[Thomas Waters to his mother, Mrs Elizabeth Waters]
[from a transcript]
XII
September 1844. New York
Dear Mother
I received your letter dated 31st July on Saturday 31st August. Although it arrived in Nantucket on the 23rd in the evening, but I had sailed in the morning of the same day on board a schooner called Telescope, to catch a species of whale termed humpbacks, which are plentiful here in this season but very wild; oweing to the bad weather and fog we captured none after being out 8 days; previous to that I had been in a schooner the Two Brothers engaged in the same fishery, but had bad luck and lost one of our boats in a heavy Norther, in consequence of which we returned to port to repair damages, and whilst there the owner of the Telescope wished me to go in his craft, so I took my jacket and went with him 23rd Aug.A.M. Your letter arrived that evening: I see by your writing that my Father and in fact all think me wrong in leaving the Fawn. I acted according to the best of my judgment, I will give you my reason, in my indentures that I signed, it stated I was to be taught thorough practical seamanship, I remained 3 years in the Fawn and can truly say according to the opportunities I had in that time it would have taken twice 3 years more, before I could have said I was a seaman: though I had no opportunities to learn seamanship, I had plenty to curse, swear, and drink spirits to excess, the crew that came out in the Fawn were bad enough, but most of them left and we had to ship worse, the refuse of other ships who cared for nothing but rum, which was served out in the ship; even while sick in Woahoo [Oahu] our doctor said I could not live much longer if I was not removed from the noise and stench of the drunken crew; since leaving the Fawn I have sailed in none but temperance ships, the first time I shiped as O.S. on board an American ship where the mate took a liking to me on account that he saw I was willing and did my best, he gave me every opportunity to learn as they were fitting the ship for home. The next American ship I was on board of was the Enterprise where I went as A.B. to the entire satisfaction of her Captain and officers who gave me the name of a seaman, it is true I lost the £24 which I should have received if I had stopped in the Fawn, and I should have been expected to be a seaman which I should not have been and then you would have thought me wanting in abilities. I left my books, quadrant, watch, instruments, compass, dressing case and some clothes on board in my chest, which I hope you have received though you have not mentioned such in your letters. There were 4 apprentices came out in the Fawn, but there was only one that went home in her, and he was the fo’castle one, I was the first one that went. I should like to come home as much as you would like to see me, but then I cannot stop long enough on shore to wait for a ship bound to England as there are hundreds of seamen ashore. I board at Capt. Roland Gelston’s Sailors Home on the Temperance system where there are 93 seamen. Merchant captains do not like whalemen as generally they are bad sailors and worse characters. Yankee captains do not like Englishmen. The first chance to ship I get I mean to take whether to England or the E. Indies or any other part of the world: At all events I am clear of that chance work whaling. The bill you sent me I could not get cashed in Nantucket as Capt. Cannon has removed to Boston and I could not get away to New York without paying my debts. I tried every means I could think of without success as no one here knew that merchant, when a New York packet Captain offered to take the order and me there and I was to pay my debts to him, otherwise the note would have been useless to me and I should have returned it to you. New York is between 2 and 300 miles distant from Nantucket. You mention not to go in a smuggler the one I first intended going into China sailed about 3 weeks ago but I could not get to Boston to ship in her. But since that the captain and owner of a small schooner of 42 tons being in debt and fearing his creditors would seize his craft intended clearing off to the coast of Brazil and commence smuggling and so round the Horn to Chile and Peru and I, rather than be forced to go whaling again for 4 years, had promised to go with him for good pay and a share in the proceeds, for of two evils I chose the least but I disappointed him sadly and he sailed without me the next day after receiving your letter, I had given up hopes of a letter from you some time. I thought you had removed to some other place and had not received my letter. When Ben choses a business I hope he will be fortunate: he must be taller than me as I have not grown much; The first opportunity to come home I mean to take. I hope it will be soon, none know the comforts of home so much as those who have lived among strangers in foreign countries but still I would not change my mode of life willingly for any other. I am sorry Mrs Nicholls has lost her son Edward. I am now on board a topsail schooner called Traffick of N.Y. a Baltimore packet where I am going. I did not finish this letter the same day I began it because I hoped to carry the news myself so I have stopped for the last chance. I shall be back to N.Y. about a month’s time so good bye at present excuse this short end.
I remain T. Waters