Bedford: Journal

Title:

Bedford: Journal

Date:

1731/1735

Description:

Journal of the voyage of the East India Company ship Bedfordfrom 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'screw 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.1 file (176 folios)The entries are recorded in chronological order from the front to the rear of the volume.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 side of each folio.

Language:

English

Type:

Archival file

Type (Narrower):

Other Texts

Type (Broader):

Text

Subject:

Ships logs
Marine navigation
Weather
Trade (practice)

Geographic region:

Madras
Judda
Calcutta

Extent:

1 file (176 folios)

Rights:

Open Government Licence

Identifier:

81055/vdc_100000000229.0x000194_ar
81055/vdc_100000000229.0x000194_en
IOR/L/MAR/B/638A

Is part of:

British Library: India Office Records and Private Papers

Feedback