November 30, 1819

November 30, 1819 - This evening opened a singing school for the improvement of ourselves and the officers in sacred music, and concluded to sing together one hour in a week besides at our ordinary seasons of social worship.

Lat. 28.13.

November 29, 1819

November 29, 1819 - no entry

November 28, 1819

November 28, 1819 - Today we have been favored not only with the privilege of a prayer-meeting in the cabin, but with public worship on deck.  Sermon on Repentance from Acts 17:30. by Br. B.  The audience attentive and so hope benefitted.  The Lord follow with his blessing the exhibition of his truth.

November 27, 1819

November 27, 1819 - no entry.

November 26, 1819

November 26, 1819 - Appointed Br. W. as a committee to take charge of the clothing cabin stores, and of our Native youths.  They have been a great comfort and inspiration to the rest of the family, particularly Hopee and Honoree during seasickness and rough weather.

November 25, 1819

November 25, 1819 - no entry.

November 24, 1819

November 24, 1819 - The subject of studies for the voyage was discussed this evening.  We feel the importance of attending not only to the studies of our different professions, but of making the suhy-hean Language a prima object the' our means of acuiring it is limited.

Lat. 33. 1.  Lon. 30. 52.

November 23, 1819

November 23, 1819 - no entry.

November 22. 1819

November 22, 1819 - no entry.

November 21, 1819

November 21, 1819 - Not allowed to attend public service in consequence of the roughness of the weather. 

Lat. 33. 49.  Lon. 34. 21.

November 20, 1819

November 20, 1819 - All the family except Br. Ruggles so far recovered from seasickness and so much accustomed to our new situation as to be able to make a regular division of time and to engage in systematic efforts for the improvement of our minds and 6 hours of the day in ordinary cases are to be considered as study hours.  A scooner.

Lat. 33.11.  Lon. 35. 52.

November 19, 1819

November 19, 1819 - Blest with precious seasons of soul devotion.  The divine spirit seems in some measure to dwell with me.  Able to attend morning prayers.

November 18, 1819

November 18, 1819 - We have new occasion to sing of mercies, favorable winds, safe progress, returning health to the body and thought and life to the soul demand our elevated praise.

November 17, 1819

November 18, 1819 - Still watching for favorable winds, yet without prepining.  Capt. B. tells us that in his last voyage he crossed the line in less time from Boston than we have now been out:  But it is now the fourteenth night that we have been driven up and down like Paul in Adria, between the parallels of Lat. 38. 35 and 37. - We have been tossing rolling on an uncommonly rough sea, according to the account of the best seamen on board, 24 days,  and yet have proceeded but 5 and a half degrees toward the equator.  We cannot but conclude that He who controls the winds and the waves, and conducts all the affairs of nations is either kindly withholding us from dangers and disasters at Cape Horn or operating changes in the Sandwich Isles favorable to the introduction and success of our enterprse.  He is kindly inuring us to a life of toil and hardship.  He spreads our table on the face of the boisterous deep, gives us now the comfort of returning health, teaches us to sit with meekness at his feet and to trust in his all sufficient grace.

November 16, 1819

November 16, 1819 - Contrary winds still impede our programs.

This evening in a prudential meeting of the brethren adopted several important regulations, with respect to our immediate concerns. Committed to Capt. C. the care of our provisions and property in common stock, and to Dr. Holman the superintendance of the medical stores. Requested Capt. B. to order our Table and provide at our meals. and in order to maintain suitable regularity and at the same time make ourselves as comfortable as our situation would admit, agreed unanimously that if any member of the family should need any thing from our common stores different from what was prepared for the family, at any time, such person should speak to Capt. B. for his permission.

November 15, 1819

November 15, 1819 - no entry

While the authors keeping the Thaddeus Journal did not make an entry on November 15th, others onboard were also keeping journals and Lucia Ruggles Holman, the wife of physican, Dr. Holman had made the following entry in her diary (there is some confusion as to the date this journal entry was made based on Holman's comment of 15 days after sailing,  4 weeks since we embarked and stating the Latitude as 33. 20).   The Latitude she sites puts them further along their way than the offical ship's log which we are following.  I offer an the entry on this date as a way to provide another perspective of those onboard the Thaddeus:

"Saturday Morning, 15th day after sailing: My Dear Brothers: We weighed anchor soon after you left us.  A gentle gale wafted us about 10 miles that day, when we had a calm which detained us till the next morning.  A kind providence seemed to order it for the best however, for, in the course of the evening, it was ascertained that our soft bread and crackers and all the ardent spirits were left behind.  Consequently, a boat was sent off for Boston that night, which did not return until the next day towards night.  A fine breeze blew up which took us off at the rate of 8 miles an hour.  Our seasickness came on, and before morning every passenger, except the 4 native youths were broadside.  I need not attempt to describe the horrors of seasickness, for I believe it is well understood by most of you.  However, to make the best of us, we were a pitiable company.  I think here was an exception to the saying that misery loves company, for I believe the miseries of one was no consolation to those of another.

Could the transactions of the first week have been penned, I am sure, while they would have called forth sensations of pity from your heart, would at the same time afford merriment.  Sorrow and despondency were depicted on every countenance,  while scarcely a look of love or complacency was discernable one towards the other. 

To multiply our sorrows we were visited with unfavorable winds. high seas, and heavy gales, the three first weeks of our voyage.  It will be 4 weeks tomorrow since we embarked, and we are now in Lat. 33, 20.  Eleven days calm."

This excerpt was taken from the published copy of the Journal of Lucia Ruggles Holman.  Which was reprinted in 1992 with the permission of Mrs. Lucille (Ruggles) Campbell and the Bishop Museum by the Congregational Church of Brookfield, Connecticut in 1992.  

November 14. 1819

November 14, 1819 - Sabbath. - Bro. R. continues sick.  Weather too rough to assemble for public worship.

November 13, 1819

November 13, 1819 - Strong gales and slow progress, but returning health demands our gratitude.

Lat. 37. 19.

November 12, 1819

November 12, 1819 - Hitherto our passage has been rough while transversing half the width of the boistrous Atlantic. (In consequesnce of high winds and tumultuous waves, we have not been allowed to assemble for public worship today.)

Lat. 37. 12.  Lon. 36.

November 11, 1819

November 11, 1819 - no entry.

As there was no entry for a second day in a row.  I thought it might be interesting to introduce you to those credited with authoring this journal.  Hiram Bingham, Asa Thurston, and Elisha Loomis.

• Hiram Bingham (b. Oct. 30, 1789 in Bennington, Vermont - d. Nov. 11, 1869).  The leader of the Mission, Mr. Bingham was pastor of the first church (Kwaaiahao), was prominent in the creation of the written Hawaiian language, the translation of the bible into Hawaiian and a trusted advisor of King, Queens and chiefs.  He was 30 years old when he made this trip on board the Thaddeus.
  
• Asa Thurston (b. October 12, 1787 in Fitchberg, Massachusetts - d. March 11, 1868 in Honolulu, HI) Ordained at Goshen, Connecticut, Mr. Thurston was also a graduate of Yale University.  He was a beloved preacher among the Hawaiian people and was known for his ability to speak Hawaiian with great puritity and idiomatic accuracy.   He assisted with translation of the Bible into the Hawaiian language.  He served as missionary at Kailua, Hawaii, the three years in Honolulu before returning to Kailua.  He was 32 years old when he traveled to the Sandwich Islands on board the Thaddeus.
  
• Elisha Loomis (b. Dec. 11, 1799 in Rushville, New York - d. Aug. 27, 1836 in Rushville, New York) Mr. Loomis offered to go to Hawai`i as the mission's printer in 1820.  He was bound out as an apprentice printer and so needed to be released from his contract.  He briefly taught school before focusing on setting up a printing press for the mission.  On January 7, 1822, he oversaw Keeaumoku strike off the first printing - a page of the primer.  Poor health and the need to print books in Hawaiian fro the Mission forced him to return to the United States in 1827.  He was 20 years old when he made the trip to the Sandwich Islands on board the Thaddeus.
  

Info on the three men was taken from

the Mission Album: Sesquicentennial Edition,

1820-1970.

November 10, 1819

November 10, 1819 - No entry.

November 9, 1819

November 9, 1819 - A vessel hove in sight and much joy was felt in hope of being able to send a line to our friends, but were not favored with the privilege.  Still progressing outward and North for several days.

Lat. 38. 27. Lon.

November 8, 1819

November 8, 1819 - no entry

So I thought it might be a good opportunity to answer some questions that came from either earlier comments or direct emails to me.

What is a caboose?
Using the American Heritage Dictionary and Wikipedia, I found that the word first appears in 1769.  Its first definition is "a ship's galley." The second definition is a freight-train car attached usually to the rear mainly for the use of the train crew.  The third definition is one that follows or brings up the rear and the final definition given was "buttocks."  I think we would agree that our author is using the first definition.

What is a brig?
A brig is a two-masted vessel using square sails.  The term is dated to 1712.  It was very popular during the 18th and 19th centuries and is eventually replaced by steam ships.  The second definition refers to a brig as a place of confinement, prison on board a ship.  This term appears around 1832.  These definitions are from Webster's online dictionary.

Who wrote the journal we are following?
According to  a note on the front page of the journal transcript, "This journal, original in the HMCS vault, was probably written by Hiram Bingham, Asa Thurston and Eliisha Loomis in turn." Each of the men were members of the pioneer group of missionaries to come to the Sandwich Islands.  Unfortunately, entries are not signed by their author.

My question for you is - who traditionally kept ship logs or journals and is what we are seeing in the Thaddeus Journal typical?  I look forward to your comments.

November 7, 1819

November 7, 1819 - Favored again today with divine services on the quarter deck, which was conducted by Brother T. (singing and prayer, sermon, prayer, singing, blessing)

Lat. 38. 23.  Lon. 42. 54.

November 6, 1819

November 6, 1819 - We acknowledge a continuance of divine mercies tho' we make no progress on our way.

Lat. 38. 3.   Lon. 43. 32.

November 5, 1819

November 5, 1819 - Today, most of our company feel considerably recovered from seasickness, and have spent the day principally on deck, and desire to be grateful for undeserved mercies.
Lat. 37. 36. Lon. 43. 32.

November 4, 1819

November 4, 1819 - Pleasant weather which all very sensibly feel.

Lat. 37. 47.  Lon. 46. 30.

November 3, 1819

November 3, 1819 - Gales continue from the S. West.

Lat. 38. 55.  Lon. 50. 7.

November 2, 1819

November 2, 1819 - Yesterday and today we have experienced many gales. We roll upon tremendous waves, and suffer much with the sinking motion. Early this morning shipped a sea, which stove in the starboard waistboards and overturned the caboose. No very material damage or danger.  Heavy rains and squalls make dreary hours.

Lat. 38. 55. Lon. 50. 7.

November 1, 1819

November 1, 1819 - no entry.