A multigenerational family history (the Comstock Genealogy), the accuracy of which was not verified, records Allen Comstock, born on September 16, 1830. He was the son of Caleb Comstock of Montville CT, born on February 14, 1786, and Lucy Dart Carpenter of Waterford CT. He served in the War of 1812 and died in Waterford on May 2, 1842. Caleb and Lucy had eight children of whom Allen was the next to last. It shows for him ”Lost at sea”. The 1850 census for Waterford shows Allen a resident, age 18, occupation “mariner”. The 1850 census for nearby Stonington CT recording crew members of a ship, the name of which is illegible, lists Allen, age 21, as a member of the crew.
At age 17, Allen joined the crew of GENERAL SCOTT (AS0263) for her 1845-1848 voyage.
According to AOWV, Allen’s only service as a master was as a replacement master of AGATE (AS0795): (brig, 187 tons, broken up in 1861, home port New London). It sailed on April 6, 1856 for the Pacific and Baja California and returned on March 26, 1859. The master on its departure was Charles Edmund Allen (AM0057). Charles left the ship, to be followed by five replacement masters, all of whom except the last one also left the ship, resulting in the series of other masters. Allen was the third of five. He followed B.F. Homan (AM2662). After Allen’s departure, he was succeeded by John M. Lawton (AM4855). Dennis Wood Abstracts 3-577 mentions “Master Allen”, “Master Ho[l]man”, and “Master Lawton”, with no mention of Allen. C.A. Williams was agent for this voyage. AV00341.
A Hawaiian incoming passenger manifest shows the arrival of Allen on May 20, 1867 aboard KAMEHAMEHA V from “guano islands.” He is listed on the manifest as age 38 and a “mariner.” That information is consistent with AOWV listing his occupation as “guano worker.”
The Pacific Commercial Advertiser (Honolulu, 12/19/1868) reports the sad ending of Allen’s story:
“SUICIDE – Yesterday morning [December 18, 1868] at half-past eight o’clock, while the brig Kamehameha V. was laying becalmed off the port, Mr. S. Allen Comstock, a native of New London, (Conn.,) committed suicide by shooting himself with a pistol, the shot entering his right temple. He lived some four hours after. Domestic difficulties and reports in circulation concerning him, preyed upon his mind until he was evidently crazed.”
He was about 39 years old.
Sources used: see sidebar and sources cited in text. Also, the Comstock Genealogy: Descendants of William Comstock of New London”, found in Ancestry.com.
George Shaw
American Institute for Maritime Studies
Mystic Seaport Museum
January 2025
Sources used: see sidebar and sources cited in text.
George Shaw
American Institute for Maritime Studies
Mystic Seaport Museum
January 2025