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THBDepositions Relating to the Whaleship Martha and the Flogging of a Crewmember, 1844
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Cincinnati , OH 45232
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About Auction
LiveSep 8, 2017 - Sep 9, 2017
Cowan's Auctions dawnie@cowans.com
View Full Catalog (427)
- Lot Description
Manuscript, over 50pp, relating to the whaleship Martha and the dispute between seaman Edward Shrewsbury and Captain Joseph Wheldon. The Martha, a 369-ton full-rigged ship built in Hudson, NY in 1832, left New York on August 1, 1841, and headed for the South Pacific and Indian Ocean whaling grounds. It stopped at Port Lincoln, New Holland, in October 1842. This is where Edward Shrewsbury was hired as a boatsteerer. Martin Lyons, whose deposition is included in this lot, joined as third mate at the same time. The other two depositions are from Alexander Wheldon, chief mate and the captain's brother and James Alexander, carpenter on the Martha.
It appears from the depositions that Shrewsbury was demoted to ordinary seaman when he was unable to perform the duties for which he was hired to the satisfaction of the captain. At some point between Australia and Hawaii, a conflict arose between Shrewsbury and the captain. Apparently Shrewsbury was supposed to be looking out for whales and missed some (that the captain saw). The captain called to him three times before Shrewsbury responded, whereupon he was told to come down to the deck. Words were exchanged; later, apparently blows were also exchanged. When told to go back to work, Shrewsbury refused. The captain had him tied to the rigging.
From some of the depositions, it appears that the captain agreed not to further punish Shrewsbury if he agreed to leave the ship in Hawaii. He apparently went ashore for a couple days, then returned to the ship. Whatever the agreement was is not clear, but it seems Shrewsbury agreed to behave himself for the remainder of the voyage (he likely could not get on another ship). The two men had more words when Shrewsbury refused to work. The captain eventually flogged him.
Here is where the testimony of the three men tends to diverge a bit. Two of the men (Lyons and Wheldon) said the flogging did not break any skin, the third (Alexander) says he was badly bloodied. Generally, the chief and third mates' depositions are fairly close. Both say the captain spoke to Shrewsbury respectfully, and did not flog him in anger, etc., whereas the lower ranking man said the opposite - the captain was angry, did not show the men respect, etc. The mates say that the area where Shrewsbury was held for nearly two months was spacious, clean, and one could stand in parts of the space; the third man indicates it was dirty, crowded with supplies, and too low to stand.
The Martha returned to New York in April 1844. They had finally put Shrewsbury ashore in Rio de Janeiro, Brazil. But shortly after their return, Shrewsbury filed a lawsuit against Captain Wheldon for mistreatment aboard the ship. We were unable to find the outcome of this suit. According to research provided by the consignor, she was Hudson's last whaler. On this voyage she returned with 400 barrels spermaceti (found in the nose of the whale), 2400 barrels whale oil and 24,000 pounds of bone (baleen).
Whaling was a multi-million dollar industry by the middle of the 19th century, when American whaling was at its peak. Whale products were used in industry (for lubrication of machinery, among other uses), oil was important for lighting, spermaceti was used in cosmetics and as lubricants, bone or baleen was used in corsets and skirt hoops, and much more. Fortunately for the whales, petroleum served many of these uses once it was discovered.
Condition
Generally good. Front two pages of one deposition somewhat scuffed, but it does not have a lot of information (it is a preprinted court form), but is still readable, and could probably be restored if the buyer were so inclined.
Some losses to gilt, mild crazing to paint. The music box is in working condition. Cowan's does not guarantee the working condition of these items at the time of purchase.
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