All
entries from one voyage 1851-52 by the Aberdeen registered (full-rigged) ship
BALMORAL
Source: TNA: PRO:
BT 98/2816
Official
Log Book (no. 3) - begun 13th
November 1851
5 DEC 1851
Lat 10.45N Long 25.10W
I have this day
had to disrate William Thompson – Cook & Steward
in his capacity as Steward from his slovenly and dirty habits,
we have now been 22 days at sea during which time has never once washed out the
Cabin or Pantry although I have frequently requested him to do so, but finding
all remonstrances in vain. I have had to appoint one
of the crew as Steward and upon asking him Thompson to show the man the things
belonging to the Pantry he answered me with gross insolence and said “he did
not ?earn? enough money to Act as Cook & Steward”
for his insolence he will be fined one day’s pay – And his in competency will
subject him to reduction of wages without his future good conduct. And
attention be given to his duty
Undated Lat 37.30? Long ?
Norman
McLaren Carpenter sick and unfit for duty. Symptoms head ace (sic) feverish. Bled him and gave him a dose of
Calomel and Jalap [severe purgatives!]
Carpenter returned
to duty
29 JAN 1852
Midnight Lat 30.04S Long 66.18E
At Midnight my
attention was arrested by having some persons quarrelling on deck, which I
found to be the two mates Mr Davidson and Mr Adams and that the former had
challenged the latter to fight, upon enquiry I could not get any reason as to
what should cause so grave a breach of duty particularly as regards a Chief
Officer. I am forced to admit his conduct has not been very satisfactory since
leaving England, he is continually during his Watch on deck forward amongst the
crew Mr Adams has so far been most attentive and ???? in
the discharge of his duty.
Entry witnessed
and signed by Adams (and all subsequent entries - in place of the Mate)
31 JAN Noon Lat
38 43S Long 75 00E
Norman McLaren and
Geo Perry fighting and I had to go and separate them. This is the first
appearance of bad conduct amongst the crew but from the lesson so recently them
by the Chief Officer I cannot expect much else.
8 FEB Noon Lat 34 ?9E
Long 97 21?
I had to go on
deck and put a stop to Mr Davidson’s quarrelling with the 2nd mate,
and using the most upraiding language to the latter
and all for the only assigned reason of Mr Adams losing some Cape yams which he
(the Mate) said was his, I called Mr Davidson into the cabin and in the
presence of the 2nd Mate stated to him the impropriety of such
conduct, and not let me see any such Acts in future.
18 FEB Lat 14 30S Long 112.27E
Upon observing the
Boy go and take tar from the cask and requesting to know what it was to be used
for, he told me it was to tar the Fore Rigging with, previous to this I advised
Mr Davidson not to use tar but grease the Rigging having recently jeered upon
calling Mr D asking why my orders were not attended to, he made some evasive
reply and next went forward to where the Boy, was when I heard him say “either
you or the Captain is a liar” and upon my demanding his silence of such
expressions he commenced the ?utmost? abuse and the
?grossest? insolence I ever heard from any man and
frequently demanded to hold his tongue and go to his duty to which he
?retorted? in such expression as “I do not car a d--m”
“shut up” “put the ?disties?” “I am as good a man as
you” “putting grease on the Rigging is another of your lubberly tricks’
accompanying such expression by ?shaking? his fists and walking round on decks, for applause from the
crew.
3 MAR Lat 2 12S Long 128 08E
‘The allowance of
beef and Pork to the crew has this day been reduced to 1 lb. per man per day.
This is deemed necessary from the long and protracted passage and ?have the merest? light and
calm weather.
21 MAR Lat 9 45 Long 132 15
‘Served out full
allowance to the crew’
3 APR 4 p.m. Hong Kong
John Cooper,
Norman McLaren, and Thomson the Cook all fighting and disorderly’
19 APR 2 p.m. Hong Kong
William Thomson,
Cook came aft and gave great insolence because I would not grant more money. their $1 to go on shore on leave with and demanded his
discharge and said he would have it. I desired him to be quiet and go to his
duty upon which he was still more abrasive.
20 APR 3 p.m. Hong Kong
George Wade came
and asked leave if ???? I told that I could not grant
his request, he then asked for his discharge which I replied to same and ?ordered? him to his duty. he then ????? both Mr. Adams and
myself most abusive and appeared anxious to create disturbance on board.
20 APR 10 p.m. Hong Kong
John Cooper and
George Wade absent from the ship without leave for which I mean to charge them
as the Merchant Seamans Act allows
22 APR 6 p.m
John Cooper
returned on board
At bottom of page
squeezed in:-
April 19th
April 1852 James Adams William Davidson discharged from this ship
N.B. It appears that James Adams was only witnessing the
report of William Davidson’s discharge - as there was little space at the
bottom of this page
21 APR 7 a.m. Hong Kong
George Wade
returned on board
22 APR Hong Kong
‘Alexander
Ferguson joined this ship as 2nd Mate’
24 APR 8 a.m. Hong Kong
‘The Steward went
to the Galley and asked the Cook if breakfast was ready when he (the Cook)
without any provocation came out side the Galley and
struck the Steward in the face – and charged by Mr Adams for such Conduct he
told him he did not care a d—m for him, and after breakfast, he came to Mr.
Adams and demanded to know why he spoke to him, Mr. Adams desired him to be
quiet and go to his duty when he the Cook, commenced cursing and swearing and
would give no direct answer, whether he would go to his duty or not although he
Mr. Adams requested him, frequently to do so in the presence of the Carpenter.
He then told him if he would not go quietly to his duty he would put him off
duty until the Captain came on board, when he the Cook went into the forecastle
and cleaned himself did no more duty until noon when the Captain came on Board
– on Receiving this information, from Mr Adams and also seeing severall of Crew, under the influence of liquor, I desired
the Cook to go in the Boat brought him on shore, and explained his conduct
before a Magistrate, who, sentenced him to ten days, in jail’
24 APR 3 p.m. Hong Kong
Upon returning on
Board found George Perry, George Wade, George Ade and John Cooper in a state of
drunkeness, and creating great disturbance on Board,
and paying no attention to the orders of the 2nd mate and Carpenter,
who I had left in charge of the ship while Mr. Adams and I returned, from
giving evidence in the above case and when desired to be quiet by Mr Adams,
George Wade told him to Kiss his a--- The fact is,
they are all trying to annoy me as much as ?possible? to
see and get their discharges for their purpose, shipping to California although
they have no reason to complain as every ????????? has
been ????? consistent with this ships duty
2 MAY 10 a.m. Hong Kong
William Thompson
Released from jail and went to his duty
23 MAY 8 a.m. Shanghai
John Cooper off
duty with Veneral (sic) disease; And under the
medical treatment of Dr. ?Murray?
3 JUN 6 a.m. Shanghai
John Cooper
returned to his duty
23 JUL Lat 3 9 N Long 129 54 E
Norman McLaren
Carpenter off duty with veneral (sic) disease I ?Buhof – pim?
him. Blue Pills and mercurial ointment, to cause ?salination?
31 JUL Lat 00 38 N Long
Norman McLaren
went to his duty
31 JUL 8 a.m. Lat
00 38 N Long
William Thompson
off duty with the veneral (sic) disease gave him
salts and ?nitric?
4 AUG 6 a.m. Lat 1 44 S Long 127 54 E
Thompson went to
his duty
14 NOV 8 a.m. Lat 44 05 N Long 20 49 W
Reduced the
allowances of Beef to the crew 3/4 of a lb having only allowance now on board
at this rate for 12 days
23 NOV ?8? a.m. Lat 50 05 N Long 2 50 W
Put the crew on
full allowance
23 NOV 6 p.m. Lat 50 15 N Long 1 30 W
Norman McLaren
Carpenter fell from the Mainguard while furling the
Mainsail and has received a very ?sour? shock. Bled him and gave him a purgative powder and applied
my care to him that was in my power
28 NOV 3 p.m. London Docks
Sent Norman McLaren
to the Seamen’s Hospital for Medical treatment
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