Mar 10, 2020 - Sale 2533

Sale 2533 - Lot 149

Unsold
Estimate: $ 300 - $ 400
(MARITIME.) Littlefield, Otis. Diary of a Maine sailor on a merchant coal vessel. 82 manuscript diary pages plus [8] pages of memoranda. 16mo, disbound, rear board present; minor foxing. Vp, 1860-61
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Additional Details

Otis Littlefield (1840-1926) is listed in the 1860 census for Penobscot, ME as a seaman aged 19 living with his parents. This diary records a trip from Newport, England to Bahia, Brazil as a crew member of the Maine-registered ship Tranquebar under Captain Goodwin. The ship left port on 20 April 1860 and arrived in Bahia on 6 June (page 45). Littlefield expressed interest in going ashore, but apparently never left the boat, spending all of his time shoveling coal until he was unable to continue. On page 54 he wrote "Have worked like a nigger this week and was as black as a nigger too. Have got nearly all out between decks." He occasionally makes observations from the ship: "Last night the darkeys had a great time ashore, fireing rockets, crackers all night" (page 56). He records the ship's departure from Bahia on page 63, and makes land at Cape Cod on 1 September (page 72). The ship then sails from Bath, ME to Charleston, SC. The last few pages record another trip across the Atlantic starting on 21 January 1861 and arriving in London on 1 March 1861. A lively diary featuring brawls, a capricious captain, and a crew member's death from the "black vomit" (page 62).