Skip to item: of 277
Information about this record Back to top
Open in Universal viewer
Open in Mirador IIIF viewer

Somers : Journal [‎8v] (22/277)

This item is part of

The record is made up of 1 file (133 folios). It was created in 30 Nov 1711-28 Mar 1715. It was written in English. The original is part of the British Library: India Office The department of the British Government to which the Government of India reported between 1858 and 1947. The successor to the Court of Directors. Records and Private Papers Documents collected in a private capacity. .

About this item

Content

Journal of the East India Company ship Somers by John Sparks, third mate. The journal covers the ship's voyage from England to Bombay and its return to England, between 11 November 1711 and 28 March 1715 (Captain Eustace Peacock).

The journal contains daily entries in two different formats. Firstly, daily entries written in a journal style (folios 3-6, 8-10, and 30-31). Secondly, daily entries in six columns: H [Hour], Courses, K [Knots], F [Fathoms], Winds &c., and Remarks (folios 12-27; 32-127). When the ship is at anchor, the entries consist of remarks only. The journal records the following: navigational information; weather; contact with other East India Company ships, French ships, a Dutch ship, a Portuguese ship, a European ship and country ships; commodities carried; general remarks.

The journal also includes:

  • A list of the crew with their age and nationality (folios 5-6)
  • A list of the soldiers onboard (folios 49)
  • Remarks in the margins, written in pencil (folios 30, 45, 51, 71, 78, 107)
  • Notes about the deaths of crewmembers, some including a small sketch depicting the deceased (folios 15, 16, 21, 32, 41, 43, 57, 58, 59, 62, 98)
  • A mention of sickness on the ship (folio 16)
  • A mention of birds seen (folio 43).

Entries are double-dated using both the Old Style (Julian) and New Style (Gregorian) calendars.

At the front of the journal (folio 1) is the inscription: ‘Second mate jounall of the ship Sommers received 14 June 1715’.

The journal records the ship's arrival at the following places: the Downs, 15 April 1712; Snt Jago [Santiago, Cape Verde], 30 May 1712; Table Bay, Cape Bona Esperanca [Cape of Good Hope], 15 August 1712; Anjengo, 18 November 1712; Cochin [Kochi], 28 November 1712; Calicut [Kozhikode], 6 December 1712; Goa, 14 December 1712; Bombay [Mumbai], 27 December 1712, Surratt [Surat], 24 January 1712/13; Bombay, 15 March 1712/13; Arabian Coast, 27 April 1713; Muscat, 4 May 1713; Gombaroon [Bandar-e ʻAbbās], 13 May 1713; Maderass [Madras, i.e. Chennai], 8 August 1713; Balasore, 23 September 1713; Calcutta [Kolkata], 19 October 1713; Anjengo, 8 Jan 1713/14; Tellicherry [Thalassery], 17 January 1713/14; Goa, 27 January 1713/14; Bombay, 5 February 1713/14; Surat, 23 February 1713/14; Bombay, 23 March 1713/14; Pondicherry, 17 May 1713/14; Madras [Chennai], 19 May 1713/14; Cape Bona Esperanca, 31 October 1713/14; Lisbon, 12 February 1714/15; Coast of France, 24 March 1714/15.

Extent and format
1 file (133 folios)
Arrangement

The journal entries are recorded in chronological order from the front to the rear.

Physical characteristics

Foliation: the foliation sequence for this description (used for referencing) commences at f 1, and terminates at f 133; it is part of a larger physical volume of different shelfmarks in which this shelfmark has been given its own separate foliation sequence, i.e. non-consecutive; these numbers are written in pencil, are circled, and are located in the top right corner of the recto The front of a sheet of paper or leaf, often abbreviated to 'r'. side of each folio. A previous foliation sequence, which is also circled, has been superseded and therefore crossed out.

Written in
English in Latin script
View the complete information for this record

Use and share this item

Share this item
Cite this item in your research

Somers : Journal [‎8v] (22/277), British Library: India Office Records and Private Papers, IOR/L/MAR/B/705C, in Qatar Digital Library <https://www.qdl.qa/archive/81055/vdc_100087872023.0x000017> [accessed 28 March 2024]

Link to this item
Embed this item

Copy and paste the code below into your web page where you would like to embed the image.

<meta charset="utf-8"><a href="https://www.qdl.qa/en/archive/81055/vdc_100087872023.0x000017"> <em>Somers</em> : Journal [&lrm;8v] (22/277)</a>
<a href="https://www.qdl.qa/en/archive/81055/vdc_100087872023.0x000017">
	<img src="https://iiif.qdl.qa/iiif/images/81055/vdc_100000000229.0x000200/IOR_L_MAR_B_705C_0022.jp2/full/!280,240/0/default.jpg" alt="" />
</a>
IIIF details

This record has a IIIF manifest available as follows. If you have a compatible viewer you can drag the icon to load it.https://www.qdl.qa/en/iiif/81055/vdc_100000000229.0x000200/manifestOpen in Universal viewerOpen in Mirador viewerMore options for embedding images

Use and reuse
Download this image