USA > Virginia > Some prominent Virginia families, Volume II > Part 60
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The latter end of March, hearing that the Ship Berry, Capn. Beleher Master, was fitting ont for Virginia, I went and viewed its conveniences, and then apply'd to the Captain for a Passage for my Family, and altho' besides paying for our Passage 1 offered him Twenty Guineas for the sole use of The Cabin, he hesitated about the matter pretending he had not convenienees for a Family, and that his Cabin was partly engaged. My Frieud Mr. Sydenham observing the oddity of the Captain's behaviour, advised me to go directly to Alderman Whittaker who he said had chartered the Ship. 1 did so; and Whittaker at onee assured me, the Cabin was wholly unengaged and that if he liked my proposal, he would treat with me for it. But when I intimated my ineliuation to agree with him for our passage only, and that tho' I would gladly engage the Cabin of him, Yet 1 should like to treat with the Captain about the Price, as I was desirous of pleasing a man I should be so long with, imagining it also to be a perquisite of his own. Herein the Alderman assured me I was mistaken, That the Captain was a mere Cypher, and eould engage for nothing without his orders, and he himself was the only Person I could talk with to any purpose: where upon I made him the same offer for the Cabin I had done to the Captain,-viz-Twenty Guineas. He paused a little and then told me my offer was not amiss, and if I would eall the next Day he would give me a positive answer. When I came at the time appointed, he assured me the affair was eoneluded: That I should have the Cabin entire and as I paid so well for it, he would take eare my family should have the best of Treatment on Board. In paying Mr. Whit- aker for our Passage (April 12th: ) 1 freely opened to him that a week's time beyond the 27th : (the utmost time he had preseribed for the ship's
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sailing) would be very valuable to'me, as it would afford me an opportunity of selling off my goods ete. to greater advantage. But I soon perceived distress was a wrong argument to use with him, for he immediately ealled his Clerk to witness, that if I was not on Board by the time he had set, the money I had paid should be forfeited: May - he said I ought to pay the expense of the ship from the 23rd, for if I was on board that Day, the Ship would infallibly said the Day after. This eould admit of no reply; I eoneluded myself highly favoured, not supposing it possible that a Gen- tleman of so oppulent a Fortune and an Alderman of London could be guilty of a ealm and deliberate untruth.
Therefore I did not fail bringing my Family and Goods on Board on the morning of the 27th. But what was my disappointment and Vexation when on entering the Ship we found not the least preparation of a Vessel for the sea. Every kind of thing in litter and disorder. The Cabin in the utmost filth and nastiness. No eradels or Hammoeks for our Beds, or other convenieney for Lying down to Rest: My poor wife in the utmost agony, bitterly exclaiming that here was a true specimen of the misery she must expect to endure in this wretched undertaking. When I mentioned to the Mate the assurance Alderman Whitaker had given of the Ship's sailing, the day after I eame on board, he with a peculiar sneer only said when you have known the Alderman longer, you will know him better. He is now seeking after Freight, and yon will be well off if you sail this month. I had disposed of my House, and had now no other remedy but Patience, One day upon ehanee talking with our Captain a Person came up to Him with these words: Pray Captain Beleher, do you know any thing of the character of One Fisher, who goes Passenger with you to Virginia! Beleher knew I heard the question -- replyed-this is the man. This person proved to be Mr. Hunt, whom as yet I had never seen; but He and 1 seemed eonfounded, at I presume the absurdity of his behaviour, in applying to such a Fellow as Beleher, an ntter stranger to me for a character, after having received one from sneh a man as Mr. Bethel. However, recovering himself, he aceosted me eivilly enough, but could find nothing more to say, than that his name was Hunt and the Person, who at Mr. Bethel's request had favored me with two Recommendatory letters to the Mess. Nelsons, nor had I any other reply for him than that I was his most humble Servant, and had both his Letters in my Pocket.
After standing some time silent, we separated with, "Your humble servant," and "Vour humble servant," as silly as our meeting.
This incident, foolish as it is, a little mortified me, and if I do not mistake, I mentioned the same to yon, when I took my leave, but never uttered the least syllable to Mr. Bethel; it being I thought too late: besides-I faneied it earried. the appearance of meaness to betray any jealousy or suspicion. The letter you offered in my favor from Mr. Waller, and another iu effeet from Mr. John Walthoe, tho' subseribed by his nephews to their Brother Mr. Nath. Walthne Clerk of the Council for this Colony, you will perceive the importance of hereafter.
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It was the 15th of May 1750 in the afternoon, before we as the sailors term it broke ground, hove out, and with the Tide drove down the Black- wall where we came to an Anchor, and loitered away the next day. On the 17th, we moved again, but did not reach Gravesend till the Day after, when we came again to Anchor about nine in the morning. About Ten, the Captain and one Pincell a young Student in Physic of Ireland tho' he had been in France came on Board. On Saturday May 19th, about Eleven o'clock in the morning, just as we were getting under said a Gentleman came on Board and rushing a little hasty into the Cabin demanded to speak with one Mr. Sweeney, who he said was a Passenger in this Ship. We assured him, as we could very truly, that we had never seen or heard of any such Person and that, we were pretty certain no such was then in our Ship. The Gentleman not believing us affirmed he was sure Mr. Sweeney had taken his passage in that Vessel, and that the Canary Birds in the Cabin, pointing to some Cages of them which hung up there, did belong to the said Mr. Sweeney. This the Captain, who was also questioned, stead- fastly denyed; adding moreover that Mr. Sweeney was no passenger of his; was not on board his ship, nor did he know of any intention he had of going with Him. All this, in the Captain especially, was I doubt a mistake; For after we had got under Sail, and the Gentleman, reluctantly, had quitted the Ship [Here, unfortunately, a part of two leaves of the old Journal have been torn from the book-and the next leaf commences with ]
68 Pounds, which he told us from the Captain was all our allowance of that kind for the voyage husband it how we would. As we were nine Persons, this was not quite Eight pounds each. We had seen yet no Flesh save Beef, which neither I nor any of my Family could taste; worse can hardly be conceived. One of the men said, to his knowledge, Whitaker had victualled the Ship with damaged Provisions from a Man-of-War, which had been in the West Indies a long time. This account was generally credited by the whole Ship's company, and when the men came to be served with Pork, that also appeared so bad that the crew to a man unanimously refused taking any other Provisions besides Bread and Flour and that too, bad enough. It was moreover observed by them, that the Pieces of Flesh for four men weighed no more than 214 pounds, which as they said ought to have weighed 4 pounds, that had not the men proved uncommonly sober and orderly: (a strange wrong headed fellow of a mate ready at hand) a meeting must have ensued. However, the Captain affecting to eoneur in their Invectives against Whitaker, and the mate (honest Stephen) swearing horridly that on his return to England he would go immediately upon the Exchange with one of the Pieces of Meat in his hand, beat the same about Whitaker's Ears with these words-Here you R-ge, this is the Provision and allowance you laid in for your honest Scamen for a day.
The men made a Virtue of necessity, and shifted the best they could. We for our Parts never eat any of their meat in all the Voyage, unless my son did sometimes put in with Mr. Saunder and his wife, who having been accustomed to gross feeding could not so easily govern their appetites. But myself and the most of my family subsisted almost entirely on Coffee,
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Tea and Chocolate, wherewith we were well provided; and now and then a starved Fowl boiled to pieces in a Sauce Pan. The latter part of our Voyage, My Wife and Children being almost at Death's door, were prevailed on by my Son to taste their nasty Pease Soup, which with a deal of dryed mint rubbed in, that we also happened to be stocked with, they were soon reconciled to, and it is to their sipping a little of this greasy stuff hot, every other day, that I sincerely attribute the preservation of their Lives. As the Captain found he eould distress us in nothing so mueli as water, he would not suffer a eask, as is usual it seems, in other ships not distressed, to be brought upon Deck imagining we could none of us go down into the hold and feteh it; and the Cabin Boy said he had striet orders to do nothing for us; but necessity pressing, my Son soon found the way, which the Captain no sooner perecived than he put himself in a great Passion, swearing he would Clap a Lock up on the Pump; the mate Stephen also never failed to insult him whenever he eatched him with a Tea Kettle of Water, having no other convenient utensil to fetch it in. However, so long as our strong beer, wine and brandy lasted we did pretty well, for a bottle of beer, a glass or two of wine, or a Dram, would commonly engage the Carpenter, or one or other of the Sailors, by stealth to slip a Tea Kettle full now and then into the Cabin. At length our Liquor save a Bottle or two of Brandy being all gone, my son continually abused and insulted, I determined on throwing off taminess. Accordingly about a week before we reached the Land, I eame upon Deck and in the Presence of all the Gentle- men and many of the ship's erew demanded an allowance of water: six quarts or rather than fail, Pints a day; that is a Pint for each Person I informed him should make us easy. The Captain tho' in awe of none save Mr. Randolph, was a good deal confounded at this public and mexpected attaek; hardly knew what to say, but at length answered-Hc could not justify putting one part of the Ship's Company to an allowance, unless all; he said too he did not deny me water, but I offering to prove the contrary by many witnesses, he did not choose to put me to the trouble, but ealling the Boy, ordered him in future to supply us with water when- ever we required, and we did not want afterwards. But I must now return back to:
Tuesday May 29th. Mr. Sweeney's illness favoured the Small Pox in my and my Wife's opinion. A kindly sort; and altho' in the eruptions they appeared very thick. yet in general they were distinct, the Fever arising and the Postules filling very orderly, from whence we presumd to pronounce, there was no apparent danger. However-the Doctor and every other person who pretended to the least skill affirmed the Poek to be of a very bad sort, the confluent kind, and that the Gentleman was in a very dangerous Condition, and proposed bleeding and blistering as the only means of saving his Life. As the Doctor was regularly bid, I no further presumed to interfere, than by professing my ignorance in not perceiving more than ordinary danger; My wife too had happily conducted her four children (without any Doctor) thro' the same disorder, and was no more apprehensive than myself. Yet bleeding and blistering was attempted but
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thro' the unrulyness of the Patient, or the badness of the Flies which even supplied by the mate, the operation in either case was not very successful. Whether it is that People in general are pleased with what flatters their wishes; or that Mr. Sweeney might imagine his putting himself under the Doetor's care would considerably affect his purse; or whatever other motive he might have, I cannot say; but he (most unfortunately for us) earnestly requested that I and my Family would take him entirely under our care. Mr. Sweeney was a young married man. His wife whom he left at Hampton in Virginia about seven or eight months past was said to be there sick, and now supposed to be impatiently expecting his return. These moving considerations induced my family cheerfully to comply with his request, doing that which they never did for any other Person, myself and children only excepted; and that he might be the better accommodated and attended, we proposed removing him into the Cabin to ns: but to this Mr. Saunder objected, his child never having had the distemper. Nevertheless, notwithstanding the difficulty and their own indisposition, this did not hinder my wife and Daughter from visiting and attending him daily, so long as there was the least appearance of danger. My son also at Mr. Sweeney's earnest importunity, tho' a thing very disagreeable to me, constantly sat up with him every other night. And as we were luckily stored with Sago, Pearl Barley, Wine, Saffron, all kinds of Spices, Hartshorn, etc., with every kind of Drug or Herbs as could be wanted in his disorder, we broke open on Boxes containing the several requisites, and became both his cooks and nurses.
The weather was fine, moderately warm-we treated him with a cool regime, not too low. No salt meat, but now and then a chicken boiled to broth or soup. His water gruel, sago, or barley water, was generally enconraged with a glass of Wine and a little Saffron; he happening to say Rhinish was his most favorite wine; and there being none on board save what I had, and which was exceeding good. we sometimes refreshed him with a glass of that and a little sugar. And so by such sort of treat- ment as we gave him. notwithstanding the diseouragement of his Com- panions, and his own too nervous and dreadful apprehension of his being always dying, and that he should never live to see his dear wife any more; he got thro' the distemper without so much as one unfavorable symptom. But to my Journal.
Saturday, June 2nd. The Blister Plaster was put on Mr. Sweeney by the Doctor, but tore off again by the Patient before it had taken any effect, greatly to the displeasure of the Doctor and Mr. Swaddle, who, Thereupon abandoned him to our treatment.
We caught two Bonettas (Fish) to Day, on which we all (Mr. Sweeney excepted ) agreeably dined the next day, vizt.
Sunday June 3rd, upon the quarter Deck under the awning, we had also a quarter of fresh roast Pork. We all esteemed Bonetta a good fish, as its name indeed seems to imply, and thus we spent Whitsunday.
Monday the 4th. Weather still fine, we took six Turtles or Tortioses. Whether the fault may be in the cooking (an office which the mate under-
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took) I cannot tell, but nobody liked the fashionable viand, it being strong and Oily, tho' these were of the Hacoks bill and Loggerhead, and it seems it is the Green Turtle only which forms the modern Elegant Entertainment, not but I have heard it insisted on a good Cook will make a good dish of either of the other, and at sea especially.
Tuesday, June 5th. At Two this afternoon we saw the Island of St. Morris (one of the Azores) braving W. by S., distant about 8 Leagues. As we did not keep to the Northward at the Azores or Western Islands, the Carpenter and Boatswain affirmed we ought to have run to the Southward for a trade wind.
The Winds in these Latitudes, Vizt, from 30° to near 40° between those Islands and the Coast of America, are generally westerly and subject to storms and calms, hinting often their suspicion of the Captain's design of prolonging the Voyage upon account of the ship being chartered. But no inan seen could be so wicked. Yet certain they said it was, that Whitaker had chartered the Ship at so much a month of Belcher Bro: in law and the mate's own brother, Swaddle.
From the 10th to the 15th. Little winds, contrary or calm, and from thence to the end of the month. Contrary winds blowing hard with a great Western sea, Shipping much water, the men often pumping.
Saturday June 30-was 39°, 29", Long. 41, 15. I had been ill a few days, afflicted as was supposed at our frequent visits to Mr. Sweeney. On hearing that I was not well, the Dr. asked Mr. Saunder (it seems in scorn) why I being a Quack did I not cure myself; this spoke upon the Quarter Deck, being heard by my Daughter who was sitting by my bed side near the Cabin door. She acquainted her Mother, and that Mr. Saunder far from resenting the Doctor's indecent behaviour seemed to concur in the Fun of the Company. My wife in a day or two after instanced this to Mr. Saunder as a piece of unkindness, or breach of Friendship in him; upon which hot words arose. I however entirely concurred with Mr. Saunder that he was under no obligation to enter into any dispute with Dr. Purcell upon the subject, or to disclose to us the subject of their conversation, till Mr. Saunder on being accused of joining in the ridicule began to use very foul expressions; as it is a "Lie Madam," and let me tell you once more it is a "Lye."
This behaviour quite silenced me, and I said, not one word more on either side. A great reservedness ensued, in so much that we ceased to eat or drink together. Yet still this was private and among ourselves, till Sunday July 'the 8th, when one of the men who used to procure us water informed us that he overheard Mr. Saunders relating the cause of our difference to the Doctor and the rest of the Company in the Steerage, adding more over his Mr. Saunder's opinion that our intelligence could come from no other Person than my son, for which reason he advised them to forbid his approach to . the Steerage. The Captain and honest Stephen it seems readily closed in this advice, but the Gentlemen would not agree to it. . Not only the unjust charge upon my Boy, but the malicious manner of betraying our hitherto private conversation, exasper-
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ated me to that degree that I could not forbear going immediately upon the Deck, and in the presence of all the Gentlemen and sailors too re- proach him with the unworthiness of his behaviour; the consequence of which was an irreconcilable difference.
Doctor Purcell on this discovery came up to me, made a very civil and handsome apology for the words he had used, which I readily accepted, so he and I became and continued quite Friends. A melancholy accident happened on Board Sunday July the 1st, about Six in the Evening, wind at S. by E. a brisk Gale. Two men being sent up to hand the Fore Top Gallant Sail, the mast being rotten broke, and the two men who were aloft fell with it. One of them, Abram Bosdet, into the sea and was never secn more; the other Wm. Waterfield a Virginian born, was saved by a man (James Delridge, The Tailor) catching him in his fall on the Gun- wall of the Ship. He was much bruised, but soon came to himself, and appeared in his business the next day. Poor Abram was a native of the Island Jersey, estcemed an honest, useful, sober, inoffensive man. He left a wife and family behind him at London. The Ship at this time went more than six miles an hour, Yet honest Stephen like one frantic ran backwards and forwards in the Ship and upon the Poop, calling ont Abram! Abram! using some obscure expressions that as there was a man lost some enquiry should be made or somebody called to account:
But nobody heeded him. There were no mutinous spirits in the Ship. unless one Passenger was such, and he was a Person of no greater Conse- quence than Stephen. The Carpenter indeed who was a sober thinking man said he had frequently cven while the Ship lay in the River com- plained of the rottenness of the masts, but was never regarded, and that (in anything of a Gale) if he had been ordered aloft, he would not have gone, and would have given the obvious reason of his refusal.
On Monday July the 2nd we set now about those kind of repairs, which considerably retarded our Sailing for some Days.
The 9th we had 24 hours a fair Gale at N. and N. E. but then came about again to the old quarter S. W. Took a small Dolphin. Lat. 37° 57" Long. 51º, 22". All our ginger bread is now gone, and no white biscuit left but what is seen extremely mouldy and full of Maggots.
July 20th had a fine Easterly wind for about 30 hours, when it returned to the old point till the 24th. Lat. 39°, 29"; Long. 63º, 31". Caught a small shark, about 7 foot long. Small breeze at W. E. till the 28th, when we caught Three fine Dolphins. We all dined together again upon the Quarter Deek, except my wife and children who excused themselves; Yet Mr. Randolph sent his servant with some Fish to them into the Cabin. This Fish was generally liked by all the Company, tho' some said they preferred Bonetta, of which number, I was one. Our Biscuit is now entirely expended, but we procure some of the Seamen's bread by the same means we used to get a supply of water. Mr. Saunder, his wife and Child, Since they left us, are acquainted with more of our distresses, they being upon very cordial terms with the Captain and Stephen. If this was the poor man's view in breaking with us, I could almost excuse him.
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July 29th we spoke with a scow of White Haven, who left Virginia 5 Days ago. They told us Cape Henry was distant about 77 Leagues.
Wednesday August Ist: at 12 last night, we found ourselves in Sound- ings-Twenty Fathom water, and about Two o'clock this afternoon, saw the Land about Twelve Leagues distant, and as was judged about 70 or 80 miles to the Southward of Cape Henry. Dark weather, wind Easterly, blowing hard with much rain. We ran along the shore at the distance of ten or twelve leagues, hoping to make Cape Henry before night, but fail- ing therein we stood off as well as we could all night, having enough to do to claw off the shore, the wind hlowing very hard and setting right in.
Thursday, August 2nd, having weathered the Coast last night, we at Daylight found ourselves about the same distance from the Land: Rains still very hard but wind abated; discovered Cape Henry 15 or 20 miles to the Northward. About dawn this morning we entered the Bay of Chesa- peake, soon after which a Pilot came along side to offer himself; but our Captain, declined taking in or so much as speaking to him, but taking the advantage of a fine, fresh gale, and all our sails set and full, rushed by and soon left the Pilot a good way astern. The Pilot however still attended us as near as he was able, till we were terribly alarmed with the apprehension of our destruction, finding ourselves in less than Three Fathoms water. Mr. Sweeney assured the Captain all along that he was running up on a shoal called Willoughby's Point; but the Captain superior to all caution, was as confident we were passed it. However, now in the utmost terror and confusion, backed all sails and looked out Astern em- ploring the Pilot's assistance, who still followed us and seeing our danger good naturedly kept waving his hat (being out of hearing) to bear off to the Northward. We did so and he soon came up with us, himself came on board and put all things to rights. Thus through the avarice of the Captain in aiming to save about Forty Shillings (tho' nobody doubts but he would have charged it to the voyage) the Ship, a large cargo and all or most of our lives were upon the brink of being cast away, even in sight of our Port. Mr. Whitaker assured me when I engaged with him that the Ship was bound directly to York River. But as it appears, he after- wards Contracted to take the goods for Norfolk, a town upon Elizabeth river, which empties itself into James River. So having no remedy, we passed by Hampton when Mr. Randolph, Mr. Sweeney, Mr. Saunder, Doctor Purcell and John Thorpe went ashore with the Captain in the Pilot Boat, and about two in the afternoon came to an anchor off Sewill's or Sowles Point, at the mouth of Elizabeth River, where we continued nine days.
Friday, August 3rd-The boat going this morning with the Captain to Norfolk, I and my Daughter Molly took the opportunity of going also to procure some provisions and refreshments. We were very civilly enter- tained at dinner at one Captain Trigs, to whom I brought a letter from a Person at home, who fancied himself related to him, but it did not prove so. In the Evening we returned on board with Bread, Poultry, Fruits, Wine, etc. We now live very well with our Fresh Stores; and our worthy Captain wears a softer Countenance, condescending to mess with us very
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cordially, as does also poor Mr. Saunders. A boat came off the next day from Hampton, for Mr. Sweeney's things, and he intending an entertain- ment on the Sunday. Mrs. Saunder was ordered by her Husband in a letter to come on shore by that opportunity. Mrs. Saunder who cannot write herself, or will read writing, shews mc the letter (for we were grown quite friendly) in the postscript; there was added, you may tell Fisher if he had a mind to come on shore, he may come in Mr. Sweeney's Boat; but not a word to me of any entertainment or any mention of my being civilly invited to it.
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