George was born on May 29, 1807 in New London. His parents were Daniel Douglas and Amelia Champlin Douglas. Daniel was born in 1871, died on November 11, 1837 at age 66; Amelia was born in 1779, died on December 24, 1868 at age 90. Daniel and George were descendants of Mayflower passenger William Brewster through the Douglas line. George married Nancy Champlin, date and place not known. She was born on August 1, 1819. No record could be found of any children. The 1850 census for New London shows George (age 42, “mariner”) and Nancy (age 36), no children listed. Nancy died on May 5, 1854, location unknown. George died in San Francisco CA on September 16, 1862. What led George to San Francisco and when could not be discovered. No obituary could be located. San Francisco Death Records for 1862 record “In San Francisco, Sept. 16, 1862, Captain G. Douglas, late an employee in the U.S. Appraiser’s Store”. George and Nancy are buried in Cedar Grove Cemetery in New London. Records there refer to George as Captain and to Nancy as the wife of Captain George. Find A Grave for George contains some of the information above about his family, none of which was verified.
Before George became a ship master, he served on the crew of at least four ships, all calling New London home port: MANCHESTER PACKET (AS1834) for its 1825-1829 voyage, ELECTRA (AS1261) for its 1829-1830 voyage, FRIENDS (AS1418) for its 1842-1844 voyage, and DOVE (AS1228) for its 1842-1844 voyage. New London Crew Lists shows other voyages on which he served as crew, but his service on those voyages could not be documented. George was issued Seamen’s Protection Certificate #6588 on March 1, 1827 in New London. He was then age 19 according to the certificate and had scars on his left shoulder and right foot.
With his crew experience before him, he moved from the position of crew member, most recently of DOVE, to master of DOVE (brig, 145 tons, length 77’, built in Newbury MA in 1817). Sailed in June 14, 1844 (per Decker and Dennis Wood Abstract 2-176) or November 1844 (per AOWV) for the So. Atlantic, returned on August 16, 1846. Havens & Smith was the master. AV03815. Sailed again on November 4 of that year for the So. Atlantic and Indian, returned on June 10, 1849. Williams & Haven was the agent. AV03816.
Sources used: see sidebar and sources cited in text.
George Shaw
American Institute for Maritime Studies
Mystic Seaport Museum
March 2025