Houghton : Journal

Content

Journal of the East India Company ship Houghton by Richard Walpole, Commander. The journal covers the ship's voyage from England to Bombay and China and its return to England, between 14 January 1755 and 13 September 1757.

The journal contains daily entries in six columns: H [Hour], K [Knots], F [Fathoms], Courses Winds, Depth of water and Remarks. When the ship is at anchor, the entries consist of remarks only. The journal records navigational information, weather, contact with other East India Company ships and French ships, commodities carried, and other remarks. It also mentions wildlife such as birds and dolphins, and conflicts with French ships (ff 125-126). Part of the voyage was in company with the ship Suffolk and Godolphin .

At the front of the journal (folio 1) is the inscription: 'This is my original journal Richard Walpole. Received 14 September 1757'.

The journal records the ship's arrival at the following places: Deptford, 14 January 1755 (f 4); the Downs, 23 April 1755; St Jago [Santiago, Cape Verde], 22 May 1755 (f 17); St Augustin's Bay, 18 August 1755 (f 38); Magodoxa [Mogadishu], 24 September (f 45); Bombay, 1 December (f 62); Gombroon [Bandar-e ʻAbbās], 5 February 1756 (f 72); Bombay, 10 March 1756 (f 76); Surat, 2 April 1756 (f 79); Bombay, 17 April 1756 (f 81); Tellicherry [Thalassery], 7 May 1756 (f 83); Malacca, 17 June 1756 (f 92); Banksall Island [near Canton], 27 July 1756 (f 101); St Helena, 1 April 1757 (f 132); Leith [near Edinburgh], 27 June 1757 (f 151); and the Downs, 9 August 1757 (f 154).

Extent and format

1 file (159 folios)

Arrangement

The journal entries are recorded in chronological order from the front to the rear.

Physical characteristics

Foliation: the foliation sequence for this description (used for referencing) commences at f 1, and terminates at f 159; it is part of a larger physical volume of different shelfmarks in which this shelfmark has been given its own separate foliation sequence, i.e. non-consecutive; these numbers are written in pencil, are circled, and are located in the top right corner of the recto The front of a sheet of paper or leaf, often abbreviated to 'r'. side of each folio.

Written in

English in Latin script

Type

Archival file

Access & Reference

Original held at

British Library: India Office The department of the British Government to which the Government of India reported between 1858 and 1947. The successor to the Court of Directors. Records and Private Papers Documents collected in a private capacity.

Access conditions

Unrestricted

Archive reference

IOR/L/MAR/B/438H

History of this record

Date(s)

14 Jan 1755-13 Sep 1757 (CE, Gregorian)

Subjects

Ships logsMarine navigationWeatherTrade (practice)

Places

St HelenaGombroonSuratLeithBombay

People & organisations

HoughtonSuffolkGodolphin

Share this record

• Share on twitter
• Share on facebook

Cite this record in your research

Houghton : Journal, British Library: India Office Records and Private Papers, IOR/L/MAR/B/438H, in Qatar Digital Library <https://www.qdl.qa/archive/81055/vdc_100000000108.0x000314> [accessed 9 January 2025]

Link to this record

https://www.qdl.qa/en/archive/81055/vdc_100000000108.0x000314

IIIF details

This record has a IIIF manifest available as follows. If you have a compatible viewer you can drag the icon to load it.https://www.qdl.qa/en/iiif/81055/vdc_100000000108.0x000314/manifestOpen in Universal viewerOpen in Mirador viewerMore options for embedding images

Copyright: How to use this content