Privateer Journal (1 results)

Soft cover. Condition: Very Good. Manuscript and type, 9pp. of printed text, followed by manuscript entries, contemporary worn sheepskin, 12mo, 1755 [manuscript entries from 1761-1784] This common type of daily journal, containing printed sections with various types of "useful information", and a calendar year of blank spaces, was used by an anonymous privateer and sailor in the Jamaica Squadron during the American Revolution. The author used this book for far longer than the single year it was intended, with the first entry dated 17th January 1761 and the final on 12th May 1784. Used more as a notebook to keep track of lists of money paid, "necessaries" (clothing) purchased, and other sporadic entries written out of sequence throughout. The first voyage reads "Sailed from St. Helens the 17th of Jan-ry for Jamaica 1761." and is followed up several pages later with "Feb.ry 26 1761 Anchord in St. John's Road Antigua." Evidence of the author's privateering begins to form with an entry in the middle of the book, "1760 July 12 On this day gave chace to the Valiant a French ship of war of 61 guns and a frigate of 36 guns calld the Amethyst bound from Martinico to Old France but it coming on hazy lost them in the night." Further evidence comes in an entry toward the back of the Memoranda section, "Money recd for prizes taken by HM Ship Pelican" A dozen French and Dutch prizes are listed, with the diarist's share coming to a total of 443 pounds. "HMS Pelican" was a 24-gun sixth-rate ship launched in 1777. She foundered in 1781. This entry ties in with several entries referring to his business dealings with his prize agent, Mr. Madden, and an earlier entry, "1761. took the Saint Ann a French ship of war of 64 guns but being filled for the use of the merchants held only 44 mounted loaded with sugar indigo and tortoise shell + coffee from Port au Prince bound to old France." The "Sainte Anne" was captured in 1761 by "HMS Centurion" and "HMS Hampshire." Based on this information, it appears that this anonymous journal keeper was a sailor in the Jamaica squadron on the expedition against Havana. Another substantive entry, on the April page but dated Nov. 18th, records "subsistence" money paid for "recruits." This is followed by recognition of Deseada, (probably La Desirade, an island off Guadeloupe), and Monserrat - both dated 1761. Later entries during the American Revolution place him under the command of a Captain Williams, who was responsible for doling out the author's "subsistence," and for whom he apparently managed "recruits." Thus, it appears that much of this journal is a record of a life at sea as a privateersman and as a sailor attached to the Jamaica Squadron. More entries occur in the 1780s, and these document the end of his career. They concern personal finances such as payments to his brother and an aunt, purchases of timber, nails, and tiles, and other domestic expenses. On the 12th of May 1784, for example, he writes, "John Kain entered of the farm at Parish Close." It seems he swallowed the anchor in the 1780s, and made a life ashore. A fascinating historical artefact. All entries are clean and (mostly) legible.