Diary of Tully Crosby Brewster on board Ship Charlotte of Boston, 1848-1850 Massachusetts

This leather covered diary is hardbound and is a bit over 100 pages, or a total of 200 pages front and back

The diary is identified clearly in manuscript on the back fly page-- Tully Crosby Brewster [Massachusetts]

The diary entries begin with October 13, 1848 and end with June 19, 1850. Also included with the diary is a beautifully written, 4-page tipped in letter dated January 10, 1843,by the hand of Captain Crosby, addressed from London to his brother and sister, in Brewster, Massachusetts.

The following are just few of the highlights of the entries in this diary. The excerpts were chosen at random. You will learn from this brief list of entries that Captain Crosby was a brave man, sailing the treacherous mighty deep time after time, experiencing utter despair and frustration. He was a devoutly religious man so much so he heaps guilt upon himself for repairing masts on the Sabbath. But at the same time he and his crew wage utter brutality against the poor sea creatures, the whale and the porpoise.

October 13, 1848

I left my home at a late hour of the night to go forth and seek bread for the wife and little ones, whom God hath given me, to follow the profession which in my youth I so unwisely chose. I am one of those people who do business upon the might waters, who go down to the deep in ships, and there behold the wonders of the Lord & . I go because my duty calls me, yet my soul will dwell with you [my wife and children]. On the 14th, arrived in Boston, passed the day there. But in the evening I take cars for New York, and after a pleasant passage through the sound in the Empire State, I arrive safe &

Wednesday, January 27th, 1849
Ship Monterey of Boston
a high rolling sea at 6 p.m. It commences to blow again. Took in said as required and & we had to take all off but close reefed main top said and fore topmost stay sail. Midnight, a tremendous gale of wind & and the sea was terrific. May god have mercy on us... A heavy sea & filled the decks fore and aft and came nigh washing the whole watch off deck. On e many was swept from the bows of the ship, under the spars and was some bruised, passengers necessary was washed away & . It is indeed a very heavy gale, and the sea seems frightful .

Monday, January 31st, 1849
Ship Monterey of Boston

we passed close along side of a squid, a laying on the top of the water. I should think him 20 to 25 feet long and as large as a house the larges I ever saw, though I have heard of them much larger .

Sunday, February the 4th, 1849
Ship Monterey of Boston

we feel at times as if there was no one so unfortunate as we are, but we know when we exercise our better judgment that there is many worse off, by far, yet we feel bad, we are making a very long passage, and our freight is of the loveliest kind. The heavy winds which are continually so spitefully against us is a striping us of all our sails, or rather is straining and tearing them to pieces. We fear that our employees will get tired of our hard luck, but we must do our best and have [left] the result to God .

Sunday, February the 11th, 1849
Ship Monterey of Boston

we find by looking back in this our Journal that this is the twelfth gale of wind that we have experienced since we left port, that has caused us to have our ship too under close reefed main top sail and I think we have been laid too, about 13 days & Midnight calm. It is truly strange how sudden these N gales die down to a calm. In one or two hours from a gale to a perfect calm, all the latter part it is calm and clear and we are obliged to turn all of the watch onto work to repair sails, although it is a Sabbath day, we feel that it is our duty, yet we hate to work, or set men to work on the Lords day, but we have had a dreadful time, and our sails have all got split and strained to pieces and if we don t take the advantage of the good weather, we fear we shall lose them. Our Father, who art in heaven, again we are permitted through thy mercy to behold another Sabbath day. Although we have been at work all the day, upon our sail & c., we felt that it was our duty, and if we have sinned in thy sight, we pray that we may be forgiven, surely we have not meant it for sin, nor have we done it thinking light of thy Command, which requires of us not to work, neither ourselves or our servants, but we have looked upon it as work of necessity. And, our Master and Savior taught us that if we have an ass & that falls in the ditch, it is lawful to pull them out on the Sabbath day. True, such was not our state, but our sails have fallen in to very rough weather, and we feel that we are acting upon the same principle by taking advantage of a moderate day to repair them. Since this is only the third or fourth moderate day we have had out of 44 days, yet Father we do not wish to justify ourselves before thee, for we know that we have often done things that are forbidden in thy sacred work and left undone things that we are commanded to do.

Thursday, February the 15th, 1849
Ship Monterey of Boston & standing to the South to get clear of the Gulf where we find we have been for the last two days, although we have been from 60 to 120 miles south of where we ever knew the gulf to be before in this longitude, but everything has undergone a change apparently since we passed these parts before.

Midnight - a tremendous gale with lightning, thunder, and much rain. Oh God, have mercy on us, for surely we fear our good little ship will not be able to stand it much longer. We have now washed away our head sails, and started our head and main rail, and we fear our head will go altogether as the knees are gone, and if it does, we fear it will start a leak .

Saturday, February the 17th, 1849
Ship Monterey of Boston

Wonderful to relate we have not had to close reef our top sails for 24 hours. May god be praised for this blessing. At 10 a.m., we passed as bale of Cotton floating close along side of the ship, and some pieces of ship s bull works, the Cotton had not been long in the water. Some poor fellow no doubt had his decks swept about here during the late heavy gales. We still pray for a fair wind and may God her our prayers at last, and save us .

Thursday, February 22, 1849

Ship Monterey of Boston
Washington s Birthday.

when it blows, it always blows against us, and when it is calm, of course, we can do nothing, and we are almost ready to despair & surely there must be some cause for all this detention, and for so many, many disappointments, for when our hears are for the moment encouraged with the appearance of a fair wind, lo, and behold it is only for a moment for soon it is all withdrawn from us .

March 15th, 1849
In Baltimore
Ship Monterey of Boston

All of this 24 hours we have a thick rainy, foggy weather, but in the after part of the day, we commence discharging some of our cargo crates, and we hope and pray that tomorrow we may have a better day. Saw Mr. Paul Leans just from [here] from Boston and had a long talk with him about Boston friends there. Nothing new occurring this day & . Saturday, March the 20th, 1849Still in BaltimoreShip Monterey of Boston & Tolerable pleasant, but on Monday, the 20th, much rain which continues for two or three days, but we chartered the Ship for Liverpool to William Mankin. On the 25th had a letter from my wife and she was sick. Complains of weakness, cough, & c. and writes very discouraging. Oh, my Father in Heaven, what can this be, my fears are great, but in thee I put my trust. I immediately sent on for another Master for the ship for not for worlds would I go to sea and leave her sick. On the 29th had a letter saying Capt. George Dunbar is to take the ship, which I am glad to hear. He is a good fellow. On the 2nd of April, Capt Dunbar got on, expected to find the ship ready, but we had not began to load. I have trouble to get my fright as the rates have declined. I fear that Mr. Mankin will lose money by the ship. On the 11th we got her loaded and on the morning of the 12th started her off, and at the same time I started for home. Passed the evening and night in Philadelphia with Mr. Freeman, left next morning and arrived at New York. Left same evening, and the next day I got safe home with my dearly beloved family. Found my wife feeble indeed. But in a few days we start off for a town down east which proves a great benefit to her & . All the month of July and June, I was employed with Carpenters at work making alteration in my house. On the 10th of August, the Monterey arrived in Boston. I went up and took charge, got her Cargo out and I was taken down sick with bowel complaint. Was one week sick in Charlestown. Got a little better, went home and was taken with relapse. Found I should not be able to go in the ship, she being ready for Rio de Janeiro, sent up my old friend and neighbor Thacker, who I was glad to hear got the ship. She sailed on the 3rd of September. On the 20th of September, my health having been recovered, had letter from Mr. Lincoln to come to Boston. Went up on the 22nd, made an agreement to take the old ship Charlotte for a voyage to California.

Saturday, December 29th, 1849
Towards the Pacific
Ship Charlotte of Boston

At 4 p.m. we spoke to the Bark, Leonoria. Off and from Liverpool, England, 23 days for Demerana (?), he complains with us that we are so far south and no trade winds. He wishes us a pleasant passage, a plenty of Gold & c., for which we are much obliged and wish him the same with all of our heart & [Barque (or Bark) A barque is square-rigged at fore and main masts, and differs from a ship in having no top, and carrying only fore-and-aft sails at her mizzenmast. She has at least three masts. All of them are rigged with at least three square sails each, except for the stern most one, which is rigged with fore-and-aft sails. The wooden three-masted barque was a common sight in the port of san Francisco in the middle of the 19th century. Barques were important in California's early development. Until the fast, elegant clippers and huge steamers began arriving in 1850-1851, barques, ships and brigs carried huge cargo loads from around the world. ]

Tuesday, January the 1st, 1850
Towards the Pacific
Ship Charlotte of Boston

All hail Happy New Year! We greet you with the warmth and sincerity of an old friend. Yet we acknowledge that we are perfect strangers. But then we have been expecting you, and knew in reason that you would come about this time, January 1st. Well, you find poor Pill Garlick here on board of the old Charlotte, bobbing off for California, all down upon one side with the NE trade winds all from the SW. We hope friend fifty that we shall be good friends, and that we shall prosper much better under your administration than we did under the reign of your elder sister Queen 49. Yet we know that we even then was permitted to live, and sometimes took much comfort, but our gains in a Worldly sense was small .

Friday, January the 4th, 1850
Towards the Pacific
Ship Charlotte of Boston

At 5 p.m., spoke [with] the schooner S.D. Bailey, & bound for San Francisco, all well, intended to touch at St. Cruz, Cape Verd, passengers on board of her all in high glee. They gave us three cheers as they passed across our stern. We wish them good luck and hope God will prosper them and give them abundance of Gold, and return all those who desire it in safety to their fatherland, again in safety .

Wednesday, January the 15th, 1850
Towards the Pacific
Ship Charlotte of Boston

There is an American Hermaphrodite Brig within a main top sail & a coming up with us as they all do. We have only seen one vessel yet but what passed us, and this one will soon no doubt. But we are dragging along slowly all down upon our side. We have crossed the equator & . [Hermaphrodite Brigantine--If a ship has two masts, the foremast square rigged and the main mast fore-and-aft rigged, it can be called a hermaphrodite brig or a brigantine. Calling it a brigantine is a bit wrong, because the true brigantine should also have square sails on her main topmast. The brigantine must not, however, have a main course, because then it is called a brig and does not belong to the family of schooners since its main sail is not a fore-and-aft sail.]

Thursday, January the 17th, 1850
Towards the Pacific
Ship Charlotte of Boston

The Brig Crocas of and for Gardner Mc Cane up and spoke with us. 39 days out for California . He says he has spoke with two or three vessels before and he was to the east of them all

Wednesday, January the 23rd, 1850
Towards the Pacific
Ship Charlotte of Boston

It is dreadful hot weather, and I am troubled with one of my bilious starts (bowel complaint?), but hope by the mercy of God soon to be well again. Have taken some of the wonderful Brandwiths pills .

Thursday, January the 16th, 1850
Towards the Pacific
Ship Charlotte of Boston

spoke to the ship Em? & from New Bedford, 80 days out on a whaling cruise. Had 400 bbls oil and three noble, large whales then turned up which the boats was then trying to get along side. Two of them already fast to the ship. Monstrous looking they are. And it is wonderful to think of the power of man to subdue all other creatures unto himself. But all under God must it be done.
Thursday, July the 20th , 1850

Towards the Pacific
Ship Charlotte of Boston

There is an American ship and Brig in Company. I expect they are bound to the Gold Regions, and I wish them much success .


Sunday, July the 24th, 1850
Towards the Pacific
Ship Charlotte of Boston

The Bark Emma, camp up and spoke and passed us. Reported 67 days from Bath for the Gold Regions. Full of passengers, and the little Bark sailed like a witch, while our good old Charlotte moves slow and graceful, as well the Charlotte should .

Wednesday, March the 6th, 1850
Towards the Pacific
Ship Charlotte of Boston

Wonderful events have this morning transpired. Mr. Lincoln our second officer has been all the voyage a trying to catch a porpoise. Was fortunate enough to hit one and draw blood. And although he did not save him, yet he is wonderfully elated, and is sharpening up his iron, and woe to the porpoises that now come nigh us, for blood is now drawn and the battle is fairly begun

Wednesday, March the 13th, 1850
Towards the Pacific
Ship Charlotte of Boston

thank our heavenly Father for every little that we gain on our course helps to carry us from this Cape Horn of which we have had enough for one cruise.

Sunday, March the 24th, 1850
Towards the Pacific
Ship Charlotte of Boston

ship laying and laboring in a tremendous sea, within 50 miles of the western entrance to the Straights of Magellan

Wednesday, March the 31st, 1850
Towards the Pacific
Ship Charlotte of Boston

yet we feel thankful indeed that we can say that we have got clear of the Cape Horn without any material accident, though we have had a rough and long time of it, yet we flatter ourselves that we have got clear with as little damage and most any of the California craft, and we pray that we may be as fortunate the rest of the voyage.

Monday, April the 8th, 1850
Towards the Pacific
Ship Charlotte of Boston

this voyage we had a strong hope that we should have reached Valparaiso before this time, and as the first part of our passage was so prosperous, that hope was strengthened, but since we got up with Cape Horn, we have indeed had a hard time of it, although through the mercy of a kind providence, we have been preserved alive, and have not met with any serious accident, and we are now only 400 miles from Valparaiso .

Monday, April the 14th, 1850
ANCHORED AT VALPARAISO
Ship Charlotte of Boston

Monday morning went on shore and found to my great regret that there is no letters for me to be found here from any part, and I further find that there is no prospect of my selling the cargo on any part of it h ere to advantage so that I have no course to pursue but to continue on the San Francisco and the prospect does not look very flattering even there, but we must go

Friday, April the 26th, 1850
ON TO SAN FRANCSICO
Ship Charlotte of Boston

at midday there was a large whale one of the largest species came along side of the ship so near as to rub his sides against the bottom of the ship and continued to pass under the bottom from one side to the other, occasionally blowing close beside us and throwing his flukes about to our no great satisfaction, until we shot a Rifle Ball into his head when he left us in double quick time


Wednesday, March the 6th, 1850
ON TO SAN FRANCISCO
Ship Charlotte of Boston

hand variously employed in ship s duty & myself reading Doctor Allcot s novel, Reformer, but think as I ever have that the said Doctor Allcot is an ass, and I don t believe he thinks half what he writes true. Still he says some good things as who many not who writes so much

Wednesday, May the 8th, 1850
ON TO SAN FRANCISCO
Ship Charlotte of Boston

O how time flies away. It seems all most impossible, but such is the fact. We had hopes of being a little nearer to California when this day came around, but we had such a cruel hard, and long time off of Cape Horn which causes us to be no further on now

Thursday, May the 9th, 1850
ON TO SAN FRANCISCO
Ship Charlotte of Boston

hands employed in painting ship, cleaning iron work & . The weather is getting very hot, and we feel somewhat the effects of it operating upon our digestive organs. We have a craving appetite, and have not strengths of mind enough to curb its desires, when we know it hurts us to eat so much. Well, of people will dance, they ought to pay the fiddler

Monday, May the 12th, 1850
ON TO SAN FRANCISCO
Ship Charlotte of Boston

Clear, pleasant weather all sail out low and aloft, and our good ole ship is a doing the best she can towards reaching California

Monday, May the 13th, 1850
ON TO SAN FRANCISCO
Ship Charlotte of Boston

all hands employed scrubbing and scraping ship outside making ready for painting myself and Mr. Gould, passenger, practicing pistol and rifle shooting, the weather is very warm. Indeed the heat is very oppressive. We have one man sick threatened with fever

Tuesday, May 14th, 1850
ON TO SAN FRANCISCO
Ship Charlotte of Boston

hands employed painting ship outside, I had some high words with my mate Mr. Gillson. He provokes me all the passage, I suppose he wants to aggravate me to discharge him when the ship arrives, and heaven knows he may go for it. If I can t have an officer who will pay a little respect towards me as master of the ship, I don t want any. And I am quite sure that he does not, and he boasts of not caring a d**** whether he gives me satisfaction or not. I am sure of one thing and that is; that I never tried to treat a mate better than I have him, and I never had one who took such improper advantage of good treatment before, and I am sure I never had such improper advantage of good treatment before and I am sure I never had such abusive language from any one before. I could put him off duty, but this would be just what he would like, besides I am not disposed to do his duty for him, and as our voyage cannot be more than 20 or 50 days longer, I pray that God may give me patience. I hope to treat him in a proper manner, and deport myself toward him as becomes a gentleman and Christian. God knows I wish him no harm, but I pray that he may possess a better disposition. I am sure he will one day regret the abusive language that he has used toward me. But he has many things to repent of. He boast of having taken many Negroes from their native land to the West Indies and sold them, and swears he will do it again, one day. This will rise up in judgment again him

Sunday, May the 26th, 1850
ON TO SAN FRANCISCO
Ship Charlotte of Boston

we are now within 1200 miles of San Francisco

Monday, June the 4th, 1850
ON TO SAN FRANCISCO
Ship Charlotte of Boston

a high rolling sea, all of which continues all the 24 hours, just as it has for the last nine days & but I expect it is fair for some people, and we ought to be content. But our philosophy has got pretty much used up into fiddle strings, and we wish to Heaven we could get on fair wind to take us to San Francisco for we want to see the Elephant, and satisfy ourselves whether that animal has got horns or not. Cause folks says he has

Tuesday, June the 18th, 1850
ON TO SAN FRANCISCO
Ship Charlotte of Boston

at 9 a.m., the Baltimore schooner called C.A. Slicer came up and spoke to us she left Valparaiso eight days after us, and she came up and passed us like a bird

Wednesday, June the 19th, 1850
ON TO SAN FRANCISCO
Ship Charlotte of Boston

the Schooner that passed us yesterday is still in sight. We came up with some in the night, we begin to get some of the California weather, and our hope soon to get a fair breeze t take us in for we are truly sick of this long passage.

Tuesday, June the 20th, 1850
NEAR THE PORT OF SAN FRANCISCO~LAST DIARY ENTRY
Ship Charlotte of Boston

Commenced with a light air from WNW, nearly calm. All sails set low and aloft. Our ship a moving on her course about 4 knots an hour, which continues all the 24 hours nearly the same. The Schooner that we spoke to on the 18th is still in sight. She gets way ahead of us in the day time, but at night, we come up with her, and find her near us in the morning. We hope soon to reach our port, and as we now are a drawing nigh, we pray God to give us clear weather and direct our courses right and keep us in safety & Amen