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Robert Suggate journal and commonplace book, 1874-1878.

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  • UPenn Ms. Coll. 831
    • This leather-bound, paginated memoir and commonplace book, which the author calls "My rough log very roughly kept," was written by Robert Suggate between 1874 and 1878. It is reconstructed from his memory and from a deteriorated journal that he kept on his voyage to China from 1830 to 1831. The volume includes copied poems; articles tipped in or fully pasted in; descriptive passages of islands and cities from Suggate's trip to Asia and of towns in England; and a detailed table of contents. Suggate describes his childhood, his fascination with the sea and fishing, and how his father brought him to Yarmouth, England where Suggate embarked on his first voyage on a small ship delivering flour to London. In 1830 Suggate boards an East India Company merchant ship named the William Lowther sailing for China to acquire a cargo of tea. Suggate records his experiences with the crew and describes the ocean, including such inhabitants as flying fish and jellyfish. He records an induction ritual, called the Neptune ceremony, for first-time sailors crossing the equatorial line. Suggate gives detailed descriptions of his encounters with the Chinese and discusses his excursion into the city of Canton, which was banned to foreigners. He also observes clothing and cultural symbols, in addition to witnessing a trade dispute between England and China as well as opium smuggling. Descriptive passages of islands and of cities and towns from his voyage follow the memoir, including a list of shells Suggate purchased on the trip. Continuing with his memoir, he explains that he gave up the life of a sailor in 1834 because he could not advance above ordinary seaman due to lack of navigational knowledge. Later in the volume are descriptions of towns and villages in England and recollections of events with his son Reginald. On pages 130-137 is the genealogical history of the Suggate family in another hand, possibly written by Reginald's stepson Herbert Frank Milne. In addition to the journal there is some correspondence from siblings of Robert Suggate, correspondence to and from Herbert Frank Milne, and memorabilia relating to the Suggate family.

    Pages

    p. 16
    Complete

    p. 16

    110 [[Tewksbury]] " [[Aldborough]]

    113 [[Norwich]]

    114 The East-Anglians and their Princess

    115 [[Bury St. Edmunds]]

    112 [[Bungay]]

    121 Continuation of 'Rough Log'

    123 To [[Yarmouth]] by Steam Packet.

    116. "Dear Mother's Work-basket." or "Fifty years since".

    118. [[Thetford]].

    192. [[Brock]] the [[Yarmouth]] Boatman

    191. [[Mother Carey]]'s Chickens.

    112. [[Lynn Regis]] or [[King's Lynn]].

    190. The [[Norfolk]] and [[Suffolk]] river craft.

    187. [[Burgh Castle]]

    130 Family History.

    1 W.R.S. + R.M.

    2 [?]

    Last edit over 3 years ago by Kareobl
    p. 17
    Complete

    p. 17

    (15)

    Pages of The Notes at the end

    219. Map of Eastern counties

    215 Fishing on the [[Norfolk 'Broads']].

    214 The [['Broads' of Norfolk]] —————. Newspaper

    212 The Oldest Collier —————————

    202 The Flying Fish

    201 The Fire-Fly

    200 The Albatross

    199 Bird's-Nest Soup.

    198 The Shark.

    197 The Mosquito

    196 The Coral Grove

    195 The Gulf-Weed

    185 [[Madras]]. The Catamaran.

    184 The [[Norfolk and Suffolk 'Crag']]

    182 [[Sprat-Water Lake]] and the pirate Ship

    180 The [[Seychelles Islands]] and the "Leaf Insect"

    203 The [[Norfolk]] and "[[Suffolk Broads]]" [illegible?] in 'Land and Water.'

    178 The [[Lowestoft]] Lighthouses Fisheries +_

    173 The Swallow. verses.

    My Rough Log.

    211. Testimonial to [[Mr. Bullock]]. newspaper

    - [[Neufchatal Lake]]. newspaper

    -[[Lady Fetherstonaugh]] nee Bullock

    168. Holidays spent at [[Lowesloft]] 1874

    170 +_ at [[Huntingdon]] 1873

    Last edit over 3 years ago by Kareobl
    p. 18
    Complete

    p. 18

    (16)

    The following account is very roughly drawn out. but I have done as well as my time and materials would allow me, unfortunately my original book of notes by accident got spoilt therefore much is from memory.

    Last edit almost 4 years ago by bweb
    p. 19
    Indexed

    p. 19

    1

    1874

    ==Fifty years since or My Rough Log==

    My grandfather was the oldest of three sons, Robert, William + George and at their father's death the farm with everything on it was sold off and the proceeds divided amongst the children. From my Father's recollections.

    Robert Suggate, of Sotherton, a country parish towards Halesworth, Suffolk, was my grandfather, a fine, hale, hearty and genial old man, famous in my boyhood's judgement for tales of flood and field, and in those days best of all, an old leathern purse out of which he has given me many a silver piece of money, a snug corner for grandfather by the fire was always kept by us youngsters whenever he visited us. My ancestors were chiefly yeomen farmers in that part of Suffolk towards Stowmarket, and in many a quiet churchyard thereabouts. Where-

    "The rude forefathers of the hamlet sleep."

    -May be seen the name on the tombstones. The name is not unknown on the muster-roll of sailors and soldiers, in bygone times, but also unknown to fame. A real hard old Saxon one it is. The origin of no consequence, but without doubt was here when the conqueror came. The origin of surnames has of course

    Last edit almost 4 years ago by bweb
    p. 20
    Indexed

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    2

    many sources, and has sometimes an antiquarian and historical importance, and it is very natural, that it might partake of the same hereditary character as had been annexed to the office, or lands, with which it has been associated; as Suggate might possibly come from Surrogate Latin (Surrogatus), one substituted or appointed in room of another, a deputy.

    My Grandfather had two sons only, my father William the eldest, and my uncle Henry [illegible?]. My father followed the business of farming, and my uncle the profession of medicine, and after the usual and necessary course of instruction in the hospitals of London, was appointed assistant surgeon on board the old Asia man of war, at that time a vessel of some renown.

    Mr. Robert Suggate.

    My father purchased a little farm in the parish of Carlton Colvile, near Lowestoft, Suffolk, and I was born in 1806, and as soon as I was big enough my occupation was fetching the cows home from their grazing grounds for milking, and driving back to the same, also keeping designing pigs in authorized bounds. Eight youngsters of whom I was the eldest, left our good parents, after finding food and raiment for us, but little money to spare for our schooling, nevertheless Whenever I could be spared from the duties of the farm, I was sent either to a school

    Last edit almost 4 years ago by bweb
    Displaying pages 16 - 20 of 281 in total

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