Captain Zaccheus Allen Log-Books, 1866-1869 | Maine Maritime Museum Manuscript Collection Online Catalog

Two volumes in printed large-format log-book forms, with detailed daily entries in fairly ornate script, and abbreviated entries when in port. They are standard log entries, including weather, wind direction, courses, speed, leeway, sail handling details, bearings and sightings, crew information, observations, cargo loading and discharging information, and positions. Positions are not complete; latitude only is given.

            The fact that longitude is not given is significant. The official logs of the vessel would certainly have included accurate positions with latitude and longitude, for voyages of this length.

Volume A:  Log-book of the ship America kept by Mate Zaccheus Allen, 15 ½”, circa 214 pages with entries, begins Sunday, October 14^th, 1866 in Manila, and ends Tuesday May 12^th, 1868 on the way from Callao towards Antwerp. The voyages recorded here are from Manila to New York, New York to Acapulco, Acapulco to Callao, Callao to the Chinchas Islands, thence to Callao again to clear, and then towards Antwerp. A last page includes the vessel’s draft (fore and aft) when loaded with hemp, cuttings, and sugar at Manila, and draft on an even keel when loaded with 1262 tons of coal (with additional details). The log-book form was printed by Wilbur & Hastings of 40 Fulton Street in New York, and purchased from Crocker, Wood & Co., Ship Chandlers and Grocers, 52 South Street in New York. Loose papers, including personal papers and documents from other ships, were removed and placed in a folder in this box.

Volume B:  Log-book of the ship America kept by Mate Zaccheus Allen, 15 ½”, circa 173 pages with entries, begins Wednesday, May 13^th, 1868 on the passage from Callao towards Antwerp , and ends Thursday December 16^th, 1869 at Hamburg (GER). The voyages recorded here are from Callao to Antwerp, Antwerp to Callao, Callao to the Guanape Islands (PER), thence to Callao again to clear, and then to Hamburg. Loose papers found in this volume, including personal papers and documents from other ships, were removed and placed in a folder in this box.