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William Gravell diary, 1863-1867.

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  • 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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    Thursday July 30th

    Ration day again. Slight improvement in the bread to that given us last, being of better quality. We are now in the neighborhood of the [[Banks of New Foundland]]. The weather is con- sequene is much cooler and foggy.

    Friday July 31st Very cold and foggy all morning and quite uncomfortable on deck. Afternoon more clear with very strong wind from the North West. Ship been going at a very good rate all day. This morning we passed three ships westward bound; one appeared to be very much shattered; had her foretopmast and bowsprit carried away, and it was the opinion on board that she had probably come in contact with an iceberg.

    Saturday Aug 1st 1863 Still very goggy and rainy and we expect it will remain so until we get away from the [[Bank of New Foundland]].

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    We are now in the region of icebergs; we still have a strong westerly wind, and the ship is doing her best; and if we continue at this rate we expect to be in London within ten or twelve days. In the night, about one oclock, I think, I was very sick, and was obliged to jump up and run up on deck, and to the side of the ship, which, as the ship was very much on her side happened to be the lower side, and as I was reaching over to retch I very nearly retched myself overboard. Had I tumbled overboard at that unseasonable hour of the night with nobody scarcely on deck but one or two sleepy sailors [It?] is more than probable I should never been heard of again. My sickness the result of a [slight?] bilious attack has now passed off and I feel much better this evening. This morning early we passed the little brigantine which passed us last Saturday, just a week ago, and which we lost sight

    Last edit almost 4 years ago by kishman
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    for that length of time. We saw today a large shoal of Black-Fish, a species of whale. There have been three sails in sight the best part of the day.

    I have, contrary to the rules and regulations of the vessel, made a slight acquaintance with one or two of the sailors in the Forecastle; one of whom named Dick, in consideration of his coming from the same city that I do appears particularly friendly, and furnishes me always every evening with some of his allowance which though rather coarse, is fresh and good compared to ours. If it were not for this kind and generous assistance from the sailors I hardly know how it would be possible to live on the privisions furnished us by the officers of the ship. Being very cool on deck we all retired to the saloon in the evening, sitting around the little room upon our boxes and chests, we spent a very pleasant and sociable evening. Mrs. [Coad?] the Canadian

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    entertained us principally with his experience in the Gold Fields of Australia.

    Sunday August 2nd.

    Quite a different day to last Sunday. it has been a very cool, drizzly day throughout, and this evening it is almost cold enough to freeze. We have had a strong head wind and the ship rolls and pitches very much. Understand we are not half way yet and feel utterly tired and disgusted with sea life. I pass pretty much all my time with Mr. Coad the Canadian farmer who having travelled a great deal is very entertaining and can spin any quantity of yarns. He lives near London Canada [West?] where he has permanently settled. We all spent the evening in the saloon, and had a long talk about the codfish to which we felt legally entitled, and for which we resolved to make a demand next ration day. Having thus wound up this very unsatisfactory Sunday we all retired early to bed.

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    Monday Aug 3rd

    Been below the best part of the day. The wind, which all morning had been dead ahead shifted toward afternoon to the west. Been very cool all day.

    Tuesday Aug 4th is

    The weather is very squally and cold wind very strong in the west the sea has been very rough and has been giving us some idea of what it is like when it "runs mountains high" we have had several pretty heavy waves on deck during the day. I have been very homesick lately. increased I suppose by the monotony of sea life. The general course of our life is pretty much the same from day to day one day being exactly like the preceeding one. Our regular hour for rising fixed by the officers of the ship is six oclock, and accord ingly at that hour we are brought to a state of consciousness by the Carpenter who makes his appearance

    Last edit almost 4 years ago by kishman
    Displaying pages 36 - 40 of 544 in total

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