Reminiscence [manuscript], 1837-1864

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Reference

RF 788

Collection

Document Type

Date

1837-1864

Description

Typed reminiscence, 1837-1864, of an unknown sailor from Colchester, Connecticut. The account was written in 1864 while the author was in port at Hong Kong. The author recounts his boyhood in Colchester and Mystic, Connecticut with clear descriptions of these areas. He transitions into his experiences aboard the ship ROMULUS of Mystic for a whaling voyage from 1851-1854 where he served as boy, the ship ELIZA MALLORY in 1854 and again in 1857, aboard the bark W. H. BRODIE from 1854-1857, the bark R.H. GAMBLE until May 1861, and then finally on the bark DIADEM from December 1861-1862. He gives vivid accounts of many of the ports that he visits, describing the buildings and inhabitants. While on the W.H. BRODIE the ship explodes, injuring many, he also endures tremendous troubles including sickness, rigging failures, storms, icebergs, and death at sea, while on his second voyage with the ELIZA MALLORY. He works his way up in the shipping business from cabin boy to mate and ends his memoir while in Shanghai. This reminiscence compliments the log of the ROMULUS (Log 44) for the same voyage within Mystic Seaport's collection.

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