Nassau : Journal

Content

The journal of the East India Company ship Nassau is part of the Marine Department Records, Ships’ Journals. Inscribed: ‘This is my original Journal in my own hand writing Arthur Gore Witness J. Holland’. The logbook records the observations during the Nassau ’s voyage from England towards India/Bombay and China. It contains daily entries in six columns: H [Hours], K [Knots], F [Fathoms], Course, Wind and Weather. It also provides general navigational information, distance in miles, weather conditions, latitude and longitude.

In England, the Nassau anchored at Blackwall, Gravesend, the Downs, Portsmouth, Torbay, Causon Bay, and Plymouth. Sailing to India, the ship anchored at Rio Janeiro [Rio de Janeiro], Mozambique, and Bombay. Upon the Malabar Coast, the ship anchored at Rajahmondroog [Rajahmundry], Onore [Honavar], Gundapore [Kundapur], and Tellicherry [Thalassery]. The Nassau then sailed towards Anjango/Joanna [Anjouan/Johanna] on the Coast of Africa, and sailed back towards Bombay anchoring at Socotra Island on the way. From Bombay, the Nassau sailed towards Bengal, and Kedgeree [Khenjuri] and back to Bombay.

From Bombay, the Nassau sailed towards the Coast of China, anchoring at St Johns Island [southwest of Macao], Macoa [Macao], and Whampoa [Pazhou] Island. From China, the Nassau made its way back to England via the North Island and St Helena.

The logbook includes remarks on the incidents and activities on the ship and ashore. It also provides information about the number of seamen, soldiers and people employed on board the ship, captains and merchants encountered, and goods received on board including iron, wood, copper, salt, cotton, and bread.

The logbook contains notes of sightings of other vessels including English, Dutch, French and Portuguese ships. Among the English ships mentioned are the Talbot , the Royal Henry , Hertford , Northumberland , the Grand Fleet , the West India Fleet , the Gibralter [ Gibraltar ], the Minerva , the Royal Bishop , Nottingham and the Worcester .

Extent and format

1 file (263 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 1, and terminates at 263; 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.

Pagination: the volume also contains an original pagination sequence.

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/544-I

History of this record

Date(s)

25 Jan 1781-30 Sep 1785 (CE, Gregorian)

Subjects

Ships logsShipsMarine navigationTrade (practice)Weather

Places

BombaySocotra

People & organisations

Nassau

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Cite this record in your research

Nassau : Journal, British Library: India Office Records and Private Papers, IOR/L/MAR/B/544-I, in Qatar Digital Library <https://www.qdl.qa/archive/81055/vdc_100000000179.0x00005d> [accessed 16 February 2025]

Link to this record

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