Daily life, holidays, and letters

Meals and rations, games and pastimes, the date line crossed and the sun's return, Christmas, New Year, and the Fourth of July far from home, and mail by passing ships and in port.

See them on the moments map

1. 1865 · Brewster: Captain threw pipes overboard in anger.
2. 1832 · Bengal: Crew of spoken ship complained of starvation.
3. 1850 · Abigail: Captain feared crew would desert in port.
4. 1851 · Fortune: Traded ashore on Christmas Day.
5. 1853 · Active: Second mate threw monkey overboard.
6. 1865 · Brewster: Collected letters from the Sea Queen.
7. 1844 · Draco: Keeper offered a New Year prayer.
8. 1845 · Draco: Keeper offered a New Year prayer.
9. 1848 · Draco: Offered a Christmas prayer.
10. 1850 · Abigail: Narrow escape from being driven ashore.
11. 1853 · Lark: Keeper reflected on the new year.
12. 1857 · Daniel Wood: Captain wrote a loving letter to his wife.
13. 1864 · Solon: Armed seaman confined to the hold.
14. 1865 · Brewster: Captain allowed doughnuts from crew's flour only.
15. 1866 · Abraham Barker: Boarded a French cod brig to send letters.
16. 1868 · Abraham Barker: Crew took New Year's Day liberty.
17. 1904 · Karluk: Celebrated Christmas with a big dinner.
18. 1917 · Pedro Varela: Received letters from another ship.
19. 1822 · Packet: Sent letters home via passing brig.
20. 1822 · Packet: Wrote letters to send home.
21. 1831 · Parker: Harpooner complained about meat rations.
22. 1832 · Parker: Crew placed on bread rations.
23. 1832 · Bengal: Reports of hard living aboard the Ganges.
24. 1833 · Parker: Keeper offered a New Year hope.
25. 1833 · Bengal: Crew went swimming and jumped from the jib.
26. 1833 · Bengal: Third mate blamed for ruining the voyage.
27. 1834 · Parker: Keeper reflected on the new year.
28. 1834 · Bengal: Hoped to be home by next New Year's.
29. 1834 · Bengal: Met ship that carried letters home.
30. 1836 · Edward Quesnel: Sent letters home on passing brig.
31. 1836 · Edward Quesnel: Sent letters home with the Pacific.
32. 1837 · Edward Quesnel: Boat returned without a missing man.
33. 1843 · Rowena: Killed a pig for New Year's dinner.
34. 1844 · Edward: Killed a hog for Christmas.
35. 1845 · Indian Chief: Crew fumigated the ship.
36. 1845 · Draco: Received a letter from home.
37. 1845 · Edward: Received recent newspapers from passing ship.
38. 1845 · Draco: Received a year-old letter.
39. 1845 · Charles Phelps: Sent letters home via American merchant ships.
40. 1847 · Dunbarton: Received letters from another vessel.
41. 1848 · Nimrod: First catch stirred excitement aboard.
42. 1848 · Nimrod: Keeper wished to be home for Thanksgiving.
43. 1848 · Nimrod: Received a letter and news from home.
44. 1848 · Abigail: Keeper opened a year-old Christmas cake.
45. 1850 · Draco: Keeper drove crew forward with a club.
46. 1851 · Fortune: Boats put out to train learners.
47. 1853 · Elizabeth: Crewman tore down the keeper's curtains.
48. 1853 · Fortune: Sailor complained about short rations.
49. 1853 · Lark: Received potatoes, newspapers, and apples.
50. 1861 · Jireh Perry: Went ashore to send letters and get newspapers.
51. 1862 · Hopeton: Boarded an English schooner for newspapers.
52. 1863 · Brewster: Whale lost through carelessness.
53. 1866 · Abraham Barker: Sent letters aboard a passing bark.
54. 1867 · Abraham Barker: Sent letters home on an oncoming ship.
55. 1867 · Abraham Barker: Captain ordered the sailors' shirts searched.
56. 1877 · E. H. Hatfield: Mail arrived.
57. 1893 · Beluga: Newport delivered mail.
58. 1905 · Karluk: Crew spent the calm playing ball.
59. 1905 · Karluk: Mail arrived.
60. 1905 · Karluk: Crew played ball all day.
61. 1905 · Karluk: Mail arrived from the fort.
62. 1905 · Karluk: Nugent put back on full rations.
63. 1905 · Karluk: Crew put on short rations.
64. 1905 · Karluk: Smith returned after having enough.
65. 1905 · Karluk: Captain Mag departed carrying the mail.
66. 1906 · Karluk: Crew played ball.
67. 1906 · Karluk: Meat rations cut.
68. 1906 · Karluk: Mail arrived from the fort.
69. 1834 · Bengal: Received newspapers from the Franklin.
70. 1838 · Edward Quesnel: Log keeper disappointed by no letters.
71. 1845 · Edward: Received newspapers from a pilot boat.
72. 1848 · Nimrod: Disappointed at missing a chance to mail letters.
73. 1857 · Daniel Wood: Received a loving letter from home.
74. 1861 · Altamaha: Received a newspaper from home.
75. 1861 · Altamaha: Got newspapers from a pilot boat.
76. 1862 · Jireh Perry: Received newspapers reporting on Bull Run.
77. 1864 · Brewster: Keeper cursed captain for barring crew's mail.
78. 1864 · Brewster: Got year-old newspapers from Dutch ship.
79. 1905 · Karluk: Saw the sun for the first time that year.
80. 1833 · Bengal: Keeper noted Independence Day.
81. 1833 · Bengal: Ship found itself landlocked by surrounding shores.
82. 1834 · Bengal: Breaches off the bow.
83. 1834 · Bengal: Four men needed at the helm.
84. 1834 · Bengal: Three men needed at the wheel.
85. 1834 · Bengal: Daylight lasted all night near Cape Horn.
86. 1837 · Addison: Boats gathered wood with great difficulty.
87. 1846 · Indian Chief: Adjusted the calendar upon crossing the date line.
88. 1846 · Indian Chief: Ship crossed the International Date Line.
89. 1849 · Mary and Susan: Water did damage on shore.
90. 1849 · Abigail: Pigs slaughtered for Fourth of July dinner.
91. 1852 · Pacific: Ship in great danger off Cape Hope.
92. 1852 · Active: Chronometer found thirty miles off.
93. 1853 · Fortune: Crewman complained to captain about food.
94. 1905 · Karluk: Snow on the Fourth of July.
95. 1905 · Karluk: Built a snow house around the stern.
96. 1906 · Karluk: Crew dug a trench around the ship.

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