The sources show varying dates for William’s birth (between 1829 and 1834) and place of birth (Waterford CT and New London CT). His parents were Moses and May Jane (Beebe) Dunbar. William married Frances E. Pachey (born May 19,1836, died October 24, 1872). They had three children: Fannie (born about 1862, died October 26, 1872), Alice (born about 1857), and Robert (born about 1868). The years of birth of the three children are extrapolated from their ages shown in census reports. No other information could be found about William’s family. William died in 1881, details and circumstances discussed below.
William served as master for three voyages on two ships, both with New London as home port:
NORTH WEST (AS2659): (bark, 303 tons, length 100’, built in Salem MA in 1816). Sailed on September 1, 1859 for Desolation Island. It was sold at Mauritius on April 6, 1863, for $1,600 according to Dennis Wood Abstract #3-586. Thomas Fitch II was the agent. AV10619.
FLYING FISH (AS1380): (schooner, 75 tons, length 75’, built in Essex MA in 1859, abandoned off Cape Horn on October 25, 1878). It sailed on June 27, 1877, returned on May 11, 1878, no cargo listed. It sailed again six weeks later, on June 24, 1878, for a sealing voyage that ended when the ship was abandoned. Mystic Seaport Museum holds the logbook for both voyages. Lawrence & Co. was the agent for both voyages. AV05023 and AV05024.
William also served as master of CONCORDIA (AS1140, home port Sag Harbor NY, for its 1868-1869 voyage.
New London Crew Lists show William as a crew member for seven voyages but only four could be verified, all on ships with New London as home port: GEORGIA (AS1468) for its 1846-1848 voyage, COLUMBUS (AS1125) for its 1854-1856 voyage, NORTH WEST for its 1856-1859 voyage, and CHARLES COLGATE (AS1079) for its 1875-1877 voyage. After his voyage on GEORGIA, William was issued Seamen’s Protection Certificate #328 in New London on March 11, 1850. The certificate shows William age 21 at the time and born in Waterford.
Several books provide glimpses of William: Hoehling (p. 20): “grizzled oldtimer of indeterminate age. The solemn New Londoner had guided whaling ships through the far reaches of the world’s oceans”. Guttridge (p. 79-80): “born in New London … whale-hunter most his life”. Sides (p. 121): “experienced whaling captain originally from New London … been at sea since he was ten.”
Sources used: see sidebar and sources cited in text. A.A. Hoehling, The Jeannette Expedition, Leonard Guttridge, Icebound, Hampton Sides, In the Kingdom of Ice.
George Shaw
American Institute for Maritime Studies
Mystic Seaport Museum
April 2025