Asa was born on January 2, 1823 in Glastonbury CT. He was the son of Gilbert (1790-1841) and Elizabeth (Perkins) Fish (1794-1862). Find A Grave for Asa (contents not verified) lists four other sons of Gilbert and Elizabeth, three of whom are described as “Capt”: Coddington (AM1824, master of four whaling voyages from New London and New Bedford 1851-1867; George, master of one voyage from Mystic in 1860-1; and James (crew member on numerous voyages). In May 1867, James, Coddington, and three others in a fishing party on Coddington’s boat capsized in a squall off Fisher’s Island NY in Long Island Sound. Only James survived (Norwich (CT) Aurora (6/5/1867, p .3)).
Asa married Frances E. Elliot, born in June 11, 1832, in 1848. They had three children: Thomas (11/15/1847-1926), Frances (Hazard) (3/7/1854-1939), and Gustava (Arnold) (11/18/1855-1919). The New London census for 1850 records Asa (“mariner”) and Frances living in New London; Thomas born two years earlier is not shown. The 1860 census shows that Asa and Frances had their two daughters living with them; by this time Thomas had gone to sea (Find A Grave). Asa’s Civil War draft registration for 1863 shows Asa, age 40, as “seaman”.
All of Asa’s and Frances’s three children were born in foreign waters. Thomas was born in the Azores in 1847 while Asa was serving on the crew of BROOKLINE (its 1845-1848 voyage, see below), so presumably Frances was in the present in the Azores awaiting his birth. As recorded in a Honolulu incoming passenger list for the ship RESTLESS, Asa (age 30) and “Mrs. Fish” (age 23) arrived from New London on December 26, 1853 where they presumably established at least temporary residence. The Polynesian(12/24/1853) reports that on that day the New London ship RESTLESS that sailed from New London in mid-July 1853 arrived in Honolulu after a voyage of 155 days. Their daughter Frances was born there less than three months later (3/7/1854). Curiously, in Find A Grave, Frances (the daughter) is shown with the nickname “Restless”, perhaps reflective of where she spent most of her period in utero. Gustava was born in Honolulu about 18 months later (11/18/1855). It is probable that Asa began his service as replacement master of NATHANIEL S. PERKINS (see below) sometime after the family’s arrival in Honolulu and that Gustava was conceived during a Honolulu port stop in sometime in early 1855. Asa and Frances and the two daughters were back in New London to be counted in the 1860 census.
Asa began his life at sea by serving on the crew of several ships: CHARLES HENRY (AS1083) for its 1840-1842, 1842-1843, and 1843-1845 voyages, BROOKLINE (AS1011) for its 1845-1848 voyage, and NAVIGATOR (AS2024) for its 1851-1854 voyage. New London was home port for the first two ships, New Bedford for NAVIGATOR. Note, a crew member may not have remained on board for an entire voyage.
He then became master of one voyage on each of four ships, all with New London as home port:
NATHANIEL S. PERKINS (AS2021): (bark, 310 tons, length 107’, built in New London in 1852). Asa was replacement master for the original master, Gurdon Allyn (AM0120). The ship sailed on September 22, 1852 for the Pacific and returned on March 18, 1857. There is no indication that Asa was not master for the return voyage to New London. Perkins & Smith was the agent. AV01293.
ARCHITECT (AS0902): (bark, 400 tons, length 127’, built in Thomaston ME in 1855, withdrawn and sold in Honolulu in 1859). The ship sailed on August 25, 1857 for the No. Pacific and returned in 1859. Perkins & Smith was the agent. AV01195. This voyage is the only voyage of Asa shown in Colby.
TEMPEST (AS240): (bark, 330 tons, length 112’, built in Robbinston ME in 1855). The ship sailed on May 22, 1857 for the Pacific and returned on April 11, 1861. Asa was replacement master for the original master, Gurdon Allyn (AOWV, but Decker records “Destin” (probably George Destin (AM1579) as the sailing master. Frink & Perkins was the agent. AV13747.
NILE (AS0491): (bark/brig (AOWV) or ship (CT Ship Database), 372 tons, length 103’, captured and burnt by SHENANDOAH in the Bering Strait on June 28, 1865). It sailed on May 24, 1958 and returned in 1870. Asa was replacement master for the original master George Destin. Dennis Wood Abstract #3-595 records NILE in Honolulu on March 29, 1864 while Asa as master; Abstract #4-313 records NILE sailing from Honolulu on November 23, 1865 with Capt. Kelley (AS2967) as replacement master. Williams & Havens was the agent. AV10491.
Asa died at sea on July 4, 1866 on board NILE. The New London Democrat (12/15/1866), reporting the return of NILE, continues: “The death of Capt. Asa W. Fish, late master July 4th of heart disease. Capt. Fish had been slightly indisposed for some time but nothing serious was apprehended. He was sitting in his chair when blood was seen to gush from his mouth and he instantly expired. His remains will be sent home by the first ship. The mate, James Fish, brother of the late master, continued the voyage.” The Pacific Commercial Advertiser (11/10/1866) adds additional information: “The ship was cruising in Anad[y]n Sea [NW Pacific off coast of Russia]. His brother, the mate, took command. Capt. Fish leaves a wife and two children to mourn his loss. He had been sick about six weeks.” New London Crew Lists, showing James Fish and James E. Fishas crew for several voyages, does not show either James serving on the crew of NILE, and his name does not appear in the original crew list for this voyage. Asa’s gravestone, recording his date of death at sea from heart disease on board NILE, is located in Cedar Grove Cemetery in New London. The record of his probate estate in New London shows as an asset “One Sixth Bark Nile and Lay” with a value of $7,000, almost one-third of his total estate. Frances died on June 26, 1916.
Sources used: see sidebar and sources cited in text.
George Shaw
American Institute for Maritime Studies
Mystic Seaport Museum
July 2025