A researcher for a whaling captain named “Nehemiah Fisher” should be cautious because AOWV records two captains by that name, one (AM1888) showing no middle name or initial and the other (AM1889) with the middle initial “C”. Nathaniel C’s connections were mostly in Nantucket MA. This paper will focus on the other Nathaniel whose middle name was “Harding”.
Information about Nehemiah is scanty. He was born in Truro MA about 1822. No information could be found about his parents. He married Frances, born in South America. They had four children, all born in Provincetown: Almira, born about 1848, died on December 24, 1852 at age 4; Betsey, born in January 3, 1851; Emeline, born about 1857, died September 16, 1858 at age 1 ½; and Caleb, born April 10, 1859. The census in 1850 for Provincetown MA shows a family of Nehemiah age 28, Frances age 18, and Almira. By the 1860 census, Almira has died, Betsey is then age 9 and Caleb age 1. In 1879 the census no longer shows Nehemiah, only Frances, Betsey and Caleb remain.
A source for further information about Nehemiah comes from Australia. The Western Mail in Albany, Western Australia (6/7/1928) records the death of Jane Fisher on May 31, 1928. She was born about 1838 near Perth. The death notice continues: “Mrs. Fisher was the wife of Captain Nehemia [sic] Harding Fisher, who arrived at Fremantle in the American whaler, Catherine, in the early sixties. Captain Fisher established a whaling station on the south coast near Albany, and his wife frequently accompanied him on whaling expeditions. She endured many hardships and was a pioneer in every sense of the word….Two daughters, seven grandchildren, and nine great-grandchildren survive her.” Unfortunately, her obituary does not record when Nehemiah died.
AOWV records two relevant voyages of CATHERINE (AV1054, home port New London). New London Crew Lists shows Nehemiah as member of the crew of the first voyage lasting only about three weeks (10/19/1858-11/8/1858)(AV02467). CATHERINE sailed three weeks later (11/24/1858) for the No. Pacific. Its pursuit of whales it sailed widely over the Pacific Ocean with stops at various ports (Dennis Wood Abstracts #3-535 and #3-553). Presumably, at one of those ports Nehemiah left the ship and found his way to Fremantle where he met and married Jane. No crew list was found for this voyage so there is no way to know whether Nehemiah was aboard but it is not unlikely since he signed on for the prior “mini” voyage. Nehemiah’s continuing on board for the longer voyage, leaving at a port along the way, and working his way to Fremantle is consistent with the obituary of Jane Fisher. Her children mentioned in the obituary are probably from a prior marriage.
Prior to Nehemiah’s service on CATHERINE, he served as master on two voyages on two ships with New London as home port:
JOHN E. SMITH (AS1711): (schooner, 119 tons, length 75 ft., built in Brookhaven NY, withdrawn in 1858). It sailed on September 18, 1855 for the So. Pacific, returned on June 21, 1856. Dennis Wood Abstract #2-374. AV07732.
SILVER CLOUD (AS2391): (schooner, 135 tons, length 77 ft., built in Gloucester MA in 1853). It sailed on October 26, 1856 for the No. Atlantic, returned on May 25, 1858. Dennis Wood Abstract #3-533. AV13179. Richard H. Chappell was agent for both voyages.
Sources used: see sidebar and sources cited in text.
George Shaw
American Institute for Maritime Studies
Mystic Seaport Museum
August 2025
Aussie woman