No official or unofficial record of Daniel’s birth or his parents could be found. Genealogical sources show numerous men bearing the same name as Daniel with information indistinguishable between them, so it was not possible to know what information applied to Daniel. Several crew lists for ships on which Daniel served, as master or crew member, record him born in Montville CT and approximate his year of birth about 1807. The only source with important information about Daniel comes from the report of his death in the New London Day issue of December 2, 1884: “Capt. Daniel Fitch, a native of Montville and former resident of this city,… died at Rochester, PA., a few days since. In his youth and manhood he sailed from this port on whaling vessels in different capacities commencing before the mast and rising to command. Having amassed a competence in following the sea he purchased a farm in Oswego. N.Y ., way back in the 50’s, subsequently going into Rochester, PA., where he engaged in the manufacture of fine brick continuing at the business until his death. He married in 1840 Miss Harriet Thompson of Westerly, who survived him”.
Daniel began his career at sea by serving on the crew on four voyages on three ships: CONNECTICUT (AS1144, home port Norwich CT) for its 1825-1827 voyage (he was then age 18 according to the crew list), ANN MARIA (AS0879, home port New London) for its 1828-1829 and 1829-1830 voyages, and JOHN AND EDWARD (AS0879, home port New London) for its 1830-1831 voyage.
With his crew experience behind him, he became master of three voyages on two ships: TAMPICO (AS2716, home port Groton CT) for its 1831-1833 voyage and BOSTON (AS0999, home port Norwich CT) for its 1833-1835 and 1835-1837 voyages.
He was then given command for four voyages on three ships with New London as home port:
FLORA (AS1369): (ship, 338 tons, length 104 ft., built in Mystic CT in 1811). It sailed on two voyages to the coast of Patagonia, December 8, 1837-April 21, 1839 and May 19, 1839-July 9, 1840. Dennis Wood Abstract #1-181. N. and W.W. Billings was the agent for both voyages. AV04967 and AV04968.
WHITE OAK (AS2601): (bark, 292 tons, length 98 ft., built in New York NY in 1816, withdrawn in 1845). It sailed on April 10, 1841, destination not recorded, and returned on April, 15, 1843. Dennis Wood Abstract #1-520. Daniel was owner/agent as well as master. AV15486.
IZAAK WALTON (AS1667): (ship, 438 tons, length 117’, built in Rochester MA in 1844, withdrawn in 1847). It sailed in 1844, destination not recorded, and returned in 1847. N. and W.W. Billings was the agent.
A review of the dates of Daniel’s several voyages will show that from 1825 to 1847 he spent much of his time at sea, well justifying the statement in his obituary that he “amassed a competence in following the sea” sailing on “whaling vessels in different capacities commencing before the mast and rising to command”. Having survived his many years at sea, owning a farm in New York State and making bricks in Pennsylvania undoubtedly was a change of pace for his remaining days.
Sources used: see sidebar and sources cited in text.
George Shaw
American Institute for Maritime Studies
Mystic Seaport Museum
September 2025