Histories

HMS Weymouth

The Weymouth was used to transport 11 parties of 1820 settlers from Portsmouth to Algoa Bay (Port Elizabeth). Such passenger lists as remain are in the Cape Archives but listings taken from their holdings, as well as a lot of background information on the emigration scheme and further details about many of the settlers, can be found in 'The Settler Handbook' by M.D.Nash, Chameleon Press 1987( ISBN 0 620 10940 8), available from the Albany Museum, Somerset Street, Grahamstown 6139, South Africa. The Public Record Office in Kew, London, holds both the captain's log (ADM51/3543) and the second master's log (ADM52/4655) as well as the ship's muster roll. At first sight the two logs seem identical but there are subtle differences in the information they contain. Below are transcriptions of the captain's log (ADM51/3543) done by Sue Mackay, Cardiff

ADM51/3543 LOG OF HMS WEYMOUTH (1819-20)
Mr. Richard Turner, Master

Public Record Office, Kew, London

This log was transcribed on 31 January 2003. Time did not permit me to transcribe it all, so it is complete (other than margin notes on compass bearings etc) from December 16 1819 until Sunday February 6, after which I quickly noted down major events and any personal references to the 1820 settlers on board. Some abbreviations have been expanded for the sake of clarity. Other abbreviations occurring frequently in the log are:
Do = ditto
Qt = quantity

Thurs 16 December 1819 - Portsmouth Harbour
Am: Light breezes and clear
8: Do weather. Employed hoisting in provisions and other necessary duties.
The settlers came on board at noon. Do weather. Employed stowing the hold.
Mustered for Checques, discharged several of the crew. Employed stowing the holds. Midnight: Strong winds

Fri 17 December
Am: Strong breezes with rain
8: Do weather. Employed cleaning decks and stowing chain cables.
Do weather. Employed as before.
Midnight: Do weather

Sat 18 December
Am: Strong breezes and rain. Employed clearing lighter of provisions.
Pm: More moderate employed cleaning decks.
Midnight: Fine weather

Sun19 December
Am: Light breezes and fine.
Noon: Do weather
Pm: Moderate breezes and hazy.
Midnight: Squally weather.

Mon 20 December
Am: Light winds with rain. Employed stowing water and provisions.
Pm: Do weather. Employed as before. Artificers fitting settlers berths.
Midnight: Do weather

Tues 21 December
Am: Fresh winds and frosty weather. Employed as requisite. Received one hundred and eighty pounds of fresh beef and sixty pounds of vegetables. Employed as before.
Pm: Do weather

Wed 22 December
Am: Light winds and clear frosty weather. Received 16 hogsheads of beer qt 1022 Gs Artificers employed fitting settlers berths
Pm: Do weather. Employed stowing provisions
Midnight: rainy

Thur 23 December
Am: Fresh breezes with rain. Employed as requisite
Pm: Do weather. Mustered and Checques
Midnight: Fine weather

Fri 24 December
Am: Fresh breezes with snow. Rec'd 569 lbs of fresh beef and 80 lbs of vegetables Employed as requisite
Pm: Do weather. Employed as before
Midnight: Frosty

Sat 25 December
Am: Fresh breezes with frost.
Noon: Do weather
Pm: Moderate
Midnight: Fine clear weather

Sun 26 December
Am Fresh breezes with frost and snow.
Noon: Do weather
Pm: Do weather
Midnight: Fine weather

Mon 27 December
Am: Strong gales
Noon: Do weather. Employed stowing provisions
Pm: Do weather
Midnight: Do weather

Tues 28 December
Am: Light winds and fine. Rec'd 689 lbs of beef and 80 lbs of vegetables. Open flour No184 qt 345 lbs
Pm: Do weather
Midnight: Do weather

Wed 29 December
Am: Light breezes with rain. Employed as necessary
Pm: Do weather. Employed as before.
Midnight: Do weather

Thu 30 December
Am: Strong breezes with heavy rain. People employed stowing the holds
Pm: Do weather Employed as before. Departed this life ELIZth JAMES settler's wife. Sent the corpse on shore to be interred.
Midnight: Do weather

Fri 31 December
Am: Strong breezes with snow. Variously employed. Opened pease qt 5 bushels and cocoa qt 112lbs
Pm: Employed getting ready to go out of harbour.
Midnight: Fine weather.

Sat 1 January 1820
Am fresh breezes. People employed as necessary
Pm: Do weather with snow.
Midnight: Clear

Sun 2 January
Am: Light breezes with rain.
Noon: Do weather
Pm: Strong breezes with snow
Midnight: Frosty.
Departed this life THOs JAMES (Settler's child) Sent body to be interred.

Mon 3 January
Am: Strong breezes with snow
8: Squally. Down royal yards. Employed getting ready for going out of the harbour. Made signal with a gun for assistance
9: Pilot came on board
10:30: Cast off from the buoy and made sail out of the harbour.
Pm: Moderate and fine. Trimmed sails occasionally.
12:40 Short'd sail and came to with the SB in fathoms water 14 Monckton fort ?? South Sea Castle NE 2 furl'd sails and discharged the pilot.
Midnight: Calm and fine.

Tue 4 January
Am: Calm and fine
4: Employed as requisite
10:30: Pay clerks came on board and paid the ship's company for 6 months
Pm: Light winds
Midnight: Fine

Wed 5 January
Am: Moderate and fine
8: Do weather. Employed stowing booms and boats
Pm: Do weather
Midnight: Do weather

Thu 6 January
Am: Moderate and fine
Pm: Do weather
12: Do weather

Fri 7 January
Am: Moderate and fine
8: Moderate and cloudy. Employed getting ready for sea
Noon: Do weather
Pm: Fresh breezes
4:30: Up anchor and made sail to the west
9: Hove to in Cutter and Pinnace
11: Filled and made sail
12: Strong breezes and cloudy

[Whilst actually at sea the log becomes more formalised, with a section each day for am and pm divided by bearings and distance information taken at noon]

Sat 8 January
Am: Strong breezes and cloudy
2: In top gallant sails
4: Do weather. Portland lights NNW 3 leagues
8: Do weather
11: Reefed and set the mainsail
12: Do weather with snow
Bearings and distance at noon Bolt Head N6 W 4 leagues
Pm: Fresh breezes and cloudy
4: Do weather
Opened 2 casks of beef Nos 2161 and 2181 qt 38 pecks each and pork 2 casks Nos. 625 and 1379 qt 80 ?
8: Squally
12: Weather with a swell from the eastward

Sun 9 January
Am: Fresh breezes and cloudy
2:30: Set top gallant sails
4: Do weather with snow. Out reef of the mainsail and set the jib
5: In main top gallant sail
Noon: Strong breezes and squally
Bearings and distance at noon Port Santo S 25 W 980 miles
Pm: Fresh breezes and cloudy
4: Do weather
6: Do weather
8: Do weather
12: Squally

Mon 10 January
Am: Fresh breezes with squalls
1: Carried away the jib pennant down
4: Do weather
Opened 2 casks of pease qt 5 bushels each
7: Made sail occasionally
8: Moderate and cloudy
Noon: Do weather
Bearings and distance at noon Port Santo 24 W 832 miles
Pm: Moderate and cloudy
1: Squally. Carried away the fore and main top gallant masts. Employed getting do on deck
4: Squally with rain. In 2nd reef of topsails
6: Do weather. Carpenters employed fitting top gt masts
8: Do weather
12: Do weather

Tues 11 January
Am: Fresh breezes and cloudy
4: Do weather
8: Do weather
9:30: Out 2nd reef of topsails. Set larboard fore topmast and studding sail
Noon: Do weather
Bearings and distance at noon Porto Santo 22W 644 miles
Pm: Moderate and cloudy with rain at times. Trimmed sails occasionally
4: Do weather
6: Do weather Carpenters employed as before
8: Do weather
12: Do weather

Wed 12 January
Am: Moderate and fine. Set larboard fore studding sails
Departed this life the infant son of SAMl JAMES (settler)
4: Do weather
8: Do weather
9:30: Studding sails and trimmed sails on the starboard tack
12: Moderate and fine
Bearings and distance at noon Port Santo S54W 532 miles
Pm: Moderate and cloudy. Carpenters employed as before
2: Wind veered round to NW squally. Lowered the topsails and in 2nd reef of do.
4: Do weather
6: Do weather
8 Do weather
12: Moderate and fine

Thu 13 January
Am: Moderate and fine
4: Do weather
6: Committed the body of the above infant to the deep
8: Calm. Fidded main top gallant mast. Employed rigging do
12: Light airs and cloudy
Bearings and distance at noon Porto Santo S25W 460 miles
Pm: Light variable winds with rain at times. Trimmed sails occasionally
4: Do weather
7: In 2nd reef of topsails
8: Do weather with rain
10: Do weather. Set the topsails
12: Do weather

Fri 14 January
Am: Fresh breezes and fine
4: Do weather
6: Do weather. Carpenters employed fitting fore top gallant mast
8: Do weather. Set larboard lower and top mast studding sails
12: Moderate and fine. 1 sail in sight
Bearings and distance at noon Porto Santo S26W 370 miles
Pm: Light winds and fine. Employed setting up the rigging
4: Do weather. Carpenters employed as before
5: Studding sails and fidded fore top gallant mast
Opened 1 cask flour 336lbs tea 1 case 86 Wine Nos.2&6 21 gs each
8: Do weather
12: Do weather

Sat 15 January
Am: Moderate and fine
3: Set main sail and main top gallant sail
4: Do weather. Open'd rum No 35 qt 88 gallons
6: Do weather. Departed this life SAMl DUGEBY settler's child
6:30: Out 1st reef of fore topsail Set starboard lower and top mast studding sails
8: Fidded fore top gallant mast. Crossed yard and set the sail
9: Committed the body of the deceased to the deep
12: Do weather
Bearings and distance at noon Porto Santo S29W 310 miles
Pm: Light breezes and fine
Set studding sails and trimmed sails
5:40: Up mainsail in royals
6: Do weather
8: Calm and fine
Midnight: Moderate and cloudy

Sun 16 January
Am: Fresh breezes and cloudy
2: In top gallant sails
4: In 1st and 2nd reefs of topsails
7:30: Down jib in 3rd reef of main topsail. Close reefed fore and mizen top sail down top gallant yards and struck top gallant masts in flying jib boom
Opened 2 cask of pork No 641 &627 80 pecks each 2 casks of beef Nos 2175 &2071 qt 38 pecks each
Noon: Strong breezes and squally with rain
Bearings and distance at noon Porto Santo S23w 268 miles
Pm: Strong breezes and squally

4: Do weather
8: Ware ship
Midnight: Strong breezes and squally

Mon 17 January
Am: Strong breezes and squally
4: Do weather
6: Fresh breezes and squally. Fidded top gallant masts. Set mizen topsail
Noon: Fresh breezes and hazy
Bearings and distance at noon Porto Santo S25.37W 224 miles
Pm: Strong breezes and hazy
4: Do weather
6: Do weather
8: Do weather
12: Do weather up main sails

Tues 18 January
Am: Strong breezes and hazy
4: Do weather. Down jib and up spanker
6: Do weather
8: Do weather
9: Reefed and set the main sail
12: Do weather
Bearing and distance at noon Porto Santo S46W 238 miles
Pm: Fresh breezes and cloudy
4: Do weather
6: Do weather
8: Do weather. Tacked ship
9: Set the spanker
12: Do weather

Wed 19 January
Am: Fresh breezes and hazy
2: Up spanker
4: Do weather. Set spanker
6: Do weather
8: Squally in 3rd reef of fore and main topsails. Down spanker
12: Close reefed mizen topsail
12: Do weather
Bearings and distance at noon Porto Santo S34.10W 224 miles
Pm: Fresh breezes and cloudy
4: Do weather
6: Do weather
7: Ware ship
8: Moderate and cloudy
10: Set the spanker
12: Do weather

Thu 20 January
Am: Moderate and cloudy
4: Do weather
8: Do weather. Out 2nd reef of the topsails
9: Crossed top gallant yards and set the sails. Opened rum No 35 qt 88 gallons
Noon: Light airs and cloudy
Bearings and distance at noon Porto Santo S44.17W 224 miles
Pm: Light winds and hazy
4: Do weather with rains. Opened flour no162 qt.375 lbs suet No 103 qt 180 lb oatmeal 1 cask qt 7 ½ bushels and sugar no 21 qt 560 lbs
7: Top gallant sails and down flying jib
Midnight: Light airs. Trimmed sails

Fri 21 January

Am: Calm and cloudy
4: Do weather
6: Do weather
8: Do weather
11:30: Light airs from the W. Trimmed and made sail
Bearings and distance at noon Porto Santo S50.58W 222 miles
Pm: Light breezes and fine
5: In royals
6: Moderate breezes and fine. In top sails. Top gallant staysail and 1st reef of main topsail and 2nd reefs of fore and mizen do
10: Down flying jib
Midnight: Fresh breezes and cloudy

Sat 22 January
Am: Fresh breezes and cloudy
3: In spanker and mizen staysail
6: Do weather. Opened 2 casks of butter qt 69 lbs each and cheese 2 casks qt 125 lbs each cocoa No 31 qt 336 lb
10:30: Set spanker and fore and main top gallant sails
Noon: Fresh breezes and squally
Bearings and distance at noon Santa Cruz S28.51W 318 miles
Pm: Fresh breezes and squally
In 1st reef of fore top sail
6: Do weather
8:30: Carried away the starboard fore topmast studding sail
Midnight: Fresh breezes and fine

Sun 23 January
Am: Moderate and fine
7:30: Out reefs of topsails. Set larboard fore topmast and top gallant studding sails
8: Do weather. Crossed royal yards and set the sails. Set larboard lower studding sail
11: Performed divine service
Noon: Moderate and fine
Pm: Fresh breezes and fine
4: Do weather
6: Do weather
8: Moderate and fine
Midnight: Do weather

Mon 24 January
Am: Fresh breezes and cloudy. In top gallant sails
4: Do weather. Set fore and main top gallant sails
7: Saw the island of Lanzarote west 3 or 4 leagues
8: Fresh breezes
Opened 2 ½ Hhds of vinegar qt 32 gs each tobacco No 175 qt 85 lbs
Noon: Fresh breezes
Bearing and distance at noon Extremes of Lanzarote from WNW to W
Pm: Fresh breezes and cloudy
Variously employed about the rigging
4: Do weather
8: Moderate breezes and cloudy
Midnight: Do weather

Tues 25 January
Am: Fresh breezes and cloudy
4: Short sail and hove to
8: centre of the town of Las Palmas Gran Canary WNW
11: shortened sail and came to with SB in 23 fathoms. Veered to 80 fathoms
NE point of Gran Canary N6E1/2E Centre of the town West
Bearings and Distance at noon. Single anchor off the town of Palmas
Pm: Moderate and fine
Furled sails down royal yards
Employed sending empty casks on shore for water in shore boats
Midnight moderate and cloudy

Wed 26 January
Am: Moderate and fine
4 Do weather. Rec'd water from shore boats. Killed a bullock wt 342 lbs Rec'd 6 oxen and a quantity of fruit and vegetables for the settlers
Pm: Employed receiving water. Departed this life SARAH STAMFORD settler's child
8: Light winds and fine
Midnight: Do weather

Thu 27 January
Am: Light breezes and cloudy
4: Do weather. Employed receiving water in shore boats. Killed a bullock weighing 660 lbs. Departed this life SARAH WHITEHEAD. Committed the bodies to the deep.
Pm: Employed receiving water
Midnight: Do weather

Fri 28 January
Am: Moderate breezes and cloudy.
8: Do weather with a heavy swell. Employed stowing the holds and about the rigging
Pm: variously employed about the rigging. Rec'd no water this day there being too much of surf
Midnight: Cloudy

Sat 29 January
Am: Moderate breezes and cloudy.
4 Do weather. Employed stowing the holds and as necessary. Killed a bullock weighing 450 lbs
Pm: Employed starting water and stowing the holds
6 Do weather
Midnight: Moderate and cloudy

Sun 30 January
Am: Moderate breezes and cloudy. Employed stowing water casks and luggage in the main hold. Rec'd a quantity of fruit and vegetables
Pm: Employed as before noon
Sunset: Light breezes and cloudy
Midnight: Do weather

Mon 31 January
Am: Light breezes and cloudy. Employed receiving water in shore boats and starting do Rec'd a quantity of fruit and vegetables
Pm: Employed as before noon
Sunset: Do weather
Midnight: Cloudy weather

Tues 1 February
Am: Light breezes and fine
4: Variable winds. Employed stowing the holds. Killed 3 oxen weight 118 lbs
Pm: Variously employed about the rigging
Midnight: Fine weather

Wed 2 February
Am: Moderate breezes and cloudy with little rain. Employed about the rigging. Rec'd 10 oxen & two pipes of wine qt 240 gs
Pm: Emplyed receiving water
Midnight: Light breezes

Thurs 3 February
Am: Light breezes and fine. Employed clearing decks and preparing for sea
Pm: Light breezes and fine. Opened 2 casks of beef qt 38 pecks each flour 1 cask qt 380 lbs
8: Weighed and made sail
Midnight: Do weather

Fri 4 February
Am: Moderate and fine
4: Do weather
7:30: Set studding sails
8: Do weather. West point of Gran Canary NE 3 0r 4 leagues
Killed 2 bullocks weighing 625 lbs
Noon: Light winds and clear
Bearing and distance at noon Peak of Tenerife north 58 miles
Pm: Moderate and fine. Trimmed sails and in larboard studding sails
4: Do weather
6: Do weather
7:30: In royals
11: Set larboard top gallant studding sails and royals
Midnight: Light winds and cloudy

Sat 5 February
Am: Light winds and variable
1: In studding sails and trimmed sails
4: Moderate and fine. Set top and gallant studding sails
9: Set larboard fore studding sails. Aired bedding
Departed this life SARAH HOBBS settler's child
Noon: Moderate and fine
Bearings and distance at noon S.Antonio Cape de Verde S36.47W 672 miles
Pm: Moderate and fine
2: In starboard studding sails
3: Out 4th reef of fore topsail
4: Do weather
6: Do weather
8: Do weather. Committed the body of the above infant to the deep
11: In top gallant sails
Midnight: Fresh breezes and cloudy

Sun 6 February
Am: Fresh breezes and fine
1:30: Set starboard topmast studding sails
Killed a bullock weighing 373 lbs
8: Moderate breezes and fine weather
11: Performed divine service
Noon: Moderate breezes and fine weather
Bearings and distance at noon S.Antonio S41W 550 miles
Pm: Modeate and fine
4: Do weather
6: Do weather
8: Moderate and fine. Made shortened sail as necessary
Midnight: Do weather

[From this point due to pressure of time only main events were noted]

Tues 8 February
Employed washing clothes
Departed this life JOHN COCK settler's child
Committed the body of the above infant to the deep

Thurs 10 February
Departed this life EMMA ROGERS settler's child
Committed body of the above infant to the deep

Fri 18 February
9: Bore up to speak to a stranger, fired a gun to bring her to, found her to be the Comet Spanish brig from Cuba to Cape Lopez
Departed this life MARTHA GODFREY settlers child
Committed the body of the above infant to the deep

Sun 20 February
Departed this life JOHN CROUCH and JAMES FARLEY settlers children
Committed the bodies of the above infants to the deep

Mon 21 Feb
Departed this life MARY RALPHS settler's child
Committed the body to the deep

Tues 22 February
Distance and bearings at noon St.Helena S34E 1242 miles
6: heavy squalls with thunder and lightning

Thu 24 February
Departed this life ELIZABETH STORTON settlers child
Committed the body of the above infant to the deep

Fri 3 March
Performed the customary ceremony in crossing the Equator

Sun 5 March
Saw the Island of Annabona SSW 11 or 12 leagues

Wed 15 March
Departed this life JOSEPH PINNOCK settlers child
Committed the body of the above infant to the deep

Fri 17 March
Departed this life WILLIAM FORWARD settlers child
Body of the above infant to the deep

Mon 27 March
Departed this life SARAH FORWARD settler's wife
Committed the body of the above woman to the deep

Wed 29 March
St.Helena NNW 24 leagues

Thu 13 April
Departed this life ____ HOBBS (settlers child)
Committed the body of the above infant to the deep

Tues 25 April
Saw the Table Land ahead
Employed working in for Table Bay
Anchored in 13½ fathoms. Furled sails

Wed 26 April
Departed this life EPHRAIM DICKS settler

Thu 27 April
Sent the body of E.DICKS on shore to be interred

Wed 3 May
Departed this life JANE DICKS female settler

Fri 5 May
Disembarking settlers

Sun 7 May
Departed this life infant son of J SANDERSON settler

Mon 8 May
Committed the body to the deep

Tues 9 May
At anchor in Table Bay
6: Made sail out of the Bay

Mon 15 May
At anchor in Algoa Bay

Tues 16 May
Clearing hold of settlers luggage

Fri 19 May
Disembarking settlers and their luggage

Sat 20 May
Disembarking settlers and their luggage
Cleaning out hold and washing decks