Entry/Object ID
2026.040.025Scope and Content
Booklet, "Memories of Early Business Life and Associates," by James D. Fish, published 1907. The text describes the career of James Dean Fish, who was born in Mystic and established a successful firm at the Fulton Fish Market in New York. He primarily did business with Mystic fishermen and a full list of the ships that he worked with, along with their captains and owners, is available at the end of the booklet.Collection
Carol Kimball CollectionAcquisition
Accession
2026.040Source or Donor
Carol KimballAcquisition Method
TransferLexicon
Nomenclature 4.0
Nomenclature Primary Object Term
MemoirNomenclature Sub-Class
Literary WorksNomenclature Class
Documentary ObjectsNomenclature Category
Category 08: Communication ObjectsSearch Terms
Mystic, Key West, Fulton Market, FishingArchive Details
Date(s) of Creation
1907Archive Notes
Date(s): 1907Provenance
Notes
Admin or Biographical History: James Dean Fish was born in Mystic August 7, 1819, the eldest son of Asa and Prudence Dean Fish. As a young man he worked at his father's store and ship's chandlery in Mystic. In 1841 he co-founded the firm of Ashbey & Fish with Samuel B. Ashbey at the Fulton Fish Market in New York. Over the years this firm evolved into the "Ashbey, Pool & Co." and "J.D. Fish & Co." and remained active until 1906. The business furnished fishing vessels with supplies, acted as shipping agents and provided banking services. Their customer base was primarily made of fishermen out of Mystic, Westerly and Rhode Island.
James left the "J.D. Fish & Co." in 1873 and went on to establish the Marine National Bank in New York. This bank was directly involved with the financial Panic of 1884, which lead to a brief depression in the U.S. He was sentenced to 10 years in prison for fraudulent investing in 1885, but was released after serving 3 years and 10 months. He died in Brooklyn, NY, March 31, 1912.Name/Title
James Dean Fish Memoirs