Extract
of log of ocean-going schooner VERITAS 1859-1860
Source: TNA: PRO:
BT 98/6674
Official
Log Book
Tuesday 20th
September 1859 10 a.m. – Lat 31 degs 25 mins S, Long 17 degs 15 mins W
‘Thomas Dent Cook
came aft and requested to be put off the articles as Cook as he was not
qualified for it. To which request is agreed to’.
Wednesday 11th
January 1860 – Lat 15 degs S, Long 87 degs 44 mins E
‘At 6 p.m. the 2nd
Mate came aft and Reported to me that one of the hands namely George Ohlman Refused to Pump the ship out, on being sent for by
me and Ordered by me to Pump the ship he actually Refused me also, alleging as
his Reason that it was past 6 o’clock. On a previous occasion I had Reason to
speak to him’.
January 12th
‘On this entry
being Read over to the above named seaman and asked if it was correct his Reply
‘Yes’’
7th
January 1860 – Lat 9 degs E, Long 91 degs 30 mins E (This entry was
obviously back-dated)
‘I George Innes
late Master of the ship Winscales* do hereby certify that I was obliged to abandon my
ship on the 7th of January in a ?sickly? state and my Hands also being ill of scurvy. We having
experienced a Cyclone in the bay of Bengal on the above date and that I was
picked up by the ship Veritas of Liverpool Thomas
Carrey Master and carried with him to the Port of Calcutta and maintained at
the expense of the above ship being served with ?Wines? and
Medical stores and every necessary for their comfort and to the preservation of
their Lives for which the master of the above ship wishes to make a claim on
his arrival in England’.
(Not only signed
by both masters, but also the other distressed seamen – 8 in total, other than
the master)
* The
relevant entry in Lloyd’s List stated that the full rigged ship
WINDSCALES, of Sunderland, had been on a voyage from Aden to Maulmain and was abandoned in Lat. 9N Long 91E.
February 9th
1860 – Calcutta
‘Hugh Doran
discharged from the ship, by Mutual Consent. Paid wages’
February 16th
‘At 7 a.m. the
Chief Mate came aft to me and Reported that a large
Hole was burned through the main deck. Endangering the ship by the negligence
of the Cook Thos Dent he having last night allowed the Red Cinders to overrun
his ash pan’
‘2.30 p.m. the
Crew came aft to the Captain to Complain of the dirty, indifferent way that
their food was cooked for them, often not Ready at the Proper time. Also he has
been a very troublesome man all the voyage, on being called aft to Read the
statement, which all the hands had made against him he Refused to do any more
duty on board the ship. And asked for his discharge which I
refused to give him, he the said Thomas Dent being present when this was Read
to him’.
February 17th
- 9 a.m.
‘The above Entry
was Read to the offender, his Reply was why did not the men Complain of him
before’.
February 18th
‘He the said Thomas Dent still Refusing to do duty on board the
ship Veritas’
‘Thomas Dent on
shore without leave’
February 19th
and 20th
‘Thomas Dent Cook
apparently deserted not making his appearance ?this? day’.
February 21st
‘Thomas Dent Cook
on shore without Liberty and apparently deserted the ship this is the 4th
days absence’.
‘Noon. I personally appeared and gave notice to the Inspector
of Police. Tells me on the 1st of March he can not apprehend the said Thomas Dent’.
March 1st
‘Thomas Dent not
yet apprehended’
Wednesday 21st
March – Rangoon
‘On coming to
anchor I heard a noise on board and on asking what was the matter I ascertained
that one of the seamen (George Ohlman) was giving the
Chief Mate a deal of insolence and telling him he had better mind what he was
about’.
22nd
March
‘The
above seaman George Ohlman Refusing to do any more
work on board and wanting his discharge, which I refused to Grant’.
23rd
March
‘George Ohlman still Refusing duty and on being taken before the
Magistrate still Refusing to do duty on board the ship. Was
sent to Jail by Order of the Police authorities’.
30th
March
‘George Olhman was this day Committed to jail for Refusing to do
duty on board the ship. He was warned by the Court of the Penalty of so
Refusing to do his duty, without Reasonable Grounds. He was released and told
to go on board his ship to work. I met him in the Street on the Evening of the
28th instant and desired him to proceed on board. His Reply was,
when I came on shore I did not intend to return on board. Today is the 3rd
days absence from the ship and the 8th day
since doing duty on board the ship. I produced the articles Under Which the
Court observed the above seaman is bound per articles to return to the ship to
a final port of discharge’.
‘I Thomas Carrey
do Hereby protest that all or any expense incurred by the conviction of the
above George Ohlman I mean to deduct of his wages at
the port of discharge. Annexed is a stamped copy of the conviction of the above
seaman’.
(INSERTED INTO THE
LOG ARE TWO SHEETS OF PAPER HEADED ‘RANGOON POLICE COURT THE 30TH
MARCH 1860’)
8th
April
‘The Chief Mate
called my attention to the misconduct of the Sailmaker Samuel Foulkes Refusing duty. On being called aft by me he said
there was no more use of him doing any more duty on board. I put him under
confinement in the Cabin previous to informing the Magistrates. At noon I asked
him would he return to his duty and on reading the articles to him, he said he
would, whereupon I released him from confinement. The Chief Mate informs me
that he is in the habit of giving back answers when told by to do anything’.
Monday 23rd
April
‘Joseph Mason AB, Auguste Bonniet AB on shore
without liberty having broken their leave and not at their work on Monday
morning. At 4 p.m. Joseph Mason brought on board in custody of Police officer,
having been confined for being drunk and disorderly on board at 1 p.m. August
Bonnet came on board at 1 p.m. both the above men off duty on Monday’.
Friday 10th
May
‘John Walker AB
who joined the ship 4 days previous, to perform the voyage to Liverpool as per
articles, came aft to me and requested to be allowed to leave the ship as the
Work was two (sic) ?severe? for him, to which I would
not consent as hands are scarce’.
‘Saturday’
‘John
Walker on shore without liberty having taken his clothes, without leave and
apparently deserted the ship’.
‘Tuesday 19th’
‘John Walker
discharged from the ship by Mutual consent of both parties’.
Monday 17th
May, 8 a.m.
‘James Henderson
AB Samuel Foulkes Sailmaker not on duty this morning,
being on shore and exceeded their liberty which was granted to them yesterday
morning’.
6 p.m.
‘James Henderson
and Samuel Foulkes returned on board at 6 p.m.’.
17th
May 1860 – There was an entry in another hand (which I could not read) about
George Ohlmann, signed by someone named Rees and
stamped (illegible)
17th
May 2.30 p.m.
‘George Ohlman brought on board, by the police constable, but still
refusing to do duty. Was put in irons by my orders and to be
kept on bread and water, unto our arrival in England, or to consenting to do
duty’.
18th
May 8 a.m.
‘This morning
asked the offender George Ohlman if he would turn to
his duty. His reply was no and will not … the days allowance of bread and
water’.
17th May 2.30 p.m.
‘G Holman Seaman
was brought on Board by a police officer from gaol and by Captain Carreys orders through him I the Chief Officer put him in
irons, when he told me in a threatening manner that I should suffer dearly for
all this cleared out one of the rooms in the Cabin and locked him up’.
19th
May - ?Rangoon? River
‘George Ohlman still refusing to do duty on board and confined
served out the usual allowance of bread and water. Wont turn to duty’.
Similar entries
for 22nd, 23rd and 24th
Friday 25th
May 8 a.m. – Lat 14 degs S, Long 14 degs 34 mins E
‘At 8 a.m. on the
Chief Mate opening the door of the Cabin where the Prisoner George Ohlman was confined to ask him as usual if he would turn to
his duty, he jumped out of the Cabin and said no and he was going forward, to
which I the Master said No, but he did go against my orders. I immediately went
after him, taking the Chief Mate and the Boatswain with me. I found him on the
Top Gallant Forecastle. I went to him and ordered him aft whereupon he seized Hold
of a Capstan Bar and swore that if I would go near him he would nock (sic) my Brains out. I disarmed him and put him in
Irons and took him aft again he all the time giving
abusive and threatening language. Locking him up in the Cabin again he all the time giving insolence, there to be Confined unto the ships
arrival in England. Served out the usual allowances of bread
and water’.
25th
May – similar statement to 22nd etc
26th
May
‘George Ohlman Let out of Irons and Custody on promising to behave
himself in a proper and upright manner and to commence his duty again as AB
able seaman’
7th
June 6 a.m. – Lat 6 degs 26 mins
S, Long 94 degs 50 mins E
(Going to windward between Achene (sic) Head* and the Great Nicobar)
‘At 6 a.m. on
getting up and looking at the compass in the Cabin found the ships head at E by
S ½ S, right on the opposite direction to what she should be going, with all
sail set and making sail to send her more out of her course. The Chief Mate,
Charles Fairbairn being in charge of the deck the standing order for the night
was If she broke off I was to be told immediately’.
* Acheen Head. See NMM: The Country Trade or Free
Mariners’ Pilot - being a set of new and accurate, general and particular
charts, on a very large scale (London: J W Norie
& Co., 1833) chart no 19.
Also,
the position as stated is in the wrong hemisphere!
20th
June 4.30 p.m. – Lat 1 deg 5 mins S, Long 90 degs 20 mins E
‘At 9 a.m. on
inquiry, and asking if the live stock and the Fowls had been fed I ascertained
not, the boy in charge and against my Orders neglected doing so. At 4.30 p.m. a
Repetition of the same. The Boy H Walton who has had charge of the stock being repeatidly (sic) warned about it, for such gross neglect of
duty, I Chastised him with a ropes (sic) end, and have given him warning for
the future’.
1st
August – Lat 31 degs 5 S, Long 14 degs
15 mins E
‘3.40 p.m. On
hearing a noise on the Main deck I went to ascertain the cause. I found the
passenger I B Smith quarrelling with the Mate and ?threatning? him if he had but 2
hands. I ordered them to keep quiet, but finding that was to no avail I ordered
the Chief Mate into his Cabin. When he went, the said Mr Smith when the Mate
went away then came on the Poop deck and told me to hold my tongue and made use
of abusive language to and before all my crew and officers. I ordered him off
the Poop deck, which he said he would not go for one or any man in the ship but
I the Master sent him and on coming down to write this statement the said Mr
Smith still abusing me and insulting and daring me to strike him, I told him
all I wanted was quietness in the ship, but he is still going on abusing and
aggravating’.
2nd
August Noon – Lat 31 degs 19 S, Long 13 degs 00E
‘The passenger I B
Smith Came to me and apologised for his Conduct of the preceding day, hoping I
would forgive him, which I agreed to on Conditions of not having a Repetition
of it. I believe he was under the influence of Liquor at the time’.
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