Family History 1.728

(Shipboard diary of my great-grandfather, Charles Gaze, aged 27)

 

14th February 1860

Dull and damp, calm sea but fair wind.

 

Some Valentines sent about the ship.

 

 

 

 

I made the children a little table of the lid of box of Skittles, present from John Curry. They are always having something made there being a number of pieces of wood lying about the Carpenters bench.

 

A pig killed today.

 

Doctor gave some arrowroot.

 

15th

Dull morning, but clears off after breakfast. Sailors begin to prepare tackling for unshipping anchors etc.                  

 

Fair wind, but rolling in consequence of wind being astern of us. Ship sails much steadier when wind on the quarter, as the sailors say, that is when all the sails drawn which they do not when the wind is direct after of us.

S. Lat. 44+2 E. Long 88=50.

Hospital being prepared for the reception of a single young woman in the second cabin expecting to be confined.

16th

Very fine and calm sea.

2 large albatross and several other birds, Molahawks flying about us today, some seen every day.

17th E Long. 95-7

Fine and strong north breeze. My wife washed and I hung out some clothes.

 

 

 

 

 

18th

Strong N.E. Breeze, reefing topsails, sea washed over several of us this morning.

1 p.m. wind not so Strong and Raining, unreefing and continual rain till night.

S. Lat. 43=29.