Thursday - August 14, 2008

A rare record of life “below decks” in the British Navy between 1790 and 1833. A MUST READ

FOR ANYONE INTERESTED IN HISTORY, THIS IS AN AWESOME FIND.  SELF EDUCATED AND IN THE NAVY AT AGE 13. IMAGINE THAT FOLKS.  AND NOWADAYS STREET PUNKS ARE PROTECTED FROM HAVING THEIR UGLY FACES OR NAMES IN THE NEWSPAPER IF THEY’RE “YOUTHS” OF AGE 16.

THIS SAILOR BELONGED TO A TIME WHEN THE SHIPS WERE MADE OF WOOD AND THE MEN MADE OF IRON!  FEAST YOUR EYES ON THIS.

IT BELONGS IN THE BRIT MARITIME MUSEUM. IT BOTHERS ME THAT IT ISN’T HERE.  IT NEEDS TO COME HOME!  THE GOVT. SHOULD BUY IT BUT DON’T HAVE ENOUGH CASH AS THEY’RE SAVING TO PUT ON THE 2012 OLYMPICS.  DICK HEADS.

Diary of 19th Century British Navy life ‘below decks’ for sale
A rare record of life “below decks” in the British Navy between 1790 and 1833 penned by a sailor who served under Lord Nelson has been unearthed.

By Richard Savill
Last Updated: 2:01PM BST 14 Aug 2008

The diary of George Hodge, a lowly sailor, whose rank is unknown, contains colour paintings and the words to sea shanties that the men sang.
The self-educated seaman, who spells words as they sound, begins the journal: “George Hodge his Book Consisting of Difrint ports & ships that I have sailed in since the year 1790. Aged 13 years.”

He recorded details of the ladies of leisure with whom he associated, and painted pictures of ships and flags as well as a self portrait. Images of ordinary seamen from the time of Nelson’s Navy are rare.
Hodge lists one or two skirmishes, but many entries cover the mundane activities of life on board vessels.
He began his career at sea as a cabin boy in coaling vessels between Northumberland and London.

In 1794 he travelled to a Russian Baltic port and on the way back was captured by the French, but was then sent home in a cartel sloop.
He was captured again in 1797, but was returned home and then spent months on the run from press gangs.
But in 1798 he was caught and joined HMS Lancaster. For the next nine years he served mainly along the West African coast, but also in Ceylon and the East Indies.

In 1808 he joined HMS Marlborough, 74 guns, and spent the years until 1812 mostly on blockade duty around Europe.
In 1815 he returned to Britain and served at Greenwich, ending his career in the merchant navy. An addition made after his death shows he had children.

The 500-page journal includes lists of ships and their guns, lists of crew, and a list of 192 flag formations. These include: “1. An enemy is in sight. 2. Prepare for battle. 3. Sail by divisions… 5. Engage the enemy (If red penant shown engage more closely) ... 10. Enemy retreating at full speed.”
It also shows that danger was ever present for crews, even when the ships were not in battle.

On Dec 26, 1812, an entry reads: “A fresh breeze a strange sail in sight. Empl painting quarterdeck. Fell from the for top mast Mathew Donelson and was drownded.”
Another entry reads: “July 19 light breeze at 5am picked up body of John Carter and buried him on the Isle of White.”

On Christmas Day, 1806, he writes: “Employ’d in wartering ship and seting up the riger ... fish for dinner.”
Hodge writes that he was born “In the Parish of Tinmouth in the County of Northumberland” and that his career began under “Capt Edger” who commanded the “brig Margerey.”

The journal belonged to the maritime collection of American J Welles Henderson, who died last year. He bought it at a rare book shop in London in the 1980s.
It is being offered for sale on August 16 by Peter Coccoluto, from Northeast Auctions in Portsmouth, New Hampshire, America, is expected to fetch £30,000.
He said: “It is very unusual because the man appears to be self-educated which is why he spells as the words sound.

“You do get midshipmen’s diaries that they had to keep which show sextant readings, weather conditions and diagrams of ports.
“But this is much different because it is from below decks.”
“There are wonderful water colour paintings of ships and flags and various other subjects are depicted.”

http://preview.tinyurl.com/6bph65

Posted by Drew458     on 08/14/2008 at 10:26 AM   
Filed Under: • Miscellaneous • UK •  
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