The gravestone of Luther and his wife Sarah in Windham Center Cemetery in Windham CT. (found in Find A Grave) provides salient (not verified) information about them: “Capt. Luther Fuller died on board steamer Northern Light April 23, 1853 aged 58 years – Sarah Peters his wife died Dec. 7, 1887 aged 88 years”. He would have been born about 1795, she about 1799. A local biographical record (see Sources) describes his parents as Abijah Fuller (1753-1835) and Abigail (Meacham) Fuller (died in 1840 at age 87) and shows Luther born on January 12, 1795. Another source gives different dates: Descendants of Thomas Fuller records him born on November 2, 1800. Two crew lists show him born about 1795 or 1798. An 1850 census for New London shows a family of Luther (“ship master”) age 60, Sarah age 50, and two children, Albert P. (“mariner”) age 20 and Sarah age 17. The biographical record states that “[he] married Sally Peters, of Stonington, Conn and had a numerous family, only two of whom reached maturity”.
The biographical record contains further information about Luther: “[He] made several whaling voyages in the capacity of seaman, and then, with some others, bought a sailing vessel, and in 1849 made a voyage to California, returning with a considerable amount of wealth and finally settling in Windham. After two years he made another trip to California, and died on the voyage home, at the age of fifty-eight years”.
The New London Daily Chronicle (8/26/1853) provides details about Luther’s death: “Died – On the Wed inst., of inflammation of the bowels, Capt. Luther Fuller, formerly of this city. Capt. Fuller was passenger in the steamship Northern Light from San Francisco and died when within six hours sail of New York”.
Luther served as master on several voyages of five ships with New London as home port:
BETSEY (AS0979): (schooner, 118 tons, length 71’, built in Beaufort NC in 1810, surrendered April 7,1845 and lost). It made two voyages under Luther, 1829-1830 and 1831-March 27, 1832. No other information found. Neither Colby, Starbuck nor Decker record the 1829 voyage. AV01797 and AV01832.
WABASH (AS2572): (ship, 313 tons, length 96’, built in Baltimore MD in 1810, lost off Montauk Pt NY on April 19, 1834). It sailed on June 23, 1832, destination not known, and returned on April 11, 1833. It sailed again in 1833 and returned on April 11, 1834. E.M. Frink was the agent for both voyages. AV15238 and AV15239.
JASON (AS1690): (ship, 335 tons, length 98’, built in Kittery ME in 1810). It sailed in 1835, no other information available. It sailed again on May 14, 1836 to the So. Atlantic and returned on April 25, 1837. Three months later it left again for the So. Atlantic, returning on April 9, 1839. Dennis Wood Abstract #1-280. E.M. Frink & Co. was agent for the three voyages. AV07401-AV07403.
CLEMENT (AS1113): (bark, 279 tons, length 98’, built in Brunswick ME in 1832). It sailed on August 19, 1843 to the Pacific NW, returned on May 20, 1846. Dennis Wood Abstract #1-578. Joseph Lawrence was the agent. AV02971.
SARAH LAVINIA (AS2349): (schooner, 114 tons, length 78’, built in Sussex DE in 1835). It sailed on July 23, 1846 for the coast of Patagonia, returning on June 12, 1849. Dennis Wood Abstract #1-173. Benjamin Brown was the agent. AV12926.
Luther also served as master of ATLAS (AS0930), home port Norwich CT) for its 1834-1835 voyage.
New London Crew Lists shows that Luther served as crew member on HYDASPE (AS0269, home port Stonington CT) for its 1822-1825 voyage and MANCHESTER PACKET (AS1834, home port New London) for its 1829-1830 voyage. Note, the date of PACKET’s voyage conflicts with the dates of Luther’s voyage on BETSEY.
Sources used: see sidebar and sources cited in text. Biographical Record of Tolland and Windham Counties Connecticut.
George Shaw
American Institute for Maritime Studies
Mystic Seaport Museum
August 2025
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