Here you will find a transcription of the sea journal of David N. Poor of Portland, Maine, begun in 1842. He lived from 1818 to 1909 and spent most of his life in the coasting trade along the Eastern seaboard. The transcription is a faithful one, retaining Poor's spelling style, observations, and occassional bluster. Any additions made by me, aside from punctuation and capitalization, will be in italics.
He begins the journal with an autobiographical sketch. The daily entries that follow are often peppered with poems and songs, usually of a nautical nature. Whether he composed these or was merely copying down some favorite pieces remains to be discovered.
The journal entries begin on Feb. 17, 1842 aboard the clipper barque, Nautilus, under Captain Dyer of Portland, Maine. The crew is in Havana Harbor, Cuba waiting to load a cargo of sugar. Crew members mentioned by name in the journal are: Billey Leuly (first mate), John Griffin, Castor ?, David Doyll, Levi Weymouth, David N. Poor (author of the journal) Captain Dyer, Charles Middleton, Suard P. Morse (left the ship in Cuba), Moses Pease (joined the ship in Cuba), and Asa Littlejohn.
I will be adding the daily entries as time permits, so this website will gain content gradually, much as David Poor's journal did. Enjoy the voyage!
Not respectifuly yours,
Sue Bicknell
(Poor's great-great-great granddaughter)
Click on this link to see a picture of the Star and Compass ditty box made by David Poor in 1862, now owned by the Maine Historical Society:
Come All You Sailor Boys (found on page 16) 1 Come all you sailor boys That delights in Sailors noys Their nothin to compare to but laughter When a sailor comes on shore With his gold and silver store There’s no wone can get rid of it faster. 2 For the first that Jack craves Is a light and chamber bed And good liquors of every sort And a pretty girl like wise With to black and roling eyes Then Jack Tar is his pleased to the heart. The Land Ladyes Daughter she comes in O, she looks so neat and trim Ready to wait on Jack when he calls Readdy to wait on him When she finds him in good trim Marks him down to for wone at the bar. 3 This rig it does run on Till Jacks monney is all gon Then the old bird begins for to frown With her dambd old squinted eye And her nose turnd all a rye Saing Sailor, tis hi time to be gon. 4 Now Jack he under stands Theirs a Ship for to be mand And to the east or west indias Shes bound With a sweete and pleasant gale O She spreads a lofty sail Bids a dew to the girls of this town O. Not respectifuly yours, David N. Poor <script type="text/javascript"> |