2009-04
This lot is closed for bidding. Bidding ended on 3/31/2009
Whaling Journal for the Ship "Meridian, 68pp.," 13" x 9," canvass wrapped boards with name stenciled, October 1, 1839-July 27, 1840, presented in slip case, VG. Under Captain Ricketsen, the Meridian left Wareham, Massachusetts on a nearly year whale hunt. The entries are rich in detail, along with the usual notations of wind, weather and course there are descriptions of repairs to the ship. There are four "whale stamps," and ample the hunt descriptions, "The boats in chase struck the fast whale and killed him....took him alongside ...," ..."saw a whale lowered and saw him no more, saw hump backs saw sperm whales and lowered and struck... 4 whales took them alongside and began to cut finished cutting the bodys..." There is also a lengthy description of near mutiny, "Captain Ricketson and a Boat ashore the cook insulted him and the cook and Davis come on Board in liquour and the cook dam and swore and told Capt. Ricketson he would not be cow hided nor struck by any man. At 6 a.m. Capt. Rickeson ordered the cook to come aft and he would not come Captain Ricketson ordered me and Mr. Johnson to take him aft and he resisted Captain Ricketson told me to take the knife from him he took hold of the knife and I grapled him and took the knife and forced him aft and tied him up in the Rigging and he said to the crew if there was men in the ship he would not be seized up by Captain Ricketson. Asked if he would acknowledge he was wrong and he said he was not..."
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