AOWV records Jackson as master for one voyage on one ship, home port New London:
BLACK EAGLE (AS0078): (bark, 311 tons). It sailed in 1858 and returned in 1860. The site shows no departure date, no destination, no return date, no crew list, or no agent. AV01879. The ship is not recorded in the Connecticut Ship Database. Jackson’s name does not appear in New London Crew Lists records, and this voyage is not recorded there.
Secondary sources are not helpful or consistent. Colby’s list of New London whaling masters includes “Edwards, Jackson, 1858, Black Eagle”. Decker’s entries for 1858 sailings include BLACK EAGLE and Jackson’s name, but it shows the sailing date as November 4, 1854 and the return date August 16, 1858. In the column for Agent or Owner appears “Sag Harbor”. Starbuck’s listings for 1854 include BLACK EAGLE showing ——Edwards as mastewith its sailing (11/4/1854) and return (8/16/1858) dates matching Decker’s. However, it is listed under ships with Sag Harbor, NY as home port. Starbuck also notes for this 1854-1858 voyage, “sold to New Bedford 1859”. The listing in Starbuck of vessels by name shows a single BLACK EAGLE with home port either Sag Harbor or New Bedford, depending on the date.
Dennis Wood Abstract #3-602 records for BLACK EAGLE of Sag Harbor “Edwards Master.” The sailing date shown is November 4, 1854, the return date is August 16, 1858, the same dates shown in Decker and Starbuck.
The Whalemen’s Shipping List (June 29, 1858) lists BLACK EAGLE under Sag Harbor ships and shows “Edwards” as master and November 2, 1854 as the sailing date. As of April 2, 1858, the ship was in Honolulu.
The Connecticut ship registration files at Mystic Seaport Museum do not include a file of registrations for BLACK EAGLE, perhaps confirming registration elsewhere, Sag Harbor or New Bedford.
The multiple sources shown above show that Jonathan was master of BLACK EAGLE’s 1854-1858 voyage. Except as noted above, these sources do not show that ship sailing on an 1858-1860 voyage. The author concludes that the reference to Jackson being master of an 1858-1860 voyage should be corrected to show him master of the 1854-1858 voyage.
Sources used: see sidebar and sources cited in text.
George Shaw
American Institute for Maritime Studies
Mystic Seaport Museum
April 2025