Sunday. 15th. Continued rain, occasional squalls, wind foul. Lat. 2. Long. 25.

Wednesday. 11th. Beaufust [?] made some cakes for Mrs. F. In this Lat. Found great comfort in the essence of coffee, which however, none have milk with it. The ship’s ale was good. Bread and honey and ham, the only things we could eat – not that we got ham – the best beverage was some lemon juice and sugar, made to effervesce with tartaric acid and soda. Thermometer generally about [tooltip color=”grey” text=”About 28 degrees Celsius.”]83 F[/tooltip] in the cabin.

15th. May. Finding the day very close and not having observed any of the 25 of the [tooltip color=”grey” text=”The area of between-decks occupied by steerage passengers, that is, those travelling at the cheapest rate.”]steerage[/tooltip] passengers on deck since the commencement of the damp weather, and being aware that there were 10 persons on the sick list I advised Kingston to insist upon the whole of the passengers coming up on deck to allow some of the foul air to escape. On examining the state of the berths, [tooltip color=”grey” text=”Bilge water accumulates in the bilge of a ship. The bilge is the lowest compartment on a ship, where the two sides meet at the keel.”]bilge water[/tooltip] and vegetable matter had accumulated under the lower tier to [?] extent which must have proved highly prejudicial to health. The apathy of the steerage passengers was truly remarkable. This state of things was evidently caused by the want of attention to proper principles in fitting up the [tooltip color=”grey” text=”The area of between-decks occupied by steerage passengers, that is, those travelling at the cheapest rate.”]steerage[/tooltip] . Previous to leaving the Dock the married persons should have been separated from the single men by [tooltip color=”grey” text=”An upright partition dividing a ship into compartments and serving to add structural rigidity.”]bulk heads[/tooltip] and not by canvas, and tables should have been provided to enable the passengers to mess at regular hours and in comfort instead of making [t]heir berths a perpetual cook’s shop. Meals going on at all hours must be productive of dirt and disorder. I should certainly in future provide every grown up person with a canvas bag to contain a sufficient quantity of clothing for immediate use, and then prohibit the introduction of any boxes [tooltip color=”grey” text=”Between decks was the space between any two decks of a ship. It could be used for cargo or passengers but the term was associated with cheap accommodation for third class pasengers or emigrants on subsidised fares. Between decks provided accommodation without access to fresh air or natural light and was often cramped and crowded.”]between decks[/tooltip].

Another account of the death of the Chief Mate on the Lady Mary Pelham was included in a letter from Alexander Dawsey, second mate, to GF Angas, written on 3 June 1836:

To G F Angas Esq^r At Sea June 3^th 1836

Sir

It is with Feelings of some re
-gret I write you stateing the death of M^r I. Doine
Thompson on the 3^d of May after about Four days
illness perhapes and I may say unwillingly the
effects of his own Imprudent conduct in a very
excessive use of ardent Spirits which Finally
so undermin’d the nervious system as to cause
Mental derangement in which State he died
every means being used so far as Judgement
and the nature of the circumstances would
afford to recover him but without effect, his
excitement of Mind being Such as to admit
of no Argument that would induce him to
think otherwise, than that he was Surrounded
by the Most horrid Forms and Wretched phan
toms hurrying him into an eternal world, To
this extreme had his Vicious Propensities been
carried, In Fact from the time the Ship left
the River Mersey until death put a period
to His existence, he may truly be said to have
Spent in a State of Intoxication and drunk’ness
clandestinly using alike every Spirit in the
Ship even to a whole case of Wine excepting about
three bottles…
… Your’s with
every Sentiment of Respect

Very devoted Serv^tAlexander Dawsey

I rose this morning under some stress of mind
conserning the path of duty the wind fair
from the NE all ships out of the harbour
but our own I have experianced what it is
to be here in destress blowing from the SE
with a heigh sea I went on my knees and prayed to be
directed in the right way I afterwards consulted with
the mate we went on our knees togather and prayed
fervently to be directed the right way …

Sir

I have the pleasure to acknowledge receipt
of your letter, last evening, dated the 4^th, when I wrote you on
last saturday, it was late, & having but just come to an Anchor,
being at the time much fatigued, not having been in a bed for
nearly ten days, you will pardon my not writing you at the time
all particulars, which by your leave I will now endeavour to do –
…

The following day being Sunday, I requested all the Passengers
with some of the crew, to come on shore to church, to render thanks
for our safe delivery from the dangers we had escaped; when to my
great surprice one of them (Steven Session) has absconded & I have
not seen or heard of him since, he being completely terified to death
at the sea, & which I dont wonder at, I am sorry that he is gon, as
he was one of the best of the company’s servants on board, one of the
crew has also run away, the name of wood, but as he was a useless
fellow I have not made any serch for him, but has shipt another in
his place, the carpenter & the cook I am afraid they will not be sufiscantly
recovered to take to sea with me, therefor beg you will not Pay
the Carpenters note that I gave in London, and indeed it would be
a great benifet to the company to get clear of hime, for he is a
very useless and good for nothing fellow, & not by any means worth half
his Wages –; should you see M^r Simpson Father of my second mate, you
give very great hopes of the Prospects of his son, who I am happy to say
is a very praysworthy & promising young man, and in fact the best I
have in the Vessel, & I shall loose no oppertunity in putting him forward,
On Monday I had a [tooltip color=”grey” text=”To survey a ship is to inspect and determine the structural condition of it.”] survey [/tooltip], the result of which I hereby inclose
you a Copy, & am getting every thing repaird as fast as possible, & I expect
I shall be all ready by next monday, I with pleasure beg to inform you
that I have received every possible assistance & attention from M^rHingston of this place; and very Difrent from that received from
M^r Fox at Falmouth, who was only by chance shewn to me once
in passing, though I made it a rule to call at the Office every day we layd in that Port –
I was greatly surprised at meeting M^r Stephens in the street,
& he was eaqually surprised at meeting me, he informed me the unpleasant
situation they were placed in respecting the crew on board of the Duke
of York, I emidiately went with him & M^r Hingston on board, having
first got the [tooltip color=”grey” text=”The preventative service was the establishment of coastguards at numerous stations along the coast of the United Kingdom for the prevention of smuggling. It reported to Customs, which also had control of the revenue cutters which cruised off-shore.”] Commander of the preventetive service [/tooltip] to follow us, with
his boats crew armed, and after having calld the men [tooltip color=”grey” text=”The stern or rear of a ship.”] Aft [/tooltip], questioning
them if they would get the Vessel underweigh, one of them being a
spokesman or ringleader, answared for the whol, & sayd they would not
without being put on Monthly Wages, finding it useless to contend with
them, I persuaded Captⁿ Morgan, to Make an example of him
in the first place, to the utmost extent of the law, to see how that
would work with the rest, & which I am happy to say had the desired
effect, for Captⁿ Morgan acordingly gave him in charge of the Naval
Officer, who very kindly offerd every assistance, & he was taken before
a Majistrate, I attended with M^r Stephens & the mate; where he
was sentenced to 21 days hard labour in Exceter Prison, two of the
crew having run away, the remainder very peasably went to their
duty, & to day (Wednesday) after having settled their afairs at Bricksham
I saw her leave the Bay with the wind NNW^t & fine weather,
but the wind is since changed to West, and no good prospect before
them, the glasses falling very much, M^r Stephens requested me to
write you of their sailing; he being very much fatigued, having from
from fatigue and angsiety not had a nights rest for some time, but
will write you before he get clear of the channel, if the weather
permits, he has wrote me a letter, the copy of which I have also
inclosed, should you aprove of those directions be so good as to
write me word, or any other advice you can favour me under
the present cercomstances, which shall be most punctualy be attended
to, as far as my humble abillities goes –
I beg to complain of the Person who supplyd the sugar &c
in the first place it is not sugar a tall, but apears to me to be
some rotten stuff taken out of the bottoms of Molasses cask, the
smell is past bearing, the loaf cheese is not worth the porterage,
nor is the quantety in either package I have yet oppend
of Porter wine or Brandy, and about half the [tooltip color=”grey” text=”A dark-brown, bitter beer brewed from charred or browned malt, thought originally to have been made especially for porters.”] Porter [/tooltip] in small wine Bottles,
the Vinegar also very bad –; this complaint dont rest with me alone, but
M^r Stephens requested me particularly to write about it, informing you
that it was the same case with the Duke of York —
I also beg to complain of the muskets sent on board for the use
of the Vessel, not one in four are the locks of any use, & I beg to
asure you, that I have never had any of so bad a quallity to trade,
with the savages of the south sea Islands –
When you was absent, during my stay at Falmouth, I wrote
several times begging the favour to send me an Invoice of the [tooltip color=”grey” text=”Articles of clothing and bedding supplied or sold to sailors.”] Slops [/tooltip] &
Tobacco, but have never received an answer –, I will feel greatly
obliged if you will be so kind as to order it to be sent, as I dont
know what to charge the men for them
Waiting you orders allow me most respectfully
to subscribe my self

Yours & the Company’s

[tooltip color=”grey” text=”Most Obedient humble servant – a common form of ending business letters.”] [/tooltip]

George Martin

Read the full article

Share this page:

Thursday 7 April 1836

7th. Still beating off Portland! Wind N.W.

Remark 1_.Nearly 3 weeks at sea between decks, still [tooltip color=”grey” text=”‘Lumbered’ is an informal term mainly used in Britain to refer to someone being burdened with a thing, or things, unwanted. In shipping terminology, ‘much lumbered’ or ‘lumbered with’ were sometimes used to describe the state of decks that had become cluttered with cargo and other objects during storms.”] lumbered [/tooltip] up, also the deck, Kingston complaining of the dirt below. I suggested that with troops, the men were ordered to parade with bare feet. He immediately determined to act upon this, and gave an order accordingly, Adams did not think proper to obey, but after some warning did so. The married passengers Chapman, Bristow, Hoare, Brown etc did not appear.

An untoward circumstance occurred soon after passing St. Antonio. one of the Cape Verde Islands. A favourite [tooltip color=”grey” text=”A breed of dog often used for hunting game.”] setter [/tooltip] belonging to a passenger was thrown overboard during the night. Presumptive evidence fixed this act upon none [?] of the sailors.

Read the full article

Share this page:

Monday 4 April 1836

At dawn of day I gave orders to the chief officer to get
up the seacond anchor he returned said the people
wished to speak with me after reading the word of
God as usall and commending my all to the God
of all grace I then went out to the people they
told me they whould not go out of the port
without monthly wages I said they aught to have
considered this before they signed [tooltip color=”grey” text=”When seafarers joined a ship they signed the articles. The captain signed them as well and they formed a contract that set out conditions of employment including how much crew would be paid, what food they would be given, and what hours they would be expected to work. The articles would also say that if a ship was in danger, the normal expectations of work would be set aside and the captain could call on his crew for whatever was needed to save the ship. The articles could form the basis for shipboard discipline, giving the captain authority to punish seafarers who broke them.”] articles [/tooltip] I
asked them if they whould move the ship in
a safe place or a safe harbour they refused
to sail out of torbay M^r Stevens read the articles to them
M^r Stevens and myself went on shore for advice
from the [tooltip color=”grey” text=”Shipping agents provide local knowledge and represent ships in port. Their job is to provide anything that a ship might need. They may arrange a pilot to navigate a ship out of port, arrange clearances from customs or buy stores from local suppliers.”] agent [/tooltip] came on board and offered
the people fivety pounds if they would proced
and if Whales came in the way to heave all
lumber over board that whould stop us Whale
ing for that was thier princable grevance but
they refused and whould not remove the ship
to a safe harbour M^r Stevens went on shore
went to Dartmouth and returned with CaptⁿTalbert of the royal navy and M^r Inkston
Loyds agent he had on his uniform with his
men with [tooltip color=”grey” text=”A pair of pistols.”] brace of pistols [/tooltip] he called for me
to bring the articles and call the mens names
over I did so he asked the men if they signed
these [tooltip color=”grey” text=”When seafarers joined a ship they signed the articles. The captain signed them as well and they formed a contract that set out conditions of employment including how much crew would be paid, what food they would be given, and what hours they would be expected to work. The articles would also say that if a ship was in danger, the normal expectations of work would be set aside and the captain could call on his crew for whatever was needed to save the ship. The articles could form the basis for shipboard discipline, giving the captain authority to punish seafarers who broke them.”] articles [/tooltip] which they replyd they did
he questioned them if they had any complaints
to make of my conduct towards them they
said no they where satisfied with the ship and
officers said the desipleing was good CaptⁿTalbert took Prichard the ringleader on shore with him
all the rest on board with the exception of Riley agreed
to go to thier duty – …

Read the full article

Share this page:

Friday 8 April 1836

Liverpool 8^th April 1836

M^r Angas

Sir

Another account of the same storm was written by the captain of the John Pirie, George Martin:

Letter Martin to Angas 6 April 1836

Dartmouth, April 6th 1836

To /

G.F. Angas Esqr

Rose early found the wind fair we got up the top G^t [tooltip color=”grey” text=”Masts are long poles that extend up vertically from the keel and deck of a ship. They carry the rigging, spars and sails by which ships are propelled. To achieve the desired height of the mast, upper sections called topmasts, topgallant masts and royal masts can be added. Ships and barques have three masts: the foremast at the front, the mainmast (which is the highest) and the mizzenmast at the back of the vessel. Brigs and schooners have two masts: the foremast and the mainmast.”] mast [/tooltip]
and [tooltip color=”grey” text=”Yards are horizontal poles that are suspended from the masts to support and spread the square sails. They are basically set square to the ship’s centre line but the angle can be adjusted to suit the direction of the wind.”] yards [/tooltip] set up the rigin and hove up the [tooltip color=”grey” text=”The starboard is the right side of a ship or a boat perceived by a person on board facing the bow (front).The left side was originally called ‘larboard’ but in the early nineteenth century that term was replaced by ‘port’ to avoid the crew mis-hearing an order. The change was made official in 1844.”] starboard [/tooltip]
anchor and got all ready for sea …

Yours affectonately Robert C Morgan

10 AM left my family in the hand of God at home
[?with a]ll.things needful for life and godlynesse glory be to God
… my christian brother English in company we went on
[?boar]d of the [tooltip color=”black” text=”A packet was a ship that ran a regular route between two ports and had a government contract to carry the mail, in this case powered by steam rather than sail. The ships also carried passengers and cargo and the mail contract was seen as a mark of their speed and reliability.”] steem packet[/tooltip]and landed safe at gravesend where
Captn Pryn joined us and we came on board of the Duke of York
… after dinner all hands with most of the passengers assembled [?]
… on the quater deck haveing hoisted the Bethel flag…
… ist head we commenced the worship of God with singing
…
Captn Pryn offered a most affectionate prayer to
Allmighty God for us and all mankind many tears was shead
and I hope the seed sown that will be blessed of the Lord
without whose help the labourer laboureth in vain I went on
shore after service and bid farewell to my christian Bretheren
knowing not if I shall see them again in the flesh but God
knows that will surfice –

Read the full article

Share this page:

Newer posts →