27 minute read
by Nancy Grant Adams
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by Nancy Grant Adams
We continue in this issue of Historic Nantucket Mrs. Nancy Grant Adams' story of her "Sea-faring Family", which takes us through Charles Grant's last voyage on the MOUNT VERNON and the first of the whaling voyages on which his wife, Nancy, accompanied him. Chapter 6
First Mate on the MOUNT VERNON
"Ask any question in this town,
Of anyone, by night or morn,
The answer will be always found, 'Round Cape Horn'.
I ask the ladies where I call, 'Your husbands, are they here or gone?'
And get this answer from them all, 'Round Cape Horn'.
I ask a sister whom I saw,
Quite finely dressed in silks and lawn, 'Where's your brother?' She answered, 'La, 'Round Cape Horn'.
I asked a maiden by my side,
Who sighed and looked at me forlorn, 'Where is your heart?' She quick replied, 'Round Cape Horn'.
In the Nantucket "Inquirer" of 1839 appeared this item: Ship Mt. Vernon, Capt. Imbert, to sail October 25. Letter bag at the store of J. Lawrence and Co.
Charles was twenty-five years old when he sailed as First Mate and it was to be his fifth voyage whaling. A Nantucket friend, Henry Coleman, was also on board as Second Mate.
The ship sailed from Edgartown, Mass., the 31st of October, 1839, for the Pacific Ocean. The first report of her was when the HARBINGER of Boston reported seeing her at Fayal in November with 90 bbls. of oil. She was again reported in February 1840 with 300 bbls. In August 1840 the Ship MASSACHUSETTS came into port with 300 bbls. of oil from the ship MOUNT VERNON.
We are fortunate in having a journal kept by an officer on this voyage and much information has been gleaned from this humorous and
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delightful journal.
The ship made the Western Islands about the 19th of November. They laid off and on at Flores all night and the next morning sent in the larboard boat. Took a passenger on, who was going to Fayal. After leaving Flores they took a 90 bbl. whale on the way to Fayal.
On the 28th the Customs House boat came off. The passenger was sent ashore and a barge was sent out to take off 10 casks of oil which had to be shipped home.
The next we hear, she is cruising off the river Platte the 25th of January 1840. The cook was found to be missing and, as he couldn't be found, it was supposed his remains would be off the river Platte.
On the 7th of March they made Staten Land and spoke the HENRY CLAY of Nantucket. A boat from her came off with letters for us. By the 1st of April they had arrived at Talcaihuana (Turkey-warner as called by most sailors).
The GANGES of Fall River was anchored here, also the GOLCONDA. Later the GANGES was discovered to be on fire. All ships got their sails over the hatchways, trying to smother it, but they were not successful, so her cables were cut and she was run ashore. All hope of saving her was given up. Her masts were cut away and sails removed from over the hatchways and she was left with nothing but bowsprit standing. A hole was cut in her side and the fire broke out in great volume. She burnt all night and then sank out of sight.
During the remainder of the month they spoke the BALENA of New Bedford, the BARTHOLOMEW GOSNOLD and the GEORGE, of Fairhaven, and the MASSACHUSETTS, which was homeward bound after a 42-month voyage. Capt. Imbert put some casks on board of her as freight to be sent home.
During the month of May they cruised off Masafuero Island and some of the time were in company with the ship AMERICA.
It was while they were off the coast of Peru that Charles had a tough experience with a whale which made him famous as a whaleman, and, as he afterward said, "I was pretty boastful about this fray, but then it was a pretty slick thing to do for a young fellow of 26."
It was a large whale they had struck, just at sundown, and the big fellow sounded and took all the line there was and by the time he came up the surface was dark. The ship came alongside the boat and Capt. Imbert said to Charles, "What do you intend to do?" Charles shouted, "I am going to stay by this whale all night." The Captain didn't like the idea at all, but noticing that Charles persisted in his intention, he finally gave his consent.
The understanding was to be, that when the ship set two lights, Charles was to give up, cut the line and go aboard at once. However, in spite
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of the lights being set three times, Charles did not give up. He was determined to take that whale. The weather was nasty, but he stuck to the whale.
About seven o'clock in the evening the fun began. The whale got tired of keeping still and suddenly started off on a northeast course, towing the boat behind him. They had seventy fathom of line out and went whizzing through the water faster than Charles had ever been before.
The whale sounded once, but kept right to the pace. Charles set a light on the boat so the ship could follow and there they sat all night. It was six o'clock in the morning before he showed signs of becoming tired and slackened speed. Charles could see that he was getting fagged out and an hour later succeeded in getting another iron in him, which killed him.
The ship was out of sight at daybreak, but about noon she caught up with them and found them all pretty tuckered out. The whale made 105 bbls. of the nicest oil they had ever seen.
The month of June saw them off for the Galipagos. Here the ship stopped at Chatham Island and sent two boats ashore. They returned later with 21 turpin. After that they made Charles, James and Albemarle Islands in the Galipagos group. More turpin were secured and also two hogs.
By the middle of July they had added 7 pigs to their stock. They gammed many home ships during all this time. The last of July the keeper of the private journal wrote "a fellow that wouldn't sooner be here than at home I wouldn't give a dam for - on board the fine ship MT. VERNON, L.B.I. Master. I shall be able to look at this after years and think of the agreeable men that I have been with. Those that stays at home are nobody and those that go a 'whalin' are dam fools."
On August 11 he writes"last 24 hours nothing no nobody in sight - dull times - no lack of such times round here."
On the 13th of September they had spoken many ships, among them the ISAAC HOWLAND. She had lost the run of three of her boats.
We parted and finally came across her boats, picked them up; they had been away from their ship 48 hours. At daylight we set colors for the ISAAC HOWLAND and she came along and took her boats and crews. Note - "2000 bbls. is all I ask for; let it come quick, better days are coming."
October found them bound for Easter Island. Here they came to, and got some yams and potatoes. In December they came to, off Juan Fernandes and found two men living there. Got load of wood and set out for Talcahuana, arriving on the 29th of December, 1840 and anchored. Found the ELIZABETH STANTON, METACOM and PLANTER all an-
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chored here.
Now it is 1841 and they headed down the east coast and for the next five months cruised around the Galipagos. The 9th of June they were off Gorgona, where they secured bananas, cocoanuts, plantains, oranges and a load of 100 pearl oysters, also a load of 6000 oranges.
One of the boatsteerers and a land shark ran away - "success to them". Got one and a half bbl. of limes and then two niggers disappeared. Anchor was taken and they departed the 15th of June.
"For seven and twenty tedious months
We've plowed the ocean through. We've scoured the coast, from north to south,
From Chili to Peru. At last the happy day's arrived -
No longer we'll delay Our ship is full, and homeward bound.
To North America."
On July 8th, they met the ship ENTERPRISE and gave her two casks of bread. The next four months they were still around the Galipagos. Roast Pig for dinner on Feb. 27, 1842.
The last of March they steered for New Nantucket which is a small sandy island, north of the Phoenix group and near the Equator.
A clipping from a Nantucket Paper speaks about the MOUNT VERNON while "endeavoring to get into Tahiti harbor, very narrowly escaped shipwreck; indeed so near, at one period, that all hopes of her safety were despaired of, and had it not been for the timely assistance from the shipping and the residents on shore, her loss would have been inevitable. "The reason assigned by the pilot for this accident was that a long series of westerly winds had produced an unusual swiftness in the current, and with the wind falling off almost to a calm, as the ship approached the entrance, the accident was unavoidable. "The anchor was immediately dropped which checked the ship from forcing upon the reef, and the chain was slipped as soon as a sufficient number of boats arrived to tow the ship from the shores. The anchor was not recovered when we left (the person reporting the accident) but no difficulty was apprehended in obtaining it. No censure was attached to the pilot (Mr. Mitchell), a native, who is an experienced man."
On the following day the ship CAMBRIA got into difficulties in about the same place.
By the middle of April they were at Hope Island. Here about 20 canoes came along to trade their chief products which were cocoanuts and mats.
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"The men were naked and the women almost."
They took on some passengers, two men and three women, to carry to the Rocks.
The French Rocks were in sight and canoes came out and took the passengers ashore.
By the middle of May they were at Ascension Island and were boarded by natives, both male and female, mostly the latter. "Getting wood and water here."
For the first three months of 1843 they were cruising around the King Mill group and on April 16 they had just left Ascension with the ships, EDWARD CAREY, LEVI STARBUCK, and OMEGA, leaving at the island the POTOMAC, ELIZABETH, FORTUNE, LALLA ROOKH, and JAVA.
By Sept. 6th they have been fairly successful in getting whales. Journal states: "On this day 2 boats down, as five whales were sighted, apparently asleep. The boats pulled to within four ships' lengths from them, Capt. Imbert and first Mate and second Mate Coleman all trying for them. Charles' line parted and he became fouled in the line and was knocked overboard from the boat, drawn under the water, but was picked up at once. The whales all took off, but they chased them till dusk, then returned to the ship.
The larboard boat had lost most of three lines. On the 8th the boats were again chasing whales, the waist boat struck first, iron drawn and short warp parted, the whale went off. Larboard boat struck, the whale spouting blood, but lost him. "One of the whales got the line round his jaw and broke it. He went off. 390 bbls. of whales been struck and gone off since morning."
On the 11th they found a dead whale which proved to be theirs. Comment from the journalist, "The whale was one Grant struck and got away from him, spouting blood, three days ago. The blasted whale going to make 50 bbls."
By the third of Nov. they were off Oahu, where the anchors were put down outside the double reef, at the back of the island. They found here the ships WILLIAM HAMILTON, WILLIAM HENRY, SOPHIA and the MARTHA, also the Sloop of War CZAR (?)
On the 9th the natives towed in a brig and two boats were sent to lend a hand. On Dec. 12th they were preparing for sea, and bid adieu to the pleasant part of Honolulu, after tarrying a month and two days. Discharged Mr. Porter, to go on the CHAMPION of Edgartown as 3rd Mate.
All through Dec. caught no whales. There appeared to be disquietude on board. All anxious to get started home. Some rather bitter remarks were made by the journalist. By the 8th of Jan., 1844, they were bound
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South, headed for the Navigator group. The 17th Mr. Cornelius Briggs, of Sippican, died, aged 37 years. Mr. Briggs had sailed as first Mate of the bark PEARL of Sippican, which was wrecked on Japan in a hurricane. Mr. Briggs narrowly escaped death. He was taken to the Sandwich Islands by the CHAMPION and from there sailed as passenger on the MT. VERNON for home. He had been confined about three weeks with a slow nervous fever. He was buried the next day at 4 p.m.
The 21st they laid off and on at Upolu, and got 1000 yams, about 20 hogs, bananas, cocoanuts and five boat-loads of wood. They were under the lee of Tutuilla, for about a week. They cruised for several months and met some bad weather. On May 1st heavy rains washed the bow boat off the davits. She was badly stove. Gave her to the cook to burn. Lost everything in her.
By June 17th they were looking for Bermuda and now bound home. Journalist comments, "Can't find Bermuda. I guess Victoria has taken it home." On the 23rd hove the caboose overboard and took a pilot on. Gay Head hove in sight and they got down to the bar on the 24th, and so ended the voyage of 55 months and 24 days. She had 2877 bbls. of sperm oil stowed down below decks, and oil was worth 90 cts. a gallon, a very successful voyage.
In later years Charles said they caught the smallest whale he ever saw on this voyage. They killed the calf but lost the mother. The calf made 2 bbls. of oil.
It was about this time that the coast of New Zealand was again drawing attention of all whale fishermen on the account of both sperm and right whales being plenty upon the coast and in the bays. There was no commercial United States agent, nor even a Consul there. A petition to the U.S. Government was gotten out, asking for a consulate upon the island. Mr. Van Buren readily acceded to the petition and created a consulate. The name of James R. Clenden, Esq. was presented, who at the time was a resident there and paid some attention to the many ships that visited the Bay of Islands. Sometimes they numbered one hundred a year, so important had it become as a recruiting place for American commerce.
A consul was established in his new office, hoisting the first U.S. banner upon the island. Capt. Robert McCleave, a Nantucket captain, was present at the eventful occasion.
In the Nantucket paper in Jan. 1849 appeared this advertisement: "The fast sailing ship MOUNT VERNON, with all her whaling gear, chronometer etc. is offered for sale as she came from sea. The spars, tops and caps, together with all her standing and running rigging (except the fore and mizzen shrouds and lower yards) were new in Nov. 1845, she having been dismasted at this time.
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Apply to H.G.O. Dunham Elihu Swain Henry A. Kelly.
The ship MOUNT VERNON was lost in the ice in the Ochotsk Sea in June, 1856. She had been out 9 months and had 255 bbls. sperm and 50 bbls. of whale oil on board. They were steering through scattering ice and the ship struck a piece on the port bow which made a hole in her. She started leaking and quickly settled. The crew had just time to clear the boats and save a few things, when she went over her beam ends.
The crew were taken on board the BARNSTABLE, Capt. Fisher. He purchased the ship and oil for $500 and was able to save about 175 bbls. sperm and 30 whale oil, the boats, craft and a few sails. She sank on the 23rd. Her last Captain was Ebenezer F. Nye.
Chapter 7
Nancy Awaits the Return of Her Husband
While this seemingly unending voyage of fifty-five months was taking place, Nancy, hardly realizing she was married, would try and keep busy, to take up her mind.
She made patchwork quilts, crocheted lamp-mats and knitted socks. She helped her mother in her home and wrote innumerable letters.
Her companions were the friends living near and her relatives. Her sister Ann was married and so was her sister Charlotte. Her brother Ben married Louisa Gibbs and lived on Union Street, and brother William had married Emily Ellis and lived near.
She also had cousins whom she liked to visit, Cousin Carolina, wife of George Wyer, and Lois, wife of Cousin James Wyer.
Charles' mother and father and sister Eliza were among the members of the family whom she visited.
The time went slowly and she almost forgot how Charles looked. She could recall that he had very red hair. She was sixteen when she married him, and now she was twenty. When he left she could walk under his outstretched arms. Now she was old and felt very matronly.
One day in June she heard a rap on the front door and, when she opened it, there was a breathless boy gasping, "MT VERNON on the bar." He had run all the way from the dock to be the first one to tell her the news. Nancy gave him the customary dollar for bringing her the good news.
She was greatly excited many hours later when Charles walked in. They could hardly believe that he was really home once more. It was a happy reunion for the young couple. We are equally certain that the
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"keeper of the journal", Henry Coleman, was just as happy to see his Elizabeth.
Nantucket women in those days just had to make the best of being left alone for years at a time. It was part of the life of "sea-faring people".
By this time Charles Grant was acknowledged by whalemen to be a "hustler" and all ship owners had their eyes on him. He was now thirty years old and he had been offered the command of the ship WALTER SCOTT, 339-ton ship owned by Christopher Mitchell & Co. with Barrett & Upton as agents.
Charles was home only about two months before he had to sail again and leave Nancy behind. She broke up her home and went to live with her mother until he should return from this voyage. She was proud of him, to be the Master of this fine ship, but she would miss him and eagerly await his return from, she hoped, not so long a voyage as the previous one had been.
Chapter 8
Master of the WALTER SCOTT
The WALTER SCOTT embarked on her first voyage 183640 with Capt. Benjamin Coggeshall as Master. The next was 1840-44 under the command of Captain Cromwell Bunker. In March 1849 she was sold to the company in Edgartown, who intended to go to California. In the year 1861 she was condemned.
When she was ready to sail in 1844, her papers were signed by James Tyler, President of the United States, and A.M. Upshur, Secretary of State, and countersigned by Andrew Morton, Collector.
She had 22 men in the crew and Charles had signed on Alexander Ray, 1st. Mate and Dennis Getchell 2nd Mate and for 3rd Mate George H. Swain.
Charles was feeling quite top-lofty when he stepped aboard on August 31, 1844, and squared away for the Pacific Ocean. She was a big ship and he made up his mind that he would have a good voyage and somehow felt that he would.
He assumed his responsibilities seriously and by the time the ship was ready to "Round the Horn" everything was ship-shape. Charles got along famously with his officers.
He had perused the American Nautical Laws and had signed the ship's articles in which he had declared the voyage and the term of time for which the seamen were shipped and they had signed also as to their conduct on board the ship.
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Seamen are liable to imprisonment for desertion. But if the Master sails and leaves a seaman in imprisonment abroad, he will be entitled to his wages till his return to the United States, deducting the time of imprisonment.
Provisions are made for the prompt recovery of the seamen's wages by admiralty process against the ship, if it is not paid within ten dc ys. It is the duty of the American Consul and commercial agents to relieve American seamen who may be found destitute in foreign ports and to provide for their passage to some port in the United States at the expence of the U. S.
American vessels are bound to take them not exceeding two for every hundred tons, at the rate not to exceed ten dollars per man.
Charles cruised off the coast of Chili, Peru, and off Japan, New Guinea and New Zealand and the King Mill group on the Pacific.
He was sometimes on-shore at Chili and Peru, and then off-shore, which in November might be 5 to 10 south latitude and 120 west longitude and meridian 90. The middle shore is New Zealand and New Holland, the coast of Japan, Bonin Isles, and the northwest coast of North America. The season on Japan was usually made from April to September. The ships really do not go in near vicinity of Japan, but to the eastward in the North Pacific Ocean. All captains knew the proper seasons for successful whaling in particular localities.
Charles was to have his first bit of hard luck when off Lord Howes Island in the Pacific, off the coast of Sydney, New South Wales, Australia. During the night a hurricane sprang up while he was carrying just enough sail to keep off shore. All hands were called on deck, but in spite of their quick work her sails were blown away, the decks were swept and four boats were lost. Hard luck, indeed! The ship sprang a leak and Charles found it necessary to put in at Sydney for repairs. At the time he had fourteen men ashore at Lord Howes Island, where they had gone for wood. "Lord Howes Island had never been inhabited, we understand, when in the year 1788 a ship from the first convict fleet in Australia, bound from Sydney to Norfolk Island, found it where no island was supposed to be. During the early nineteenth century Lord Howes became a popular watering place for whalers. "There would be some seven or eight whalers lying off the reef at one time. The captains preferred Lord Howes to Australian ports because the Australians drove pretty hard bargains. "Another reason was because, after the gold rush began, if a ship put into Sydney, the crew all deserted and made for the diggin's. There was always plenty of water there and fresh meat and vegetables and fruit. "The mountains on the island were about 3000 feet blocks of basaly, their cliffs falling sheer to the surf of the Tasman, a coral reef, sheltered
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a remarkable lagoon, lined with miles of white beach. There were plenty of fish. Tropical fruits abound all the year in the temperate climate there. "The island is about seven miles long and about a mile wide. The nearest neighbor is 400 miles away. It is said that the whole community went fishing and collecting sea-birds' eggs and divided the spoils equally. One day a week the inhabitants went around in a body to inspect everybody else's garden and, if any one crop appeared to be falling behind, they turned to and planted for him, so as to be sure that there would be enough, should a whaler come in and want vegetables. "The inhabitants were part Polynesian, the founder of this strain being an American ship's carpenter who married a women from the Line islands before he settled in Lord Howes. Another dark strain was added when a family of Norfolk Islanders settled there. These Islanders were descended from the Mutineers of the Bounty who were transferred from Pitcairn to Norfolk Island. These people lived in an ideal spot, and for many years it was 'Utopia'."
From copy of S a t u r d a y E v e n i n g P o s t of August 15, 1936 - by J.V. Turner (Furnas)?
When Charles left his men on this island he had later to arrange their transportation to Sydney. While there he discharged 600 bbls. of sperm oil. After forty-five days the ship refitted and sailed. Charles was fortunate enough to carry out of port every one of the twenty-five men that he had brought in. The ship was insured and when she arrived home the underwriters paid $7950 for the damage.
A Protest signed and sealed by the U.S. Consul of Sydney and countersigned by Charles Grant, Alexander Ray and Reuben F. Clark on the 2nd day of December, 1847, is in the possession of the writer. Also a report of the Survey of the condition of the ship WALTER SCOTT on October 16th, 1847, signed by:
Samuel Ashmore, Surveyor for the Company in Sydney ana James
Munn, Shipbuilder, and Job Pierce, Master of the ship GENERAL
PIKE.
A letter from Tahiti in 1848 had reported the WALTER SCOTT bound to the Line with 1400 bbls. of sperm oil aboard.
Now the ship is homeward bound. She sails down into the southeast trades and then begins to dress up for home. Cape Augustine is doubled and left astern, the towers of Pernambuco are seen, then the course trends to westward. After a long voyage she was announced in the newspaper of the day as follows: "Ship WALTER SCOTT at the outer roads (at the bar) from Pacific via Holmes Hole -124 days from Bay of Islands, N.Z. with 1500 sperm consigned to John W. Barrett and Sons." Also in the paper, "Returned
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letters from the WALTER SCOTT are at the store of George R. Pierce & Co."
The complete voyage was four and a half years when Charles arrived at Nantucket, March 10,1849, he had taken 2100 bbls. of sperm oil which netted over $100,000 and oil was worth $1.07 a gallon at that time.
This was indeed a successful voyage and a prouder man never set toot ashore from a whaler, but he vowed he would do even better on the next voyage. Charles Grant was an excellent Master and whaleman; there were none better.
Nancy's feelings as a wife are accurately described in the following poem.:
OUR SHIPS AT SEA. "How many of us have ships at sea, Freighted with wishes, and hopes, and fears, Tossing about on the waves, while we Linger and wait through the distant dim, And sighing, will ever our ships come in? Long have we watched beside the shore To catch the gleam of a coming sail, But we only hear the breakers roar, Or the sweeping night wind's dismal wail Till our cheeks grow pale, and our eyes grow dim. And we sadly sigh, will they ever come in?" Inquirer and Mirror -1881
The news was promptly brought to Nancy that the WALTER SCOTT was coming, and she went to bed that night with a deep feeling of gratitude and joy that her husband was near home and she hoped safe.
She awoke next morning hearing voices beneath her window, in the street. She arose and looked out and there was Charles and his mother having a gam. Charles' mother had arisen early and gone forth hoping to see Charles as soon as he got in port. They had met nearly in front of the house. After a chat with her son, she left the young folks and went to her home. There were two happy women in Nantucket that night.
About ten o'clock the next day after Charles arrived home there came a knock on the door and as Charles was on his way to see who was there, Nancy, with arms akimbo, and a bold look in her eyes said, "Charles Grant, if that is Mr. Macy after you again, you ship me too."
It was a message from Mr. Macy of the firm Phillip & Isaac Macy. They wanted to talk with Charles about taking one of their ships.
A little later in the day, he put on his hat and coat and started for the Macy office. Nancy had been married ten years and nine of these Charles
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had been at sea. She was no longer willing to spend her days waiting for his return from whaling, so she was ready to set sail with him if possible.
When Charles came home at noon to dinner, he hardly got into the house when he said, "Well, Nancy? I have signed on again and this time I have signed you on too." Then with a broad smile he added, "Mr. Macy says he will fix you up a cabin that will suit you, he is sure." We are told that Nancy saw the owners and told them just what she wanted, and she got it.
For the next four months there was a great deal of excitement in the Grant household as Nncy prepared for the long voyage. She was destined to be the first Nantucket woman to go whaling.
There were many things that had to be packed in chests and boxes of her belongings and the things that she would need, such as sewing and knitting materials, cotton, needles, pins, thread, wool, cambric and cotton cloth, etc. The ship was to be her home for four long years and she would have to prepare for any emergency. Charles had bought her a small English sewing machine.
The Macys had made the cabin very comfortable for her, with a nice sofa, comfortable chairs, carpets, stove, even a small desk, and had provided plenty of closet space for her clothing and drawers for her personal belongings.
Charles was equally busy, seeing that the ship was in order and outfitted properly. Finally all was ready to sail and they bid farewell to family and friends, all thinking that Nancy was a brave woman to be sailing on such a long voyage and "Round the Horn", too.
However, Nancy's only worry was that she might have overlooked some necessary thing that might be needed on the voyage.
Another Sea-Farer in the Grant family!
Nantucket Historical Society "Proceedings"
Requested By The Association.
THE COLLECTION of the "Proceedings" at the Peter Foulger Museum needs to have certain additions for its complete file. If you have any copies of the following, Mrs. Jacqueline Haring, at the Peter Foulger Museum, would like to receive them. Those needed are for the following years: 1899, 1900, 1909, 1920, 1921, 1922, 1930, and 1941.
