The
The Joseph Downs Collection of Manuscripts and
Printed Ephemera
Henry Francis du Pont
5105 Kennett Pike, Winterthur,
Delaware 19735
Telephone: 302-888-4600 or 800-448-3883
OVERVIEW OF
THE COLLECTION
Creator: Proctor, John, 1786-1837
Title: Travel diary
Dates: 1815, July 3-November 23
Call No.: Doc. 1736
Acc. No.: 2017x52
Quantity: 1 volume (24 pages)
Location: 31 J 5
BIOGRAPHICAL
STATEMENT
John Proctor was a merchant in Cavendish, Windsor
County, Vermont. He was born in 1786,
the son of Mary Keep (1744-1827) and Leonard Proctor (1734-1827); the parents
were among the early settlers of Cavendish; the hamlet of Proctorsville in the
town of Cavendish was named for this family.
John Proctor had siblings and
half-siblings, and mentioned his brother Jabez in his diary. In December 1814, John married Sarah Smith
(1795-1857). John died on March 31,
1837. (Papers pertaining to the
settlement of his estate can be located on ancestry.com.)
SCOPE AND
CONTENT
Diary of John Proctor of his voyage to and from
England, and his travel in England, from July 3-November 23, 1815. Proctor traveled to England to secure goods
to sell at his store, and to meet the people (whether manufacturers or
wholesale dealers) who could supply those goods. He left Cavendish, Vermont, on July 3, 1815,
and traveled to Boston, Massachusetts.
He sailed from Boston on July 13.
The voyage across the Atlantic was enlivened by spotting whales and
porpoises and fishing for cod (which he quickly grew tired of eating). The ship also encountered a few storms. Proctor landed in Liverpool on August
11. After checking the markets in
Liverpool, he obtained letters of introduction to merchants (whom he named as
he visited them) in Manchester, Birmingham, and London. He did some sightseeing while in those cities
(mentioning, but not describing, places he visited), although his chief
interest was in purchasing goods to ship home.
Returning from London to Liverpool, he stopped in Staffordshire and
visited potteries and chinaware manufactories, although he does not describe
them, nor does he name which ones he visited.
After returning to Liverpool, Proctor gathered the
textiles, crockery, and other goods procured in various places, purchased paint
colors (Spanish brown, Venetian red, white lead, etc.), and set sail on October
5. The return voyage was marred by
severe storms. During one particularly
bad storm, the ship took on water, and the pumps were not able to get rid of it
fast enough. Fearing for the fate of his
ship, Captain Trott ordered that much of the freight, including that belonging
to Proctor, be tossed overboard to lighten the load. Proctor was much afraid during this storm,
but put his trust in God and wrote about his love for his family.
Apparently Proctor was, when not in fear for his
life, rather bored on this return voyage since he had little to write about, so
he listed the menus for each meal, generally fried fish, beef, or pork, with
potatoes and rice pudding. During severe
storms, there could be no fire for cooking.
One of the passengers was a woman, and a special meal was served on her birthday
(October 29). The ship and Proctor finally
landed safely in Boston on November 18.
He spent several days in Boston, and the diary ends with him still there
and no mention of preparations for the return trip to Vermont. Sadly, he had lost much of the merchandise he
had been in such pains to acquire.
ORGANIZATION
The entries are in chronological order.
LANGUAGE OF
MATERIALS
The materials are in English.
RESTRICTIONS
ON ACCESS
Collection is open to the public. Copyright restrictions may apply. The document is brittle and must be used with
great care.
PROVENANCE
Purchased from Terry Alford.
ACCESS POINTS
Topics:
Cabin boys.
Commission merchants
– England.
Merchant
mariners.
Merchants –
England.
Ocean travel.
Ocean travel –
Food service.
Purchasing.
Storms – Atlantic Ocean.
Voyages and
travel.
England –
Description and travel.
TRANSCRIPTION
OF DIARY
Note: the document is much worn along all edges, and
some parts are missing, meaning that words are missing, incomplete, or
difficult to read.
Proctor sometimes used a letter code when recording
prices.
The diary:
1815
Monday 3d July.
Pleasant & showery. After [missing part of page] have[?] of wch
& other [illegible] &c. Started
for Europe, accompanied to the [missing] pr[?] Jabez; lodg’d at Holbrooks in
Surry.
[Surrry is in Cheshire
County, New Hampshire.]
July 4.
Pleasant.
Breakfasted at Wells in Keene; was informed that Louisa was married to
Gilbert Griswold, Jr.; settled with Gorham respecting cow by submitting the
cause to the decision of Mr. Underwood of Keene who brot in for us[?] $20 in lieu
of only 12 dolls. offer’d. Dined at Moores
in Winchedon – lodg’d at Whitmans in Westminster.
[Louisa Wells married
Gilbert Griswold in Keene, New Hampshire, on July 2, 1815. Winchedon and Westminster are in
Massachusetts.]
Wednesday 5.
Pleasant.
Breakfasted at Harvard. Visited
Uncle Woods in Boxboro. Din’d at
Concord. Visited Uncle Faulkners &
Cousin Burts[?] in Cambridge Port. Put
up at Barnard & Binns [both names uncertain], Sign of the Golden B[worn],
Elm Street, Boston. In the morning took
an ex [worn, excursion?].
Thursday 6.
Fair – Purchas’d some heavy articles and loaded
our[?] Sam’l Wyman, jr. & Dan Snow – Continued to purchase & prepare
loading while Jabez attended to Pearl Ashes &c.
Friday 7.
Pleasant – Thos Kendall & Ezekiel Hardy arriv’d
and were loaded out - &c – Contracted for freight & passage ($100) to
Liverpool in England. $ [crossed out] $
Saturd. 8.
Very rainy day – Capt. Burbank & Nathan Conant
arriv’d & took loads –
Sund. 9.
Very warm indeed – Attended forenoon meeting of
P[torn] Dean at Murray’s Meeting House & afternoon visited Cousin Eben’r
Parker & attended Mr. Turner[?] meeting at Charlestown. – Afterwards
visited Uncle Parker & Uncle Woods & return’d to Boston.
Mond. 10.
Extremely warm.
Purchase’d dry goods – Got aboard about 70 bus. [bushels?] ashes from
Charlestown inspection officer.
[page 2]
Tuesd. 11 July
Extremely warm. – Loaded out Mr. Binns[?], he being
the last team[?[ making 7 in all. – Got Residue of ash[?] freight on board
amounting to 145 bus. Pearl ashes & 1 hhd. [hogshead?] bus.
Wedned. 12.
Purchased some dry goods, prepar’d for my
voyage. Excessively warm – took leave of
some old friends &c., wrote letter to wife -
Thurs. 13 & Frid. 14.
Very warm – At 10 o’clock went on board the ship
Sachem, Nathaniel Howland of Boston, master.
Frederick
Love of Gloucester, Cape Ann, mate,
-----
Elliot of Salem, 2d mate
A
crew consisting of 10 seamen, besides a steward and a Swedish cabin boy and one
passenger, besides myself. This
passenger was an Englishman & took a steerage passage, said his place of
residence was at London where he was born.
Had been shipwrecked within the province of Nava Scotia where he lost
all his property, appear’d to have travell’d considerable, but [illegible]
clad, possessing a great degree of self-knowledge, sanguineness, professed
politeness, but had yet the crabbedness peculiar to his countrymen, an aversion
to everything American, of course had frequent arguments & disputes on
various subjects during the passage.
At half past 12 o’clock, past the Castle [Castle
Island], ½ past 2 pilot discharged.
[note: the initials P.S.L.(?) appear above the word Englishman, and
are perhaps the initials of this man.
Also, something is written in the margin, about half-way through the
entry, but as part of the paper is missing, it is hard to read this.]
Frid. 14.
Pleasant, somewhat cooler.
Saturd. 15.
89 per log
Saturd. 15 & Sund. 16.
[torn]13 miles pr log
Cool weather, with light breezes – there are in
sight seven vessels – Raw hands are all sick except myself, and I feel a little
squeamish.
Mond. 17.
151 miles
Colder, and steady breezes. At midnight very rainy & the Capt,
apprehensive of running aground on Sable Island, when I awoke, he was giving
orders for making[?] ship. Some surprise’d,
a thro’ [thorough] scare.
[There follows two lines of
cramped handwriting, difficult to read, and difficult to decide whether both
lines belong to the entry of the 17th or if one belongs to the 18th.]
[Sable Island is a very
small island 190 miles southeast of Halifax, Nova Scotia, and was the site of
many ship wrecks.]
Tuesd. 18.
[torn]4 miles
Cold & bleak sea. – Steward, cook & 1 fresh
hand besides are quite seasick – Spoke an Eng. brig from Liverpool.
[page 3]
1815
Wednesd. 19 July.
123 miles
Very foggy. Cold & disagreeable weather,
accompanied [by] a very heavy swell from the eastward.
Thursd. 20.
51 miles
Colder & still very foggy – wind all round the
compass. Calmer but yet foggy.
Frid. 21.
56 miles.
For 16 hours we have been perfectly becalmed. – The
air cold and damp – thermometer stands at 40.
At 8 sprung up a light breeze from northd. – Baffling light winds –
foggy – gave the crew a b[torn] of rum. -
Satud. 22d.
151 miles
Saw 2 sail standing to the westward. – at 7 spoke an
Engl. brig fishing. – At 10 a.m. hove to, and caught 36 codfish, lusty
fellows. Had codfish chowder for dinner.
–
Sund. 23
114 miles
Thick foggy unpleasant weather, which has continued
ever since we approach’d the Grand Banks of New Foundland [sic] – extremely
cold.
Mond. 24
88 miles.
Last night we had fresh gales and heavy rain which
continue till noon; have had codfish till sick of it.
Tuesd. 25
183 miles
Pleasant and not so cold; have a fine breeze.
Wednesd. 26
111 miles
At 8 a.m. spoke an Engl. Brig from Oporto 30 days
and bound for Newfoundland, inform’d that Bonaparte was arrested by the French
people & suppos’d he was in the hands of the English. –
Thick rainy weather –
Thurd. 27
123 miles.
Rainy. - & fair weather. – Porpoises in schools
keep pace with ship, occasionally especially under
[page 4]
[torn] 28 July.
101 miles
Fresh gales, with heavy squalls of rain.
Saturd. 29.
121 miles.
Strong gales of wind and torrents of rain; at 1 p.m.
took in main sail, sent down top gallant yards; at 2 close reef’d the top
sails, 1/2 past 2 took in fore & mizzen top sails, &c, &c. The following night most disagreeable, no one
on board had any sleep, the sea frequently breaking over the ship render’d the
time truly dismal. –
Sund. 30.
[torn]4 miles.
Moderate breeze & cloudy. – Calm for 6 or 8
hours, a pleasant breeze. – See whales frequently. Let out the poultry[?] & the Swedish
cabin boy drove 2 on [or perhaps over]
board.
Mond. 31
[torn]37 miles
Fine pleasant weather. – Cloudy & foggy – much
more temperate air. –
Tuesd. 1 August.
[torn]68 miles
Fresh breeze & foggy. – Vast quantities of
porpoises round the ship. –
Wed. 2d.
122 miles
Thick & foggy weather. – Spoke British brig Mary
Ann from Liverpool for Newfoundland, Bond, master, inform’d that Bonaparte had
made his escape from France and had gone to the United States. 2 sail in sight steering to ye northward
& westward. Cloudy. –
Thurd. 3d.
37 miles.
Calm & nearly so for about 30 hours. – At
midnight[?] sprung up a light breeze from the northd & eastward.
Frid. 4
189 miles.
Pleasant with a fine breeze.
Saturd. 5.
Spoke the Engl. brig Deborah, John Bassett, master,
14 days from Liverpool, bound to Halifax.
Rainy.
[page 5]
1815
Sund. 6 Aug.
94 miles
Rainy last night. – At one time saw several whales
& porpoises in quanties [sic] occasionally. – Every attempt to harpoon them
render’d fruitless as they are very spry notwithstanding so large; judge them
to weigh 50 [illegible] average. For a
while almost calm. – Observ’d the fracas between a large school of small fish,
which having follow’d the ship several hours were attacked from beneath by
larger fish & from above by a drove of hawks about the size of pidgeon
hawks, the squabble continued with unabated fury until the ship lost sight of
them. – At 10 evening[?] fine breeze. – Ship rolls very much; bu [barrel?] molasses
overset and a large quantity ran out.
Mond. 7
This morning we have a heavy gale which continued
thro the day and night following, attended with frequent squalls of rain, very
disagreeable. [words crossed out]
Tuesd. 8
Still the gale continues, but soon abates, pleasant
sun. - At about 11 o’clock a.m., the
joyful tidings of “Land Ahoe,” “Land Ahoe” were heard from mast head, being
Cape Clear. Afternoon pleasant sailing.
– Observ’d the following direction for preparing seed corn, to prevent crows
from destroying it, - viz – take 1 ½ pt. tar with which stir warm water, &
this will tar one busl. corn, afterwards, stir 2 ½ pts. Lime – Ex[illegible]
Lows Almanac. Almost calm.
[at bottom of page: two
Gothic script alphabets, one in capital letters, the other in small
letters. The small letters include i and j, but the capital letters only I.]
[page 6]
1815
Wednesd. 9th August
Very pleasant wind & weather. – Pass’d Cork
& other towns on the coast of Ireland during the day.
Thursd. 10th
Rainy. – Passed the coast of Wales. –
Friday, 11.
Rainy & windy; this morning took on board a
pilot. Pass’d up St. Georges Channel in
a considerable gale by the town of Liverpool and anchor’d in the harbor towd. a
mile from the town by reason of the crowd of vessels in the docks & harbor.
– Went on shore in a boat about 2 o’clock p.m.
Put up at the “Swan Inn,” Dale Street. – Could find no acquaintance from
Boston this afternoon. – Wrote letter to Jabez.
Saturd. 12.
Pleasant weather. – read the papers &c. This being the celebration of the Prince
Regent’s birthday, Custom House was shut. – Presented letters to Carter &
Storr, comm. [commission] merchants, Coopers Row. – Wrote letter to Sally, [to
D. C & Co. – this crossed out] after attending markets, &c. –
Sund. 13.
Good weather. -
Wrote letter to D. W. Child & Co., &c.
Mond. 14.
Rainy.
Enter’d ashes &c. at Custom House after waiting on Carter &
Storr. – Receiv’d memo &c.
Tuesd. 15.
Rainy. – Reported myself at Custom House in order to
obtain a passport. – Arrang’d & copied memo; obtain’d necessary information
about crockery, &c. – While walking
out after supper, frequently was assailed and importuned by the lewd Liverpool
girls from which went clear. – Mr. – Prentiss & - Parker were absent during
the night!
Wedn. 16, Thursd. 17, Friday 18, Saturd. 19.
Cloudy & windy, fair and squalls of rainy
alternately, and very cold weather for Aug’t.
– Obtain’d information of the value of different goods & gave orders
for crockery, &c.
[page 7]
[at top of page: some large writing,
perhaps just practice letters as does not seem to form a word; also a
signature; the first name is John and presumably the surname is Proctor]
1815
Sund. 20 Aug.
Fair. – Went to American Hotel [this word substituted
for Coffee House, which was crossed
out] to see Capt. Howland who was absent as was said to get ship into dock;
went in search of the ship which found just after she arriv’d at the wharf;
thence[?] to Jos. H. Hayward from whom took a letter to Tho. Vinton, Esqr. at Manchester,
thence to Lunts[?] whence after settling bill took a coach to Manchester, ¼
past 4 p.m., passing thro Warrington, &c, where arriv’d at ¼ past nine, put
up at Star Inn. – 36 miles, fare 9/-
Mond. 21.
Pleasant.
Obtained information of the value of several articles of goods. – Agreed
with a taylor [sic] for vest & pantaloons for [myself? Word not clear]. Spent the evening in conversation with a
Quaker, from who d[illegible]’d some useful knowledge respecting purchasing
goods.
Tuesd. 22d.
Rainy.
Presented letter from Carter & Storr of introduction to John
Gregory, who [illegible] my memo of goods wanted. Spoke rather disheartening on acc’t of the
multiplicity of articles and smallness of quantities; it being market day,
could not attend to purchasing for me; however gave some advice. Left him; purchas’d upwards 50 pieces
cambric, &c.
[page 8]
1815
Wednesd. 23 Aug.
Rainy. –
Examin’d printed & other goods at sundry houses. – Agreed for a pair shoes
which cost ns/- sterling. Enclos’d 2
draughts on Stamps to Carter & Storr for £100 each, for acceptance[?],
&c. –
Thursd. 24.
Good weather. – Purchas’d about £160 worth goods at
Grundy & Bardans[?]. – Rec’d letter from Carter & Storr enclosing bills
- & advice concerning passport. –
Frid. 25.
Found worsteds & woolens high – purchas’d about
33 pounds worth at Kirkman & Sons, Church St., & sundry articles at
other places. – Wrote to Carter & Storr concerning my passport. – Took a
lengthy evening walk.
Saturd. 26
Pleasant. – Settled invoices[?]. Collected & packed goods. – Took tea with
Mess. Grundy & Bardan[?]. – Rec’d answer from Carter & Storr, concerning
passport, advising to proceed.
Sund. 27.
Pleasant. – Settled bill at Starr Inn, paid chamber
maid her fees, shoe black & waiter their fees ant at 7 a.m. took coach for
Birmingham, passing thro Billston [sic], Congleton, Stafford, &c., where
arriv’d at 8 p.m., 80 miles, fare 11/- [figure unclear, possibly 17 not 11],
besides coachman’s beggary 2/-. Took
lodgings at Binghams Stork Inn at the Square.
Mond. 28
Pleasant. – presented introductory letter to Mess.
Scholfield, Redfern & Co. from Carter & Storr, who from the press of
engagements could not attend to receive my order till day after tomorrow. –
Sought information from various sources; in the evening visited exhibition of
wax figures of famous characters.
Tuesd. 29.
Good weather. – Review’d[?] catalogues of goods
& prices; in the evening attended a 6d exhibition of wax figures of famous
characters.
Wednesd. 30.
Fair weather. – Waited on Mess. Scholfield, Redfern
& Taylor who furnish’d me with some copperplates and specimens of the
figures of various[?] articles & their prices. – Commenced making
[page 9]
scheme of articles wanted.
1815
Thursd. Aug. 31
Good weather. – Attended at Mess. Scholfield &
Co. and contin’d order for goods during the whole of the day.
Frid. Sept. 1.
Pleasant. – Mr. Bingham took a walk to various
places & view’d Court House, Prison yard, Baths, &c. Enter’d name at coach office & pd 17/-
for fare to London – 20 [sic] miles. –
Finish’d order for goods – took dinner with Mr. Scholfield – pd bill at Mr.
Binghams, to wit £1-15-0, also servants 0-7-0 more!! – At 7 p.m. started for
London, passing Wickham, had a shameful supper, &c – very foggy during the
night.
Saturd. 2d.
Very foggy. – This morning early found myself at Oxford. Arriv’d at the “Bull and Mouth Inn” in London
at half past 12 p.m. near St. Paul’s Church, Newgate, &c. Presented Carter & Storr’s letter to Mr.
Eben. Appleton, no. 12 Sise Lane, who politely promis’d every needful advice
and assistance in his power relative to my business.
Sund. 3d.
Warm for Europe. – Attended church forenoon at St.
Ann’s and in the afternoon at Mr. Wilcox, over the Thames River crossing London
Bridge.
Sunday 10th.
Fair weather during the whole of the past week. –
Monday, Tuesd. & Wednesday were days on which the Bartholomew Fair &
Smithfield Show were held; of course the crowd of people was immense, much
confusion & villainy and a multiplicity of accidents occurred. – I was employ’d
selecting goods; retir’d every night much fatigued. – The London girls about as
bad as the girls at Liverpool.
[page 10]
1815
Sund. 10 Sept.
Fair weather & warm. – Attended meeting at
Christ Church in the forenoon, where were about 200 boys of about the same age
& size, dress’d in uniform & educated by a charitable institution; in
the afternoon went to Charing Cross, Summerset [sic, i.e. Somerset] House, then
thro Smithfield to Shore Ditch [sic] & Finsbury Square. – Feet blister’d
with walking. –
Mond. 11.
Warm weather. – Went to Mr. Appleton’s, then to
Crawly & Elgin[?] – purchase’d several articles; view’d 2d apartment of St.
Paul’s – attended Covent Garden Theater after viewing Guildhall – play
Shakespeare’s Hamlet, after piece Love, Law & P[illegible]
Tuesd. 12
Very warm. – Settled with Mr. Appleton. – purchas’d
2 globes[?] and some other miscellaneous articles. – [crossed out rest of
entry]
Wednesd. 13.
Quite warm & dry. – View’d Westminster Abbey
& Hall and Parliament House; Panorama, &c. Purchas’d some articles. –
Thursd. 14.
Extremely dusty & pretty warm. – Enter’d name at coach office, where mov’d
my luggage. – Settled bills – saw performance of Indian jugglers. – Lodg’d at
Three Cups Inn, Aldersgate St. –
Frid. 15.
At 6 o’clock took the “Royal Alexander” coach for
Liverpool, passing thro Barnet, St. Albans, Dunstable, Newport, Northampton,
Harborough, Leicester, Ashby-de-la-Zouch, Burton-on-Trent, Uttoxeter, and
arriv’d at Burslem, Staffordshire County, next morning at 8 o’clock, when took
lodgings for 24 hours. – Found myself cover’d with dust which render’d the way
home[?] extremely disagreeable.
[page 11]
1815
Saturd. 16 Sept.
Rainy. – Visited some of the potteries. – Observ’d
the china ware factories. – Contracted
for a service of particular articles.
Sund. 17.
Pleasant. - At 8 took Royal Alexander for Liverpool,
where arriv’d at 4 p.m., passing thro Lawton [Church Lawton], Sandbach,
Middlewich, Northwich and Warrington to the Crown Inn, Red Cross St. A strife among the coaches on the way. – Took
lodgings at the American Hotel.
Mond. 18.
Selected from catalogues of goods residue of
articles wanted; went to Carter & Storr. – Contracted with Mr. Irvin for
making 1 coat, surtout, gt. [great] coat, pantaloons, westcoat, & 1 cloak.
Tuesd. 19.
Rainy. – Went to Davenports, Ward, Smith & Co.,
Carter & Storr, perus’d[?] prices current, &c.
Wednesd. 20th
Beautiful weather. – Went to various places,
purchase’d 40 gro pipes at Mr. Morgan’s, Greenfield Street. – n/s &
a/s. In the evening attended Com. of
Grand Lodge of L’pool.
Thursd. 21st.
Fine weather. – Wrote letter to Br. Jabez – also one
to Grundy & Beardan[?] – Went to several warehouses.
Friday 22d.
Good weather. – went to David W. Child & Co. –
Sent letters pr ship Sachem which sails for Boston this day.
Saturd. 23d
Warm. – Went Georges Dock & other places – wait
arrival of goods from the country.
Sund. 24th.
Fine weather. – Attended church in the a.m. Went to Kings Dock in the afternoon, &-
[page 12]
1815
Monday 25 Sept.
Ship Magnet sail’d this day, Capt. Lambert, Comm.[commander]
– toward night very windy. – Have encreas’d apprehensions of a disappointment
in the execution of the order given Mess. Ward, Smith & Co. for crockery. –
Contracted with Capt. James F. Trott for freight of crockery, &c, a ru/-, hardware,
&c, 60/, bale goods at 70/- gr ton & passage a ac£ sterling to Boston. –
Sund. 26.
This morning we have heavy gales of wind from
northeast. Gave Carter & Storr
envoices [sic] of goods already purchas’d for to make entrys [sic] for
shipment. – Gave an order to Thos. C. Porter, Mersey St., for ½ ton white lead
– ne/a/- 3 [a symbol for weight] red do.
– e/-, ½ ton Spanish brown – i/sd – ¼ ton yellow ochre – nu/-, 2 [symbol for
weight] no. 1 prussian blue a n/sd – 1.4 ton Venetian red – nm/ - 5pr ct. [illegible] for bill – 3 mo., to be ready day
after tomorrow. Also an order to Wm.
Welsh & Co., Old Dock, for ¼ ton Flor Sulphur nae/ and ¼ ton ram. vitl. –
ci/- pr cent gro.wt. money[?], for 3 mo. bill. –
Wendesd. 27.
Fair Weather. – Wrote to Joseph Smith, London, also
to Scholfield, Redfern & Co., Birmingham, informing them that the goods
purchas’d had not been receiv’d. Went to
divers places but could find nobody at home that I wanted to see –
Thurds. 28
Rainy – Purchas’d of Rolwand Rowan[?] 1 ton
copperas[?] - £m- & ½ ton camwood[?] - £arc/- pr ton. – Totally
disappointed of ye 10 crates common ware. –
Friday 29.
Very rainy day. – Bot of John Sargent 2 crates
common crockery – also 1 crate table ware &- of Dutton & Bancroft 311
wt. Scotch ol. vitl. a ne 1/2d per [symbol for amount] & 1 ton whiting –
a/md pr cent – of Josh, Walker Maltley & Co. 15 100wt shot – nd/- 1-8-10
pig iron aa.
[page 13]
Mr. Maury communicated intelligence to ye American
gent at the Am. Hotel of the conclusion of peace with Algiers. – Sent camwood
to be ground.
1815
Saturd. 30
Rainy, very rainy indeed. Travel hither and thither, wet my feet, went
without my dinner & tea for want of time to go get them, took cold, and a
hearty supper, went to bed late, case of goods &c from London. –
Sund. 1 October.
Cloudy and very muddy. Saw from the Hotel a dog fight [phrase
crossed out] – Wrote to R & T.[?] Massey at Burslem informing that
[illegible] of L[illegible] ware had not arriv’d as expected – week[?] time[?]
– have a severe headache & sore throat, cough, &c in consequence of
yesterday’s exposure. – Went to tide Mill, thence to Millers House.
Mond. 2d.
Rainy. – Went to tide mill, found camwood almost
completed, settled bill & gave directions. – Went to Cox & Wrights,
thence to Rowland Rowan[?] – thence to Jee [Gee?] Brothers, thence to Carter
& Storrs. Sold [illegible] of bees
wax a £10 pr C – thence to Custom House, thence to Mr. Maurys, the American consul
here, thence to Br. & Comr. Gage, thence to Caster & Storrs, thence to
Rowland Rowan, thence to Jee [Gee?] Brothers, thence to Carter & Storrs,
when found that invoices of Birmingham & Sheffield goods had arriv’d, then
to dinner. – Pleasant, cold rages excessively – at bed time took 31 [a sign of
some unit] sal glaub[?].
[note: James Maury was the
American consul in Liverpool for a number of years.]
[page 14]
Had no [illegible] of consequence during last night
but cough’d almost incessantly. Salts
operated this morning which gives some relief to my head.
1815
Tuesd. Oct 3d.
Rainy. – Went to a variety of places. Settled bill at Mears, being £4-5-0 &
sevts. [servants] 8/. – at bed time took a glass of hot gin sling. – Ship does
not sail today. – Passport from Lord Sidmouth arriv’d from London; but too
late, having enter’d as a seaman.
[note:
Viscount Sidmouth was the Home Secretary at this time.]
Wednesd. 4th
Rainy & fair.
Prepared for embarking. – purchas’d several necessary articles. Cough very bad; at bed time took a glass of
warm cider with Capt. Snow of New Bedford, Massachusetts, my chambermate, the
excellency of whose disposition & manners I shall never forget. – Retir’d
to bed, but in consequence of my cough so violent, could breathe but with
difficulty. Soon began to sweat
profusely which I carefully watch’d & cherished[?] & by day break fell
asleep; after enduring much of the hypo & several other po’s which were my
constant attendants thro this painful night, for besides what I really suffer’d
by coughing, I imagined[?] that a confirm’d[?] asthma was fix’d upon my lungs
that my profuse sweats foreboded a consumption fast approaching upon me.
Thurds. 5th.
109 miles
Pleasant. I
woke and rose at 7 o’clock and sure was pleas’d to find myself alive and
considerably reliev’d. – Went down to the ship. – Return’d to breakfast. – Went
to Carter and Storrs, wrote and left with them a letter of explanation and
instruction and took an affectionate leave, particularly of Mess. Rich’d &
W. H. Cornforth, their clerks. – Thence to Mr. Mears, settling 2d bill 6/-
& servts. [servants] 2/8, where after bidding all farewell went on board
the ship which was then passing out of the dock. [phrase crossed out] Were sometime getting out of the dock &
harbor when we was accompanied by Capt. John S. Trott, Mr. W.H. Cornforth &
Custom House officers.
The crew consisted of viz.-
James F. Trott, master
Caleb White, mate
James C. Drew, 2d do.
John Proctor,
Geo. Jack, & Eliza Davis, passengers
[note: although name is here is clearly Davis, Proctor repeatedly refers to Mr. and Mrs. Dawson]
also Capt. Boynton
Ichabod Collins, S. [seamam],
Joseph North, O.S. [ordinary seaman]
Constant L. Winslow, [hard to read whether S or
O.S.]
Isaac T.[?] Draw, S.
John Dott O.S.
Thomas Porter, O.S.
B. Horton, Jr., do.
Rive[?] Thomas, Cook
F. Mather, S.
Wm. Richby, do.
Peter Johnson, do.
Tho. Mar, do.
Richd. Thos., do.
Francis Court[?], do.
[one name crossed out]
[A notice in the newspaper Boston Commercial Gazette listed the
passengers on the ship Ajax, J.F.
Trott, master, as Joseph D. Anson and wife of London, John Proctor of
Cavendish, and Geo. Jack of Boston. The
notice also mentioned that the ship had had to jettison about 75 tons of
goods.]
[page 15]
1815
Oct.
At 3 o’clock discharg’d the pilot. – Mr. and Mrs.
Dawson, i.e. Davis, &c, taken immediately very sea-sick. – Rainy.
Friday 6th
157 miles.
Pleasant. – Sweat considerably and cough’d very much
during last night. – Mr. and Mrs D. very sick. – Coffee and fry’d beef for
breakfast.
Satud. 7.
114 miles
Capt. Boynton taken sick of a fever; my cough very
bad during the night past. – Cloudy. – Fri’d beef, bread & butter &
coffee for breakfast. – Air in the cabin unwholesome. – Roast mutton, soup,
&c for dinner. – Cold and damp air. – Cough something worse. – Becalm’d
between Scotland and Ireland. – Cold mutton, tea, &c for supper.
Sunday 8.
A smart breeze and fine weather. – I was very sea
sick this day, particularly during the forenoon; the other sick people some
better. – My cough appears to be torn up by the roots finely. – Coffee &c
for breakfast, but I did not take any thing.
Roast beef, soup and apple dumpling for dinner, of which I ate
some. Tea, &c for supper. – During
the afternoon, I lay down awhile.
Mond. 9th.
This morning cloudy and a smart gale which continued
thro the day; as I stood washing my face on deck, on a sudden found myself knee
deep in water. – Somewhat sick yet cough is better. Mr. & Mrs. Dawson [sic] kept their bed
during the day. Fry’d beef & salt
coffee for breakfast, fry’d beef & soup & potatoes for dinner & tea
for supper. – at bed time took 2 Lees[?] pills.
Tuesday, 10th.
Pleasant. – Rain[?] very early; soup & coffee
for breakfast. I pretty full. Had a fowl dress’d for dinner, the broth of
which found very good[? page is torn]. Sick
people some better. – Tea & toast for supper. - At bed time took [torn].
[page 16]
1815
Wednesday, 11th Oct.
Pleasant.
Rainbow in west; feel much better this morning. Coffee & hashed[?] meat for
breakfast. Rather squally at noon. – Had
soup & roast beef for dinner together with a boil’d rice pudding; sick
people appear worse. Tea, cold beef,
&c for supper. – Almost calm. –
Thurd. 12th.
This morning we had a severe but favorable gale
which continued without much abatement during the day. Mr. & Mrs. Dawson kept their bed the
whole time. – My health is again tolerable good. Capt. Boynton has recover’d from his fever. –
The sea very boisterous, sometimes pouring down the cabin stairs by pailfulls.
– Coffee & soup hash[?] for breakfast; boil’d pork, beef, potatoes &
chicken soup for dinner, and tea, cold meat & bread toasted & butter
for supper.
Friday 13th.
Boisterous & rainy. – Provisions the same as
yesterday. Sick couple kept their berth
during the day. In going out of the
cabin door, a sudden and violent [torn] of the ship took me back and dash’d my
head against the door coping of the state room in a most disagreeable manner.
Saturd. 14.
Very squally & some rain. – Coffee, hash’d meat
& toasted bread & butter for breakfast. – Bread begins to be very
mouldy. Soup, boil’d beef & pork
& baked bread pudding, wine sauce, bread & cheese for dinner; cold meat
& tea, &c for supper. – Sick people sat up a while during the evening
& appear pretty cheerful. – An owl & some other sea fowls come aboard.
Sund. 15th.
Squally & pleasant alternately. Read the Bible & other good books. –
Coffee & hash’d meat victuals for breakfast.
[page 17]
1815
Sunday, 15th Oct.
Soup, boil’d bacon, pork, beef, potatoes, baked bd.
pudd. & cheese for dinner; tea, &c for supper.
Mond. 16th.
Tolerably pleasant but yet a constant roling [sic]
of ship. Sick people got up awhile; my
health excellent. – Coffee & hash’d meat, &c, for breakfast; split pea
soup, pork, beef, pudg [pudding] & cheese for dinner; & tea, &c for
supper.
Tuesd. 17th.
A most severe gale attended with squalls of rain
& hail. – Provision same as yesterday except boil’d beans[?] & common
soup; have contrary winds.
Wednesd. 18th.
Of all the storms that I ever saw that of last night
and this morning was the most terrible; often would the sea strike the ship
with such violence that it seem’d as the very heart of her must come asunder; cabin
much infested with water; Capt. Trott almost sick with fatigue, together with
the whole crew; the fire being put out so by the waves render it impossible to
cook victuals or s[illegible] heat any coffee. – Wind ahead; for several days
past have not gain’d so much as 100 miles in all.
Thurs. 19th.
Storm abates, have a more favorable wind; but ship
rocks prodigiously. Have coffee, hash,
&c for breakfast; pea soup, boil’d pork & beef & raw[?] rice
pudding for dinner; tea for supper, with the residue of the pudding cook’d over
again. –
Frid. 20th.
Tolerably pleasant for the s[illegible]. – We have
been out 16 days and have not gain’d over 800 miles! Weather generally rainy and unpleasant – can
keep out but little sail – provisions[? page torn] same as yesterday. – Steward
put before the mast & another app[torn]
[the
name John Proctor is written twice in pencil on this page.]
[page 18]
1815
Oct. 21, Saturday.
Tolerably pleasant early this morning for this rough
season, but soon arises an awful tempest; old ocean boils with furious aspect
and causes all to tremble with her shock.
All the sails are taken in excepting 2 stay sails. – This evening sung
several Psalms.
Sunday, 22d.
Ship very uneasy during the night; this morning a
very heavy swell of the sea; at 9 o’clock all hands order’d to throwing freight
overboard!!! On enquiry found the ship
has sprung a leak and already had 22 inches water in her hole [sic, i.e. hold], notwithstanding the pumps had
been kept almost constantly going!!! At
12 o’clock she had 18[? original number blotted out and a new one written in
pencil] inches. In mean time, there are
thrown overboard immense quantities of tin plate (x), white lead (x), shovels,
crates of crockery (x), bundles sheet iron, red lead (x), Spanish brown (x),
spruce yellow (x), Venetian red (x), shot (x), [iron – crossed out], bottles (x), glass, &c,, of which those
mark’d thus [with the letter] x were my in part; this was a most grievous
sight, but as it is consider’d necessary
for the preservation of the lives of those on board, submission is
indispensable, still after all this sacrifice of property, it is doubtful
whether we do not all perish. The Lord
will spare our lives if it be consistent with his holy will and plans,
therefore why should we doubt our safety, for in his hands, we are always
safe! But oh my dear wife, my father, my
mother, my brothers & my sisters, I should be happy to see you all again,
but if our Heavenly Father at this time should otherwise determine and see fit
to call me home, I hope you happen to receive[?] these lines, that you will
accept them as the last token & farewell of sincere[?] love, filial
gratitude
[page 19]
and real affection of your husband, son, &
brother; to my dear beloved wife in particular, I present you for the love,
esteem and affectionate regard which you have shown me, these as a testimony of
unchangeable love and friendship which I can assure you I feel but have neither
time nor words to express. Respecting my
property, the law will, I consider, do you justice to all my relatives. The gale continues, ship yet labours very
bad, taking in abundance of water; we retire, however, late at night, hoping
for the best. –
Mond. 23d.
Rose early, found the water had been kept down by
the pumps, at which entertain a possibility of delivery, yet have violent gales,
continued to throw goods overboard, consisting of iron, crates, &c. – Squalls
of rain.
Tuesd. 24th.
This is the only pleasant morning since we left
Liverpool, being 19 days of continual rough weather, violent gales, and squalls
of rain almost every day, frequent head winds, of course make but little direct
progress. Crew almost worn out with
fatigue and suffering, the poultry all dead but four, 2 of the pigs & 1
kitten also dead, the latter by accident however, as the table upset and kill’d
it; the long boat, half full of water, the jolly boat which was lash’d on the
helm was dash’d to pieces by the sea.
The forecastle very watery. – Almost clam. – Provisions as usual,
consists of coffee & hash for breakfast, boil’d victuals for dinner &
tea, &c. for supper. Continue to
throw crates, sheet iron, &c, overboard.
[page 20]
1815
Wednesday, 25 Oct.
A fine day this, but too calm & the prospect of
safety brightens every hour. – Pumps keep down the water in the hole [sic]. – A
pleasant & favorable breeze starts up from the n.eastw’d this afternoon,
which continues during the night. – Turn’d in at twelve.
Thursd. 26.
This morning we have the continuance of a fair wind.
– Warm & pleasant. – Mrs. D quite unwell & keeps her bed. –
Friday, 27.
This has been a rainy night & is disagreeable;
the wind, what little there is, all baffling found the compass; make no
progress at all; ship rolls very much, being a heavy swell. – In the afternoon
have a favorable breeze, which is continues till bed time.
Saturd. 28.
A beautiful morning & have had a fine breeze
during the night. – Hash, chocolate, &c, for breakfast; codfish &
potatoes for dinner, &c. Search made
outside the ship to find the leak but in vain. – Mrs. D’s health much recover’d
today. Tea, &c for supper.-
Sund. 29.
Continues to be extremely pleasant and favorable
breeze though a moderate one. – Coffee & hash’d fish & potatoes, &c
for breakfast. – Pig sea pye, (plumb pudding), & madeira[?] & port wine
for Mrs. D., it being her birthday, for dinner.
The kitten fell overboard! Saw a
strange sail standing to eastward. – Saw 2 whales. – Fine breeze. –
Mond. 30th.
Cloudy & soon begins to blow & rain. –
Chocolate & hash’d codfish, &c for breakfast. – Storm abates &
becomes pleasant. Pig sea pye & rice
pudding for dinner, & tea for supper.
[page 21]
Tuesday, 31st.
Cloudy. – Hash’d codfish, &c, for
breakfast. Saw a quantity of black fish,
weigh say 200 to 300 lbs.[?] Saw also a
sail bearing to N.W. but soon lost sight of her, becoming very foggy. Split pea soup, boil’d pork, &c for
dinner, tea for supper with boil’d smok’d herring. – Warm southerly strong
wind. –
Wednesd. 1 Nov.
During this day a severe gale & pretty cold
weather. – Hash’d fish, breakfast; boil’d ham & beef & currant
dumplings for dinner; tea, &c for supper. -
Head wind. –
Thursd. 2d
Pleasant but cold & contrary winds. – Breakfast,
hash, &c; dinner, bean soup, boil’d pork, beef & bacon, & baked
rice pudding.
Frid., 3d.
Wind and weather the same as yesterday. Breakfast, coffee & hash’d fish[? Page
torn]. Dinner, boil’d pork & sea
pie, &c. Supper, tea & herring. –
During the night, trouble with the cramp or rheumatism.
Saturd. 4th.
Cloudy & a calm. – Make preparation of catching
fish but yet can find no soundings. – 160 fathoms. – Breakfast, chocolate &
hash. Dinner boil’d fish & potatoes
& egg sauce & bak’d [torn] pudding. – A moderately favorable
breeze. Considerable indisposed with rheumatism.
– At bed time took a dose pills - & a dose of salts in the morning.
Sund. 5.
Extremely pleasant. – Coffee & hash for
breakfast; bean soup, boil’d beef[? Page torn], bacon, pork & potatoes,
bak’d flour plumb pudding, & a cranberry pudding for dinner. – Medicine
operated well & found relief immediately. – Calm. – Tea for supper. –
Mond. 6.
Extremely pleasant & calm still. Early in the morning saw a school blackfish
& porpoises. Vast quantities of sea
fowls near[? Page torn] & 4 whales at about noon play’d round the ship at 1
to 4 rods distance, alternately spouting the water; this was a most magnificent
& beautiful spectacle, which lasted about a quarter of an hour, when the
second mate with a gun loaded with pidgeon shot firing the charge into one of
them, they all instantly went down & wholly disappear’d. – A passenger shot
a sea gull. – In the [torn], judged we were on the Grand Banks as many
crabfish[?] were to be seen
[page 22]
1815
Nov.
along side the ship, at the same time favor’d with a
fine breeze which after 3 days almost calm, started up from the southward.
Tuesday 7.
At 6 this morning, a considerable gale with squalls
of rain. Took in studding sails, close reef’d
top sails, &c. Suppos’d we pass’d
over the Grand Bank during the night as there is no soundings at 120 fathom –
consequently, “not a fish.”
Coffee & fry’d potatoes & pork for
breakfast; pea soup, boil’d pork & potatoes & baked rice pudding for
dinner; & tea & bread & butter for supper. –
Wednesd., 8.
Cloudy & baffling light airs which soon becomes
a calm. – Hash’d &c for breakfast; stew’d chicken, sea pye, &c for
dinner; tea for supper.
Thursd. 9.
Fine weather, light breezes. – Hash for breakfast;
boil’d pork, Virginia ham, potatoes, dumplings & baked rice pudding for
dinner; & slapjacks & potato pancakes for super. – Fine favorable breeze
play’d during evening walk’d on deck, &c. – 600 miles yet to Boston. –
Frid. 10.
Good wind & weather. – Breakfast cold ham &
pork & fry’d potatoes; dinner, split pea soup, boil’d pork & potatoes
& bak’d rice pudding; supper, tea & brd. [bread] & butter &- Rainy. –
Sautrd. 11.
Very rainy, wind shifted this morning & baffles
all ways. – Tack’d ship. – Breakfast, chocolate & hash; dinner boil’d fish
& potatoes & egg sauce; supper, tea, &c – at 9 o’clock good breeze
-
Sund. 12th.
Rainy – but a favorable strong breeze. – Hash
&c, chocolate for breakfast; pig sea pie & rice pudding for dinner,
& - . M.J.- [possibly Mr. J] kept lodges during the day,
having partook too largely of a Saturday night; Capt. Trott reproves him
smartly.
[page 23]
1815
Mond. 13th.
Still an excellent breeze, but cold & rainy. –
At 10 a.m. spoke the Golden Roze, brig, Capt. Hall, 68 days from St.
Petersburgh [sic], bound to Boston, supposing himself on the coast of Cape Ann
was lying to but immediately set sail. – Breakfast hash, &c.; dinner, pig
sea pie & rice pudding; supper, tea, &-
[A notice in the newspaper Boston Commercial Gazette gives the name
of this brig as Golden Grove of
Duxbury.]
Tuesd. 14th.
Calm & nearly so. – Pleasant sun, no soundings
at 160 fathoms. [this phrase crossed out: Land
discern’d from aloft, I suppos’d to be Cape Sable.] Breakfast, chocolate, cold ham & potatoes
fry’d, &c.; dinner, pig sea pie, cold ham & rice pudding; supper tea,
&-
Wednesd., 15th.
Pleasant but contrary breeze, found bottom at 95
fathoms. – Chocolate, cold bacon & hash for breakfast; chicken & rice
soup, &c for [dinner – page torn]; tea, &c for supper. –
Thursd. 16.
Cloudy, hazy weather. – This morning discover’d
land, which prov’d to be Wood Island. – At 1 p.m. spoke a fishing pa[torn] from
Newburyport in 40 to 50 fathom water, who by Capt. Trott’s request sent us 10
codfish in their small boat for which he paid them 3 bots. [bottles] rum &
$2. - They report Cape Ann to be 22
leagues distant. – Breakfast, hash, cold bacon & chocolate. – Dinner,
chowder & split pea [soup – torn]; supper, tea & brd. & butter. –
Squalls of rain. – Heavy sea.
Frid. 17.
Cloudy. – At 12 o’clock, took on board a pilot. –
Coast of Cape Ann & 2 light houses 2 leagues to windward. – Fine breeze. –
Breakfast, chocolate, fry’d fish, &c; dinner boil’d fish, &c; supper,
fry’d fish, tea, &c. At 4 p.m. past
light house. – When within 1 or 2 miles of Castle Island, anchor’d ship as no
boat could be obtain’d, remain’d on board; Grand Turk, brig of Salem, a little
to the head of us. –
Saturd. 18.
Pleasant weather indeed. – At 7 a.m., weigh’d anchor
& hoisted sails, [a phrase is crossed out], at 9 a.m., Hales agent came
aboard to collect intelligence for Daily Advertizer, at 11 agent for Exchange
Coffee House came also on board for same purpose towards[?] several gentlemen.
[page 24]
At 11 a.m., landed at Fort Hill wharf. – Went to
Messr Childs, where rec’d information & letter from Br. Jabez – thence post
office, but no letters there. – Din’d with Mr. D. W. Child. – Went to Mess W.
& G. Tuckermans. Took tea with Mr.
Rich’d Child – and lodgings at Mr. Barnards, Elm Street. –
Sund. 19.
Very rainy day. – Wrote letters, &c, during the
day. –
Mond. 20th.
Good weather. – Indispos’d during the night, &c,
not [sic] rest at all. – Went to Salisbury & Cleveland.
Tuesd. 21.
Good weather. – Went to ship, Capt. Howlands, & various
other places. – Had a very restless night, considerable fever. – At bed time
took dose calomel, &c. –
Wednesd. 22.
Cloudy and cold, damp air. – Medicine operated
favorably. – Very faint & weak during forenoon & did [illegible] able
to go out. – Afternoon went to Lane & [illegible], thence to Custom House,
took permit to land baggage, thence to ship & had my clothes, &c
carried to Mess. Childs & lodgings. – At bed time took an anodine.
[date crossed, out, but someone added in pencil:
11-23-15]
Very restless during the night & [illegible]
with considerable pain [illegible] in my right side back which I discover’d to
be inwardly sore [illegible] for the cause; [a phrase is marked out], found it
to have been by raising myself up in the bed suddenly without the assistance of
my hands & arms & thereby sprain’d the muscles inwardly; my side &
back, &c, being same next day. – [crossed out: Pleasant this morning]
–wharf