Manuscripts

Bark Afton of New Bedford logbook

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Description: 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.
Type: Manuscripts(Opens in new tab)
Production date: 1858-1862.
Call number: mssHM 84221
Provenance: Gift of Robert Grossman, August 2023. Volume has bookplate "Dorothy and Joe Gleason," with an image of a ship on the ocean.

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

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Logbook of whaling ship from New Bedford to the South Pacific

Manuscripts

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.

mssHM 263

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Track of the Sea Witch from New York to San Francisco

Manuscripts

The track is a log of the daily latitude and longitude of the ship during the voyage

mssHM 62930

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Track of the USS Fredonia from San Francisco to Valparaìso

Manuscripts

The track is a log of the daily latitude and longitude of the ship during the voyage

mssHM 62920

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Nathaniel Hathorne logbook

Manuscripts

Logbook of journey from Boston to India and return via Madeira. Includes some added notations by his son, Nathaniel Hawthorne and a note of authentication by Julian Hawthorne, 1908.

mssHM 561

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Eli P. Halsey logbook

Manuscripts

Halsey kept this log on two voyages from New York to Canton, China, in 1815 on board the Seneca, and 1817 on board the John and William. The logbook contains information such as courses, positions, locations, weather conditions, and other commentary including sailing maneuvers, on board activities, the end of the War of 1812, the history of Indonesia, Chinese people, Chinese customs, and cargo information. In one entry, Halsey recorded the delivery of 18 boxes of opium to China, 1815 July 11.

mssHM 84021

Bark Afton of New Bedford logbook

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