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The life at sea, part 1
Oct. 19th, 2010 01:02 pmWith the intention to change the topic a little, this time I bring you some of the quotes from another book. It's Age of sail, of the navy and of the midshipmen and everything inbetween.
Title: Young Nelsons, Boy Sailors during the Napoleonic Wars 1793 - 1815
Author: D.A.B. Ronald
Year published: 2009
(on various pages, starting with p 24.)
It is ok to itch.
'Upon Examination' in the advertisement referred to the medical checks undertaken to identify 'the various Distempers which are the Constant Consequences of Poverty and Nastyness' namely the 'trotts' and scurvy, both treatable. The 'pox' (smallpox), was an endemic condition and, again, no obstacle to entry. The 'itch' not a problem if the cause was the curable scabies, but a barrier to entry if it was symptomatic of the dreaded lice-borne disease known as ship fever (typhus), which could sweep away a whole ship's complement should just one new recruit come aboard infected with it.
Clothe me!
A boy's kitbag typically included a felt hat, two worsted caps, a kersey pea jacket, waistcoat, shirts, up to three pairs of drawers, trousers and a couple of pairs of shoes. Bedding comprised a mattress, pillow and blanket.
Who am I?
Date when received: Sept 13 1786
Number: 1
Name: Ja's Sidaway
Age: 13
Stature: 4ft 8 inches
Description: Brown hair with two scars on his head.
When discharged: Sept 29 1786
To whom discharged: Gunner on the Pearl, Deptford.
In what capacity to serve: Servant
No. of days victualled: 17.
Character: very good boy, reads well; an idle bad boy, very dull in learning, cannot read; a smart willing boy, can't read.
Some clothes more
2 uniforms, a short blue coat of the jacket make, with uniform buttons and waistcoat and breeches the same.
3 dozen of shirts and stocks - part of the latter black ones.
3 dozen pairs of stockings some silk, some cotton or thread and some worsted
six pairs of shoes and a pair of boots
2 hatts and 2 round ones / Hatts are liable to be lost overboard!
Mattrass, bolster and Pillows 3 blankets and a Quilt
Six pair of sheets and Pillow cases
2 Dozen of Hand Towels
Pocket handkerchiefs, night caps of netts.
Basons, washballs, brushes, combs etc.
And read?
Robertson's Elements of Navigation
Patoun's Navigation
Mariner's New Calendar
Nautical Almanac
Sherwin's Mathematical Tables.
And:
Pens, ink powder and paper - Mem'd Books, Log Books and Journal Books - Slate and Pencil.
Where I will be:
in the dank, dark nether region at the end of the lower gun deck and below the waterline, where the normal run of midshipmen and captain's servants relaxed, ate, slept, brawled... and played, which for William, who especially liked his theatricals, meant stage-managing an impromptu canvas theatre on the orlop deck, or burlesquing his favourite role of Prince Hal in Henry IV.
Marine Lieutenant wants to smack the prince:
Lieutenant George Moodie of the then much reviled Marines goaded the prince one time with: 'If it was not for your coat, I would give a basting.' to which the prince replied, 'Mz coat shall not stain my honour and, discarding his coat, prepared for fisticuffs. They did not come to blows, but a later confrontation with fellow midshipman, Mr Sturt, did.
Guess who does the cooking:
As the two newcomers on board ship, William and Majendie were expected to take turns cooking for the midshipman's mess.
Title: Young Nelsons, Boy Sailors during the Napoleonic Wars 1793 - 1815
Author: D.A.B. Ronald
Year published: 2009
(on various pages, starting with p 24.)
It is ok to itch.
'Upon Examination' in the advertisement referred to the medical checks undertaken to identify 'the various Distempers which are the Constant Consequences of Poverty and Nastyness' namely the 'trotts' and scurvy, both treatable. The 'pox' (smallpox), was an endemic condition and, again, no obstacle to entry. The 'itch' not a problem if the cause was the curable scabies, but a barrier to entry if it was symptomatic of the dreaded lice-borne disease known as ship fever (typhus), which could sweep away a whole ship's complement should just one new recruit come aboard infected with it.
Clothe me!
A boy's kitbag typically included a felt hat, two worsted caps, a kersey pea jacket, waistcoat, shirts, up to three pairs of drawers, trousers and a couple of pairs of shoes. Bedding comprised a mattress, pillow and blanket.
Who am I?
Date when received: Sept 13 1786
Number: 1
Name: Ja's Sidaway
Age: 13
Stature: 4ft 8 inches
Description: Brown hair with two scars on his head.
When discharged: Sept 29 1786
To whom discharged: Gunner on the Pearl, Deptford.
In what capacity to serve: Servant
No. of days victualled: 17.
Character: very good boy, reads well; an idle bad boy, very dull in learning, cannot read; a smart willing boy, can't read.
Some clothes more
2 uniforms, a short blue coat of the jacket make, with uniform buttons and waistcoat and breeches the same.
3 dozen of shirts and stocks - part of the latter black ones.
3 dozen pairs of stockings some silk, some cotton or thread and some worsted
six pairs of shoes and a pair of boots
2 hatts and 2 round ones / Hatts are liable to be lost overboard!
Mattrass, bolster and Pillows 3 blankets and a Quilt
Six pair of sheets and Pillow cases
2 Dozen of Hand Towels
Pocket handkerchiefs, night caps of netts.
Basons, washballs, brushes, combs etc.
And read?
Robertson's Elements of Navigation
Patoun's Navigation
Mariner's New Calendar
Nautical Almanac
Sherwin's Mathematical Tables.
And:
Pens, ink powder and paper - Mem'd Books, Log Books and Journal Books - Slate and Pencil.
Where I will be:
in the dank, dark nether region at the end of the lower gun deck and below the waterline, where the normal run of midshipmen and captain's servants relaxed, ate, slept, brawled... and played, which for William, who especially liked his theatricals, meant stage-managing an impromptu canvas theatre on the orlop deck, or burlesquing his favourite role of Prince Hal in Henry IV.
Marine Lieutenant wants to smack the prince:
Lieutenant George Moodie of the then much reviled Marines goaded the prince one time with: 'If it was not for your coat, I would give a basting.' to which the prince replied, 'Mz coat shall not stain my honour and, discarding his coat, prepared for fisticuffs. They did not come to blows, but a later confrontation with fellow midshipman, Mr Sturt, did.
Guess who does the cooking:
As the two newcomers on board ship, William and Majendie were expected to take turns cooking for the midshipman's mess.
