Barque Cruising on the "Henrietta", diary extracts from Wednesday 16th May (Lat.3.31S), 1849 to Wednesday 29th May1850, sailing south abreast of the coast of Africa to Lat.37.19S steering wide around the Cape of Good Hope, then northwards through the Mozambique Channel, past the Island of Juan de Nova and the Comoros, into the Indian Ocean to the Seychelles, India, Ceylon and the Nicobar Islands, aiding a French Barque the "Rose" of Granville off Sumatra and then to Cochin, India, and the Maldives, employed as a Cooper on a Whaling Ship making barrels for the whale oil. (Diary from the collection of his Grandaughter the late Winifred Kate Weeden).
“Barque Cruiseing”
Diary of a voyage on the Barque "Henrietta".
Click on images to enlarge:
Page 1. 16th May. 17th Lat.13.31S Coopers employed variously. 18th Lat.15.59S (West of Angola)
Page 2 . 20th May Lat.20.15S. 21st Lat.20.53S (West of Namibia). 22nd Lat.22.40
Page 3. 24th May, exchanged colours with the “Theatus” of London Lat.26.16S. 25th Lat.27.6S
Page 4. 29th May Lat.29.3S, 30th Lat.30.54. 31st Lat.31.11. Ist June Mr.Cook First Mate set Course SE.
Page 2 . 20th May Lat.20.15S. 21st Lat.20.53S (West of Namibia). 22nd Lat.22.40
Page 3. 24th May, exchanged colours with the “Theatus” of London Lat.26.16S. 25th Lat.27.6S
Page 4. 29th May Lat.29.3S, 30th Lat.30.54. 31st Lat.31.11. Ist June Mr.Cook First Mate set Course SE.
Page 5. 3rd June Lat.33.56S, 4th Lat.35.3S. 7th Lat 36.56S Course SEbyE1/2E (rounding the Cape of Good Hope)
Page 6. 10th June Lat.37.19S (the most Southerly point)
Page 7. 16th June course E1/2N
Page 8. 20th June course NEbyN
Page 6. 10th June Lat.37.19S (the most Southerly point)
Page 7. 16th June course E1/2N
Page 8. 20th June course NEbyN
Page 9. 21st June course EbyN. 23rd Land, Chief Mate went on shore for turtle.
Page 10. 27th June Observe Island of Juan de Nova (Mozambique Channel) Lat.12.73 Long.42.42ES course NEbyN
Page 11. 29th June Observe Island of Mohilla (Moheli, Comoros Islands) Lat.12.73S Long43.43E
Page 12. 8th July course N
Page 10. 27th June Observe Island of Juan de Nova (Mozambique Channel) Lat.12.73 Long.42.42ES course NEbyN
Page 11. 29th June Observe Island of Mohilla (Moheli, Comoros Islands) Lat.12.73S Long43.43E
Page 12. 8th July course N
Page 13. 9th July sight Sloop HMS Orestes bound for Zanzibar, 11th Martin rose (shout) large whale to windward, sighted school of whales, did not catch any.
Page 14. 13th July (Friday) Mr Calvert rose school of Whales, 2 brought alongside.
Page 15. 22nd July, John Martin rose a school of Whales. 23rd sighted main land of Africa 15 miles. 27th rose shout of whales.
Page 16. 31st July, exchanged signals with American Whaler.
Page 14. 13th July (Friday) Mr Calvert rose school of Whales, 2 brought alongside.
Page 15. 22nd July, John Martin rose a school of Whales. 23rd sighted main land of Africa 15 miles. 27th rose shout of whales.
Page 16. 31st July, exchanged signals with American Whaler.
Page 17. 3rd August, Lat.33.48S Long.55.38E (Seychelles) Observe Denis Island 10 miles distant, observe Bird Island 10 miles distant Lat.3.43S Long.55.11E, lowered two boats to shore for Birds and Eggs (Bird Island home to huge colonies of Sooty Tern)
Page 18. 4th August Two ships in sight, Lat.3.17S. 6th Observe Island of Praslin 15 miles Lat.4.17 Long.55.39E
Page 19. 10th August In Harbour (Praslin) cutting wood. 12th part of ship's Company ashore.
Page 20. 17th August Harbour Watch ashore for Liberty, Mr.Cook missing. 22nd at daylight weigh anchor and leave harbour, at north of Curieuse Island come to anchor in 15 fathoms and shroud sail at sunset, sent boat ashore for Mr Cook.
Page 18. 4th August Two ships in sight, Lat.3.17S. 6th Observe Island of Praslin 15 miles Lat.4.17 Long.55.39E
Page 19. 10th August In Harbour (Praslin) cutting wood. 12th part of ship's Company ashore.
Page 20. 17th August Harbour Watch ashore for Liberty, Mr.Cook missing. 22nd at daylight weigh anchor and leave harbour, at north of Curieuse Island come to anchor in 15 fathoms and shroud sail at sunset, sent boat ashore for Mr Cook.
Page 21. 23rd August sent boat and Mr Bushell to shore to report Mr Cook running away and fetch Police. 25th boat returns with two Policemen. 26th Mr.Cook brought onboard, manned the windlass and weighed anchor, made all sail and went to sea.
Page 22. Headed "The Barque Henrietta a Cruiseing" 2nd September Lat 10.8N, 4th steering course N.
Page 23. 7th September, observe land bearing North to ENE 15miles; 9th Land bearing NNW to NE 15 miles Lat.23N (NW India). 12th Land bearing NNW to NE 15 miles.
Page 24. 13th September Land bearing SE to WbyNE 20 miles. 16th Lat.22.53N, 17th 2 hands sick and Capt. poorly. 18th September Lat.22.10N. 20th blowing hard from SW.
Page 22. Headed "The Barque Henrietta a Cruiseing" 2nd September Lat 10.8N, 4th steering course N.
Page 23. 7th September, observe land bearing North to ENE 15miles; 9th Land bearing NNW to NE 15 miles Lat.23N (NW India). 12th Land bearing NNW to NE 15 miles.
Page 24. 13th September Land bearing SE to WbyNE 20 miles. 16th Lat.22.53N, 17th 2 hands sick and Capt. poorly. 18th September Lat.22.10N. 20th blowing hard from SW.
Page 25. 23rd September Lat.10.48; 25th Land bearing EbyN, 27th H Gibson rose a school of whales to windward, hauled the ship to the wind and chased them, lowered the boats and went after them. Mr B(ushell) boat fasten to 2 whales, Mr Calvert fasten to 2 whales, Mr Cook fasten to 1 whale, the Capt. fasten to 2 whales, get 4 whales alongside, chopped the blubber.
Page 26. 2nd October, Coopers getting casks ready for the oil.
Page 27. 6th October, observe the Islands of Ceylon bearing ENE Lat.6.57 Long.79.57 (off Colombo), the Capt. Gave the people double allowance of grog one of his Jubilee Days, the Ship before the wind; 7th Wm Green laid up sick; 8th Lat.5.26N course E; 9th Strange sail in sight, Green and Taylor's turn to the Ship running.
Page 28. 14th October, observe the Island of Sumatra bearing E from Ship. 15th at daylight saw the land and stood in the fo’csle.
Page 26. 2nd October, Coopers getting casks ready for the oil.
Page 27. 6th October, observe the Islands of Ceylon bearing ENE Lat.6.57 Long.79.57 (off Colombo), the Capt. Gave the people double allowance of grog one of his Jubilee Days, the Ship before the wind; 7th Wm Green laid up sick; 8th Lat.5.26N course E; 9th Strange sail in sight, Green and Taylor's turn to the Ship running.
Page 28. 14th October, observe the Island of Sumatra bearing E from Ship. 15th at daylight saw the land and stood in the fo’csle.
Page 29. 16th October, at daylight saw land and strange Brig; 19th Land in sight. 20th Watch at masthead looking for whales, strange sail in sight standing in for the land, sunset shorten sail; 21st Islands bearing NW. 22nd Land in sight, the Doctor fell down and broke his collar bone.
Page 30. 24th October Thunder and Lightning; 25th Ship running in for the land. 28th Lat.5.49N.
Page 31. 29th October spoke to a Brig but could not understand them
Page 32/33. 7th November, Ship running under sail to Eastward. 9th Daylight saw a French Barque, the Capt. came on board and reports she was leaking and not safe and asked to stand by her and see her safe into some port. The Capt. Said he would, sundown shorten sail and back the main yard, dark carried signal light at night and kept a good look for him the “Rose” of Granville. 7th Thick weather with heavy rain, at daylight saw the land of Sumatra bearing ENEtoN. 9am the Capt. went onboard the Rose to see if the leak was any worse, 5pm the boat and Capt. return onboard. At dark hoisted the signal light and kept a close to the Barque, the mate and watch had a few words on deck, 3 ships in sight. 11th The Capt. went onboard the Rose to see him.
Page 30. 24th October Thunder and Lightning; 25th Ship running in for the land. 28th Lat.5.49N.
Page 31. 29th October spoke to a Brig but could not understand them
Page 32/33. 7th November, Ship running under sail to Eastward. 9th Daylight saw a French Barque, the Capt. came on board and reports she was leaking and not safe and asked to stand by her and see her safe into some port. The Capt. Said he would, sundown shorten sail and back the main yard, dark carried signal light at night and kept a good look for him the “Rose” of Granville. 7th Thick weather with heavy rain, at daylight saw the land of Sumatra bearing ENEtoN. 9am the Capt. went onboard the Rose to see if the leak was any worse, 5pm the boat and Capt. return onboard. At dark hoisted the signal light and kept a close to the Barque, the mate and watch had a few words on deck, 3 ships in sight. 11th The Capt. went onboard the Rose to see him.
Page 34. At 11pm the Capt. came onboard took his farewell of the French Barque and she went into port at Acheen (Banda Acheh?) on Sumatra.
Page 35. 15th November at daylight saw the Nicobar Islands bearing NNE, Mr Bushell rose a school of whales. Spoke to French Barque of St.Malo lowered 3 boats and chased them. Mr Calvert fasten and got whale, Mr Cook took his lines and brought him alongside. 16th Mr Bushell rose a school of whales at noon lowered 4 boats and chased them.
Page 36. 19th November the watch employed stowing down oil, the Coopers coopering casks for same. 20th the Capt. rose Whales, lowered 3 boats and chased them. 22nd H Gibson rose whales, lowered 3 boats.
Page 35. 15th November at daylight saw the Nicobar Islands bearing NNE, Mr Bushell rose a school of whales. Spoke to French Barque of St.Malo lowered 3 boats and chased them. Mr Calvert fasten and got whale, Mr Cook took his lines and brought him alongside. 16th Mr Bushell rose a school of whales at noon lowered 4 boats and chased them.
Page 36. 19th November the watch employed stowing down oil, the Coopers coopering casks for same. 20th the Capt. rose Whales, lowered 3 boats and chased them. 22nd H Gibson rose whales, lowered 3 boats.
Page 37. 28th November the Carpenter and Cooper cobbling old cask.
Page 38. 1st December saw land of Sumatra. 4th A large steamboat in sight standing to the eastward.
Page 39. 6th December sight Nicobar Islands. 8th lowered the Mates boat after a log timber to catch some fish.
Page40. 9th December picked up a large tree. 10th Watch employed chopping the tree up. 13th saw the land and an English Barque standing to the westward.
Page 38. 1st December saw land of Sumatra. 4th A large steamboat in sight standing to the eastward.
Page 39. 6th December sight Nicobar Islands. 8th lowered the Mates boat after a log timber to catch some fish.
Page40. 9th December picked up a large tree. 10th Watch employed chopping the tree up. 13th saw the land and an English Barque standing to the westward.
Page 41. 15th December the Doctor had his arm out of the sling invalides the same, at daylight made all sail on G.G.!!. 16th saw the Nicobar Islands. 18th saw a vessel the “Imam of Murkat” bound to Penang and Singapore with convicts onboard. The larboard boat went onboard. All for Murder except 7. At 1am spoke to the “Jenny Lind” of London bound from Newport with coals for Calcutta, the starboard boat and Chief Mate went onboard.
Page 42. 20th December to the westward 1 strange schooner in sight. 24th the watch doing little or nothing. 25th putting up a boat sail to have our dinner under and all hands set down together and spent a merry (Christmas) day with plenty of everything plenty times had the mess pots filled with grog!!. 26th saw the land of Ceylon. 29th observe the coast of Malabar. 30th standing along the land and 4 canoes came of to trade, great many small vessels in sight.
Page 44. Harbour Work. 1st January 5am brought the Ship to anchor at Cochin in 6 fathoms of water.
Page 42. 20th December to the westward 1 strange schooner in sight. 24th the watch doing little or nothing. 25th putting up a boat sail to have our dinner under and all hands set down together and spent a merry (Christmas) day with plenty of everything plenty times had the mess pots filled with grog!!. 26th saw the land of Ceylon. 29th observe the coast of Malabar. 30th standing along the land and 4 canoes came of to trade, great many small vessels in sight.
Page 44. Harbour Work. 1st January 5am brought the Ship to anchor at Cochin in 6 fathoms of water.
Page 45. 9th January, the Steam Frigate “Fury” came to anchor in the harbour (HMS Fury was a wooden Bulldog-class paddle sloop launched in 1845 and sold in 1864), 5pm weighed anchor and left again. 10th Thunder and lightning storm with heavy rains: 13th the Buckinghamshire came in for news. 14th 6 vessels in the harbour. 15th saw the “Griffin”, lowered the bow boat and the mate went onboard with letters.
Page 46. 16th January set sail. 17th under all sail land in sight. 21st saw land of Ceylon, course SW; 22nd Bushell and Lewis sick, the ship steering SW.
Page 47. 26th January observe one of the Maldive Islands, 1pm Capt. and 2nd Mate went onshore, 4pm came onboard but could not trade for anything, 4pm saw another island.
Page 48. 30th January Coopers making boat bucketts. 2nd February 2 strange sail in sight.
Page 46. 16th January set sail. 17th under all sail land in sight. 21st saw land of Ceylon, course SW; 22nd Bushell and Lewis sick, the ship steering SW.
Page 47. 26th January observe one of the Maldive Islands, 1pm Capt. and 2nd Mate went onshore, 4pm came onboard but could not trade for anything, 4pm saw another island.
Page 48. 30th January Coopers making boat bucketts. 2nd February 2 strange sail in sight.
Page 49. 9th February Mr Bushell rose a school of whales at lee beam, lowered 4 boats and chased them but did not get any. 13th 5pm rose a school of whales, lowered boats and chased them.
Page 50. 15th February People employed frying out and Coopers coopering cask.
Page 51. 21st February Cooper and Mate cobbling old cask.
Page 52. 28th February rose a school of whales, lowered 4 boats. 2nd March Mr Calvert rose breaches, lowered 3 boats.
Page 50. 15th February People employed frying out and Coopers coopering cask.
Page 51. 21st February Cooper and Mate cobbling old cask.
Page 52. 28th February rose a school of whales, lowered 4 boats. 2nd March Mr Calvert rose breaches, lowered 3 boats.
Page 53. 4th March Capt. rose whales, lowered 3 boats and chased them but did not get anywhere near them. 5th rose whales, lowered 4 boats and chased them. 6th Martin rose whales, lowered 3 boats and chased them.
Page 54. 9th March rose whales, lowered all the boats and chased them. 10th rose whales lowered the boats.
Page 55. 11th March Whales but did not lower boats for them for they went to windward. 13th Mr Calvert rose whales, lowered 4 boats, return unsuccessfully. 14 rose whales, lowered 4 boats.
Page 56. 16th March Mr Calvert rose whales, lowered 4 boats. 17th March Mr Bushell rose whales, lowered 3 boats and chased them but did not get any. 20th Johnson rose whales, lowered 3 boats.
Page 54. 9th March rose whales, lowered all the boats and chased them. 10th rose whales lowered the boats.
Page 55. 11th March Whales but did not lower boats for them for they went to windward. 13th Mr Calvert rose whales, lowered 4 boats, return unsuccessfully. 14 rose whales, lowered 4 boats.
Page 56. 16th March Mr Calvert rose whales, lowered 4 boats. 17th March Mr Bushell rose whales, lowered 3 boats and chased them but did not get any. 20th Johnson rose whales, lowered 3 boats.
Page 57. 23rd March stowing oil down, Coopers coopering cask for same.
Page 58. 28th March Mr Cook rose whales, lowered 3 boats, chased them but did not get near them. 31st 2 strange sail in sight, 1 English and 1 American whaler.
Page 59. 5th April Mr Calvert rose whales, lowered 3 boats, chased them but did not get any.
Page 60. 8th April Mr Calvert rose whales, lowered boats. 12th Mr Cook rose whales, lowered 3 boats, but did not get near them.
Page 58. 28th March Mr Cook rose whales, lowered 3 boats, chased them but did not get near them. 31st 2 strange sail in sight, 1 English and 1 American whaler.
Page 59. 5th April Mr Calvert rose whales, lowered 3 boats, chased them but did not get any.
Page 60. 8th April Mr Calvert rose whales, lowered boats. 12th Mr Cook rose whales, lowered 3 boats, but did not get near them.
Page 61. 15th March Martin rose whales, lowered 4 boats. 19th Sunset went fishing on the bank.
Page 62. 20th March rose whales, lowered 4 boats and after 4 hours the Chief Mate struck, got the whale alongside. 24th Strange sail in sight.
Page 63. 30th March strange sails in sight, American ship “Gosling” and the “Caroline”, the Capt. came onboard and the Mate went on board their own ship. 2nd May Caroline in sight.
Page 64. 3rd May spoke Caroline and the Capt, came onboard. 4th Martin rose whales, lowered 4 boats and chased them. The Caroline boat came onboard for half a pig. 6th 2 sail in sight, sunset the Capt. went onboard the Caroline.
Page 62. 20th March rose whales, lowered 4 boats and after 4 hours the Chief Mate struck, got the whale alongside. 24th Strange sail in sight.
Page 63. 30th March strange sails in sight, American ship “Gosling” and the “Caroline”, the Capt. came onboard and the Mate went on board their own ship. 2nd May Caroline in sight.
Page 64. 3rd May spoke Caroline and the Capt, came onboard. 4th Martin rose whales, lowered 4 boats and chased them. The Caroline boat came onboard for half a pig. 6th 2 sail in sight, sunset the Capt. went onboard the Caroline.
Page 65. 10th May a squall caught the ship. 14th Steering West.
Page 66. 16th May Moon rose whales, lowered 4 boats, Caroline to leeward. 17th spoke the Caroline and the Capt. came onboard. 18th rose breaches and saw the Caroline chase whales, lowered 3 boats and chased them, the Caroline boats struck.
Page 67. 19th May the Caroline in sight. 21st Mr Calvert rose whales, lowered 4 boats. 24th Carpenter rose whales, lowered 4 boats
Page 68. 24th Capt. of Caroline came onboard. 27th Caroline chasing whales, spoke her and she had got 3 but we did not get any. 29th Weather the same, the people employed the same, Coopers coopering cask for the oil………
FINIS
This is a somewhat abbreviated transcript of the Diary covering over a year aboard the Barque Henrietta, a vessel which spent most of her life sailing between England and Australia, but appears periodically to have been used for whaling, no doubt a very lucrative employment in the mid 1800s. I suspect that this was Richard's one and only voyage, probably undertaken to earn money for his marriage to Sarah in 1852
Simon Skudder July 2012
Page 66. 16th May Moon rose whales, lowered 4 boats, Caroline to leeward. 17th spoke the Caroline and the Capt. came onboard. 18th rose breaches and saw the Caroline chase whales, lowered 3 boats and chased them, the Caroline boats struck.
Page 67. 19th May the Caroline in sight. 21st Mr Calvert rose whales, lowered 4 boats. 24th Carpenter rose whales, lowered 4 boats
Page 68. 24th Capt. of Caroline came onboard. 27th Caroline chasing whales, spoke her and she had got 3 but we did not get any. 29th Weather the same, the people employed the same, Coopers coopering cask for the oil………
FINIS
This is a somewhat abbreviated transcript of the Diary covering over a year aboard the Barque Henrietta, a vessel which spent most of her life sailing between England and Australia, but appears periodically to have been used for whaling, no doubt a very lucrative employment in the mid 1800s. I suspect that this was Richard's one and only voyage, probably undertaken to earn money for his marriage to Sarah in 1852
Simon Skudder July 2012
During the voyage Richard carved a whalebone Walking Stick with a screw top and a Windmill, which unfortunately have both been lost to the Family.
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No part of or any information contained on this or any page on the Skudders website may be copied or reproduced without the express permission of the Webmaster