Bedford : Journal [‎105v] (221/364)

Content

Journal of the voyage of the East India Company ship Bedford from England to Madras [Chennai], Bengal, and Mocha (Captain William Wells), 18 December 1731-22 May 1734 (dates given are for arrival unless otherwise indicated): left the Downs, 28 February 1731 [New Style date 28 February 1732]; 3 April 1732, St Jago [Santiago, Cape Verde]; 26 July 1732, Fort St George/Madras; 10 September 1732, Calcutta [Kolkata]; 31 December 1726, Ingelle [Ingeli]; 3 February 1732 [New Style date 3 February 1733], Cochin [Kochi]; 18 March 1732 [New Style date 18 March 1733], Mocha; 12 April 1733, Judda [Jeddah]; 15 July 1733, Mocha; 23 August 1733, Madras; 28 September 1733, Calcutta; 14 January 1733 [New Style date 14 January 1734], Ingeli; 31 January 1733 [New Style date 31 January 1734], left Point Palmiras [Palmyras Point], bound for St Helena.

The ship was at Calcutta from 10 September to 26 December 1732, and 28 September to 30 December 1733; and at Jeddah from 12 April to 6 July 1733.

Inscribed: 'This is my original Journal No. 1, Wm. Wells' (folio 1), and 'Ship Bedfords Journal Kept by William Wells Commencing Anno 1731 & ending Anno 1735.' (folio 7).

Marked: 'Recd. [Received] 14 May 1735.' (folio 1).

The journal contains entries recorded nearly every day in seven columns: H [hour]; Courses; K [knots]; F [fathoms]; Winds; Weather, and [date and remarks]. When the ship is in harbour or close to shore, entries consist of remarks only.

The journal records: navigational information; weather; sea conditions; the provisioning, ballasting, and maintenance of the ship; contact with other British ships, and country ships; sightings of other vessels; references to fish and birds encountered; deaths of crew members; transport of soldiers; cargoes carried (described especially at Madras, Calcutta, and Jeddah, and deliveries of rice at Mocha); and general remarks.

The journal also includes a quarter bill (folios 5-6), listing the stations to be taken up by the members of Bedford's crew if the ship were to be boarded by an enemy.

Initially, the journal employs Old Style (Julian) dates only; from 31 January 1733 [Old Style]/31 January 1734 [New Style], it is double-dated, where necessary, giving both Old and New Style (Gregorian) dates.

Extent and format

1 file (176 folios)

Arrangement

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

Physical characteristics

Foliation: the foliation sequence for this description (used for referencing) commences at f 1, and terminates at f 176; 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

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