|
Late in the 18th century one of my grandfathers went to sea, sailing out of Plymouth, MA. He was just in his early teens, but he kept a log with summary details of his voyages. The original is archived in the Cortland County Historical Society and I transcribed photocopies of that document. Over they years I have enjoyed researching the ships, captains and places he lists in his log.
On the surface his log has nothing to do with the Tri-County area. However, in 1800 most of the population who would settle our area was still along the east coast and, like my grandfather, would relocate to the west within the next couple decades. He did in 1813, and brought his family to Cortland County.
The Cortland County Historical Society holds the original, placed there by our family.
Walt Samson
Transcription of handwritten notes of George Washington Samson b: 17 Sep 1781 d: 04 Feb 1868
A log of his sailing days during his teen years.
The actual handwritten copy is archived by the Cortland County Historical Society
Walt Samson (wrs) notes
-"do" appears to mean "ditto"
-In Apr 1800 he was taken by privateers. He was confined in 13 different facilities before his release.
*In Jul 1802 he was "cast away" in an area noted for shipwrecks.
- Spelling, etc. match GW’s, as far as possible.
+++
Geo. W. Samson
April 26th 1803 being 7 years 8 months at
sea & by computation my wages amount
at least to 755 dollars.
++++
***wrs note-So he went to sea about Sept 1795.
He was born Sep 1781, so he had just turned 14.
+++Scan 1672 +++
Names of Vessels which I
have sailed in. Captains
mates & Crews names.
Places went to & G & G & G [wrs note- means "etc"]
April 26 1796 shipt
on Board the Sloop Nancy
of Kinston. Belonging to
John Sever. Shipt Cook
for 5 Dollars per month
Elkanay? Cook. Capt.
Sylvanus Everson Mate
Jacob Churchil Seaman
Joseph Adams do
went to Baltimore Maryland
to Charleston S. Carolina
to Norfolk Virginia
To Richmond do
Came home then went to
Frenchmans Bay in ??
Capt Cook and Zenas? Drew
came home then went to
+++Scan 1673l+++
Portland in her with Cook
& Drew came home then.
Went to Portland in her
with Joseph Bartlett.
& Joseph Adams
Same year shipt Cook on
Board the Schooner James
Belonging to D. Beals & Col’l
Thomas & Capt Tupper
of Kingston. for 8 Dollars per month
Peleg Tupper Capt.
+++++++++++
wrs note It appears Peleg Tupper may have been a first cousin of GW see the following...]
Descendants of PELEG#1 SAMSON
1. PELEG#1 SAMSON b: 12 Nov 1700 d: 27 Apr 1741
2 Simeon Samson b: Aug 1736 d: 22 Jun 1789
3 George Washington Samson b: 17 Sep 1781 d: 04 Feb 1848
1. PELEG#1 SAMSON b: 12 Nov 1700 d: 27 Apr 1741
2 Priscilla Samson b: 19 Mar 1738/39 d: 26 Mar 1818
m. Capt. Seth Tupper b: 06 May 1735 d: 1775
3 Peleg Tupper b: 02 Jan 1764 d: 18 Feb 1842
+++++++
Stephen Chandler mate
Ahiver Wadsworth Seaman
Samuel Flunt? do
Charles Whitten do
Sailed from Boston to N Carolina
Pasquotank river.
1797
From there to Cadiz in spain
From there to Malaga, do
Ahiver Wadsworth discharged
Shipt Peter Bently
++++++++++++++++
From Malaga to London
Form there to Donbay? there
Discharged Stephen Chandler.
Sam’l Glunt put in mate.
From there to St Ubes in Portugal
Shipt there Joseph Nicholas
From there to Boston
& then to Kingston. Discharged
1798
Shipt on Board the James
Chartered by George? & Davis
in Plymouth for 10 dollars
Peleg Tupper Capt
Wm. Doten Mate
Zackerus? Holmes, Seaman
Johnathan Bartlett do
Simon P?richmond do
went to Martinco W. Indies
Came home & went away
in her again for same
owners for 12 dollars per Month
+++ Scan1674 +++
Elkanah Cook Capt
Thomas Rogers Mate
George Rogers Seaman
Peter Holmes do
& Myself do
Oliver Garlow, Negro Cook
went to Martinico, WI
& came back to Plymouth
1799
Shipt on Board the
Schooner Betsy of Duxbury
Belonging to Joshua Winson
for 16 Dollars per month
Lewis Peterson, Capt
Seth Pinkham, Mate
Joshua Weston Seaman
Jhenny? Styles, do
& Myself do
John Waggoner, Cook
+++ Scan 1674R +++
went to Martinco West Indies
Came home.
Shipt again in the Brigg
Federal George for the
same owner in Duxbury
for 17 Dollars per month
Job Samson Capt
Joshua Brewster Mate
Nath’el Kent, Second mate
Martin Stutson, Seaman
Charles Adams do
1799
Seth Wilson do
& Myself do
Jack? a french Boy belonging
to Capt Samson, Cook went
went to Cape Francois
& back to Duxbury
then went up to Boston
& shipt on board the
ship Ariadne Belonging
to Joseph & John Dorr
Merchants in Boston
Nov 1799
+++
for 17 Dollars per month
John Le Borquit. Capt
William Brooks. Mate
James Henry Robertson Boatswain
Andrew Nelson Gunner
Christian Arnold Carpenter
Wm Rowe, Seaman
John No?worthy, Seaman
Wm Avery Taverner do
Geo Mariam spanish do
Jacob French do
Benj’n Eaton do
Consider Bradford do
& Myself
Peter a Negro Cook
went from Boston to
Charleston SC the gunner
ran away Wm Rowe
ran away
+++
Shipt Thomas Black
second mate U S ????????/
Hathway Steward 1800
went out bound to London
3 days out lost overboard
Jacob French
March 12th 1800
32 Days out got soundings
in the Channel was taken
by the French privateer
Brigg La Soir of 14 guns
was taken out & carried into
France. Ship carried to
St. Andre in Spain
travel’d to La L’Orient
Nantes. & Prockell
there went on Board
the Ship Columbus
Capt Joseph Skinner
+++
bound to N York
had on board 42 in
number the greater
Part were taken by
the french & Came home
passengers.
Came to N York then
went on board the Schooner
Mehitable Thomas Harden
master bound to Boston
Shipt to Chatam C Cod
traveled home by Land
then shipt on board
the Schooner Industry
of Kingston Belonging
to Peter Sinsor for 17
Dollars per Month.
Peter Winson Capt
Geore Peterson Mate
Zebb Bisbee Seaman
+++
Charles Soul Seaman
Zenas Winsor do
& Myself do
Henry Soul Cook
went to N Carolina
Ghawern? & little River
then came home
1801
Shipt on board Schooner
Industry again for 18 Dollars
P. Winsor Capt
Zebb Bisbee Mate
Thomas Burrbank Seaman
David Ripley do
Genor? Wisor do
& Myself do
Paddy Murphy an Irish
lad cook
+++
Went to Philadelphia
then Came back to
Boston.
Then shipt on Board
the Schooner Abigail
Belonging to Curtis
& Loring & Capt Joseph
Thomas No 42 Long
Warf Boston
for 20 Dollars per month
Jacob Hastings Capt
David Werren Mate
Stephen Ferganson Seaman
John Pieirce do
Asa Green do
& Myself do
Thomas Ferguson a mulato Cook
+++
Joseph Stower paying??
went to Martinco
from there to Trinadad
& then back to Boston
Came home
Then shipt on board
the Scooner John Adams
of Plymouth Belonging
to Capt Geor?? Harlow
for 18 Dolls per month
Ezner? Harlo Capt
Peabody Bartlet Mate
Lewis Lumbert Seaman
Samuel Churchill do
Joseph Churchill do
& Myself do
Silas Gluthuing Cook
Went to Bilboa in Spain
& then home.
+++
1802
June 2 shiped on board
the Schooner Olive
of Boston. John Pelshoot
15 Dollars
Owner, Edward DeBaker,
Master, Martin Stetson mate,
Jacob Johnson Seaman
Benj’n Robinson do
& Myself
Samuel Brewster Cook
the 7 of july was cast away
on the Island of Anegada
from there went to Tortola?
from there to St. Thomas’s
from there to St. Croix
then shipt on board the
Brigg Jane of Portland for 15 Dolls per month 5th of August
Daniel Hunt Master
Peter McIntosh Mate
Thomas Reynolds Second Mate
James Thompson Seaman
Thomas Congdon do
+++
Charles Jinkins Seaman
William Shaw do
& Myself
Wm Green Cook
Dennis Sullivan Boy
Went to Boston was discharged
then went to Portland
Nov’er 2nd 1802 shipt on board
the Brig Apollo Samuel Thomas
Master, Belonging to James Jewett
for 18 Dolls per month
Samuel Thomas Master
Jed’ah Jewett Supercargo?
Myself Mate
5 men & a cook
Went to Martinico then to St. Thomas
then to Savannah then to Barbados
then to Martinico.
+++
& then to Portland being
7 months & 16 Days
1803 July 14th shipt on
Board the Appollo, Saml
Thome? Master for 22 dolls
per month. Went to Castries
St Lucia Returned in Dec
and came home to Plymouth
&quit going to Sea.
|
