2 January 1864

Thomas Keir diary - 2 January 1864 entry [National Library Micro-MS-0837]

Saturday 2nd – It was after 7 O’C before
I got out of bed this morning, weather same
as yesterday. two sail of large vessels right
ahead & one on our port quarter. The old
woman that has been so long ill died this

evening[1]. A fair fresh wind in the afternoon
and the s[t]udding sails[2] have been set. The latitude
at noon was 34°8’ south & longitude by
my watch 18° west.

STANDARDISED

Saturday 2nd

It was after 7 o’clock before I got out of bed this morning, weather same as yesterday. Two sail of large vessels right ahead and one on our port quarter. The old woman that has been so long ill died this evening. A fair fresh wind in the afternoon and the studding sails have been set. The latitude at noon was 34°8’ south and longitude by my watch 18° west.

HENRY SCHOFIELD DIARY

Jan[uar]y 2nd fine & fog

Dreampt last night J. [Hues?] had his throat cut. A good many [?] today between butcher & steward[3]. Saw 3 ships outward bound, 5 knots per hour, 35° lat 18 long. Lent Searle[4] 2/- For dinner rice & beef. Reading Cassells paper. The weather beginning to get cooler. Saw two black fishes. Singing & dancing.

Notes

1.The woman who died was Jane Hughes (56) from Co Down, Ireland. She was in the single women’s quarters, and was travelling with Richard Hughes (25) and Charlotte Hughes (22). The captain noted her death in the logbook:

“Jane Hughes” Age 55 Passenger expired. She was suffering from general debility when she came on board, caused by sea sickness coming from Ireland. She was very infirm and could not regain her strength. Doctor Cocksedge attended her. Sunday 8h 30m A.M. Buried the deceased.

2. studding sail: a studding sail, or stun’sl is an extra sail on a square rigged vessel for use in fair weather. [Wikipedia]

3. The butcher was George Aylin (22) from Broxbourne, England, who had no previous shipboard experience. There were several stewards onboard, the head steward being J E Kenning (28) from London, who had served on the Mermaid previously. Check the crew list for the others.

4. Oliver Searle was a 23 year old labourer from Hertfordshire, and one of the assisted emigrants.

A painting of racing tea clippers by Jack Spurling, a marine artist known for his technical accuracy. This shows the reasonable maximum amount of stun’sls that could be set so that they did not interfere with each other. [Wikipedia]