with brown hair and hazel eyes.
Sources used: see sidebar and sources cited in text. Also, Joan Druett, She Was a Sister Sailor).
George Shaw
American Institute of Maritime Studies
Mystic Seaport Museum
September 2024