Not much information could be found about Gilbert, and, as will be seen, that information is complicated by variations of his name. No formal record of his birth date could be found, but his birth can be approximated from other sources. Other information comes largely for census reports that are subject to error by the census taker and indistinct handwriting.
Gilbert was issued a Seaman’s Protection Certificate on July 15, 1836 in New Haven CT showing him then age 19 and born in Groton CT about 1817. The 1850 census for New London records “Warren Fish” [sic], age 32, “mariner”, born in CT, married to Emily with two children. A New London City Directory in 1855 shows “Fish Capt. Warren G. [sic], mariner” living in that city. He next appears in 1870 census reports for Clackamas County, Oregon, showing him as age 52, born in CT. His occupation in that report is difficult to read: it could be “farmer” or “mariner”. His family consisted on Eleanor (24, wife? daughter?) and five children: Iska (sp?) (age 12, born in Sandwich Islands [Hawaii]), Edwin (age 8), Martha (age 6), Catherine (age 4), and Thomas (age 2). Edwin and his younger siblings were born in Oregon, suggesting that Gilbert and the family moved there prior to 1862 (eight years before 1870 census). Gilbert’s name appears in that county’s land records in 1870 and again in 1877. The 1880 census for the same county shows Gilbert’s occupation as “farmer”, Eleanor does not appear, the children are Iska (age 22, born “S[andwich] Islands”), Emily (age 14), Thomas (age 12), and Isaac (age 8). The records are unclear as to the mother or mothers of Gilbert’s children. A marriage certificate for his son Thomas in 1899 shows that his mother was Catherine Fish. No record was found of when or where Gilbert died.
Gilbert served as master of two voyages on two ships with New London as home port:
INDIAN CHIEF (AS1647): (ship, 401 tons, length 105 ft.). When the ship sailed from New London for the N. Pacific on July 26, 1851, the master was Elisha M Bailey (AM0226). When he left the ship, Gilbert succeeded him as new master. Dennis Wood Abstract #2-339 explains: “Fish Master. Capt. B. having left for home sick” (10/19/1852 in Lahaina HI). Gilbert did not have an easy beginning as master, as Wood continues: “Returned Jany 5, 1853 in consequence of the first mate Mr. Baker having been killed by one of the crew. The murderer was sent home in Ship Merrimack”. Starbuck adds further details: “Captain Bailey came home sick 1853; Mr. Barker, first mate, murdered by one of the crew – a Kanaka-1852”. The ship returned to New London on April 1, 1855. Frink & Prentis was the agent. AV07012.
COREA (AS1152): (ship, 367 tons, length 116 ft., built in Duxbury MA in 1834, became part of Stone Fleet #1). It sailed in August 18, 1855 for the No. Pacific, returned on June 26, 1859. Frink & Prentis was the agent for this voyage as well. AV03345.
Gilbert served as master of two voyages of ships from other home ports: VERNON (AS0670, home port New Bedford) for its 1859 voyage and BENJAMIN RUSH (AS0971, home port Warren RI) for its 1860 voyage.
He also served on the crew of CLEMATIS (AS1112) for its 1841-1843 and 1848-1851 voyages) and LOWELL (AS1812) for its 1843-1845 and 1845-1848 voyages. New London was home port for both ships.
Sources used: see sidebar and sources cited in text.
George Shaw
American Institute for Maritime Studies
Mystic Seaport Museum
August 2025