[Rarebooks] FS: Handwritten Log of the Bark "Abbot Lord, " 1847-1848

[Bob Petrilla]

Blaisdell, Jotham and Francis Nason. HANDWRITTEN LOG OF THE AMERICAN BARK
"ABBOT LORD," 1847-1848: An Unfortunate Vessel. Original manuscript. 104pp,
written in ink by at least three hands, few pencilled notations. The first
two voyages (New Orleans to Liverpool, Liverpool to Boston) were under
Jotham Blaisdell, Master. The others (Boston to Havana, New Orleans to
Liverpool, Liverpool to Boston) were under Master Francis Nason. The trips
involved rough passages, a leaking ship, stowaways, a drowning, desertions,
&c. Bound in leather-backed marbled boards, scuffed, hole at top of spine,
otherwise sound. 13" x 8" Very Good. Leather-backed boards.
Capt. Blaisdell is the more literate and descriptive log-keeper, noting not
only weather, wind, and sea conditions, but also which sails were used
when. We read of cargo-loading and -unloading, pilots boarding, activities
of the crew and the few passengers, &c. Nason's hand is legible, but
sometimes difficult. ~ The bark "Abbot Lord" has sprung leaks previously on
an 1846 voyage, according to documents at Mystic Seaport Museum. By the
start of this log, her troubles are far from over: numerous gales, bad
leaks, stowaways, problems with cargo and provisions, desertions of many
crewmen, and three shipboard deaths, all are recorded. Here are just a few
of the quotable passages. On the first day out, "...two lads made their
appearance that had stowed themselves away. An Irish fishing boat coming
alongside put them aboard...." "...child was born to Patrick Welch...sex
female...." "...died this day Mary Conland, aged 40...." "...came to anchor
at Deer Island," then lay in quarantine. "...leaking badly, the pumps
constantly attended to...shiping mutch water...." "...found stowed in the
cargo one boy...found below, stowed away...three boys...." "...gale again,
cabin filled with water...sea wet the provisions...distroyed...everything
adrift...." "...men came aft saying they could not stand to Pump being wore
out...." "...came to anchor in the port of Corck...survey recommended
Discharging the cargo...towed to Passage [Passage West, a port town in
County Cork]...two men absent...." During the next few days, five more men
go "absent," including the cook. After extensive repairs at Passage, during
which lumpers unload and reload the cargo, the Bark sails toward Boston,
encountering heavy gales, putting in at Falmouth for five days, &c. Six
more men desert ship, &c., &c. (#036743)        $900.00

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