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ASTHEWORLDTURNSORTHEREISNOSUCHTHINGASPLAIN

SAILING:MISHAPANDMAYHEMONTHEHIGHSEASLECTUREFINDINGAID&TRANSCRIPT

Speaker: StephanieBuck

Date: 1/7/2012

Runtime: 53:03

CameraOperator:BobQuinn

Identification: VL38;VideoLecture#38

Citation: Buck,Stephanie.“AstheWorldTurnsorThereIsNoSuchThingasPlainSailing:MishapandMayhemontheHighSeas.”CAMVideoLectureSeries,1/7/2012.VL38,CapeAnnMuseumLibrary&Archives,Gloucester,MA.

Copyright: RequestsforpermissiontopublishmaterialfromthiscollectionshouldbeaddressedtotheLibrarian/Archivist.

Language: English

FindingAid: Description:KarlaKaneb,5/14/2020.Script:StephanieBuck,1/7/2012.

VideoDescription

CapeAnnMuseum’sownLibrarianandArchivistStephanieBuckentertainsheraudiencewiththisnarrationofreal-lifeadventuresdrawnfromtheseajournalsofthreeGloucestercaptainswhosailedaroundtheturnofthe19thcentury:ThomasSaville,EdwardBabson,andWilliamPreston.Withvaryingdegreesof

AstheWindTurnsorThereisNoSuchThingasPlainSailing:MishapandMayhemontheHighSeas–VL38–page2

eventualsuccess,thesethreemenrecordedmanyoftheall-too-commontrialsofmaritimetradesuchassuddenboutsofbadweather,piracy,statesofwar,andchangeablemarketconditions.TripstosuchfarflunglocationsasSurinamandSumatrawereguaranteedtorequireenduranceandresourcefulnessbycaptainsandtheircrew,andthestoriesBuckrelatesareatestamenttothedeterminedperseveranceofthosewhopursuedalivelihoodonthehighseas.

Subjectlist

ThomasSaville Seaman’sjournal

EdwardBabson Ship’slogbook

WilliamPreston Fishermen’sValentine

StephanieBuck

Script[1stIMAGE–AMapoftheWorldfromtheBestAuthorities,1795]

Goodafternoon.Thistalkisapeekthroughaverysmallportholeforaglimpseatsomeofthe

challengesofsailingtheoceansonboardatradeshiparoundtheturnofthe19thcenturyas

toldprimarilythroughthesea-journalsof3Gloucestermen:CaptainThomasSaville–Captain

EdwardBabson–andCaptainWilliamPresson.

[2ndIMAGE-FirstpageofSeaman’sJournal]

Thetermsseaman’sjournalandlogbookare,toacertainextent,interchangeable.Themain

differenceisthatLogbooksareofficialdocuments,legallyadmissibleinacourtoflawifdisaster

shouldstrike,whileSeamen’sjournalsareaninformalrecordofaship’svoyage.

Bothfrequentlytakethesameformat,recordingtheweatherandtheprogressandgeneralwell

beingofthevessel,itscrewanditscargo.Butthejournalisalsothelog-keeper’spersonal


recordofhisvoyages,travelingwithhimfromvesseltovesselandvoyagetovoyage.For

instance,Thomas’sjournalcoversmorethan14voyagesineverythingfromsloopsand

schoonerstobrigsandpackets,evenonceaFrenchgaliote.

Allthreeofourbooksfallintothecategoryofjournalsand,aswewillsee,werefrequently

appendedwithveryunofficialentries.

Writtenatthebeginningofthisjournalarethehopefulwords:MayitpleaseGodtoSendusa

prosperousPassagetoourIntendedPort&fromthencehometoourfriendsinSafetyat

GloucesterourUsualPlaceofAbode.

[3rdIMAGE–Annisquam-1851Wallingmap]

Ourfirstseafarer,CaptainThomasSaville,wasborninAnnisquamonAugust18,1764,thefirst

childofJesseSavilleandMarthaBabson.

This1851mapoftheAnnisquamareashowswherehegrewup.

HisfatherwasamuchreviledandabusedCollectorofTaxesforthePortofGloucester,atone

pointdraggedfromhisbedandtarredandfeatheredbyirateresidents.So,itisironicthatat

least5ofhissonstooktothesea,3ofthemsuccumbingtothedangersofsuchalife.

Thomas’sbrothersDavidandOliverwerebothlostonseparatevoyagesandhisbrotherJohn,

whowenttoseaat14,wastakenbytheEnglishandneverheardfromagain.

Wedon’tknowhowoldThomaswaswhenhefirststeppedfootonboardaseagoingvessel,but

hewasacaptainattheageof25whenwefirstmeethim.Thomas’sbookiscomposedofblank

pagesthatheruledhimselfforeachday’sentry.Despitethishisreportsarequiteformal.

[4thIMAGE–photographofEdwardBabsonc.1860]


Oursecond,CaptainEdwardBabson,whoposedforthisphotographlaterinhislife,wasborn

February18,1811,thesecondsonofWilliamBabsonandMaryGriffin.Hisolderbrotherwas

thelocalhistorianandauthorJohnJamesBabson.

Edward’sgrand-fatherandgreat-grandfatherhadbeenseafaringmenandhisfatherwasthe

ownerofseveralvesselsandaprosperousmerchant.Hisfamilyresidedinthecenteroftown

inthevicinityoftheharbor.Edwardbeganhisseafaringcareerattheageof13andforthe

next22yearssailedtotheEastIndies,theMediterraneanandSouthAmerica,becomingoneof

Gloucester’smostsuccessfulSurinamtraders.Edward’sjournalisthemostinformalofthe3

withnocolumnsforcourseorwindspeedjustanarrativeforeachday.

[5thIMAGE-Dandyc.1820&William’sbills]

Ourthird,WilliamPressonorPreston,heusedbothnames,wasbornonApril13,1805,thefirst

childofCapt.WilliamPressonandSarahEvelethofWestGloucester.

AlthoughhisfathersailedbrigstoSouthAmericaWilliamwasnotfromalonglineofseafarers.

HisgrandfatherwasatailorfromBeverly,whichmayaccountforWilliam’sratherexcessive

concernwithhissartorialappearance.TruthtotellWilliamwasabitofadandy,partialto

jewelry,silkhats,finelawnshirts,thinwhitesockstowearwithhispantaloonsanddancing

pumps,asshownbythesebills.

TOP-Dancingpumpsandbuckles

BOTTOM-6pairseachofcalfandgoatshoes,slippersandpumps.

Thisledtohimbeingfrequentlyshortoffunds.Heoncewrotetohissister“IhopeIshallbe

ableonethesedaystopaymydebtsbutithastakenalmostallIhadleftofmyvoyagetofitme

outasMaster,myclothesareinshockingbadorderIneverwenttoseasobefore.”

WearefortunateinhavinganextensivecollectionofthePressonfamily’scorrespondenceas

wellasthelogbook,soweknowthatWilliam,sometimesMateandsometimesCaptain,first

wenttoseaattheageof19shortlyaftergraduatingfromtheGovernorDummerAcademyin

Byfield.


William’slogisofficialinthatitispre-printedbuthisentriesarenotalwayswhattheAdmiralty

Courtwouldwanttosee.

[6thIMAGE–Guyana–MapofS.America,1795]

All3ofourseafarerstraveledfarandwideinthecourseoftheircareersbutThomasand

Edwardmadefrequent,shortvoyagesupanddownthecoastfromCapeAnntotheCaribbean

andtheSouthAmericanportsofDemerara(nowpartofGuyana),Cayenne(nowpartofFrench

Guiana)andParamariboinSurinam.

Tripsthatcanbelikenedtothoseofthelong-haultruckdriversoftoday.

SurinamwastoGloucesterwhatChinawastoSalemandforthefirsthalfofthe19thcentury

Gloucestermerchantshipsmonopolizedthetradeofexchangingsaltfishformolasses.

Thefishwasoftenofpoorqualitydestinedforthemouthsofplantationslaves.

Themolasseswasanecessaryingredientoftheverylucrativerumbusinessandthewealthof

manyofGloucester’smerchantfamilieswasbasedonthistrade.

Edwardgivesusahintofhowcrucialthemolasseswaswhen,slatedtostopatCayennebefore

Surinam,hefoundhimselfbattlinginvainagainstastrongnortherlycurrent.Heremarked“I

concludedtoproceedtoSurinamasIhavespentsomuchtimeintryingtogettoCayenneIam

fearfulthatsomevesselsbounddirecttoSurinamwillgettherebeforeme&Iwilllosemyturn

ingettingmymolasses–whichisallimportant.”

Eachtriptookanaverageof23dayseachwayandEdward,whowasaverycompetitivesailor

andtookgreatprideinmakinghistripsinasshortatimeaspossible,enteredthenumberof

dayseachonetookinhislog,andcommentedonothervesselsandcaptainsbothfasterand

slowerthanhis,onceruefullynotingthathisbrother-in-lawbeathimhomeby6days.


[7IMAGE–DioramaofSurinamport,1812byGerritSchouten(1779-1839)Rijksmusem,

Amsterdam]

IttooklessthanamonthtogettoSurinambutthemen’stotalabsencefromhomeaveraged

about4monthsbecausetheyalwaysstayedinthesouthernportforabout10weeksbefore

startingbacktoCapeAnn.Theirtimetherewasspentunloadingandsellingtheiroutward

cargoandbuyingmolasses,sugarandcottontobringhome.Thefactthattheweatherwas

beguilingandthetownsfrequentlybeautifulandinvitingmadesuchlongstaysbearable.

Paramaribo,forinstance,Surinam’smajorportcity,seenhereinacontemporarydioramaby

GerritSchouten,hadwide,treelinedstreetsborderedwithgracefulmansions,alargeand

wealthyEuropeanpopulation,andalltheamusementsthatacosmopolitansocietycouldoffer,

including,accordingtoonevisitor,anelegantteaheldeveryafternooninthebesthomes

wheretheteawasactuallyaratheralcoholicpunch.

EdwardandThomasweretheirownmasters.Theyeitherfullyowned,orhadsharesin,both

theirvesselsandtheircargos.

Williamwasforhire,movingfromshiptoshipandfromcaptaintomateasopportunitycame

hisway.InlateryearsmostofhisberthswereonvesselsoutofBostonandNewYorktraveling

toAfricaandtheEastIndies,buthisfirstpassagewasonthebrigFalconcaptainedbyhiscousin

TimothyDavisoutofGloucesterheadedfortheMediterranean.

WilliamdidnotkeepalogforthisvoyagebutCaptainDaviswrotetoWilliam’smother:

“DearAunt-Williamhasbeenremarkableattentivetohisduty-hebidsfairtomakeavery

capablemanifhishealthcanbeimproved.”

[8thIMAGE–Medicinechest]


ApparentlyWilliamsufferedfrombothrheumatoidarthritisandhemorrhoids,thelatter,in

CaptainDavis’sopinion,exacerbatedbyhisinsistence,despitebeingrepeatedlytoldnotto,on

eatinglargequantitiesofgrapefruitwhichheboughtfromthenativesellersthatcame

alongsidethebrig.

William’sarthritishowever,wasmuchmoreseriousandpracticallycrippledhimattimes.

DuringabadboutCaptainDavisassuredWilliam’smotherthat“Ihaveorderedawarmbathof

saltwaterandafterwardsathoroughsweatandhaveappliedbitterherbstothemostpainful

parts.IhopetobeinTriesteinthecourseof48hoursandshallcallformedicaladvice.”

ThemedicaladvicewastohaveWilliamdrinkaglassofcodliveroileverydayforaweek.

CaptainDaviswasskepticalremarkingthatitwasthesameasthe“oilthatauntSukeyusedto

burninheroldbettylamp.”

However,theremedywasfollowedandfoundeffective,withboththefeverandswelling

reduced.

DespiteCaptainDavis’soptimisticopeningremarkheconcludedhisletterwiththewords:“I

thinkthatWilliamoughttotrytogethislivingonshoreasthesailor’slifeistooroughforhis

constitution.”

AlthoughplaguedbyillnesstherestofhislifeWilliamdidnotheedhiscousin’sadviceandthe

followingyeargotaberthontheBrigFox,formerlytheByker,anEnglishbrigcapturedinthe

Warof1812andnowownedbyaconglomerateofGloucestermerchants.

[9thIMAGE-BrigCorporalTrim,EliasDavis,1815]

TheFoxwasasizablevessel-78’long23’wideand11’fromdecktokeel.

Shehadasquarestern,abillethead,2decksand2masts.


WedonothaveanimageoftheFoxbutthisistheCorporalTrimwhichwasaboutthesame

sizebutwithonlyonedeckandafigureheadinsteadofascrolledbillethead.

Forthoseofusdimensionallychallengedthisroomisabouthalfherlength,whichmeansthat

hersternwouldbeacrossFederalSt.behindmeandherprowtowardsthebackoftheFitz

HenryLanegallery,andthoseofyousittingintheseatsbetweenthelobbyandabouthere

wouldbeintheholdwiththecargoandthebilge;therestofyouwouldbetreadingwater.

AfewdaysbeforeChristmas,1825,theFoxsetoutfromGloucesterheadedforSumatrafor

pepperandthistimeWilliamdidkeepalog.

Thestartwasnotauspicious.

Williamwrote:

“At8a.m.droppedofffromthewharf-at10gotunderway–madeseveraltacksand

grounded.

StartedagainandgroundedonRockyNeck–laidtill3o’clockthengotoffandbeatout.”

[10thIMAGE–PhotoLonebrigatsea]

Therestofthevoyagewasrelativelyuneventfulhowever,andratherlonely.Theyhadbeenat

seafor3monthsandwereinthemiddleoftheIndianOceanbeforetheysailedcloseenoughto

anothervesseltoidentifyandspeakwithher.Thesechancemeetingsinthevastexpanseof

oceanallowedanexchangeofnewsthatwouldthenbepassedonatthenextencounteror

portofcall.Itwastheonlywayformenatseatoletlovedonesathomeknowhowtheyfared

andnewsthatavesselhadbeenspokenwithwaseagerlyawaited.

AfewmonthsafterreturningfromSumatraWilliamgotanotherberthasFirstMateonthebrig

AuroraoutofBostonunderthecommandofCaptainGray,travelingtotheWestIndiesand

Guyana,probablyformolasses.


ForWilliamthetripdownontheAuroratook3weeksfollowedbyamonthspentunloadingthe

cargoandbuyingandloadingthereturnfreightattheendofwhichCaptainGrayannounced

thathewasgoingtostayinGuyanaforawhileandhandedtheAuroraovertoWilliam.

Williamwas22yearsoldandthiswashisfirstcommand.

[11thIMAGE-William-MayHeaven’sBlessings]

Williamwroteinhislog:

MayHeaven’sblessingsonmepour

SinceCaptainI’vebecome

Andaidmetomynativeshore

Tomeetmyfriendsathome

Williamenjoyedpoetry,sosigningitGrimeswasprobablyareferencetoaseafaringcharacter

inawell-knownpoembyEnglishpoetandnaturalistGeorgeCrabbe.

However,itwasnotexactlyblessingsthatHeavenpouredonWilliam.

Heranafoulofaseriesofhorrendousstorms,accidentallyrammedandsankanothership,and

oneofhispassengersdied.

[12thIMAGE–RoughSeaUSShipConstellation,J.H.Wright,1833,MFA]

EverythingwasplainsailinguntiltheywereoffBermudawhentheweathersuddenlyturned

ugly.Thewindabruptlyveeredandblewagale.Atoneinthemorningtheylosttheirmain

mastandthetopmastwassplitinhalf.At2a.m.theyshippedaseathatwashedawaythe

bulwarksonbothsides.

OnNovember15thWilliamwrote“Thevesselalmostawreck–theseasweepingoverusin

suchamannernoonecanventureondecktodoanything.”


Overthenextfewdaystheweatherimprovedenoughthattheymanagedtomakenecessary

repairsandgetthesailsbackup.Theyestimatedtheywereatlatitude40°buthadnoideaof

theirlongitude,inotherwordshownearorfartheywerefromthecoast.

[13thIMAGE–LongitudeLunarDistance&Almanac]

Calculatinglongitudewasproblematicbeforetheadventofreliable,andaffordable,marine

chronometersinthemidtolate1800s.Itinvolvedsightingandmeasuringtheanglebetween

thehorizon,themoonandastar,whichwascalled“lunardistance,”andthenlookingtheresult

upinvariousprintedtablescalledNauticalAlmanacs.Thiswouldgiveyouthetimethis

conjunctionoccurredinGreenwich,England,whichwas0°longitude.Then,becauseitwas

knownthatthesunmovesacrosstheskyataset15°everyhouryouonlyneededtoknowyour

localtimetocalculateyourlongitude.Thiswasdonebymeasuringtheheightofthesun(ora

star)abovethehorizonandlookingthatfigureupinanothertabletoseewhattimeitoccurred

atGreenwich.If,forinstance,thealmanactoldyouthataparticularlunardistanceoccurredat

2p.m.inGreenwichanditwas6p.m.whereyouwerethenyouwereatlongitude60°.6p.m.

minus2p.m.=4hours.4X15°=60.

WilliamandThomasreliedonthissystemofmeasurementbutEdward,fromamoreaffluent

family,couldaffordachronometerandrarelyconcernedhimselfwithworriesoverlongitude.

Achronometermadelifemucheasierastherewasnoneedtocalculatelunardistance.[The

chronometerwascalibratedforGreenwichMeanTimeandwhenitregisterednoonat

Greenwichyoumeasuredtheheightofthesunabovethehorizonwhereyouwerewhichwhen

lookedupinatabletoldyouyourlocaltime.]Nevermind.Fartoocomplicated.

Obviouslytakingthesemeasurementswasanalmostimpossibletaskinthemiddleofaraging

stormorwithcloudcoveredskies.


InthiscaseWilliamsoonmetandspokewithaBrigwhogavethemareadingof69°30.’This

meanttheyhadbeenblownseveralhundredmilesoutintheAtlanticOceanoffthecoastof

NewJersey.Buttheirtroubleswerenotover.

[14thIMAGE–Collision-The‘Constitution’andthe‘Guerriere’,ThomasChambers,c.1845,

Met.Mus.ofArt.]

Theweatherturnedbadagainandtheywerebatteredwithhailandsnow.For9daysstraight

thewindblewfromtheNNWpushingthemfurtheroutintotheAtlanticandawayfromland

andhome.

Williamwroteinhislogbook“KindHeavenPreserveUs.”

OnNovember22ndtheseawas“heavyandrough.”Onthe23rditwas“tremendous.”

Thenext2dayswerethesameandtheylaytoounabletomakeanyheadwayatall.

OnMondaythe26thallhellbrookloose.Williamwrites:

“11p.m.verydark&squallywitharoughsea.Sawavesselontheleebow,wasunableto

discoverwhichwayshewasstanding.Wethenhoistedoursignallanternanddiscoveredshe

wasaBriglyingtooontheoppositetack-headtotheSW.Itwastoolateforustorightour

helm.Wecametogethernearlyheadon,herjibboomtakinginsideourforeriggingwhich

carrieditallbytheboard,splitourspencertopieces.Wethenswungheadontoherwiththe

sea-carriedawayourforetopmast,bowsprit&lashedanchoranddisabledusallover.”

Asdawnbroketheysawtheothervesseljusttothesouthandwestofthem“cutdowntothe

watersedgeandnothingbutthemainmaststanding.”

ShewastheBrigHannahofBoston,105daysfromStockholmandsobadlydamagedthather

master,Capt.Hinckley,decidedtoabandonherandheandhiscrewjoinedWilliamonboard

theAurora.

Thestormcontinuedwiththeseastillrunning“mountainshigh”andsuppliesbegantorunlow

withalltheextramouthstofeed.Fortunately,theymetupwithashipjust2daysoutofport


boundonawhalingvoyagethatgavethemabarrelofpork,abarrelofbread,andabushelof

potatoes.

OnDecember4ththeymadeaspencersailoutoftheremnantsofthemainsailandonthe5th

spentthedaysecuringthebowspritandfittingatemporaryjibboom.

Onthe7ththeyhadjustreachedCapeCodwhenoneofthepassengersdied.Theyburiedhim

atsea3hourslater.Noexplanationwasgivenforhisdemise.

[15thIMAGE–1795NorthCarolina&AtlanticCoastchart]

ThomasandEdwardwereolder,wiserandmoreconfidentsailorsbutnonethelessoccasionally

fellafoulofcircumstances.

Thomas,forinstance,ranintotroubleafterhestartedmakingafewtripstoNorthCarolinaand

Virginiain1794.Thesevoyagesusuallytookabout12dayseachwaywithaweeksstay

offloadingandloading,lessthanamonthinall.

InJanuaryof1795,8daysoutonthewayhometoCapeAnnfromNewBern,NorthCarolina,

whichwasthenwayup-riversouthoftheAlligatorDismalSwamp,Thomasranintotrouble.

Theywereapproximatelyatlatitude38,aboutCapeMay,NJ[B],withtheLarkleakingbadly

andworkingthepumpnon-stopwhenahardgalebegantoblow.Thomaspointedherprow

outtosea,lashedthetiller,cutawaythemainmast,stowedthesailsandwaitedforthestorm

toabate.Buttheygotcaughtinastrongsoutherlycurrentand,unabletobreakawaybecause

ofthewinds,foundthemselvesofftheFloridacoastwithinaweek[C],andheadingforthe

Caribbean.LowonprovisionsandinneedofrepairsThomastookthepathofleastresistance

andtheylandedatSt.Eustatia[D]onFebruary26th.Thetriphadtaken48daysinsteadof12

andtheystillhadtogethometofriendsandfamilyanxiouslywaitingtoheariftheyhadbeen

“spokento.”

Edwardwasevenmorepragmatic.


Inthewinterof1839-40,whenstormswreckedmorethan50shipsshelteringinGloucester

harborandHenryWadsworthLongfellowwasmovedtowritetheWreckoftheHesperus,

Edwardwroteinhisjournal“Tremendousgalesandhighseas–theheaviestanyofusonboard

haveexperienced.”

Butwhentheragingwindstoreaparthissailshesubstitutedatarpaulinandahammockand

calmlyhunkereddowntorideitout.

Anothertime,caughtoffNantucketinheavytideripsafterastorm,hewrote“ifanymanwants

hispatiencetried–lethimgetasnearhomeaswe–andhavethechancetomakeheadway

astern.”

[16thIMAGE–ReligiousHomily]

Notallthetrialsandtribulationsofamarinerarosefrominclementweather.

Inthedaysofsail-beingbecalmedwasjustasfrustratinganddangerous.

In1840Edwardwasdriventoremarkthathe“mightaswellaboutship-gohomeandgotothe

BunkerHillConvention.”

AreferencetothepresidentialcampaigninggoingonatthetimebetweentheWhigcandidate

WilliamHenryHarrison,TippacanoeandTylertoo,andtheincumbentDemocratMartinVan

Buren.

Itisnotclearwhetherornothethoughttheconventionwouldbeanequallyboringexperience.

William,onhistriptoSumatraintheFox,wasbecalmedinthemiddleoftheIndianoceanwith

notanothershipinsight.Thetemperaturewas110°intheshade,theyhadjustcommitted

theirfavoritedogtothedeep,andfoodandwaterwasrationed.Itwas,Williamsaid,“likethe

froggettingoutofthewell–3feetforwardand4back.”Alltheycoulddowasdowntheboat

andstartrowing.TheytowedtheFox,all178tonsofherfor2daysstraight.


Thentherewassometimestroublewiththecrew.

William,whenfirstmate,darenotgoashorewheninport,eventogotochurch,forfearthat

thecrewwouldabandonship.Hecomplainedthathehadtoleavehisberthateverycreakand

groanoftheshiptomakesurethattheywereallstillonboard.

Edward’sfirstandsecondmateswereoncefoundguiltyofsmugglingandstealingfromthe

Cadet.Anothertimehehadtroublewiththeship’scookwhohaving“beenverystupidforthe

lasttwoorthreedays.Gaveusacolddinnertoday.”Itturnedoutthatthemanhad“drankup

allthespiritsinthevessel”andwasthoroughlysoused.

[17thIMAGE–Pirate]

Andtherewerepirates.

In1801ThomaswasoffthecoastofGuyanaintheschoonerCorneliawhenhewasshotatby

anothersmallschooner.AshecametootheydrewalongsideandhoistedFrenchcolors.After

showingthemhispaperstheyswitchedtoSpanishcolorsandboardedtheCornelia.They

ransackedher,breakingopenallthehatches,chestsandtrunksandtakingmostofthe

contents.Thomaswasparticularlyaggrievedthattheytookallhisclothes,makingapointof

enumeratingthem:9shirts,5neckerchiefs,2waistcoats,3pairoflinentrousers,4pairof

cottonstockings,3pairofwoolenones,2overallsandagreatcoat.NotquiteuptoWilliam’s

standards.

ThenextdaythebrigandsdemandedthatThomassailwiththemtoTrinidadorbescuttled.

Fortunately,theyprovedtohaveashortattentionspanandwhentheysightedanothershipin

thedistancetheywentchasingafterherleavingThomasandtheCorneliatomaketheir

cautiouswayhome.


[18IMAGE-Agreement-JohnAmory,JohnSingletonCopley,1768,MFA]

Dealingwithowners,merchantsandauthoritiesinbothhomeandforeignportswasoften

equallyfraughtwithdifficulties.

Everyvoyagebeganwithanagreementbetweenthevessel’sownersandthecaptain.In1826

WilliamsignedanagreementwithWilliamStevensandBenjaminAtkins,ownersofthe

schoonerAnn,foravoyagetoMartinique.[thispaintingisofJohnAmory-aBostonmerchant-

butillustratestheconcept]Williamwasinstructedtousetheproceedsfromthesaleofthe

cargotobuymolassestobringbacktoGloucester.Andwhilehewasallowedtousehisown

discretiononthepricepaidhewasremindedthathewasonlygoingtoget6%ofthenetprofit

ofthereturncargowhich,withanadditional$20amonth,was“tobeconsideredhisfull

compensation.”

Unfortunately,aswasoftenthecasewithWilliam,thingsdidnotgowell.Hearrivedat

Martiniqueingoodtimewithhisfreight,whichconsistedofcodfish,whaleoil,rice,tobacco,

beef,barrelshooksandheadings,andgunpowderbut,despiteMr.Stevensassurancethatthe

cargowasgoodquality,wastoldbyhisMartiniqueagentthat:

“Yourfishisoldfish–andnotliked”anditwassuggestedthathetrytosellitinGuadeloupe.

[19thIMAGE–Martiniqueletter8/23]

WilliamhurriedlywrotetoMr.Stevens:

“Sir–IhavetoinformyouthatIarrivedhereonthe21statnight–gotonshoreyesterday–

triedthemarketsandhavethisdayshownmyfish–Icannotgetanyofferforthemandmust

gotoPointPeter–shallgetofftomorrowassoonasthecustomhouseisopen–oilis

contrabandhereandIdonotseeanychanceofdoinganythingwithit-inGuadeloupeitisthe


same–powderisabadarticle–riceisworth5/50beef11/50&10/50duties2/40-tobacco

6/50duties50cts.”

HedidgotoGuadeloupehowever,andfromtherescrawledanothernote:

“Ihavesoldthecargoandlandedallbutafewbarrelsofbeefandtheoil.Ihavepetitionedthe

governmentforpermissiontolandtheoilandthepowder.Thevoyageistroublesomeand

mustprovebad.”

Hewroteagain5dayslatertoreportthathestillhadtheoilonboardbuthadmanagedtosell

thegunpowder.Headdedthatthepriceoffishwassolowthathecouldn’tgetmorethanhalf

themoneythatMr.Stevensexpectedandmolasseswassohighthathewasunabletobuyany,

sohewastakingontileasballastandplannedtotryandselltheoilineitherSt.Thomasor

Guyanaandperhapsbuysomesugarorcoffeetobringhome.

About2weekspassedbeforehefinallyannouncedthathehadsoldtheoilanddoneallhe

could.Hewrote“thefishwerespoiling,theoilleaking,threebarrelsofthefishandacaskof

riceweredamagedbywater-Ishallonlyhavesomethingmorethan4thousanddollars–and

becominghomeinballast.”

[20thIMAGE–originalcargolist$4189]

ThisistheinvoicefortheoutgoingcargoshowingwhatMr.StevensandMr.Atkinshadpaidfor

it:4thousand139dollarsand3cents.AfewdollarsmorethenWilliammanagedtosellitfor.

Williamhadalsoincurredunexpectedexpensesinhavingtovisitseveralportsinhisattempts

tosellthegoodsandinrepairstotheAnn,plushehadbeenunabletobuyanythingtosellon

hisreturn.

6%ofnothingwasnotgoingtokeephimincowhideboots,dancingpumpsandsilverbuckles.


[21stIMAGE–Elephanttradecard]

Themish-mashofoutgoingcargoWilliamcarriedonboardtheAnn:oil,gunpowder,tobacco,

meatandrice,alongwithfish,wasnotunusual.Freightswereoftenanextraordinarilyeclectic

mixwithmanypeoplesendingoutasinglebarrelofthisorboxofthatonwhatwastermeda

venture,hopingtomakeaprofitonitssale.

OnonetripThomascarriedfish,oil,oakstaves,shingles,tobacco,lumber,candles,bricks,beef,

shoes,tongues,bread,potatoes,500bunchesofonionsand35livesheep.

Williamoncecarried8casksofcodfish,4kegsofbutter,80barrelsofflour,201boxesof

Herringandasingletrunkcontaining7thousand500dollarsingoldcoin.

AnothertimeWilliamcomplainedthathehadtowastetimeinportbuildingahouseonthe

decktoshelteranelephant,acamelandseveralmonkeys.

[22ndIMAGE–ThomasCopyofSurinamCharges]

Andeveryonewantedapieceofthepie.ThisisalistingofthechargesThomasincurredonone

triptoSurinam,whichwasunderDutchcontrolatthetimesotheamountsareinguilders.

Apartfromtheexpectedfeesfortheharbormasterandthetaxcollectortherewereotherset

chargessuchasmoneyforthechurchandhiringapilot,whichcostyou33guilders.

Incidentallynothiringapilotcostyou15.

Youalsohadtofilloutinnumerableforms,mostoftheminduplicateunlessyouwereleavingin

ballast,thenitwasintriplicate.Andwhileyouwerefillingoutandfilingalltheseformsyouhad

toaccommodateaguardonboardwhohadtobefeedandpaid50caday.Theauthorities

evenpublisheda36pagebookletinEnglishandDutchlistingalltheshippingrulesand


associatedcosts.Plus,therewerenobanksandnopapermoney.Onecontemporaryaccount

remembersthecaptainscarryingsacksfullofgoldandsilverguildersfromgovernmentofficeto

governmentoffice,staggeringalongundertheweightofthem.

[23rdIMAGE–William’sSkate.]

Therewerebalmydaysofcoursewhenthewindwasjustrightandtheshipship-shapeandthe

menhadsomefreetime.Thistheyspentinvariouspursuitsincludingfishingtoaugmenttheir

dietofbread,beansandsaltmeat.OffCapeAnntheycaughtcodanddogfish,furthersouth

weredolphin,shark,porpoise,rudderfishandonceakingfishandacoupleofturtles.

FaroutintheAtlanticEdward’screwcaughtsomebonitos–whichledtotheunexpectedtreat

ofadinnerofboiledporkwhenoneofthepigsonboarddiedaftereatingabonitohead.

IntheIndianOceanWilliamsaw,butdidnotcatch,a“vampire”fish,andobliginglysketchedit

notingtheratherunlikelyfactthatnooneonboardadmittedtohavingseenonebefore.

[24thIMAGE-Fishermen’sValentine.]

Otherpopularpastimesweredrinkinggrog,playingthefiddle,carvingboneandwoodand

makingseashellvalentinesforsweetheartsathome.

William,whohadbothreligiousandromanticleanings,andwassingle,spenthisfreetime

readingtheBibleandAbbotsSermonstoMariners,andwhileheisnotknowntohavemadea

valentinehewasadabhandatcomposinglovepoemstovariousyoungladies.

In1826hewasapparentlyenamoredofayoungladynamedSusantowhomhewroteseveral

poemsinthelogbookoftheFoxbecalmedinthemiddleoftheIndianocean.


TwoyearslaterhewaslaudingAbbywhilemateontheschoonerAdamstravelingtoBuenos

AiresunderCaptainEllery.

[25thIMAGE-Abbypoem–hair]

Abbyseemstohavehadsimilarpoeticaspirations.Thisisapoemofherowncomposingthat

shesenttoWilliamwithalockofherhairenclosed.Thepoembegins–

“Take,take,thislockofhair

Ofttwillremindthyheartofme..”

William,however,hadashortmemoryandafickleheart.Afewweekslaterhewaswooing

Marywithapoemwrittenonanapparentlyratherdulldayatsea:

Theentireentryforthedayreads:

Beginninglightbreezesandcloudy.Middleandlatterpartthesame–3sailinsight–Latitude

byobservation7°49’

YesMaryIlovetheenomorewillIsay

Whereitwoundsthyfondheartsoseverely

IswearthatIlovetheewhatmorecanIsay

ThanmylifeI’dresignfortheefreely

Soendsthisday.

AshorttimeafterpenningthistheAdamsarrivedatthemouthoftheriverPlatteinathickfog

andWilliam’smusewasrudelyinterruptedwhenthefogclearedandtheydiscoveredthatthey

wereinthemiddleofablockadesquadronofBraziliannavalships.

ArgentinaandBrazilhadbeenatwarsince1825overtheattemptbytheBraziliangovernment

toquashabidforindependencebythepeopleofwhatisnowUruguay.Brazilwasdemanding


thateveryneutralvesselclearingMontevideogiveabond,amonetarypromise,nottoenter

anyArgentineanport.

AftertheAdamsattemptedtofleeandgotinvolvedinabriefskirmishwithafewshotsfired

shewasboarded.Unfortunately,CaptainEllerycouldn’tprovideproofofthisbondandthe

schoonerwasseized.InsuchcircumstancesitwaseachmanforhimselfandWilliamwastill

tryingtogetapassagehome3monthslater.

[26thIMAGE–1795Caribbeanmap]

Thisriskofrunningafoulofwarringnationswasyetanotherdangerofthehighseas.

Inthesummerof1799,whenThomassetsailfromBostonboundforDemeraraonthe

schoonerLark-AmericaandFrancewereengagedinanundeclaredwar.

KnownastheQuasiWaritlastedfrom1798to1800andwaswagedentirelyatseabetween

privateersfrombothcountries.TheLarkbecameoneofthevictimsofthiswarwhenshewas

capturedbyaFrenchPrivateerandcarriedintoGuadeloupeintheFrenchCaribbean.

Thevoyagehadstartedoutwellenoughdespitebeingsloweddownbyastormandby

discoveringtheLarktobe“considerableleaky.”Then,aboutamonthintothetrip,theywere

chasedandfiredonbyaDanishshiplookingforFrenchvesselstocapture.Theywerereleased

buttheencountermadeThomasnervousandfortheremainderofthevoyagewheneverthey

sawasailinthedistanceheturnedtheLarkintheoppositedirectionanddownedallsails.

ThesemaneuversprovedeffectiveandtheyeventuallycamesafelytoanchoroffDemerara.

6weekslatertheysetsailforhomeandhadbeenout7dayswhen,onThursdayOctober24,

Thomaswrote:“at10a.m.sawasailbearingsouthofusdistance2miles–madesailandstood

tothenorth–at5ditto-broughttoo–provedtobetheFrenchshipEspoir-at5boardedus

andorderedthevesselforGuadeloupe.ArrivedthereThursdayNovember1st.”


TheLarkandhercargoweresubsequentlycondemnedandsoldasaPrizeandThomaswrote:

“Myself,Mr.ElvensGrovermate,JohnButlerJr.seamanandDavidLavilledittowentonboard

theprisonship.”

[27thIMAGE-Frontpage/LastpagePrizecatalogueforBrigByker(laterFox)]

Prizeisthetermusedforavesselcapturedbyaprivateer.Thisexampleistheprizecatalogue

forthesaleoftheBykerandhercargoinGloucesterduringtheWarof1812.Youwill

rememberthatshewasrenamedtheFoxandWilliamvoyagedtoSumatraonherafewyears

later.

Afterseveralprintedpageslistingthecargotheypricethebrig.

Ourunknownbidderhaslistedhispurchasesintheblankarea.Againshewascarryingamish-

mashofitems:paint,varnishoil,bread,beefandpork.

Thomas,whokeptanaccountbookaswellasalog,madeanentryinreferencetotheLark’s

cargothatreads:TookouttoDemerara1barrelofflour,100bunchesofonions,2kegsof

tobacco(notsold),8geese,14,000shingles,2casks&14jarsofraisins,67pairsofmensshoes

(17notsold)and25pairsofladiesshoes.

Broughtbacktheunsoldtobacco&shoesplus3casksofsugarand7bagsofcoffee.

LostthewholeinGuadalope.

ArecentlypublishedbookontheFrenchseizureofAmericanvesselsduringtheseyearsadds

theinformationthattheprizevalueoftheLarkwas$930andthefreight$232.Afterinsurance

paymentsThomas’netlosswas$342.

Thomaswassoonreleasedfromtheprisonshipandaboutamonthafterbeingtakencaptivehe

wasapassengeronboardabrigboundforVirginialeavingSt.Christopher’sinconvoywith27

othervessels.


[28thIMAGE-Convoy-TheMountVernonofSalem,1789,MichelFeliceCorne,1800,Marine

ArtsGallery,Salem]

ThefollowingyearThomaswasbackmakinghisregularrunsdowntoDemeraraagainbutashis

returnjourneyincludedastopinthedangerouswatersoftheCaribbeanwheretheQuasiWar

wasstillbeingfought,hedecidedtotravelinconvoy,anoptionthatwasrelativelysafebut

muchslower.Thetripactuallytookhim5weeksratherthantheusual3.

HewaitedatthemouthoftheDemerarariverwiththeEnglishfleetfor4dayswhileallthe

boatsgathered.OnThursdaythe17thofJuly22vesselssailedfortheislandofSt.Christopher’s

wheretheyplannedtomeetupwiththeAmericanconvoywhichwasguardedbyaUnited

Statesgunship,aprivatelyarmedshipof16guns,andaprizeschoonerof8guns.

OnThursdaythe31st120AmericanandEnglishshipssetsailforthenorthtogether.

WithinafewdaysofstartingoutthegunshipswerechasingawayFrenchprivateersandaBrig

attherearoftheconvoywasboarded.ByAugust8ththeyweredownto84sail.Whetherthe

othersweretakenorleftoftheirownvolitionisnotclearbuttheywereoutofthegreatest

dangerzoneandtheCommodoresignaledthattheyweretodisperseandmaketheirway

homeasbesttheycould.Thomasjoined29othersheadinghiswayundertheprotectionofthe

16gunship.Aseachvesselreacheditsdestinationitlefttheconvoy.Withinaweekhewasin

companywithonlyoneotherschoonerandsoonlandedsafelyinBoston.

[29thIMAGE–chartoftheworld]

So,whatbecameofourintrepidsailors?

Thomas,whohadmarriedBetsyHarradenwhenhewas23andfathered10childrenoverthe

years,eventuallyretiredtohishomesteadinAnnisquamwherehequietlytendedhisvegetable

garden.Hediedattheageof81.


EdwardmarriedAmandaStanwood,daughterofanotherrenownedcaptain,RichardGoss

Stanwood,whentheywereboth22.TheylivedonFrontStreetandthenSummerStreetwhere

theyreared5children.EdwardwasanextremelysuccessfulSurinamcaptainandmerchant.

Heretiredfromtheseaattheage35awealthyman,theownerofmorethan8ships.After

Amanda’sdeathhemarriedJuliaFriendanddied20yearslaterattheageof68.

William,despitehisardentheart,nevermarried.Neitherdidhesuccumbtoeitherhispilesor

arthritisbutdiedoftropicalfeverinMonrovia,Liberia,WestAfrica,attheageof37.

IwillletWilliamhavethelastwordonwhythesemen–despitethedangersandhardships-

followedthewind.Amongthedoggerelsanddittiesheleftbehindisabriefversethatends:

Maythisrestfirmlyonmymind

ThatIwasborntorunmyround

Notasacumbereroftheground.

Thankyou.

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