Franklin was born in New London on April 7, 1819. He was the son of Giles Harris (died 6/2/1864 at age 76) and Rebecca Rogers Harris (10/4/1790 – 4/20/1874). Giles was shown as Capt., but he does not appear in AOWV. Franklin married Adelaide Richards of New London on December 4, 1850 in New London. No record was found of any children. The 1850 census for New London shows him residing in New London, occupation “mariner”.
Franklin died at age 36 on August 17, 1855 in New London. No record could be found of Adelaide’s death. Franklin and his parents are buried in Cedar Grove Cemetery in New London, memorialized by two similar–shaped obelisks, about 100 yards apart. One memorializes Franklin. Above his name (he is “Capt.”) is a carved stone sculpture of an intertwined anchor, capstan and telescope, below appears his name and date of death, surrounded by carved ivy leaves. Across an internal cemetery road is the obelisk for his mother and father with their names (his father is “Capt.”) and dates. On another side of the obelisk is carved the same information as appears on Franklin’s obelisk, plus the words “In the midst of life we are in death.” In front of the parents’s obelisk are three small stones, one for each of Giles, Rebecca and Franklin. Franklin was obviously the beloved son.
Franklin was issued Seamans Protection Certificate #175 in New London on June 21, 1838. With that certificate in his pocket, he began his whaling career by serving as a member of the crew for one voyage on four ships, three of which had New London as home port: GOVERNOR ENDICOTT (AS1490, home port Mystic CT) for its 1839-1840 voyage; PHOENIX (AS2188) for its 1841-1842 voyage; COMMODORE PERRY (AS1137) for its 1842-1844 voyage; and INDIAN CHIEF (AS1647) for its 1844-1847 voyage.
With that experience behind him, he served as master for three voyages on two ships with New London as home port:
VENICE (AS2553): (bark, 354 tons, length 108 ft., built in Kennebunk ME in 1830, withdrawn in 1859 and sold in Calcutta in 1863). VENICE sailed on two voyages to the Indian and No. Pac. oceans: June 15, 1847 – April 13, 1849 and August 7, 1849 – March 16, 1851. Dennis Wood Abstract 2-656 describes both voyages. Weaver, Rogers & Co. was the agent for both voyages. AV15108 and AV15109.
COLUMBUS (AS1125): (ship, 345 tons, length 106 ft., built in Kingston MA in 1821, lost in Shanta Bay of the Ochotsk Sea (Russia) in August 1858). COLUMBUS sailed on September 24, 1851 for the No. Pac. and returned on May 2, 1854. Wood Abstract 2-150. Chester & Harris was the agent. AV03105.
Sources used: see sidebar and sources cited in text.
George Shaw
American Institute for Maritime Studies
Mystic Seaport Museum
January 2026