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Whaling Log of the Ship Franklin, 1847-1850

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Whaling log of the ship Franklin. (numerous blank pages throughout); pp.'s 1-7: chronometer readings and correction, list of whale oil "stowed in the hole," list of sperm oil sent home and sold on the voyage; pp.'s 8-229 incomplete account kept aboard the whaling ship Franklin, on a voyage from Sag Harbor, N.Y. to the South Atlantic, Indian and Pacific Oceans, 13 July 1847 - 29 March 1850, owned by Huntting Cooper, commanded by Captain Mercator Cooper, (first page torn out, account begins 22 July 1847 to 29 March 1850, last day of salvage operations after striking reef on Brazilian Coast); account contains many gaps: 17 May - 6 June 1848, 10 July - 8 August 1848, 13 September - 26 October 1848, 16 November - 1 December 1848, 12 February - 7 March 1849, 6 June - 16 June 1849, 16 October - 22 December 1849, 8 January - 10 March 1850, 27 March - 6 April 1850. Attached notice to back cover: "Important to Whalemen - by the decision of Judge Story, in the case of Jenkins vs. the owners of the ship Columbus, it is decided that if an officer or seaman does not render himself on board knowing that the ship is going to sail, he forfeits his lay or wages, although she did not remain 48 hours after he went on shore." Both Starbuck and Lund list the Franklin as a ship; Captain Mercator Cooper, keeper of log, calls it a bark. Starbuck states voyage ended in 1849; Lund correctly lists return as 1850. Name card found between pp.'s 111-112 (Mr. S.G. Henty, "Portland Bay, southeast of New Holland"); two illegible handwritten notes found between pp.'s 175-176, 207-208; sketch of couch; outline sketch of voyage, only Sag Harbor to Azores shown (probably done in 1930's - 1940's); inserted handwritten abstraction of certain highlights of voyage (probably done in 1930's - 1940's).

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Sunday the 22nd of Aug 1847 Lat 37.54 Long These 24 hours commences with light brezes from South East at 11 AM. Pico, St George and [Terceira] in sight.

Monday the 23rd of Aug 1847 These 24 hours commences with light brezes from S East tacked ship and steered on the wind to the Eastward.

Tuesday the 24th of Aug 1847 These 24 hours commences with light brezes from S East latter part St Miguls in sight

Wednesday the 25th of Aug [drawing of whale in margin] These 24 hours commences with pleasant brezes from S East at 9 AM saw Sperm whale and Chased them and Darted at them and gave them up in the afternoon. We came up with them again and fastened to one and killed it. St Miguls in sight bearing south dist. 20 miles.

Thursday the 26th of Aug 1848 Imployed in [Cuting] in the [whale]. A [Dirck] bark 150 Days from Vatava sent a boat on board to get some potatoes and onions flower and pumpks.

35 days out

Last edit about 3 years ago by Scarlett
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Friday the 27th of Aug 1847 These 24 hours commences with light brezes from South East imployed in trying out the blubber.

Saturday the 28th of Aug These 24 hours commences with pleasant brezes from S East St Miguls in sight Dist 10 miles bearing South South East

Sunday the 19th of Aug Lat 38.18 These 24 hours commences with moderate brezes from East at 8 AM Terceria St George and Pico in sight their bearings from North West to North East finished trying out the whale.

Monday the 30th of Aug Lat 38.5 These 24 hours Commences with fresh brezes from East South East imployed in Coopering and filling it up and branding it to send on shoar. Fayall in sight we saw several ships in shoar at Fayal a getting their recruits.

39 Days out

Last edit about 3 years ago by Scarlett
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Tuesday the 31st of Aug 1847 These 24 hours Commences with fresh brezes from East South East we landed 2139 Gls of Sperm oil to be sent home at the rate of 3.30 pr barrel or 3 1/2 Galle

Wednesday the 1st of Sep 1847 Lat 37.05 Long 27.53 These 24 hours Commences with fresh brezes from East by South and some squally the watch imployed in Ships Duty

Thursday the 2nd of Sep 1847 Lat 35.08 Long 28.24 These 24 hours Commences with fresh brezes from East South East latter part light baffin winds and rainy the watch imployed in scraping the pitch of the Deck

Friday the 3rd of Sep 1847 Lat 34.02 Long 28.40 These 24 hours Commences with light brezes from East South East some squals of rain

Saturday the 4th of Sept 1847 Lat 33.46 Long 28.48 These 24 hours Commences with light winds and Calms the watch imployed in Ships Duty

Sunday the 5th of Sept 1847 Lat 33.18 Long 28.55 These 24 hours Commences with light winds and Calms and ends with the same rain

45 Days out

Last edit about 3 years ago by Scarlett
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Monday the 6th of Sep 1847 Lat 32.23 Long 29.10

These 24 hours Commences with light winds and Calms and thick rainy weather.

Tuesday the 7th of Sep 1847 Lat 31. 29 Long 29.25

These 24 hours Commences with light brezes from East South East to South East the watch imployed in Ships Duty

Wednesday the 8th of Sep Lat 30.00 Long 29.48

These 24 hours Commences with moderate breze from East South East and South East

Thursday the 9th of Sep Lat 29.20 Long 30.25

These 25 hours Commences with moderate brezes from East South East latter part fresh brezes imployed in building a round house over the rudder

Friday the 10th of Sep 1847 Lat 27.33 Long 31.00

These 24 hours Commences with fresh brezes from East South East and ends with the same

Saturday the 11th of Sep Lat 25.30 Long 31.39

These 24 hours Commences with fresh brezes from East South East at 8pm parted the fore top [ga] mount back stay took in the fly jib and fore top gallant sail at 10 am spliced the back stay and sent it up

51 Days out

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Needs Review

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Sunday the 12th Sep 1847 Lat 24.27 Long 31.15

These 24 hours Commences with moderate brezes from East South East at 8 PM light winds and rainy latter part Clear and pleasant and light winds from North North East

Monday the 13th of Sep 1847 Lat 23.55 Long 31.00

These 24 hours Commences with light brezes from North saw a bark steering on the wind to the North East

Tuesday the 14th of Sep 1847 Lat 23.01 Long 30.10

These 24 hours Commences with light winds and Calms on bent the main topsail and bent another on bent the jib and bent another

Wednesday 15th of Sep Lat 21.30 Long 29.00

These 24 hours Commences with moderate brezes from the Eastward latter part fresh

Thursday the 16th of Sep Lat 18.55 Long 28.08

These 24 hours Commences with fresh brezes from East North East and some squally. Took in the steering sails

56 Days out

Last edit about 3 years ago by Scarlett
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