Mystic in Stonington in Southeastern Region, Connecticut — The American Northeast (New England)
Clara Tinkham’s Cabin
Photographed by Michael Herrick, September 16, 2024
1. Clara Tinkham’s Cabin Marker
This is a replica of a cabin that Captain John Tinkham built for his 20-year-old wife Clara in 1875. She had chronic seasickness and headaches, and he hoped fresh air on deck would help. Clara suffered for a year and a half before finally leaving the ship, disembarking at St. Helena and boarding a steamer on her way home to New Bedford, Massachusetts.
Later in her life, Clara remembered that her discomfort was due in part to "the smell of blubber, pigs and hens running loose about the deck and having to eat food made of sour dough..." She sympathized with several new crewmen who "like herself were not favorably disposed toward the sea after they had had their first taste of it."
Several hundred whaling captains' wives are known to have gone to sea, despite the hardships. Five captains' wives voyaged on the Morgan.
Honor Matthews Earle came aboard in 1896 as the new wife of Captain James A. M. Earle, and she also had a deck cabin. She was a former mathematics teacher from New Zealand, and she happily took on a role as an assistant navigator. "Navigation came very easy to me. Figures didn't bother me in the least," she said. She brought her 3 year old son Jamie aboard on a later journey, and he often slept in a hammock in the deck cabin at night.
Topics. This historical marker is listed in these topic lists:
this page online
Location. 41° 21.736′ N, 71° 57.912′ W. Marker is in Stonington in Southeastern Region, Connecticut. It is in Mystic. It can be reached from the intersection of Greenmanville Avenue and Bruggeman Place, on the right when traveling south. Located aboard the Charles W. Morgan whale ship in Mystic Seaport. Touch for map. Marker is at or near this postal address: 75 Greenmanville Avenue, Stonington CT 06378, United States of America. Touch for directions.
Regionally, this marker is on the Connecticut Shoreline, in Greater New London, in Mystic and the Eastern Shore, and in the Thames River Valley. It is also in the American Northeast and in New England. Globally, it is in the North Atlantic Region, North America, the Western Hemisphere, the Western World, and the Anglosphere. Historically, it finds itself in what was once New London County and also one of the original Thirteen Colonies.
Other nearby markers. At least 8 other markers are within walking distance of this marker: The History of the Charles W. Morgan (a few steps from this marker); Whaleship Charles W. Morgan (a few steps from this marker); Connecting Cultures (a few steps from this marker); Fishing Schooner L.A. Dunton (a few steps from this marker); Research Submersible Asherah (a few steps from this marker); Changing Perceptions of the Natural World (within shouting distance of this marker); Cape Cod Catboat Breck Marshall (within shouting distance of this marker); Sardine Carrier Regina M (within shouting distance of this marker). Touch for a list and map of all markers in Stonington.
Also see . . .
1. Mystic Seaport. (Submitted on December 19, 2024, by Michael Herrick of Southbury, Connecticut.)
Photographed by Michael Herrick, September 16, 2024
2. Clara Tinkham’s Cabin Marker
2. Mystic Seaport (Wikipedia). (Submitted on December 19, 2024, by Michael Herrick of Southbury, Connecticut.)
3. Charles W. Morgan (ship) (Wikipedia). (Submitted on December 19, 2024, by Michael Herrick of Southbury, Connecticut.)
Photographed by Michael Herrick, September 16, 2024
3. The Whaling Ship Charles W. Morgan
Credits. This page was last revised on May 19, 2026. It was originally submitted on December 19, 2024, by Michael Herrick of Southbury, Connecticut. This page has been viewed 197 times since then and 15 times this year. Photos: 1, 2, 3. submitted on December 19, 2024, by Michael Herrick of Southbury, Connecticut.
