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A Visit to Nantucket In 1769 By a Quaker From England Extract From T h e Journal of Rachel Wilson T h e Wife of Isaac Wilson of Kendal. (England)
Elizabeth Island — 6th Month 19th 1769 ON THIRD DAY early intending to go on board for Nantucket, we got here but it being thick and heavy and no wind we did not heave anchor till about 8. At 2, the tide running strong against us, we durst not venture through Woods Hole, so cast anchor just by Elizabeth Isle, (Naushon). Several of our Company went ashore and picked us strawberries. When the tide turned we got safe through with a small breeze. 20th The wind increasing it was thought that we might reach Nantucket by ten at night. Our Captain, John Hussey was cautious of acting, without knowing my mind, in passing by Martha's Vineyard, in which only one Friend's family lived, and weighing the matter carefully, I found it my place to let them know I had more freedom to stop there than to go forward in the night. As we were upwards of twenty passengers, if we were confined to the sloop it would be very inconvenient, and I believed it would be best for us to go on shore. The wind being fair the Captain's son-in-law seemed desirous to go forward and made some of the passengers a little uneasy alledging the wind might be against us in the morning and we might lay there for sometime. I had no fear of this sort upon my mind as my trust was in Him at whose command the wind and seas obeyed and mine eye, single to His bidding, which I always found answered in every respect, tho' reasoning is sometimes likely to get in; as at this time it was suggested. Now if they all stay through thee and anything but well should happen what a reflection that would be to the great cause thou art engaged in but
