Robert was born on July 13, 1825 in Tristan da Cunha, an island in the South Atlantic Ocean. His parents were William Glass (1787-1853) and Mary/Maria Glass (1801-1858). Find A Grave for his brother Alfred (see below) shows that both parents were born in Tristan da Cunha and that they had over a dozen children. Robert married Anna, no last name shown, born about 1848. Anna and her parents were born in England. The New London census report for 1870 records Robert (“mariner”) as age 44 and born in Tristan and Anna as age 30 and born in England. The 1880 census describes Robert as “master mariner”, shows Robert and his father born in Tristan and his mother born at the Cape of Good Hope. Robert was naturalized on August 10, 1869, showing him originally from Great Britain and then a resident of New London. Robert died on June 18, 1884 in New London. His gravestone, at Cedar Grove Cemetery in New London, describes him as “Capt”. An obituary of Robert in the New London Day (6/14/1884, p.4) adds confusion to his early history: “Captain Robert H. Glass was born in the island of Jamaica where his father was at one period the British governor”. It continues that he “leaves a wife and children in affluent circumstances”.
Albert G. Glass (AM 2237,) Robert’s younger brother, was also a master of whaling voyages on ships with New London as home port.
Robert served as master or replacement master for eleven voyages on threeships, all with New London as home port:
ROSWELL KING (AS2313): (schooner, 135 tons, length 74 ft., built in Rochester MA in 1837, lost in Hudson Strait in 1881). Sailed on August 3, 1864 for Desolation Island, returning on April 30, 1867. Robert replaced Charles E. Church (AM0961), the master, at the beginning of the voyage. Richard H. Chapell was the agent. Sailed again on July 13, 1867 for Hurd’s Island, returning on May 19, 1870. Dennis Wood Abstract 4-307. AV12597 and AV12599 respectively.
FRANCIS ALLYN (AS0758): (schooner, 101 tons, length 85 ft., built in Duxbury MA in 1869, destroyed by fire in Hudson Bay on July 15, 1902). FRANCIS ALLYN sailed for eight consecutive voyages, with one interruption (see PERU below). (1) Sailed August 21 1869 to the Indian Ocean, returning April 27, 1870. Wood 4-315. Richard H. Chapell was the agent. AV05175. (2) Sailed July 22, 1871 to the Atlantic, returning June 6, 1872. Wood 4-315. Williams, Haven & Co. was the agent. AV05178. (3) Sailed August 20, 1872 for the Atlantic for sealing, returning May 10, 1873. Wood 4-315. Williams, Haven & Co. was the agent. AV05179. (4) Sailed July 25, 1873 for the So. Shetland Islands, returning June 14, 1875. Wood 4-315. Williams, Haven & Co. was the agent. AV05180. (5) Sailed July 22, 1875 for the Atlantic for sealing, returning May 27, 1877. The second mate, David Garritt was lost at sea in 1876. Haven, Williams & Co. was the agent. AV05181. (6) Sailed August 28, 1877, for Desolation Island, no report of return. Haven, Williams & Co. was the agent. AV05182. (7) Sailed on July 22, 1879 for the Atlantic for sealing, returning on April 23, 1881. C.A. Williams was the agent. AV05183. (8). Sailed on May 20, 1882 for Desolation Island, returning on April 17, 1883. C.A. Williams was the agent. AV05184.
PERU (AS0555): (bark, 221 tons, length 89 ft., built in Hanover MA in 1818, broken up in 1883). Sailed on July 9, 1870 for the So. Atlantic, returning on June 1, 1871. Wood 4-345. Williams, Haven & Co. was the agent. AV11450. Note that this voyage occurred between the first and second voyages of FRANCIS ALLYN.
Sources used: see sidebar and sources cited in text. The photo Robert appears in Colby (before p. 22).
George Shaw
American Institute for Maritime Studies
Mystic Seaport Museum
November 2025