Manuscripts

Logbook of whaling ship from New Bedford to the South Pacific

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Description: Logbook kept by an unidentified person onboard the whaling ship Three Brothers of New Bedford, Massachusetts, captained by James M. Witherell (listed as James L. Witherell in logbook). The generally brief entries date from October 12, 1869 to August 18, 1873 and mention the ship's position, weather, prevailing winds, ships sighted, whales encountered, and some shipboard activity. A few entries mention anchoring and shoreleave but most do not give the location. Some entries appear to be in different hands, with one dated June 18, 1873 including a note regarding an officer's conduct signed by captain J.M. Witherell. Volume is bound and covered in cloth; the inside front cover has an advertising insert for C.R. Sherman & Co. Navigation Store, New Bedford.
Type: Manuscripts(Opens in new tab)
Production date: 1869-1873.
Call number: mssHM 263
Provenance

Logbook of whaling ship Hillman of New Bedford :

Manuscripts

Typescript copy of a logbook kept by an unidentified person onboard the whaling ship Hillman of New Bedford, Massachusetts, captained by Christopher Cook. The generally brief entries from July 11, 1851 to March 17, 1854 mention the ship's position, weather, prevailing winds, ships sighted, whales encountered and results, and some shipboard activity. The Hillman travels across the Atlantic Ocean to the Azores then south to Cape Horn and to the Pacific Ocean. Destinations in the Pacific Ocean include the Galapagos Islands, Byron's Bay (presumably Byron Bay, Australia), the Sandwich Islands, the Sea of Okhotsk and the islands of Onekotan and Paramushir, and Talcahuano and Valparaiso on the coast of Chile. Entries occasionally mention supplies procured at ports and locals interacted with, but there are no detailed descriptions of shore visits. The typescript is bound; an additional unbound typescript copy is available.

mssHM 16764

Logbook of a whaling voyage in the South Atlantic and the Southwest Indian Ocean, 1833-1835

Manuscripts

The logbook author and ship are unidentified. Brief entries date from September 23, 1833 to February 6, 1835 and mention the ship's position, weather, prevailing winds, other ships sighted, and whales encountered with outcomes (these entries are usually marked with inked images of whales). There is little mention of land sighted or visits ashore, though the entry for February 19, 1834 notes Table Bay, Cape of Good Hope and the several pages following record the voyage from Table Bay to the Indian Ocean.

mssHM 26610

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Bark Afton of New Bedford logbook

Manuscripts

Logbook detailing the journey of the whaling bark Afton of New Bedford, Massachusetts, in the North and South Atlantic and Eastern Pacific regions. Details include the bark's position, longitude and latitude, wind speed, direction, encounters with marine life, whaling activities, and land activities, as well as drawings and stamps. The logbook's first entry is November 13, 1858, and its last is August 9, 1862. At the end of the log are accounts of the amounts of whale oil collected. Accompanied by photocopies of related items, including pages from an Annual Report of the Secretary of the Navy, from 1887, regarding the loss of the Afton in the Pacific Ocean.

mssHM 84221

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Passport to ship Magnolia of New Bedford :

Manuscripts

Signed by President Andrew Jackson. Also signed by Secretary of State Martin Van Buren and Samuel Williams, collector for the District and Port of New Bedford.

mssHM 15891

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Passport to ship Balaena of New Bedford :

Manuscripts

Signed by President John Tyler. Also signed by Secretary of State Daniel Webster; countersigned by the Port Collector of New Bedford.

mssHM 15893

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Passport to ship Swift of New Bedford :

Manuscripts

Signed by President James Madison. Also signed by James Monroe as Secretary of State; countersigned with note by Jonathan? Hawes, Port Collector of New Bedford. Printed form, filled in by hand.

mssHM 15888

Logbook of whaling ship from New Bedford to the South Pacific

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Logbook of whaling ship Hillman of New Bedford :

Logbook of a whaling voyage in the South Atlantic and the Southwest Indian Ocean, 1833-1835

Bark Afton of New Bedford logbook

Passport to ship Magnolia of New Bedford :

Passport to ship Balaena of New Bedford :

Passport to ship Swift of New Bedford :