Description:

Long Island Schooner Logbook, New England to Florida Keys, 1858-1860, 80+pp

The lot consists of approximately 89pp of logbook entries recorded during voyages of the schooner "James M. Holmes" commanded by George Washington Brewster, 1858-1860. With a bonus collection of late 19th century newspaper clippings related to Port Jefferson, Long Island ships, ship-building, and mariners. The double-sided logbook pages are currently contained in two hard-cased archival folders with transparent sleeves. Condition issues are commensurate with age and the vagaries of seafaring, including toning, foxing, scattered moderate to severe stains, chipped edges, and isolated holes or repairs. Fair to very good. Logbook pages measure 10" x 15" while the archival folders measure 12" x 18.5" x .5." Accompanied by outstanding provenance material including a 3pp handwritten visual aid created by a former collector charting the ports of call of "James M. Holmes."

Captain George Washington Brewster (1822-1878) of Port Jefferson, Long Island commanded the schooner "James M. Holmes" of Port Washington, Long Island between the period encompassing these logbook entries, from August 15, 1858 to March 30, 1860. An important note: the logbook entries are not necessarily consecutive, and there are gaps in the records.

The "James M. Holmes" was built by shipbuilder Joseph J. Harris on the west side of Port Jefferson Harbor in 1858. The ship weighed 205 gross tons and was used primarily for cargo transport; cotton is mentioned during the 1858-1860 journeys, which took Captain Brewster and crew to New York City, Jersey City, Newport, Providence, New London, Baltimore, Charleston, Savannah, Mobile, New Orleans, Key West, and Tortugas just south of the Keys. Captain Brewster's territory, then, included New England, the entire Eastern seaboard of the United States, and the Gulf of Mexico.

Captain Brewster was a Port Jefferson native who built a shingled house in the city's historic district around 1853, around the time that he began his naval career. Maritime directories indicate that "G. Brewster" commanded the "James M. Holmes" in 1859, 1861, and 1862; combined with the information from our logbook, we can expand this range to 1858-1862. Captain Brewster went onto command other ships. He died of yellow fever in Santos, in southern Brazil, in February 1878, while awaiting freight for the schooner then under his command, the "S.C. Evans."

The logbook pages are handwritten in several different hands, presumably by different crew members who were on watch. The majority of the pages are entitled with the name of the vessel, its captain, its home port, and its direction (ex. "towards Apalachicola," etc.) Most of the days' entries are divided into neat ledger-style columns where the time ("H" for "hours"), ship's speed ("K" for "knots and "HK" for "half-knots"), compass bearing ("Courses"), winds ("Winds"), and miscellaneous remarks could be recorded. The last category included notes on weather conditions, the state of the ship (adjusting sails, pumps, cargo, etc.), and other notable events (such as sighting landmarks or other ships at sea.)

See below for some representative excerpts from the logbook:

September 4, 1858

"This day begins with light winds ESE and pleasant.
At 6 P.M. Heavy Squall from NE took in Topsails flying jib and mainsail tide them up.
All through the night - squally Rain.
At 6 A.M. took in the foresail
At 7 A.M. Squall past set the 4 lower sails…"

October 30, 1858

"At 0.30 A.M. came in by the Point of Sandy Hook. Wind light.
At 2 A.M. came to Anchor at Q[u]aratine. At 7 A.M. health came on board, got underway and came up to town. At pier 28 East River Storming and blowing fresh S.E…"

October 11, 1859

"Tuesday Through this day light variable winds and warm all hands employed taking in cargo…"

February 15, 1860

"This day begins with moderate breeze N and a heavy sea.
At 1 P.M. turned the Reefs out of foresail. At 4 P.M. in Lat 37,01 Long 73, 27 1/1 Passed Sloop Fidelity of Babylon. Abandoned sails stript Boat laying Bottom up on deck hatches batten down apparently loaded with Oysters…"

This item comes with a Certificate from John Reznikoff, a premier authenticator for both major 3rd party authentication services, PSA and JSA (James Spence Authentications), as well as numerous auction houses.

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