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A journal of a passage from Java Head to Salem on the Brig Leander: commanded by Charles Roundy, beginning December 25, 1825, kept by Elias Grant
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Held at: University of Pennsylvania: Kislak Center for Special Collections, Rare Books and Manuscripts [Contact Us]3420 Walnut Street, Philadelphia, PA 19104-6206
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The Brig Leander was one of eighty-three merchant ships built or owned by Captain Joseph Peabody (1757-1844) of Salem, Massachusetts between 1790 and 1844. The Leander was launched in July 1821 from the Benjamin Hawkes shipyard measuring 223 short tons, 91.3 feet in length, and 23.4 feet in breadth. The ship carried a crew of thirteen men and made voyages to Asia Minor, China, East Africa, and Europe. The Leander made twenty-six voyages over twenty-three years.
This logbook is a record of the Brig Leander's return trip of its fourth voyage from Salem, Massachusetts to Canton and Manila, commanded by Captain Charles Roundy (1794-1886). The ship's log was kept by Elias Grant for a four-month period from December 25, 1825 to April 11, 1826, on the return journey from Java Head, a strait between the islands of Java and Sumatra, to Salem, Massachusetts. Grant's detailed, daily log recorded the ship's course, position, hours of day, wind speed, weather and remarks. Each page of the logbook consists of two days. Remarks made by Grant during the voyage chiefly include descriptions of the weather along with longitude and latitude observations, types of sails, and sail positions. Also noted in the remarks are speaking to and sightings of other ships at sea. Some notations of crew activity such as all hands employed in ship's duty, watch duty, and all employed in painting the ship are also in the volume. Grant also mentioned of the death of a crew member, slaughtering a pig, and catching a porpoise. There are marks, initials, words, and a few names written in pencil throughout the volume.
Sold by Nancy Howell (Sacramento, California), 2017 (eBay).
- Publisher
- University of Pennsylvania: Kislak Center for Special Collections, Rare Books and Manuscripts
- Finding Aid Author
- Donna Brandolisio
- Finding Aid Date
- May 2017
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