Chapter 2
5th Paper
New Year’s Day 21 days from port.
And Pilgarlic is 35! Today. Some pleasant recollections come with the day. 21 of them have been passed in hard service, and I don’t know, Pilgarlic may be wicked but he thinks if he had those early years to live over he would almost rather die.
The thermometer is 80⁰ in my cabin. What is it in Maine? Somewhat different I fancy. Pil says “What are you continually looking back to Maine for? What did you come away for? Ah! That is a hard question to answer. There is something very magnetic about that place, if it is cold and homely, and sometimes unkind. No place is perfect you know.
I left a very pretty picture there. A nice little cottage; comfortable and convenient, overlooking the river (and those beautiful piers) and the road. Cozy little rooms with favorite pictures, books, birds, and flowers. A sweet-faced girl, some would call her a woman perhaps, but I don’t think she’s changed much since she was a girl. And now a younger one with beautiful great eyes and pouting lips. And Danny; who can describe him? The nicest baby that ever lived. “Chin! Come take the baby.” And now we go to breakfast, the nicest little meal that ever was, Lou says as she turns the coffee. What are you looking at? Nothing, nothing. And what have you left all this for, says Pil.
“Let him go to sea and get money for me to buy dresses with”, quoth Dority.
And little Danible, Durable, Honorable Dingo Drew too
One simple prayer: that this 35th year of my life may leave me a better man, that I may learn my faults, slowly though it ne, and in all humility and meekness bear my just punishment. With all thankfulness for the good I have got from them and a full realization that I MAY never see another, but a hope that I may see enough to see the great wish of my life consummated by these hands and brains, with His help; that my sins may be acknowledged and forgiven, as I forgive others their sins against me. And that when, if I do not live, I shall be understood and not judged too harshly. So may it be.
And now, Pil, let’s look back and put on this paper where we were on New Year’s Days past and gone…
1868: Hong Kong, China 1867: bound home from China
1866: 9 days from Boston, bound to S Francisco
1865: Off coast of South America, bound to S Francisco from New York
1864: in Shanghai 1863: in Manila
1862: at home—no, bound from San Francisco to New York 1861: AT HOME
1858, 1857, 1856: from Boston bound to Batvia
1855: in Calcutta, mate of ship Wild Wave, 21 years old 1854: at home
1853: on board Caspian from Charleston, SC bound to Havre; sec mate
1852: at Charleston in same ship before the mast
1851: in Pensacola on board same ship
1850: from New York to Liverpool, boy on board packet ship James Wright
1849: on board schooner Attakapas from Bath to Attakapas, Louisana; first voyage, 15 years old.
Voyage of the Franklin 6th Paper
Sunday, 3rd Jan’y 1869 23 Days Lat 2⁰ South
Off we go. Crossed the Equator yesterday, 22 days from N.Y.; not too bad for the Franklin. And now we are booking off for the Brazilian coast with the SE trades strong and full.
Saw a ship this morning coming out of the darkness. She looked like a spectre. She was going to England. Let her go; we don’t envy her. What glorious weather.
New Year’s morning we saw a beautiful double rainbow. It almost touched the ship and it laid right over to the N.W. horizon over our dear native land. My birthday.
What’s that got to do with me?
My kitten grows fast and is very sociable. I hope she will be as good as old “Tomikin” in the Fearles
s.
My apples hold out nicely. How much better apples taste down here. I have got on all white clothes today. I can’t help thinking of the last time I had them on.
I have not thought of making and brackets yet; I have had enough else to think of. I have got my letters all written to send home by the first ship that comes. “Where’s my ship?”… Echo answers “where”
I haven’t got any steelyard or scales to get weighed on, but I believe I am growing fat. I have got my hair cut close and most of my beard off.
“How, now d’we look?”
Jan’y 4th 24 days out Lat 4⁰30’ South
I might as well fill this page with a statement of the distance sailed from New York to the Equator. It was 3839 miles in 22 days or 174 ½ miles pr day. We were in the NE trades 9 days and sailed 1604 miles or 178 2/9 miles per day.
Some distance to go but we sailors don’t think anything of it. It is a very easy way of traveling; if one could go from N.Y. to S Francisco as easy (the distance is about the same) they would willingly be 22 days on the journey.
We passed the island of Fernando Noronho today but did not see it; only a little white bird came to us: a “silver wing”.
This morning I got my newspapers out and examined them to see what ships sailed near the time we did. The result it:
This morning I got my newspapers out and examined them to see what ships sailed near the time we did. The result it:
From N. York Dec 1st: “Atlantic”
“ “ “ “Annie M. Smull”
“ “ “ 3rd Nightingale” Capt. Sparrow Loaded by Comstock
“ “ “4th “Old Dominion” “ Grindle “ “ SD Sutton
“ “ “11th Cleopatra” “ Doane “ “ “
“ “ “11th Franklin” “ Drew “ “Sutton & Co
“ “ 30th Valparaiso” “ Manson “ “ “
“ “ 20th “Cremorne” “ Gates “ “ “
“ Boston Nov 20th: “Ringleader” “ Hamblin “ “ Glidden & Williams
“ “ Dec. 9th “Don Quixote” “ Nelson “ “Windsor
“ “ 19th “Radiant” “ Chase “ Glidden & Windsor
Now I shan’t be a faithful chronicler if I don’t tell who gets there 1st
7th Paper
Friday, Jan’y 8th 28 Days out
Latitude 15⁰00’ S, Longitude 36⁰W.
The Franklin is making a fine run, for any ship, and splendid for her. Yet not us, but the beautiful wind that carries us along; long may it last. At this rate we shall be off Rio de Janiero a month out.
As Friday comes round I cannot help thinking of home as it was on that day I left, that day I sailed. Five weeks have flown quickly away and it finds me with the thermometer at 80⁰ in my cabin, but a good deal warmer on deck. How finds it the “loved ones at home”? Not quite so warm I fancy.
“Battle of New Orleans” anniversary
I have been making out a list of the ships in the “Black Horse” fleet owned by W.F. Weld & Co. I will put it in here just for fun:
Ship Capt. Tons
1 Enoch Train…………Lane…………1780
2 Golden Fleece……..Wilcomb…….1600
3 Belvidere…………….Howes………1300
4 Fearless……………..Ballad………..1200
5 Competitor……………………………1100
6 Peruvian……………..Thompson…1200
7 Sacramento (new)..Lunt…………1500
8 Franklin……………….Drew……….1200
9 Nevada……………….Nichols…….1100
10 Sonora (new)………Hutchins….1500
11 Borneo……………….Smith……….800
12 Argonaut…………….Gardiner…..800
13 Nabob (bark)……….Rich………..700 
14 E.W. Farnsworth (bark)…………600
15 George Peabody….Lane……….1500
16 Orpheus…………….Crowell…….1400
17 Galatea……………..Cook………..1100
18 Asa Eldridge……….Baker……….1300
19 Volunteer……………………………1100
20 California (new)…. Adams……..1400
21 Anahuac (new)……Pennel……..1400
22 Humbolt (oldest)….Proctor…….600
23 Java (new)………….Bassett……1100
24 new ship bldg. fr….Jackson……1800
25 Rainbow…………….Thayer………600
26 Agnes………………..Clapp……….700
27 Rocket (bark)………Dill…………..500
The renowned yacht “Vesta” 250
Steamers of the “Merchant Line”
United States…………..Norton……..1500
Crescent City……………………………1500
Gen’l Grant………………Quick……….1570
Gen’l Sherman & Gen’l Meade……..1100(ea)
There! That is a list of the ships I can think of, and I believe there is one or two more and three more to be built: the largest fleet owned by one firm in America, and every one first class ships.
It requires some energy to keep them going, and some capital.
We caught the largest flying fish yesterday I ever saw. He was 13 inches long and made a decent meal for the mate and myself.
Mr. Call, the sec. mate, has been sick and off duty now four days with neuralgia. I am standing his watch; it is real fun to be sec mate once more.
8th Paper
Sat. 19th Jan’y
29 days out Lat. 17⁰00’, off the coast Brazil
Today we have been boarded by a boat from the whaling schooner John Randolf, Capt. Coggesworth
of Fair Haven. He was 13 months out; had taken considerable oil. He had no news from home and wanted papers. I gave him lots of them. He could hardly believe we was only 29 days out, but there were the papers of Dec 10th! He said he had scurvy on board so I gave him a barrel: some beets, turnips, onions, codfish, & rye meal to make brown bread of. In return he gave me a keg of sperm oil and some pumpkins he had got on the coast of Africa. I sent letters home and oh how I hope they get there. He took dinner with us, a plain hard pleasant man that looked more like a farmer than a sailor. And
what a life! He leads away from his family in a little thing 83 tons. He was very much interested in the political news and highly delighted to think Grant was president. He knew all the Coxes and felt 
bad when I told him of Capt. Arthur’s death. He was also well acquainted with my uncles Pierce. We had a very pleasant chat and parted with many wishes, on both sides, to meet again.
“And not too soon we part in pain
To sail those silent seas again.”
But what pleased him most was some apples. I had a few left and gave him some; he danced right up and down. So it is; nothing will operate on a man (if he is a man) like a long separation from home. The old flags waving over a noble ship just from home is enough to set a homeward-bounder crazy, if anything is.
One Month Out
Latitude 21⁰30’ South
Pretty good for us, but the wind is getting light now. No vessels in sight today. Pilgarlic has been in his new duty of Captain and Second Mate just a week. Mr. Call does not mend much, and so UI have to do his duty. I rather like it. When I do sleep now, I sleep sound. And then I can think over everything in my long night watches. Thus: Pilgarlic, how old are you? 35! You ain’t done much yet, have you Pil? No, can’t see’s I’ve done anything. Pil, you are getting old; you can never have any more boyish days. No, they are all gone. You used to look forward, riding rowing, sailing, swimming and bathing, going to see your friends, etc. I believe you went home last Summer, gave up
your ship to have a good time; you needed it bad enough. Did you have as good a time as you expected? Yes, better. Did you put your plan in operation? No, never went in swimming once, did not have a sail, and hardly a ride or a single frolic. Why now, Pil, what’s the reason? Well, I found other things to take up my attention. I found that I liked taking care of my boy better, singing with my little girl, and helping my wife, and somehow I found there was a good deal to do on my place; and I actually got to thinking I must keep to work and doing something every day; and I took more pleasure in that; and before long I got to thinking that, supposing I could get no ship and nothing to do, who would pay the taxes and insurance and take care of the children, etc—and I went right off and got a chance to go to sea. Indeed! Well, now you tell me you’re going steady ten years. Yes please God and I don’t get anything better. Why Pil, you will be old then. I know it; I have thought it all over; I must make the best of my time now.
I have not done so well as I might and now I must improve every moment.
But ten years, you must want to row your boat, or play then—you will be forty five. Precisely so. I have thought of
that too and have given it all up as a pleasant dream. And now I hope though the next ten years will be the best of my life, to make them the most useful and get enough to last me. But God knows, I may not live; if I don’t it is all right. Well, Pil, I should think you’d want to see a little of your wife and babies; what are you going to do in that case? Why I have thought that all over too and believe I shall take them with me, at least one voyage. Sink or swim we will go together. Ah, Pil, take care, take care; they are tender plants. I know it. But those that go to sea do as well as any, I beliee. I shall risk it at any rate. Well, I believe you are right, but ten years, your father and mother are already old. Your wife’s old home, your children how fast they will grow up, and so many other things. Yes, but God is ever the same. I am this creature; I am in communication with him all the time.
Eight bells! “All larbowlines ahoy! Keep her SSW. Mr. V—keep you lights a burning and a sharp lookout for vessels.’
And so Pilgarlic is soon in the Land of Nod for four hours.
View Cross’s Trade Wind Jewelry Collection
Story behind the Trade Wind Journals and Jewelry Collection
Where does inspiration come from? Where do the creative sparks for design begin? For Cross’ new Trade Wind Jewelry Collection, we find ourselves drawn into the story of Captain John Henry Drew, from Gardiner, Maine. Born in 1834, he grew up the son of a Ship’s Carver, and went to sea at the age of 15, eventually becoming Captain of a series of clipper ships, and traveling from New York to China and back home, when that voyage took more than seventeen months.
Instead of carving or knotting or other hobbies that were characteristic of sailors, this mostly self-educated man read books, memorized details from newspapers, and wrote about his journey—his literal and his inner journey. His hand-written and personally illustrated journals tell us of his longing for Maine, for his family, and for “making something of himself”. He is very much like you and me, and it makes his story that much more compelling. He savors apples from home, as tasting better than apples from anywhere else. He imagines the scene he might see looking in the window at home, where his family sits, and he chastises himself for not getting more done at home when he was there.
The jewelry in our Trade Winds Collection is made by his great-great grandson, Keith. This young man went to sea as well, at age 18. As part of his service to the US Navy, his travels took him to many of the same places his great-great grandfather’s clipper ships visited. Keith also had a hobby unconventional for sailors— he had a fascination for gems and he studied gemology. He studied so that when his service was completed, he could become a jeweler. As Keith traveled the world, he collected exquisite gems, and after leaving the service and returning home, he mastered the art of fine jewelry making.
It is now decades later. We met Keith for the first time in March, 2014. We were impressed with his jewelry, and as we talked further, discovered he had a clipper ship sea captain ancestor and became intrigued with the parallels of his journey in life with that of his sea captain forebear.
The parallels in the two stories are expressed in the jewelry itself—the exotic colors, the flow of the designs, the attention to detail which is something passed down in this family—whether it is to protect the ship, its cargo and its crew, or to create a design that will last and protect its valuable gems, giving the wearer the same pleasure we experience when a ship at full sail goes by. You can’t help but stop and exclaim, “Isn’t that beautiful?”
We were hooked by this story, and by the jewelry. We think you will be too. In fact, we’re posting pages from Captain Drew’s journals from the Voyage of the Franklin in 1868 on our website, along with all the jewelry from the Trade Wind Jewelry Collection. Take a few minutes to join in the journey, and think of those you love most, and rejoice if they are right there with you.
A Maine Sea Captain's Journals From the Clipper Ship Era 