Diary/Letter 1 Version 1, 4 August – 14 October 1852 (unedited transcript)

August 1852

4             We sail from River Mersey ten clock Wednsday a.m. 4^th day of August 1852 wind west 2 clock Tug boat was ungeared

5             Thirsday W wind rather boisterous several of the Passengers begin to work their pumps appear to be very ill the vessel tack accross all day St George Channel

6             Friday, Wind SSW good brase nothing particular only great many passingers still sick first thing I saw this morning when on quarter deck was Holyhead close too

7             Saderday Wind in the same qrt nice brase only against us we were near some part of irland and back towards South Wales see sickness still among some parties

8             Sunday Wind same 10 clock a.m. the Bell rang for the assemblage of Passengers to attend Prayers in the usuall form which was duly perform Prayers were read by some of passengers another took place 4 clock P.M.

9             Munday Wind WNW find day we saw some large fish rouring about, called Black wales I dont feel well took some pills last neight some parties very ill still

10           Tuesday fair wind NW find day we are going 8 knots an our we have not seen any land since yesterday see sickness still continue myself quite well

11           Wednsday, fair wind and heavy rain great deal of sickness breakwast this morning large number of fish past close to the vessel we call them (llamheddydiol) the size of a large pig jumping on the top of the water keept very rough all day & neight

12           Thirsday, find & little wind but fair NW (This is long voyage only one week yet) we are going at the rate of eight miles our good breeze we are crossing bay of Beiskey this Bay is 400 miles long the ship rowled very much heavy breeze this evening

13           Friday NNW Wind good Breeze Capt said that we are 740 miles from Lpool now we have plenty of everything to eat Puding almost every day Plenty butter we are not short of any thing to eat so far

14           Saderday Cross wind SSW (the very point we want to go) blowing hard and small rain in the evning we had heavy gale of wind contrarary to our progress the vessel rowled very much during the neight

15           Sunday wind keep still from the same point I was thinking much about home all day no chance of going back Seth Evans suffer more sea sickness than any body on board

16          Munday wind keep SSW quite contrarary Ship Past close this morning wich left Lpool week after us the Earl Dovado the wind change this evening to the NW keep very rough whether still

17           Tuesday wind West we dont do no progress few vessels in seight but no land 3 this evning wind change to our favour we are going 7 miles an our

18           Wednsday NW wind fair we had very rough neight very few sleep wink last neight nothing Particular only we are getting on slow nothing to be seen only watter we are going at the rate of 10 miles an our since wind change

19           Thirsday NW wind very find day 5 degrees hotter than yesterday, all passengers done with sea sickness we are going to warmer climate every day now

20           Friday do. do. do. do. do.

21           Saderday NW wind find day going since 2 or 3 day 7 to 8 miles an our we are off the cost of Africa nothing particular to be seen I have been very healthy so far

22           Sunday E wind going 9½ miles an our half past 10 this morning the churge service was read by some of the passengers 6 Evining sermon was preached by Wesleyan every body very attendive no vessel or land to be seen we have gon 240 Miles since 12 clock yesderday

23           Munday E wind going 9 miles an our find and hot Past Mediterania now we are going 240 miles from 12 to 12 that is 24 hours this last 4 or 5 days nothing Particular

24           Tuesday NE wind we are making fast progress every day now only 3 week yet since we left Lpool this will be a long voyage and missarable life we are beaking cakes ourself with flour butter & sugar

25           Wednsday NE wind done since 12 clock yesderday to 12 today 240 nothing particular to mention

26           Thirsday Wind N by E 180 miles There is 30 of us eats in this cabin & we are agreed with beaker to make us a rowl every morning 2 shilling each for the voyage

27           Friday do. do. 180 when I first turn out of bed this morning, I saw 2 large fish one each side 16 yd. long as large as small house

28           Saderday do. do. 160 miles find whether but very hot the heat of the whether is 90 degree in the shade the water is getting very bad but I bought filter something like big gar the water run through spoong and through stone make it clean and cold as it was from well

29          Sunday wind same do not know distance we had the churge service as useal about 2 clock heavy storm came as we have seen it coming miles off the was like mountains Capt order all the sails down after all we did not get much wind but heavy storm of rain I dont feel very well

30           Munday NW by W wind we dond make good progress I am very ill in bed all day the Dockdor been with me three times gave me some midson my stomock is very bad great many complaining

31           Tuesday do. good brease of wind and it is very acceptable this hot whether the wind is quite hot all neight the majority of the passengers slept out on deck all neigh I have big window oppen one side of my bed good draft came through it but dont want not close

September 1852

1             Wednsday no wind but very caam thank God I am all right once more after been very ill all by the heat Capt expect see vessel going home we have bag full of letter ready to send with her

2             Thirsday No wind I have nothing particular to write down

3             Friday little wind E vessel came near we put our boat down to take bag of letters home awful hot 96 degrees in the shade few vessels in seight this day Child was born on board last neight

4             Saderday wind W by N nice breeze We did not do no progress this week yet 5 clock p.m. we had awful heavy rain untill 9 clock whether got much colder after the rain

5             Sunday SW wind good breeze nice cold morning churge service was red as useal we have spend the rest of the day in lay down on the deck in the coldest places we could get this morning child was born on board this is the second

6             Monday do. do. do. do. Three vessels in seight one came close two Capt spoke together she was from Glasgow sail 4 days before us to Singlepourgh

7             Tuesday W wind good stiff breeze but rather against us we dont make very fast progress every body is well on board the two children was born last week are doing well three or four ship in seight

8             Wednsday W wind do.do. very little progress today we are enjoying ourself with different things some reading other smoking other playing cards dominos and different playing others in bed that is the way Death been on board this afternoon child 16 month

9             Thirsday N wind nice breeze contrarary to our progress 6 clock a.m. funeral took place service was red as usual the little corp was sowed up in piece of sail about 30 lb of stones with to sink it down the body was placed on piece of board one end rest on the side of the vessel and two of the sailer hold up the other end when the service was red sailer lift up the end of the plank corpse slip and met with his watter grave nobody was alowed to look over the side to see drop to the watter

10           Friday SW wind nice breeze but rather contrarary to our progress the is one lb weekly of oatmeale for us each the cook boiled a large sospanful of it every morning 7 clock there is 30 of us for it eat it with tricle good for health and to have us out of bed in good time when the porrage is ready we are all up in a moment or else it will be all gone 1 vessel in sight this morning

11           Saderday do. The breeze keep stif but we are not much nearer the line this last week few ships in sight

12           Sunday wind S by W whether is much colder than it was churge service was red as usual one of the children was born on board was chrisson last Sunday called Jane

13           Mund we are now in the trade winds SE trade making good progress great row when cross the line in shaveing the sailer which never cross the line before

14           Tuesday SE doing well nothing particular

15           Wednsday SE Passenger fighting down below Capt put one of them in iron

16           Thirsday E going since Sunday 8 miles an hour not very well head eah

23           Thirsday since the last date we had not much alteration in the whether good breeze going this last 9 or 10 days 8 to 9 miles an hour in the right direction they call it trade wind blowing the same here whole year round from E by S we are 25 degrees south of the line no ship in seight this last few days I have nothing particular to write I could not see nor hear only gest the same thing every morning first thing I sow last Sunday was Kiling pig for dinner second two strong chaps fitting third going to charge the Capt put two men in irons for few hours and put them together in dark place 5 clock this eving we had little rain change of wind from E to S we are going rong now

24           Friday S wind we have not done much progress wind contrarary one ship in seight we have not consume near our allowance since start untill this last week whether is getting could and we are eating three time as much

25           Saderday E wind but very little of it Duch vessel close to us this morning nothing particular

26           Sunday E wind cam only 3 miles an our churge commence as usual at 10 clock a.m. few vessels in seight (this is eight Sunday for me to be on board Earl of Darby long time doing nothing

27           Munday do. slow sailing one vessel in seight nothing particular our health still very well

28           Tuesday South wind going back and forward no progress towards our journeys end We have the same kind of whether as you have there now the same time and every thing we are between Cape of Good Hope and South America very cold on one side and hot the other

29           Wednsday changable wind slow sailing 3 clock this morning the vessel rowled once or twice very badly untill some was threw out of bed great disturbance among the passengers we had in this caban few casks of flour one oatsmale rice preserve potatoes and they all capsize and mixt altogather 3 clock p.m. wind sift to the north good going 8 miles an our

30           Thirsday North wind fast sailing 8 to 10 miles a our all of enjoy ourself much better when good wind and going right

October 1852

1             Friday West wind slow sailing rain heavy since last neight no ship in seight

2             Saderday NW wind we are going six nots wet day with us here fair Llanerchymed Diaurd y gyneuaf very likely if I would be in Sir von I would be in it

3             Sunday do fast sailing since 12 last neight going 9 nots (9 miles an hour) no churge service this morning vessel rowled to much spend the day some in bed and other walk on deck

4             Munday NW wind slow sailing 4 nots beasey day weight out our week provision some articles will be short coffee is nearly done tea & sugar we are alowed 10½ oz of butter weekly weight out every Munday none often for Sunday

5             Tuesday no wind we have yet 7000 miles to go we are near the Cape of Good Hope (we are getting our Boxes up on deck once a month last time my close were very mouldy I took them all out dry them & clean them (very hot whether then) today we have them up and I found them alright also the crock of butter wich I had from mother was sweet and good when others oblidge to through whole crock over board to the sea ill stinking little better breeze at neight

6             Wednsday E by N wind fast sailing 10 miles an hour since last neight we have not going so fast since we left Lpool as today 12 nots now

7             Thirsday E by N wind 11 to 12 miles an hour (Rain) the day is getting longer were we are this last fortneight sun rise about 5 morning set 7 evning (it has been once with us 12 clock with us 2 there

8             Friday we are sailing E by E good breeze 8 to 9 nots no vessel in seight the whether is very cold Thermometer is 54 in the shade about 45 out our health is good and every thing coming on well

9             Saderday going right SE by E fast sailing 10 nots (4 week of this whether will take us to our journey’s end) there is nothing to be seen nor hear on Saderday more than other day no ship this last week

10           Sunday fare wind about 240 every day now churge service 10 clock and 3 after the last funeral of the first child was born on board died this morning 6 week old (kiling pig this morning

11           Munday do.do. good sailing

12           Tuesday no wind doing nothing I been read in the book of Job about Liviathan but I never sow it untill this morning sow it out of watter as big as this vessel

13           Wednsday NE wind strong rain breeze very rough some had see sickness again one ship in seight from London to Australia with passenger out 80 days and are out 76

14           Thirsday Changable wind little only 4 nots rain all day the same ship in seight see left us they are gambling here from morning till neight

15           Friday very rough neight rain heavy last neight fair wind going 10 miles blowing haard see sometimes as high as the top of the mast

16           Saderday little wind but fare rough sea after yesderday, the ship rowled heavy last neight little sleep

17          Sunday find day little wind and cross we have spend this day as usual churge service was red I am well sadisfy by every thing here now exept (y bobel)

18           Munday the roughest day we had since we start wind and rain from morning until 12 clock neight and it was my day to look all our week provision some was see sickness

19           Tuesday fare wind nice breeze 7 nots (very find day) our bed are all out drying after yesterday been so rough and rain came like river I never so such rain before

20           Wednsday SW wind good breeze 9 to 10 nots (8½ nots will make in 24 ours 200 miles) when is good fare breeze I am in much better spirit

21           Thirsday W wind heavy see strong wind 240 miles this large ship is in the middle of this see the same as one of you between 20 large stags of corn you could not hardly see the sky

22           Friday SW do. 270 miles do. there is great many sort of peoble on board this ship no less than 20 to 30 Jews one of their children died this morning

Wednsday SW wind no alteration in the sailing this last 9 day fare wind and rough see going on arvage 240 a day