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New Bedford Whaler Headed to California in 1849 With Provisions

Manuscript journal of a 3-month voyage to California through the spring and summer of 1849 on the whaleship America, Captain Charles Seabury in command. The America was one of 94 erstwhile whalers converted for use as Gold Rush vessels. The first entry is dated April 1, 1849, with the final entry dated August 25, 1849. While the entries in the journal are brief they include interesting comments referring to other vessels, descriptions of Lima and Callao, and a quarantine stop at Santa Catarina Island in Brazil.

The America, a 464-ton ship sailed out of New Bedford on April 1, 1849, arriving in San Francisco on September 22, 1849, with 75 passengers and supplies for the Gold Rush. En route, the ship stopped at St. Catherine's, Callao (with side trip to Lima described). The last entry in the journal is dated Saturday, Aug. 25, 1849, some time before reaching San Francisco, but after rounding Cape Horn. Assuming 18 days sailing north from Callao, that would put the ship roughly near Acapulco by the 25th of August, assuming 5 nautical miles per hour for 18 days.

The ship stopped at Santa Catarina Island (Brazil), where the America were quarantined a few days. This now little-known island was a common stopping place during the Gold Rush, with thousands of Americans passing through Santa Catarina en route to California during the years 1848 to 1856.

The anonymous writer gives an interesting first-hand description of Lima and Callao, noting that all shipping business at the latter place was done on a single pier, from which all goods were "transported on the backs of mules and donkeys."

The journal also records spotting numerous other vessels, most of which were also headed to California, including the brig, General Worth, sighted in the Atlantic, "bound to Rio Grande." This vessel was no doubt named for General William Jenkins Worth, an important figure in 19th-century American military history, noted for his service in Texas. Worth played a pivotal role during the Mexican-American War, where he led successful campaigns that contributed to the U.S. capture of key locations, including Monterrey and Mexico City. Worth was instrumental in the establishment of Fort Worth, Texas, which was named in his honor, solidifying his legacy in the region. His strategic prowess and leadership not only shaped military tactics of the time but also aided in the expansion and security of the U.S. presence in Texas during a period of rapid territorial growth. General Worth died of cholera on May 7, 1849, in San Antonio, Texas.

An interesting Gold Rush sea voyage, undertaken fairly early in 1849.

A selection of entries:

• April 1, 1849: On Sunday, the first day of April 1849 I bid adieu to all my friends and sailed for California in the good Ship America, Captain C. Seabury...
• April 2nd: This morning when I went on deck I found nothing to meet my eyes but the wide spreading Atlantic this is the first time that I was ever out of sight of land... We entered the far famed gulf stream about 4 o'clock in the afternoon.
• April 4th: To day we past what appeared to be a vineyard boat...
• April 13th: Captain struck a porpoise this forenoon which raised quite an excitement for a while we soon got it on board and dressed it which made 1st rate eating, the meat looks like fresh beef only rather darker & full as good. We saw a whale spout about half a mile to the leward.
• May 2nd: Two ships on our starboard beam standing to the south about sunset we raised another vessel on our larboard bow one of the ships on our larboard side bore down towards us this evening and spoke us about eleven o'clock she proved to be the York from Boston bound to California with 63 persons on board she left Boston on the first of April and spoke the Emma Isadora 19 days about bound to the same place we gave her three cheers which was returned our minstrels struck up the California song and Uncle Ned which they returned by singing the Turkish Galle. 
• May 16th: Spoke a brigantine this morning the General Worth from Portland bound to Rio Grande...
• May 26th: The water is full of finbacks... the cheering cry of land... we made it out to be Saint Catherines...
• May 27th: They fired two guns for us to heave to and sent a boat and quarentined [sic] us for six days
• May 29th: Captain obtained permission from the port to go ashore with two boats and land the water casks.
• May 30th: Permission for all to go ashore. The land is very uneven but very little cultivated oranges & other kinds of fruit are now in their prime.
• May 31st: Mail steamer came in today from Rio. In afternoon the schooner "Horace" arrived from New Bedford for California, 82 days out.
• June 1st: Our time is principally taken up on shore. The people seems to be very kind & appear to be very much attached to the Americans in general.
• June 3rd: This morning we weighed anchor.... gave the Horace 3 cheers which was returned.
• June 30th: We raised the Falkland Isles about 9 AM & was in sight of them all day.
• July 4th: Here we are fourth of July at Cape Horn and no fourth of July in sight like the Paddy's gin bottle we looked for it and it was not their [sic] however we will charge it to the old Sacramento and make it pay dear... had the pleasure of seeing the famed Cape Horn. We passed it about 25 miles to the East. The land was covered with snow. The weather is quite warm & mild.
• July 24th: Raised the island of Massafuera [i.e. Alejandro Selkirk Island, previously known as Más Afuera]
• Aug. 2: We stood across Pisco Bay with a flowing breeze we saw 8 or 10 ships and barks at anchor... 
• Aug. 3: This morning the Custom house officer and the Captain of the port came on board we found five American vessels here bound to California, the ship Regulus of Boston, the bark Belvedere of New York, the Glenmore of Richmond, the Ferdinand of Baltimore, the Linda of New York, the Junius a whaler from New Bedford and the American sloop of war the St. Mary. I went on shore in the forenoon and took a cruise in Callao there is but one pier in the whole place and that presents a striking and singular appearance all the business of the place is done on this pier the goods are all transported on the backs of mules and donkeys. On Sunday I went up to Lima seven miles from Callao this is a walled city containing about 60 thousand inhabitants the houses are mostly one story in height and built of clay and white washed the churches are splendid.
• Aug. 7: This morning the English mail steamer arrived from Panama she brought news from the United States up to the last of June the news from California was first rate gold was very plenty and Cholera was raging in the states... We soon left Callao in the distance farewell now and perhaps forever.
• Aug. 16th: A ship on our starboard bow heading West... about 1 o'clock we came up with her she proved to be the Mercury a whaling vessel from New Bedford commanded by Capt. West who came on board and stopt with us two or three hours the Mercury had been out 14 months with 240 barrels sperm oil she spoke the Statira from New Bedford a few days ago.
• Aug. 18th: ... we raised a vessel at sunrise on our larboard beam heading N. N.E. supposed to be a whaler, she was soon out of sight...

A rare shipboard account of the journey to California during the first months of the Gold Rush.