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Henry Kelsey (Barque) log books, 1847-1849

2 volumes

The Henry Kelsey (Barque) log books document the merchant ship's travels to New Orleans, Boston, and Barcelona between 1847 and 1849. Along with weather and daily events, the books reveal an abusive, difficult crew that showed open animosity toward the captain.

The Henry Kelsey (Barque) log books document the merchant ship's travels to New Orleans, Boston, and Barcelona between 1847 and 1849. The first entries in Volume 1 were made at New Orleans, where the ship loaded hay and corn and headed to Mexico. After traveling along the coast of the Gulf of Mexico, the ship, under the command of Joshua A. Gray, returned to New Orleans and subsequently left for Boston. After a lengthy stay at Commercial Wharf, it went to Havana, Cuba, where the crew became restless, verbally abusing the captain and refusing to work. On March 17, 1848, one crew member threw a ladle of hot water in the log keeper's face. The ship remained in Cuba until March 22, when it returned to Boston carrying sugar and other goods, and sailed down to Mobile in early June. After a brief trip along the Tennessee River, the Henry Kelsey left for a voyage to Europe, reached Barcelona in late December 1848, and made a brief trip to Marseilles before returning to Boston in February 1849. The second volume ends on May 28, 1849, with the ship still on its way to the United States. A letter from Joshua Gray to his wife and daughter, written while en route to Barcelona from October to December 1848, is laid in to the front of volume 2. Throughout their travels, the crew of the Henry Kelsey participated in mutinous behavior, swearing at the captain and officers, and often appeared to be intoxicated. The journals record several incidents of insubordination, along with the more traditional entries on weather, wind, sailing techniques, and activities in port.

Collection

York (Ship) log, 1825-1828

1 volume

The York ship log contains daily entries chronicling the packet boat's journeys between the United States and Great Britain between 1825 and 1828.

The York ship log contains daily entries chronicling the packet boat's journeys between the United States and Great Britain between 1825 and 1828. The first entry, dated March 19, 1825, marks the beginning of the ship's regular service between New York City and London, under the command of William Baker. Approximately 50 pages cover the boat's travels along this route, with daily entries recording wind direction, weather conditions, and notable events on board. On July 4, 1825, the author wrote about a celebration in honor of Independence Day, when the merchant ship fired a salute. The entries he made in port often relate to the loading of cargo or passengers. In January 1826, the York received a new captain, Nash de Cost, and began sailing between New York City and Liverpool; the remainder of the volume covers the ship's journeys along this route. The author's remarks focused on seamanship, weather, and activities in port, though several entries from October 1826 reflect the difficulty of keeping the sailors onboard; some were reported to be "on shore without liberty" throughout the period. The last entry, on June 24, 1828, noted that the York was moored at Prince's Dock in Liverpool, ready to embark for the Atlantic crossing. The final 2 pages of the volume include accounts of provisions for the ship for the year 1828.