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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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    as the head of the stairs leading to the saloon and bawls at the top of his voice, "water, water, come and get your water" as of course we hasten to do as we know if we do not get it then we shall be obliged to go without all day as none is allowed to be given out during the day, although when we run short we sometimes manage to cribb or beg a little. Supplied with our three quarts to each person we use a very small portion of it to wash ourselves and another very small portion to make our tea which we enjoy with a very minute piece of salt beef or pork [technically?] termed by the passengers "salt horse" a potato which generally proves bad and a biscuit two or three years old and musty at that. After breakfast we adjourn if fine, to the deck, where we lounge about, read or pass the time as best we can. Mr. Coad and myself generally make our way to the fore part of the ship, where seated on

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    the forecastle, where he can enjoy his pipe we pass the hours away; he in repeating I in listening to the tales he tells of his own country [[Old England]], his travels and trials in [[Australia]] and his experi- ence in [[Canada]]. And so the few hours between breakfast and dinner which otherwise might appear irksome soon slip by and we devote ourselves for another hour or so the preparation and disposal of our dinner, Substan- tially the same as breakfast occasionally varied with a little rice or oatmeal gruel. After dinner we retire to our bunks for a nap if too cool upon deck, then antother lounge about deck and then at five or six our supper. Same as dinner, except when varied by the addition of a few pancakes which our black cook Steve has generously allowed us to make. After supper we walk the deck till bed time or sit in the saloon and converse upon some interesting subject or have a game or

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    two at cards. Then we retire early, generally pass a comfortable night and rise early the next morning at the Carpenters morning call. [[Mrs Crittenden]] made me a loaf of soda bread today; of which the principal ingredient was soda. I had some for supper and ate very heartily of it, taking a good draught of cream of tartar water soon after. The two did not seem to agree together and have puffed me out like a blown out frog, and have been the cause of my passing a very disagreeable evening.

    Wednesday Aug 5th Exactly three weeks out from [[New York]]. It has been a very changable day, sunshine and rain; fair wind but very light. Every evening now they hang out two lights; a red one on the port bow, and a green one on the starboard bow; a sign that we are in the track of vessles. We passed the eveing in the saloon. Borrowed a fiddle from

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    one of the sailors and played a few tunes for the amusement of the company. After which we had a game of "All Found'' in which [[Lieut Cummings]] and his lady, [[Mr. & Mrs. Crittenden]], [[Mrs. Coad]] and myself took part, and in which we got so deeply interested that we should probably have kept it up very late had not we been ordered to put out our lights and retire at ten accord- ing to the rules of the ship.

    Thursday Aug 6th Provision day again; fervently hope and pray it may be the last; had a slight addition to our allowance six herrings each in lieu of the codfish about which we mad a stir some days since. Bread worse than ever and exceedingly musty. It has been a beautiful day with the wind still in the west. From all appearances we shall probably have a storm tonight as it looks very black and the barometer is falling very fast.

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    Friday Aug. 7th.

    As I expected the storm broke upon about eight o'clock last evening with awful suddenness. The wind blew with terrible violence lashing the sea into foam, and shaking the old ship as if it would tear her into fragments. She was put over on her side very quickly by the force of the wind and waves and flew along under [lure?] poles with a rapidity unequalled at any time during the voyage up to the present time. The Captain, who up to the present time had left the management of the vessel to his subordinate officers now made his appearance and assumed the command of the ship. Nearly all of the passengers had from fear returned to their bunks where they could not see, even if they could hear the storm without. But I and Mr. Coad attracted by the novelty of the scene and situation and not feeling the least afraid, could not refrain from [slopping?] on deck till the last minute. The surface of the

    Last edit almost 4 years ago by kishman
    Displaying pages 41 - 45 of 544 in total

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