William Gravell diary, 1863-1867. (Travel Diaries and Journals)

William Gravell diary, 1863-1867.

UPenn Ms. Coll. 723

This leather-bound, ruled diary was kept from 14 July 1863 to 31 August 1867 by William Gravell during his four-year stay in London, England to escape the draft of the Civil War. Gravell traveled from Upper Darby Township, near Philadelphia, Pennsylvania to New York where after being swindled; he eventually boarded a cargo ship named Plymouth Rock bound for London. Gravell writes daily about his life on board the ship, including his sea sickness, storms, other passengers, amusements, rations, and his acquaintance with a sailor from Philadelphia. Shortly after celebrating his twenty-third birthday on 13 August, William arrives in London, England. He meets his Uncle Thomas, a gilder and framer, and then meets his Uncle William, a watchmaker. Uncle William provides William with "the document which made me a soldier in the U.S. service for the space of three years." William lives with his cousin Thomas, acquires a job at Causton & Sons Printers in a warehouse where he works from 7:00 a.m. to 8:00 p.m. William's entries in the diary appear weekly, recording events, excursions, holidays, and family gatherings. William describes the yearly tours of the Crystal Palace at Easter time, Guy Fawkes's Day, Christmas, and Boxing Day. He records the passing of his birthdays. William describes going to lectures, museums, plays, pantomimes, recording the titles and theatres. William writes about attending service on Sundays at St. Paul's Cathedral, dinners with his extended family, and games they play, such as Whist. He writes of the walks he takes with his cousin Thomas or Mr. Jewell to Black Heath, Greenwich, and London Bridge Park. At times William becomes depressed and writes of his dislike of London weather and his search for friends. In the summer of 1866, after the death of his Uncle William, Elizabeth, William's sister arrives unexpectedly. William and his sister spend much time together during the year she is there. In May of 1867 William's parents send tickets for his and Elizabeth's passage from Liverpool to Philadelphia. The pair leave in July, arriving in Philadelphia on 31 August 1867, the last entry in the diary. There are two inscriptions on the first leaf: "Minnie presented Aug. 22nd 1878" and "Watch Jacque Roulet Locle No. 28483." Some lines regarding William's departure for London to avoid the draft have been crossed out in pencil. After the last entry the rest of the diary is blank.

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[[Crittenden]] and their two children returning to [[England]]; [[Lieut. Cummings]] and wife; three Germans, whose names I am not yet acquanited with; the wife and two children of the carpenter of the vessel; and [[Mr. Stevens]], a young man who occupies part of my stateroom; and to complete the list - myself. This makes a very interesting and sociable party. The wind has freshened up a bit this evening and the sea is rather rough; we had the first really fair sunset since we started and was strikingly beautiful.

Tuesday July 21st The sea this morning is very rough, but the wind is more favorable than at any time since we started; there has been nothing of particular impor- tance today; I have been slightly seasick all day.

Wednesday July 22nd

One week out today; somehow or other I have managed to catch a

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severe cold, and suffer very much from a sore throat and being very cool and windy on deck I have confined myself below pretty much all day; although not particularly agreeable between decks, the confined air being very close and stifling and a very impure smell proceeding from the cargo which consists principally of wheat and Indian corn. The wind being very high the ship has made more progress than any day since starting; the sea has been very rough.

Thursday July 23rd Our rations were served out today for the second time and we could not help but remark the great dif- ference in the quality of those we received today compared to those given us last week, being very much inferior in every respect. The few provisions I brought with me are all gone and all I have to depend upon now till the end of the voyage

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is what I receive from the ship, but if I continue as I am at present it is not likely that I shall require much to eat, as the seasickness has pretty well removed my appetite and the little I have left is not much tempted by the repast which is now spread before us weekly. When our bread was given us today we were seriously informed that it was two years old and that it had performed a journey to [[India]] and back, and very likely had been reground and remade into biscuits.

Friday July 24th Fine weather but very cool upon deck and still suffering from sea-sickness and a very bad cold and not being able to stand I have confined myself to my bunk instead of lying about the deck as we usually do when the weather is fine.

Saturday July 25th It has been a very fine day throughout good breeze but in the wrong direction

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being too much in the east. About four o'clock a little brigantine passed us going in the same direction and by sunset was out of sights. We are about 800 or 900 miles from [[New York]]. We now have it moonlight every evening and consequently we stay on deck very late.

Sunday July 26th We have had another beautiful Sabbath. The sun has shone bright and clar all day and the sea has been as calm and smooth as a mirror there not being a breath of wind and I don't think we have moved an inch on our course as the sails have hung loose and flapping on the masts all day. We spent pretty much all morn- ing in fishing up pieces of sea-weed of which great quantities were floating about and upon which we discovered many minute and curious specimens of marine life. We also noticed some dolphin and

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made some fruitless attempts at catching them.

Monday July 27th A very pleasant day with steady west- erly wind; ship going seven knots an hour: about 950 mils out from [[New York]]. So far we are informed by the officers of the ship, they have made less progress than in any voyage previously made by the ship. We are all getting impatient to get to [[London]]. [[Steve]], the cook bets we will do it inside of twenty-five days from New York.

Tuesday July 28th Fine day; good westerly wind; still hold on at seven knots.

Wednesday, July 29 Another fine day, westerly wind. We are now and have been for some days completely alone upon the trackless deep; we have not been cheered by the sight of solitary sail and it is now desolation itself and we feel ourselves cut off from the world.

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