July 10-12, 1862

Ocean Dennis D. Baxter Master. Written by J. T Duntlin

Thursday July 10th 1862

Commences with light wind from S. and drifted to the E.SE steering north and WSW. I finished my jig tackle Blocks and made a strop for one of them. And overhauled my Boat tackle Block. The weather is so warm that I am half sick and not seeing any whales makes it still worse. We have not got any oil to burn now. And have to burn candles. When they are gone we shall have to come down to the slush.1

Lat. 29 20 N Long. 49 48 W2

Friday July 11th

Had light winds from from SE steering NW. Broke out for Pork meat overhauling the cutting Block. Finished the upper ones at sunset. Shortened sail.

Lat. 29 29 N Long. 50 20 W

Saturday July 12th

Had light wind from SE steering NW. Broke out down the Fore & Main hatchways for water. Cordage, Flour & ? meal. ? it took the whole day to break out and stow block. saw grampusses.3

Lat. 29 46 N Lat 50 50 W

Sunday July 13th

Commences with light wind and ends the same. At 9 a.m. I went on board of the Hanks Brig Sophia Henderson, Master of and from Liverpool Nova Scotia. Bound to Barbados loaded with lumber 9 days out4. I sent letters Home. Capt Baxter and others as well. I hope they will arrive safe and speedily.

Lat. 30 18 N Long. 51 21 W

1 Slush is melted whale fat a greasy residue. When no whale oil was available, sailors sometimes burned slush in a crude container with a rag wick. It was weak, smell, and sooty but provided light when candles and oil ran out.

2 This position is in the open ocean, roughly halfway between the east coast of the United States and the coast of North Africa. The closest landmass is the Azores, specifically Flores Island, though still over 1,000 miles (≈1,600 km) away.

3 Grampus refer to large dolphin that surface and blow like a small whale. Not hunted for oil but often noted by crews.

4 This voyage fits the classic Nova Scotia → Barbados lumber route, one of the busiest Atlantic commodity circuits of the 19th century. Brig Sophia 1850, shipbuilder, Footdee, Aberdeen 1839-1881