The Plough Boy Anthology:
19th Century American Whaling
To help tell the story of early nineteenth century whaling and to provide background and detail to Lewis Monto's two journals, either full text or selections from books and periodicals from this period are linked from this page. "The Ploughboy Anthology" will be used to identify this collection.
|
1819 |
Sampson, William. |
|
|
Is a Whale a Fish? An accurate report of the case of James Maurice against Samuel Judd, tried in the mayor's court of the city of New-York, on the 30th and 31st of December, 1818, wherein the above problem is discussed theologically, scholastically, and historically. By William Sampson.
(New York, C. S. Van Winkle, 1819.) |
|
|
Complete text
|
|
|
|
|
|
1821 |
Chase, Owen. |
|
|
Narrative of the Most Extraordinary and Distressing Shipwreck of the Whale-Ship Essex, of Nantucket; Which was Attacked and Finally Destroyed by a Large Spermaceti-Whale, in the Pacific Ocean; with An Account of the Unparalleled Sufferings of the Captain and Crew During a Space of Ninety-Three Days at Sea in Open Boats; in the Years 1819 & 1820. by Owen Chase.
(New York: W.B. Gilley, 1821) |
|
|
Complete text
|
|
|
|
|
|
1828 |
Lay, William and Hussey, Cyrus M. |
|
|
A Narrative of the Mutiny, on Board the Ship Globe, of Nantucket, in the Pacific Ocean, Jan. 1824: And the Journal of a Residence of Two Years on the Mulgrave Islands; with Observations on the Manners and Customs of the Inhabitants, by William Lay, of Saybrook. Conn. and Cyrus M. Hussey, of Nantucket: the only survivors from the massacre of the ship's company by the natives, By William Lay and Cyrus M. Hussey.
(New London, Wm. Lay & C.M. Hussey, 1828.) |
|
|
Complete text
|
|
|
|
|
|
1828 |
|
|
|
"On the Expediency of Fitting Out Vessels of the Navy for an Exploration of the Pacific Ocean and South Seas", March 25, 1828. American State Papers: Naval Affairs, Vol. 3, pp. 189-197.
(Washington: Gale's & Seaton, 1860) |
|
|
Complete text
|
|
|
|
|
|
1829 |
|
|
|
"Exploring Expedition to the Pacific Ocean and South Seas", February 16, 1829. American State Papers: Naval Affairs, Vol. 3, pp. 308-317.
(Washington: Gale's & Seaton, 1860) |
|
|
Complete text
|
|
|
|
|
|
1829 |
|
|
|
"On the Policy and Objects of the Exploring Expedition to the Pacific
Ocean and South Seas", February 23, 1829. American State Papers: Naval Affairs, Vol. 3, pp. 336-343.
(Washington: Gale's & Seaton, 1860) |
|
|
Complete text
|
|
|
|
|
|
1830 |
|
|
|
"Authorization of the Naval Exploring Expedition in the South Seas and Pacific Ocean, and of the Purchase of and Payment for Astronomical and Other Instruments for the Same", March 17, 1830. American State Papers: Naval Affairs, Vol. 3, pp. 546-560.
(Washington: Gale's & Seaton, 1860) |
|
|
Complete text
|
|
|
|
|
|
1831 |
Beechey, Frederick William (1796-1856). |
|
|
Narrative of a voyage to the Pacific and Beering's strait, to co-operate with the polar expeditions: performed in His Majesty's ship Blossom, under the command of Captain F.W. Beechey ... in the years 1825, 26, 27, 28 ..., By Frederick William Beechey.
(London: H. Colburn and R. Bentley). Vol. 2. |
|
|
Selected text
|
|
|
|
|
|
1831 |
Paulding, Hiram (1797-1878). |
|
|
Journal of a Cruise of the United States Schooner Dolphin, among the islands of the Pacific Ocean; and a visit to the Mulgrave Islands, in pursuit of the mutineers of the whale ship Globe ..., By Hiram Paulding.
(New York, G. & C. & H. Carvill, 1831) |
|
|
Complete text
|
|
|
|
|
|
1834 |
Hart, Joseph C. (1798-1855). |
|
|
Miriam Coffin; or, The Whale-Fishermen: A Tale, By Joseph C. Hart
(New York, G. & C. & H. Carvill, 1834) |
|
| Vol. 1 – Complete text |
| Vol. 2 – Complete text |
|
|
|
|
|
1835 |
|
|
|
"Information Collected by the Navy Department Relating to Islands, Reefs, Shoals, Etc., in the Pacific Ocean and South Seas, and Showing the Expediency of an Exploring Expedition in that Ocean and those Seas by the Navy", January 29, 1835.American State Papers: Naval Affairs, Vol. 4, pp. 688-700.
(Washington: Gale's & Seaton, 1861) |
|
|
Complete text
|
|
|
|
|
|
1835 |
|
|
|
"On the Expediency and Importance of Authorizing a Naval Expedition to Explore the Pacific Ocean and South Seas", February 7, 1835.American State Papers: Naval Affairs, Vol. 4, pp. 707-715.
(Washington: Gale's & Seaton, 1861) |
|
|
Complete text
|
|
|
|
|
|
1835 |
Beale, Thomas (1807-1849). |
|
|
A few observations on the natural history of the sperm whale with an account of the rise and progress of the fishery, and of the modes of pursuing, killing, and "cutting in" that animal, with a list of its favorite places of resort.By Thomas Beale
(London: Effingham Wilson, 1835) |
|
|
Complete text
|
|
|
|
|
|
1835 |
W. |
|
|
"A Chapter on Whaling", The New-England magazine.. Volume 8, Issue 6, June 1835, pp. 445-449. |
|
|
Complete text - courtesy of Cornell University Library, Making of America Digital Collection
|
|
|
|
|
|
1836 |
|
|
|
"On the Expediency and Importance of Authorizing a Naval Expedition to Explore the Pacific Ocean and South Seas", March 21, 1836. American State Papers: Naval Affairs, Vol. 4, pp. 867-873.
(Washington: Gale's & Seaton, 1861) |
|
|
Complete text
|
|
|
|
|
|
1839 |
Beale, Thomas (1807-1849). |
|
|
The natural history of the sperm whale : its anatomy and physiology, food, spermaceti, ambergris, rise and progress of the fishery, chase and capture, "cutting in" and "trying out", description of the ships, boats, men and instruments used in the attack, with an account of its favourite places of resort : to which is added, a sketch of a South-sea whaling voyage, embracing a description of the extent, as well as the adventures and accidents that occurred during the voyage in which the author was personally engaged, By Thomas Beale
(London: John Van Voorst, 1839) |
|
|
Complete text
|
|
|
|
|
|
1839 |
Reynolds, J. N. |
|
|
"Mocha Dick: or the White Whale of the Pacific: A Leaf from a Manuscript Journal", The Knickerbocker, or New-York Monthly Magazine. Vol. 13, No. 5, May 1839, pp. 377-392. |
|
|
Complete text
|
|
|
|
|
|
1840 |
Bennett, Frederick Debell (1806-1859). |
|
|
Narrative of a whaling voyage round the globe, from the year 1833 to 1836. Comprising sketches of Polynesia, California, the Indian Archipelago, etc. with an account of southern whales, the sperm whale fishery, and the natural history of the climates visited, By Frederick Debell Bennett
(London:, R. Bentley, 1840) |
|
|
Vol. 1: Complete text
Vol. 2: Complete text
|
|
|
|
|
|
1840 |
Dana, Richard Henry Jr. (1815-1882) |
|
|
Two years before the mast : a personal narrative of life at sea, By Richard Henry Dana, Jr.
(New-York: Harper & Brothers) |
|
|
Complete text
|
|
|
|
|
|
1841 |
Olmsted, Francis Allyn (1819-1844). |
|
|
Incidents of a whaling voyage : to which are added observations on the scenery manners and customs, and missionary stations of the Sandwich and Society Islands: accompanied by numerous lithographic plates, By Francis Allyn Olmsted.
(New York: D. Appleton and Co., 1841) |
|
|
Complete text
|
|
|
|
|
|
1841 |
Dana, Richard Henry Jr. (1815-1882) |
|
|
The Seaman's Friend; Containing a Treatise on Practical Seamanship, with Plates, a Dictionary of Sea Terms; Customs and Usages of the Merchant
Service; Laws Relating to the Practical Duties of
Master and Mariners, By Richard Henry Dana, Jr.
(Boston, Charles C. Little & James Brown, and
Benjamin Loring & Co., [1841]) |
|
|
Complete text
|
|
|
|
|
|
1845 |
Darwin, Charles (1809-1882). |
|
|
Journal of Researches into the Natural History and Geology of the Countries Visited During the Voyage of H.M.S. Beagle Round the World, under the Command of Capt. Fitz Roy, R.N., By Charles Darwin
Second Edition, corrected with additions.
(London: John Murray, 1845) |
|
|
Selection – Chapter 17 – Galapagos Archipelago.
|
|
|
|
|
|
1846 |
Browne, J. Ross (1817-1875). |
|
|
Etchings of a Whaling Cruise, with Notes of a Sojourn on the Island of Zanzibar. To which is Appended a Brief History of the Whale Fishery, its Past and Present Condition, By J. Ross Browne.
(New York: Harper & Brothers, 1846). |
|
|
Complete text
|
|
|
|
|
|
1846 |
|
|
|
"Whale-Fisheries" The United States Democratic review. Volume 19, Issue 102, December 1846, pp. 453-465. |
|
|
Complete text - courtesy of Cornell University Library, Making of America Digital Collection
|
|
|
|
|
|
1851 |
Melville, Herman (1819-1891). |
|
|
Moby-Dick; or : The whale. By Herman Melville
(New York: Harper & Brothers, 1851) |
|
|
Complete text
|
|
|
|
|
|
1853 |
Cheever, Henry T. (1814-1897). |
|
|
The whale and his captors; or, The whalemen's adventures, and the whale's biography as gathered on the homeward cruise of the "Commodore Preble." By Henry T. Cheever.
(New York: Harper & Bros., 1853) |
|
|
Complete text - courtesy of University of Michigan's Making of America Digital Collection
|
|
|
|
|
|
1854 |
|
|
|
"Aboard A Sperm Whaler" Harper's new monthly magazine. Volume 8, Issue 47, April 1854, pp. 670-674. |
|
|
Complete text - courtesy of Cornell University Library, Making of America Digital Collection
|
|
|
|
|
|
1856 |
Perry, Matthew Calbraith (1794-1858). |
|
|
Narrative of the expedition of an American squadron to the China Seas and Japan, performed in the years 1852, 1853, and 1854 : under the command of Commodore M.C. Perry, United States Navy, by order of the government of the United States / compiled from the original notes and journals of Commodore Perry and his officers, at his request, and under his supervision by Francis L. Hawks. By Matthew Calbraith Perry.
(Washington: A.O.P. Nicholson, Printer, 1856) |
|
|
Selected text - Chapter on the Bonin Islands.
|
|
|
|
|
|
1865 |
Stavers, Thomas Reed (1798-1867). |
|
|
Journal of Thomas Reed Stavers, By Thomas Reed Stavers. |
|
|
Complete text of manuscript - courtesy of Albert Bos of the Netherlands
|
|
|
|
|
|
1874 |
Davis, William M. (1815-1891). |
|
|
Nimrod of the sea; or, The American whaleman, By William M. Davis
(New York: Harper & brothers, 1874) |
|
|
Complete text
|
|
|
|
|
|
1874 |
|
|
|
"Huntsmen of the Sea", Harper's new monthly magazine. Volume 49, Issue 293, October 1874, pp. 650-662. |
|
|
Complete text - courtesy of Cornell University Library, Making of America Digital Collection
|
|
|
|
|
|
1878 |
Starbuck, Alexander (1841-1925). |
|
|
History of the American whale fishery from its earliest inception to the year 1876. By Alexander Starbuck
(Washington, Government Printing Office, 1878) |
|
|
Complete text of narrative - tabular section omitted
|
|
|
|
|
|
1915 |
Cholmondeley, Lionel Berners (1858-1945). |
|
|
The history of the Bonin Islands from the year 1827 to the year 1876, and of Nathaniel Savory, one of the original settlers; to which is added a short supplement dealing with the islands after their occupation by the Japanese, By Lionel Berners Cholmondeley
(London: Constable & Co., Ltd., 1915) |
|
|
Complete text
|
|
|
|
|
|
1916 |
Verrill, A. Hyatt, 1871-1954. |
|
|
The Real Story of the Whaler: Whaling, Past and Present, By A. Hyatt Verrill
(New York: D. Appleton and Company, 1916) |
|
|
Complete text
|
|
|
|
|
|
1925 |
Townsend, Charles Haskins (1859-1944). |
|
|
The Galapagos tortoises in their relation to the whaling industry, By Charles Haskins Townsend
(New York: New York Zoological Society, [1925]) |
|
|
Complete text
|
|
|
|
|
|
1958 |
Gardner, Edmund, (1784-1875). |
|
|
Captain Edmund Gardner of Nantucket and New Bedford: His Journal and His Family. Edited and Compiled by John M. Bullard
(New Bedford, The Author, 1958) |
|
|
Complete text - reproduced in HTML with the permission of the Bullard family, New Bedford)
|
|
|
|
|
Last updated: September 6, 2018.
|
