Journal of the Orray Taft (Bark) out of New Bedford, MA, mastered by Thomas Hamlin and kept by Ephraim Wilmarth, on a whaling voyage between 1852 and 1854, 1852 - 1854

Item — Volume: Wh O773 1852j

Identifier: logbook_vol_730

Staff Only

Scope and Contents

From the Collection:

The collection includes nearly 800 logbooks, documenting over 1,000 voyages and ranges from the 18th to the 20th century.

Dates

1852 - 1854

Conditions Governing Access

Materials are open to research.

Extent

From the Collection: 650 Linear Feet

Language of Materials

From the Collection: English

Additional Description

General

After a twenty-six month voyage in the South Atlantic Ocean, the Orray Taft, a 176 ton bark, brought back 20 barrels of sperm oil, with 72 sent home, for a total of 92 barrels of sperm oil, plus a mere 2 bbl. whale oil. The voyage, which consisted of two cycles of summer in Azores and winter on Brazil Bank fishing, included mutinies, fights, collisions with other ships, and frequent desertions. Events described include: Aug 24, crew drunk, boatsteerer nearly kills cook. Sept. 23, mutinous letter, man refuses watch. Oct 17, fight. Nov. 27, mutiny over food. Nov 30, one of the mutineers dies. Dec. 5, mutineers in prison in Rio, ship new crew. Jan 21, 1854, whale destroys larboard boat, escapes. Mar 20, another fight. Apr 23, lose large shoal of sperm whales. May 8, boy falls from main topgallant mast. May 18, desertion. May 23, man draws knife on mate. June 2, men refuse duty. June 14, get fast to whale but line parts. Nov. 9, collision with unnamed schooner. Jan 1, 1854, fire aboard. The journal keeper, Ephraim Wilmarth, made marginal drawings of whales taken, those that escaped, those that were sighted but not struck, and other forms of sea life, as well as views of the Azores, and other marginalia. Two pages at the back of the journal detail attempts at whale-catching, and supplies and oil taken onboard.