Logbook of the William (Brig) out of Fall River, MA, mastered by Elisha Cudworth on a whaling voyage in 1838, 1838

This is the log of a 107 ton brig on an Atlantic whaling voyage between June and December 1838 that returned with 400 barrels of sperm oil. The keeper notes, “At 7 am Captain Cudworth went ashore to land the passenger” which suggests that the log was being kept by the mate. By August 18 they’d reached the Cape Verdes islands, and on September 5 they put into the port of Olinda, Brazil. On September 9 and 10 they killed sperm whales, then killed “a small” on Sept 15 and lost “a large whale” the next day. However, the day after that they killed a large whale which turned out to be “the same whale we struck yesterday.” September 30 yielded one whale, then on October 1, “Turned up 4 whales took them alongside.” On October 7, “the whale perceived us and we did not succeed.” Another whale October 9, and on October 23, “Spoke the Champion of Westport let her have 71 galls of Molasses 2 Barrels of Flour 1 Coil of Manilla Rope 2 3/4 96 lbs. 50 lbs Coffee she gave in Return 12 Casks Gauging 1490 Gallons.” On November 4, “saw a Breach and Run for it it proved to be a sperm whale lowered and struck he stove the Larboard Boat the Champion of Westport sent her Boats to assist us we agreed to give her half the whale.” They caught another sperm whale November 8th, but lost part of the body when the fluke rope parted. Then they turned for home, which they reached without incident December 17.