Description:

Ship's Journal of a Whaling Voyage, 1848-1849, With Several Mentions of Whales

This ship's journal records the details of the last leg of the voyage of the Swift from Callao, Peru, to New Bedford, Massachusetts, in 1848-1849. The ship left New Bedford on August 31, 1845, for a whaling voyage to the Pacific and northwest coast. It returned to New Bedford on April 5, 1849, with 1,350 barrels of sperm oil and 50 barrels of whale oil. Each day's entry records the speed, course, and latitude and longitude of the ship. Remarks indicate the nature of the weather, the status of the sails, and any important developments, including two instances of whale sightings. In each case, the ship took a whale. The first was a sperm whale and the second was a right whale.

[WHALING.] Ship's Log for Voyage for Ship Swift, Spooner Jenkins, Commander, from Callao, Peru, to New Bedford, Massachusetts, Partially Printed Volume, December 17, 1848–April 6, 1849. Blank book published in London and sold by Jacob and Halse. 76pp., 55 pp. with writing, 8.25" x 12.875". Includes separate sheet with a list of new and old sails for the ship Swift. 1 p., 16" x 13". General toning; some wear to cover; very good.

Excerpts
"A Journal of a Voyage, From Callao to New Bedford in the Ship Swift Spooner Jenkins Commander. Kept by [? Akins?] / Departure taken from Callao in Latitude 92°, 02' and Longitude 77° 12' to New Bedford in Lat. 41°, North and Long. 71."

December 17, 1848: "At 5 PM got under weigh with A Light breeze from NE"

January 2, 1849: "Took A Lunar observation found our chronometer 2½ minets to fast"

January 5, 1849: "At 6 AM rare Sperm whales took in studing sails at 6½ Loard 3 boats for them at 9 the W boat struck one at 10 took him A Longside at 11 be gon to kut the rest of the whales went of SSE the wind bein Light coud not kitch them"

January 10, 1849: "At 6 PM finish stoin down 73 bbls made all sail"

January 26, 1849: "At 1 PM saw one of the Faklins island [Falkland Islands] bearin NW 30 miles at 5 Loward 2 boats for rite whales struck one and drew from him"

March 23, 1849: "saw a scooner heading SE"

March 25, 1849: "at 5 PM change signels with Ameriken brig heding NW by the wind"

April 5, 1849: "at 7 took A Pilot kept of NE by E made All sail for newbedford beat the frames got of the anchors"
Harbor pilots were mariners who maneuvered ships through dangerous or congested waters at ports or river mouths. They had specific knowledge of underwater hazards and sandbars at particular ports and could navigate ships of all types and sizes safely into the harbor.

April 6, 1849: "At 2 PM came to an Anchor furled sails & Discharged pilot"

Historical Background
Whaling ships typically had three masts, each with a topmast and topgallant mast, and square-rigged on all three masts. They typically carried four to five whaleboats, each thirty feet long and six feet wide with a crew of six men. Ship-keepers, such as the steward, cook, cooper, blacksmith, and carpenter, stayed on board the ship while the boats pursued whales. The crew could number as many as forty on a whaling ship.

The Swift had made at least two voyages to the Pacific before this one, returning to New Bedford on October 1, 1832, and in August 1841, both times under the command of Lewis Tobey. It returned to the South Pacific from June 1849 to November 1852, under the command of Frederick Vincent.

Spooner Jenkins (1819-1896) was born in Massachusetts and became a whaling captain. Over the course of his career, he became a master mariner. In 1845, he married Sarah Cornell (1824-1869), and they had two children, including a son who also became a master mariner. By 1870, Jenkins was an assessor for the town of Dartmouth. In that year, he married Lydia Maria Pratt (1845-1873), and after her death, he married Elizabeth J. Whitney (1836-1920) in 1874. An obituary described him as "a successful master mariner when the sea furnished New Bedford her chief support."

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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